Possible MLB Playoff Expansion

[MVP12]

Just got done reading an article where Bud Selig said that he wants to expand the playoff format from 8 teams to 10 teams (5 in each league) by adding an extra wild card team. He doesn't know what the format will be and is thinking of it in his head, it will be a big discussion topic come January 12-13 when everyone meets again.

I think it is kind of stupid that it is 10 teams, i can see 12 teams and do something similar to the NFL where the two best teams have a bye the first series...I am sick of the same teams going to the playoffs via the wild card spot..i am a huge red sox fan and i know they have been the wild card most of the time but it will be good to have more teams involved to take on the sox. Since 03' when the sox became relevent again, thats 8 years. 7 of those 8 the wild card for the AL has gone to an East team. I hate how one team from each division can go to the playoffs when the others are still worthy.

What are your guys thoughts on the subject. I would love to hear your thoughts.

 

[The Brain]

I really hate the idea of MLB expanding the playoffs. It’s perfect the way it is now. It’s ridiculous that half the teams in the NBA and NHL make the playoffs, sometimes with sub .500 records. I know Selig is only looking to go from eight to ten, but before you know it ten will become twelve. Just leave it alone. It’s the best playoff system in sports.

I know the argument is it will keep more teams involved and give fans of more teams something to be excited about. It seems logical, but if people would take the time to step back and look at the regular season they would see it is not necessary. Just this year the NL West and NL Wild Card came down to the final game of the season. Every year there is at least one race that is determined during the final weekend. Recently there were three consecutive years, 2007-2009, that had a one game playoff for the final postseason spot. It also happened in 1998 and 1999. The bottom line is the final weekend of the season is exciting enough as is without expanding the postseason and often we get that one game playoff anyway.

 

[MVP12]

well yeah just because they add a few more teams doesnt mean that the closeness of the playoff hunt will stop. I mean there are still going to be close races for the playoff spots. Who knows there still might be a team or two fighting for the last wild card spot or even both wild card spots. Just cause a few extra teams get in doesnt take away from the excitement

 

[The Brain]

It actually does take away from the excitement a little. The Padres, Twins, and Tigers each lost a one game playoff in recent years. If the postseason was expanded those teams would have just got in anyway making the stretch run very anitclimatic. The whole reason they are considering expanding the postseason is to make it so more teams are in contention. I'm saying enough teams are in contention as it is.

 

[Davi323]

Actually, I am going to take the opposite side here. When you have teams that finish tied with identical records or within a single game of each other in the regular season after ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY TWO games, obviously, the differences between them are minimal. When you have that many regular season games, and end up with playoff races that are that close, I can see the argument that maybe expanding the playoffs is the way to go. Its hard to argue that a team with 95 regular season wins is really heads up better than a team with 94. One game out of 162? That is approximately a .06% difference in winning percentage. Less than 1% difference. 6 one thousandths. When you play that many games, and your margins are still that small, I can see MLB's argument here. I am not a fan of Bud Selig...in fact the day he officially leaves I might do a happy dance. But, I don't really think this is such a bad idea.

Also, given that the 3rd place AL East team sometimes has a better overall record in a tougher division than some division winners, its a way to give them a little satisfaction. It has always bothered me that a team could finish with a significantly better record than another team in the same league, and miss out on the playoffs, because they happened to play in the AL East. I don't like the idea that a weak team in a weak division can get the chance, because they play a weak division, and a strong team from a strong division, that would whip the weak division winner in a playoff, gets shafted. If MLB went purely by records and did not go by divisional standings, it would be a moot point. But they don't, and weak teams get rewarded for playing in a weak division.

 

[Big Sexy]

I've always thought that MLB should go the NFL route and have 6 teams from each league but I guess 5 is something. To have a 162 game season and then only have 8 out of 30 teams make the playoffs just doesn't seem right. This will also make the month of September a lot more competitive. Once late August rolls around the majority of the league is already either out of the playoff race completely or in need of a miracle to make the playoffs. This will add a lot more excitement to the playoff races.

This also gives the teams at the top who win their division more of a reward. Having a few days where all of your pitchers can get rested up and be ready to go is a great incentive for winning the division crown.

 

[People's Champ]

There was an SI article on this, an it laid out the benefits of expanding to an extra wildcard. Its a good idea. I don't like the fact that winning the division has no meaning in baseball. By adding the extra wildcard, more emphasis is placed on winning your division, because you don't want to be stuck having to play what amounts to a play in game just to get in.

And while its true we've seen some divisions come down to the last game and a little extra, that has been the exception, not the rule, so to speak. Yes we've seen that recently, but that doesn't happen very often. Looking through past years, most of the time, by September, most teams are out of playoff contention. With the expansion, we can see more teams who are still it and more meaningful baseball. Everyone hated the addition of the wildcard, but now people love it. Once we see the effect of the expansion, I'm sure everyone will come around to it.

 

[CH David]

If they make it a play-in series than they are fucking ******ed. That's what I know for sure. It makes the season an extra week long (even just best of 3). I love baseball, it's been my consistent favorite sport for my whole life, but I can't handle baseball going any farther into November. If it's just a one game play-in, then you know what, go for it. It's great for ratings since people like to see elimination games, and it brings a Game 7 intensity to it. I may not currently like it but if it's one game then I'll eventually come around to it.

 

[People's Champ]

If they make it a play-in series than they are fucking ******ed. That's what I know for sure. It makes the season an extra week long (even just best of 3). I love baseball, it's been my consistent favorite sport for my whole life, but I can't handle baseball going any farther into November. If it's just a one game play-in, then you know what, go for it. It's great for ratings since people like to see elimination games, and it brings a Game 7 intensity to it. I may not currently like it but if it's one game then I'll eventually come around to it.

It would be 1 game, not a series. The 2 wildcard teams would play 1 game to determine who gets to advance. If it was a series, then yes it would be stupid. But its a 1 game playoff, so that would be good.

 

[MVP12]

If they make it a play-in series than they are fucking ******ed. That's what I know for sure. It makes the season an extra week long (even just best of 3). I love baseball, it's been my consistent favorite sport for my whole life, but I can't handle baseball going any farther into November. If it's just a one game play-in, then you know what, go for it. It's great for ratings since people like to see elimination games, and it brings a Game 7 intensity to it. I may not currently like it but if it's one game then I'll eventually come around to it.

If they added just the one extra wild card team it would be stupid to make it a series, but if they eventually come to think that 6 teams should be in the playoffs in each league then you can make the wild card series a 3 game series. so it would be wild card vs wild card and wild card vs worst divison winner, in a 3 game series, so you will see each teams best pitchers. Then after that round the division winners will have there matchups with the winners of the wild card round, just like in football...just think that would be a great idea in my opinion, season wouldnt be THAT much longer.