Why Bud Selig and MLB Must Change The Current Playoff Format
When Bud Selig decided to introduce the wild card to MLB's playoff system in 1994, many people thought it was a blemish on baseball's tradition and history. Fast forward to the modern day, and you would be hard-pressed to find any baseball fan who does not appreciate what the wild card system has done for the game. It has benefited the league from an economic standpoint, it has created a more competitive and balanced league and it has created a better experience for baseball fans.
Selig now finds himself at a similar juncture. Many fans are clamouring for the addition of two more wild card teams, one to each league, and a new playoff format. Selig has promised that he would take this issue into consideration, and even created a special panel of 'experts' to discuss this idea.
Here are six reasons why Bud Selig must be innovative once again and change the playoff format for the benefit of the game itself.
More Teams Will Be in Pennant Races Down The Stretch
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Pennant races and September baseball are some of the most exciting times in the game. Whether it's the San Francisco Giants winning the division over the San Diego Padres on the last day of the season this year, or the Minnesota Twins erasing a seven-game deficit and beating the Detroit Tigers in an extra-inning tiebreaker to get to the playoffs in 2009; some of the most intense and quality baseball is played down the stretch of the season.
By adding two more wild card teams, you would create even more intense pennant races in September. In the one wild card playoff format, on average there are about nine teams believing they have a chance of getting into one of the four playoff spots in each league. However, by adding another wild card, this number of teams would increase dramatically. Gone would be the meaningless September games for most teams. With the added spot, more teams would hope that a hot stretch could get them into the playoffs and then anything could happen. This would create a much more competitive atmosphere for the regular season's final month.
MLB Will Earn Greater Revenue
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From a league standpoint, adding two more playoff spots will allow them to earn more money. Apart from the obvious fact that there would be at least two more playoff teams to sell tickets, television rights, and other things for, there's the fact that this change will also create more ticket sales and interest in September regular season games. Often times, when it is clear that the team is not going to make the playoffs, fans simply call it quits and get ready for the next year.
However, with more teams in the hunt for the playoffs, more fans will be able to root for their teams and go out to support them. This will boost fan interest and ticket sales significantly. Though ticket sales have continued to increase year-to-year even through this tough economy, MLB cannot disagree with an opportunity to create more revenue.
Teams Will Be Able To Keep Their Homegrown Talent
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The number of players who leave their long-time teams in order to pursue a championship is countless. The line "I just want to win" haunts many small-market teams. The case of Roy Halladay comes to mind. He personally said he always wanted to stay with the team that drafted and developed him, the Toronto Blue Jays. However, after twelve years of pitching in the ultra-competitive American League East with no playoff games to show for it, he demanded out of Toronto. While there is nothing wrong with players pursuing their dreams of winning championships, there is a problem with talented teams taking less fortunate teams' talent and creating a clear distinction of hierarchy in the league.
If more wild card teams are added, small market teams would have the chance to make the playoffs and not be completely punished by playing in a difficult division. In this way, these teams would at least be able to give their players a taste of success and playoff baseball, which might lead to more players staying with their teams instead of joining perennial favourites such as the New York Yankees or the Philadelphia Phillies. This would create more balance of talent in the league, which would ultimately make it much more interesting for all fans.
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More Players Will Have The Chance to Shine in The Playoffs
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How many people had heard of Cody Ross before San Francisco's amazing run in the playoffs this year? The utility outfielder has been tossed around the major leagues before being claimed off waivers by the Giants in the middle of last season. After years of showing glimpses of talent, Ross was able to break through in his first playoff appearance. He was especially pivotal in the NLCS, hitting three home runs against the Phillies and earning series MVP honours.
The playoffs provide a unique opportunity for players. Some are able to step up and truly grasp their potential in these pivotal games. Take Cliff Lee, for example. Sure, he had a great Cy Young season in 2008. However, the past two years, where he has developed a reputation as one of the game's best clutch pitchers, his numbers in the regular season do not exactly jump out at you. In 2009, he was 14-13 with a respectable 3.22 ERA and in 2010 he was 12-9 with a 3.12 ERA. It is Lee's playoff numbers that truly showcase his talent. Over those two years, he has gone 7-2 with a minuscule 2.13 ERA while leading the Phillies and Rangers to the World Series.
The problem is that many players do not even get the chance to showcase their talent in the postseason. Adding two more wild card teams allows more players to show what they can do on the biggest stage. Who knows how many Cody Ross and Cliff Lee types are out there?
Makes Winning The Division More Meaningful
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There was a lot of controversy this past season about whether teams should try to win the division or try to rest their players and set their lineups for the playoffs if they know they will at least have a wild card spot. This came into focus when the Yankees and the Rays were battling it out down the stretch for the division crown; with the runner-up simply scooping up the wild card spot.
In the current playoff system, winning the division does not offer enough of a reward for the effort required to win it. Sure, the team with the best record ensures home field advantage for the playoffs until the World Series (which is a debate in itself if it truly is an advantage), but for the other two division winners there is not really much of a prize over the wild card team.
With the proposed new format, the two wild card teams would play a short series before the divisional series in both respected leagues. This means that the division winners would earn themselves a direct berth into the second round of the playoffs. This would obviously make the race for the division titles more intense and less of an afterthought.
Better Fan Experience
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Ultimately, the game is for the fans. With more teams in the playoffs, there is more baseball to be played. More fans would be able to experience the qualities that make October baseball so amazing. A greater amount of baseball fans would be able to see the intensity and quality baseball being played in the playoffs. With two more wild card teams, you give hope to two more fanbases for their teams to win a championship. What else can a fan ask for, other than that?
Conclusion
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While some leagues are criticized for allowing mediocre teams into the playoffs and having a playoff system that is too 'soft' (the NFL's Seattle Seahawks made the postseason this year with a 7-9 record and two of the NBA's Eastern Conference top eight teams are currently under .500), MLB has been criticized about being too tough on its teams.
MLB has enough talented teams which deserve better than being eliminated without a chance of making a run in the playoffs. In all honesty, going from having only eight out of 30 teams in the playoffs to 10 is not too much to ask. For the traditionalists who say that this change would hurt the league, it is clear that this move would do much more good than evil. It is up to Bud Selig to bring the league to the modern day and expand the playoff format. Just like in 1994, baseball will only thank him.
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