Baseball

[smc]

Originally Posted by transjen

There are two things in Baseball that needs to be done away with
1] the DH
2] the wildcard team in the play offs
Jerseygirl Jen

Jen, I agree: I hate the DH, too.

I also don't like the wildcard, but how do you think it could be replaced if there are three divisions to a league? What would your solution be?

[transjen]

Originally Posted by smc

Jen, I agree: I hate the DH, too.

I also don't like the wildcard, but how do you think it could be replaced if there are three divisions to a league? What would your solution be?

Easy make a fourth divison

Or perhaps elimit some teams and have two divisons in each league
Jerseygirl Jen

[smc]

Originally Posted by transjen

Easy make a fourth divison

Or perhaps elimit some teams and have two divisons in each league
Jerseygirl Jen

The problem with four divisions is that without an equitable structure based NOT on geography it would only ensure that yet another team that wouldn't ever make the playoffs under the old system gets in.

It's a definite conundrum.

As for eliminating some teams, other that the obvious -- Pittsburgh -- who would you eliminate?

[transjen]

Originally Posted by smc

The problem with four divisions is that without an equitable structure based NOT on geography it would only ensure that yet another team that wouldn't ever make the playoffs under the old system gets in.

It's a definite conundrum.

As for eliminating some teams, other that the obvious -- Pittsburgh -- who would you eliminate?

1]Rays
2]Marlins
3]Diamondbacks
4]Rockies
5]Braves
6]Astros
Jerseygirl Jen

[smc]

Originally Posted by transjen

1]Rays
2]Marlins
3]Diamondbacks
4]Rockies
5]Braves
6]Astros
Jerseygirl Jen

Do tell, girl: what's the thinking behind each of these on your list?

[smc]

The Giants slaughtered the Rangers tonight. More accurately, the Rangers bullpen put on one of the most embarrassingly awful displays I have ever seen in a professional baseball game, with four consecutive walks and more than a dozen pitches in a row called "ball"!

[dauls]

Originally Posted by smc

The Giants slaughtered the Rangers tonight. More accurately, the Rangers bullpen put on one of the most embarrassingly awful displays I have ever seen in a professional baseball game, with four consecutive walks and more than a dozen pitches in a row called "ball"!

ESPN UK has moved live coverage of the World Series to one of their premium channels (that I cannot get) this season - so I listened to the game on the radio - better than nothing, but it's not the way I want to catch the Series next season.

[transjen]

Originally Posted by smc

Do tell, girl: what's the thinking behind each of these on your list?

the first four were the latest expanson teams and were unneeded to start with and the two FL have poor attendance and i just can't stand the Braves and Texas already has the Rangers so drop the Astros

Jerseygirl Jen

[smc]

Originally Posted by transjen

the first four were the latest expanson teams and were unneeded to start with and the two FL have poor attendance and i just can't stand the Braves and Texas already has the Rangers so drop the Astros

Jerseygirl Jen

Well, that's certainly a mixed bag of reasons. I agree on the expansion teams and the Florida teams, although the Rays are starting to build a fan base.

If a state can only have one team (as you seem to argue for Texas), does that mean California has to lose four of its five teams: Anaheim, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, and San Francisco?

I can't stand the Yankees and a certain other team that I should probably leave unnamed. Does that mean they can be dropped from MLB?

[dauls]

Originally Posted by transjen

1]Rays
2]Marlins
3]Diamondbacks
4]Rockies
5]Braves
6]Astros
Jerseygirl Jen

Jen,

The Braves. Unfortunately that will never happen - but it's a nice idea.

The presenter on the old live baseball show in the UK (MLB on Five, 1997-2008) was a Braves fan and he used to gloat about winning the NL East every year (1995-2005) - I really enjoy seeing the Braves lose.

[dauls]

Originally Posted by smc

The problem with four divisions is that without an equitable structure based NOT on geography it would only ensure that yet another team that wouldn't ever make the playoffs under the old system gets in.

It's a definite conundrum.

The weak postseason team problem already exists with the three division system - in recent years how many teams just scraping a .500 season have qualified for the postseason?

A few years ago San Diego won the NL West with an 82-80 record - you need a much better record than that to win the wildcard spot.

I like the wildcard, remember the wildcard Marlins beat the damn Yankees in 2003. And in 2004... (I'll let smc tell the story)

The choice is a tough one between two divisions (old-school), three divisions (works more naturally) or four divisions (potentially lets more weak teams into postseason).

Controversial, but how about two divisions and two wildcard teams?

Originally Posted by smc

As for eliminating some teams, other that the obvious -- Pittsburgh -- who would you eliminate?

What is wrong with poor old Pittsburgh?

Apart from Philadelphia (Veterans Stadium) the Pittsburgh is the only other city where I've seen a baseball game - Pirates beat the Expos 6-1, at Three Rivers Stadium - meaning that the two stadia I've seen baseball in have both been demolished!!!

Eliminate: The Nationals - but that's part of the "bring back the Expos campaign".

[smc]

Originally Posted by dauls

What is wrong with poor old Pittsburgh?

Apart from Philadelphia (Veterans Stadium) the Pittsburgh is the only other city where I've seen a baseball game - Pirates beat the Expos 6-1, at Three Rivers Stadium - meaning that the two stadia I've seen baseball in have both been demolished!!!

Eliminate: The Nationals - but that's part of the "bring back the Expos campaign".

My mention of Pittsburgh was in passing, and should have been elaborated upon so that it would make sense. I don't actually advocate for dropping the Pirates from MLB, but it is a team that should be put into league receivership since it has an ownership group that shows absolutely no commitment to fielding a competitive team. Other than an incredibly beautiful, relatively new stadium (payed for largely by the taxpayers), there has been no real effort in some time to make Pittsburgh the baseball city it once was.