Everything you wanted to know about the 2012 MLB playoffs but were afraid to ask
Derek Jeter celebrates after being brought home to score on a RBI single by Alex Rodriguez in the fifth inning of Game 1 of the 2009 American League Division Series against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium. Credit: Getty Images, 2009
A three-team playoff. Baltimore vs. the Yankees in the American League Division Series. The return of November baseball.
All of these scenarios are possible with the new playoff format, a frantic postseason ride with new rules and new pitfalls. Here's a step-by-step explanation of how the 2012 postseason unfolds:
For instance, the Yankees and Baltimore may be tied for the division and also lead the Wild Card standings. In that situation, the two teams would play a one-game playoff, and the loser would then play another one-game playoff the next day against the second Wild Card.
There's also the scenario that three teams could be tied for a Wild Card spot (think the Los Angeles Dodgers making a late charge in the NL or the Rays picking it up in the AL). In that case, the two teams with the best head-to-head record against each other play a tiebreaker. The winner of that game gets one of the Wild Card spots. The loser then plays the third team (which had the worst head-to-head record) for the second Wild Card spot. Then the two Wild Cards play each other again to determine the eventual Wild Card. If you're head is spinning, you're not alone.
For one, MLB has eliminated the rule that the Wild Card winner can't play a team from its own division. If Baltimore wins the Wild Card and the Yankees have the best record in the AL, the the two teams would have to square off in the first round. There's also scenarios for a Washington-Atlanta series and a Cincinnati-St. Louis series.
Additionally, the Wild Card winner hosts the division winner with the league's best record for the initial two games of the Division Series before the No. 1 seed closes out the best-of-five series with three games at home. It's a one-year fluke due to scheduling, and next season the format goes back to the typical 2-2-1.
There is also no off day between ALDS Game 5 and ALCS Game 1, creating a quick turnaround and a possible disadvantage for any team whose series that goes the distance.
The Wild Card games, ALDS and NLDS will all be broadcast largely on TBS, with some games on MLB Network.
More MLB news
