Expanding MLB's playoffs could help the league push forward innovation in marketing and competitionGETTY IMAGES
The MLBPA "would have to approve" a possible expansion of MLB's postseason, and "nothing says 'bargaining chip' quite so well as a union standing between management and an infusion of cash," according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. For a union that has "tried to spur" MLB owners into "innovation in marketing and competition, this proposal appears to be a good start." However, it "would be folly for the union to blindly accept the premise that more money from TV equals more money for players, when in fact industry revenue has gone up the past few years but the average salary has not." Owners are "not going to let players go to salary arbitration or free agency a year earlier in exchange for expanded playoffs, but the players can get something for their consent" (L.A. TIMES, 2/12). THE ATHLETIC's Evan Drellich noted talk of playoff expansion "bubbled to the surface now because it would help MLB to be able to tell the TV networks what its playoff system will look like as rights deals are negotiated." The league's agreements with ESPN and Turner go through '21, the same length as the current CBA. But, unlike the CBA, TV negotiations are "typically conducted with considerable lead-time," and some discussions are "already underway." Meanwhile, the league's deal with Fox runs through '28. If the league "wants to make this one major change and otherwise preserve most of the current CBA," it "appears highly unlikely the union will bite" (THEATHLETIC.com, 2/11).
DECLARING DISSENT: In Boston, Christopher Gasper writes nixing this "ill-fated competitive concept is exactly what MLB needs to do with the proposed new playoff format," as it "would amount to plastic surgery that alters the appearance of MLB beyond recognition." Gasper: "This postseason configuration would desecrate and extinguish the sanctity of baseball's 162-game season" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/12). NBCSPORTS.com's Craig Calcaterra wrote fans of baseball "should hate this proposal because it would render the regular season far less meaningful and would render the postseason even more of a crapshoot" (NBCSPORTS.com, 2/11). USA TODAY's Pete Caldera writes "beyond being gimmicky," the proposal "further erodes the integrity of MLB's 162-game regular season" (USA TODAY, 2/12). In N.Y., Bradford Davis writes this "just sucks," as it is a "classic 'solution' in search of a problem, one that does nothing to fix the actual problems with the current game" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/12). In Atlanta, Mark Bradley writes this is the "zillionth example of baseball having no idea why people" continue to enjoy the game (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/12).
MANFRED'S MOVE: In N.Y., Mike Vaccaro writes MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is "trying to invent baseball fans" and "trying to make his sport appealing." But there are times when one wonders if Manfred "actually likes baseball." There are times when one sees him "working so furiously to cultivate and create however many millions of people that aren't fans of his game that he risks alienating and infuriating however many millions of people are" (N.Y. POST, 2/12). In Massachusetts, Matt Vautour writes Manfred "needs to be stopped," as he is "out of control and taking the game with him" (Springfield REPUBLICAN, 2/12). In Chicago, Paul Sullivan writes the reaction has been "near unanimous" to the proposal that Manfred is a "complete idiot" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/12). However, the N.Y. Post's Joel Sherman said Manfred's job is to "keep the sport vibrant and interesting and to make money." He also said this "creates a lot of strategy and a lot of conversation," adding the proposal makes MLB "interesting and competitive" ("Hot Stove," MLB Network, 2/11). CBSSN's Adam Schein called baseball "dead" and said it "needs to be revived." Schein: "This plan from Rob Manfred is about (creating) buzz" ("Time to Schein," CBSSN, 2/11).
TOO IRREGULAR? The N.Y. POST's Sherman addresses the "complaint that this minimizes the regular season." Sherman: "The best teams will have to play until the end. The reward for having the best record in a league is a bye out of the best-of-three -- which is substantial. Win a division and get all the games in the first round at home plus pick your opponent. Finish with the best wild-card record and get all the first-round games at home. That just brought greater meaning to more August/September games" (N.Y. POST, 2/12). ESPN.com's Buster Olney addressed the same complaint, writing, "To some degree, this is true." But there will "still be major incentive for teams to finish at the top of the standings to have the first-round bye," while the opportunity to be a Wild Card team "could compel teams to make the type of improvements" not typically seen in recent years (ESPN.com, 2/11).
TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT: YAHOO SPORTS' Tim Brown writes, at present, not enough teams are "committed enough to contend for October." Consequently, Manfred's idea "would seem to be: increase the number of postseason teams from 10 to 14 and therefore shorten the distance between no shot and maybe a shot, and therefore rebuild the game's middle class." But those 162 games are "real." They are "supposed to prove something, something more than being among the 14 best teams in a 30-team league" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/12). SNY's Sal Licata said ultimately, the proposal is going to "result in having bad teams in the postseason," and that is "not what you want" ("Loud Mouths," SNY, 2/11). ESPN's Bomani Jones said the "last thing baseball needs is more teams in the playoffs," as the postseason is "already a random championship generator as it is" ("High Noon," ESPN, 2/11). But ESPN's Sarah Spain said the proposed format would "actually make the regular season more interesting down the stretch for more fan bases" ("Highly Questionable," ESPN, 2/11).
COMPELLING WATCH: YAHOO SPORTS' Henry Bushnell wrote the proposal is "so brilliant" that other American sports leagues "should adopt versions of it." Bushnell: "Expansion doesn't render the regular season meaningless. It just spreads meaning far and wide" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/11). In Houston, Jerome Solomon writes those who "already find the baseball playoffs compelling are not the target audience," as they are "already watching." This proposal is about "building interest among new fans." MLB's "failure to connect with the wider audience shouldn't prevent" it from "trying to excite a younger crowd" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/12). USA TODAY's Nate Scott writes this is a "ploy by MLB to implement incremental change." By leaking a "wild, over-the-top plan," it "seems more reasonable and people can get behind it" when they scale it back (USA TODAY, 2/12).
DISTRACTION TACTICS? The TRIBUNE's Sullivan writes leaking the plan now "allows everyone a chance to get used to the idea" before it is implemented in the next CBA while also "providing MLB with a distraction from the Astros and Red Sox cheating scandal" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/12). The Washington Post's Kevin Blackistone said Manfred is "brilliant," as he "flipped the script on everybody" from the Astros sign-stealing scandal ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 2/11). However, ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt wondered, “Was it really just a clever leak intended to divert our attention away from the sign-stealing story? Because good luck with that” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 2/12).
