Addition of new Wild Card teams now official.

[User Name]

Commissioner Bud Selig announced that MLB will add two Wild Card teams -- one in each league -- for a total of ten playoff teams. Selig remains hopeful that the change will occur in 2012.

 

"People can be critical. I understand that," said Selig to reporters (including Danny Knobler of CBS Sports and MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince, both Twitter links). "It will be dramatic."

 

Selig also confirmed that the creation of two 15-team leagues means there will be interleague play "from Opening Day on," but he doesn't believe it will water down the World Series according to Andy Martino of The New York Daily News and Tom Haudricourt of The Journal Sentintel (Twitter links). Designated hitter rules will remain the same, and it would take a "catalytic event" for them to change reports Knobler (on Twitter).

 

The two Wild Card clubs are expected to meet in a one-game playoff prior to the League Division Series round, which increases the importance of winning the division.

[Laser Show]

f***er.. I was just about to post that.

 

Stop beating me to the news!

[BigPapiEnFuego]

I like this idea. I like the idea of interleague spread out through the entire year too. Will make for more competition and a more level playing field, especially if each team plays each team a more equal amount of time.

[Laser Show]

I hate the DH rule. Either make it uniform across the board or do away with it. 2 completely different styles of play and rules in the same league, it's dumb.

[Gringo]

I hate the DH rule. Either make it uniform across the board or do away with it. 2 completely different styles of play and rules in the same league' date=' it's dumb.[/quote']

 

I hate the difference in the rules....pick one. But seeing as most pitchers just flail away up there, and it's almost a sure out, the NL should adapt the DH rule, IMO.....

[Station 13]

What an awful idea while the divisions exist with unbalanced schedule. GTFO Selig, you piece of turd.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

That wild card system is crap. What does this accomplish?

[Laser Show]

I hate the difference in the rules....pick one. But seeing as most pitchers just flail away up there' date=' and it's almost a sure out, the NL should adapt the DH rule, IMO.....[/quote']

 

I'd do the opposite. Seeing a player get 3-4 ABs a game and otherwise sit the bench the entire time is silly, especially when he's asking for $12M a year.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I hate the difference in the rules....pick one. But seeing as most pitchers just flail away up there' date=' and it's almost a sure out, the NL should adapt the DH rule, IMO.....[/quote']

 

This.

 

Also if this rule was in effect last season we'd be in the playoffs.

[MANNYHOF24]

I love the addition of a wild card team. I don't think it waters down the playoff system at all. In my opinion it almost brings baseball back to its roots and the importance of winning the division. Imagine the Red Sox and Yankees are battling for first place both with 95+ wins. In past years, the teams might have put more stock in going to the playoffs healthy. This will drive both teams to desperately try to win eliminating the chance of having a 1 game series with Tampa Bay, Toronto or whoever (which would be totally terrifying and exciting.) It also gives the smaller market teams almost an insurance that they have a chance every year. In the AL it is almost assured that they Yankees and Red Sox will make the playoffs (the last 2 years have been mainly a fluke, IMO) or have a incredibly great chance baring horrible injuries. I think this energizes these smaller market teams, and in the long run makes the MLB a much better league.

 

 

As far as inter league play goes. I am actually warming up this idea. I don't think it's going to be as drastic as people think. I'm sure for most of the season there will be only one series going on at a time. I've heard it will increase the amount of interleague games from 18 to 30. It's a big change, but perhaps a welcome one?

[Youk Of The Nation]

I like the idea of an equal number of teams in both leagues. It always seemed a little unfair to me that the NL Central Teams have to beat 5 teams to win their division while the AL West teams only need to beat 3. Granted, two of those NL teams are the Pirates and Astros, but still...