Selig: Two wildcards in 2013, possibly in 2012

[Rhettmatic]

richardjustice Richard Justice
Commissioner Selig confirmed MLB is adding two wild-card teams in 2013

richardjustice Richard Justice
Selig said he hopes to add the two wild card teams in 2012.
3 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

http://twitter.com/#!/richardjustice/st ... 1002717184

Thoughts?

[soulchild_07]

Could definitely change the offseason outlook for the Jays...I wonder if the Jays have a plan in place in the event that wild cards do open up this season or is it just business as usual, continue to follow "the plan".

[s e n s i]

i'd still like to see the jays win the AL east, but i can't complain at all. the august/september race will be pretty damn exciting.

and i'd prefer a best-of-3 series with the team with the better record getting to play all three games at home, rather than the one-game do-or-die playoff which looks like they are leaning towards, but oh well.

[baulderdash77]

I think it changes the off season plan. We're really only 2 or 3 upgraded players (pitchers) away from the playoffs now.

In the starting rotation we're only one of WIlson, Darvish, Buhrle or Jackson away IMO

In the bullpen we're only George Sherrill or Javier Lopes plus one of the closers away IMO.

The starter is going to cost 10-20 million, the reliever 4 million and the closer 7-10 million. So at a cost of 25-30 million dollars of increase payroll I think we're a playoff team next year. That's not such a crazy thing to ask.

[dballislife]

so 5 teams from each conference make playoffs? 3 div winners plus 2 wild? how does that work

[Homer Jay]

so 5 teams from each conference make playoffs? 3 div winners plus 2 wild? how does that work

2 wc play a one game playoff. Now its going to matter a lot more to win your division (looking at Sox/Yankees)

[dballislife]

how bout lessen the 162 games, 8 teams from each conf in playoffs, best of 7 throughout playoffs

[PimpHandStrong]

how bout lessen the 162 games, 8 teams from each conf in playoffs, best of 7 throughout playoffs

Please God, no.

What's the point of a 162 game season if more than half the teams make the playoffs? **** (Please Use More Appropriate Word).

Get rid of the divisions, have a balanced schedule. Top 4 from each league make the playoffs.

You're welcome.

[FreeAgent]

how bout lessen the 162 games, 8 teams from each conf in playoffs, best of 7 throughout playoffs

Please God, no.

What's the point of a 162 game season if more than half the teams make the playoffs? **** (Please Use More Appropriate Word).

Get rid of the divisions, have a balanced schedule. Top 4 from each league make the playoffs.

You're welcome.

/thread.

[Randle McMurphy]

The good: The Jays don't have to be better than NYY or BOS to make the playoffs, win the pennant, or win the WS anymore. In that way, the random luckfest that is the MLB playoffs could be quite good for them if they happen to make it.

The bad: Teams are now playing for TWO wild card spots on completely different schedules, instead of just one. That makes no sense. As a result, it is the teams in the weaker divisions that will continue to benefit here.

[lilneige]

good news for the Jays

[Mak]

Really hate 1 game playoff. They should do best out of 3.

AL 4 vs 5 plays double header on Day 1, if needed game 3 on day 2
NL 4 vs 5 pays 1 game on day 1 and double header on day 2.

[CPT]

I wouldn't scrap the divisions altogether, because it would be nice to preserve those rivalries, but I think they should move to two divisions in each league, and have 6 teams make the playoffs. Two division winners get a bye, while the 4 wild card teams play 3 game series. Wild card series winners play division winners in 5 game series, and those winners play in the ALCS/NLCS in 7 gamers.

I'd settle for the 3 game series for the 4th/5th place teams, but the 1 game playoff is kind of dumb. It's kind of just forcing a scenario like the last day of the season this year...which isn't that bad, but I think it would feel forced/illegitimate.

[Geddy]

Best of three would be better.

The only think I don't like out of the new proposals is that they want to add more interleague games. I hate interleague as it is because I think it's too much of a gimmick (NY vs NY, Chi vs Chi etc) and causes schedule imbalances. If they're so high on it then they should think about adopting the same set of rules for both leagues.

[RalphWiggum]

I'd like to see an NFL style playoff system myself along with a return to the 154 game schedule.

The two division winners with the best record get first round byes

The 3 wild cards and the division winner with the worst record play a best of 3 in the first round with the division winner and the wild card team with the best record hosting all 3 games making the regular season much more relevant for those of you that are surely going to be opposed to the idea.

Baseballs biggest problem is the vast majority of teams have absolutely no chance to make the playoffs by June and the majority of their fans know it and stop going to games. Having three wild card teams would almost ensure at least another 3-4 teams per league would still be playing games that matter well into September thus having much better ticket sales. Being fifth or sixth in the league would mean no chance at hosting a first round playoff game which still keeps the regular season important for those of you who believe somehow an NFL style system renders the regular season irrelevant.

If the system works for the most successful league on the planet I don't see how it couldn't work for baseball. It would definitely generate more interest in cities that normally lose interest after the home opener.

[Parataxis]

Really hate 1 game playoff. They should do best out of 3.

AL 4 vs 5 plays double header on Day 1, if needed game 3 on day 2
NL 4 vs 5 pays 1 game on day 1 and double header on day 2.

That's great, if you're trying to ensure that the top division winner beats the wildcard every time.

[baulderdash77]

Really hate 1 game playoff. They should do best out of 3.

AL 4 vs 5 plays double header on Day 1, if needed game 3 on day 2
NL 4 vs 5 pays 1 game on day 1 and double header on day 2.

That's great, if you're trying to ensure that the top division winner beats the wildcard every time.

Nothing like burning out your top 3 starters in 2 days so that your opponent can set up a #1 vs #4 matchup to start the playoffs.

It has to be either a proper 3 game series or a 1 game play-in, otherwise it gets too crazy.

[Mak]

Really hate 1 game playoff. They should do best out of 3.

AL 4 vs 5 plays double header on Day 1, if needed game 3 on day 2
NL 4 vs 5 pays 1 game on day 1 and double header on day 2.

That's great, if you're trying to ensure that the top division winner beats the wildcard every time.

Assuming that both teams have their #1 and #2 starts in the wild card series. What if they pitched days priror and will only be availble to play division winners? Nobody knows how pitching will line up.

After wild card series is over team can changer their roster too and get fresh arms.

And whats so bad about rewarding teams that win divisions?

[RalphWiggum]

Really hate 1 game playoff. They should do best out of 3.

AL 4 vs 5 plays double header on Day 1, if needed game 3 on day 2
NL 4 vs 5 pays 1 game on day 1 and double header on day 2.

That's great, if you're trying to ensure that the top division winner beats the wildcard every time.

Assuming that both teams have their #1 and #2 starts in the wild card series. What if they pitched days priror and will only be availble to play division winners? Nobody knows how pitching will line up.

After wild card series is over team can changer their roster too and get fresh arms.

And whats so bad about rewarding teams that win divisions?

Exactly, if you want to have the luxury of setting your rotation and having your pitchers well rested then you should have won your division.

[evilRyu]

https://twitter.com/buster_espn/status/ ... 4040840194

Am told that the playoff fields will expand IMMEDIATELY, for 2012. Five teams in each league, with a one-game playoff between two wildcards.

Looks like it could be this year