Expanded MLB playoffs more likely for 2012
The San Francisco Giants rejoice after winning the World Series over the Texas Rangers, 3-1, at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, November 1, 2010. Credit: MCT
Baseball management is more likely to consider expanded playoffs for 2012 than for next year.
After discussing upcoming collective bargaining Tuesday with major league general managers, MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred said adding wild-card teams for 2011 would be “a difficult trick to pull off” because it would have to be a modification of the current labor contract, which runs through next season.
Manfred said the proposal would have to be made by the owners’ labor policy committee, then endorsed by owners and agreed to by the players’ association.
“In the middle of a contract, we can’t act unilaterally,” said Manfred, baseball’s chief labor negotiator.
Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry favors additional wild cards. He credited commissioner Bud Selig with pushing through the initial wild-card playoffs, which began in 1995.
“It turns out the commissioner was right on,” he said.
Hendry thinks a majority of GMs would back more playoffs.
“It’s all about postseason baseball. That’s what fans like,” Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers said.
Detroit Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said the sentiment of the group isn’t that clear cut.
“There was definitely a split on the topic when it came up. It’s not per se that everybody’s for it,” he said.
GMs were to discuss bargaining some more Wednesday, and owners gather Thursday for the final day of meetings.
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