Trevor Bauer disagrees with Major League Baseball playoff proposal

Somebody had to say it, and it just so happened to be Trevor Bauer. The Cincinnati Reds pitcher severely questioned the new MLB playoff proposal.

Trevor Bauer has over 200,000 followers on Twitter and he’s about to gain a whole lot more. The Cincinnati Reds pitcher took to the social media site last night to voice his displeasure over the recent proposal to Major League Baseball’s playoff format. I think Bauer speaks for the majority of baseball fans when he calls the proposed changes “absurd”.

For some weird reason, MLB is apparently trying to tinker with the playoff format. According to ESPN, the number of teams would jump from 10 to 14 and have an odd twist when it comes to the matchups, reportedly allowing teams to select their opponent.

I’m a bit of a baseball purist, and originally hated the idea of an additional Wild Card team. However, I’ve come around to the idea and understand that an added postseason spot can increase viewership as the season winds down. While I still don’t like it, I can at least understand it. This latest proposal has me, and apparently Trevor Bauer, baffled.

Baseball has a rich history and is defined by it. There’s no reason to mess with what works. Heck, just this last October we watched a Wild Card team win the World Series. Isn’t that the point? Adding two more teams waters down the entire 162 game season.

Haven’t we already seen this movie before? The best example is the NCAA Tournament. I’m from Kentucky, so I like college basketball as much as the next person, but the regular season has lost all its intrigue because fans are focused on the tournament in March. The same thing could happen to baseball if you allow nearly half the league into the postseason.

If the proposed playoff were in effect last season, we would’ve seen the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks join the fray in the National League, while the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox would’ve completed the playoff bracket in the American League.

Trevor Bauer didn’t hold back in his post, choosing to direct his displeasure with Commissioner Rob Manfred. Bauer has been unafraid to voice his opposition to Manfred in the past. Back in December, Bauer said that Manfred was trying to “ruin baseball” following MLB’s threat to cut ties with several minor league affiliates.

Strap in folks, because I don’t think we’ve heard the last from Trevor Bauer. It appears as though the Reds hurler will be the voice of the people in this latest endeavorer to change a sport that doesn’t need it. These proposed changes wouldn’t take affect until 2022 and would have to be negotiated with the players’ association.