The long rumored change to Major League Baseball's playoff format was officially announced today, and it is a bit of a doozy. Baseball will be expanding its postseason from eight teams to 10 teams, with two best non-division winners in each league squaring off in a one-game play-in.
Everyone loves Game 163, so you now you get Game 163 every year. Baseball is essentially trying to capitalize on the excitement playoff races between the Cardinals-Braves and Red Sox-Rays created on the final day of the regular season last year.
Relevant tweets:
BREAKING: 2012 Postseason to feature 10-team format that includes 2 additional Wild Cards and elimination game in each league prior to DS.
— MLB (@MLB) March 2, 2012
Source: if wild card added, 1st round MLB playoffs possibly could change. From 2-2-1 to 2-3, div winners open on road: sbn.to/wGtyr3
— Amy K. Nelson (@AmyKNelson) March 2, 2012
Under new playoff format, teams from the same division will be able to play each other in the Division Series, Michael Weiner confirms.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) March 2, 2012
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