Possible Changes to the World Series That MLB Should Consider

As Major League Baseball delivers the 2013 World Series, baseball fans around the country will soak in the game, narratives and drama between the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox.

In a battle between the best regular season team in each league, it's hard to imagine a better World Series for the sport to unveil.

While the franchises are historic and worthy of inclusion in the Fall Classic, Major League Baseball can do a better job in presenting the conclusion of the season.

Here are four possible changes to the World Series that MLB should consider.

1. Change the series format away from 2-3-2

As Bleacher Report's Howard Beck noted on Twitter, NBA owners are expected to approve a change to the Finals format, moving from a 2-3-2 series to a 2-2-1-1-1 format as early as this coming season.

In the interest of competition and fairness when determining a World Series champion, Major League Baseball should follow suit.

It's easy to see why professional sports leagues went to a 2-3-2 format years ago: When sports media coverage exploded, asking newspaper and media members to travel between cities, sometimes located on opposite coasts, seemed like an over-the-top expense.

As sports media continues to grow and thrive, along with travel becoming easier and quicker, those concerns have been alleviated.

From a competition standpoint, 2-3-2 provides an advantage for the team that should theoretically be at a disadvantage: the road or "worse" team.

Of course, in Major League Baseball, the road team in the World Series is determined by the All-Star Game, not regular season record.

Still, in the 2013 World Series, if the St. Louis Cardinals can earn a split in Fenway Park during the first two games, they'll have three straight at home in order to take a commanding series lead or even finish it off for a championship.

Switching to a 2-2-1-1-1 format would even the playing field and guarantee the home team a Game 5 in their building if the series reaches that stage.

Over the last decade, just two World Series have gone past five games (2009 and 2011). Switching the format could lead to a longer World Series, better ratings for FOX and a champion more representative of the talent on the field.

2. Earlier start times for World Series games

MLB.com lists Game 1 of the World Series as a 7:30 p.m. ET start time on FOX. If you believe that the first pitch, barring weather issues in Boston, will occur before 8:15 p.m., you're either optimistic or need a new watch. 

Here's a secret: Start times and length of postseason games aren't a concern for baseball writers and media members. For the most part, the job is just an extension of a passion. Either way, I'll be watching from start to finish.

Of course, that represents the minority of baseball lovers.

By the time the third inning rolls around, young baseball fans will be falling asleep, unaware and unable to learn and love the new generation of World Series memories.

Game 6 of the 2011 World Series was one of the most dramatic and memorable postseason games in the history of the sport, but most of America was well asleep when David Freese connected for a walk-off home run that cleared the outfield fence.

Television start times aren't solely determined by Major League Baseball.

As long as FOX has the broadcast rights, they'll set the agenda for the first pitch, but that doesn't mean baseball can't attempt to start these games sooner.

Changing the format is about the game, but earlier start times are about the fans.

On Super Bowl Sunday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is handing out the Vince Lombardi Trophy by 10:15 p.m. EST.

In Major League Baseball's biggest showcase, 10:15 p.m. is usually the start of the fifth inning.

3. Make the designated hitter universal

Sorry, traditionalists. It's time for the DH to disappear from the World Series.

When the 2013 World Series shifts to Busch Stadium for the middle three games of the series, Red Sox manager John Farrell must decide between playing David Ortiz or Mike Napoli at first base. The other will sit on the bench during the biggest moments of the season so baseball fans can watch Clay Buchholz and Jake Peavy attempt to lay down bunts or strike out.

The debate about the designated hitter rule has been in play for years, but the separate rules for regular season American and National League baseball isn't germane to this moment. If MLB chooses to continue to deploy different rules for different leagues during the regular season, so be it.

But the rule needs to be universal for the World Series. 

Baseball in 2013, not 1967, is a better product with a designated hitter at the plate rather than a pitcher. The fact that Bob Gibson pitched a gem and homered in the World Series doesn't mean Clay Buchholz can do the same.

Let's put it this way: Would you rather see Clay Buchholz vs. Allen Craig in Game 3 or Joe Kelly take his .359 career OPS to the dish with a championship at stake?

4. Listen to Scott Boras

As Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reported in September, baseball agent Scott Boras proposed changes to the World Series in order to make the event a baseball spectacle or as he put it, "baseball's Oscars."

Outside of his radical idea of hosting the first two games of the series in a neutral site like the Super Bowl, March Madness or a college football bowl game, the plan has merit.

Announcing the MVP, Cy Young and various award winners in front of a packed house and millions watching on television certainly would add an element of fun to the pregame routine. The idea of a baseball gala involving the whole sport would be captivating.

With baseball profiling as a regional game, fans of the Tigers may not tune in for the first pitch of Game 1 but could be glued to their screen if the AL MVP is announced in another tightly contested vote with the Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout.

The World Series is supposed to put the sport front and center for the world to see.

As Boras explains, baseball can do that by incorporating new elements:

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It would be a gathering place for all of baseball. The team officials would have to show up for the awards and other business. It could be the start of the hot-stove season as it once was. It would bring baseball center stage. It would make the World Series an event, much like the All-Star Game, which is the best in sports. Why not take all of the metrics of that event and apply them to the World Series? 

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The idea isn't perfect and would likely be balked at by traditionalists, but adding some pizazz before the actual game would add a new, interesting element to the World Series.

Agree? Disagree? What changes would you make to the World Series?

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