MLB 2018 Season

[JWags85]

The "case" for Yelich as MVP should be closed.  He's really the only option.  If he doesn't get it he got completely jobbed.

As a Cubs fan and unabashed Baez fanboy, I totally agree with you.  He's been unreal.  In the last 2 weeks, he's raised his average by 8pts (no easy feat when you have 500+ ABs and are already hitting .313), has more HRs than SOs (5 to 4), and is averaged 1.5 RBIs a game.  Thats not even getting into advanced statistics.  Just the eye test is a no brainer.

And I, and other Cubs fans, have been here.  There just isn't much to talk about. 1 run in 2 games at home isn't going to cut it.  Need to grab the last 2 here against PIT.

And Maddon was disappointing to say the least.  He could have said he didnt read it cause he needs to focus on keeping the clubhouse together and engaged, and I could understand it.  No doubt it has been a distraction.  But trying to imply it was unproven or whatever, just a BAD look.  Theo's comments were much more appropriate and he did a really good job of making sure in no way could he be seen as casting doubt or anything towards Russell's ex wife, while diplomatically realizing he couldn't quite be damning about Russell's future with the Cubs for legal reasons.  I think Russell is done as a Cub and the organization has handled it well, until Maddon's comments.

[wadesworld]

As a Cubs fan and unabashed Baez fanboy, I totally agree with you.  He's been unreal.  In the last 2 weeks, he's raised his average by 8pts (no easy feat when you have 500+ ABs and are already hitting .313), has more HRs than SOs (5 to 4), and is averaged 1.5 RBIs a game.  Thats not even getting into advanced statistics.  Just the eye test is a no brainer.

And I, and other Cubs fans, have been here.  There just isn't much to talk about. 1 run in 2 games at home isn't going to cut it.  Need to grab the last 2 here against PIT.

And Maddon was disappointing to say the least.  He could have said he didnt read it cause he needs to focus on keeping the clubhouse together and engaged, and I could understand it.  No doubt it has been a distraction.  But trying to imply it was unproven or whatever, just a BAD look.  Theo's comments were much more appropriate and he did a really good job of making sure in no way could he be seen as casting doubt or anything towards Russell's ex wife, while diplomatically realizing he couldn't quite be damning about Russell's future with the Cubs for legal reasons.  I think Russell is done as a Cub and the organization has handled it well, until Maddon's comments.

All fair and reasonable points.

[SaveOD238]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/qvZtn5jwZ1Y" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/qvZtn5jwZ1Y</a>

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/2FR5c8p1GCI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/2FR5c8p1GCI</a>

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/BsdA1zzR0Ng" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/BsdA1zzR0Ng</a>

https://www.mlb.com/news/craig-counsell-is-d-backs-unlikely-2001-hero/c-295719092

Craig was also on base for Gonzalez' WS-winning hit in 2003.  He didn't score the winning because he was the trail runner, but I can't imagine that any other player has been involved in TWO Game 7 walk-offs.

Edit: CC came up with 1 out, tie game, runners on 2nd and 3rd.  He SHOULD have been the guy to drive in the winning run, but Rivera plunked him, which brought up Gonzalez.  The trivia of "only man to score and drive-in a WS winning walk-off in Game 7" would have been insane.  What could have been!

[GGGG]

I think I have this right but there have only been five Game 7 walk offs in World Series history.  (1912, 1960, 1991, 1997, 2001)  Counsell is the only guy to be on the roster on the winning side of two of them.

And the only other guy to have played in two of them was Chuck Knoblach, who was on the winning side with the Twins in 1991 and the losing side with the Yankees in 2001.

[mu03eng]

If I was redoing baseball playoffs I would shorten the season to 146 games, expand the playoff field to 8 teams in each league....first two rounds are best of 5, LCS and WS are best of 7.

Sacreligous I know, but it brings meaningful baseball to July/August instead of August/September, moves All-Star Break to mid-June, increases the overall value of the content while reducing the impact on players and makes the regular season more meaningful.

[MU82]

If I was redoing baseball playoffs I would shorten the season to 146 games, expand the playoff field to 8 teams in each league....first two rounds are best of 5, LCS and WS are best of 7.

Sacreligous I know, but it brings meaningful baseball to July/August instead of August/September, moves All-Star Break to mid-June, increases the overall value of the content while reducing the impact on players and makes the regular season more meaningful.

I like it!

Let's work together to convince the owners to take less of a gate, and to convince the players to take significantly less pay. I think the latter would be a more difficult sell, but maybe I'm wrong.

MLB, NBA and NHL seasons are WAAAAY too long. NFL feels about right, but I wouldn't mind 2 fewer games there as was the case in the '60s and '70s.

I would be stunned if any of those leagues shorten their seasons in our lifetimes, though.

[buckchuckler]

If I was redoing baseball playoffs I would shorten the season to 146 games, expand the playoff field to 8 teams in each league....first two rounds are best of 5, LCS and WS are best of 7.

Sacreligous I know, but it brings meaningful baseball to July/August instead of August/September, moves All-Star Break to mid-June, increases the overall value of the content while reducing the impact on players and makes the regular season more meaningful.

So then teams that are .500 or worse are making the playoffs?

[GrimmReaper33]

When the Cubs and Yankees both lose in the one game WC this year, you can be sure the MLB will go ahead and make changes to the WC structure.

[mu03eng]

So then teams that are .500 or worse are making the playoffs?

Potentially but they do now in NFL and NBA as well

[Jockey]

If I was redoing baseball playoffs I would shorten the season to 146 games, expand the playoff field to 8 teams in each league....first two rounds are best of 5, LCS and WS are best of 7.

Sacreligous I know, but it brings meaningful baseball to July/August instead of August/September, moves All-Star Break to mid-June, increases the overall value of the content while reducing the impact on players and makes the regular season more meaningful.

Sounds great Eng, and would make for a much better product.

Problem is that if you reduce the schedule by 10%, then salaries would be reduced by 10%. I don't see any world where that would be acceptable to players.

[jsglow]

Honestly, what's wrong with this?  How 'bout we go back to the days of scheduled doubleheaders?  If each team had 4 in a year we could easily schedule a 3 game WC series.

[mu03eng]

Sounds great Eng, and would make for a much better product.

Problem is that if you reduce the schedule by 10%, then salaries would be reduced by 10%. I don't see any world where that would be acceptable to players.

A) it's hypothetical
B) I'm not convinced it's a linear reduction. The playoff revenue(requires more revenue sharing) jumps significantly which would compensate for some of the loss from the gate. I'd guess a 10% regular season reduction results in a 5% revenue reduction at worst. Plus the increased scarcity of regular season tickets may drive more attendance.
C) It's hypothetical

[GGGG]

Honestly, what's wrong with this?  How 'bout we go back to the days of scheduled doubleheaders?  If each team had 4 in a year we could easily schedule a 3 game WC series.

Because baseball doesn't want scheduled doubleheaders, and most certainly DOES want the single game wildcard. 

[jsglow]

Because baseball doesn't want scheduled doubleheaders, and most certainly DOES want the single game wildcard.

Thanks for stating the obvious Sultan.  We're simply discussing alternatives.

[#UnleashSean]

So then teams that are .500 or worse are making the playoffs?

If we had 8 team playoffs this year there would be one team who would go at under 500. I'm also sure that team wouldn't be 500 if they had a possibility at playoffs

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

If we had 8 team playoffs this year there would be one team who would go at under 500. I'm also sure that team wouldn't be 500 if they had a possibility at playoffs

I decided to go back and look at this since the wild card game was added:

2018 (as of this moment): 1, Angels (77-81)
2017: 4, Angels/Rays/Royals (80-82), Marlins (77-85)
2016: 2, Marlins (79-82), Pirates (78-83)
2015: 1, D-Backs (79-83)
2014: 2, Braves/Mets (79-83)
2013: 1, Padres or Giants (76-86)
2012: 0

I also agree that if the playoffs expanded, there would be more teams as buyers and there would be more parity. 2017 was a weird year but other than that I would be fine with 1 or 2 sub .500 teams being served up to the 1 seeds.

Personally, I think a 16 playoff teams is too many for a 30 team league. I don't like more than half of the teams making it. But if the MLB does add two expansion teams, I really hope they expand the playoffs to 8 from each league.

[Jockey]

A) it's hypothetical
B) I'm not convinced it's a linear reduction. The playoff revenue(requires more revenue sharing) jumps significantly which would compensate for some of the loss from the gate. I'd guess a 10% regular season reduction results in a 5% revenue reduction at worst. Plus the increased scarcity of regular season tickets may drive more attendance.
C) It's hypothetical

Excellent answer.

[GGGG]

Thanks for stating the obvious Sultan.  We're simply discussing alternatives.

You asked a question and I answered it.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Dancing on the Cardinal's pitching mound

[jsglow]

Helluva team victory tonight.  And a huge stumble on the game tying play.   

Go Birds.  Kick some Cubs tail this weekend.

[Benny B]

Dancing on the Cardinal's pitching mound

Well... that’s clearly a baseball standards violation.  So that leaves St. Louis with no choice but to hit a few Cubs batters this weekend, I suppose. 

[4everwarriors]

Dancing on the Cardinal's pitching mound

Were dey singin' "Country Roads'" hey?

[Anti-Dentite]

Helluva team victory tonight.  And a huge stumble on the game tying play.   

Go Birds.  Kick some Cubs tail this weekend.

Harvey Kuehn tripped him up with his peg leg 

[MUBBau]

Playoffs clinched, now get that division

[CreightonWarrior]

Did Rizzo just get Bartman'd?