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February 29, 2012

Rosenthal: Expanded Playoffs To Begin This Year

MLB will add a second wild card team from each league to the playoffs in 2012, expanding the number of post-season teams from eight to ten. The two wild card teams in each league will play a one-game playoff before the Division Series begin.

Ken Rosenthal, Fox Sports:
The agreement on the additional wild cards is not yet final, and one source said there are "still a few loose ends" to resolve. But an announcement could occur as soon as Thursday, sources said. ...

The final details are not known, but officials discussed changing starting times for the final day of the regular season, the one-game wild-card knockout and possibly Game 1 of the Division Series. ...

The problem in '12 is that the regular season ends on Wed., Oct. 3 and the World Series will begin on FOX on Wed., Oct. 24. Squeezing in additional wild-card games never was part of the plan.
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11 comments:

  1. JereFebruary 29, 2012 at 6:39 PM

    I'm still confused as to whether Rosenthal is actually sure of this or not. He writes in a language that says "see, I was right" if he ends up being right, and "hey I didn't say it was definite!" if he ends up being wrong.

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  2. nickFebruary 29, 2012 at 7:44 PM

    I'm not a fan of a 1-game "series". I can see it for a tiebreaker, but...

    They've kinda wedged themselves in timewise. If they introduce it, there's just no space to slot anything more into the post-season schedule that's already set.

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  3. 9caseyFebruary 29, 2012 at 7:48 PM

    Wasn't this decided a while ago..


    Pete Abe talking about Luke Scott
    ended with this:
    The Rays are at the Red Sox on April 13 for the home opener. So at least somebody will get booed louder than Josh Beckett.



    I would be really dissapointed if they booed Beckett at the home opener.
    And how does he know the rotation already?

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  4. FenFanMarch 1, 2012 at 4:22 AM

    The well-oiled machine that is Major League Baseball continues to turn...

    ReplyDelete
  5. laura kMarch 1, 2012 at 4:37 AM

    Wasn't this decided a while ago..

    I think decided but not announced that it would actually start this season. Which apparently it still may not be.

    I will be disappointed to see any player get booed on Opening Day. It should be a fresh start.

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  6. JereMarch 1, 2012 at 8:35 AM

    "So at least somebody will get booed louder than Josh Beckett."

    Beckett had a great year last year. What the hell is he talking about? I can't wait to see that round mound of gossip-hound on the field so I can boo HIM.

    "And how does he know the rotation already?"

    I assume he meant in player intros since it will be Opening Day.

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  7. allanMarch 1, 2012 at 8:42 AM

    Beckett admitted he gained weight and was distracted in September (and makes no apologies for it), twice pitched like shit against the Orioles, apparently skipped workouts or did them half-heartedly, and is one of the Beer+Chicken Trio. (And he has not shown the proper contrition, according to the media.) Overall, I'd gladly take a repeat of his '11 season, but I won't be at all surprised to hear some boos.

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  8. JereMarch 1, 2012 at 9:09 AM

    This is a guy who gave up 9 earned runs in 57 innings against the Yanks and Tampa last year. You're telling me 35,000 out-of-shape fans with beers in their hands are gonna boo the guy? I think the only ones booing him will be the media. I think we can agree to agree on one thing though--Abe acting like Josh is the villain of the team, who's hated more than anyone on the field but the opposing team, is way off base.

    And also, he's wrong about the loud booing of Tampa Bay in the first place. Sure, when they say the team name, we'll boo, but as each player is introduced? Indifference. A little extra boos for Longoria, sure, but this isn't like when the Yanks are introduced at Fenway, and we boo everybody down to the assistant masseuse.

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  9. laura kMarch 1, 2012 at 9:11 AM

    You're telling me 35,000 out-of-shape fans with beers in their hands are gonna boo the guy?

    These out-of-shape beer-drinking fans have minds of their own, do they? Many do, but many do not.

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  10. allanMarch 1, 2012 at 9:30 AM

    You're telling me 35,000 out-of-shape fans with beers in their hands are gonna boo the guy?

    What I said was: "I won't be at all surprised to hear some boos."

    ***

    Jesus Christ, Ortiz has been booed at Fenway. It's unforgivable, but it happened. So Beckett certainly ain't immune.

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  11. JereMarch 1, 2012 at 9:51 AM

    I just think booing of your own players is something that takes a while to happen. The brewing before the booing. Like if a guy gets off to a bad start, the fans wait it out, then it turns to a groan, before it's actual boos.

    I've never thought of Opening Day as "ooh, who are we gonna boo during intros this year?" Regardless of how I personally feel about Beckett, knowing that some people are pissed at him, I never thought for a second that he or any Red Sock* would be booed on the happy-go-luckiest of days, Opening Day. Never crossed my mind until 9casey posted that quote. It's a celebratory day, culminating in hearing your players introduced for the first time in 6 months.

    *Except Lackey. I can't imagine anyone NOT booing him, or at least resting their hands for a few seconds. Eff that guy.

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