MLB’s new 16 team playoff format is the best thing for baseball

MLB’s new playoff format is going to grow the game of baseball for the better.

It was announced right before Opening Day of the 2020 season on Thursday that the MLB would be taking on a whole new playoff format for the season. They will be moving from the beloved 10 team format to a 16 team format, with the shortened 60 games being the main reasoning behind the change. And while many will argue that it must go back after this season, there’s a good chance that this format will end up being the best thing for the game of baseball moving forward.

Baseball and the MLB most specifically have seen a steady decline in viewers for the past five years despite their World Series numbers remaining respectively high. Whether that has to do with the speed of the game or the amount of baseball that is played per season, it all comes down to how the MLB markets the game itself. Many will agree that out of the big four sports in the United States, the marketing problems of the MLB very well may be the worst. Now with the chance of more teams, and more importantly their star players, having a better opportunity at the playoffs will only enhance the game.

MLB Playoff format changes are only going to help baseball’s national interest

Baseball is a 162 game marathon to usually decide the 10 best teams in the MLB for a tough playoff road. It is the smallest window of teams in any of the four major sports, resulting in a lot of players missing out on the chance to be on a national stage for more than just a game here and there on ESPN.  With 60 games and now a legitimate chance for any team to make it, this could be the MLB’s most-watched and freshest season in years.

The first player or team to benefit from this that will also help the MLB is Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels. Trout has long been struggling to get back to the postseason since his one appearance in 2014. Since then, he has won two more MVPs and risen up the ranks of all-time players emphatically. Putting him on national television for a series is something the MLB and fans alike should cherish, and this new format gives the Angels the best opportunity to do so.

Another team that helps baseball long term by making it to the playoffs through this 16 team format is the Boston Red Sox. Once they traded Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chris Sale went down with Tommy John, many believed that was the nail in the coffin in terms of their 2020 season. That’s no longer the case, as their healthy lineup is still loaded to the point that they can hit their ways back to the postseason. With such a big market, that will only add viewers for the MLB and that is a must at this time.

And while we can name another dozen players that will help the MLB benefit with more national TV exposure like Nolan Arenado and Fernando Tatis Jr., the biggest thing to look at is the added interest level for fans and middle of the road teams.

Looking at the New York Mets for example, they were on the outside looking in but would have made it had this 16 team format been in place. That gives their fans hope considering the woes they have suffered in the past couple of years. But the idea that Cleveland Indians fans and San Diego Padres fans can believe in their teams making the playoffs, forcing them to actually pay attention with true hope is what makes this 16 team playoff format so great for baseball.

Of course, time will tell as to if it was a good idea or not, but something tells us it will at least have an immediate impact on this season as sports, and most specifically baseball, has long been missed.