Thoughts on the one-game wildcard playoffs?

It is ridiculous. Just another genius Selig brainstorm that doesn't fit in the calendar. But it does sell out two games (AL and NL).

I liked it at the beginning and still do.

For one, it makes the playoffs more inclusive (I consider the play-in game a playoff game, as they are very similar.....maybe not technically so, but in essence). Only one wild card made the playoffs very difficult to achieve, and while this is the point of the playoffs, the huge disparity between payrolls kinda diminishes that, as certain teams like the Yankees were able to form a dynasty in large part because of their huge payroll. I'm not hoping for NHL/NBA style playoffs, but four teams per league was a bit low.

While I do not believe it to necessarily be fair to decide a whole season based on one game, it gives much more incentive for teams to win the division. I think we witnessed that with the Rangers last year, whose major collapse allowed the A's to take the division and then the Rangers ended up losing the play-in game. In past years, it would not have mattered had they collapsed, as they would still have won the wild-card and got a regular series. I never actually considered winning the division all that important growing up because the wild card was an option to fall back on. Now, it's super important to win the division.

So I still like the system. It makes winning the division more important and the playoffs more inclusive.

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Oh, and also, it's fun to watch. I like to watch intense baseball games. A normal Game 4 in a series is not as exciting as a do-or-die fan.

How in the world this "destroys baseball" is beyond me. My biggest annoyance with some baseball fans is reluctance to change. I am fine with those who may not like a change, but so many people refuse to give anything a chance. Change isn't always bad.....think of where this world would be without change.

yes it can be a ridiculous way to decide a game where a team with more wins can get kicked. Lets look at what the one game wildcard is doing giving more teams a chance to compete and teams are playing harder while in contention for a spot and you can see new teams make the playoffs.

the one game wildcard is a must win for teams so you should see some big games.

I like it.

They used one game to decide a playoff spot if there's a tie in a division or for the Wild Card; and having a one-game playoff for the Wild Card makes it suddenly become really important to win the division.

Said Wild Card teams "did have" 162 games to try and get that division title...

I wouldn't be upset if they went back to the old way, though.

I personally don't like it because teams have 162 games to prove themselves. To me it seems like an insult that most teams can work hard all season just to be eliminated in a one game playoff.

I didn't like it at first, but now I kinda do. Before that, a team could just settle for a wild card spot and would stop pushing hard in September. This makes it so you don't want to settle for a wild card spot where your two outcomes would be either one game elimination, or you win that game but you start the ALDS/NLDS with your #2 starter as your best starter would have been used for the one game wild card.

All that said I wouldn't be too surprised if they try to push it out to a best 2 out of 3 game series.

i like it. it also came at perfect timing because in 2011 the red sox and braves would have made it with the new system. but i like it because when you clinch a playoff spot you still have to fight for the division. unlike the other system where when you clinch a spot you are automatically in the alds. unless you care about home field advantage the team doesnt have to try as hard. but now it adds more excitement to the playoffs. it also makes the last month of the season more exiting because teams like the yankees and royals are still in it this year. and the most important thing to mlb is money. that means more sold seats because the team still has a shot.

I think it should be a three game series between the two wild card teams. The games are played everyday, with no day off. I think the one game series is not fair.

I love it because wild cards are not big games. They are for teams that can barely make the playoffs. One game is good for decent teams. Four is for the good teams.

Should be a three-game series.