[alnorth]

Its official, 2nd wild card this season. However, to make it happen they had to do some really weird things to fit it into this year's playoff schedule.

First, there's still only one open day between the last game and the play-in game. If we get a three-way tie for a division and/or some rain, then things could get crazy. (Ties for a wild card will be broken by formula if you have one team involved in both a tie for a division and a wild card, but division ties can only be broken on the field)

Second, for this year only, they are going to the old hated 2-3 format for the best of 5 division series. (The lower-seeded team gets to host the first 2 games) They will go back to the modern 2-2-1 format next year but they had to do it this way in 2012 because, again, travel. The #1 and #2 seeds in both leagues are going to be pissed this year.

Finally, for this year only, instead of the usual practice of having AL start one day then NL start the next day, they will have the 2/3 series in both leagues start first, because of travel.