I had the feeling that this would be like the previous cycles:The first place fleets of each division go to the playoffs.Since though we only have 4 in each division then at least i beleive we should somehow award the fleets that won most matches in the regular season so the wins there will have a meaning.
Therefore this is what i suggest wich is very similar to the previous cycles.
4thplace delta and alpha are disqualified from the playoffs.
Delta division:3rdplace vs 2ndplace ->Semifinals:winner vs 1stplace they fight for the Delta divisional championship and for the league final match
Alpha division:3rdplace vs 2ndplace ->Semifinals:winner vs 1stplace they fight for the Alpha divisional championship and for the league final match
Match #1
2nd place Delta Semifinal #1(delta champion)
vs. 1st place delta
3rd place Delta vs.
Match #1 winner Championship Match
Semifinal #1 winner
vs
Semifinal #2 winner
Semifinal #2(Alpha champion)
1st place alpha
vs
Match #2 Match #2 winner
2nd place Alpha
vs.
3rd place Alpha
I thought one of the negatives about previous cycles was if a fleet has a bad record and already knew it wouldnt make the playoffs, then there was further dis-incentive to finish the regular season. With only 8 teams, it made sense (to me) to arrange all 8 in a playoff bracket.
The other aspect you noticed was cross-divisional pairings in the brackets. This was done so if one bracket had exceptionally good fleets in it (i.e it was a hard divison), a team with a mediocre record in that division wouldn't be penalized by having to face a team from the same diviision in the 1st round.
Here in the US, every year this time, we have a huge sporting event called 'March Madness' where the top 64 college basketball teams participate in a single elimination tournament to crown the overall champion. The best teams in the country in the regular season are rewarded in two ways: (1) given a venue that is geographically close to their University, thereby giving them somewhat of a 'home court advantage.' (2) is giving them a 16th seed to play in the first round (i.e. one of the 4 weakest teams in the tournament).
We cannot simulate 'home court advantage' in our league. I can reward better fleets (i.e. better regular season record) with a 1st round matchup against the weakest fleet in the opposing division.
Having said all that, this is YOUR league, and I am a lame-duck commissioner. I will create whatever tournament format that is agreeable to the majority of fleets.
Speak now or forever hold your peace!