A brand new playoff format is once more being floated throughout collective bargaining talks, one thing MLB has wished for years.
IRVING, Texas — All indicators out of Texas are pointing to the primary work stoppage in Main League Baseball for the reason that mid-Nineteen Nineties because the clock ticks on collective bargaining talks.
Experiences indicated on Tuesday {that a} assembly between the homeowners’ aspect and the gamers’ aspect concluded after half-hour, probably narrowing an opportunity for the 2 sides to agree on a brand new CBA earlier than the 11:59 p.m. deadline on Dec. 1.
Amongst many gadgets and points being mentioned and addressed on the conferences consists of an elevated playoff format.
It is one thing baseball and its homeowners have looked for years as it is going to improve income. The proposal is for a 14-team playoff format, quite than 10 groups, based on a report from ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.
- Seven groups from every league make postseason.
- Groups with finest file in every league get wild card spherical byes.
- Two different division winners and high wild card group host full three-game collection in wild card spherical.
- Two different division winners get to choose their wild card spherical opponents from three different wild card groups.
- Three collection winners and group with a bye advance to divisional spherical.
On Tuesday’s Locked On As we speak podcast, host Peter Bukowski and Locked On Astros host Brett Chancey talked in regards to the proposed format.
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“The proposed change to the playoff format in Main League Baseball may truly do the unthinkable,” Bukowski stated on Locked On As we speak. “It may make it extra enjoyable. Not simply increasing it, however permitting the No. 1 seed to have a bye, and the prospect to choose a playoff opponent.”
Chancey stated should you arrange the format for this earlier season, the playoffs would have been improved.
“The Padres would have made it in, the Blue Jays would have made it in. It will have been fascinating,” Chancey stated. “We talked on Locked On Astros in regards to the one group that we did not need to face was the Toronto Blue Jays…My query is what do the gamers take into consideration this.”
Based on Rogers’ report, there’s combined emotions from the gamers’ aspect, as some consider the brand new format de-incentivizes groups from spending and pushing for wins, since groups at .500 or beneath may find yourself making the playoffs. However, Rogers report the homeowners aspect thinks it the bye for the highest seed and high seeds choosing their opponents will make groups extra aggressive within the offseason and throughout the season.
Both method, it is probably we cannot get a call on the elevated playoff format for a short time, as expectations are {that a} deal won’t be put in place by the top of the night time on Wednesday. The 2 sides are reportedly prone to meet once more earlier than that deadline, nonetheless.
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