The ongoing lockout in Major League Baseball has affected the game of baseball on a large scale. Because from this season onwards, baseball fans might see some major changes in the playoff format. Since both the owners and the players’ union led by MLB veteran Max Scherzer didn’t agree to the new CBA deal. MLB Commissioner Rob on Feb 28 canceled a few league games.
Now the reports say that the two sides are planning to change the playoff format of the regular season. And along with the change in playoff format, Max Scherzer of the New York Mets is favoring a ghost win concept in the league.
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Everything You Need to Know About ‘Ghost Win’ That Max Scherzer Wants to Implement in MLB Playoffs
Reportedly, after their meeting on Tuesday, MLB owners and the players’ union will be meeting again on Sunday. And this time, both sides would want to expand the postseason from the current 10 teams format. Earlier, the players’ union preferred to increase the number of teams to 12.
But now, MLBPA representative Max Scherzer is saying that players are also okay with the 14-team postseason, only if the owners agree to the ‘ghost win’ format. And as per ESPN, Earlier this week in Florida, the owners have already rejected the ghost win proposal in a 14-team playoffs format.
Under this plan, the division winner with the best regular-season record in each league would get a bye and will advance directly to the Division Series. While the two other division winners will get to choose their opponents and be at home for the entire best-of-three round.
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Legendary MLB labor reporter Ron Blum has an explainer of the Scherzer ghost win concept here:https://t.co/FDLEjLrM68
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) March 5, 2022
And the division winner having the second-best record will get the chance to select its opponent from the three lowest-seeded wild card teams. While the division winner having the third-best record will get to pick from the remaining two wild card teams. And last but not the least, the top wild card would play the last left team.
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However, if reports are true then, the owners are still not in the favor of ‘ghost win’ concept. As they believe, it will raise a serious issue and is not a feasible path for the league.