6:58pm: MLB has officially announced the 16-team playoff format and best-of-three Wild Card Series for 2020.
4:36pm: The league’s owners have ratified the agreement, Sherman tweets. Sixteen teams will make the playoffs this season.
3:27pm: ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that the top two teams in each division will qualify for the postseason under this format. The seventh and eighth teams in each league will be chosen based on the best overall records of the remaining teams. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark adds that all three first-round games of a series would be played at the higher seed’s home park, thus eliminating the need for a travel day.
3:00pm: Just hours before the first pitch of the 2020 season, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have reached an agreement on an expanded postseason field. ESPN’s Marly Rivera reports that the union has agreed to the proposal, which now needs only to be ratified by the owners. Joel Sherman of the New York Post suggests that will indeed happen (Twitter link), and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweets that there’ll be 16 teams as well as a best-of-three first round series (rather than a sudden-death Wild Card setting). The agreement covers only the 2020 season, per both Rivera and Sherman.
The postseason expansion comes with a $50MM player pool for the players, Nightengale further reports. That’s particularly notable given that in a traditional season, player postseason shares are derived solely from gate revenue and not from television ratings. Previous estimates on additional television revenue in an expanded postseason field suggested between $200-300MM could be generated by expanding to 16 teams, and ownership has agreed to share some of that windfall with the players’ side.
The potential ramifications here are broad reaching. It’s easy to envision this serving as a litmus test of sorts for future postseason expansion. The league has previously sought to push to 14 to 16 teams due to that considerable added revenue — the aforementioned revenue boost referenced only television money — and introducing it as a sort of experiment in an already anomalous season is perhaps a more palatable way of normalizing the change.
From a team vantage point, the impact this has on the trade deadline could be enormous. There have been plenty of questions regarding just how much clubs will be willing to surrender in order to acquire rental players in a 60-game season — particularly if the likeliest postseason scenario included a sudden-death Wild Card game. Now, clubs will at least be assured of a three-game series. Paired with the expanded number of fringe contenders a six-team expansion of the field, that could embolden some teams to be more aggressive buyers.
The greater number of postseason clubs not only widens the field of potential buyers but also narrows how many teams will be pure sellers. That could serve to up the demand for the trade assets on the few teams who are committed to selling off pieces. And it could lead to some dramatic last-minute decisions for teams that are on the cusp. Today’s brand of methodical, analytical GMs don’t make the emotional and even irrational plunges into transactions that once proliferated deadline season, but there’s a good chance we’ll again see some creative swaps of unexpected players. Complicated three-team trades have become prominent in recent years, and a radical change to the playoff format should only encourage creativity.
And what of the teams with trade candidates who have multiple seasons of club control remaining? At a time when clubs are reluctant to part with high-end talent to acquire 30-some games of a rental, a player controlled into 2021, 2022 or beyond becomes eminently more appealing. Matthew Boyd, Caleb Smith, Jon Gray, Francisco Lindor, Nolan Arenado and other controllable names who’ve been kicked about the rumor circuit in recent years will again be in demand. Depending on the status of those players’ teams at the halfway point of the season, the motivation to make a deal could increase. It’s worth reminding that only players in a team’s 60-man pool can be traded, so there are some clear restrictions in play, but the ripple effect here could be considerable.
8ManLineupNoPitcherNoDH
Let’s gooooo!
Idioms for Idiots
I wouldn’t normally be a big fan of expanding to 16 playoff teams, but I definitely get why in this case. MLB needs the extra jolt of money, and since the season is already so jacked up, what’s the difference if they decide to make the season even crazier.
I agree with 8ManLineup…Let’s gooooo!
The phrase I love hearing…PLAY BALL!!!!!
Dogbone
@83sox. I guess you would be for it. How many decades since the Chisox have entertained you, in a playoff game?
Idioms for Idiots
@Dogbone
Don’t you mean us? After all, you are one of the biggest Sox fans out there. It’s ok to admit it, now that the 3 years of the brutal rebuild is over. Brighter days ahead for the both of us, and all other Sox fans.
Manfredsajoke
There shouldn’t even be playoffs this year. 60 games is like a extended spring training. Honestly if my favorite team won everything I wouldn’t be thinking that’s a legit championship. I promise if this season and playoffs actually get played I won’t be on here bragging about it.
DarkSide830
you love to see it
snellzilla
EXCUSE ME WHAAAT
Old User Name
Participation trophies and orange slices for everyone!!
Daw(e)some
No juice boxes? Where’s my Capri Sun?
Tom E. Snyder
Has to be Minute Maid. 😉
Cubguy13
Capri sun is a juice pouch not a juice box
BuddyBoy
I have no issue with this for this season. It keeps interest going and helps a team that starts slow in the first couple weeks to have a shot in a shortened season.
Old User Name
My biggest worry is them keeping this nonsense. There has been a push for this lately among owners.
Miles1002
I would agree. But with the extremes of this season. I don’t think it will carry over. Especially with the CBA negotiations coming up. Granted, I’m trying to stay positive and am hoping that I’m right.
Idioms for Idiots
@Joe Says…
I agree. I’m hoping this is a one-time deal (unless COVID-19 makes next season as crazy as this one–I really hope not).
drew ford
Why? What would be wrong with it going forward? It gives more teams a chance so you may not have Baltimore or Detroit situations as often.
PitcherMeRolling
Baltimore and Detroit are still going to be as bad as they would’ve been without the expanded playoffs. More playoff teams doesn’t equate to a higher level of play.
drew ford
I mean if this is a permanent thing teams wouldn’t tank like they have.
drew ford
With permanently expanded playoffs situations like Baltimore and Detroit likely wouldn’t happen in the future.
PitcherMeRolling
Over 162 game season, the worst teams would still have essentially no shot to make the playoffs. I’m not sure why this would change their approach.
drew ford
My point is the worst teams wouldn’t try to be bad like they do now. The Houston model of blowing your team apart to contend five years down the road wouldn’t be necessary because you’d be a lot closer.
Idioms for Idiots
@drew ford
Because going forward you’re watering down the playoffs with 16 teams. Look at the NBA, how many times in the last 20 seasons has the 8th team in the East finished at or under .500? Do you really want that in the MLB playoffs? Plus, the season’s already long enough, the last thing we need is to have the WS dragging out into the middle of Nov (especially if Midwest/NE teams are in the WS).
Old User Name
Drew… Look no further than the NBA to answer tanking questions. Bad teams tank. It’s what they do.
Tom E. Snyder
The players approved it this time. It will be up to them next time.
realsox
Am I the only one who thinks a team should have to win something to qualify for the post-season? As it stands now, 10 of the 16 teams will have won nothing, and the 7th and 8th teams qualifying in each league will be third- or possibly fourth-place finishers in a division consisting of 5 teams. Talk about diluting the value of the regular season! How about this instead: a post-season with all 30 teams; division winners compete for the World Series. Second-place teams compete in a tournament to see who is the best second place team, and so on for third-, fourth- and fifth-place teams. The regular season still has real value because it determines what you will compete for, every team is in the post season so fans will be engaged, countless games on TV, fans packed into ballparks for post-season excitement (assuming pandemic is under control), teams make money hand over fist, so do players.
mj-2
“With permanently expanded playoffs situations like Baltimore and Detroit likely wouldn’t happen in the future.”
Well hell with that theory why not expand to 28 teams. Only the last place team in each league misses out. Everyone is in it until the very end of September this way!
drew ford
You can’t compare basketball and baseball. In basketball it only takes a few players. Mike Trout’s equivalent would have won several championships in the NBA by now but that’s not possible in baseball. A basketball season is much easier to predict. There are never any surprises. In baseball pitchers develop and players emerge. The worst teams can surprise much easier.
Idioms for Idiots
@drew ford
Trout’s equivalent in the NBA could arguably have been MJ, and MJ couldn’t win all those rings by himself. Maybe one ring by himself, but he needed Scottie (and others) to get those 6 rings. And if not MJ, maybe Kobe, LeBron, or whoever you choose. Same goes for them also.
Would you really want an 81-81 team facing an 80-82 team in the WS, if you weren’t a fan of either team? Maybe you would, but most wouldn’t be very interested. The playoff format is fine the way it is, no need to fix what isn’t broken.
drew ford
It would be fun to see the odd .500 team in the WS simply because they probably would have upset a top team or two to get there. Everyone loves an underdog. Having said that it probably would only happen every five years or so but it would give hope to many fan bases who don’t usually have any. Look at Toronto always up against high spenders in Boston or New York, or Colorado up against LA and their payroll. Giving teams a chance would drive interest in a lot of mid markets.
johnnydubz
Nonsense has been going on since the lockout. MLB = WWE hence Astros,Yanks,Red Sox, Dbacks championships are considered “legit”. Every single championship should be vacated with all them POS cheating.
Cubguy13
You wanting this new playoff format to go away next year is not what “staying positive” means
Cubguy13
Lol @ “the Houston model!” Yeah they were the first team to do that….
PitcherMeRolling
Closer to what? Making the playoffs? I think teams are trying to win championships, not slip into the bloated playoffs.
PitcherMeRolling
It takes more players to compete in baseball so worse teams can compete more easily? Nope
deweybelongsinthehall
Without MJ, the Bulls won zilch.
not alkaline
Best 2nd place team. Best 3rd place team. Etc. Brilliant. Perfect solution. So it wont happen
not alkaline
@realsox has the answer
ABStract
There’s nothing to suggest that expanded playoffs will make for less tanking
ABStract
Drew ford, I can’t believe you’re still defending this ridiculousness, there is nothing good about expanding MLB playoffs…stop it
And if this sticks going into future seasons I think baseball will quickly die as the old fans get bored/frustrated leave and no new fans are created by gimmicks like this BS
Idioms for Idiots
@deweybelongsinthehall
Obviously. We saw what happened when MJ retired to play baseball. I’m just saying MJ maybe gets one ring without Scottie (assuming the Bulls don’t get a replacement that’s as good as Scottie–and there weren’t too many of that caliber).
Kayrall
What a time to be alive!
bobtillman
Orioles and Royals in Round 1
joeshmoe11
they wouldn’t even make it if they expanded to 32 teams
nymetsking
lol
kje76
The real question – how many of the Alternate Site Taxi squads would beat the Orioles or Royals?
Srechter35
At this point why not? This season is already going to be such an anomaly, might as well ratchet up the craziness! This could be a weirdly exciting year.
beisbolista
Bad for baseball. Third world series in a row that means absolutely nothing. Greed is ruining the sport
66TheNumberOfTheBest
Unless you know something about the 2019 Nationals that I don’t, I think you mean 3 of the last 4 WS mean nothing.
beisbolista
@forwhom Yes exactly thanks for the correction. Houston almost stole the 2019 world series too. Nationals appear clean
juanpursuit
Why 2016?
Cubguy13
He’s saying 2017, 2018, and 2020
hockeyjohn
This summer’s negotiations did not give you a signal on the greed on both sides.?
ABStract
A bunch of billionaires and millionaires acting greedy? Never!
Gigorilla
so is all the kneeling
wesleyisme
60 game season, 16 playoff teams, and a chance at a World Series title…Yeah, seems legit. I really hope this 16 team playoff format truly is only for this year.
mlbdodgerfan2015
Agreed. This is creating even more randomness in who could potentially win it.
Halo11Fan
Covid is much more random. Soto is now out with Covid. This may allow good teams to overcome stuff like this and that decreases the chance of randomness.
I’m a small playoff person, but this season it makes sense. Not to increase the randomness, but to decrease it.
Cubguy13
Yeah usually viruses only hit a very specific predetermined set of people, unlike covid which is so very random…. stop it
BuddyBoy
I agree as well. For this shortened season, I like it. Moving forward, 8 teams a league would be too many, IMO, in a normal year.
Halo11Fan
Let it play this year, but I don’t want to see this ever again.
Cream doesn’t always rise in 60 games, in 162 it almost always rises.
Soto tested positive for Covid. He is the best player on the Nationals and he may miss three weeks. Three weeks of 162 game season.. so what. Three weeks of a sixty game season makes a huge difference.
hiflew
If you are talking position players, then maybe Soto is the best Nat. But I’d take Scherzer and Strasburg over 3 Sotos.
averagejoe15
I would take 2 Sotos over Scherzer and Strasburg. Pitchers break.
Connorsoxfan
If they go with 6 in each league in the future I think I’d be ok with that but agree 8 is too many, and I think the mini best of 3 is better than the one game play in
Halo11Fan
Keep the five. That’s enough.
BuddyBoy
I would be fine with five or six in a normal season. I do NOT like the one game playoff though, would much prefer the wildcard teams to play a best of three series.
ABStract
Agreed, keep it at 5 teams but make the wild card game an actual series!
The one game can be fun but baseball has always been based on the best team moving forward, thus the use of “best of series” which helps to lower the effects of randomness…a one game playoff has no place in baseball except in the case of ties at the end of a season
PitcherMeRolling
I love this idea. Make the wild cards a best of 3 series with home team having the better record.. It starts the day after the season ends and the winner plays game 1 of the NLDS the day after the would be 3rd game of the wild card series. This makes winning your division a significant improvement over winning a wild card and doesn’t lengthen or trivialize the playoffs.
hiflew
Let’s implement a rover in the field. Why not have the base runners go counter-clockwise this year? Instead of playing extra innings, let’s just install a UFC cage and let the managers go at it to determine a winner. This seems to be nothing more than an experimental season anyway. Why fight it, just steer into the curve.
Miles1002
I mean, at this point, I see a 32 team playoff and you definitely need that UFC cage that you mentioned.
8ManLineupNoPitcherNoDH
Gabe Kapler #1 seed, probably
Miles1002
I don’t know, Davey Martinez looks like a beast. Could be fun to watch that happen.
Gwynning
Nolan Ryan just applied for every managerial job and Don Zimmer just rolled… his eyes.
hiflew
He might be old, but I don’t think I would want to mess with Dusty Baker either. He was one the true original 70s bad ___es.
Oddvark
This is good for my White Sox’s playoff chances, but I still don’t like it. 16 teams making it is just too much.
ukpadre
The rest of the season is a complete joke, why not make the playoffs one too? Owners care about nothing but money, even when they’ve alienated the majority of the fan base they’ll still be pimping the sport for every last dollar.
Miles1002
And the flood gates have officially opened. I’m curious to see how they work this. Is 1 playing against 8? If not, how much time off for teams that finish in the top 2? A full week can be detrimental to any pitching staff. Just curious to see how this is going to happen.
GOMS
I hate the people in charge of this sport
hiflew
They don’t care as long as you are still watching. The only to stop these ridiculous changes is to walk away. I’m still trying to determine if that’s what I want long term, but for now I’m going to maintain.
Tom E. Snyder
You mean the owners and players? They agreed to this.
dman07
This is crazy. Expanded playoffs for a fraction of a season. Lol
Jeff Zanghi
Wow this is a surprise. I thought this proposal was all but dead, and didn’t know they were still trying to make it happen. I think it’ll be good for this year anyway… the more baseball the better. And it gives teams that get off to a rough start more of a chance to turn things around and make a run in the playoffs. I mean take the WS champ Nationals for example… had the season ended after 60 games last year they wouldn’t have even made the playoffs — so this at least gives a chance to teams that have high hopes but struggle out of the gate due to injury or underperformance.
Miles1002
It looks like the playoffs will last longer than the actual season, which is terrible. They couldn’t just be happy to have baseball back. Here they are trying to ruin it.
Captain Dunsel
That’s a problem. The longer the playoffs last, the greater risk of a sudden halt due to a COVID resurgence later in the autumn. While I agree that it cheapens the season even more, it could result in the lack of a champion, tainted or otherwise, altogether.
senior52
Gonna be just like NBA now.
fredziffel78
NHL
ABStract
Ugh…the only postseason (maybe excluding the NFL) worth watching just got shot in the head
The NBA and NHL playoffs are unwatchable for weeks until the finals, guess MLB wants to be too?
Rob Connolly
” So you’re saying there’s a chance! ” Me and all my Padres Fan Friends!
ukpadre
As a Padres fan I would hate for our first WS win to be in this joke of a season. Why have it forever tainted by the circus that it has become? I want us to win a legitimate title in a full season, not in a participation event round robin style farce.
James Midway
You can hate it all you want. If the Padres win it all I’ll still be really happy.
ukpadre
You’re entitled to be. Personally, if we win it all I have about the same level of excitement as I do when we ‘win’ the Cactus League. They hold about the same significance at this point.
LLGiants64
16 of 30. So, a 53% chance of going to the play offs. The NBA can help them with the format. Anybody have a guess as to the W/L of the worst team going into the playoffs?
BuddyBoy
30-30
Gwynning
26-34
BuddyBoy
No way is a 26-34 record going to finish top two in their division or be one of the remaining two best teams. That’s a ..433 win percentage which would not have been close to the playoffs in even an 8 team scenario. In the last two years, there would have been two teams total (1 each year) that didn’t have better than a .500 record and both of those would have averaged a hair of 29 wins in a 60 games season.
mehs
If you look at the standings June 4 of last year where most teams had played about 60 games the 8 seeds would have been CLE and STL each with 30 wins. 2018 TB with 28 and a 3 way tie with 30 between COL, PIT, SF. So will we be looking at playing games to get into the 8 seed.
Halo11Fan
Who are the two best teams in baseball, the Yankees and the Dodgers. Right?
What if one of them had a hiccup, and didn’t make the playoffs? You’d get an entire group of people ripping this baseball season. What if Cole got Covid and the Yankees finished just out of the playoffs 33-27.
This helps good teams survive a hiccup. It may even add some credibility to the playoffs.
I think people need to think a little more and react a little less. If a team beats the Yankees in October, they’ll have to get by Cole…twice. If they can do that, they deserve it.
MetsFan22
I don’t think yankees are the 2nd best team in baseball. Braves Nats Mets and Phillies probably win 100 games in the AL… it’s not that hard. I think yankees are better than Mets Nats and Phillies rn but I wanted to point out their record was overblown.
Orel Saxhiser
You really overrate the Mets.
BuddyBoy
Absurd comment of the day…wow!
Captain-Judge99
I think someone is having an affair with Mr. Met, or J-Lo
Miles1002
I see your point and I completely understand. It just doesn’t feel right to have a team that finishes with a below .500 record to be in the playoffs. Let alone, have a chance to win the World Series. With the playoffs staying the same, it all felt at least somewhat normal.
DarkSide830
i mean even numerically youre still unlikely to get a team below .500 in with alomst every division having at least one team to beat up on, and chances is the worst team doesnt survive the first two wild card games
truthlemonade
DarkSide: Fangraphs just published their projected standings. The 8th seed in the NL is a 4 way tie with 31 wins. In the AL, they project two teams tied with 30 wins battling for that last playoff spot. So, I think a team making the playoffs with a losing record is very possible.
Halo11Fan
It doesn’t “feel” right, but I think it is right.
Soto has Covid, If he misses three weeks, that will greatly hurt the Nationals chances.
This will allow good teams a chance to survive such loses.
ukpadre
It will also allow mediocre teams to scrape in and win it all…
Halo11Fan
There have been plenty of mediocre teams to win and or make the World Series.
mlbdodgerfan2015
True. But on the flip side, the more series the more chances of an elite team getting upset. Usually the better teams wins a series but not always, especially the best in 5 series.
mehs
If that were true then a Wild Card team wouldn’t have won 7 out of 25 World Series since they were added. If the team with the better record won 50% of the time the WC teams should have won 6.25..
mlbdodgerfan2015
What? First of all, the playoffs are a crap shoot to begin with. Team gets hot and they can win it all. That’s why WC teams have won. This new 2020 format creates even more randomness. Eighth seeded team can easily beat the top seeded team in a 2 out of 3 series. What is MLB thinking? Does it create “excitement”? I guess so if you call randomness. I think completely asinine to make first round a three game series. Five game series are bad to begin with, 3 game series is idiotic.
Halo11Fan
Very True. The more chances for an elite team to go down. But also, the more chances for an elite team to survive a Covid outbreak in their clubhouse.
If the Yankees or Dodgers have something strange happen and don’t make the playoffs, that will be worse for the credibility of the season than them getting beat in the playoffs.
PitcherMeRolling
A team wouldn’t have to beat Cole twice in a best of 3 1st round.
Halo11Fan
I’m assuming the Yankees are in the second round.
If the Yankees play a three game series, that would really support my opinion.
Halo11Fan
Maybe I misunderstood this.
I thought the first two teams were safe and the other teams had to have a play in series.
I misread this.
Captain-Judge99
Just have Cole pitch all 3 games. lol
hiflew
With 16 teams in, NOBODY will be 33-27 and miss the playoffs. Unless there happens to be 2 or 3 teams that go 10-50 or so.
beanyboy
In 2020 why not.
TradeAcuna
The season is more useless now than before this announcement.
James Midway
Oh no more playoff teams, you mean it won’t just be the same old predicted teams with bottomless pockets. What a tragedy
JaysForDays
This!
66TheNumberOfTheBest
I think this was a mistake.
The sprint instead of a marathon element of this season was going to be, by far, the most interesting part of it…and now, that is largely gone.
truthlemonade
Why? To increase interest? I guess, sure.
So, I suppose my Padres are pretty much guaranteed to make the playoffs this year, or just about. Nice!
So, the “regular season” is a tournament where you play only 9 other teams, and then the “playoffs” is a second tournament where you play a slightly more exclusive group selected from a pool of 7 teams.
Will the playoffs now extend into November?
shortytallz
Orioles now in da playoffs!
dirtbagbaseball427
Manfred ruins baseball again…what a joke
Hawktattoo
So if the Mariners somehow make it as the 8th team in the AL playoffs…can we really count this as the year they broke the playoff drought? I’m sure the teams marketing will.
DarkSide830
is that really a marketing point for any team?
truthlemonade
The Mariners haven’t made the playoffs since 2001, the longest drought in baseball, possibly in the big 4 major sports. I would think Seattle would grab with both hands any sort of playoff berth.
Hawktattoo
With the drought hey have had would be a huge marketing program.
GOMS
I honestly hope we miss playoffs again because this is garbage
hiflew
They seem to be doing really well on Baseball Reference’s OOTP simulation. I am about at the point where I think we should consider that sim the OFFICIAL 2020 season and just be done with this idiocy.
BuddyBoy
As a Mariners fan, I would count it. I also don’t see it happening, even with the expansion of the playoffs. I think this team is going to win about 25 games this year.
Captain-Judge99
That’s way to many 25. How bout 14 or 15?
Hawktattoo
I think I would also as a Ms fan…I just wonder if it would feel right though….I agree with you…don’t see it happening..but hey you never know.
PitcherMeRolling
I guess the bright side is I’ll save $50 on MLB.TV this year. No reason to watch a regular season that doesn’t matter.
ABStract
^THIS!!!!!
I hope MLB pays attention to this way of thinking because it will kill baseball if allowed to continue
Expanded postseason dilutes the importance of the regular season and when your season is already twice as long as any other sport, it should mean something!
Boston2AZ
I’ll be sitting this season out. If I want to see Mickey Mouse entertainment, I’ll go to Disneyland.
The Human Toilet
Cannot even go to Disneyland right now, so you will be watching.
realgone2
Disney world is open for “bizness”
Wakanda_EBT
Nice. All this means is more baseball games being played. I like it
PitcherMeRolling
Major League Baseball: We don’t want to play too far into the fall because of COVID.
Also Major League Baseball: Let’s add 6 playoff teams and lengthen the 1st round. That doesn’t fly in the face of anything we’ve previously said.
BuddyBoy
Your’re talking about adding roughly four or five days to the playoffs, its not like they are adding a bunch of seven game series or something.
PitcherMeRolling
I’m not sure how you think this changes what I said.
ukpadre
Both parts of your comment come down to one thing: money. Owners used the ‘don’t hold late into year’ excuse/lie to ensure there were fewer regular season games with no fans in attendance and so they could pay players less pro rata.
Second part is again about money as they make a load of it from playoffs, selling tv rights. It’s just greed, greed, greed, mostly from the owners but the players union is almost as bad, and to heck with the integrity of the game or fan opinion. As long as they line their pockets they don’t care about anyone else or the long-term future of the game.
ukpadre
*don’t play late
(Typo)
thebaseballfanatic
Wait a second… This means we might actually see playoff action in Baltimore this season. Unfortunately, we aren’t talking about the Orioles.
reebop989
Manfred did it. Baseball is dead. Too bad. It had a good run. It took almost a century and a half for greed and ineptitude to kill it.
thebaseballfanatic
Hmm… negativity.
realgone2
So, does that mean there will be a new hat and shirt for sale every round a team wins?
MLB is garbage.
ABStract
Didn’t even think of this!
But think of all the clothes that will be going to third world countries from the teams that lose
I bet some kid in the boondocks of some random country somewhere has a whole collection of Dodgers World Series champs gear
SoxRewl
Love this deal. A 60 game season just got more integrity for the future world champion
creacher
“Well here come the playoffs, ready or not” – Jon Sterling 2009, ALDS Game 1. And his quote is fitting for this year
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
Maybe the World Series champs can play the Super Bowl champs in a best-of-five soccer series!!
ukpadre
+1
DT.J.B.
I love baseball and alot of the traditions, but for everyone so angry about the expanded playoffs, just go with it. If they can safely complete the season just have fun watching. That’s why are fans yeah?
mattynokes
I don’t mind the expanded playoffs for this season, but having the top two teams per division make it, regardless of record, is a joke. A strong division could certainly have a 4th place team better than another division’s 2nd place team and miss out (i.e. ALC in 2018). It should just be 5 wildcard slots.
bayareabenny
What’s the cliché about Pandora’s box? I think this expanded playoffs aka money grab is here to stay so get used to it.
ABStract
Game recognize game!
Orel Saxhiser
If my team the Dodgers aren’t the best team, then they are certainly in the top two or three. That said, I am okay with this arrangement for one year. My lone concern is that an extended post-season increases the possibility of the pandemic shutting down the season before a champion is crowned.
Captain-Judge99
Well hopefully the 20/20 Miracle Mets don’t knock you guys out. Solution: Just never leave the house ever again. lol
Orel Saxhiser
I’m not consumed by championships. It’s not why I started following baseball (and continue to follow after dropping all other sports).
Angels & NL West
Well, I’m in the minority on this one but I’m all for expanded playoffs. Everything, good or bad, means more at playoff time. Every pitch, every managerial decision, every hit – they all matter more.
Orel Saxhiser
I’m with ya. Unusual circumstances. Let’s do something different.
flmetfan
Exactly, more meaningful baseball for fans!
Stevil
This is ridiculous. More than half the teams getting in waters everything down. I’m all for expansion and extending the Wild Card series, but 16 teams?
I certainly hope this doesn’t lead to an agreement that keeps this format. Twelve would be plenty.
Hawktattoo
I agree…but hey more teams…more games and more money! Money drives it now.
George Ruth
The Degrading of the game continues because it is absolutely idiotic to have 16 teams in the playoffs just like it’s idiotic to have the Dumb Hitter (DH) Rule in the National League as is placing a runner on 2nd base in every extra inning that is played.
What’s next MLB starts playing with fluff baseball’s.
Rob Manfred & Tony Clark are turning the game of Baseball into a FLUCKING DISGUSTING JOKE & Abner Doubleday is rolling over in his grave with his game being destroyed from the inside out
tigerdoc616
I’m OK with this…………for this year. 60 game schedule is not enough to separate the mediocre teams from the good teams. Nats would have been out last year after 60 games. Going forward though, playoffs should not be expanded until we expand the number of teams.. Playing 162 games a year should be enough to separate the good from the mediocre. I get money plays a role, but under normal circumstances, to play 6 months of baseball to end up with half your teams in the playoffs cheapens the regular season. Lets not go down that road.
PitcherMeRolling
I’ve seen several comments saying that expanded playoffs make this season less of a crapshoot. What is the rationale behind this thinking? 60 games is a short season, but it’s still much more indicative of true talent than a 3 game series. Also, I don’t know that there’s any reason to think COVID will be less of an issue in 2-3 months.
Interested to hear peoples’ thoughts about this.
mlbdodgerfan2015
@ PitcherMeRolling. Well, two things going on here. #1, we now have 8 teams from each league make it versus 5 teams. This could take out some randomness out of 60 games. Let’s say a top team like the Dodgers or Yankees get out to a bad start. Maybe they rally but not enough games to get into the playoffs. This makes it more likely that the top teams will make it. Of course, some lesser teams will make it too. #2, the best out of 3 for the first round is pure stupidity. And in my opinion wipes out any benefit from extending to 8 teams per league. Even the worst team in baseball could beat the best team in baseball in a 3 game series. And I would agree with you in that it makes it even more of a crap shoot. All teams have to play 3 game series in first round. I don’t think everyone knows that.
PitcherMeRolling
If a team loses too many games to get into the playoffs, they’re not a top team. It seems like many people recognize that this format will get more teams into the playoffs, but don’t recognize that the more teams in the playoffs mean it’s less likely the best teams will play in the world series.
wild bill tetley
#1 seed should have home field for every game in their first round.
hiflew
With no fans in attendance, what exactly does having home field get you? Every team could play in Podunk, South Dakota and get the same reaction.
wild bill tetley
Having the last at bat. In your case, your Rockies would have a chance to hit since they struggle mightily on the road.
Halo11Fan
hitflew, that’s a great point.
Once they guy to robo umps, home field advantage will be cut in half.
ABStract
I cannot wait for the accuracy of robo-umps…the one thing they should have implemented this year but didn’t!
Instead let’s just dilute the importance of the regular season and put runners on base out of absolutely nowhere…the cracks in the veneer are showing MLB, tread carefully
hockeyjohn
In the first round, all of the top seeds play the best of three at home.
kje76
They do.
The highest seed will host all three of the first round games. That way, they don’t have to schedule a travel day.
Captain-Judge99
This makes no sense if your 25-35 this year you have a chance to get in the playoffs and win a World Series. Who came up with this format hockeyjohn?
Dorothy_Mantooth
I don’t understand why they limited tradable players to just the 60 man roster. There are some very good (but young) players who didn’t make their team’s 60 man roster but would be valuable pieces to include in a trade deadline deal, especially for rebuilding teams who have a few veterans and want good young pieces in return.
Captain-Judge99
How many wild cards 6, 8, 10? This is stupid. Just for a way for the league to make more $.
SalaryCapMyth
We just MIGHT see a couple .500 or under teams. If the season had ended with this playoff format, the Rangers 78-84, would have made it.
Captain-Judge99
Imagine if the Rangers won a World Series at 78-84. Could you even call them World Champions with a losing record? Ridiculous
The Human Toilet
I would be more outrage that the Rangers get to play an extra 102 games then the rest of the league this year.
ukpadre
They might have to if they want to get enough wins to make the playoffs.
James Midway
I would call them world champions because they won the World Series
hiflew
Then again, if you are unable to beat a 78-84 team in a 7 game series, you probably don’t deserve to be called World Champs anyway.
SalaryCapMyth
Meh..a lot of posters really hate this. For this year, I’m okay with it. Most teams who could win the world series is going to have there detractors saying they won because it was a shortened season so why should I care to much. At this point, the World Series could be Padres and Blue Jays and I would be fine with that.
metsfan68
Seahawks at 7-9 beat the defending champ saints in the playoffs. It can happen ( panthers won too with a 7-9 record
richard dangler
Terrible idea. It will never go back. It’s as if mlb is determined to ruin itself.
Captain-Judge99
We might as well just play cricket this year instead of baseball
birdsfan415
this is a horrible plan
kreckert
And…. a season that was already going to be nothing more than awful has now become unwatchable. Thank you, MLB, for doing exactly nothing right, and for doing it for the worst possible reason, to make money you don’t need.
To hell with this sport.
BigFred
Has anybody calculated how late in the year the World Series could end if one or both leagues go the distance on all of the playoff series? Some MLB cities get a bit nippy in the Fall.
Orel Saxhiser
Not sure, but “Jingle Bells” might make for a good walk-up song at Fenway.
BigFred
Looks like the last game of the World Series last season was on October 30. Maybe we’ll see Thanksgiving baseball this year.
kje76
It’s three more days. They had planned to end the regular season on September 27th anyway. The first round will go from Sept. 29-Oct. 2. After that, things progress normally. It shouldn’t add any more time than in a regular season that normally ends around the 2nd.
sufferforsnakes
Dumb
minny505
I’m just happy the season is back on and if 16 teams make the playoffs, all us spectators win because…more baseball.
That said, I am surprised and disappointed by the players union here settling for 18%-25% of the projected monetary pie. They are taking 100% of the risk with that deal and getting a small fraction for a reward.
Unless individual playoff performance is the best way for most of these guys to make more off-field money. I’ll be honest that I don’t have a clue about that aspect and reserve the right to change my mind.
Orel Saxhiser
Gotta love baseball having a Sweet 16. Will the other 14 teams play in the NIT?
flmetfan
If you like 60 of something, why wouldn’t you like more?
Halo11Fan
Look at all the stuff going on… WE HAVE BASEBALL.
I don’t get all the complaining. Talk about a lack of perspective.
Hawktattoo
True..very true!
josiahdd
Just because we have baseball doesn’t mean over half the league should be in the postseason, that the #1 seed is no longer guaranteed a 5 game series, and that there should be no disadvantage to being a wild card team aside from home field.
Halo11Fan
Kershaw is out. Soto has Covid. The best teams may not rise to the top. I have no issue with this.
youngTank15
This is a pointless season along with the janky end to the NHL and NBA seasons, all because people(addicts) can’t go one single year without sports.
Pete'sView
Booo!
skrockij89
Mariners will still miss the playoffs lol. It’s tough being a fan.
josiahdd
So the #1 seed in each league isn’t even guaranteed a 5 game series?? No disadvantage to being a wildcard team.
GreenWood Porter
Any team that can’t win a 3-game series with every game at their home park doesn’t deserve to make the divisional round.
bencole
I just permanently cancelled my season tickets because of this.
giants number 1 fan
If I could afford em in the first place, I’d be right there with you.
619bird
No way the Cardinals don’t make the playoffs now right?
CNichols
The only problem for them is that the NL central has 4 “good” teams that could beat each other up. So If SD and AZ rack up wins on COL and SF like they should, then the west will probably get one of those wild card slots, which leaves only one for the east or central to grab. Still decent odds STL can finish first or second though and get a spot. Or even third if they can beat out someone from the east. It’s just not a sure thing in that division
Will Dodge
does anyone know if there will be tiebreaker games if teams tie between 1st and 2nd or 2nd and 3rd or are they just going to use the head to head matchup records?
giants number 1 fan
MLB putting the finishing touches on this utter farce of a season by adding watered down playoffs! Woot woot!
Melchez
I think this is a very good idea. With the other system, teams would have to win about 90 games to get into the playoffs. Teams like the Orioles, Tigers, Royals, Mariners have no chance at winning 90 games, so might as well tank. If they keep this expanded system, a team like the Rangers who didn’t even play .500 last year would make the playoffs.
Every team should have a chance of winning half their games if they tried. At least during spring training every team could think they have a shot.
JerryBird
Then why in the heck do they even bother with a fake 60 game season? How about put a runner on third in the 1st inning and play until he scores.? Anymore bright ideas? This season so freakin’ lame.
johndietz
This season is going to be exciting. More teams will be playing for October and that should generate more interest from more fan bases
jleve618
I feel like this would have been the perfect opportunity to break in the robo umps. Would provide more social distancing and give us a chance to see how it would work on the biggest stage. Pity.
JaysForDays
No surprise with the whining about the expanded playoffs from many here. Frankly, I like the setup better than the WC 1 game play-in. I like that the top 2 teams in each division plus the next best 2 teams make it in. Be nice to see smaller market teams get to play underdog while still rewarding the better performing teams HFA for the series. The arguement of watering down the game doesn’t hold any weight in a 3 game series. The sport is losing fans by the season without replacing them — this could spark excitement in markets that might compete once every decade with the biggest spenders. I fully expect the players and owners will want to keep this format beyond this season. It’s here to stay.
warnbeeb
The Tigers are going to squeak in as the 8th team in the AL. They will fly into NY and Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal will shut down the Yankees and win the first 2 games and eliminate the Yankees AGAIN!!!!!!
metsfan68
They better make all 32 teams in the playoffs. After the opening day c–p i seen last night, i believe many fans will stop watching the games unless their favorite team is in the playoffs
empirejim
Ya, just what I want to see: Some sub-.500 team playing in the World Series. Pretty much makes the regular season pointless. What’s next? Double elimination? Loser’s Bracket? Nothing like being rewarded for mediocrity. Way to go.
Bill Skiles
No baseball player left behind.
yankfann
Will the few teams left out of the playoffs at least get a participation trophy, so they don’t have to feel sad?
Bill Skiles
Money money money – Money!