More complaints about unbalanced MLB schedules

[G-Snarls]

Ken Rosenthal has been all over this

 

Pointed out how much easier the Indians had it, making it easier to make the playoffs

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/unbalanced-schedule-unfair-al-east-teams-wild-card-race-092213

 

Now the Rays brass are ripping about it too. I feel their pain. (well not really, at least they keep making the playoffs! LOL)

 

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/rays-owner-sternberg-attendance-will-affect-payroll/2143756

[G-Snarls]

Hopefully we can get some change.

 

Baseball's not meant to be played in divisions. They need to go back to having one big group per league. Like soccer.

 

Never happen, MLB likes the extra "races"

 

Our best bet is for some central team to relocate farther east than Toronto and we get moved to the AL Central

 

Or for MLB to go back to balanced schedules, which would still help, but help less

[JugglingPitches]

You can create races within the leagues for the last spots. Have the top team in each league get a bye to the LCS, then have the third and fourth teams play for the chance to face the second team in the League Semifinal. You'd have incentive to finish at the very top, while creating the same amount of wild card excitement that currently exists.

 

If they ever expand to 32, I suppose two 8-team divisions per league would be considered. That would be adequate too.

 

Then the teams with byes would complain their hitter's timing is all screwed up.

[G-Snarls]

This is sad:

 

The Rays drew 1,510,300 for their 81 home games, their lowest total since 2007 (before the run of six straight winning seasons), and giving them a major league-low average of 18,646.

 

"We budget for certain numbers and we're extraordinarily conservative when it comes to expectations and budgeting, but it was below our expectations," Sternberg said, noting that the combination of the team over-performing on the field and under-performing at the gate "is not ideal."

 

Without getting into specifics, Sternberg said there would be an impact on next season's budget, although a long postseason run could make up for the revenue shortfall. The Rays ranked 28th this season with an opening day payroll of about $58 million.

 

Sternberg said it was not fair for the Rays, who play 76 games against the other rugged AL East teams, to be battling with the Indians and Rangers, who each benefit from having two of the league's worst teams in their divisions.

[G-Snarls]

Translation: David Price will be traded this off season

 

#BigFatArbitrationRaise

[G-Snarls]

Then the teams with byes would complain their hitter's timing is all screwed up.

 

True

 

Just ask the Tigers. Too much down time is bad.

[Jays]

Translation: David Price will be traded this off season

 

#BigFatArbitrationRaise

 

The haul they'll get is going to be nice. I wish we had a Rays subforum.

[leaffie]

The unbalanced schedule creates rivalrys and excitement. Why would Baseball not want the Red Sox and Yankees play 18 times. Its a money maker and no brainer. Life isn't fair at the end of the day you have to beat the best to be the best.

 

It's not about beating the best. It is about having the same opportunity as everyone else in your division. Why should Cleveland get to play Houston,while the Rays are beating themselves up trying to get by the Red Sox. All teams should play each other equal # of times.

[admin]

The unbalanced schedule creates rivalrys and excitement. Why would Baseball not want the Red Sox and Yankees play 18 times. Its a money maker and no brainer. Life isn't fair at the end of the day you have to beat the best to be the best.

 

I disagree. I find it boring. It would be interesting to see if it increases attendance or hurts it. Sure for us playing Boston and NY it helps our attendance, but it would be interesting to know how attendance would be if we played more games against teams we barely saw. I mean after you're playing your 9th game against one team, you'd think some people would rather see a different team.

[HERPDERP]

Well what's the solution to this?

 

I can't think of a situation where you could get a balanced schedule other than having a dynamic schedule that changes based on your current record.

 

But we all know that is unfeasible and impossible due to logistics.

[G-Snarls]

Translation 2: We already regret Evan Longoria's contract extension and we may have to trade him too. We thought we could afford, for once, to keep ONE measly, stinkin', good player past their arbitration years OK?!?!?! Throw me a frickin' bone here! I thought we'd finally get an attendance increase after putting a good product on the field every year despite a shoestring budget! The TV money won't be enough.

 

Translation 3: Our fanbase sucks

Edited September 25, 2013 by G-Snarls

[The Cats Ass]

Translation 2: We already regret Evan Longoria's contract extension and we may have to trade him too. We thought we could afford, for once, to keep ONE measly, stinkin', good player past their arbitration years OK?!?!?! Throw me a frickin' bone here! I thought we'd finally get an attendance increase after putting a good product on the field every year despite a shoestring budget! The TV money won't be enough.

 

Translation 3: Our fanbase sucks

 

Maybe the Rays should play all their home games at the other team's parks. The Rays get the money from attendence, and to bat in the bottom of the inning, the only difference would be is that there would be fans at all 162 of the Rays games instead of just at 81 of them.

[The_DH]

Wouldn't that be interesting: teams with no home cities. Just traveling all the time. It could work if revenue were shared.

[KingKat]

Wouldn't that be interesting: teams with no home cities. Just traveling all the time. It could work if revenue were shared.

 

Except that the whole concept of franchise it tied to the concept of a market. You create franchises to exploit a market and you close a franchise when a market rejects it (or is simply not strong enough in the first place). What's the point of a marketless franchise? It would be like a Washington Generals type scenario where you have a team that's just there to act as a generic "opponent". Why would anyone want to share revenue and fund a payroll for a team like that? If the team were successful, it would just mean more losses and possibly less revenure for everyone else. You would want that team to act as a patsy and just be used to padd win totals. You certainly wouldn't want to grant that team any ressources.

[G-Snarls]

Maybe the Rays should play all their home games at the other team's parks. The Rays get the money from attendence, and to bat in the bottom of the inning, the only difference would be is that there would be fans at all 162 of the Rays games instead of just at 81 of them.

 

Tampa @ Houston doesn't draw either

[KingKat]

Well what's the solution to this?

 

I can't think of a situation where you could get a balanced schedule other than having a dynamic schedule that changes based on your current record.

 

But we all know that is unfeasible and impossible due to logistics.

 

A true balanced schedule probably isn't in the cards but I feel like there could certainly be more balance. Eighteen is a pretty ridiculous amount to play against the same team, it gets pretty boring. Teams like the Yankees and Red Sox draw so well anyways that they don't even really benefit from the propping up of their rivalry. Heck, with less games maybe the rivalry would actually generate excitement again because I think most baseball fans feel like it's been run to the ground.

[KingKat]

Translation: David Price will be traded this off season

 

#BigFatArbitrationRaise

 

They were probably planning to do that anyways.

[G-Snarls]

They were probably planning to do that anyways.

 

Yeah true

 

Or maybe trade deadline 2014. Even at that point he has a year and a half on control left.

 

But not cheap control. Funny how winning a Cy Young award seems to boost your arbitration case quite nicely.

 

He's already over 10MM and he's still two years away from free agency. (of course, he's worth more than double that on the free agent market so Tampa is still "saving" in relative terms)

[G-Snarls]

They were probably planning to do that anyways.

 

I also wish we had the trade chips to land him, but AA vs Friedman is a battle best avoided

[KingKat]

I also wish we had the trade chips to land him, but AA vs Friedman is a battle best avoided

 

"We" have some good pieces, we have some cheap pieces. We have few good cheap pieces. It would have to be something crazy like Lawrie in a deal for Longoria and Price.

 

Anyways, it's probably just as well that it isn't a fit because I think someone's going to get burned on Price. At no point in 2012 did he recover his lost fastball velocity. His late-season uptick in performance may not be quite the return to form that it appears to be.

[G-Snarls]

"We" have some good pieces, we have some cheap pieces. We have few good cheap pieces. It would have to be something crazy like Lawrie in a deal for Longoria and Price.

 

Anyways, it's probably just as well that it isn't a fit because I think someone's going to get burned on Price. At no point in 2012 did he recover his lost fastball velocity. His late-season uptick in performance may not be quite the return to form that it appears to be.

 

Correct to 2013 and I'll agree with you

[G-Snarls]

"We" have some good pieces, we have some cheap pieces. We have few good cheap pieces. It would have to be something crazy like Lawrie in a deal for Longoria and Price.

 

Anyways, it's probably just as well that it isn't a fit because I think someone's going to get burned on Price. At no point in 2012 did he recover his lost fastball velocity. His late-season uptick in performance may not be quite the return to form that it appears to be.

 

I would have thought they'd get more for Price than Shields, but maybe not?? I wonder if most GM's see Price as about to start deteriorating.

[G-Snarls]

"We" have some good pieces, we have some cheap pieces. We have few good cheap pieces. It would have to be something crazy like Lawrie in a deal for Longoria and Price.

 

Lawrie, Janssen and Sanchez for Price and Longoria

 

Holy money swap!

Edited September 25, 2013 by G-Snarls

[Abomination]

A true balanced schedule probably isn't in the cards but I feel like there could certainly be more balance. Eighteen is a pretty ridiculous amount to play against the same team, it gets pretty boring. Teams like the Yankees and Red Sox draw so well anyways that they don't even really benefit from the propping up of their rivalry. Heck, with less games maybe the rivalry would actually generate excitement again because I think most baseball fans feel like it's been run to the ground.

 

Make it a true balanced schedule, but play teams outside your division early in the season and division games late to increase the rivalry and intensity going into the playoffs. It would also mean more travel early when players are fresher, and less travel late when they tire through August.

[G-Snarls]

Make it a true balanced schedule, but play teams outside your division early in the season and division games late to increase the rivalry and intensity going into the playoffs. It would also mean more travel early when players are fresher, and less travel late when they tire through August.

 

I like it!

[KingKat]

Make it a true balanced schedule, but play teams outside your division early in the season and division games late to increase the rivalry and intensity going into the playoffs. It would also mean more travel early when players are fresher, and less travel late when they tire through August.

 

This makes too much sense to ever happen.

[KingKat]

I would have thought they'd get more for Price than Shields, but maybe not?? I wonder if most GM's see Price as about to start deteriorating.

 

They got a really good return for Shields. There won't necessarily be someone willing to part with a Will Myers like prospect this time around regardless of who they are shopping. And of course, there's this super scary pitch/fx graph which is like an instant cold shower to anyone considering him: http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfxo.aspx?playerid=3184&position=P&pitch=FA

[kgm1]

No way we ever return to the balanced schedule but everyone that I've read in baseball agrees it could be made more balanced and that would appease some of us for a few years

[jays_fever]

Price also suffered an arm injury this year that kept him out for miss six weeks. They never fully disclosed what happened. And he was out for 11 days in 2012 due to "shoulder soreness".

 

Nothing major, but any arm injury scares me shitless.

 

Like the majority of gm's actually use that kind of data. The conversation probably begins with makeup and ends with toughness.

[Boxcar]

Ken Rosenthal has been all over this

 

Pointed out how much easier the Indians had it, making it easier to make the playoffs

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/unbalanced-schedule-unfair-al-east-teams-wild-card-race-092213

 

Now the Rays brass are ripping about it too. I feel their pain. (well not really, at least they keep making the playoffs! LOL)

 

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/rays-owner-sternberg-attendance-will-affect-payroll/2143756

 

Jason Kipnis is pretty handsome. Never really noticed before, but the beard works.