Postseason is the holy ground of MLB. The playoffs can make or break superstars and create memories that last a lifetime. It is not for everyone, though, as only 10 teams in the league meet during fall. Rob Manfred wants to change this by expanding the postseason to 14 teams.
This has not gone well with anyone related to baseball whatsoever. Even Trevor Bauer had something to say about it. The Indians’ pitcher took to Twitter to call Manfred “A joke”. There’s a good reason for that as the new proposal looks more like a reality show rather than a playoff scheme.
The Method Within The Madness
There would be seven playoff contenders for each league, three divisional winners and four Wild Cards. The team with the best record in each league would get a bye and move straight to the Divisional Series. The remaining division winners and the Wild Card with the best record would then play the lesser record teams at home for the entirety of a two out of three series. Only then would the playoff resume like they usually do. However, divisional winners would get to pick their rivals for the round. Just in case this wasn’t gimmicky enough, MLB plans to broadcast their “Selection Show” live on National TV.
Roll Roll Roll Your Tank
Not all people are against the change, of course. ESPN’s Buster Olney called the Rob Manfred proposal “An anti-tanking measure” as it gets more teams a shot at the trophy, especially those that have not been in the playoffs for a while now. But, does this really fix tanking? No, not really.
Teams like the Orioles or the Marlins are in no way ready to compete and given the current free agency system, they would much rather lose to cash in on some good prospects at the draft and try to save some money to buy off a superstar when ready to make a push for the playoffs. The Phillies did it, so did the Padres and the Cubs. Even Mike Trout’s Angels have done similar things. Say all the nice things you want about this new playoff format, but it does not fix tanking.
The teams who came close to the playoffs but weren’t quite there yet are supposed to compete for a spot next season. That is what the regular season is there for after all. While the new format has been bashed by many, there is one reason to smile and be thankful for it.
Kick Him Out
It is no secret that commissioner Rob Manfred and the Players’ Association don’t get along all that well. Relationships have been tricky ever since he began fixing his attention on the pace of the game. Trying to implement the pitch clock didn’t do him any favors. Things haven’t gone any smoother with team owners either. Therefore, this proposal might play in their favor.
Owners, players, and the Players’ Association leaders should stand together from here on to the end of 2021. Next year will see the world’s discontent with the man in charge, or so he thinks to be. He’s voted in by the owners, after all. They are the ones who put him there and could kick him out by then. This could very well be the final nail in the coffin for the Manfred administration.