The OFFICIAL 2012 MLB Regular Season Thread

[CofR]

Bob Nightengale of USA Today has confirmed that Major League Baseball fired Shayam Das, the arbitrator who overturned Ryan Braun’s drug suspension in February.

Serving at the pleasure of MLB and the MLB Players Union, Das could have been fired with written notice by either side at any point over the last thirteen years. While we don’t know the cause for MLB’s action quite yet, it’s not the farthest leap of assumption to imagine it has something to do with the controversial Braun decision.

http://blogs.thescore.com/mlb/2012/0...ing+Blanked%29

[KootenayFlamesFan]

A-Rod throwing the bat down and going into a home run trot during a fly ball was pretty funny. Kinda funny at the best of times, even better when it happens to a nice guy like A-Rod.

[Drake]

What a shocker...... more dirt-bags at Dodger Stadium arrested after beating a man in a fender bender accident. Likely some fake ass gang bangers too.

http://espn.go.com/losangeles/conver...dodger-stadium

[GirlySports]

pretty clear that after Texas the 5 next best teams in the AL are all in the AL East which is crazy.

end the divisions already.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

pretty clear that after Texas the 5 next best teams in the AL are all in the AL East which is crazy.

end the divisions already.

a salary cap would be a better solution

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by troutman

a salary cap would be a better solution

I don't know about that. All that would do is try to bring down the Yankees and Red Sox. Wouldn't change the fact that Baltimore, Toronto, and Tampa are still the next 3 best teams in the league after Texas.

Really a tough luxury tax probably works better in Baseball because that way teams can't hide salary's in the minors to circumvent the cap like NHL teams do. Plus a more equitable draft system would be more than enough in MLB to equal out the playing field.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I don't know about that. All that would do is try to bring down the Yankees and Red Sox. Wouldn't change the fact that Baltimore, Toronto, and Tampa are still the next 3 best teams in the league after Texas.

Really a tough luxury tax probably works better in Baseball because that way teams can't hide salary's in the minors to circumvent the cap like NHL teams do. Plus a more equitable draft system would be more than enough in MLB to equal out the playing field.

And no matter what system, some owners just want to pocket the money.
Salary cap: they won't spend to it.
Luxury tax: they will pocket the extra money.

[flames_1987]

Balanced schedule is the answer in my mind.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Really a tough luxury tax probably works better in Baseball because that way teams can't hide salary's in the minors to circumvent the cap like NHL teams do. Plus a more equitable draft system would be more than enough in MLB to equal out the playing field.

But it works in the NHL, so who cares about the "ways around the salary cap" when the end result is parity?

[troutman]

http://www.victoriassecret.com/pink/...ancisco-giants

[troutman]

SI Power Rankings:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...sct=mlb_t12_a1

[Finny61]

I have continued watching the Padres, this year is looking only slightly better than last. That is provided we can maintain a starting rotation of pitchers. Injury bug has been a challenge. Still very little offense, only real bright spots are Alonso and Guzman. They let go of Orlando Hudson on outright waivers.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

But it works in the NHL, so who cares about the "ways around the salary cap" when the end result is parity?

1) I don't think parity should be a goal. If the Jays can profit spending $125M then they should be able to - limiting the Jays and Yankees to a payroll that works for Tampa or Pittsburg doesn't help the league (imo).

2) Parity, as a goal, doesn't really get accomplished. In the NHL the Rangers and Canucks spend far more on player luxury items, coaching, scouting, and everything else that doesn't count toward the cap (nutrition) than the Coyotes or the Islanders - having close payrolls isn't the full story.

I agree that balanced schedules is the optimal answer if fairness is the goal. No divisions; two leagues with four or five teams making the playoffs in each.

[flames_1987]

I mentioned this stat before in this thread. 5 out of the 6 teams with the easiest schedules in MLB last season made the playoffs. I don't think a Salary cap in baseball is needed, but a more balanced playing field is

[Sylvanfan]

Yeah, it's not just the AL East either, as the NL East is pretty similar. They can go back to two Divisions and play a balanced schedule, division winners earn berths, and the next 3 best records get the wild card spots regardless of Division. If the NHL only had 5 playoff spots, the Central and Atlantic still send 4 teams to the playoffs.

[Otsy]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

I mentioned this stat before in this thread. 5 out of the 6 teams with the easiest schedules in MLB last season made the playoffs. I don't think a Salary cap in baseball is needed, but a more balanced playing field is

A salary cap and salary floor help out the small market teams that can't pay the big bucks for players making them not the easiest teams to beat anymore. It should go hand in hand. Working in hockey it seems, same with football. Regardless, there's always gonna be easy games as some teams don't perform.

[Drake]

Adam Jones has signed the most expensive contract in Baltimore history. A six year extension worth about eighty-five million.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ap-sour...4615--mlb.html

[Hockey]

How about the season R.A Dickey is having so far.

10 K's today giving up 0 runs and 3 hits.

11 K's last time out, with only 1 run against.

Now improved to 7-1

[sclitheroe]

I'm re-dedicating myself to following baseball this year after a long absence (much to my enjoyment).

Quick boneheaded question:

On the wildcard standings charts, such as:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/standings/wildcard

How does one read this with the new two wildcard format? It's only the top team listed that would play the 1 game playoff series for the wildcard spot, correct?

Thanks and pardon the dumb question.

[Sylvanfan]

Seems to me the American League one is really whacked. Probably because the Rays and Orioles are tied for the AL East, they're not showing the top Wild Card team because they're still both exempted in SportsNets sorting as Division leaders. The standings should list all non Division leaders, so really the Rays or Orioles are also leading the Wild Card race, Yankees right now would hold the 2nd Wild Card spot 2.5 games behind the Wild Card leader, and the White Sox should be half a game behind the Yankees.

The NL has the 13 non Division leaders listed in their Wild Card standings whereas the AL only has 10 teams instead of 11.