Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred’s newly proposed postseason format includes expanding the field from 5 to 7 teams in each league, allowing the best team in each league to pick their opponent and allowing every team to pick what size and what sport ball to use during games.
All of these ideas have been controversial among baseball fans. In particular, using different sport balls has been a point of contention. Many fans worry that a football, basketball or golf ball could be harder to hit.
“First the three batter minimum, now this,” said local fan Gary Woodruff, 52. “Rob Manfred is ruining baseball. We don’t need pitch clocks and pitchers throwing racquetballs”
Baseball is likely to implement this format in 2022, along with shortening games to a 20 minute maximum and having the DH replace every position.