The labor negotiations between the MLB and players union have stalled once again, this time leading to the cancelation of the first two series of the season.
It’s a brutal situation, one that will not have a conclusion until the two sides can agree on things like the competitive balance tax and new rules surrounding arbitration. Another topic on the table is expanded playoffs. The league wants to expand it to 12 to 14 teams, largely because it will generate league revenue. The players argue that making it easier for teams to make the postseason will disincentivize spending money on players.
Mike Krukow is firmly in the camp of expanding.
“I’m all for it, 100 percent,” Kruk said on Murph & Mac Wednesday morning.
“Joc Pederson made news saying ‘let’s have all the teams make the playoffs and at the end give everybody a participation award.’ Okay, that’s from a guy that’s been to the playoffs every year. I would expect to get a pretty jaded opinion from a guy who goes to the playoffs every year.
“What about Mike Trout? Go back to 2000 when the Marlins made the playoffs, what did that do for the fanbase in Miami? It lit them up. I think the more cities you involve, the more cities you keep in the playoff race all the way through September, it’s good, it’s healthy for baseball.
“Think about the very first week when playoffs start. It’s chaos. Ballgames going here and there, teams getting eliminated, single elimination games stacked up. That’s exciting. I don’t get what the deal is why the union doesn’t want to go to 14. If they think it dilutes the accomplishment I disagree 100 percent.
“Get cities involved, get them excited. Give them a chance.
“The very least is we are going to have 12, and I think that’s what’s likely going to happen, but I would have rather seen 14.”
So what about the notion that expansion will dilute the postseason and make it easier for teams who don’t spend on players to make money? Kruk disagrees on both counts.
“Well I disagree because I think you’re going to have teams stay in it longer because they think they have a true chance. That means trade deadline is going to be ridiculous. I think that teams are going to make a decision to go for it.
“I just think it’s healthy. I think when you have more cities involved there’s more talk, there’s more dialogue. The other thing too is ‘oh if you go 14 you’re going to have teams in that go under .500.’ Who cares?! Who cares? Once the playoffs start it’s a brand new season. I just don’t think there’s any argument.”
As it currently stands, 10 teams make the playoffs. The division winners in each division (6) and two wild card teams in each league (4).
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