2018 JLB Schedule Released

It’s that time of year where I take an hour to pull numbers out of a hat and generate a mostly randomized schedule.

The big thing heading into 2018 will be a return to the old format we used for years, and that’s the three-by-one schedule that emphasizes divisional play.

After a meeting of the minds with assistant JLB commissioners Parker Dunbar and Steve Spillane, we voted 3-0 to fire up the DeLorean and go back in time a few years to use the original JLB schedule format because it just makes more sense.

We experimented with everyone playing everyone twice (sans the one All-Star Week matchup which would match teams up against an Interleague opponent for the only time that year), and I just didn't like how it was working out.

So, it's back to playing everyone in your league three times and the entire other league once.

We will keep this format from here on out because when it comes down to it, we are battling to win our leagues, and playing 11 of 21 matchups against teams not in your league is — as Choo said — too monotonous. He then proceeded to be fixated on the number of "O's" in that word, so I'm not too sure how much credence we can give his thoughts. I also wonder how long he stares in astonishment at his SpaghettiOs before eating them.

Nevertheless, I agree. 

I found myself often times wishing I was playing fellow National League teams when trying to climb back in the NL standings.

The original JLB format will help with that.

Divisional play — order randomly pulled from a hat — occurs Weeks 2 through 6, Weeks 9 through 13 and Weeks 17 through 21 to close out the season.

We open with interleague play, and that includes the rematch of the World Series. The first matchup is interleague because it’s an 11-day contest, and that makes it perfect for the World Series rematch between defending champion Philly Cheese and runner-up Big Ol’ Country Breakfast.

Interleague play continues Weeks 7 and 8, and once again in Weeks 14 through 16. Week 16 is the 11-day All-Star Break contest, and when it concludes, we head into the final stretch of five straight league games to close the season.

The trade deadline, which is four hours after the MLB Trade Deadline, will actually occur right before the five straight league contests, too.

Playoffs will start in Week 22 (Sept. 3, 2018) with the ALDS and NLDS between the No. 2 and 3 seeds in each league.

The ALCS and NLCS square off starting on Sept. 10, and the World Series starts Sept. 17.

Will the season end the way it begins, with Cheese and Breakfast playing each other?

Time will tell, but I know there are 10 teams that would say "Heck no," to that.