An In-Season Tournament, The MLB Cup, is just what Baseball Needs

The days when the Boys of Summer dominated sports headlines are no more. Major League Baseball has transformed into a regional sport. In recent years the league has innovated, with much success, to draw in more casual fans. The MLB can take a page from the NBA and European soccer to build on that momentum.

The MLB Cup is exactly what professional baseball needs to re-establish itself as the sport of the summer.

The Genesis of the Idea

From the mind of Steven Peake, this proposal sounds too good to be true. He’s a fan of Tottenham Hotspur, the 17th-best team in the English Premier League that just threw a parade for winning the Europa League, an in-season tournament. Even though they were nearly relegated, Tottenham went on a run that captivated the rabid fanbase.

Tournaments like the Europa League and the FA Cup have years of built-up capital to over-emphasize their significance. Creating the passion cannot happen overnight, but there is value in creating in-season tournaments.

The NBA Cup’s ratings were the best of the year outside of postseason play, even better than the traditional Christmas Day tentpole event. Adding an MLB Cup in July and into August creates a tentpole event that draws not only regional fans, but also national attention during the most uneventful part of the sports calendar.

The MLB Cup Format

This is a work in progress, but it’s rather simple. The National League and American League compete in the All-Star Game for homefield advantage in the MLB Cup. After the All-Star break, each Monday is an open date, dedicated to the single-elimination tournament. Win or go home.

There are 30 MLB teams, so I’ll let the powers that be determine the proper bracket, but the event should take one month, culminating with the final four at the Field of Dreams. The day after the doubleheader, two teams battle it out for the MLB Cup, finishing in fireworks over the cornfields in Iowa.

What makes this event magical is that single-elimination baseball can create chaos in a sport that needs it. The Dodgers and Yankees are a great World Series matchup, but so many small-market teams feel completely left by the wayside, all thanks to the absence of a salary cap. We all know the Reds’ postseason hopes will be cooked by July, but who’s to say they couldn’t get hot in the MLB Cup? If they go on a run, every casual in the area will be locked in, hoping for a miracle that ends near a corn-maze.

It’s an imperfect proposition we cooked up on Kentucky Roll Call, but it could be the start of something that creates a can’t-miss baseball event in the middle of the summer.

More Kentucky News and Views on the KSR YouTube Channel

Kentucky Sports Radio has expanded its coverage of the Wildcats in the most ridiculous manner possible on our YouTube Channel. Here you will be able to find interviews with coaches and players, as well as commentary from the KSR crew. From Rapid Reactions following big events to our lengthy lineup of live shows, subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel to stay up to date on everything happening around the Big Blue Nation.