MLB & Additional Wild Card

[Redz]

I was initially repulsed by the idea of adding more teams to the MLB playoffs (especially if they were going to add another round of playoffs), but the proposed idea of adding a 2nd Wild Card team and having the two Wild Cards meet in a one game playoff is a decent idea.  It would make winning the Division have some merit again, and weaken the power of getting in by Wild Card.  Plus, the one game playoff has always been an exciting facet of teams reaching the playoffs.  If they're going to add teams to the post season, I think this is a decent way to go.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110807&content_id=22905460&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[Moranis]

I'd actually prefer a 3 game series, with the first game at the 5th place team and a double header the next day at the 4th place team.

So a sample

NL
Monday - 4 at 5
Tuesday - 5 at 4, 5 at 4
Wednesday - 3 at 2
Thursday - 4/5 at 1, 3 at 2
Friday - 4/5 at 1
Saturday - 2 at 3
Sunday - 1 at 4/5, 2 at 3
Monday - 1 at 4/5
Tuesday - 3 at 2
Wednesday 4/5 at 1

AL
Same schedule but start on Tuesday with first Monday off.  That way there is never more then 3 games on any given day and at least 2 games every day (if they go 5 of course) except the first Monday and the second Thursday.

[wdleehi]

I am OK with the idea of a short wild card play in series.


I just hope they don't go the way of the NBA playoffs.  To many teams, to long of a playoff. 

[Donoghus]

I like the 2 Wild Cards/1 game playoff idea.  It certainly behooves a team to win a division.

It also almost certainly eliminates the chances of a wild card team getting its rotation set for a 5 game divisional playoff series and running over a division winner because of it.

[Donoghus]

Sounds like a done deal.

From ESPN:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7638357/mlb-expand-playoffs-two-teams-10

[Rondo2287]

I just don't understand the point of playing 162 games and having a one game playoff.  It doesnt add anything to the product for me.

[Donoghus]

I just don't understand the point of playing 162 games and having a one game playoff.  It doesnt add anything to the product for me.

I think, from a competitive standpoint, it helps division winners right now because it won't allow Wild Card teams to simply align their rotation so they can trot out their #1 guy in Game 1 of the ALDS which is only a 5 game series.  Since you're having a one game playoff, then you're pretty much forced to throw your best starter out there unless you feel like rolling the dice. 

(This is under the principle that a team has the Wild Card locked up before the last couple of games of the season)

[Bahku]

Couldn't find an appropraite thread, but the Cards have just scored 4 runs after being down 2 with one out left before the end of their season ... absolutely amazing. They're about to pull off a playoff miracle.