General Baseball Chit-Chat Thread

[OleMissCub]

At 40(+) he’s not a utility player, obviously. He’s a bat you’re trying to hide in the easiest defensive positions.

 

I think that was kind of SSR’s point. Which begs the question “why even bring this up at all”?

 

Because it’s a unique Pete Rose stat, Weis. Brought up during a discussion about Pete Rose. Hell, I even wrote “sidebar:” before I posted it.

 

If I had left out the obvious hyperbole about him being an ultimate utility player would it have met with your approval? I suppose it would have been free from SSR’s snark, but would it have been ok to bring up a random player stat during a discussion about said player?

 

He’s the only player with 500+ games at 4 positions, much less 5 positions. That’s a neat and notable.

[weis21]

you don't need to meet my approval. i was simply stating my opinion on your post.

 

i agree it is moderately interesting and neat.

 

please stop getting so mad.

[OleMissCub]

you don't need to meet my approval. i was simply stating my opinion on your post.

 

i agree it is moderately interesting and neat.

 

please stop getting so mad.

 

I’m not mad. I’m just bemused by you asking me why I brought up a random baseball stat during a discussion about a baseball player on a baseball message board.

[jersey cubs fan]

[squally1313]

https://nypost.com/2020/02/10/mlb-plotting-playoff-expansion-with-reality-tv-twist/

 

This is getting trashed by Baseball Twitter, and I definitely agree in terms of the new format/bracket. Have always thought that picking your own opponent would be a fun way to ramp up the intensity though, so that part I'm very intrigued by.

[imb]

let the world cup squid do it cowards

[Bertz]

https://nypost.com/2020/02/10/mlb-plotting-playoff-expansion-with-reality-tv-twist/

 

This is getting trashed by Baseball Twitter, and I definitely agree in terms of the new format/bracket. Have always thought that picking your own opponent would be a fun way to ramp up the intensity though, so that part I'm very intrigued by.

 

I need to sit on it more, but I think I dislike this but don't totally hate it. For positives, I like encouraging a team to be the best in its league above and beyond winning its division. I also like giving teams a little more incentive to fight for a wildcard. On the negative end, the biggie is that we're removing two guaranteed winner-take-all games. I also don't like going from 10 to 14 teams, we're diluting the talent pool too much there IMO. I'd probably be okay doing 12 (give the 2nd best division winner a bye too)?

 

I also wonder what the plan would be for this new format after expansion, since we're probably looking at that during the CBA after this next one.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

https://nypost.com/2020/02/10/mlb-plotting-playoff-expansion-with-reality-tv-twist/

 

This is getting trashed by Baseball Twitter, and I definitely agree in terms of the new format/bracket. Have always thought that picking your own opponent would be a fun way to ramp up the intensity though, so that part I'm very intrigued by.

 

I was ready to hate this, but with the right specifics I think there are some things to like. In particular, since all the wild card games are at the higher seed, you could do the 3 game series with a double header one day and a Game 3 the next day/day after. That'd help preserve some of the current wild card's stakes, and optimize scheduling. It also paves the way for an 8 division setup if they decide to expand to 32, and preserves the importance of division winners gunning for the best record they can.

[jersey cubs fan]

double headers in the playoffs is trash

[squally1313]

I totally get the motivations behind the ideas (and the article does a good job of spelling them out)...more playoff teams, more clinching games, etc. I really don't know how you solve the main problem, which is that ultimately the 'fairest' way to award a champion is pretty much the opposite of the 'most exciting' way. 7 teams from each league making the playoffs is pretty much a dealbreaker for me, as much as I may like some of the other nuances. But on the other hand, the best idea I can come up with, on the spot, involves 6 teams per league, so...who knows.

 

That idea is pretty close to the NFL set up, but also lets the teams with the better records pick their opponents. Three division winners, three wildcards, two best division winners get a bye and the third winner/three wildcard teams play two best of 3s (division winner picks their opponent), and then of those winners, the best record gets to pick their opponent.

 

I'd also consider reducing the number of off days in the playoffs in order to add more games, assuming we can't get the season to end earlier.

 

Edit: I thought about this more, and just leave it as is. As much as I like the 'pick your opponents' thing, baseball is pretty clearly the worst sport to try it in.

[squally1313]

https://nypost.com/2020/02/10/mlb-plotting-playoff-expansion-with-reality-tv-twist/

 

This is getting trashed by Baseball Twitter, and I definitely agree in terms of the new format/bracket. Have always thought that picking your own opponent would be a fun way to ramp up the intensity though, so that part I'm very intrigued by.

 

I was ready to hate this, but with the right specifics I think there are some things to like. In particular, since all the wild card games are at the higher seed, you could do the 3 game series with a double header one day and a Game 3 the next day/day after. That'd help preserve some of the current wild card's stakes, and optimize scheduling. It also paves the way for an 8 division setup if they decide to expand to 32, and preserves the importance of division winners gunning for the best record they can.

 

The issue with the DH header idea is that the only way anyone would agree to that would be if it fell on the weekend, and then you'd have an round of playoffs going up against football, and there's no way anyone would agree to that.

[NonProfitCow]

https://nypost.com/2020/02/10/mlb-plotting-playoff-expansion-with-reality-tv-twist/

 

This is getting trashed by Baseball Twitter, and I definitely agree in terms of the new format/bracket. Have always thought that picking your own opponent would be a fun way to ramp up the intensity though, so that part I'm very intrigued by.

What a horrible, horrible idea.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

https://nypost.com/2020/02/10/mlb-plotting-playoff-expansion-with-reality-tv-twist/

 

This is getting trashed by Baseball Twitter, and I definitely agree in terms of the new format/bracket. Have always thought that picking your own opponent would be a fun way to ramp up the intensity though, so that part I'm very intrigued by.

 

I was ready to hate this, but with the right specifics I think there are some things to like. In particular, since all the wild card games are at the higher seed, you could do the 3 game series with a double header one day and a Game 3 the next day/day after. That'd help preserve some of the current wild card's stakes, and optimize scheduling. It also paves the way for an 8 division setup if they decide to expand to 32, and preserves the importance of division winners gunning for the best record they can.

 

The issue with the DH header idea is that the only way anyone would agree to that would be if it fell on the weekend, and then you'd have an round of playoffs going up against football, and there's no way anyone would agree to that.

 

I don't think it being on a weekend would be a hard requirement, there's plenty of day games in the divisional series. Doing it Friday would fairly effectively split the difference too. All that said, this is me making the best of what is out there, I don't know that I think it's the best way forward.

[WrigleyField 22]

If hey're going this big of a change, why hold onto divisions, really? Or possibly if expansion is on the radar, at least go down to 2 divisions.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

I would very much like this to not happen.

[Andy]

Literally everything about this is horsefeathering dumb. If MLB wants to reduce tanking, institute a draft lottery and/or get rid of amateur spending caps, and get rid of the dumb-ass competitive balance tax. This is nothing more than a cheap sideshow to distract fans from the horse horsefeathers way this sport is being run by its power brokers.

 

I'm so damn sick of Manfred and his arcade video game nonsense.

[UMFan83]

I never liked the single game elimination concept at all. I know some love it and that’s fine. I don’t. But at the same time I hate having 14 teams make the playoffs. That would all but ensure some crappy teams make it every year. Though not too crappy, as last years Cubs still wouldn’t have made it but still pretty crappy

[Clem Fandango]

[Irrelevant Dude]

I hate any idea with more teams in the playoffs. They are going to play 162 games and then let nearly half of the teams in the playoffs? I knew it was only a matter of time, but that doesn't make it any less stupid. Look at the NBA with teams 15 games under .500 still in the playoff race. Rewarding mediocre teams for the sake of a small bump in attendance isn't going to make the game any better.

[Derwood]

I hate any idea with more teams in the playoffs. They are going to play 162 games and then let nearly half of the teams in the playoffs? I knew it was only a matter of time, but that doesn't make it any less stupid. Look at the NBA with teams 15 games under .500 still in the playoff race. Rewarding mediocre teams for the sake of a small bump in attendance isn't going to make the game any better.

 

I thought you were exaggerating but holy horsefeathers, the 18-33 Wizards are only 3 games out of the playoffs. Jesus, the NBA is awful

[ConstableRabbit]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

 

I am very much here for this. Also lmao at the replies.

[imb]

It probably really doesn't matter what they do to the playoffs really?

[minnesotacubsfan]

A bump from 5 to 7 teams doesn’t seem all that significant.

 

Choosing your opponents is bonkers

[squally1313]

The argument for this kind of playoff expanding move, that it will reduce tanking by giving more teams a shot, is more than offset by the fact that the new target for wins will be like 85, and you'll see pretty much all the big market teams doing the same treading water horsefeathers that the Cubs have been doing for the last two offseasons.

[jersey cubs fan]

The argument for this kind of playoff expanding move, that it will reduce tanking by giving more teams a shot, is more than offset by the fact that the new target for wins will be like 85, and you'll see pretty much all the big market teams doing the same treading water horsefeathers that the Cubs have been doing for the last two offseasons.

that's why you make the WC a one game play-in, to really give the top teams an incentive to be great and not settle for just getting in.

 

Wild cards team get the opportunity, but they have to go an extra step to make up for sneaking in on the cheap.