They're trying to sell the 2 Wild Cards as "10 teams make the playoffs," but that's pretty inaccurate. 6 teams will make the playoffs and 4 teams will make the play-in.
And have they thought through the eventuality of ties, like we almost had this year? Would the two tied WC teams automatically advance to the play-in? How would a three-way tie be settled?
I don't totally hate the idea of interleague all year long, but they better put some serious thought into the scheduling process.
(edited by SchippeWreck on 17.11.11 1322) "It's magic! We don't need to explain it!"
Since inter league every day 'is for the fans', why not do what makes sense and used national league rules in american league ballparks and vice versa? Wouldn't that be out of the ordinary for the other games 'for the fans'?
Originally posted by spfYeah! Because watching pitchers feebly hack their way to a collective .150 average is awesome!
If anyone actually believe that's why many prefer to see the pitcher in the lineup, and not the chess game that can result from it, please leave the conversation.
The chess game of watching Tony LaRussa botch his bullpen and make odd L vs. R choices leading to 4 hour marathons of 11th men in the bullpen crossing their fingers and hoping for the best?
The chess game of the fabled double switch, a move that makes NL fans simultaneously orgasm and faint with joy?
The chess game of deciding which slap hitter to pinch hit with in the 7th inning when you have to take out your starter even though he's dealing?
These things do not in any way, in my opinion of course, make up for the loss to the game of 1000's of essentially wasted at-bats every year by players who are specialists in something that is not hitting the ball. Pitchers batting are the fake punts of baseball. We all are amazed and giggly when something good happens because usually it is the kind of disaster you expect when someone does something they are not trained to do.
The game of baseball has changed irrevocably since the introduction of the DH.
Also, Dusty Baker has won multiple division titles in the NL, and that man is dumb as dirt. It can't be THAT much like chess if he's able to be successful. Checkers maybe?
Originally posted by Eddie FamousInstead of putting the Brewers BACK in the AL.
I get what you are saying, but I think the Astros giving Texas a natural rival in the AL West makes more sense. Who would move to the west out of Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Kansas City, and Cleveland?
I read somewhere that they are leaning to a one-game wild card playoff in each league, but I think a best-of-three would be better if they had all three games in the home of the higher-seeded team. They could end the season on a Wednesday, have a Fri/Sat/Sun (if necessary) and start the Division Series on Monday and Tuesday.
Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....
*snip*
Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus
Originally posted by Eddie FamousInstead of putting the Brewers BACK in the AL.
Who would move to the west out of Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Kansas City, and Cleveland?
Geographically speaking, KC would make the most sense in that scenario, and in all honesty aren't all that further "west" than Houston is, which is Eastern Texas.
That said, Houston is a far more logical choice.
Had there been no DH related implications, I would have been in favor of a league wide re-alignment... though it's probably more pressing the NFL.
Originally posted by spfThe chess game of watching Tony LaRussa botch his bullpen and make odd L vs. R choices leading to 4 hour marathons of 11th men in the bullpen crossing their fingers and hoping for the best? ... It can't be THAT much like chess if he's able to be successful. Checkers maybe?
That's what Ron Washington was playing this postseason. Nothing against him, but maybe he should have had more practice actually having to think about strategy.
As far as La Russa, part of the turnaround the Cardinals had was 1.) having the right pieces and 2.) using them properly. Using those matchups, La Russa disabled Braun and Fielder in the last part of the NLCS; Braun couldn't hit Dotel if his life depended on it. That great Rangers lineup...what happened to it? The Cardinals bullpen, pitching more innings than the starters, did. Taking nothing away from the talent those pitchers possess, which La Russa can't grant them, he used them almost (WS Game 5, ugh) perfectly. Tony got his lumps at times and deserved them, but it wasn't just crossing fingers.
And that long ass game he manages still manages to finish in less time than a DH-laden slugfest where pitching changes can be made far more willy-nilly.
And, yes, the fact that you might have to pull a starter to create offense is a dilemma that adds intrigue and suspense to the game, something you don't have with the DH. God forbid we don't allow a weak hitting infielder that's not much better at the plate than some pitchers the opportunity to hit ninth! That certainly couldn't be construed as an "essentially wasted at-bat."
Originally posted by spfThe chess game of watching Tony LaRussa botch his bullpen and make odd L vs. R choices leading to 4 hour marathons of 11th men in the bullpen crossing their fingers and hoping for the best? ... It can't be THAT much like chess if he's able to be successful. Checkers maybe?
That's what Ron Washington was playing this postseason. Nothing against him, but maybe he should have had more practice actually having to think about strategy.
As far as La Russa, part of the turnaround the Cardinals had was 1.) having the right pieces and 2.) using them properly. Using those matchups, La Russa disabled Braun and Fielder in the last part of the NLCS; Braun couldn't hit Dotel if his life depended on it. That great Rangers lineup...what happened to it? The Cardinals bullpen, pitching more innings than the starters, did. Taking nothing away from the talent those pitchers possess, which La Russa can't grant them, he used them almost (WS Game 5, ugh) perfectly. Tony got his lumps at times and deserved them, but it wasn't just crossing fingers.
And that long ass game he manages still manages to finish in less time than a DH-laden slugfest where pitching changes can be made far more willy-nilly.
And, yes, the fact that you might have to pull a starter to create offense is a dilemma that adds intrigue and suspense to the game, something you don't have with the DH. God forbid we don't allow a weak hitting infielder that's not much better at the plate than some pitchers the opportunity to hit ninth! That certainly couldn't be construed as an "essentially wasted at-bat."
(edited by PeterStork on 17.11.11 1858)
Throw in the X-Factor of a pitcher who can hit, and you have the makings of something interesting. Example; Gregory Alan Maddux has a career .172 batting average, and included four seasons of hitting .200 or better. Compare that with other pitchers or utility fielders, and you see how much of an edge that is.
There's some DH's who I have enjoyed watching over the years (Edgar Martinez being my favorite). But the strategy of the pitcher hitting is such a great dynamic, and seems more pure (I know, that sounds lame).
When the Expos died and I began searching for a team, I had two criteria:
1) Must be an NL team. 2) Can't jump on the bandwagon, so the team can't have won the world series.
For awhile I cheered for the Cubs, but I lost interest when I realized that I'd never be able to see their games in person. I want that to be remotely plausible. Most people think the Jays make the most sense, but the pitcher doesn't hit, so it doesn't feel right. So really, I had to choose from a NL East team. And this past year I phinally did.
I get what you are saying, but I think the Astros giving Texas a natural rival in the AL West makes more sense. Who would move to the west out of Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Kansas City, and Cleveland?
Keep the Astros in the NL and move KC to the West for the next 20 years, so the AL Central gets the advantage of the smaller division for two decades. Then, 20 years down the road, move the Jays to the Central and the AL East is just four teams. Maybe by then Baltimore will be competitive!
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." --- Bart Giamatti, on baseball
I am SO pissed that they are going to interleague play all year round. The National League has been around for about 135 years, the American League about 110, and they've effectively been killed. That sucks sucks sucks.
They may claim it's "for the fans", but they must know that the fans will mostly be unhappy--why else would they announce this at a time when sports radio is consumed by another story?
Originally posted by Peter The HegemonThey may claim it's "for the fans", but they must know that the fans will mostly be unhappy--why else would they announce this at a time when sports radio is consumed by another story?
Scheduling issues (and team moves and playoffs) are tied to the new baseball CBA, which they've been (somewhat quietly) working on for weeks and was finalized last night and will be announced next week. All the info that's coming out about changes have been leaked from those talks. MLB itself hasn't made anything official, though Bud confirmed some things.
I would guess it also came out this week at the GM meetings, ahead of the Winter Meetings, so that could be devoted to other business, like free agent signings and what not.
Originally posted by Peter The HegemonThey may claim it's "for the fans", but they must know that the fans will mostly be unhappy--why else would they announce this at a time when sports radio is consumed by another story?
Scheduling issues (and team moves and playoffs) are tied to the new baseball CBA, which they've been (somewhat quietly) working on for weeks and was finalized last night and will be announced next week. All the info that's coming out about changes have been leaked from those talks. MLB itself hasn't made anything official, though Bud confirmed some things.
Dear NBA,
This is how you handle CBA issues. You work on them before the last minute and keep things low key.
Yes, but as sure as the leaves turn in autumn, and the Dolphins collapse around Hanukkah, Steinbrenner will inevitably blow up the day before the Yankees play some pissant glorified farm team. (Sorry, Tampa.)