MLB, IBC Expand Playoffs

[Cardinals]

The MLB officially announced today that they will expand to a 10 team playoff system, and consequently, the IBC will as well for the 2012 season.

In case you've been living under a rock, it's pretty simple. There will be two wild card teams from each league, and they will face each other in a one game playoff to face the team with the best record in each league. Apparently, the MLB has finally decided to let two teams from the same division face each other in the LDS round -- which is something we've always done, anyway.

This will place a greater emphasis on winning the division. It is also now possible for three teams to make the playoffs from the same division.

Using the American League last year as an example, both Boston and Toronto would have made the playoffs in the IBC. The winner of that game would then have played JB's Yankees in the LDS.