2011 MLB Season Thread - Page 7 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

CofR · 04-21-2011, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Braun signed a US$105 million, five-year contract extension on Thursday that adds to a seven-year deal he signed in May 2008, meaning the Brewers are now committed to pay the young slugger $145.5 million through 2020.

http://tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=363122

Sylvanfan · 04-22-2011, 01:09 PM

Expanding to 10 playoff teams will keep a few more fans interested in September. For a team like the Blue Jays who are pretty much done by mid August every year, there could be games into September that actually mean something. It will also give Division winners a bit of an advantage over the Wild Card teams since they'll have a couple extra rest days to set up their rotation.

bluejays · 04-22-2011, 04:41 PM

Wow on the Braun extension. Was that necessary at all...especially in baseball? He was already locked until 2015. Things change, to have a guy locked in for that much makes no sense. I wouldn't even want Pujols for that term. Yikes.

koop · 04-22-2011, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Expanding to 10 playoff teams will keep a few more fans interested in September. For a team like the Blue Jays who are pretty much done by mid August every year, there could be games into September that actually mean something.

Yeah, but you could make the same argument for expanding to 20 teams, which obviously isn't a good idea.... basically I don't think that's a good enough reason to expand the playoffs. Personally I hate that 16 teams make the playoffs in the NHL, it cheapens the regular season and rewards mediocrity. Once you expand the playoffs it's basically impossible to go back, which is why I wish the MLB would leave the number of playoff teams alone.

dustyanddaflames · 04-22-2011, 09:54 PM

All good points, and I agree with both of them - it's a fine line between revenue and retaining the integrity of the playoffs and the prestige that goes along with it. You make the playoffs in baseball, and you know you are a damn good team that belongs there. You make the playoffs in hockey, you have a chance to back yourself into the 8th spot and cling for dear life when facing the one seed. I truthfully like it the way it is - the suspense in September is remarkable, regardless if your team is in it or not.

Sylvanfan · 04-22-2011, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koop

Yeah, but you could make the same argument for expanding to 20 teams, which obviously isn't a good idea....

Not really. By adding one Wild Card team with a best of three series in each league, you inherently give the three Division winners a leg up with a mini bye. Expanding by more teams doesn't neccessarily do that, and you'd still be looking at 1/3 of teams making the playoffs, and the same number being in Division rounds. Over the years there have been a few of these one day playoffs which are great, this would just make those a best of three series, and ensure you get one every year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by koop

basically I don't think that's a good enough reason to expand the playoffs. Personally I hate that 16 teams make the playoffs in the NHL, it cheapens the regular season and rewards mediocrity. Once you expand the playoffs it's basically impossible to go back, which is why I wish the MLB would leave the number of playoff teams alone.

You must have hated the days of 16 of 21 making the playoffs than. In the NFL and this proposed set up the "Mediocre teams" are at a disdvantage by the time they get to round two of the playoffs having had to play in the first week. Whereas in the NHL or NBA home ice advantage is all you get. No doubt though that once you committ to it you have to stick with it. But my guess is that owners love the prospect of having their team play a few more meaningful games and potentially even get a home playoff game or two. Suddenly a game in Cleveland on September 15th against the Mariners that would normally draw 10,000 fans might bring 25,000 to the park because the Indians have a chance.

koop · 04-23-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Not really. By adding one Wild Card team with a best of three series in each league, you inherently give the three Division winners a leg up with a mini bye. Expanding by more teams doesn't neccessarily do that, and you'd still be looking at 1/3 of teams making the playoffs, and the same number being in Division rounds. Over the years there have been a few of these one day playoffs which are great, this would just make those a best of three series, and ensure you get one every year.

You must have hated the days of 16 of 21 making the playoffs than. In the NFL and this proposed set up the "Mediocre teams" are at a disdvantage by the time they get to round two of the playoffs having had to play in the first week. Whereas in the NHL or NBA home ice advantage is all you get. No doubt though that once you committ to it you have to stick with it. But my guess is that owners love the prospect of having their team play a few more meaningful games and potentially even get a home playoff game or two. Suddenly a game in Cleveland on September 15th against the Mariners that would normally draw 10,000 fans might bring 25,000 to the park because the Indians have a chance.

I guess my main complaint with it is its a slippery slope, which is kind of what I meant by saying its the same argument you could make for 20 teams. While I was exaggerating and that isn't realistic I could see the same agument being made years from now to add 2 more team on top of 10. As for your "guess" that owners will love having their teams have more important games that really isn't a guess, its a fact, which is why its so easy to keep expanding the playoffs once you start. I'm not going to lie either, its not like I'm boycotting flames playoff games when they sneak into a lower seed, or that I wouldn't be paying attention if the bluejays got in because of the expanded format..... I understand that may seems strange to some people, but I like the idea of the regular season having a lot of importance, which is probably the reason I can't get into the cfl.

Sylvanfan · 04-23-2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koop

I understand that may seems strange to some people, but I like the idea of the regular season having a lot of importance, which is probably the reason I can't get into the cfl.

I do see what you're getting at. Used to be 4 teams in the playoffs...now it's 8, soon to be 10. Who knows could be up to 12 by 2020.

I suppose the one limitation they have is time as they really can't push the schedule any earlier in the year, and end the playoffs any later. So in order to expand the playoffs too much you start having to shorten the regular season which I don't think most owners would care for. So that should inherently keep it from getting too big. But yeah, once you committ to 10...pretty soon someone says why not have two of these best of 3 rounds and have 12 teams.

GirlySports · 04-24-2011, 04:53 PM

Just heard an interesting tidbit.

The last time the Cincinnati Reds played on Sunday Night Baseball was May 5, 2005 against the Dodgers.

-----

I wonder how many times the Yankees and Red Sox played Sunday nights in that same time span.

metallicat · 04-25-2011, 06:57 PM

Sucks for fans of the Reds, but should they make everything equal, despite TV ratings NOT being equal? Fair or not, the Yankees and Sox draw the biggest audiences (presumably).

When is the last time the Blue Jays were on the Saturday FOX game, or Sunday ESPN game? Ever?

transplant99 · 04-25-2011, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Just heard an interesting tidbit.

The last time the Cincinnati Reds played on Sunday Night Baseball was May 5, 2005 against the Dodgers.

-----

I wonder how many times the Yankees and Red Sox played Sunday nights in that same time span.

And until last year they were irrelevant.

they keep playing well, they will get there.

beyond that though...since ESPN paid for the rights to show nation wide games, should they not be the ones to choose who they air? And I dont know about you, but when I run a business i want to maximize my own revenues, and the Yankees and red Sox do that for me.

I mean why does HNIC always show a Canadian based team?...cause of the name or because, you know, they will draw higher ratings thereby allowing the network to sell ad times at a higher rate.

its how it works.

transplant99 · 04-25-2011, 07:03 PM

Nm

troutman · 04-26-2011, 09:01 AM

Playoff Baseball >>>> Regular Season Baseball

The more the merrier I say.

fundmark19 · 04-28-2011, 03:33 PM

How about those rays! Back at the top of AL east after starting 0-6. Looks like it is going to be another great race to watch in the ALE come september

metallicat · 04-28-2011, 07:34 PM

Back at the top? They're 1.5 back and the Yankees have three games in hand. Not that any of this matters right now though...

fundmark19 · 04-28-2011, 08:06 PM

Games in hand don't matter in April win total does

Montana Moe · 04-28-2011, 09:53 PM

Nothing matters in April.

fundmark19 · 04-29-2011, 08:38 AM

April and May is the only time the Jays matter. Once june and july come around they become obsolete every year

Resolute 14 · 04-29-2011, 05:15 PM

Ozzie Guillen has mental issues, but that is what makes him so awesome. First Twitter-related suspension in MLB history...

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big...urn=mlb-wp4892

Sylvanfan · 04-29-2011, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Ozzie Guillen has mental issues, but that is what makes him so awesome. First Twitter-related suspension in MLB history...

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big...urn=mlb-wp4892

When he does finally get fired, I'll go out of my way to watch him as a color analyst, especially if they could let him do it uncensored.