Jesse RogersESPN Staff Writer Oct 12, 2023, 9:24pm ET2 minute read
PHILADELPHIA – Commissioner Rob Manfred believes it’s too early to judge baseball’s new playoff format, even after two division winners were defeated this postseason and a third is struggling offensively.
“It’s only Year 2,” Manfred said before Game 4 of the Philadelphia Phillies-Atlanta Braves NL Division Series on Thursday night. “I am of the opinion that you have to give something a chance in order for it to work. I know some of the higher seeded teams didn’t win. I think when you think about where some of these teams were, there are other explanations than a five-day break. But I think we will reevaluate in the offseason as we always do and think about whether we have the right format.”
Since last year, the top two division winners in each league (based on overall record) have earned byes into the division series, but only after a five-day break while the wild card round was played.
Critics believe such a layoff would be too long; The best teams get rusty before their playoff journey begins.
In 2022, the two top-seeded NL teams (Los Angeles Dodgers, Braves) lost in the division series; However, both AL teams (Houston Astros, New York Yankees) advanced. That year, the 101-win Baltimore Orioles were defeated by the Texas Rangers in the division series, and the 100-win Dodgers did the same against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Additionally, the 104-win Braves had scored just seven runs in three games heading into Game 4, having led baseball in that category during the regular season.
“I don’t think we need five (days off), but we needed a couple,” manager Brandon Hyde said after the Orioles’ exit. “Whether that impacted this series or not, I’m not going to speculate. But it will be a long time coming. That’s the bottom line.”
In both years, the Astros overcame any rust and advanced to the ALCS, poking holes in the “layoff is too long” theory.
Manfred was asked if he had spoken to the players’ association about changing the format.
“It’s one of those things that if we wanted to do something we would talk about it,” he said. “But I think the most important point is the first: it’s Year 2. I think we have to give it some time… We all want the competition to be as good as it can be.”