I Don't Mind Expanding MLB's Playoffs... Under One Condition.

Shorten the regular season by eight games. You will have an expanded postseason AND have a shorter season. The MLB regular season is long and tumultuous at 162 games. A best-of-three wild card round fit in with a shorter season should make the fans happier, even if the playoffs get "watered down".

Rob Manfred could do away with the higher seeds picking their opponents, though. That seems a little tacky. However, it'll be inevitable that MLB expands the playoff field, especially with potential expansion looming. The NHL expanded a long while ago and it has brought us teams like the eighth-seeded Edmonton Oilers (2005-2006) coming one win shy of the Stanley Cup and the 2011-2012 Los Angeles Kings, who were an eighth seed as well, winning it all. In fact, the NHL was a bastion for lower seeds upsetting higher seeds before their current realignment. Plus, the Seattle Mariners may never get a taste of October in the current format (they're trying their best, dammit!).

Yes, the response to the expanded playoffs for Major League Baseball has been sour. After all, the playoffs are all about the best teams making the postseason. But why not give more teams that chance and shorten the length of the season at the same time?