[EmpireWF]

Al Leiter has proposed a new playoff format for MLB and feels it will come to truth sooner than we think. His new format calls for the AL and NL be split up into 2 divisions (instead of currently 3)...the East and West. 6 total teams would make the playoffs from each league. The 2 Division Champs from each league would receive a BYE in the first round. The 4 Wild Card teams from each league would play a best of 3-game series.

YES' Al Leiter is in favor of breaking the leagues into two divisions - AL East and West for example - and having four wild cards in the playoffs.

Under Leiter's idea, the two division champs would receive first-round byes, while the four wild cards would play best-of-three with no days off.

The format would give more weight to the regular season, while increasing the amount of playoff teams. Leiter, who was a member of the Bud Selig's Commissioner Initiative for the 21st Century, thinks this plan will eventually come to fruition.

"I think it is just a matter of time,'' Leiter said.

I like the idea. There's something about having 2 divisions in a league...as they did over a decade ago.

[Lefty Noob]

I like the idea. First round byes if you win your division gives clear-cut incentive for that, while two wild cards per division adds more teams into the playoffs -- and MLB is one of the few sports that would actually benefit from ADDING playoff teams to the mix. I sure hope Leiter has Selig's ear. Or maybe we could start a Leiter-for-Commish campaign since Bud's leaving...

[MVB]

Oh, good idea. Let's impeach Selig and replace him with Lieter. I like the fact that 6 teams would make it to the playoffs. Remember two years ago- the Angels and A's were seperated by one game. The Angels went to the playoffs and the A's went home. But the idea sounds a lot like what they have in basketball.

[ThePundit]

Bob Costas wrote a book about 4 years ago with similar type suggestions as well as how to fix the game regarding payroll disparity. In my opinion, he would be a great commissioner. But the owners would never put in anyone independent again. They want a puppet like Selig. That's short sighted because the game is losing popularity.