2011/2012 MLB Off-season Thread

[VERVE]

Originally Posted by troutman

Twitter tells me MLB is expanding the playoffs to 10 teams, this season!

Ken Rosenthal ‏ @Ken_Rosenthal
Sources: Additional wild cards a "go" for this season. Playoffs to expand from eight to 10 teams. Announcement tomorrow. #MLB

I do not know why the MLB do not shortened the regular season by 10 games (to 152) or fewer and extend the playoff games to 7 games for all the series incl the wildcard games. There is so much positives that can come from it:

• more gate revenues
• more tv revenues
• all pitchers will get used fairly and rested well inbetween rotations.
• fear of tired arms will be alleviated from a shortened seasom by 10 games-that is 2 series of pitching rotation saved for playoffs

[Montana Moe]

Because the game is all about statistics. More than any other, actually.

Removing games from the regular season would have an effect on every stat in the book. Wins, saves, HR's, hits, you name it. I'd love to see it to accommodate a bigger postseason, but I highly doubt they ever will.

[VERVE]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

Because the game is all about statistics. More than any other, actually.

Removing games from the regular season would have an effect on every stat in the book. Wins, saves, HR's, hits, you name it. I'd love to see it to accommodate a bigger postseason, but I highly doubt they ever will.

Every statistics are based on number of games played so it should be still the same.

Prior to 1962, the games in both conferences were 154 games. Since 1876, the number of games played has changed about 10 times all were different numbers. Of course one main reason was the number of teams changed throughout the years.

162 games makes for a long season. Cutting it shorter to ex. 10 games to compensate for a longer series in the playoffs makes it more exciting for fans. It would be so terrible for teams to play 162 games and to make it into the playoff then lose a 1 game series, well, the playoffs is not well executed to its utmost benefits in terms of fan/players excitement in Octiober, tv and gate revenues.

[Montana Moe]

As I said, I would love it, I just don't ever see them pulling back from 162.

Since 1919, other than wartime, the number of games has never been reduced. Owners of teams that aren't going to make the playoffs aren't going to want to give up that extra revenue.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

I hope the Rays have a really poor season, just to see you cry.

Haha I don't as per every year I hope rays and jays make it over the yanks or sox! It was just to easy of a jab

[VERVE]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

As I said, I would love it, I just don't ever see them pulling back from 162.

Since 1919, other than wartime, the number of games has never been reduced. Owners of teams that aren't going to make the playoffs aren't going to want to give up that extra revenue.

The number of games was reduced after the war was over and later increased again. Baseball has a history of being a traditionalist and change comes very slowly. There are ways to share profits with perennial non-playoff teams. Perhaps by shortening the number of regular season games and increasing playoff games will make owners try even harder for the playoffs knowing the revenues that can be gained.

[GirlySports]

The solution is to still play 162 but put in a few scheduled double headers every year.

Yankees/Red Sox could play a 10 hour Saturday doubleheader.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

The solution is to still play 162 but put in a few scheduled double headers every year.

Yankees/Red Sox could play a 10 hour Saturday doubleheader.

Even I wouldn't want to sit through that.

[VERVE]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

The solution is to still play 162 but put in a few scheduled double headers every year.

Yankees/Red Sox could play a 10 hour Saturday doubleheader.

The point was to save the arms of the pitchers and ready them for the added playoff games with all series going 7 games. To do this fairly would be to have fewer games during the regular season (maybe 10 games). Pretty disheartening to play 162 games and make the playoffs and lose the only game that matters which is a 1 game playoff...

[dustyanddaflames]

That's an interesting point VERVE - they were talking about the same thing on 960 regarding that type of idea with the NHL. I think it was Boomer who said that it would be awfully disheartening for say the Senators to finish 8 points ahead of say Tampa - only to have Stamkos go off in a one-game showdown, and eliminate you. Never really seen it that way, as I was so caught up in the excitement of a one-game playoff. Regardless of how the clubs feel, I am super excited for this to happen every year now, and not hope for a tie after 162.

[moon]

Originally Posted by dustyanddaflames

That's an interesting point VERVE - they were talking about the same thing on 960 regarding that type of idea with the NHL. I think it was Boomer who said that it would be awfully disheartening for say the Senators to finish 8 points ahead of say Tampa - only to have Stamkos go off in a one-game showdown, and eliminate you. Never really seen it that way, as I was so caught up in the excitement of a one-game playoff. Regardless of how the clubs feel, I am super excited for this to happen every year now, and not hope for a tie after 162.

One of the points on PTS was say the Red Sox and Yankees finish with 106 and 105 each.

Detroit wins the 4th Wild Card spot with say 90 wins.

Now you could easily have a situation where New York is facing Verlander in a one game play-off and because they were trying to beat the Sox for the division and avoid this game they used CC, Pineda and Hughes on the last series.

Now you have Verlander vs. Garcia in a one game play-off and likely you get a team with 15 less wins in the play-offs.

I guess lesser teams make it now and the solution is to not finish 3rd and win your division but the one game aspect of it does seem like it could mean that lesser teams have an easier way into the play-offs rather than increasing the quality/excitement of the play-offs.

Winning your division is now a big advantage as playing the WC team after they likely just used their ace in the play-in game is a huge advantage and possibly the difference in winning the series or not.

[troutman]

Giants beat the Dodgers 8-4. Always good to BEAT LA.

[troutman]

Will the NL adopt the DH? Yuck, I hope not.

Is the designated hitter coming to a National League park near you?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...&sct=hp_t11_a2

There is no question that the style of NL baseball is more interesting and nuanced than AL baseball. Yes, it's a better game, the way chess is a better game than checkers. Game 6 of the 2011 World Series, just like Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, is one of the greatest games ever played because there was no DH. Texas manager Ron Washington used nine players in his number nine spot in his order. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa used pitchers in four of his nine spots and -- when down two runs in the 10th inning -- ran out of position players and had to use a pitcher to hit for a pitcher.

Is baseball really willing to lose so much strategy and history? The debate about what to do with the DH has been around since the rule began, but the context is very different now. Twenty years ago the answer would have been a definitive no. But this is the 40th season with the DH. It is now ingrained in the modern game. And baseball has become extremely progressive.

[VERVE]

Originally Posted by dustyanddaflames

That's an interesting point VERVE - they were talking about the same thing on 960 regarding that type of idea with the NHL. I think it was Boomer who said that it would be awfully disheartening for say the Senators to finish 8 points ahead of say Tampa - only to have Stamkos go off in a one-game showdown, and eliminate you. Never really seen it that way, as I was so caught up in the excitement of a one-game playoff. Regardless of how the clubs feel, I am super excited for this to happen every year now, and not hope for a tie after 162.

Yes, it would be exciting as shown in last year's crazy 1 game tie-breakers. Since the days when the Blue Jays were in the post season, I haven't enjoyed an October baseball playoffs as much as last fall. I guess any type of playoff setup be it 1 game or 5 or 7, they each will have their share of excitement one way or another. Lets play ball.

[flames_1987]

The atmosphere in Canada and Toronto for a one game playoff to get into the playoffs would simply be amazing. Here's hoping it can happen sometime soon

[moon]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

The atmosphere in Canada and Toronto for a one game playoff to get into the playoffs would simply be amazing. Here's hoping it can happen sometime soon

Toronto maybe, Canada not so much.

Outside of being forced fed the Blue Jays from the sports networks I don't think places like Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Montreal would be that into it.

[Otsy]

Originally Posted by moon

Toronto maybe, Canada not so much.

Outside of being forced fed the Blue Jays from the sports networks I don't think places like Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Montreal would be that into it.

Pretty sure for the baseball fans especially blue jays fans they would sure be into it, regardless of location. I know I would be and all the baseball fans I know in BC and Alberta

[moon]

Originally Posted by Otsy

Pretty sure for the baseball fans especially blue jays fans they would sure be into it, regardless of location. I know I would be and all the baseball fans I know in BC and Alberta

Of course Blue Jay fans would be into it, who is arguing they wouldn't?

My point is that I don't find that the Blue Jays are that popular outside of Toronto.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by moon

Of course Blue Jay fans would be into it, who is arguing they wouldn't?

My point is that I don't find that the Blue Jays are that popular outside of Toronto.

TV ratings are strong across Canada for the Jays. Force fed or not, they're Canada's team and the following is pretty solid.

[dustyanddaflames]

I don't know though moon, I think we'd be all shocked at the hype the Jays would get if they did advance to the playoffs. It has been so long that when/if the Jays do clinch a playoff birth, the publicity of it would be really hard to not notice. I really hope that it happens within a couple years - because baseball in Canada really needs a kick in the rear, and I think the best thing to happen, would be the Jays become relevant again.