The sports media are at it again ripping MLB for the playoff changes being floated. “How dare they” is a common statement. I have also been reading a lot of “Fix this problem first” stuff. Again, media people are trying to make the news instead of reporting it. Wake up sports fans! We deserve better than this!
I am part of the age group that generally opposes change in anything. In this case I am all in on playoff changes, because I am sick of teams tanking from Day 1 of the season. I am still burning because the Pirates cleaned house a few years back before they had to pay big money to their stars. During Andrew McCutchen’s prime with Pittsburgh, they were a young exciting team that appeared headed for great things. Then ownership traded away all the good players they had developed to keep payroll down. The Pirate brass made it very clear that their number one priority was not winning games, it was making money while minimizing spending.
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Teams can sit back and collect their TV and MLB Advanced Media money and turn a profit win lose or draw. I find this contrary to the whole point of sports – to entertain by fielding a competitive team. The players’ union said many years ago that teams are much better off financially than they admit publicly, and darn it – they were right! If the train wreck that is the Miami Marlins is making money, the whole system is flawed.
The theory is that expanding the number of playoff teams will reduce the number of teams that make little or no effort to be competitive. I think at this point we need to try whatever we can to make that happen.
We also need to remember that the players will need to agree to any playoff changes in the next collective agreement. I know they want to change up free agency rules and reduce the regular season. Never thought I would say this but I wish them luck on all three fronts!