The new MLB playoff format with four wild card teams instead of two is a lot like the first few years of playing organized sports: Everyone is a winner.

Major League Baseball announced in March that beginning this postseason there would be two wild card teams from each league. This is double what it was before, but with this new format the league, teams and fans all come out on top.

Some people argue that adding the additional wild card will make fewer fans watch because it makes it easier to get in and therefore takes away from the splendor that is the MLB postseason. While we do agree this is true, adding an extra playoff spot to each league will put two additional fan bases in the mix and therefore improve television ratings.

Consider this: Last season, the Atlanta Braves had an 8.5-game lead in the wild card Sept. 1. As time would tell, the Braves went on to suffer a historic slide and ended up losing the wild card spot to the St. Louis Cardinals by one game.

You can’t tell us Braves fans would have said: “No thanks, we’ll just call it a season now,” had the MLB made this change before last season, could you?

Speaking from experience, there’s nothing like it when your favorite team makes the playoffs. The 162-game schedule makes for a tumultuous season, where one day you think your team is going to take the division and the next you’re biting your fingernails in game 163 for a chance at postseason play.

Of the four major sports, baseball now has 10 of its 30 teams make the playoffs. With this new addition, that is still less than the NFL (12 of 32), NBA (16 of 30) and NHL (16 of 30) — showing just how difficult it is to even make it to October.

The fans win with the new playoff format because it will not only make the wild card games more interesting, but it allows them to watch their teams at a time of year they normally could not.

To kick off the playoffs, both wild card teams from each league will play each other to see who gets to advance to the divisional round. This means teams will have to decide whether to put their ace on the mound or hope they can win further down the rotation so they have their best for the next round.

It doesn’t get much more exciting than that.

With the NFL having become the most profitable sport in the country, the other professional sports are trying to find ways to keep up revenue while still winning games, baseball included.

With that being said, the revenue a team makes from advancing to the playoffs makes for a big payday and helps teams continue winning in the future. From merchandise sales to increased ticket prices and demand, making the playoffs helps put more money into the teams and gives them a better shot at doing the same thing for years to come.

How do you think the Yankees are able to sign all the big-name players they get? Yes, being in the biggest market plays a part, but the Yankees have either won their division or the wild card all but once during the last 10 years.

All those T-shirt and hat sales combined with how much it costs to see a game at Yankee Stadium? That’s a lot of coin.

As with any argument, there are cons to adding the extra team, but when it comes to America’s pastime, it’s all about enjoying the game.

Adding the extra playoff spots will just make this positive.