Thoughts on Playoff Expansion

We've had 2 requests for thoughts on the proposed MLB playoff expansion.  I actually don't have strong feelings about it one way or another.  Postseason baseball is exciting to watch.  I know a lot of people who don't give a $%&# about regular season baseball who get interested in the postseason.  Expanding a part of the game that appeals to people who otherwise pay attention is a good thing.  Yes, the part about the top seed choosing their opponent is kind of hokey, but it possibly sets up some extra drama about teams feeling disrespected and all that, so it's probably not a death blow to the sport.

I do think the postseason currently goes too deep into the fall.  Baseball is a warm weather sport and is best played and watched in warm weather, or at least not cold weather.  The problem in my opinion is not with the length of the postseason, but with the length of the regular season.  I am strongly in favor of going back to a 154 game regular season schedule so the postseason can end by mid-October.

Here's a thought:  Use a shortened regular season for seeding and include all 30 teams in a postseason tournament.  Give the teams with the best regular season record in each league a separate trophy and a bye in the first round.