Major League Baseball wants to expand its playoffs. And, as so often happens when suits threaten traditionalists with change, people aren’t happy. Fans aren’t happy. Players aren’t happy. “Absurd,” pitcher Trevor Bauer said in a scathing tweet directed at commissioner Rob Manfred.
But dig into Manfred’s proposal – which requires players union approval – and you’ll find method to the apparent madness. You’ll find reason that transcends dollar signs.
Under the leaked plan, MLB would expand its postseason from 10 to 14 teams and allow higher seeds to select their wild-card opponents.