It’s official: New playoff system in place for 2012

MLB officially announced yesterday that the new ten-playoff system will be implemented in 2012. The LDS rounds are going to a 2-3 format for travel purposes, meaning the team with the better record will play the first two games on the road and the final three at home. I don’t like it, but it is what it is. The 2-2-1 format will return next year thankfully. The LCS and World Series formats are unchanged. If two clubs are tied atop the division at the end of the season, they will play a one-game tiebreaker to determine the division winner even if both clubs are guaranteed to make the postseason as at least a Wild Card club. Head-to-head record doesn’t matter anymore. For more on the new system, read my post from earlier this week and Barry Bloom’s breakdown.