![\"BBB\"](\"https:\/\/baseballgb.co.uk\/wp-content\/BBB.png\" "\\"BBB\\"")
As what passed for the summer begins to slip into the distance and the nights start to draw in, so the British baseball season nears an end for another year.<\/p>\nAs what passed for the summer begins to slip into the distance and the nights start to draw in, so the British baseball season nears an end for another year.<\/p>\n
The 2011 regular season has been concluded. The results and final standings will be etched in the British baseball history books (or websites, to be more precise), although currently it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not clear in every case quite what the definitive final picture will look like.<\/p>\n
Not all the games were played. In fact, based on the results published on the British Baseball Federation website, the majority of teams were unable to complete their full schedule.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
Forfeits and postponements interrupted proceedings and the late change to the playoff schedule gave teams less chance to make those games up.\u00c2\u00a0 Some clubs were able to go the extra mile to add games in recently.\u00c2\u00a0 For example, both the London Metros and Essex Redbacks played games on Saturday and Sunday last weekend to make up for games lost earlier in the season.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
It does pose the question as to whether the structure of British baseball at different levels needs to be looked at.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
A regular season league of decent length followed by a short postseason is the ideal format and certainly that should be the case at the National Baseball League level.\u00c2\u00a0 However the integrity of the competition, and more importantly the enjoyment of being part of the competition, demands that realistically it can be completed and brought to a conclusion in a fair and open way.<\/p>\n
Teams should be playing schedules that they can meet \u00e2\u20ac\u201c even accounting for bad weather and the occasional need for a postponement for other unavoidable reasons \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and when they get to the business end of the season they should know what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s at stake.\u00c2\u00a0 Uncertainty over unfulfilled fixtures and the specific postseason format shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be a factor as you head into the final month.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/p>\n
It goes without saying that organizing the competition in this way is much easier said (or written about) than done.<\/p>\n
Players and coaches are involved because they want to be, but everyone has other commitments and last-minute hitches always have the potential to get in the way of the best laid plans.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
Managers can find that a good-sized group of recruits suddenly reduces in number due to injuries or other interests, a few rain-soaked weekends in a row can mess up the schedule: some of the problems that arise are simply unavoidable.<\/p>\n
This is what brings me back to the importance of constructing a clear and realistic competition.<\/p>\n
Take the AAA South division.\u00c2\u00a0 That called for each team to play 30 games this season. Would those teams be better off playing a reduced league schedule \u00e2\u20ac\u201c maybe even down to 20 games \u00e2\u20ac\u201c with sufficient gaps to make up for bad weather and the potential to add in a few friendlies or a mini-tournament for those that can play the extra games if they want to.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
A longer competition would be a better competition, but not if it isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t one that can be completed by all.<\/p>\n
Whether one concept would be \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcbetter\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 than another comes down to personal choice and from there it goes back to what the players want to do.\u00c2\u00a0 While you will never get a complete consensus, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sure it would make sense to spend part of the offseason evaluating the 2011 competition and seeking the views of players on what sort of competition they want to be part of in 2012.<\/p>\n