Part 2/10:
The conversation begins with a focus on Major League Baseball (MLB), which has recently expanded its playoff field to include three wild-card teams per league, making six in each league, with two receiving first-round byes. The postseason structure involves a best-of-three wild-card series, followed by divisional series (best-of-five), culminating in a best-of-seven league championship and World Series.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred publicly defends this design, emphasizing its success in generating excitement—trade deadlines are lively, attendance remains strong, and the league reports over 70 million in attendance for the third consecutive year, a high since 2017. The structure maintains high stakes, keeping fans engaged throughout September and October.