Major MLB playoff shakeup coming? ⚾
We got a pretty random bombshell report out of no where on Monday, one that could potentially bring a drastic overhaul to baseball in October. Joel Sherman of the New York Post suggests that MLB is considering a major change to their playoff format, and our Matt Snyder helped break it down for me:
Seven teams from each league make postseason
Teams with best record in each league get wild card round byes
Two other division winners and the top wild card team host all games of three-game series in wild card round
Two other division winners get to pick their wild card round opponents (during a live broadcast) from three other wild card teamsthe top wild card team plays the unpicked team
Three series winners and team with a bye advance to divisional round
That would be a wild switch-up from baseball’s current format, which features five teams and a one-game Wild Card play-in in each league, but do we actually like the idea? With the exception of the play-in game, the playoff format feels a bit stale and could probably use more life injected into it. And getting more teams involved could be a good thing.
But the whole “choose your opponent” thing? Eh, I don’t know about that…it feels unnecessary. Let the seeding do its job and leave the reality show gimmicks at home.
In any case, the earliest we could see any major format changes is after the expiration of the current CBA in 2021.
up2. Philip Rivers and Chargers part ways 👋
Listen, we all pretty much knew that Philip Rivers and the Los Angeles Chargers were heading for divorce this offseason, but they officially broke the news to their kids (so to speak) on Monday. The team announced that they’d “mutually part ways” with Rivers, which is the very nice new way of a team saying they’re no longer interested in employing a person.Chargers GM Tom Telesco said Monday “it became apparent that it would be best for Philip and the Chargers to turn the page on what has truly been a remarkable run.” That run lasted 16 seasons, but now it’s time to look ahead. Where is Rivers headed in free agency? Our Cody Benjamin has laid out the five best landing spots for the veteran QB:
Colts
Buccaneers
Bears
Panthers
Raiders
The Buccaneers have been the team most commonly linked to Rivers so far this offseason, and he’s already moved his family from San Diego to Florida. Then again, that could just be because he has 96 children and Florida has no income tax so that diaper budget is about to be poppin’.
Make it Lane 