Quote:
Originally posted by djp
So that teams can be mathmatically eliminated within the second month? What would be the motivation if you know that you couldn't continue into the post-season?
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How about getting ready for competing next season? Baseball plays 162 games. Yet the regular season is better then both basketball and hockey because the lack of playoff spots forces teams to keep playing all year. If they don't keep winning they end up losing their spot and out of the playoffs (see: 2003 Phillies).
Even the bad ones keep playing because they know if they end up with a decent record they could get some free agents to sign there and instantly improve the team. Plus, if the team quits, the fans quit, and the team goes from "bad" to "screwed".
Basically, it forces everyone to play.