Current MLB Playoff System Could Expand to 10 Teams
October 26, 2010
by Knox Bardeen
Filed under: MLB Playoffs
Michael Weiner, the new head of Major League Baseball’s players’ union, said that players are open to the possibility of adding more teams to the current playoff system and possibly changing the division series to a best-of-seven format.
As it stands now, only eight of baseball’s 30 teams – just 26.6 percent — qualify for the playoffs. The National Football League sends 12 of their 32 teams (37.5 percent) and the NBA and NHL send 16 of 30 teams to the playoffs, a whopping 53.3 percent.
The current system, in place since the 1995 season, allows for three division winners and one wild-card team from each league into the playoffs. The players, according to Weiner, would prefer to lengthen the playoffs and add another wild-card team to the mix.
By adding another wild-card team, the need for a one-game playoff if teams are tied after the season ends – like the 163rd game in 2008 that propelled the White Sox into the playoffs over the Twins – would be a thing of the past. Baseball would adopt an NFL-like tiebreaker system instead.
Players also would like to see the Division Series in a seven-game setup as part of the lengthening process.
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New Union Head Says Players Want Longer Division Series
September 2, 2010
by Ed Price
Filed under: MLB Biz, MLB Playoffs, MLB PEDs, MLB Free Agency
Michael Weiner, approved Wednesday as the new executive director of the MLB Players’ Association, said the players are in favor of a best-of-7 Division Series as well as a postseason with fewer off days.
Weiner, 47, also said the union is against a “salary floor” as called for by Red Sox owner John Henry and against mandatory “slotting” in the draft. Weiner also said the current drug-testing program — including therapeutic-use exemptions — is working well.
While expanding the Division Series from best-of-5 to best-of-7 would of course lengthen the postseason, Weiner said it could be done while also condensing the schedule. Commissioner Bud Selig has said he will remove some off days; the gaps inserted to accommodate the broadcasting networks allowed the Yankees to use just three starting pitchers the entire postseason while playing 15 games in 31 days.
“I think everybody is in agreement that the postseason schedule needs some adjusting,” Weiner said on a conference call.