Additional Wild Card Spot as soon as 2012 – MLB Update
Many teams in Major League Baseball are undergoing drastic changes and the baseball authority is not staying behind either. The controlling authority is working on an expansion in the format of the playoffs and the changes are likely to be incorporated in
the schedule as early as 2012.
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig announced that there is a possibility of adding one extra Wild Card spot for each league, increasing the total number of participating teams to ten. Currently, eight teams fight it out in the playoffs over three series, the Division
Series, Championship Series and the World Series.
The top team from each division ensures qualification for the top six teams for the postseason and the remaining two spots are then given to the fourth-best team in each league. Now, the postseason will be played on the traditional format, with the only
addition being a one-game playoff between the two Wild Card teams that will eventually determine the fourth qualifier.
This will not only enhance opportunities for teams, but will give that extra motivational boost to teams of qualifying for the playoffs even if they are unable to make their mark in the regular season. A fitting example is the performance of St. Louis Cardinals
this past season, where they earned qualification on the last day of the regular season via the Wild Card standings and then went on to win the World Series against Texas Rangers after a seven-game thriller.
"You don't do things for only one year. You do things for a long period of time," Selig said. "We believe after a lot of study and a lot of thought that the addition of two Wild Cards is really going to help us in the long run. One thing you learn is that
baseball is a metaphor for life and nothing's perfect. But I think people are excited about it. They should be."
Currently there is a 16-14 split of teams between both the National and American League, but the sale of Houston Astros to businessman Jim Crane and the subsequent shift of alliance from the NL to AL will give 15 teams to each league and the mix will include
five teams in each of the sic divisions.
It will be interesting to see how things evolve as the offseason progresses.
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