Bud Selig considering expanding MLB play-offs
Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has said he is seriously considering adding two more wild card spots to the play-off format.
The new system would see the American League and National League get one more wild card spot each, expanding the play-offs to ten teams, five from each league.
The concept was originally proposed by MLB Players Association head Michael Weiner, who stated that the majority of the players in the MLB would prefer an expanded play-off format. Weiner also mentioned that several of the players also supported a shorter
season.
Recently Selig came out and said that he would consider adding two more teams, but that the League will have to do more research before he is convinced.
“Two more would give us 10 and 10 out of 30 I still think is a rational mix,” said the commissioner. “But then the next question is how do you do it and what form does it take?”
The question of the play-offs is being raised as the League and the Players Association are set to renew the collective bargaining agreement at the end of the 2011 season. The question of an expanded post-season would likely have to be decided at these talks
and would not be put in place until at least the 2012 campaign.
Nevertheless, Selig also mentioned that the League looked into adding two more teams three or four years ago and were not convinced it was the right move by the end of discussions, in most part because the MLB’s television partners were not receptive.
Selig also mentioned that the League is not willing to cut down the regular season.
“You can be assured the clubs do not want a shorter season. No sense misleading each other about all that,” Selig stated. “I’m a devotee of a shorter season, but they’re not and I understand it. Especially as global television ratings have gone up, you’re
talking about a lot of money.”
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