An MLB postseason in which any team could win title

Let them all in. Major League Baseball has discussed an expanded playoff format that would follow an abbreviated regular season, if indeed we’re fortunate enough to have even an abbreviated season.

A limited schedule wouldn’t necessarily determine which teams are the best and worst, not like 162 games would, so the usual 10 playoff teams might not be a fair representation. Maybe 14 (which is being considered) wouldn’t be, either.

I say permit all 30 teams into the playoffs. Yes, that includes the rebuilding Giants, who aren’t expected to contend for a year or two.

The schedule has been compromised anyway. Why not go all out and make the postseason all inclusive and bring a bit of joy and hope to every market? Here’s how: First of all, it’s silly to speak of a baseball timetable when the coronavirus numbers continue to trend in the wrong direction. It’s unrealistic to think games will be played in May or even June. Perhaps even July.

But let’s be optimistic for a moment and imagine a world healthy enough to give baseball the green light in 2020. A shortened spring training would be necessary. Let’s say that happens in July and the regular season is two months, August and September.

Let’s also say all games would be played at teams’ spring training facilities to limit travel and that they would be televised. It’s a 56game schedule in which the 15 Arizona teams play every other team four times. Ditto in Florida. Then the playoffs: the World Baseball Classic meets March Madness.

The 15 teams in Arizona (as in Florida) would be divided into three pools of five teams and seeded according to their regularseason records. Like in the WBC, teams would play a round robin and be guaranteed four games apiece.

The top two teams in each pool advance to the next round. That’s six Arizona teams. Plus two wild cards. That’s eight. In the case of ties in pool play, regularseason records would determine which team advances.

The eight teams would play bestoffive series to narrow the field to four.

The next round would be a bestoffive as well. Now you’re down to two teams in Arizona, two in Florida. A Final Four, if you will.

Another bestoffive — played at the home parks of the Diamondbacks and Marlins — leaves you with two remaining teams.

The World Series would be played at a site between Florida and

Arizona, in the Rangers’ retractableroof ballpark in Arlington, Texas, which was supposed to open this season.

It all could be done in a month. Pool play, three bestoffives and a bestofseven. The most postseason games any team would play, if every series went the distance, is 26.

Again, we have zero idea when or if baseball will be played in 2020. But if it’s OK to dream, it’s OK to include all 30 teams.