"Just get it done. I don't care how"

Earlier this month, MLB announced that they would be expanding the post season format from eight total teams to ten in an attempt to increase season long interest. By expanding to a format that entertains not one but two wild card teams per league, MLB is essentially trying to re-create what will forever be known as “Wild Card Wednesday”, game 162 of the 2011 season that saw the Cardinals oust the Braves and the Rays oust the Red Sox despite neither team being in the same state.

There are just two big differences that will change the post season in 2012, but both could be seen as undesirable. The first is the implementation itself. It puts extreme pressure on the two teams to throw out their best pitchers just to make the Divisional Series round and possibly limit their “ace” to just one appearance.

The second, while only intended for 2012, could be even more detrimental to the process. In order to maintain scheduling for broadcasting purposes, not only is an off day being removed from the two League Divisional Series, but the team that is ranked number one in each league, the team with the best record in each league, is forced to lose their home field advantage by starting the first two games in the city of the wild card team that wins the play in game. Maybe MLB should have been more concerned about doing things right instead of right now.

Tags: new playoff format