MLB Playoff Expansion???

Bud Selig made an announcement this week that the possibility of expanding the amount of MLB Playoff teams (currently 8) to 10 has been discussed and may be put into action as early as 2012.In his annual meeting with the Associated Press Selig said "I would say we're moving to expanding the playoffs but there's a myriad of details to work out" . Selig originally came up with the idea to add a wild card team in each the A.L and the N.L, and it has been a huge success. But is expanding the playoffs from 8 to 10 teams really a good idea, or is it just a money grabber for baseball.

In the proposed new format the two wild card teams in each league would square off. The winners would then face the division winner and the original playoff format would then continue. For example last year; in the N.L the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves would face each other in a 3 game series, while in the A.L the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees would have battled for the rights to play the Rangers. It is an interesting theory and one that has caused opposite reactions from all across baseball from players, coaches and fans.

Giants ace pitcher Tim Lincecum who was a member of the World Series Champion Giants last year, strongly opposes the idea. In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle Lincecum said "Personally I think it's kind of funky, just because the game has been this way for so long, Why mess it up, other than for monetary purposes, and that's probably what (Selig) is looking at" I think Lincecum brings up a strong point, and one that is probably true. The idea has nothing to do with expanding the field for more teams, it is all about expanding the range for profit. While there also have been players and coaches against it, several managers have stepped up in support of it, including Tigers manager Jim Leyland and Rays manager Joe Maddon. Both managers believe that playing in a tougher division it will allow more teams to get a deserving shot in the playoffs, which could leave the possibility for the Rays, Yankees and Red Sox all a chance to make it in.

Overall, I think the expanded playoffs will definitely happen. Either in 2012 or 2013 we will start seeing 10 teams making the playoffs, which could dramatically change history. Personally I am not a fan of the idea, as it seems just like a money grab for baseball, but it is something that in the future myself, and others will get used to.