This Week In Baseball 9/16-9/23

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Anyone remember that horrid realignment plan Selig tried to put through in the late 1990s that would've moved the Reds to the AL and other weird stuff?

 

And sorry about the even number of teams in each league. I've missed these discussions before.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Real quickly on the Beckett/Sabathia debate. Beckett averages 6.51 runs per game of run support, compared to 5.10 for Sabathia. The big statistic is that Sabathia has pitched 40 more innings this season.

 

Those conclusions seem to make sense to me. The biggest problem for pro sports in general is that they are pricing out the average fan to where it costs an arm and a leg to take a family of four to a game.

 

I'm a firm believer that baseball would benefit from some form of contraction. Too many teams spread the talent a bit too much. I'd start by eliminating the Marlins and the Devil Rays (or I guess they are just "the Rays" now).

 

I fear that if A-Rod opts out of his contract and someone grants him the $30 million a year that he wants that it could lead to another strike sooner rather than later and if that happens I think it could do more damage to baseball than the 1994 strike.

 

Let me address contraction first. I think contraction is a horrible move for any healthy professional sports league. It is a good move only when you are bleeding money to the point where you have to cut off teams to ensure the financial survival of the league. Contracting teams would kill two baseball markets, and then successive markets at each level of the minor leagues. I think the idea that talent is spread thin is demonstratively false if you look closely at the numbers.

 

Alex Rodriguez's next contract will be an indication of how much money MLB currently makes. If the owners claim financial peril, it is only because there is more money to be made for themselves by limited profits by the players. The 1994 strike was a travesty, caused purely by the greed of the owners. It was wholly unnecessary, given that the league survived after the status quo was reinstated in lieu of an immediate settlement.

 

On the first point, I think one of the unfortunate developments of modern sports is the corporate fan. Owners in all sports now realize that the most money comes from the well-heeled fans, and does all they can to cater to those fans. If you have money, MLB has never been better. More comfortable seats, modern amenities, catering, the works. The problem is that if you are a single-game, average fan, you get the leftovers. A family can affordable visit a game in most markets. The problem is that you will sit in the 400 level, or back past center field. Watching the Yankees invade Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was disgusting as the stadium lost all interest in promotions. I wish this could change but if the profits lay wherein, what can be done? The best true baseball experience in this age lays in the minor leagues.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

I think you make some good points alkeiper but my argument for contracting the Marlins and Devil Rays is that their poor attendance numbers demonstrate that there isn't much of a baseball market to lose in that area. I would agree that contraction should never be a first option on the table but just having perpetually crappy teams in the league does nothing for the league as a whole and that goes for any sport. In baseball a lot depends on what the owner wants to do and if they want to shell out the money to win and unfortunately some markets have decided that they won't spend and you can't force them to spend. One of the regretable parts of major league baseball is that when the year starts some teams are already eliminated based on not shelling out the dough. Granted, teams have shown that you don't have to be the richest to go far (ex. the Detroit Tigers last year) but money definitely doesn't hurt.

 

Does anyone think that baseball could attract more attention to itself by playing fewer games or somehow shortening the season by playing more double headers? I know some of my friends just refuse to follow baseball because they find that watching one game isn't going to mean a lot in the long run due to the fact that "it's just one of 162 games on the schedule."

[Guest Gym Class Fallout]

Does anyone think that baseball could attract more attention to itself by playing fewer games or somehow shortening the season by playing more double headers? I know some of my friends just refuse to follow baseball because they find that watching one game isn't going to mean a lot in the long run due to the fact that "it's just one of 162 games on the schedule."

No, that's stupid, and your friends are stupid. The Cubs will have drawn over 3,250,000 plus rooftops by tomorrow. We don't need our opportunities to see a Cubs game reduced, and the owners and support businesses will agree. It's not that games don't matter, it's just that they're not do-or-die events like college football games, which I surmise that your friends enjoy, seeing as they're from Kentucky and obviously sports-retarded. How many games are you suggesting should be played? 154 is a negligible decrease that just hurts owners and fans.

 

And again, you're two weeks late to the party. Money doesn't matter in baseball. The White Sox spent $106 million this year, and they were eliminated on September 8th. There is no causal relationship between payroll and wins. The next person to suggest baseball needs a salary cap should be put in the stocks.

 

One of the regretable parts of major league baseball is that when the year starts some teams are already eliminated based on not shelling out the dough.

Good Lord, this is never true at all. It's your college football where "it's never just one game on the schedule" where teams are unable to win a national championship before the first kick.

[CanadianChris 0]

The Jays/Yankees game has turned into a contest to see who has the worse bullpen.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Personally, I'm not arguing for a reduction of games. The 162 game season works fine for me. I'm just addressing the argument for the "casual fan" since we know not everyone is hardcore on baseball.

 

I do agree with al that to get a true baseball experience you have to go to the minor leagues. I went to a few Lexington Legends games this year and although the team couldn't hit to save their life it was a fun time to relax and watch a game. I got uber annoyed at people around me thinking that Koby Clemens was the best player in the minor leagues just because of who is daddy was. That guy cost us one game on several misplayed balls at third but its whatever. If he was that great he wouldn't still be playing single A ball.

[Brett Favre 0]

Well who has the worse shorthand bullpen.

[CanadianChris 0]

Oh good, Igawa's coming in. That should be good for another couple of runs.

[Guest Gym Class Fallout]

Personally, I'm not arguing for a reduction of games. The 162 game season works fine for me. I'm just addressing the argument for the "casual fan" since we know not everyone is hardcore on baseball.

If I'm a casual fan, I don't see how taking away home dates sparks my interest in baseball. I would just think that baseball is having tough times.

 

Look, you said baseball could consider reducing the schedule. Give me a number.

[Guest Gym Class Fallout]

This was a real slam-shit-in-frustration game, as they kept Smoltz in too long and let that Arch Hall Jr.-lookin' motherfucker beat them.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Good thing the Braves dumped the farm to build this great team.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Yea, I disagree with the decision to leave Smoltz in. This is a game you have to win and although Smoltz is one of your best arms you can't just let him pitch forever.

 

And Gym Class I didn't say that I think they should consider reducing the season. I simply asked the question if anyone else thought that way. If they did reduce they'd have to go in the 120 or so range because cutting to 154 would be stupid. If they wanted to reduce the calendar for the seasont then they could play more doubleheaders.

[Hawk 34 0]

154 is stupid, but in the 120 area is perfectly acceptable?

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

154 is stupid, but in the 120 area is perfectly acceptable?

 

Look, all of this is a non-issue because I AM NOT ADVOCATING CUTTING THE SEASON. I'm saying though that if they would seriously cut games they'd have to take a more drastic step than simply cutting eight of them because if they just cut eight everyone would scream that it was a dumb decision.

[Guest Gym Class Fallout]

And a drastic cut would be even dumber.

 

Danville_Wrestling should slowly step backward to the door.

[CanadianChris 0]

Well, Josh Towers is in for the Jays, which is the equivalent to John Gibbons waving the white flag.

 

This has been an incredible series to watch so far. To think, this game was 3-2 after 5 innings, and now it's 11-11 heading to the bottom of the 9th.

[Fartsauce 0]

Longest 9 inning game in Blue Jays history I think. And this game just drags and drags into extras.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Matt Stairs probably regrets not engaging in some sort of conditioning program last off-season.

[CanadianChris 0]

I couldn't believe they waved him home. The play at the plate was a lot closer than I figured it would be.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I think you make some good points alkeiper but my argument for contracting the Marlins and Devil Rays is that their poor attendance numbers demonstrate that there isn't much of a baseball market to lose in that area. I would agree that contraction should never be a first option on the table but just having perpetually crappy teams in the league does nothing for the league as a whole and that goes for any sport. In baseball a lot depends on what the owner wants to do and if they want to shell out the money to win and unfortunately some markets have decided that they won't spend and you can't force them to spend. One of the regretable parts of major league baseball is that when the year starts some teams are already eliminated based on not shelling out the dough. Granted, teams have shown that you don't have to be the richest to go far (ex. the Detroit Tigers last year) but money definitely doesn't hurt.

 

The problem with attendance numbers is that they are fluid. The San Francisco Giants drew less than a million fans in 1985. The New York Mets even drew less than one million in 1979. The thing is, it is not the regions as much as their ownership and situations. Tampa Bay is an expansion team that lacks a winning season. Florida has the worst ownership in baseball. Kick Jeffrey Loria out of Miami and give the kids a chance in Tampa Bay for a few years, and things might look very different.

 

Money helps, but ultimately developing your farm system is 90% of the battle.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

As for the schedule, one thing that makes baseball great (possibly the best thing) is the sheer availability of it. I love that for five months a year, I can decide to go to a baseball game and find something within driving distance. It's like going to the movies. Besides, there is no incentive or reason for MLB to cut games when such a percentage of their revenues is season ticket sales anyway.

[CanadianChris 0]

Whew. Nearly ten hours worth of baseball in just over a 24-hour span at Yankee Stadium.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Yea I was blacked out of the Yanks-Blue Jays game but it sounds like one helluva battle.

 

Boston keeps getting men on base but having them get put down early by the Devil Rays. Game is still 0-0 heading into the bottom of the 2nd.

[Guest Gym Class Fallout]

The thing is, it is not the regions as much as their ownership and situations. Tampa Bay is an expansion team that lacks a winning season. Florida has the worst ownership in baseball. Kick Jeffrey Loria out of Miami and give the kids a chance in Tampa Bay for a few years, and things might look very different.

 

Money helps, but ultimately developing your farm system is 90% of the battle.

I dispute this. It'll take a new stadium at the very least in Miami, since nobody is willing to drive out to Dolphin Stadium for baseball. In Tampa Bay, the fanbases are way too established for the Rays to ever do more than rely on the visitors for the gate. I really don't see either team ever being a financial success, no matter who owns them. It is the region.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Coco Crisp scores on a single from second base to put the Red Sox up 1-0 in the third. It's a controversial run, though, because the umpire missed the call on Crisp's bunt single to start the third inning by a step. The announcers for the Devil Rays are all up in arms basically alleging a conspiracy because it appears they've had trouble with this first base umpire before.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Ryan Howard is charging fast towards history. Four strikeouts tonight put him at 194, one short of the single season record.

[mike546 0]

Al Reyes is the anti Eric Gane to Yankee fans. I swear he blows every fucking save against the Sox.

[Cartman 0]

Heh, and Aaron Hill should be getting a check handed to him by The Boss.

[Boon 0]

Real quickly on the Beckett/Sabathia debate. Beckett averages 6.51 runs per game of run support, compared to 5.10 for Sabathia. The big statistic is that Sabathia has pitched 40 more innings this season.

Yeah, but is that good for Sabathia, or good for Beckett?

 

Sabathia started four more games and still has fewer wins. Of course wins aren't everything, but with four more starts and forty more innings, Sabathia's other numbers should be considerably better in order to beat out Beckett. Frankly, they're not.

 

Carmona's also going to steal some attention away from Sabathia. A great problem for Cleveland to have, but in the end not good for individual award winners.

[Richard 0]

Why won't the Padres lose? Jesus f'n christ.

 

They're good... and they're better than the Phillies.

 

Well to be fair, the Giants and Pirates both suck ass. They'll surely lose a few to the Rockies.

 

Told ya. The Padres don't deserve to make the playoffs.