Rules for 2012 - Schedule (Read 360 times)

[Bobby]

To reduce chaos, we will cover topics one or two at a time, in individual threads. This thread is just for future scheduling.

Schedule

A. Playoff Schedule

Yahoo now allows playoff reseeding. Playoff reseeding will be implemented for 2012. This means if the 6th seed wins its match against the 3 seed, the 6 seed will play the 1 seed, and the 2 seed plays the 4 or 5 seed.

B. Regular season schedule

Yahoo now allows the Commish to modify the schedule. The schedule has each team play every other team once the first 13 weeks. Then it repeats the last 9 weeks, leaving 4 teams you only play once.

I have 2 goals here. One is to have bottom teams playing other bottom teams and the top teams playing other top teams the last few weeks of the season. This is an attempt to ensure critical matches down the stretch for the playoffs or seeding in it, having both teams with strong vested interest.

My second goal is eliminating the Yahoo random choice of 4 teams that you don't play a second time. Consider two teams essentially tied for 6th and 7th place after 18 weeks. Each has faced the same teams weeks 14-18, (the 5,6,7,8 and 9 seeds in a different order). Now Yahoo's random schedule could have one team playing the 1,2,3 and 4 seeds, while the other faces the 11,12,13 and 14 seeds. Not particularly desirable.

I propose to manually set the last 9 weeks based on the standings after 12 weeks. Ideally it would be set after the 13th week, but I am not sure if can. Overnight stat corrections will preclude me from updating until the 14th week matchups are set by Yahoo. If I can update the schedule to include the 13th week I will, if not, it will be based on week 12. My proposed schedule is not perfect, but I believe it to be a giant improvement over Yahoo. The remaining schedule is tougher if you are a top team, gradually easing as you drop down. This will possibly give teams in 8th, 9th or 10th some hope knowing their remaining schedule is a bit easier than the teams they are trying to catch. It should compress the standings a bit.

If my schedule results in repeating a matchup two weeks in a row (weeks 13 and 14), then weeks 14 and 15 and 16 will be juggled, to reduce that possibility.

Seed is the place in the standings the team is in after week 12.

Seed....Opposing Teams Faced Week ...................................Will Not Face
...........14....15.....16....17....18.....19....20.....21....22..........These Teams

1..........9.....10......6......5......4......7......3......2......8...........11 12 13 14
2.........11......8......7......3......5......9......4......1......6...........10 12 13 14
3..........8.....12.....10.....2......6......5......1......4......7.............9 11 13 14
4.........13......9.....11.....7......1......6......2......3......5.............8 10 12 14
5.........10....14.....12.....1......2......3......8......6......4.............7.. 9 11 13
6.........14....11......1....13......3......4......9......5......2.............7.. 8 10 12
7.........12....13......2......4.....14.....1.....10......8......3............5.. 6.. 9 11
8..........3......2.....13....12.....11....14......5......7......1............4.. 6.. 9 10
9..........1......4.....14....11.....12.....2.......6....10....13............3.. 5.. 7.. 8
10........5......1.......3....14.....13....11......7......9....12............2.. 4.. 6.. 8
11........2......6.......4.....9.......8....10.....13....12....14............1.. 3.. 5.. 7
12........7......3.......5.....8.......9....13.....14....11....10............1.. 2.. 4.. 6
13........4......7.......8.....6.....10....12.....11....14.....9.............1.. 2.. 3.. 5
14........6......5.......9....10......7......8.....12....13....11............1.. 2.. 3.. 4

So take your time, digest it and then comment.

[Deleted]

Why don't we base thw schedule on prior year's standings. So end of the season teams that were in prior year's top 8 will be facing off in the final weeks. Modifying the schedule mid-year sounds like a pain in the butt.

[hawkeye5]

On item A, I am in agreement. On item B, as hard as it is to admit, I have to agree with A's. We should base it on the final seeding from the previous year.

[bosox]

Both ideas make sense and look good.
i can see why A's does not like the schedule idea as he can only beat teams that are out of it and do not try as hard down the stretch.

[bosox]

Sept 12, 2011 11:13:06 GMT -8 @hawkeye5 said:

On item A, I am in agreement. On item B, as hard as it is to admit, I have to agree with A's. We should base it on the final seeding from the previous year.

The only thing here is the rosters all have large turnover and by august may have even bigger turnover making the previous year meaningless.

rangers alone will have gone through 70 or 80 players.

no way to know who will be where going towards the final 4 weeks.

[Bobby]

Using previous years' standings would encourage teams that are out of the running early to tank the last several weeks to get a weaker schedule the next year. They risk nothing for possible future advantage.

Tanking the first 12 weeks of a season for a weaker last 9 schedule could easily cost you dearly as every point could make the difference of making the playoffs or not.

[lewjo]

Sept 12, 2011 11:13:06 GMT -8 @hawkeye5 said:

On item A, I am in agreement. On item B, as hard as it is to admit, I have to agree with A's. We should base it on the final seeding from the previous year.

This will be much simpler and I prefer this approach - but there is a way to also make sure non-playoff teams don't tank the regular season:

Idea 1
I propose we flip teams 7-14 with 14-7 in Bobby's schedule ie team 7 gets the easier schedule in weeks 14-22 (what team 14 would get in Bobby's initial post), team 8 the 2nd easiest and so on.

The problem of course is that a truly hard luck team will have even more of an uphill battle.

Idea 2
I hate consolation rounds - but an easier schedule next year would be pretty good incentive:
Order of finish after consolation rounds dictates who gets "easier" schedule:
7th gets easiest (after first 6)
8
13th
14th
9
10
11
12 gets hardest

[Bobby]

In the Idea 2 scenario, aren't you giving the 11 and 12th place teams a pretty strong incentive to tank their way to 13th/14th the last few weeks and for the 13th and 14th place teams to make sure they don't win and stay at the bottom?

I think any use of the previous year as a basis is going to effect the play the last several weeks. When a new year starts everyone is trying to win, unless you are the Giants with the usual injuries. ;D

[hawkeye5]

Sept 12, 2011 13:16:33 GMT -8 Bobby said:

In the Idea 2 scenario, aren't you giving the 11 and 12th place teams a pretty strong incentive to tank their way to 13th/14th the last few weeks and for the 13th and 14th place teams to make sure they don't win and stay at the bottom?

I think any use of the previous year as a basis is going to effect the play the last several weeks. When a new year starts everyone is trying to win, unless you are the Giants with the usual injuries. ;D

I see the error of my opinion. I don't want to do anything to encourage people from shutting down early. We have way too much of that already.
In fact there should be some penalty for not trying after you are eliminated from the playoffs.

So, my vote is to adjust the schedule as proposed originally.

[Bobby]

I never think of an opinion being in error. Additional facts or understanding possible undesirable outcomes cause thinking people to reevaluate their opinion.

[Deleted]

A. I am good with reseeding for next season

B. I like the new schedule plan for next year

[Deleted]

Sept 12, 2011 16:28:16 GMT -8 @gododgers said:

A. I am good with reseeding for next season

B. I like the new schedule plan for next year

ditto. are you for sure allowed to modify during season?

[Bobby]

It appeared for the first time this year. Commish Tools. Edit Schedules Customize matchups for each week of the season. All Season Head-to Head Leagues

I opened it a few weeks ago and I coulda altered the schedule. I cannot recall if it started with the week in session or the next week. Previous weeks were not shown.

I assume it will not disappear for next year.

I had asked Yahoo about it 2 years ago. Now they've added it.

If they discontinue it, we will just be back to the way it has been.


I think having this weighted schedule will improve our league. The top teams don't get an extra helping of the weakest teams and the teams in the middle will know they didn't get the Yahoo schedule shaft.

[fidoz]

I'm OK with the rules changes. Seems like a pain in the ass for the commish but if he's willing.

On a side note, I'm still deliberating on whether or not I'm coming back next season. That's not a reflection of this league because this is by far the best league I'm in. I'm considering giving up fantasy baseball all together. I don't follow baseball at all any more which is a big reason I'm in the bottom of all my leagues.

I won't leave you guys hanging and will give you plenty of time to replace me if I decide to quit.

[bosox]

Phillies post has me thinking it best to abstain from further opinion or voting on the upcoming possible changes as my return is also in doubt.
best to leave any changes to those returning for sure.

like Phillies it has been fun and good most of the time and 12 of the owners a good bunch of guys.
the 13th is a little hard to stomach.