New MLB Playoff Format: Who Benefits the Most?

“It’s just so much different not knowing who you’re playing… usually when you’re a division winner you
start at home, and you’re starting on the road.”

These were the words uttered disdainfully by Yankee Manager Joe Girardi when answering questions about the new playoff format last Friday. The Yankees had just clinched their third division title in five years under the former Yankee catcher, but Girardi answered this question with the tone of a manager who certainly wasn’t pleased. The new playoff format has created all sorts of headaches this postseason- specifically for the teams in which it was created to help.

The Yankees and A’s battled to the end to win their respective divisions, the former now possessing the best record in the American League, and the latter ending their storybook regular season steamrolling over the Rangers into first place in the A.L. West.

And what is their reward for finishing first, Mr. Selig? For the A’s it is a game one matchup against the Tigers in Detroit. There, they not only have to deal with the hostile home crowd but also must face last year’s Cy Young winner, and possibly the best pitcher in baseball, Justin Verlander. The Yankees were awarded a trip away from the ballpark in the Bronx for Game 1, which is always a huge home-field advantage as the ghosts of Ruth, Mantle, and Martin rock the Stadium on opening night. And as an extra bonus for having the best record in the American League, they had to wait until late Friday night just to find out which team they would be playing. Home-field advantage indeed.

What’s the Point of this New Playoff System?

The point of the playoff system created by the MLB last year was to push teams to win their division, enticing them with the reward of avoiding a one-game playoff in the newly developed two-wild card system. This replaced the former system where the lone wild card winner was automatically matched up against the team with the best record in that league, facing little adversity as the “last in” Wild Card Team aside from starting the payoffs on the road. As it stands though, this new reward came with a price. Both the Yankees and the A’s start their first-round matchups on the road, as opposed to the former 2-2-1 setup, allowing the higher seed to host both the opener and possibly the decisive Game 5.

We currently are seeing the results: Oakland is down 0-2 traveling back home, and the Yankees have split games 1 & 2 in Baltimore. The Yanks have been matched by their counterparts in the N.L., the best record Nationals, who split in St. Louis as well. The Reds are the only higher seed to have begun their series up 2-0 heading back home for the final three games.

Will this new playoff system end up hurting the very teams it was supposed to help, or will Mr. Selig and the MLB be vindicated in overhauling the baseball playoff system? The best way to find out will be to go to the games and see for yourself. Perhaps the middle of the Yankee order will lend a helping hand to its team, as well as the commissioner. But I wouldn’t hold my breath in this crisp October air.