There was symbolism in the timing when Major League Baseball announced a new, expanded postseason format. The league made it official on opening day in July, while the very first game of the season was already in progress. The message: We know this won’t last very long, but wait till we get to the fall! But the league risked competitive integrity: What if a losing team sneaked in and made a run for the title? But what if the team turned out to be the Houston Astros, notorious for the cheating scandal that roiled the sport for months before the coronavirus shutdown?

Source: New York Times October 10, 2020 12:00 UTC