MLB Off-Topic

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Fan interest could be maintained by allowing for the four first-place teams in each division to advance to the postseason, and having play-in games against the eight remaining teams with the best records.
The winners of the four wild card games would advance to the Division Series, which would feature a wild card team against each division champion.
Those four winners would advance to the Championship Series, and the winners of that round would meet in the World Series.
That would add postseason product to the broadcast packages and provide postseason hope for 12 of the 32 franchises, which could boost attendance in September, again offsetting any impact from the season being six games shorter.

Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/colum...khu8be6xgfV.99

brb slicing wrists

[fugazi]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Edit: That realignment sucks...and badly. The

Things are simple...AL/NL with 2 divisions each...

And if you need more playoff teams...6 per league...2 Div Champs in each league get a three day break...in those three days, their NLDS/ALDS opponents are determined by a 2 "best of 3" series between the 4 WC teams; these games begin immediately after final reg season. NLDS/ALDS could be "best of 3", as well.

I have no problems with pitchers hitting.

They rarely get hurt...and the moments they can provide are much more interesting than the average ho-hum DH.

[Money99]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I have no problems with pitchers hitting.

They rarely get hurt...and the moments they can provide are much more interesting than the average ho-hum DH.

I disagree.
Watching a pitcher, 80%+ of the time, look like me up there isn't entertaining.

I'd rather see someone who knows how to hit actually hit.
We can call DH's one dimensional players but 9/10 pitchers (or greater) are one dimensional players too as most don't know how to hit.
And then you have relievers who are basically PHers in the pitching world.

I enjoy the NL just as much as the AL, but pitchers hitting is terrible theatre a great majority of the time.

Also, Ortiz was one of the most entertaining players over the past 10 years.
I'd rather watch him work than Bartolo Colon pretend to swing a bat.


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[dubcity]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

There is a 0% chance they realign the MLB away from AL/NL.

I'm not sure how having 8 team divisions is supposed to create more fan interest. You think some of these stadiums are empty now, try being in 7th place in mid-July trying to give away tickets.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I doubt they'd ever get rid of both of AL or NL. Though it'd be nice to play every team in a home and away series each year. Up until last year or so, I don't think Padres had ever been to Toronto, and Jays hadn't been to Wrigley in over a decade. Lots of instances like this league wide which sucks at times.

But 32 team league would be fine even with NFL style divisions. 4 division winners, maybe 4WC teams, and do a 3-5-7-7 format or something. With 156 games, postseason can start exactly October 1st every year. 31 days to fit in a max 22 games is doable.

Division wise, would love nfl format.
AL North-Jays, Tigers, Expos, Indians
East- Yankees, Red Sox, Os, Rays
Central- Royals, Twins, White Sox, Rangers
West- Mariners, As, Angels, Portland?

NL North- Pirates, Phillies, Reds, Cubs
East-Mets, Nats, Marlins, Braves
Central-Rockies, Cards, Brewers, Astros
West-Dodgers, Giants, Padres, Dbacks

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I doubt they'd ever get rid of both of AL or NL. Though it'd be nice to play every team in a home and away series each year. Up until last year or so, I don't think Padres had ever been to Toronto, and Jays hadn't been to Wrigley in over a decade. Lots of instances like this league wide which sucks at times.

But 32 team league would be fine even with NFL style divisions. 4 division winners, maybe 4WC teams, and do a 3-5-7-7 format or something. With 156 games, postseason can start exactly October 1st every year. 31 days to fit in a max 22 games is doable.

Division wise, would love nfl format.
AL North-Jays, Tigers, Expos, Indians
East- Yankees, Red Sox, Os, Rays
Central- Indians, Twins, White Sox, Rangers
West- Mariners, As, Angels, Portland?

NL North- Pirates, Phillies, Reds, Cubs
East-Mets, Nats, Marlins, Braves
Central-Rockies, Cards, Brewers, Astros
West-Dodgers, Giants, Padres, Dbacks

The Indians are gonna be pretty busy being in two divisions.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Lol, how'd I forget kc

[Money99]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Geographically, does it make more sense for the Twins to play with the Brewers and Rockies?

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[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Geographically, does it make more sense for the Twins to play with the Brewers and Rockies?

Sent from my LG-K210 using Operation Sports mobile app

Geographically lots would make more sense, but if we're basically gonna keep the AL and NL the same, can't move Twins to NL.

[l3ulvl]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

There is a 0% chance they realign the MLB away from AL/NL.

I'm not sure how having 8 team divisions is supposed to create more fan interest. You think some of these stadiums are empty now, try being in 7th place in mid-July trying to give away tickets.

I remember when there was a 0% chance we'd ever see a college football playoff

[l3ulvl]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I disagree.
Watching a pitcher, 80%+ of the time, look like me up there isn't entertaining.

I'd rather see someone who knows how to hit actually hit.
We can call DH's one dimensional players but 9/10 pitchers (or greater) are one dimensional players too as most don't know how to hit.
And then you have relievers who are basically PHers in the pitching world.

I enjoy the NL just as much as the AL, but pitchers hitting is terrible theatre a great majority of the time.

Also, Ortiz was one of the most entertaining players over the past 10 years.
I'd rather watch him work than Bartolo Colon pretend to swing a bat.


Sent from my LG-K210 using Operation Sports mobile app

Reminds me of the days when Verlander used to brag about being a good hitter, and would whiff every single time. He'd get mad lol, insisting he could really hit, it got to the point where the interleague ABs were interesting just to see if he could actually put it in play

[Chip Douglass]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I've come to accept that pitchers hitting is going away eventually.

Like most NL fans, I used to be viscerally opposed to the DH, but I'm all for adopting it now.

The poster boy for good pitcher hitting is Bumgarner, but his career 51 wRC+ would make him one of the worst hitters in baseball history if he were a position player. I don't think watching Drew Butera or Tim Federowicz hit is that interesting tbh...and that's what Bumgarner basically is as a hitter. If Bumgarner still wants to hit, he could always convince Bochy to let him pinch hit.

[wco81]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Like most NL fans, I used to be viscerally opposed to the DH, but I'm all for adopting it now.

The poster boy for good pitcher hitting is Bumgarner, but his career 51 wRC+ would make him one of the worst hitters in baseball history if he were a position player. I don't think watching Drew Butera or Tim Federowicz hit is that interesting tbh...and that's what Bumgarner basically is as a hitter. If Bumgarner still wants to hit, he could always convince Bochy to let him pinch hit.

Several teams are going to try to acquire Otani in the offseason, supposedly.

One of the big things he wants is the ability to get regular ABs. So he might be more inclined towards an AL team but I think among the AL teams interested in him are Texas and the Yankees.

He may also want to be on the West Coast, in a city with a sizable Japanese expat or Japanese-American community.

[Chip Douglass]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Yeah, Otani is supposedly a great two-way player, but he, along with Bumgarner, Greinke, and others, are the exceptions to the rule. And even then, they're still terrible hitters in the scheme of things.

Most pitchers at the plate are either going to look at fastballs down the middle and walk back to the dugout or swing wildly at balls in the dirt. It's just not interesting to watch. And it puts the NL at a bit of a disadvantage in interleague play since AL teams are carrying an extra hitter. Let's get rid of it.

[Sportsforever]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Yeah, Otani is supposedly a great two-way player, but he, along with Bumgarner, Greinke, and others, are the exceptions to the rule. And even then, they're still terrible hitters in the scheme of things.

Most pitchers at the plate are either going to look at fastballs down the middle and walk back to the dugout or swing wildly at balls in the dirt. It's just not interesting to watch. And it puts the NL at a bit of a disadvantage in interleague play since AL teams are carrying an extra hitter. Let's get rid of it.

Why stop at pitchers? Drew Butera is a crappy hitter, so why not let him do his specialty (catching) and have someone like Edgar Martinez bat for him?

I think the argument that "it's not interesting to watch" is a poor reason to make changes...personally, I enjoy watching pitchers try and hit, especially when a bunt is called upon. I would prefer that pitchers become better hitters...not remove them from hitting.