MLB Playoff Expansion Format: Adding Teams Brilliant Move by Bud Selig

No matter what the sport is, playoffs are exciting, which is why it's a fantastic move for Major League Baseball to add two more teams to the postseason starting this year. 

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, MLB commissioner Bud Selig has decided to expand the MLB playoffs from eight to 10 teams.

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Sources: Additional wild cards a "go" for this season. Playoffs to expand from eight to 10 teams. Announcement tomorrow. #MLB

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 29, 2012"

The new collective bargaining agreement for MLB stated that two teams would be added to the playoffs no later than 2013, but Selig wants it done now, and that is the correct call. 

Rosenthal's report said that it isn't completely final, as "there are still a few loose ends." He also said that scheduling will be difficult because everything for the 2012 season is set and that it is unknown which network would broadcast these additional wild card games. 

However, it's hard not to believe that this will get done, especially considering how good it is for the sport. 

According to a report last week from BizofBaseball.com, the new format will feature a one-game playoff between the two Wild Card teams. Whichever team wins that game will then move to the Division Series round.

The MLB playoffs needed a change, and the addition of two more teams should spark more interest in baseball later this fall. 

It's tough for MLB to compete with college football and the NFL, which is why I believe they should shorten the season. Since that doesn't appear likely, sprucing up the playoffs by allowing two more teams to compete is a phenomenal idea. 

This now ensures that the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will likely always be in postseason baseball, something that hasn't been a given with the rise of the Tampa Bay Rays. That means more diehard fans tuning in to see their teams play in the playoffs, which is what MLB needs. 

With two more teams fighting to reach the World Series, not only will it create more viewership for the MLB playoffs, it should also force the teams around the league to play better. 

The postseason competition will be harder because of more teams, meaning everyone will have to give it their all plus some to guarantee that their team is the one making it to the World Series. 

Major League Baseball knew the playoffs were suffering, and this change to the postseason will work wonders.