Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted June 24, 2002 The Twins have a 6 game lead in the AL Central. That's with one of the worst starting staffs in the league. How bad are the White Sox. The Twins have an excuse two injured pitchers, and another that has underachieved. The Cardinals looked like they would run away with the title. But after Kile's death you knows. They might go out and get a pitcher. They still have a great chance to win the league. The Reds don't have the pitching, the Astros and Cubs are underachieving greatly. The bottom line is neither league winner stands a chance of getting out of the 1st round. That's if there's a post season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Some Guy Report post Posted June 25, 2002 I agree. When Kile died so did the Cards' workhorse and probaly their best pitcher. I don't in any way mean to cheapen Kile's death in terms of his family's loss, which is far greater than that of a Baseball team. But the Cards team took a serious hit with his death. The Reds, Twins, and the rest just aren't very good when compared to NYY, Boston, Ari, LA, SF, Oak, Sea, and Ana. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted June 25, 2002 Cardinals fan here. Every indication is that the Cardinals will go out and trade for a pitcher. They have to. Travis Smith isn't going to cut it. The Twins might be a tough playoff team if Radke, Milton and Mays all become healthy and hot at the same time, but that's a big if. The Cardinals have a great lineup, and a terrific bullpen. Their starters may be a problem however. Right now, its Matt Morris, Woody Williams, Jason Simontacci, and Bud Smith. Who knows once they get to the playoffs though, when they'll only need four starters. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest starvenger Report post Posted June 25, 2002 They should just realign the divisions similar to English football: Premier and A divisions for the haves and have-nots... (edit) I should clarify that. I mean the contenders and pretenders... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted June 25, 2002 That would never work. Why do people keep bringing it up? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Some Guy Report post Posted June 25, 2002 I don't like the reallignment idea either. Who wants to watch 2 "pretenders" play against each other everyday? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest starvenger Report post Posted June 25, 2002 >I don't like the reallignment idea either. Who wants to watch 2 "pretenders" play against each other everyday? Well, basically, the top teams in the "pretender" division would get moved up the next year , while the worst teams in the "contender" division get moved down. I'm not saying it's a perfect system, but frankly MLB's at a point where they have to do something to respark interest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted June 25, 2002 They can do something. Its called "not shooting yourself in the foot." Baseball is not in bad shape. The owners just make it appear that way. But telling a few major league clubs that they have no possibility of winning a championship every year doesn't help anybody. If I want to see a minor league, I can see several. Independant, AAA, AA, and A clubs are all within driving distance. But there's no way the best minor league teams could ever contend with the major league clubs anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest starvenger Report post Posted June 25, 2002 >They can do something. Its called "not shooting yourself in the foot." They still have a foot to shoot? >Baseball is not in bad shape. The owners just make it appear that way. I would actually say that it IS in bad shape and the owners MADE it that way. From overpaid players to creating work stoppages to the "comissioner" trying to effect contraction, they've managed to make more blunders than the other 3 major sports leagues combined, I'd wager. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Some Guy Report post Posted June 25, 2002 I'd say teh blame for Baseball lies equally split between teh players, owners, and Selig. The players and their agents demand way too much money causing normal people to no longer be able to relate to them. The owners agree to pay the money causing ticket prices to raise to very high levels which in turn hinders normal people's abilities to go to a game. And Selig seem to be an absolute moron, I have no problem with the idea of contraction, i think it would greatly iprove the play and lower salaries, but to announce teh intention to contract within a week of possibly the greatest WS ever is just plain stupid. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted June 26, 2002 This time around the fault is 90% with the players union. The other 10% would be Selig and owners like Tom Hicks, and Peter Angelos. The players only want what they earned. That might mean screwing over the fans, but they get to keep what they've earned. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest starvenger Report post Posted June 26, 2002 >The players only want what they earned. That might mean screwing over the fans, but they get to keep what they've earned. Well, heaven forbid that they make $2 million as opposed to $3 million. Surely you can't live off of that... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted June 27, 2002 How about the owners? Heaven forbid they have to build their own cash cow stadiums instead of having the taxpayers give it to them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tyler McClelland Report post Posted June 28, 2002 A huge issue is that nobody but the upper 25% payroll teams has won a game in the playoffs for the last five years. Problem? Uh, yes. Salary cap = now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted June 28, 2002 Get your lips off Selig's cock someday and face reality. Weren't the Oakland A's in the bottom 5 in payroll? Didn't they win 2 playoff games last year? Didn't they win two playoff games the year before that? Fact checking. It's a marvelous activity. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Human Fly Report post Posted June 28, 2002 I think a salary cap would help though. It's not impossible to win without a big payroll, it takes longer though. Look at the Reds (in this Central Division thread) their payroll is around 43 million if I'm not mistaken. Yet they're still contending for 1st place in their division. They've had to build their team for the most part with minor leaguers, and re-treads. This has taken a few years, same with Oakland, the Twins, etc. Look at the Yankees though. Every year they add another big free agent and they throw a ton of bucks around. I'm not positive what their payroll is off hand but I believe it's at least triple what the Reds is. Year after year the Yankees are in the playoffs and the World Series, alot of that has to do with their bloated payroll. Just throwing around cash won't guarantee you a winner though (Rangers) so it's not like the Yankees are just a bunch of rich fools who decided to run a baseball team. But, the money does give them a distinct advantage that not many clubs can even dream of approaching. A salary cap, I feel, would make the game more competitive and exciting. I'd like to see it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tyler McClelland Report post Posted June 28, 2002 No, they were still in the top 25%... They signed a few free agents and stuff. My lips aren't on Selig's cock, as you say, but you have to admit that a salary cap is needed. Get off my lawn, moron. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest treble charged Report post Posted June 28, 2002 I think that Montreal had a larger payroll than Oakland did last year (or at least the year before that), so Oakland was sure as hell not in the top 25% Also, large payrolls don't equal success. See: Toronto Blue Jays. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tyler McClelland Report post Posted June 28, 2002 I'd have to check that, but I don't think so... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Phr33k Report post Posted June 28, 2002 To make matters worse, Cleveland traded Bartolo Colon to the Expos today for Lee Stevens. This furthers the rumored "Thome-to-Yankees" trade. There went the Indians' chances.... BTW: GO EXPOS! I'm a lifelong fan... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tyler McClelland Report post Posted June 28, 2002 Expos rock this year Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest treble charged Report post Posted June 28, 2002 The Expos unfortunately chose to go on a hot streak at the EXACT SAME TIME as Atlanta went on theirs, therefore, making up absolutely zero ground in their division. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tyler McClelland Report post Posted June 28, 2002 They still have a shot at the wild card, though... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest geniusMoment Report post Posted June 28, 2002 There is only one answer that will solve all of baseballs problems. MAKE ANDY FURMAN OR TRACY JONES THE COMMISH Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted June 28, 2002 Thome to Yankees? That's a new one. I thought New York was interested in an Outfielder. The Yankees don't need Thome. Props to Trader Bud on a nice pickup by the Expos. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted June 28, 2002 -Personally, I hate the salary cap. I'm not a fan of the NFL system. I like to see players stay with their teams a few years. -The top 25% of teams would be the top 8. Looking at the payroll numbers, the Cardinals are 9th. That leaves them ou of the top 25%. They won 2 games. Seattle was 11th. They won the division series, plus a game in the ALCS. That's another 4 wins. Oakland was 29th in payroll and they won 2 games. That's 8 GAMES won by teams outside of the top 25% LAST YEAR. In 2000, the Cards were 11th in payroll. They won 4 games in the playoffs. Seattle was 14th, and they won 5 games. San Francisco was 17th and they won 1 game. Oakland was 25th and they won 2 games. That's 12 games total. So here we've located 20 GAMES won by teams NOT in the top 25% of payroll. Seems to me that claim needs a little adjusting. As for the Expos, aquiring Colon gives them a 1-2 punch every bit as good as Maddux/Glavine. There's still plenty of time for them to make up ground. With the Phillies pretty much out of it, I'm pulling for them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest hardyz1 Report post Posted June 28, 2002 Well, if the Cubs were somehow allowed to have Sammy Sosa in the batting order 3 or 4 times, maybe they'd have a chance. A poor, poor Cub fan... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest starvenger Report post Posted June 30, 2002 >As for the Expos, aquiring Colon gives them a 1-2 punch every bit as good as Maddux/Glavine. There's still plenty of time for them to make up ground. With the Phillies pretty much out of it, I'm pulling for them. You gotta love the Expos, if only just for this year. Anything to stick it to Selig. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Some Guy Report post Posted June 30, 2002 How's the attendence in Montreal this year with the winning team? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly Report post Posted June 30, 2002 Why the hell is Selig allowed to be a commisioner and an owner? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
