MLB Playoffs: Adding a Second Wild Card Would Improve the Sport

Currently baseball has the fewest playoff teams of any major sport, with only 26% of teams making the post season each year. At least it is often that amount is effectively out of the playoff race by the All Star Game.

More playoff teams doesn't just mean more interest in the final part of the season, but also more interest and excitement in the post season. Baseball has twice as long of a regular season as any other sport yet rewards the fewest teams for getting through that grind.

Not the best method for keeping your fan base’s interest through six months, especially since the final month of the regular season is becoming more and more overshadowed by the NFL, as it continues to grow in popularity.

Additionally baseball is the only major sport without a salary cap, which essentially translates into a few teams basically guaranteeing that they will occupy a post season spot solely based on the money that they are able to spend. This means even fewer playoff spots for small and mid market teams.

To grow the sport, or regrow the sport as it may be, baseball needs to ensure that mid and small markets maintain interest throughout the season, for which a second wild card race would provide an avenue.

The chase in the final part of the season is the greatest part of sports.

It is hanging on your team’s every win and loss, all the while watching the scoreboard to see if a rival that is either ahead or behind them in the standings has won or lost.

Even if it is a one game playoff between the two wild card teams, just having that extra spot allows for weeks of additional vested interest for a multitude of teams.

The NFL continues to grow in popularity on an exponential basis. Not only were they not set back by the lockout but it seemed to make people crave if more.

If baseball wants to regain some of its relevance, then it needs to start looking forward rather than relying on tradition and the status quo.