The New York Post reported earlier today that MLB was exploring the option of a new playoff arrangement starting in the 2022 season. In this arrangement, 7 teams would make the playoffs (instead of 5), and the wildcard game would be expanded into a playoff round. The wildcard round would be three series of three games instead of the one game playoff.
So how does it work?
- The team with the best record in each league would receive a bye and automatically advance to the DS.
- The team with the second best record in each league would choose which team (out of the teams with the 5th-7th best records) to versus in the wildcard round.
- The team with the third best record in each league would choose which out of the remaining two teams (with the 5th-7th best records) to versus in the wildcard round.
- The team with the fourth best record would versus the remaining team in the wildcard round
Using the 2019 AL as an example, the league standings were:
- Astros
- Yankees
- Twins
- A’s
- Rays
- Indians
- Red Sox
Based on these standings:
- The Astros get the wildcard round bye, and head to the DS.
- The Yankees choose to play the Rays, Indians, or Red Sox in the wildcard round. Let’s say they choose the Rays.
- The Twins choose to play the Indians or Red Sox in the wildcard round. Let’s say they choose the Indians.
- The A’s will play the Red Sox in the wildcard round.
I’ve only seen a negative responses to this MLB suggestion so far, but I made a pros and cons list and attempted to view this with an open mind. The fact that it is so different from what we are used to is definitely big factor affecting people’s opinions (including mine).
Pros:
1. There are two extra teams in the playoffs (meaning your team is more likely to make it!)
2. More playoff games (more teams clinching, more excitement)
3. The past couple of years, the wildcard races have been so tight. Any of those teams deserved to be in the playoffs
4. There will be an exciting live show where teams will choose their opponents live
5. There is no other sport where teams can choose their opponent
6. More teams will be likely to make a playoff push
Biggest Pro
I’d say the biggest pro is that more teams would make a playoff push, leading to increased fan engagement in September and the beginning of the playoffs. It would hopefully also make it more competitive and create less of a distinction between top teams and teams who gave up midway through the year.
Cons
1. The league winner has a massive advantage (since they are playing one less round)
2. Division winners earned their spot, they shouldn’t have to go through an additional round
3. How many rounds of playoffs is too many?
4. The wildcard race may be less exciting, since more teams are being let in
5. Why should teams be allowed to choose their opponent?
Biggest Con
The biggest con is that it changes the entire structure of the playoffs, and therefore may affect how likely a certain team is to win it all. The unpredictability of the playoffs may be affected, since teams would be able to choose their opponents and the best team plays one less round. Playing one less round in the playoffs (especially if they are skipping a series), is a huge deal. Even though teams with the best records in each league should have an advantage, this kind of advantage may be too much.
What do you think about this potential new setup?
If you are interested in reading more about how exactly this new playoff structure would work, check out the New York Post article that reported the news: https://nypost.com/2020/02/10/mlb-plotting-playoff-expansion-with-reality-tv-twist/