Report: MLB Expands Playoffs to 10 Teams in 2012
February 29, 2012 2:11 pm via Twitter for MacReplyRetweetFavorite
Finally, we have an answer for the 2012 MLB playoff picture.
The thing that makes the MLB playoff system better than every other professional sport is the superiority of the teams that make the post-season. Sixteen teams is absolutely ridiculous, which is why it’s impossible for me to get interested in the NBA. The NFL might have the best structure, with 12 of their 32 teams eligible for post-season play.
I think this change helps more than it hurts, even though I am against expanding playoff eligibility as a whole. First of all, it allows more teams to stay in the playoff race. The odds of the playoff picture being set in the middle of September are a lot slimmer with this format. Also, it offers incentive to win the division. In a recent interview, general manager of the Yankees, Brian Cashman, said he didn’t really care if he won the division in 2010 because they were in the playoffs no matter what.
Having the structure of the two wild card teams playing in a one-game playoff won’t allow teams to settle for the wild card. No team will want to risk their playoff lives in a one-game scenario, and it doesn’t allow a team to set their playoff rotations for the Divisional Series.
The biggest benefactors from this announcement are the teams in the American League East and National League East. Both of those divisions are loaded, with as many as four teams that will be in the hunt for the division and wildcards.
Of course with any good news there is always some bad. I do hate the randomness of a one game sample ruining an 162 game season for a team. This is why I dislike a tournament style format in sports. The luck factor comes into play way too often. Just look at the New York Giants this season.
However, I think the good outweighs the bad, and I couldn’t be more excited about the upcoming 2012 season.
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