Reds' Bauer blasts Manfred for reported playoff plans: 'You're a joke'

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Trevor Bauer took to Twitter on Monday to rip commissioner Rob Manfred following reports that Major League Baseball is considering playoff format changes that would include some teams picking their opponents.

"No idea who made this new playoff format proposal, but Rob is responsible for releasing it, so I'll direct this to you, Rob Manfred," Bauer wrote. "Your proposal is absurd for too many reasons to type on Twitter and proves you have absolutely no clue about baseball. You're a joke."

The format reportedly under consideration would include seven postseason teams in each league starting in 2022. The clubs with the AL's and NL's best records would earn byes to their respective division series, with the other division winners picking their opponents from among the wild-card teams on live television. The one-game playoff would also be eliminated.

While Bauer rebuked Manfred, another major leaguer didn't seem to understand what all the fuss is about.

"Why are people so mad about the proposal?" nine-year veteran Trevor Plouffe wrote on Twitter. "A one-game playoff is nuts! We have that and people have come to love it. I get that people in baseball love tradition but it's okay to propose things."

MLB last changed its postseason format in 2012, adding an extra wild-card team in each league.