Regular Show

I wish I shared your confidence Duke. There is something wrong at the Bryzzo Souvenir Company. Maybe they'll fix the problem tonight...

Yeah, W. Davis is probably unavailable and honestly he didn't even look that sharp last night. I think Q needs to go at least 7 innings tonight, and then we're probably going to need to use him in relief again if we get to a game 7.

Yeah, I saw the Deadspin article earlier. The captions for the pics are awesome lol.

Apparently, there's been bad blood between the two of them for awhile. Niko started shoving him first and probably instigated the whole brouhaha. That doesn't justify punching your teammate in the face lol. They both suck and the future at PF is Markkanen anyway. If Portis did this to Markkanen I'd be pissed. For Niko I'm mildly annoyed...

Okay Jersey Cubs fan, let me explain again. I said expansion is a good thing when it is done correctly. Unlimited expansion is a bad thing much like unlimited expansion of franchises for any business would be a bad thing. The corporation Starbucks realized this a while back and closed down many of their businesses after expanding too much. Do I think MLB is like Starbucks in that they've expanded too much? No, I don't. I said the franchises in Florida were mistakes, but does MLB think of them as mistakes enough to have them relocated? Maybe for Tampa Bay someday, but I doubt the Miami Marlins will ever be relocated. I also said relocation can happen at the same time as expansion. There are plenty of good markets for relocation + expansion. I really don't get the "jobs and opportunities" angle from you guys. These are real jobs and not just minimum salary-filler spots assuming you expand to a proper market that has a committed ownership group and not a Jeffrey Loria-type in charge. They will be able to spend some money since they will have no salary commitments like I said before. The Player's Union would be ecstatic about expansion and the 50 new jobs at the big league level from 2 expansion teams. Again, I never mentioned taxpayers or subsidized stadium deals or bonds or anything that involves the stadium funding. It's controversial and complicated. Do I think the local taxpayers should have to pay for the construction of a new stadium? No, I'm absolutely against that and hate when it happens. I'm happy about the way the Ricketts' family went about renovating Wrigley Field and the surrounding area with private funding/tax credits. That's a whole separate issue btw. I know it's a big issue, and most stadium deals are bad deals funded by increasing local taxes and getting huge tax breaks for billionaires. Again, I get that. There are ownership groups that are willing to pay for most of the cost of constructing a new stadium through private funding. It's rare, but it's possible. https://www.sonicsarena.com/proposal-comparison/ This is the prospective ownership group that is trying to get an expansion team or an existing NBA team to relocate to Seattle. In their proposal they state "The SoDo Arena is 100% privately financed". They are very committed to getting an NBA franchise to return to Seattle. Do I think most ownership groups are like this? No, but it is possible to find some ownership groups like this. It seems like under R. Manfred's regime MLB expects the local markets/cities to provide funding for the stadiums in exchange for hosting future All-Star game festivities and events. I don't agree with that policy and it sucks. Whatever man. I'm done explaining myself and it seems like there are more anti-expansion posters on here than I thought. We can agree to disagree on this matter. Expansion will happen in MLB and when it happens you guys can bitch and whine and complain to your heart's content...

Sorry about the rant, but I really hate people and posters that complain about expansion (in any sport). It's always a good thing. I don't really care where they expand as long as they do their due diligence and go to a market that will properly support the team. Montreal and Portland/Charlotte seem fine to me in that regard. I get the commish can't publicly make that statement but he can have the anti-expansion feelings. And I have thought about things I'd do and have posted them before I don't remember all but off top of my head they'd be 1. DH both leagues 2. Expand 25-man roster to 26 or 27 (more jobs!) 3. Automate K-zone/Robot Umps 4. Go back to old rules or near old rules on the amateur draft/IFA (teams should be able to spend whatever they want) 5. Change the qualifying offer/compensation a bit. I don't like just the blanket rule now, I think there should be 3 tiers of QO's teams can offer a pending FA. Tier one would be like it is now, basically only given to top line talent/teams only losing first round pick for signing top line talent. A tier 2 QO would be for less money to the player (let's say $5-7 mil less) and the signing team would forfeit a 3rd or 5th round pick roughly, tier 3 would be another ~$5 mil less on the QO and the team signing would forfeit some IFA money/10th round pick. Tier 1 teams who tender the QO and lose a guy would be compensated back like now, tier 2 maybe add another supplemental round around after round 4/5 and they get a pick there, and tier 3 the team gets compensated some additional draft/IFA pool money. 6. Do better policing of the teams taking advantage of the 10-day DL rule like the Dodgers did this year I agree with you on most of those points btw. I go back-and-forth on having the DH in both leagues. I know Theo is definitely in favor of having the DH in both leagues. If I were the commish I would make an automated uniform strike zone/Robot Umps be my #1 priority. That day is coming, but it doesn't seem to be a priority for R. Manfred. I also agree on expanding the 25-man roster to 26 or 27 or even 28, and have 25 players be eligible for the game with the other players ineligible unless the game goes into extra innings or something. That said there have to be limits on how many relievers teams can carry. Maybe change the rules and force new pitchers to face a minimum of two batters before a pitching change can be made.

Wow, a lot of expansion haters on this board lol. Okay, I made a lot of good points, but I guess no ones cares about creating new jobs and opportunities for the players. I get that it dilutes the talent pool somewhat, but there already are a lot of decent players that play a game of musical chairs at the end of spring training/FA. It seems like the talent pool in MLB is getting younger and that older veterans are finding it harder to stick around. Maybe it's the right approach and teams are just getting smarter about signing FAs. I don't think adding two teams will drastically dilute the talent pool. The two expansion teams will suck in the beginning and won't have the talent to compete with other teams, but it will even out over time. I think expanding to Florida was a mistake, but I wouldn't call the other expansion teams in MLB failures. I think a third team in Texas would work. I think an expansion team in Montreal would work really well. I think Charlotte and Portland are good candidates. Relocation + expansion are probably the way to go. Tampa Bay does indeed seem like a shitty market and probably will never support the Rays adequately. I've met Rockies fans and they say Denver is a good sports town. I wouldn't call the Rockies or the Diamondbacks a failure. Whatever. I believe expansion is always a good idea as long as you go about it the right way. I wouldn't believe a lot of the expansion/small market teams complaining in the NBA about profits and long-term success on the court. The accountants for these teams know the real details and the NBA is very profitable right now even when they claim they're taking losses during CBA negotiations. It's complicated. OKC Thunder are doing very well and are spending an incredible amount on their roster right now. I don't want to get into the minutiae of discussing the viability of small-market/expansion teams in the NBA vs. other sports right now, but fans of those teams are grateful they exist and that the NBA expanded to those markets. Honestly, it's crazy that there isn't an NBA team in Seattle right now. There is too much to say on this topic, but I think expanding the sport (when a market and a committed ownership group present itself) is a good thing. Do I want unlimited expansion? Of course not. Having 50 teams is ludicrous for any major sport. Do I think MLB could support 32 teams? Absolutely.

and then there's that whole Missouri thing There are a ton of Cardinal fans in downstate Illinois, which is basically just Indiana/Missouri anyways Indeed. You are right on all counts. I grew up in Southern Illinois so I saw it firsthand. I was lucky and grew up in a progressive community that leans left in politics and has a good mix of Cubs fans, but the majority of downstate Illinois is just like rural Indiana/Missouri in politics and religion and fandom.

Well, I haven't been posting much lately, but I vehemently disagree with your take and specifically the "MLB doesn't need more teams" part. That's weird on so many levels. IF and I can only assume if you've ever wondered what you'd do as the hypothetical commissioner of MLB if you were given that power... well, you certainly can't make that statement. Some reporter asks you about possible expansion and your response is, "Nah. I'm good. We're good... We have enough teams and don't want to expand to new markets and potentially create new fans/TV markets. Why bother? I mean who gives a horsefeathers about expansion teams amirite?" That's how I interpreted your response lol. It's idiotic and dumb because expansion happens in every sport and it's ultimately a good thing. A lot of posters on here complain about the amateur draft and the shitty rules for signing Int. FA's (I agree with some of their points about how unfair it is), but no one complains about the lack of expansion teams in MLB. Expansion teams create new jobs and opportunities for the players. It creates more competition in free agency, especially in the beginning when they have no salary commitments. The Players Union will ALWAYS be in favor of expansion and rightfully so. There are other benefits too. Another trading partner for the Cubs (and for other teams too). It creates a new generation of fans who grow up rooting and supporting that team. There were NO Nationals fans going back a couple decades and obviously there are many now. More fans and increased viewership is always a good thing. It also makes realignment easier with 32 teams instead of the 30 teams we have currently. Sorry about the rant, but I really hate people and posters that complain about expansion (in any sport). It's always a good thing. I don't really care where they expand as long as they do their due diligence and go to a market that will properly support the team. Montreal and Portland/Charlotte seem fine to me in that regard.

Man that was an ugly win but I'll take it! Cubs Win! :flythew: :flythew: :flythew:

Lol, I imagined that line just like how Stefon says it on SNL. http://www.blog.thehoya.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tumblr_mjgwn2KOpw1qj28qwo3_250.gif

Yeah dude. I was thinking the exact same thing. This game is SO far from over unfortunately.

He’s got a bad case of the molds. Is he seriously sick or are you just making fun of Dusty?

Whatever man. I'm just happy we have the lead now. That was a crazy inning and we didn't even deserve to have KB up there in the first place lol.

Wow, M. Wieters horsefeathering sucks. This is one of the worst performances I've seen by a catcher lol...

Man I'm way behind lol. Nevermind. Don't PH for Heyward...

WOW. Not the biggest fan of Addy here, but man did he come though in a big spot. Great job. Now we need to PH for Heyward.

Man, I wish I had your confidence right now lol. Hopefully you're right and then KB grounds out...

I haven't been posting in these game threads lately, but we absolutely need to PH for Heyward. He's killing us in these big spots and we got lucky that wild pitch happened. I DO think the Cubs are going to tie up this game eventually. I have no idea what happens in the later innings though. Our bullpen this postseason sucks and I have little faith in our guys (Wade included). Hopefully the Cubs offense breaks out.

Yeah, TBS is terrible. I think FOX does a decent job, and I actually like listening to J. Smoltz and J. Buck has his moments. Ernie Johnson is great when he's hosting Inside the NBA on TNT and Open Court on NBATV. I even like his sense of humor, but it just doesn't translate when discussing baseball for some reason.

I get what you're saying -- I know the statistics. I mean let's be honest: there isn't a big difference between a 5 game series or a 7 game series either. Doesn't mean I wouldn't rather have the longer series whenever possible. Obviously, the time crunch/scheduling issues play a part and giving an advantage to the division winners is important too.

I guess I'm in the minority then. This game is super exciting and I'm glad my favorite team isn't playing it it, but as a neutral observer I still don't think it's fair. We'll see what happens down the road probably when expansion happens again.

The problem with your argument is that it's possible that some superteam wins 100+ games and the second place team (WC#1) in that division wins like 98-99 games. That second place team is clearly the second best team in the league. Their win total is higher than the other two division leaders... What I'm describing is basically what happened in 2015. The Cubs, Pirates and Cardinals were probably the 3 best teams in the NL that year. A shame they all play in the same division. Look, the WC teams should be penalized, but in some years the WC teams are legitimately good to great teams that deserve better than a single elimination game.

That's dumb. Sports isn't just about pure entertainment. Why did the NBA expand to a 7 game series for every round? There are fewer upsets now in the first round because of it. I'd say that's more fair to the better teams in the NBA. Yes, entertainment is the primary goal, but fans also care about fairness and rewarding the best teams/players. That's why we complain about shitty umpires and why educated fans want an automated strike zone that will be more accurate and more fair in calling balls/strikes. Fairness is somewhat of an abstract concept (I get it), but it's an important part of sports whether you want to admit it or not.

In response to Jersey Cubs Fan it's pretty obvious a 3 game series is more fair than a single elimination game. No executive or person involved in baseball thinks the single elimination game format is fair. Baseball is too unpredictable and too much random luck can determine the outcome in 1 game. Even a 3 game series isn't enough, but at least 3 games is more fair than an elimination game. We all enjoyed the WC game in 2015 when Jake dominated and the Cubs advanced. We would feel very differently if the Cubs had lost in heartbreaking fashion in a close game. A LOT of posters would be bitching and complaining about the format for the WC game in that scenario. A doubleheader isn't fair, but WC teams need to be penalized. Btw, I'm not the only one who has purposed that idea. Theo also wanted a doubleheader in a 3 game series for the WC game. The Players Union is very much against the idea so I don't know if it'll ever happen. Last thing, I'd rather start the season earlier and expand the NLDS to 7 games than increase the WC format to 3 games.