Triple-A teams found out earlier this month they were getting 10 games added to the end of their schedules to make up for games that were wiped out in April when the start of the season was delayed. But Major League Baseball has announced a new twist to the games, unveiling a new postseason tournament format called the "Triple-A Final Stretch."
The current 120-game season ends Sept. 19 and both Triple-A East and Triple-A West will salute division winners and crown an overall winner based on the best record for the season. Among the 30 clubs, a single Final Stretch winner will be crowned based on the highest overall winning percentage during the 10-game stretch. The winning club will be awarded a prize from Major League Baseball. All 30 Triple-A clubs will play five home games and five road games during the Final Stretch.
Major League Baseball has unveiled an official logo for the Triple-A Final Stretch tournament, which the Bisons will play in from Sept. 22-Oct. 3.
MLB initially scrapped playoffs in Triple-A for this season, but the tournament format has been devised to give motivation for every team to have a title to pursue for the 10 games, even if it had long been out of contention in its division during the 120-game schedule.
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“We think this format will add excitement to the end of the season while also allowing our teams a chance to reschedule games that were lost earlier in the year,” said Peter Woodfork, MLB senior vice president of minor league operations and development. “With all 30 teams participating in this Final Stretch, all Triple-A players and communities will have the opportunity to win this year’s postseason tournament.”
All teams will have two days off before the tournament begins Sept. 22 and two days off (Sept. 27-28) between site changes. The Bisons' five home games will be Sept. 22-26 against Lehigh Valley and the road games will be Sept. 29-Oct. 3 at Syracuse.
Tiebreakers that will apply to determine both regular season and Final Stretch winners are:
1. Best regular season winning percentage.
2. Regular season head-to-head record (if three or more clubs are tied, the best winning percentage in games among the Clubs).
3. Best regular season winning percentage over the final 20 games.
4. Best regular season winning percentage over the final 21 games, etc.
It remains to be seen, of course, if Buffalo's home games in the tournament would be at Sahlen Field or will still be in Trenton, N.J., where the Herd has spent the season while the parent Toronto Blue Jays have been in Buffalo.
The Bisons remain in limbo while waiting to see if they can return to Buffalo pending the Blue Jays' bid to continue their season at home in Rogers Centre. The Herd is 36-24 and has won the first three games of its current series in Trenton against Lehigh Valley to move into second place in the Northeast Division, 3½ games behind Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The teams meet again at 7 p.m. Friday.
Buffalo shortstop Kevin Smith has homered each of the last two nights to push his team-high total to 14 and his RBI double in the bottom of ninth produced Buffalo's 6-5 win on Thursday. Smith belted a three-run homer in Wednesday's 9-2 victory.
Right-hander Bowden Francis, acquired by Toronto last week from Milwaukee for longtime Bisons first baseman Rowdy Tellez, threw five innings to get the win in his Buffalo debut on Wednesday. He allowed one earned run and struck out four.
The Blue Jays open a six-game homestand at Sahlen Field on Friday night against the Texas Rangers. The American League East-leading Boston Red Sox are here for a three-game series that opens Monday night.
Photos: As MLB takes a break, Buffalo Bisons' schedule marches on
Barb Korn displays her tickets for the Buffalo Bisons and the Rochester Red Wings.
"Horsehide," a sculpture of a horse that is entirely made up of old baseball gloves stands in the concourse at Frontier Field.
Beer taps in the concourse at Frontier Field, home of the Rochester Red Wings.
Baseball fans enter as the gates open at 6 p.m. before the game between the Buffalo Bisons and Rochester Red Wings at Frontier Field.
Alex Gahan enjoys a sip of beer at Frontier Field.
Brandy Hummel is pictured with her children, Sadie and Gus, and Rochester Red Wings mascots of Luke Easter and Cal Ripken Jr.
Ben Storer plays the trombone for the Flower City Pride Band in the concourse on Pride Night.
Baseball fans enjoy a beverage at the 10th Inning stand at Frontier Field.
A baseball fan eats mini melts in a baseball helmet prior to the Bisons vs. Red Wings game.
Historical Rochester baseball banners hang in the concourse at Frontier Field.
Buffalo Bisons player Nash Knight visits with his son Dane prior to playing the Rochester Red Wings at Frontier Field.
Buffalo Bisons pitcher Zach Logue warms up prior to playing the Rochester Red Wings.
Kyla Minx acknowledges the crowd after throwing out the first pitch on Pride Night.
A Buffalo Bisons hat is perched atop a baseball glove prior to a recent game at Rochester's Frontier Field.
Buffalo Bisons player Kevin Smith breaks his bat during the first inning.
Buffalo Bisons starting pitcher Zach Logue throws during the first inning.
Buffalo Bisons player Kevin Smith tosses a foul ball to a fan during the second inning.
Casey Candaele has the Bisons one game out of first place in his first season as Buffalo's manager
Buffalo Bisons outfielder Breyvic Valera (21) is congratulated by manager Casey Candaele, right, after scoring a run during a game last week in Rochester.
An overall view as the Buffalo Bisons play the Rochester Red Wings at Frontier Field.
Buffalo Bisons player Alejandro Kirk bats against the Rochester Red Wings.
Baseball fans look on from the grass as the Buffalo Bisons play the Rochester Red Wings at Frontier Field.
