Oso planning to go pro
We are seeing some historically bad seasons this year with quite a few teams opting for a complete rebuild (potentially 5 100 loss teams). Would that be the case if there were an expanded playoff format in place? It's true that in the NBA with expanded playoff its easy to get stuck between complete rebuild and legit contender (bucks for the last two years). However would not be the case in baseball. In 2011 the team that had the worst record among playoff teams won the World Series, in 2014 neither World Series team had 90 regular season wins. If teams knew that they could make the playoffs with 80-85 wins there would be less tanking because once you're there, anyone can win, which is not the case in the NBA. Sure some teams would still pull a 76ers, but you would see more competitive and more meaningful baseball from more teams, which should equal more money.
More playoff teams means more rounds of playoffs. Unless they are going to play into December, that means fewer regular season games, and I don't see owners willing to give up those games.
How much revenue is the Tigers/Twins game today bringing into Tigers management? Or Blue Jays/O's? Or any of the other games between 2 dog teams in September (or August, or July, or June, etc. this year)
I'd venture a guess it's much more than you think when you take concession sales into consideration. I have zero numbers to back this up but I have to imagine concession numbers at baseball games blow away any of the other major sports.
Sorry, I kind of stopped paying attention to the standings in the AL since pretty much all the Playoff teams have been decided for quite a while now. Didn't realize that the Astros had jumped the Yankees by such a wide margin, so the 2nd best record in the AL will not be playing in a Wild Card game. But my overall point remains. It's easy to say "win more" but it's also easy to point out that some teams just have an easier situation to "win more" in.
Did the cubs have an easier situation to"win more?" Doesn't seem like it.And goooooolllly is Joey Votto making a lot of money to hit 12 dingers.
So you disagree that some teams have an easier path to the Playoffs than others? Guess we'll agree to disagree.And if you ask Cubbies fans, even the Reds, who are far and away the worst team in the division, are a "solid" baseball team. Which is laughable, but when the Cubbies get swept it can't be that they lost to a bad baseball team, it's that the team is solid, just had a slow start.
No, that isn't what I said. If the Indians were making the playoffs instead of the Brewers, you'd have a gripe. If the Brewers end up the wildcard (increasingly likely) it is because the didn't win the games in their division, especially against the team that will likely win the division. It is as simple as that.
I know what you are saying, but I think I disagree. Teams have so many chances, especially within their divisions. The Brewers are 3.5 back, and they are 8-11 against the Cubs. They are 5-11 against the Pirates. If the Brewers don't win their division, it is most likely due to their play within their division. They are currently 3 games under .500 in division play. The Cubs are 5 over in division play.
TAMUI do know, Newsie is right on you knowing ball.
I think this proves what Wades is trying to say. The Brewers have the second best record in baseball despite playing poorly in their division. You put them in the East or West and they probably have the best record in the NL by a couple of games.You can't choose your division mates but it is true that teams in the NL East and West have an easier path to the playoffs than teams in the NL Central (this season).
Whether it's the Cubs or the Brewers, it will be the 1st or 2nd in the National (which is what you meant). What's crazier, the Cards would be very close today to leading the other two divisions for the 3rd best record.
It's not "crazy" at all. If the Cardinals played better, they could have won their division. Zero sympathy.
Not asking for sympathy just parity. In today's game, we have many teams tanking to rebuild. Whereas, the top teams (close to top 3), are in the same division. The MLB playoffs were designed for another era. If teams are gonna tank on design (worst Orioles team in history), the playoff system needs to adjust and be dynamic.
Yeah, the O's weren't a designed tank. They were just terrible.And the NL only has what 2 tanking teams? That hardly throws the balance off completely. Parity is impossible. The teams in the Central divisions have easier travel than the other teams. Should we fix that? If you scrap divisions it will only exaggerate that aspect more.I also don't think you can assume the Brewers would fare better in another division either. The team that has beat them up the most are the Pirates who arrrrr pretty mediocre. This stuff happens. But it isn't similar to a 103 win team missing the playoffs. Is this a chronic problem? Doesn't seem like it at this point.
I disagree with most of this.
Yeah, the O's weren't a designed tank. They were just terrible.
I, for one, like the unbalanced schedule. Playing familiar division rivals is more fun in any sport. The only tweak I would make is to increase the Wild Card to 2 out of 3 OR revert back to a single WC winner. The second WC is a gimmick to keep the 4th place team 'interested'. After a 162 game season, fortune shouldn't be settled by one game. Baseball is too unpredictable for that on any given day. The reason that a game 7 is so compelling is that two teams have battled through 6 evenly to get there.
I'll stick with my opinion on Gold. He'll be in foul trouble within the first eight minutes.
After a 162 game season, fortune shouldn't be settled by one game. Baseball is too unpredictable for that on any given day.