9/26 NYY (Montgomery) @ BOS (ERod)

[moonslav59]

It is actually getting hard to care about MLB at all the way it is being played currently. As both Splinter and I have commented in the past, there is simply not enough baseball talent out there to support this many franchises. There just isn't and we keep kidding ourselves that these guys are better ballplayers because they are on balance stronger ballplayers. I would refine that to be more muscular ballplayers, not necessarily stronger or more fit. The consequence is that the actual baseball being played suffers more and more as the years pass.

 

The most critical element is the pitching which is laughable now. Everything that happens on a baseball diamond starts with the ball in the hands of the pitcher. Hence as the quality of pitching declined it should have been obvious that the quality of the game itself would suffer. That has been exacerbated by the juiced baseball. While pitchers no longer challenge hitters nor back them off the plate, nor move the hitters feet in the batters box, pitchers do throw trash pitches right over the heart of the plate with predictable results. There are now three pitch types we see regularly:

- trash pitches right over the heart of the plate that are not efforts to challenge hitters....they are just crap pitches

- pitches designed to lure hitters into the one remaining trap the modern day pitcher has, a pitch designed to induce the hitter to swing at a pitch that is actually a ball

- Pitches that are so far off the plate that they cannot even induce a swing from a hitter

 

The cumulative result of bad pitching and the juiced baseball is a game where fielding no longer counts, base running no longer counts, hitters swing as hard as they can every swing regardless of the count and don't much care or can judge whether the pitch is worth a swing or not plus rosters filled with pitchers that might MIGHT give you 10-15 worthwhile pitches any given night before they turn into pumpkins. What has become "exciting" about today's game is whether a fielder can field a simple pop up, whetter he will throw to the right base or not and whether the base runners will have not f***ed it up so badly that it does not matter where the ball is thrown and OH of course, the distance and mph of some HR or another. The absurd current rules of baseball are in effect the last straw. None of what is passing for "interesting" baseball today is more than just barely watchable from my perspective.

 

I'd love to see baseball get down to 28 teams- 4 divisions of 7 or 7 divisions of 4 teams.

 

Disband Oakland and Florida and move TBR to NC or Sacramento.

 

The draft for their players would strengthen the weaker teams, at least for a while. You could even have the worst teams get more draft picks than the better ones. (like worst 14 draft, then worst 7 get picks 15-21, then next 7, then the 8-14 teams pick again, all before the best 7 pick their first player.) The farm additions could be historic.

 

Initiate a base/minimum player budget for every team that goes up every year.

 

I'd realign the team divisions and have a universal DH and robo umps for strike calls.

 

4 divisions of 7 teams

 

BOS

NYY

NYM

PHI

BAL

WSH

ATL

 

TOR

PIT

CLE

CIN

DET

CHC

CWS

 

MIN

MIL

STL

KCR

TEX

HOU

COL

 

SEA

SFG

SAC (from TBR)

LAA

LAD

SDP

AZ

Play 3 games vs non division teams (3 x 21= 63) and 16 vs division (16 x 6=96) then add 3 games somewhere.

 

Maybe 7 divisions of 4:

 

BOS

NYY

NYM

PHI

 

BAL

WSH

NC (from TBR)

ATL

 

TOR

PIT

CLE

CIN

 

DET

CHC

CWS

MIL

 

MIN

STL

KCR

COL

 

TEX

HOU

AZ

SDP

 

SEA

SFG

LAD

LAA

 

Play 4 games vs non div teams (24 x 4= 96) and 22 games vs own div (22 x 3= 66) or 5 vs non div (5 x 24= 120) and 14 vs own division (3 x 14=42).

 

Playoffs could be ...

 

4 divisions winners + 3 WC + 2 WC play-in .

 

7 division winners + 2 play-in WC teams.

Edited September 27, 2021 by moonslav59

[Bellhorn04]

Nope. Just have to accept it as is.

 

I think it's actually been a pretty good year for baseball. Crazy, but no shortage of excitement.

[a700hitter]

I’ll say the season has been surprising, but there has been some real bad baseball that was played this season. Bad pitching, bad defense, and bad base running, which was topped off last night by two teams that looked like little leaguers at times who couldn’t catch the ball, or knew how to run the bases. Lke I said earlier at this point I could care less if the Sox get on the plane to Baltimore.

It hasn’t just been the Red Sox. The same can be said of the Yankees. I also watch a lot of the Mets and Phillies and they have played the same terrible quality of ball. It has not been just a few instances. It has been throughout the season. It has been endemic. Neither the Yankees, the Red Sox nor most other teams have played like playoff teams. It has been a very strange season in that regard. It’s almost like the COVID shortened season cause a collective amnesia about the correct way to play the game.

[moonslav59]

It hasn’t just been the Red Sox. The same can be said of the Yankees. I also watch a lot of the Mets and Phillies and they have played the same terrible quality of ball. It has not been just a few instances. It has been throughout the season. It has been endemic. Neither the Yankees, the Red Sox nor most other teams have played like playoff teams. It has been a very strange season in that regard. It’s almost like the COVID shortened season cause a collective amnesia about the correct way to play the game.

 

Indeed. One can easily argue none of these 3-4 teams deserve a playoff slot.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Thanks for the rec. I have to see High Noon too. Never got around to it for some reason.

 

The unique thing about HIGH NOON was that it was filmed to have the feel of 'real time.' The movie itself was 85 minutes long and the continuous action of the movie, based on the clock, was about 100 minutes long.

Edited September 27, 2021 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[mvp 78]

Indeed. One can easily argue none of these 3-4 teams deserve a playoff slot.

 

That's how it works when you expand the playoffs. Teams that don't feel like juggernauts can sneak in and just be kinda ugly.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The unique thing about HIGH NOON was that it was filmed to have the feel of 'real time.' The movie itself was 85 minutes long and the continuous action of the movie, based on the clock, was about 100 minutes long.

 

 

One last note about HIGH NOON. John Wayne was offered the lead role, but turned it down because he felt the movie was an allegory against 'blacklisting.' Wayne was an active supporter of 'blacklisting.'

 

Btw, a very good film about 'blacklisting' in the early '50's is TRUMBO starring Bryan Cranston.

Edited September 27, 2021 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[moonslav59]

That's how it works when you expand the playoffs. Teams that don't feel like juggernauts can sneak in and just be kinda ugly.

 

It was meant to create "interest" for more teams, and in that way, it has succeeded.

 

The season has remained "relevant" to BOS, NYY, TOR, SEA & OAK for much longer than it probably should have.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

It was meant to create "interest" for more teams, and in that way, it has succeeded.

 

The season has remained "relevant" to BOS, NYY, TOR, SEA & OAK for much longer than it probably should have.

 

True; it was meant to create interest for more teams, but the motivating factor, like always, was generating more money.

[harmony]

I thought Clint Eastwood’s William Muney said “Deserves has nothing to do with it.”

[harmony]

Indeed. One can easily argue none of these 3-4 teams deserve a playoff slot.

Life was fine when the two league champions met in the World Series immediately following the conclusion of the regular season.

[moonslav59]

Life was fine when the two league champions met in the World Series immediately following the conclusion of the regular season.

 

True, but that extra round of playoffs was very exciting. Once it got past 2 rounds, things got sketchy, but many a team has won it all from one of those slots.

[Old Red]

True, but that extra round of playoffs was very exciting. Once it got past 2 rounds, things got sketchy, but many a team has won it all from one of those slots.

 

Can we at least get everyone playing by the same rules? It’s been been about 50 years with the DH, but only for one league. It just doesn’t make sense for all these years to have different rules. I don’t care which way it goes, but just make it that everyone plays the same. Having said that the best way is for everyone to play the same schedule, and the teams with the best record however many teams you want goes to the playoffs. To get more teams involved you go to all these divisions, and keeps adding teams. It depends on how watered down you want to make things.

[moonslav59]

Can we at least get everyone playing by the same rules? It’s been been about 50 years with the DH, but only for one league. It just doesn’t make sense for all these years to have different rules. I don’t care which way it goes, but just make it that everyone plays the same. Having said that the best way is for everyone to play the same schedule, and the teams with the best record however many teams you want goes to the playoffs. To get more teams involved you go to all these divisions, and keeps adding teams. It depends on how watered down you want to make things.

 

I'm hoping this CBA solves that issue and enacts robo umps.

[mvp 78]

I'm hoping this CBA solves that issue and enacts robo umps.

 

I don't think it does anything on either fronts.

[harmony]

Two or three playoff appearances since the 1970s. I don’t think they ever participated in a World Series. Ever talk to a Mariner fan? Misery.

It's hard to top the misery found on this thread.

[moonslav59]

I don't think it does anything on either fronts.

 

Universal DH is a lock.

 

Book it.

 

Robo umps may be just a dream.

[mvp 78]

Universal DH is a lock.

 

Book it.

 

Robo umps may be just a dream.

 

Sig bet?

[mvp 78]

It's hard to top the misery found on this thread.

 

Being a Mariners fan, you certainly know where to find it.

[notin]

Can we at least get everyone playing by the same rules? It’s been been about 50 years with the DH, but only for one league. It just doesn’t make sense for all these years to have different rules. I don’t care which way it goes, but just make it that everyone plays the same. Having said that the best way is for everyone to play the same schedule, and the teams with the best record however many teams you want goes to the playoffs. To get more teams involved you go to all these divisions, and keeps adding teams. It depends on how watered down you want to make things.

 

 

Can I get an “AMEN”??!

[notin]

Universal DH is a lock.

 

Book it.

 

Robo umps may be just a dream.

 

Let’s combine the two and have universal robot DHs…

[moonslav59]

Let’s combine the two and have universal robot DHs…

 

We'll probably end up with robo umps in just the NL.

[jung]

It hasn’t just been the Red Sox. The same can be said of the Yankees. I also watch a lot of the Mets and Phillies and they have played the same terrible quality of ball. It has not been just a few instances. It has been throughout the season. It has been endemic. Neither the Yankees, the Red Sox nor most other teams have played like playoff teams. It has been a very strange season in that regard. It’s almost like the COVID shortened season cause a collective amnesia about the correct way to play the game.

 

I don't think it possible to cover this level of performance degradation in the COVID Pandemic time element. This has been a decline over a much longer timeline than that. At the very least it starts with the establishment of the so-called "quality start" as a means to reward 6 innings for Starters. It continues with the establishment of the so-called "opener", meaning a pitcher that cannot even get through the batting order more than once if that. Now, getting more than 6 innings from a Starter is a rarity. In fact, just over 5 innings is the norm. 5 innings is quite acceptable and considered ":good". Now if a Starter can at least make it through four innings he is not considered to have failed. I don't know how to even establish a standard for these so-called openers. What......once though the order and you are golden?

[Old Red]

I don't think it possible to cover this level of performance degradation in the COVID Pandemic time element. This has been a decline over a much longer timeline than that. At the very least it starts with the establishment of the so-called "quality start" as a means to reward 6 innings for Starters. It continues with the establishment of the so-called "opener", meaning a pitcher that cannot even get through the batting order more than once if that. Now, getting more than 6 innings from a Starter is a rarity. In fact, just over 5 innings is the norm. 5 innings is quite acceptable and considered ":good". Now if a Starter can at least make it through four innings he is not considered to have failed. I don't know how to even establish a standard for these so-called openers. What......once though the order and you are golden?

 

Well said, and if it was me I’d make a starter go 6 to classify as a win. The Red Sox announcers make it sound like a big deal when Sale pitches, and calls it a Sale day. Has he gone 6 this year? It’s just ridiculous that a starter can’t throw 100 pitches, or get into the 7th anymore.

[Bellhorn04]

Well said, and if it was me I’d make a starter go 6 to classify as a win. The Red Sox announcers make it sound like a big deal when Sale pitches, and calls it a Sale day. Has he gone 6 this year? It’s just ridiculous that a starter can’t throw 100 pitches, or get into the 7th anymore.

 

Yeah but a lot of that is managers relying on spreadsheets that tell them to hook the guy even if he's pitching well.

 

As for Sale, he's coming off TJ surgery so some caution is understandable.

[moonslav59]

Well said, and if it was me I’d make a starter go 6 to classify as a win. The Red Sox announcers make it sound like a big deal when Sale pitches, and calls it a Sale day. Has he gone 6 this year? It’s just ridiculous that a starter can’t throw 100 pitches, or get into the 7th anymore.

 

The guy is coming off TJS.

 

He probably could go 6 or 7, but I'm glad they haven't pushed him , too much.

 

I do think he might be ready to go a little longer in his next start or two.

 

BTW, he did go 6 on Sept 1st and 5 or more every start but one.

[moonslav59]

If the numbers show a pitcher gets crushed the third time through a line-up are you guys saying keep the guy in out of some sort of macho act or tradition- keeping philosophy?

 

I can just imagine the game threads after Cora leaves a starter in to get drilled.

[Bellhorn04]

If the numbers show a pitcher gets crushed the third time through a line-up are you guys saying keep the guy in out of some sort of macho act or tradition- keeping philosophy?

 

I can just imagine the game threads after Cora leaves a starter in to get drilled.

 

I think most of us have some reservations about the changes in the way the game is played, but what's the use of complaining.

[moonslav59]

I think most of us have some reservations about the changes in the way the game is played, but what's the use of complaining.

 

I like the old ways, too.

 

It would be interesting to go back and see the numbers of starters the third time through "back in the day" and see if things have gotten worse, or they just didn't notice or care about it back then.

[Old Red]

If the numbers show a pitcher gets crushed the third time through a line-up are you guys saying keep the guy in out of some sort of macho act or tradition- keeping philosophy?

 

I can just imagine the game threads after Cora leaves a starter in to get drilled.

 

I wouldn’t take a pitcher out like Cora has with Houck more than once even though he was pitching good just, because I’m afraid of what might happen. Nonsense to me.