NFL Week 16

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...len&id=2270951
Falcons coach Jim Mora, who was on a cell phone with team officials during the overtime attempting to decipher how a tie would affect his team's playoff status, suffered a bit of a meltdown during his postgame radio segment. Asked why he punted on fourth-and-2 in overtime, with the Falcons' postseason aspirations barely a flicker at that juncture, Mora abruptly ended the interview.

I guess they simply didn't think about it beforehand. That's understandable. But every team should at least have an intellectual curiosity about its playoff chances and should at least have done enough homework to be in position to answer that overtime question within a few minutes.

I do doubt that there are that many people who have done as much as I have. I guess Mora needed my number on his cell.

As for the decision he made, playing for the the tie wouldn't have been a terrible choice. With their conference record, the Falcons finish behind all the other 10-6 teams anyway, so being 9-6-1 is not much of a difference. All they sacrificed was the opportunity to win the division, which would have required New Orleans beating Tampa Bay next week.

So, the middle ground (needing losses from Dallas and Washington) versus risking elimination and gaining a small chance at that division actually seems like an okay bet. That's just a quick analysis - I think I'm right on that one - but it's far better than what Mora had available.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...len&id=2270951
Falcons coach Jim Mora, who was on a cell phone with team officials during the overtime attempting to decipher how a tie would affect his team's playoff status, suffered a bit of a meltdown during his postgame radio segment. Asked why he punted on fourth-and-2 in overtime, with the Falcons' postseason aspirations barely a flicker at that juncture, Mora abruptly ended the interview.

Unfathomable. This reminds me of Richt not having the special teams ready to go for 2. How can guys who do this full-time NOT be ready for the what-ifs???? I'm in freakin' youth ministry, often viewed as the epitome of unprofessionalim, yet we have an entire book that we're constantly updating regarding various scenarios that could happen at our camps. I show up to work camp for a month this summer and I am briefed by the property manager (who is 37 years old and has only been there 18 months), on over a dozen scenarios that have never even happened, such as who interviews witnesses in the event of a terrorist attack on camp, who leads a team of college kids to wet down the dorms in the event of a forest fire, and many others that aren't in any way *intuitive* to what we do. Not being ready for scenarios that are so *BASIC* to football is just inexcusable. Inexcusable. You're playing at this point for one thing. ONE THING: to get into the playoffs, and you don't ever even consider the ramifications of a tie. Sheesh.

I didn't get to see any football due to being with a bunch of basketball-loving Carolinians (I don't get these people some times), and I haven't gone to AJC.com yet this morning. How much did this impact the final result?

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

I didn't get to see any football due to being with a bunch of basketball-loving Carolinians (I don't get these people some times), and I haven't gone to AJC.com yet this morning. How much did this impact the final result?

I think Atlanta could have basically guaranteed a tie by just running the ball 3 times on their final posession.

[WrongWay]

Is this statement correct?

If San Diego wins next week, Pittsburgh is in the Playoffs.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

But every team should at least have an intellectual curiosity about its playoff chances and should at least have done enough homework to be in position to answer that overtime question within a few minutes.

I do doubt that there are that many people who have done as much as I have. I guess Mora needed my number on his cell.

That pretty much sums it up -- how in the bloody Hell we seemingly knew more about the various scenarios than someone whose career revolves around this stuff is mind-boggling. Okay, by "we" I really mean "you" but that's the point -- somebody knew.

(FTR, no slight intended there, I know you've probably got a professional interest in knowing how to solve this kind of thing but I suspect Mora(jr) et al get paid at least a tad more than you for it. And I'm quite certain they have considerably more manpower at their disposal).

It is truly, as SD called it, unfathomable. And somebody somewhere probably ought to be looking for work after such a disgraceful lack of preparation. It might not be Mora or McKay, but somebody needs to get a pink slip for this, surely some underling somewhere in the organization has this sort of thing in their job description.

[henry296]

Originally Posted by WrongWay

Is this statement correct?

If San Diego wins next week, Pittsburgh is in the Playoffs.

I think so. If San Diego wins then they would be tied with KC if KC wins. However, San Diego wins the tiebreaker over KC, but would lose a tiebreaker with the Steelers at 10-6 b/c of the Steelers win over them.

Todd

[cthomer5000]

• The Steelers can clinch a playoff spot with:
1. A win
2. A Chiefs loss or tie
3. A Chargers win (note: although Chargers have been eliminated, if they win vs. Broncos and they, the Chiefs and the Steelers all finish at 10-6, you would break division ties first. Chargers would win tiebreaker vs. Chiefs based on common opponents (8-4 vs 7-5) and that would eliminate the Chiefs. They would then go to tiebreaker vs. Steelers, which Pittsburgh would win based on its head-to-head win vs. Chargers)

[gottimd]

I hate the Rams, they knocked me out of my survivor pool. 5,000 people in it, a $250K pot, and I make it to week 16 with only 217 people left, and I lose.

[Neuqua]

Wow, a completely different Bears offense on that opening drive. Grossman, if he continues to play like this, makes the Bears a legitimate contender for the Super Bowl.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by Neuqua

Wow, a completely different Bears offense on that opening drive. Grossman, if he continues to play like this, makes the Bears a legitimate contender for the Super Bowl.

Why didn't Grossman make the Pro Bowl, anyway?

[TazFTW]

Tackle eligible scores a TD does a Lambeau "leap" and it is called back because of holding. That ref deserves coal!

[hoosiergoody]

This week sure didn't help me at all in fantasy football. Makes you appreciate the games and not the fantasy games. who's the guy who scored 3 rushing touchdowns for the Jag's? If you owned Taylor, this had to stink. And then there's Smith getting ejected for pleading his case innocently. And the Bungles... At least my Dolphins finally look respectable again. I lost Fantasy Football because Ricky Williams finally found paydirt. Talk about happy/sad at the same time. Glad to see Favre bounce back and play respectable today.

[WrongWay]

Why are we still watching Brett Favre play?

I want to see what Aaron Rodgers can do.


They just flashed Brett's last couple of game stats as 0 TDs and 7 Ints.

[WrongWay]

Oops I gues you better now make that 0 TDs and 8 Ints.

[Buccaneer]

Why are we still watching Brett Favre play?

What? You don't think he has the Heart of a Warrior anymore?

[WrongWay]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

What? You don't think he has the Heart of a Warrior anymore?

I think is heart is still there, but I believe he comes up short for the talent competition.

[korme]

It's sad, but I still love Brett Favre. Go Fav-ra!

[hoosiergoody]

I think I spoke too soon on Favre. Forcing the pass into coverage. not good
looks like the bears will be a good candidate for the super bowl with their styfiling defense

[Buccaneer]

Forcing the pass into coverage. not good

Ah yes, there's the Heart of a Warrior. Sometimes he puts too much Heart on it and overthrows by 10 yards.

[korme]

Originally Posted by hoosiergoody

I think I spoke too soon on Favre. Forcing the pass into coverage. not good
looks like the bears will be a good candidate for the super bowl with their styfiling defense

The Bears aren't as good as the hype. They play in that crappy division of theirs and stockpile easy wins. They are not Super Bowl bound.

[WrongWay]

I know it is cheap....But you can make that 0 TDs and 9 Ints.

[Neuqua]

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

The Bears aren't as good as the hype. They play in that crappy division of theirs and stockpile easy wins. They are not Super Bowl bound.

Them be fighting words...

[Cringer]

Blah blah blah. More bitching about Favre. Give it a rest. Look at his team. I have said it before, physically the guy still has it, so all of you people who rip on him and say he is washed up must think he has lost his mental abilities which is not exactly what happens with veterans.

Anyone watch the game? Favre was playing pretty good today most of the day. Build up the talent around him again and the Packers are a playoff team again. But, he will be gone before that happens so oh well.

And the calls for Aaron Rodgers should stop too. He got to play last week and had 3 turnovers. He didn't improve much in the last week.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by Neuqua

Them be fighting words...

Bears and Bengals fans talking crap. Is the NFL that bad this year?

[korme]

Originally Posted by Neuqua

Them be fighting words...

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap/...050925_CIN@CHI

[WrongWay]

Originally Posted by Cringer

Blah blah blah. More bitching about Favre. Give it a rest. Look at his team. I have said it before, physically the guy still has it, so all of you people who rip on him and say he is washed up must think he has lost his mental abilities which is not exactly what happens with veterans.

I wonder what game you were watching.

Without Favre's 4 Ints today the Packers could of won that game. Exactly how many points did Favre score for The Bears today?

[hoosiergoody]

staying out of the middle of this one... will root for my qb-less dolphins. at least they got rid of fiedler.

Looks to me like the Seahawks and the Dolts anyways for the SB.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

The Bears aren't as good as the hype. They play in that crappy division of theirs and stockpile easy wins. They are not Super Bowl bound.

Short... the NFC is a fucking joke as a whole. I've come to the frightening realizitation that the Bears do have a very real chance to make the super bowl, because everyone else sucks too.

[WrongWay]

What is wrong with Seattle? 11 straight wins. They look like they are going to just roll through the Playoffs.

After the beating Pittsburgh gave Chicago by running the ball, Sean Alexander may go over 200 yards in that game.

[kingfc22]

What a hit by Ed Reed. Oh my!!!!

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by WrongWay

What is wrong with Seattle? 11 straight wins. They look like they are going to just roll through the Playoffs.

It might be just me, but I have a feeling they will get exposed in the playoffs. I just have zero faith in this team the way they have shown absolutely no heart in past seasons.

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by WrongWay

I wonder what game you were watching.

Without Favre's 4 Ints today the Packers could of won that game. Exactly how many points did Favre score for The Bears today?

I saw a game in which Favre started something like 10 for 12. I also saw a game in which the Bears were more and more able to tee off on Favre and that poor offensive line (two bad guards and the starting center go out w/ injury) as the game went on because the Packers stopped running the ball.

I saw a game that included two long ass, great drives in the first half that ate up clock and kept the Bears offense off he field. This against the so-called top defense in the league. These included several 3rd down plays that all got converted because of Favre passes. I saw Favre looking at one WR and throw to a completly different guy for a completion (and 6 inches short of a TD).

4 INT's hurt the Packers. I will buy what the commentator said about the INT for a TD. Favre had a couple Bears right in his face, he never saw the LB who got the INT. He could have taken the sack (safety) I guess. Would that have been much better at the time?

The last INT was at the end of the game, so I don't even include that crap as game changing. One INT was a bad pass that was short, and the DB made a pretty good leap to get it. The other was short and forced. Both bad decisions overall. I don't claim Favre isn't perfect but don't even tell me he is washed up because he isn't.

I also saw a game that had some good passing at the end to help get the Packers back into this game. A comeback that died in the end. Do you want to tell me the comeback died because Favre is washed up? I will argue that it died because the Bears smacked his ass down to the ground for sacks because the protection wasn't there and the WR's were covered.

But if you want to think Aaron Rodgers could come close to what Favre did today then fine, you live in dream world.

Passes to 8 different receivers, 7 of whom could not start for the majority of teams in this league. 6th starting RB this year. Yup, must all fall on the QB's shoulders. It's all on him for sure. It's a one man game.

Favre has one major flaw. He presses too much. He thinks he can do anything. So be it. He doesn't have the talent around him and it shows more now then before. He is not much different then when they won the Superbowl. Personality wise and playing style he is the same. Did you call for the backup QB during Green Bay's peak years? Didn't think so....

[Solecismic]

Updated Playoff Information:

AFC

Indianapolis: Has clinched 1-seed.

Denver: Has clinched 2-seed.

Cincinnati: Has clinched division; Needs win or 1 New England loss for 3-seed.

New England: Has clinched division; Needs 2 wins AND Cincinnati loss for 3-seed.

Jacksonville: Has clinched 5-seed.

Pittsburgh: Clinches 6-seed with win, or with San Diego loss, or with Kansas City loss.

Kansas City: Clinches 6-seed with win AND San Diego loss AND Pittsburgh loss.


NFC:

Seattle: Has clinched #1 seed.

Chicago: Has clinched #2 seed.

Tampa Bay: Clinches #3 seed with win; if loses, then wins division if Carolina loses; if not, then clinches WC if Washington wins AND Giants lose and Tampa Bay holds Sov over Giants, or if Washington loses, or if Dallas loses, or if Tampa Bay holds SoV over Dallas.

New York Giants: Wins division with win OR Washington loss; Clinches #3 seed with win and Tampa Bay loss; Takes #4 seed with win and Tampa Bay win; if loses AND Washington wins, then still gets WC. If Carolina wins AND Tampa Bay loses AND Tampa Bay holds SoV over Giants, then WC is #6 seed. If Carolina and Tampa Bay win, then WC is #6 seed. If Carolina loses, it is a #5 seed.

Carolina: Clinches at least #5 seed with win; if win, and Tampa Bay loses, then wins division; if loses, then clinches WC if Washington loses or Dallas loses.

Washington: Wins division if wins and Giants lose; clinches WC if wins; clinches WC if loses and Dallas loses.

Dallas: Clinches WC with win AND Carolina loss OR Washington loss; if wins AND Tampa Bay loses AND Carolina wins AND Washington wins AND Giants lose, then clinches only if both Dallas and Giants hold Sov over Tampa Bay.


Strength of Victory in NFC:

Applies only if Carolina wins AND Tampa Bay loses AND 2 of the following: Dallas win, Washington win and New York Giants loss.

SoV between Tampa Bay and Dallas: Each are tied. Tampa Bay gains from (WAS > PHI, GBY > SEA, MIN > CHI, BUF > NYJ and MIA > NED); Dallas gains from (PHI > WAS, NYG > OAK, ARI > IND, SFO > HOU, KCY > CIN and SDO > DEN).

SoV between Tampa Bay and New York Giants: Giants hold edge of +1. Tampa Bay gains from (WAS > PHI, DET > PIT, GBY > SEA, MIN > CHI, BUF > NYJ and MIA > NED); Giants gain from (PHI > WAS, ARI > IND, SFO > HOU, DEN > SDO and KCY > CIN).

These are close enough that the Strength of Schedule tie-breaker could be considered. In each case Dallas and the New York Giants have clinched this tie-breaker over Tampa Bay.

If Carolina and New York Giants tie at 11-5 (not 10-6, where Giants win on Conference record), the Giants have clinched the SoV advantage over Carolina.


Bush Bowl Update:

Houston is 2-13, and clinched the top draft pick with a loss Sunday against San Francisco. If Houston wins, the following teams could finish tied at 3-12:

Houston, San Francisco, New Orleans, New York Jets and Green Bay.

The top pick is really between Houston, New Orleans and the Jets. San Francisco and Green Bay would need help to get down as low as #2.

At 3-12, the tie-breaker would be negative Strength of Schedule.

1. New Orleans (benefits from OAK > NYG, PIT > DET, SEA > GBY, DAL > STL)

2. Houston (-1 to New Orleans) (benefits from DET > PIT, ARI > IND, GBY > SEA, DAL > STL)

Notice there is one game in common, which is self-eliminating, and two games that affect both teams differently.

3. New York Jets (-3 to New Orleans) (benefits from CLE > BAL, TEN > JAX, CIN > KCY, NYG > OAK).

Note that the best the Jets can do is tie New Orleans in a three-way non-race. They really need the Saints to win and focus on out-losing with Houston.

If Houston and the Jets tie, Houston wins the tie-breaker. If New Orleans and the Jets tie, I believe (and I'm not certain about this) New Orleans wins the tie-breaker because they lost to the Jets head-to-head.

If Houston and New Orleans tie, or I'm wrong about the head-to-head tie-breaker with New Orleans and the Jets above, a coin is flipped to determine the lucky winner.

[Senator]

Great. So, for Dallas to have a chance, somewhere in the world Chris Simms has some input.

I can't get away from that guy.

Thanks for the updates, this if great.

[TazFTW]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

Dallas: Clinches WC with win AND Carolina loss OR Washington loss; if wins AND Tampa Bay loses AND Carolina wins AND Washington wins, then clinches only if holds Sov over Tampa Bay.

Go Vick or Go Mike McMahon!

[twothree]

Originally Posted by John Clayton article on ESPN.com

Regardless of what happens this weekend, the NFC will have five new playoff teams. The Seahawks, who clinched the top seed with a 28-13 victory over the Colts, are the only returning playoff squad.

Just, wow. It's hard to believe that in the NFC the only returning playoff team from last year is Seattle.

[Cringer]

So Atlanta keeps the streak of never having been to the playoffs two straight years alive then. Wow. As much as I wanted them to miss the playoffs, I didn't think they actually would.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Cringer

So Atlanta keeps the streak of never having been to the playoffs two straight years alive then. Wow. As much as I wanted them to miss the playoffs, I didn't think they actually would.

But a win next week ends never having back-to-back winning seasons. I'm not hopefull.

[cthomer5000]

Cowboys situation appears to be a win and either a Redskins or Panthers loss.

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

Cowboys situation appears to be a win and either a Redskins or Panthers loss.

Looking at the SoV, I'd say the Cowboys also get in with a win and a Bucs loss, though it's close.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

Dallas: Clinches WC with win AND Carolina loss OR Washington loss; if wins AND Tampa Bay loses AND Carolina wins AND Washington wins, then clinches only if holds Sov over Tampa Bay.

I'm not following this second part. The standings in that scenario:

NFC EAST
Was 10-6
Dal 10-6

NFC SOUTH
Carolina 11-5
Tampa 10-6


Carolina takes the division at 11-5. Now we've got 3 10-6 teams fighting for two playoff spots. You need to break the division first, and Washington swept Dallas. So now it goes to Tampa/Washington. Tampa beat Washington so they are in as the 5 seed. Washington is then the 6 seed due to the sweep of the Cowboys.

Or am I missing something?

[cthomer5000]

dola...

I'm thinking the Giants are the missing component in that scenario. I haven't looked, but im guessing if the lose, they take the 5 seed, then it goes to Dallas/Tampa for the 6 seed.

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

dola...

I'm thinking the Giants are the missing component in that scenario. I haven't looked, but im guessing if the lose, they take the 5 seed, then it goes to Dallas/Tampa for the 6 seed.

Right. The Giants must lose for that to take place. Then the Giants have to have a higher SoV than Tampa Bay. I should amend that note.

[twothree]

Last postseason appearance
(updated to include teams that have qualified as of week 16 for 2005)

AFC
2005
Cincinnati Bengals
Denver Broncos
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
New England Patriots

2004
New York Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers
San Diego Chargers

2003
Baltimore Ravens
Kansas City Chiefs
Tennessee Titans

2002
Cleveland Browns
Oakland Raiders

2001
Miami Dolphins

1999
Buffalo Bills

NFC
2005
Chicago Bears
New York Giants
Seattle Seahawks

2004
Atlanta Falcons
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Philadelphia Eagles
St. Louis Rams

2003
Carolina Panthers
Dallas Cowboys

2002
San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2000
New Orleans Saints

1999
Detroit Lions
Washington Redskins

1998
Arizona Cardinals

[Solecismic]

That just goes to show the remarkable parity in the NFL. I do believe that the salary cap system has directly led to the explosion in popularity of the sport, while baseball isn't picking up as many new fans.

Well, that and Fox's horrendous coverage of the baseball playoffs. But that's another item.

Here's the chart for baseball:

2005

Chicago White Sox, Boston, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis, Houston, San Diego, Atlanta.

2004

Minnesota, Los Angeles Dodgers.

2003

Oakland, Florida, San Francisco, Chicago Cubs.

2002

Arizona

2001

Seattle, Cleveland

2000

New York Mets

1999

Texas

1997

Baltimore

1995 (first year of wild cards)

Colorado, Cincinnati

1993

Toronto, Philadelphia

1992

Pittsburgh

1987

Detroit

1985

Kansas City

1982

Milwaukee

1981

Montreal (now Washington)

[cthomer5000]

Wow... was the Music City Miracle game really the last Bills postseason appearance?

[Solecismic]

Just some notes to illustrate baseball a little better, because I don't think baseball is very well set up to handle a two-tiered playoff system.

- The Yankees have not missed the playoffs since the wild card was established in 1995.

- Boston has not won its division since 1995.

- In the last 10 years, 10 of the current 30 teams have not been to the playoffs.

- Atlanta has won its division every year since 1991.

- Atlanta has only won one World Series in those 15 seasons.

- As an aside, I don't buy the poorly assembled label on the Braves system, by the way. Atlanta has excelled in pitching over those 15 seasons, and the better pitching team has a slight historic edge in a short playoff series. I don't buy the choker label, either. Only 6 players from that 1991 team are still in professional sports, as of the end of the 2005 season. John Smoltz was still with Atlanta. Tom Glavine was with the Mets. Kent Mercker was with Cincinnati. Mike Stanton was with Boston, more or less. Vinny Castilla was with Washington. And Deion Sanders was with the Baltimore Ravens.

- Only one of four baseball playoff teams is a wild-card team. Since its inception in 1995, 7 of the 22 World Series participants have been wild cards. And three have won the World Series.

- In football, 1 of 3 playoff teams is a wild-card team, and before 2002, 1 in 2 playoff teams was a wild-card team. Since 1994, only 3 of 22 Super Bowl participants have been wild cards. And two have won the Super Bowl. Before 2002, 1 of the 3 wild card teams could host a playoff game. All 3 of the Super Bowl participants were in that category.

- In football, despite the demonstrated parity, the regular season is an excellent predictor of post-season play. The Super Bowl means something.

- The Super Bowl has seen ratings ranging from 40 to 45 over the last 11 seasons.

- In baseball, there is much less parity. The regular season is 162 games long and determines the best teams. The regular season has no predictive value for the playoffs. You might as well get a monkey to pick your World Series winners out of a hat.

- In 1995, the World Series posted a 19 rating, which at the time was its third-lowest ever. It dropped to 17 the following year and has never been as high since, getting as low as 11.9 in 2002 and 11.1 in 2005. The expanded playoffs have actually destroyed interest in the World Series. It was like spinning Joey off from Friends.

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

It was like spinning Joey off from Friends.

Hater!

[Solecismic]

I've been thinking about this all afternoon for some reason, maybe because I don't have a real job, so I don't have anything better to do with my life. So here's my long and boring manifesto for fixing baseball:

1. Eliminate the DH. Games are too long, and there's enough offense. It adds an element of strategy. It makes the rules simpler - you're either in the lineup or you aren't.

2. No telelvision time-outs during pitching changes. The game has changed and there are more situational pitching changes. Why kill interest just when things are heating up? If a game drags out endlessly, this is usually the reason.

3. Players may not leave the batter's box during an at-bat. They may hold one foot out for ten seconds to receive the next signal. In turn, pitchers have 20 seconds to make their next pitch.

4. Lower the mid-inning (not end of inning) commercial break to one minute.

5. Increase the roster to 27 active players. The increased use of relief pitchers makes this a useful change. Increase the roster limit to 43.

6. There needs to be a hard salary cap. Screw the union. Shut down baseball for two years if necessary.

7. If you have a hard cap, you need real revenue sharing. Even the NFL is going to have some trouble soon if they don't start sharing luxury box and seat license revenue. Tell Steinbrenner he can go take ARod, Jeter, Sheffield, Godzilla, the Big Unit, Mussina and all his other All-Stars and schedule exhibition games with the Coors Silver Bullets. See how many people show up for a full slate of 81 exhibitions. Everything gets shared, especially local television contracts. Make it 55/45 if Steinbrenner produces real tears or beats up an elevator man.

8. Merge the leagues, from a schedule and statistical perspective. I don't give a damn that ARod led the AL with 52 home runs in 2001, because Barry Bonds hit 73. Inter-league play is at a weird level, like we're supposed to rejoice when Texas visits Florida, because it only happens once every three years, or six years, depending on the "unbalanced" schedule.

9. Four divisions, 7 or 8 teams per division. Keep the "league" designations only for familiarity and minor schedule differences. If you're in a 7-team division, you play teams within your division 11 or 12 times, teams in the 8-team division in your league 6 times and teams in the other league 3 times per season. If you're in an 8-team division, you play teams within your division 10 or 11 times, teams in the 7-team division 6 times and teams in the other league 3 times per season. Obviously, inter-league play goes on all season long. But it won't be a novelty and it won't be played with a different rule set.

10. Here are the divisions:

AL East - Yankees, Boston, Baltimore, Toronto, Detroit, Tampa Bay, Cleveland.
AL West - Seattle, Angels, Oakland, Minnesota, Milwaukee, Texas, Kansas City, White Sox.
NL East - Mets, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Florida, Washington, Atlanta, Cincinnati.
NL West - Cubs, St. Louis, Arizona, Dodgers, San Diego, San Francisco, Colorado, Houston.

These are divided by time zone. It would be fairer to have the east with the 8-team divisions because the travel distances are shorter, but there really isn't a logical candidate to move in either league. Expanding to 32 teams is a good idea, though the best sites are more western.

11. Eliminate the Wild Card round. It's a distraction. I want the regular season to mean more again. Baseball has traditionally balanced on the concept of 1 division or league winner per 7 or 8 teams. In its heydey, there were only two leagues of eight teams.

12. The team with the best overall record hosts the World Series (4 games of 7). It was a cute gimmick to have the All-Star game "mean something." But they did it by cheapening the World Series. You don't sacrifice your best milk cow for a nice Thanksgiving dinner. Okay, that analogy sucks, but you get my meaning.

13. Speaking of the All-Star game, lower rosters to 21. Eight position players, nine pitchers, an extra catcher and three extra players, one of whom will serve as the DH. Yes, the DH will exist only in the All-Star game. Of the nine pitchers, three will be only eligible to pitch if the game enters extra innings. If the All-Star game is tied after 15 innings, it ends right there. People will accept that rule if it's in place beforehand and it's reasonably long that it probably won't ever happen. Obviously, the rule that every team is represented needs to go away, though the host team should be represented and one of the extra position players should be required to go to a current legend of the game (someone like Tony Gwynn in his last season).

14. Allow instant replay. The technology is there, and in baseball close plays are going to be pretty clear to an experienced eye.

15. Automate balls and strikes calls. Quest-tec was a good idea but a bad implementation. Let's have something fast and let's get the umpires' egos out of the game as much as possible.

16. Back to television. Playoff games can not overlap. This means a return to afternoon games during the LCSes. All weekend playoff games take place during the afternoon.

17. Screen graphics should not make noise. Eliminate screen wipes entirely - they just waste time. Tell Fox to go fuck itself. No more closeups of fans throughout the game. No more extreme closeups between pitches unless something important happened. No more jump-cutting. No more replays of at-bats in past innings or past games unless it's of incredible historic value (like Reggie Jackson hitting three home runs, or Kirk Gibson gimping his way around the bases) unless you're going into commercial. Think of how annoying that would be during a football game.

I really believe all 17 points are necessary for baseball to make any sort of a comeback. If the owners are happy with steadily declining ratings simply because attendance hasn't yet dropped, they're certifiable. The population has increased quite a bit during the last 20 years, it would stand to reason that ticket sales would increase a little. But the television ratings are a serious problem. The World Series is essentially half of what it was pre-realignment. That just seems unprecedented in recent sports history. Notice I didn't mention the word "steroids" once. Until now.

[st.cronin]

needs it's own thread