After trying to figure out last week how the NFL can keep from watering down its product and not exploit its power — all free ideas, by the way — maybe it's time turn our attention at Major League Baseball and try to save it before it's too late.

That, of course, would take more space than I have here, so let's just look at the playoff picture.

The wild card can stay. It's just a five-game format, but look at all the added excitement it brought for teams battling for that fourth playoff spot in each league.

It also sets up meaningful games for more teams in the month of September. The five games does hurt some teams, like the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Angels, who won their divisions so early they came out flat and never recovered.

What baseball needs is a floating playoff series. When the Chicago White Sox needed to make up a regular season game against Detroit the day after the regular season, the White Sox won and tied Minnesota for the AL Central title. That forced a one-game battle with the winner making the playoffs.

The playoff season was pushed back to accommodate the game. That means nothing is etched in stone and dates can be moved.

The point is baseball had that ability, pushing the White Sox's series with Tampa Bay to Thursday. As it turned out, none of the four divisional playoff series went to a fifth game and none of the games went past Monday.

So, why did baseball fans have to wait for the American League Championship Series (Tampa Bay and Boston) to begin Thursday and the NationalLeague Championship Series (Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Dodgers) on Friday?

Yes, the potential for a fifth game was scheduled, but why make everyone wait four to five days to get the next series started?

Tentative dates could be the answer. Most tickets are allotted to season tickets holders, dignitaries and those with disposable income, so it's not like the tickets wouldn't be used.

Talk about a momentum killer. A sliding schedule would allow a two-day wait before jumping into the next series, only if all playoff series are finished.

If this year's World Series goes to a full seven games, the final game is Oct. 30. One month to play three series, including a best-of-five? That's too long. Last year, snow in Colorado should have been a sign that the baseball playoffs drag too long.

The only World Series to drag into November was in 2001. The terrorist attacks on 9-11 postponed the season one week.

Baseball already appears in late March. Now, we're pushing it too close to November. It's time to trim the season to 154 games, just like the good ol' days. Trimming eight games will keep some players a little fresher.

I'd even consider a 148-game schedule to trim a week off the end of the year and start a week later. The first full week of April would open the season with games played in warm-weather climes.

I've done all I can for now. The rest is up to baseball. Use these at your own discretion. When the weather turns cold, I'd rather be inside, nice and warm, watching football, hockey or basketball.