We all should have expected this…
From Sports Illustrated: MLB commissioner Bud Selig announced in November that the league would like to expand from two to four wild card berths. At the time, he said the changes would be instituted by 2013, but that he hoped they could be put into place by 2012.
As it currently stands, the winner of each of the league’s three divisions, plus one wild card in each league, form to make an eight team playoff system. Under the current system, the only penalty for claiming the wild card as opposed to the divisional title is that the wild card team is forced to play the opponent within their league with the best record in the opening round of the playoffs.
Under the new proposed system the two wild card teams from each league will face each other in a one or three game series before the rest of the post season begins.
Well, I appreciate the drama of last season’s final day and I’m sure this new decision about the playoffs will be good for business, the gates at ballparks, plus TV ratings. It seemed that Major League Baseball — um, Bud Selig — was going to pull out all the stops and make sure this all happened.
However, I do think the expansion of the playoff is just not a good idea. I liked having eight teams battle for the World Series, and the situation was perfect.
At this point, it’s vital that a team wins their division (there’s no way around it). I know having a one game playoff adds some welcome intrigue to a season and involves a few more teams into the fold; however, why have a one game playoff and negate all the hard work a team needs to go in order to make the playoffs?
I’m sure a lot of people who are against expanded playoffs will warm to it. It will take time to get acclimated with.
