MLB is proposing a new playoff format which would take effect in 2022 which would expand the number of teams in the post-season from 10 to 14 (7 in each league). From The New York Post:
In this concept, the team with the best record in each league would receive a bye to avoid the wild-card round and go directly to the Division Series. The two other division winners and the wild card with the next-best record would each host all three games in a best-of-three wild-card round. So the bottom three wild cards would have no first-round home games.
The division winner with the second-best record in a league would then get the first pick of its opponent from those lower three wild cards, then the other division winner would pick, leaving the last two wild cards to play each other.
To use the AL last season as an example, the Astros, with the best record, would have received the bye. The Yankees, with the second-best record, would have had the choice to pick from among the Rays, Indians and Red Sox. Boston had the worst record of that group. Would the Yanks pick them or avoid the baggage of a series with their rival? It would create a ton of strategy and interest, and this is what MLB wants to sell. The Twins would then pick next as the other division winner, and then the A’s with the best wild-card record would play the team not chosen by the Yankees or Twins.
The plan is to have this all play out on a show on the Sunday night the regular season ends and have representatives picking teams on live TV — think the NCAA selection show, but just with the teams making the selections. The rights to that show is part of the enticement to potential TV partners.
Dear Lord.
Until 1969, only two teams made the post-season. The World Series was the post-season. Under this proposal nearly half of all MLB teams would make the post-season. We've gone from teams having a 1 in 8 chance (and later a 1 in 10 chance of making the post-season in the early expansion era) to teams having a 1 in 2 chance of earning a post-season berth. The playoffs are in danger of being a glorified participation trophy. Having teams handpick their opponents doesn't make things interesting. It turns MLB into yet another bad reality show.
While I agree that the Wild Card should be a best of three, I am still troubled by the fact that the team with the better record hosts all three games. I'd rather see the Wild Card team with the worst record host Game 1 with the team with the better record host Game 2 and if necessary the deciding Game 3. Let's say the Cincinnati Reds are one of the three bottom NL Wild Card teams. What are you telling Reds fans when you say they can't watch one game in their own ballpark?
I am encouraged that Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer and Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Didi Gregorius have voiced their opposition to the proposal. But if the MLBPA sees money like the owners do then it is a fait d'accompli. I can only hope more players speak out against this proposed playoff format like it was New Coke.
No comments:
Post a Comment