MLB proposed playoff changes could have saved the Cardinals from 2022 playoff disaster

Over the coming weeks and months, we are going to hear more and more updates on the negotiations between Major League Baseball and the Major League Players Association, and all of it has the potential to have a major impact on the St. Louis Cardinals. MLB's latest proposal regarding the season length and postseason format is the latest example of that.

On Thursday, MLB proposed returning to a 154-game season starting in 2029, a format they have not adopted since 1961, and, in doing so, implement a standard weekly off day to help with player health. They would expand the Division Series to seven games and then allow teams to select the opponent they play in the Wild Card Series and Division Series.

That final rule idea would have really come in handy for the Cardinals back in 2022!

The Cardinals would not have picked to face the Phillies in 2022

Picking the team you get to play is a really interesting wrinkle to reward the highest seed teams in the first two rounds. For example, back in 2022, the Cardinals would have had the pick of their opponent for the Wild Card Series, and I have a feeling they would not have chosen the Philadelphia Phillies. Instead, they could have gone with the New York Mets, and then they may have made a run in October.

Instead, the Cardinals ran into an absolute buzzsaw Phillies team, one that only had to take two games from St. Louis to win the series. Almost every team that has won the first game of the new Wild Card series format has gone on to win the series, and the Cardinals famously blew Game 1 when Ryan Helsely's finger went numb on him in the ninth inning.

Sure, it could hurt the Cardinals in the future, as they may end up getting paired with a club they wouldn't have had to face otherwise in this format, but overall, I think it is a fun wrinkle to implement. Also, if a team chooses to face you, that's got to be a ton of added motivation to go out and beat them, which is a fun storyline to follow.

Before I jump into my own thoughts and how the other changes could impact St. Louis, it is worth noting that the MLBPA was open to looking at those changes, but remains frustrated that it is tied to the expectation that a salary cap would be put in place.

Let's start with how the changes to the regular season could impact the Cardinals and baseball as a whole. First, it does create some weird dynamics when it comes to personal accolades, as it makes it even harder to break single-season and career records or climb up those lists when there are fewer games played each year.

The implementation of a standard off-day would align with how minor league baseball is handled currently, which gives teams Mondays off each week. From a player health and performance perspective, instituting an off-day each week could really help manage injuries and give players consistent rest, when right now, there are long stretches where players have to play in 10, 15, or even close to 20 straight games without an off-day.

It's also interesting to consider how this could set up six-man rotations as common practice, as then starters would throw just once a week, rather than every fifth game. That might not feel like a big change, but it really would be for many teams. There has been talk about MLB potentially expanding rosters a bit further in order to allow teams to do that. Considering how careful the Cardinals have been with their starting pitching health, they may welcome this.

On the other playoff change, expanding the Division Series to seven games could help teams avoid quick flameouts, where, if they go down 2-0 in a series, they aren't already on the brink of elimination. It likely helps the "more talented team" have a better chance of taking the series, since they have to be beaten four times rather than three. Also, it does help with television revenue and gives individual teams additional cash flow from hosting more home games.

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