Baseball's horrid, laughable problem????? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

pan6467 · 09-16-2005, 01:35 PM

As the season dies down and the races are almost over, I notice a huge glaring problem.

This problem may destroy the already tender credibility of the game and may leave the fan base with a terrible taste.

I'm not talking steroids, although they are a serious problem, I am talking about none other than the N.L. West.

For the first time ever, I believe, there is a strong possibility of a sub .500 team not just making the playoffs, but winning a whole freaking division.

You have 14 teams with better records, 1 tie and a possible 2 more that can better the Padres record in a matter of days. 4 of the teams worse than them are in their own division, and the highest they could possibly finish in any other division would be the A.L. West (another very weak division) and 3rd place. In any other division they would be looking at 4th place or worse.

So what does this mean to baseball? Well, The N.L. West winner could very easily and fastly be defeated in the playoffs and that will be the end of it. It will demonstrate how weak a division is and those teams will be struggling to regain fan base (except the Dodgers, who never seem to lose any, no matter how terrible they, the owner or management truly is).

But what happens in a short series where anything is truly possible and they win, going to the NLCS? What is worse, what happens if they make the World Series? And the worst case scenario, what happens if they win the World series? Where will baseball stand?

Now granted the NL West winner even making past the 1st round is laughable, and to even think they can get any further is just idiotic, right? And yet, the possibility is there and has to be looked at.

Personally, I have always been of the belief the best teams from both leagues should play for the right to call themselves the best of the best that year. That is what the World Series is about after all. And yet, it is possible to have a team, that will finish under .500 and have over half of baseball finishing with better records.

How will we ever be able to call them the "best of the best"? It would make no sense. It would show us that as long as you try half assed and can't even win 1/2 of your games you can still be "Best"?

And what of the ever important tv ratings? Would MLB and Fox truly expect any true fan or even the casual fan to take a series of a sub .500 team seriously?

This is not about some "miracle, never say die team, that had bad breaks".... hell the freaking lost over 1/2 their games.... they were horrid.

So what is baseball going to do? What is the solution?

Well, I would put a clause in the playoff by-laws that stated if a team with a sub .500 record wins their division they are disqualified from the playoffs and the second best record in the wildcard race would be automatically placed in their spot.

But.... then there is the possibility of there being 3 teams from 1 division (again this year if that rule were to be in place, Fla. and Philly (both N.L. East teams) could be in playing the Cards and the Braves. Where only 1 team (StL) would be outside the Eastern Division.

Yes, MLB faces a quagmire that may take the heat off the steroid issue among the true, loyal die hard fans........ of course as the keep playing with their credibility, how they treat the fans and so on.... one has to ask, is MLB looking and creating it's own death as a relevant source of entertainment in the USA?

Redlemon · 09-16-2005, 01:54 PM

Here's what I think the problem is with baseball: way too many games. I have no idea how long a season is, but I just looked up the stats on the Red Sox, and they've played 146 games this year. Each game isn't even worth 1% of the end total. Losing one game here or there doesn't make much of a difference. Football (American), it matters. 16 games, every game counts.

djtestudo · 09-16-2005, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redlemon

Here's what I think the problem is with baseball: way too many games. I have no idea how long a season is, but I just looked up the stats on the Red Sox, and they've played 146 games this year. Each game isn't even worth 1% of the end total. Losing one game here or there doesn't make much of a difference. Football (American), it matters. 16 games, every game counts.

162 games. Increased from 154 in 1961.

Personally, I won't be too distressed if this happens. If you are good enough to win in the playoffs against better teams, then you should get the chance.

Bobaphat · 09-16-2005, 03:22 PM

I am almost rooting for the Padres to win it all. Just to piss everyone off. I don't really care much since my M's are out of it, so I think it would be funny if a team that couldn't contend for a wild card spot would win it all by virtue of everyone else in their division being equally as terrible as them

Borla · 09-16-2005, 03:30 PM

Almost every year there are teams in the NHL and NBA that make the playoffs. Occasionally there have been 8-8 teams make the playoffs in the NFL, though it's more rare. While I agree that many other teams will have been shown a disservice by being left out, I don't think it's the end of the world.

pan6467 · 09-16-2005, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redlemon

Here's what I think the problem is with baseball: way too many games. I have no idea how long a season is, but I just looked up the stats on the Red Sox, and they've played 146 games this year. Each game isn't even worth 1% of the end total. Losing one game here or there doesn't make much of a difference. Football (American), it matters. 16 games, every game counts.

The reason for the many games is twofold.... 1) they can't afford to play many less ticket prices would skyrocket because I doubt salaries would drop and 2) to prevent things like having sub .500 teams in the playoffs.

Baseball is great in that you can have streaks and blay very badly for a month but comeback and give the pennant a run. (The Indians are a prime example.) It's the game of summer and following teams with your morning paper is a ritual still very much in practice with many Americans.

If your star is injured and he misses 15 days you really may not lose any ground and if you do there is time to make it up.

Football would probably go longer IF it weren't so physical. After summer practice, scrimmages and the season and if the team is lucky the playoffs you are physically beaten and exhausted and probvably couldn't go any further.

Plus football, you can't afford to be streaky, just 1 bad week and a key injury can keep you home for the post season games.

Baseball is a marathon, football is a sprint.

kutulu · 09-18-2005, 11:49 AM

The fact that football is only 16 games makes it into a joke for me. Seriously, you decide who hte best is and they haven't even played every team in their conference once. I understand that it's more phyical but 16 games is a joke.

The long season in baseball really lets things even out. I like it how it is.

canuckguy · 09-23-2005, 02:48 PM

Think if you’re Toronto, Tampa Bay or Baltimore and have to play every year in the same division as New York and Boston. Nobody can compete year after year with these two. Sure some team out of the blue will have a run and win it (Florida); sure money does not buy you a champion every year. But it does insure that your team will always be there getting there kicks at the can. Sucks balls.

Too many games as stated above.

As well would be nice to see some world cup type tournament, and not this one they have setup now. That is not going to be good, the timing is just crap, and you need to have a tournament like this during the regular baseball year. Yup, greedy bitch commissioner, you’re going to have to toss some games and some money lost and stop the season part way through to allow a tourney. Think of the plus though, it could then boost revenues to a new level with the increased international exposure.

Said as a blues fan. And slightly too moderately stoned....

09-16-2005, 01:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	Baseball's horrid, laughable problem????? As the season dies down and the races are almost over, I notice a huge glaring problem. This problem may destroy the already tender credibility of the game and may leave the fan base with a terrible taste. I'm not talking steroids, although they are a serious problem, I am talking about none other than the N.L. West. For the first time ever, I believe, there is a strong possibility of a sub .500 team not just making the playoffs, but winning a whole freaking division. You have 14 teams with better records, 1 tie and a possible 2 more that can better the Padres record in a matter of days. 4 of the teams worse than them are in their own division, and the highest they could possibly finish in any other division would be the A.L. West (another very weak division) and 3rd place. In any other division they would be looking at 4th place or worse. So what does this mean to baseball? Well, The N.L. West winner could very easily and fastly be defeated in the playoffs and that will be the end of it. It will demonstrate how weak a division is and those teams will be struggling to regain fan base (except the Dodgers, who never seem to lose any, no matter how terrible they, the owner or management truly is). But what happens in a short series where anything is truly possible and they win, going to the NLCS? What is worse, what happens if they make the World Series? And the worst case scenario, what happens if they win the World series? Where will baseball stand? Now granted the NL West winner even making past the 1st round is laughable, and to even think they can get any further is just idiotic, right? And yet, the possibility is there and has to be looked at. Personally, I have always been of the belief the best teams from both leagues should play for the right to call themselves the best of the best that year. That is what the World Series is about after all. And yet, it is possible to have a team, that will finish under .500 and have over half of baseball finishing with better records. How will we ever be able to call them the "best of the best"? It would make no sense. It would show us that as long as you try half assed and can't even win 1/2 of your games you can still be "Best"? And what of the ever important tv ratings? Would MLB and Fox truly expect any true fan or even the casual fan to take a series of a sub .500 team seriously? This is not about some "miracle, never say die team, that had bad breaks".... hell the freaking lost over 1/2 their games.... they were horrid. So what is baseball going to do? What is the solution? Well, I would put a clause in the playoff by-laws that stated if a team with a sub .500 record wins their division they are disqualified from the playoffs and the second best record in the wildcard race would be automatically placed in their spot. But.... then there is the possibility of there being 3 teams from 1 division (again this year if that rule were to be in place, Fla. and Philly (both N.L. East teams) could be in playing the Cards and the Braves. Where only 1 team (StL) would be outside the Eastern Division. Yes, MLB faces a quagmire that may take the heat off the steroid issue among the true, loyal die hard fans........ of course as the keep playing with their credibility, how they treat the fans and so on.... one has to ask, is MLB looking and creating it's own death as a relevant source of entertainment in the USA? __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

09-16-2005, 01:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	Here's what I think the problem is with baseball: way too many games. I have no idea how long a season is, but I just looked up the stats on the Red Sox, and they've played 146 games this year. Each game isn't even worth 1% of the end total. Losing one game here or there doesn't make much of a difference. Football (American), it matters. 16 games, every game counts. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

09-16-2005, 03:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bobaphat whoopity doo Location: Seattle	I am almost rooting for the Padres to win it all. Just to piss everyone off. I don't really care much since my M's are out of it, so I think it would be funny if a team that couldn't contend for a wild card spot would win it all by virtue of everyone else in their division being equally as terrible as them __________________ --size matters not-- yoda

09-16-2005, 03:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
Borla Junkie	Almost every year there are teams in the NHL and NBA that make the playoffs. Occasionally there have been 8-8 teams make the playoffs in the NFL, though it's more rare. While I agree that many other teams will have been shown a disservice by being left out, I don't think it's the end of the world. __________________ Coimhéad fearg fhear na foighde!!!!

09-18-2005, 11:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	The fact that football is only 16 games makes it into a joke for me. Seriously, you decide who hte best is and they haven't even played every team in their conference once. I understand that it's more phyical but 16 games is a joke. The long season in baseball really lets things even out. I like it how it is.

09-23-2005, 02:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
canuckguy I read your emails. Location: earth	Think if you’re Toronto, Tampa Bay or Baltimore and have to play every year in the same division as New York and Boston. Nobody can compete year after year with these two. Sure some team out of the blue will have a run and win it (Florida); sure money does not buy you a champion every year. But it does insure that your team will always be there getting there kicks at the can. Sucks balls. Too many games as stated above. As well would be nice to see some world cup type tournament, and not this one they have setup now. That is not going to be good, the timing is just crap, and you need to have a tournament like this during the regular baseball year. Yup, greedy bitch commissioner, you’re going to have to toss some games and some money lost and stop the season part way through to allow a tourney. Think of the plus though, it could then boost revenues to a new level with the increased international exposure. Said as a blues fan. And slightly too moderately stoned....