MLS Cup Playoffs 2011: Did MLS Hire Monkeys To Make The Playoff Schedule?

The new playoff format that MLS introduced this year was met with derision and ridicule. Only three people voted in favor of it, with those three being Don Garber and his parents. As much issue as some take with the expanded field of 10 teams though, it pales in comparison to the issues with the schedule. There are obstacles to overcome and TV partners to deal with, but MLS dropped the ball and in a big way. From an inability to get the schedule out, to when the matches are, it wouldn’t be unfair to ask whether or not the league hired monkeys to make up the schedule for these playoffs.

In true MLS form, the first problem with the playoff schedule popped up before the schedule came out. It was that they couldn’t release the schedule in a timely manner, which makes absolutely no sense. After Saturday, there was only one match left on the regular season schedule and it did affect the playoffs. If Houston won (which they did), they would move up to the second seed in the Eastern Conference, while a draw and loss would leave them in different spots in the wild card round. That was it though.

There were three options so in the almost 20 hours between the end of the Saturday matches and end of the Houston match on Sunday, MLS could have gotten together with their TV partners and put together three schedules. If Houston wins, this is the schedule. If they lose, this is the schedule and if they draw, this is the schedule. Making three schedules is more work than making one, but you’re a professional sports league. That’s what you do. That way, when Houston’s match on Sunday ended, MLS could release their schedule right away and boom, you’re ready to go. Instead, it took them four hours after the end of the Houston match to get a schedule out and not even a complete one, considering some start times for matches in a week are still listed as “to be determined.”

The schedule is finally out, but that just leads to a whole host of other issues and the first one dates back to when the preliminary playoff schedule was released in August. It listed which midweek dates and weekend dates would play host to the matches of what round and leg. A peek at it shows that for the two-legged, the first legs at the home of the lower seed would be played on a weekend with the second legs at the home of the higher seeds midweek. It’s no secret that weekend matches draw better than midweek matches so what MLS is really doing is saying that the lower seeded teams can have the advantage of bigger crowds and with it, the more hostile atmosphere. Oh, and this in a league that already struggled to properly reward teams who excel during the regular season.

Moving on, take a look at the Galaxy. They finished the season as the Supporters’ Shield winners and one of the top teams in MLS history, but the schedule leaves them looking at a Western Conference final disadvantage. If LA wins their conference semifinal, they play the second leg of their conference semi on Thursday, then the conference final on Sunday. That compared to their opponent in the conference final, either Seattle or Salt Lake, who will get an extra day rest after playing the second leg of their conference semifinal on Wednesday.

In short, the Galaxy played 34 regular season matches. went undefeated at home, finished with the highest point total in MLS since 1998 and were so good that they clinched the Supporters’ Shield with two weeks left in the season. Even so, their opponent will get one day more rest than them before a possible conference final. They will also have to play their home leg of the conference semifinal midweek while they have to go on the road for a weekend. That just makes sense, right?

Now these are just the problems with the schedule itself. It doesn’t get into the fact that the Sounders just put together the third-best regular season point total since 1998, but have to play the third-best team because of MLS’ insistence on conferences. That Dallas, with their 52 points have to play in the wild card round, while Philadelphia and their 48 points get a bye through that round. That the Galaxy and Sounders have distinguished themselves as the undoubted class of the league, but can’t be showcased against each other in the MLS Cup final.

All of this is because what we really need is the Rapids winning the East or the Red Bulls winning the West, right, Don Garber? We also can’t forget the mass celebrations and parades supporters thrown for winning conferences. Losing those would just be crippling to the league.

In terms of quality of play, MLS has never been better. The play was more enjoyable to watch than it has ever been. Teams are competing and winning in the CONCACAF Champions League. Stars litter the league and the highlight reel of goals is better than anything the league has ever produced. Between the lines, the league is soaring. Up in the league offices, the league just can’t get it together.