Best of seven in first round?
LOS ANGELES - The Cubs and Los Angeles Angels had something else in common Saturday other then being the teams with the best records in their respective league during major-league baseball's regular season.
Both were on the verge of being swept out of the playoffs in the first round in less than a week after sixth months of excellence.
The Angels are down 2-0 to the Boston Red Sox after dropping the first two games of their ALDS series at home. Game 3 is today at Fenway Park.
The Cubs were trying to avoid elimination in the third game of their NLDS series Saturday night at Dodger Stadium.
Whenever favorites lose in the first round it rekindles conversation of perhaps changing the four division series to the best of seven instead of best of five.
Dodgers manager Joe Torre on Saturday threw his support behind going the best-of-seven route in the first round.
"I've always felt that you go 162 games that the first round would be important to have best of seven, because it's really a tough situation to adjust to," Torre said. "Usually, I mean, the best teams get in after 162. And then to send them out for that crapshoot, I think it's lucky a lot of times if you win."
An obvious concern of MLB about going best of seven in the first round is the possibility of extending the World Series well into November. Of course, MLB always could eliminate the off-days in the first round, which seem unnecessary considering the lack of off-days during the regular season.
Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly sees both sides of the argument for seven games or five games.
"I think you're probably going to get a better read on what club is deeper if you play best of seven," Lilly said. "Obviously if that happens, do we end up playing in the middle of December or what? I don't know if that's the best thing to do. But the way it is is fine, I guess."
A best-of-seven first round would allow teams like the Cubs with starting pitching depth to show why it was the best team over 162 games. Lilly, a 17-game winner, wasn't even sure he would get to start a Game 4.
"When you get into a short series like that, you run into clubs that are playing hot at a certain time," Lilly said. "The most important thing is when you get into those games, you get some good starts and you play well. Obviously when it's the best of five there's no room for error."