MLB 2011

[Ingmar]

That will only happen in cases where a team is running away with a division, where it already happens now. If there is a wild-card team in division with a chance to take first place, this will *discourage* taking your foot off the gas, because if they catch you suddenly you can be fucked by a single-game playoff. I think you're very much underestimating the level of incentive involved there.

[Margalis]

Yeah, I kind of like it. True, one more team makes the playoffs, but it does increase the incentive to win the division rather than just comfortably settling in for the wild card.

[ghost]

Yeah, I kind of like it. True, one more team makes the playoffs, but it does increase the incentive to win the division rather than just comfortably settling in for the wild card.

How? 

[caladein]

Yeah, I kind of like it. True, one more team makes the playoffs, but it does increase the incentive to win the division rather than just comfortably settling in for the wild card.

How? 

Currently, if a division has two teams that will both finish ahead of any other non-division winner, there's little incentive for either team to try and win their division.

Now, both of those teams really want to win their division to stay out of a one-game playoff.  This can also cascade into other divisions if other teams avoid packing it up to make it into that one-game playoff.

[Ingmar]

Yeah, I kind of like it. True, one more team makes the playoffs, but it does increase the incentive to win the division rather than just comfortably settling in for the wild card.

How? 

I've only explained it twice! If you win your division you avoid the incredibly-luck-driven one game playoff. That is very, very powerful incentive.

[ghost]

Yeah, I kind of like it. True, one more team makes the playoffs, but it does increase the incentive to win the division rather than just comfortably settling in for the wild card.

How? 

I've only explained it twice! If you win your division you avoid the incredibly-luck-driven one game playoff. That is very, very powerful incentive.

Sorry.  That would have required me to read previous posts to find out. 

[Ingmar]

I guess I won't start the 2012 thread until it is ACTUALLY 2012, so this can go here:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7269300/major-league-baseball-players-owners-sign-new-labor-agreement

Some pretty cool stuff in there but for me the highlight is instant replay for fair/foul and trap catches. That's the kind of stuff that using replay for is easy and not disruptive, exactly what they should use it for.

Also a nice little feather in their cap after all 3 other major sports had/are having shitty labor negotiations in their most recent bargains.

[Paelos]

Yeah I'm glad they got it done fast. I'm also happy about the replay, and I hope they take it even further to base calls as well.

[Sjofn]

I guess I won't start the 2012 thread until it is ACTUALLY 2012...

That didn't stop you from making this thread in 2010. 

[Paelos]

And he started it with Braves news! Just the way an MLB thread should begin.

[Trippy]

Bobby Valentine? Really?

[stu]

Man, that's like having Kermit T. Frog as your manager. I was pulling for Lamont or Sandy Alomar Jr. to get the job. Really, the Sox should never have let John Farrell get away. :/

[Paelos]

I like the move. He already dealt with the pressure of the NY media, and he knows how to assemble a shitty staff into something remotely productive.

[caladein]

DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do I care that the Angels still have four CFs and now three 1B right now? No, not really.



Also, feel free to quote this back to me when Pujols' and/or Wilson's knee ligaments turn to dust.

[HaemishM]

For 10 years? Yeah, the Angels can have him. I'd sign Prince Fielder to a 10 year contract, but not Pujols. At least with the Angels, he can be a DH for the last 5 or 6 of those years. And the Cubs don't have to face his ass 15 times a year.

Of course, I'm prepared for another horrible season but at least this season can be considered rebuilding.

[ghost]

Pujols could very well propel the Angels to a title or two.  That was a great pickup for them.  I'm not ever sure what to think of the Marlins.  I'm not sure that they should ever be good, but they will pull one out of their ass every few years.  It doesn't seem like superstars like Pujols are what their typical formula is, however. 

[WayAbvPar]

For 10 years? Yeah, the Angels can have him. I'd sign Prince Fielder to a 10 year contract, but not Pujols. At least with the Angels, he can be a DH for the last 5 or 6 of those years. And the Cubs don't have to face his ass 15 times a year.

Of course, I'm prepared for another horrible season but at least this season can be considered rebuilding.

Fielder will be in a wheelchair or on his 3rd hip in 10 years. I am terrified this will scare the Mariners into grossly overpaying him and utterly fucking the franchise for even longer than it currently is.

[Rasix]

Prince Fielder is the only player that played in all 162 games last year.   

[WayAbvPar]

The human body can't bear that kind of weight and play a baseball schedule forever. Unless he loses 50 pounds before he is 30, he will be crippled.

[Ingmar]

He's not THAT heavy - he's not his dad, and he leads a pretty healthy lifestyle by all accounts.

[Paelos]

10 years is absurd for a Pujols contract. He guy is already 31 on paper, and most likely 33 in reality.

[stu]

Who do you think the mystery team was that kept Pujols from pulling the trigger on Miami and allowed Anaheim the time it needed to put a proposal together?

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/angels/story/2011-12-08/albert-pujols-cj-wilson-sign/51750952/1?AID=4992781&PID=4166869&SID=1s5fbz0rj4jqq

e: I have no idea myself, but I might guess the Blue Jays or Giants. The Braves only spent ~$90m last year and they're division rivals... They just got rid of Derek Lowe, who cost $15m/yr.

doube edit: That doesn't really seem to fit Atlanta's M.O., though. They shuffle talent like they're trading baseball cards.

[Paelos]

I can assure you that it wasn't the Braves or Giants. We don't pay anybody to hit.

[stu]

Derp, I was too slow with my double edit up above there...

Yeah, I can't imagine who it was, but it's interesting. The Giants are kinda wild. I mean, they rented Beltran for a half season in exchange for a top prospect.  Wildcards bitches!!!

Maybe the Cubs offered to Pujols to screw over St. Louis even though they supposedly want Fielder more. That would make sense because Fielder isn't going to get Pujols money.

[Ingmar]

The Giants also already have a lot of 1Bs.

[Zar]

On Pujols, I am disappointed as a Cardinals fan to see him go, but it seems to me that everyone involved acted in their own rational best interest.  The Cardinals could not afford to match or exceed that $250 million contract for 10 years--it would have crippled them in the long term.  I was even uncomfortable with their $200 million offer for 10 years.  The Angels will be able to afford to throw more money at their team to compensate for Pujols' inevitable decline on the backend of his contract, whereas the Cards would have been proper fucked.

Also can't really blame Pujols for cashing in, as he's certainly earned it.  I'd just hoped he'd be willing to stick around and become a one franchise player ala Ripken, Gwynn, Jeter, or Musial, and that he'd be willing to take something of a "hometown discount" for the opportunity.  Ah well.  I'm still optimistic about the Cards' chances in the upcoming season, albeit somewhat less so.

[stu]

The Giants also already have a lot of 1Bs.

So do the Angels though, and that didn't stop them.

I really wanted to see Reyes go to the Giants. He'd be a great fit in SF, more so than in Miami. There was talk of Reyes getting traded to SF around the All-Star break and I think he could have put them in the playoffs by negating all of those one-run games. Sabean just makes me scratch my head sometimes, but I do like what they do there.

Pujols:

I think A-Rod kinda ruined it for everyone with his two massive contracts. I remember Pujols saying he's been disrespected by St. Louis's final offer during Spring Training and thinking, whatta dick. But the truth is he was kinda on target. John Lackey made a decent chunk more than Pujols did this past year and that's not a crime, but it's not just either. Would have been nice to see him stay in St. Louis but there's always that first round compensation pick to look forward to.

[Ingmar]

Yeah Reyes would have been really nice, but I didn't figure there was much of a chance.

[HaemishM]

I get the feeling the Cubs aren't going after Fielder either, but will make enough noise about to keep his ass out of the Central division.  Hell, they just traded for a lefty 3B who hit in the .150's last year (albeit due to injury) and has 54 career HR's playing in COLORADO. They aren't seriously looking to contend this year and it's probably for the best. That pitching staff fell apart and the hitting was just as bad. Build young around Barney/Castro/Dejesus (really?)/Stewart and whatever pitchers they can keep upright.

I expect the Angels to start dumping players in trades for young talent. The Giants would have NEVER signed Pujols - they've already had their share of watching aging superstars carry their team for another 5 years at least. And yes, A-Rod's contracts have poisoned the well for superstar contracts. Either teams have to overpay for the big boys (in dollars or years)

[Paelos]

I've always preferred the Braves strategy of dumping guys as soon as they ask for big money, as anytime we've offered it for pitching it's become a gigantic liability.

I'm looking at you Derek Lowe, you fucker.

[HaemishM]

Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, Douche.

Big Z can go fuck off to Miami to die with the rest of the Snowbirds.

[Ingmar]

I've always preferred the Braves strategy of dumping guys as soon as they ask for big money, as anytime we've offered it for pitching it's become a gigantic liability.

I'm looking at you Derek Lowe, you fucker.

How did I miss this post. Greg Maddux says hi?

[Paelos]

Love Mad Dog, but he did his best work when he was paid $5-6 million.

The Braves unfortunately paid him more through 2001-2003 as we did from 92-97, and we got so much less.