Once upon a time there was a disagreement during a baseball game that led to a bench clearing brawl, how do you correct that from ever happening again? If you are Bud Selig, you don't, and you don't even acknowledge that there is a even a problem. That is what happened Sunday during the Brewers-Pirates contest. If you have not seen the play you can see it here.
This incident is the one of many unnecessary multi-player incidents that seem to occur weekly MLB baseball in this so called "Modern Era" of baseball. It should be of no surprise to anybody that the commissioner does absoultly nothing to address the issue nor acknowledges that there is a problem while his counterpart league have resolved their issues years or decades ago. Bud Selig sits around while the kids run the household, but this no surpise to me since he has proven before that he is weak on punishment.
I have written about this before, but it amazes me that nothing is done about a simple rule change. Suspend the players that join in from the outside and suspend anybody that comes out of the dogout/bullpen.
In this case, Gomez will get what he deserved unlike last year, he escalated a shouting match with the pitcher. This appear to be the one thing that Gomez needs to work on or he will self-destruct as everybody will try to get into his head all the time and provoke fights with him, especailly since it appears that Selig will do nothing to curtail these indicients from occuring.
The use of instant replay should used in these situations (if commistioner do nothing does nothing) to assist in ensuring who should be ejected. I would normally expect this to be an easy thing to change, but given that it took 10 years longer than it should have just to get replay, I'm not expecting any changes anything soon.
In the end, it should be of no surpise that if at the end of the season attendence is down, what is the cause of it. The lack of changes or the delay to put in much needed changes will be the downfall of MLB if drastic action to bring back the youth to the game are not implemented. There are other sports that will be more than happy to fill its spot, this incident is just one of many problems with baseball.
Showing posts with label MLB. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MLB. Show all posts
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014
MLB Predictions
It is that time of the season again when people are just ready for baseball which means I will make some pre-season predictions.
- AL East
- Yankees
- Rays
- Red Sox
- Orioles
- Blue Jays
- AL Central
- Royals
- Indians
- Tigers
- White Sox
- Twins
- AL West
- Angles
- Rangers
- Mariners
- Athletics
- Astros
- Wild Card
- Rays and Red Sox
- NL East
- Braves
- Phillies
- Nationals
- Mets
- Marlins
- NL Central
- Pirates
- Brewers
- Cardinals
- Reds
- Cubs
- NL West
- Giants
- Dodgers
- Diamondbacks
- Padres
- Rockies
- Wild Card
- Dodgers and Phillies
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Dusty Baker another casualty
Friday brought another day where another MLB manager was fired when Dusty Baker was fired from the Cincinnati Reds. I know that I recently wrote a post talking about Dale Sveum being fired from the Cubs, Dusty Baker did posses almost all the skills that Dale did not, but was missing one minor aspect that you need. Rebound.
Over a 162 game season, there are ups and downs, but it is how you overcome the downs that makes you a great manager. It is the ability to stop a losing streak or to refocus the team after a unusual moment in the game. Dusty did not possess this.
Dusty did not have it in San Francisco, he could not calm down Cubs after the Bartman incident and he could not recover with the Reds. Someone will hire Dusty again, but whoever hires him better be really for the team to let little mistake or incidents get inside their head.
Over a 162 game season, there are ups and downs, but it is how you overcome the downs that makes you a great manager. It is the ability to stop a losing streak or to refocus the team after a unusual moment in the game. Dusty did not possess this.
Dusty did not have it in San Francisco, he could not calm down Cubs after the Bartman incident and he could not recover with the Reds. Someone will hire Dusty again, but whoever hires him better be really for the team to let little mistake or incidents get inside their head.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Selig continues poor punishment record
Given the events of last nights altercation between the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves, I would have expected some kind of punishment to be handled down, but once again the kids are running the house with no guidelines to controlling the household.
First and foremost, I will state that I agree with the Gomez suspension for 1 game. You can not jaw with everybody around the base paths and not expect something to occur. I also agree with the suspension of Reed Johnson, though I like how he then hid behind his coach after getting his shots.
Like one of my previous posts , how does McCann not get anything out of this, just like Matt Kemp earlier this year? How can not punish the secondary and third party offenders who commit equal or greater offenses than the people caused the initial starters. McCann ignited the fight, yet he gets nothing. This can no longer occur now or with the new commissioner in a couple of years.
You can not have these major brawls night after night in baseball. People might say that it is going to occur over a 162 game season with 30 teams, but honestly how is it even remotely acceptable in baseball, but in any other job where you work 3 times the hours a night for double the number of nights a year? If you start a fight at a normal job, you are out of a job, but in baseball you might not even get a fine.
This needs to change now, any person who does joins a fight should get ejected and suspended for future games. Period!
First and foremost, I will state that I agree with the Gomez suspension for 1 game. You can not jaw with everybody around the base paths and not expect something to occur. I also agree with the suspension of Reed Johnson, though I like how he then hid behind his coach after getting his shots.
Like one of my previous posts , how does McCann not get anything out of this, just like Matt Kemp earlier this year? How can not punish the secondary and third party offenders who commit equal or greater offenses than the people caused the initial starters. McCann ignited the fight, yet he gets nothing. This can no longer occur now or with the new commissioner in a couple of years.
You can not have these major brawls night after night in baseball. People might say that it is going to occur over a 162 game season with 30 teams, but honestly how is it even remotely acceptable in baseball, but in any other job where you work 3 times the hours a night for double the number of nights a year? If you start a fight at a normal job, you are out of a job, but in baseball you might not even get a fine.
This needs to change now, any person who does joins a fight should get ejected and suspended for future games. Period!
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Selig allows fights to continue in MLB
If you have not heard by now, during the 4-0 victory for the Brewers over the Braves during Wednesday's game, there was a little scuffle between Carlos Gomez and the rest of the Braves after his home run which ignited a beach clearing brawl. In this post, I could take the high level perspective on this and talk about the unwritten rules, but I want to have a different take on the events that occurred.
Bud Selig has lost control of the ship or at least lost control of the ability to right the ship when events occur that require a review and change in the rules. Even before I started this blog I knew the rules had to change, I even mentioned some of these rule changes within a previous post.
This is a simple rule change, simple! Any player who joins a fight outside of the original parties are ejected and hit with a suspension. This fact eludes Bud Selig that the rules have to change or at least he has to make the attempt to change the rules, even if the players union might reject them, then it is not on Bud.
Some will say that fighting is part of the game and that these "unwritten" rules are part of the baseball tradition. This complete bull, traditions are meant to be broken(or else there would still be gladiator fights at the Colosseum) and the rules should be changed. Baseball has been stuck behind this "unwritten" rules for too longer and something has to change, the first being the way we police the game.
One additional question I have out of the game today, how does Brian McCann not get ejected from the game? He escalates a volatile situation by standing in front of the plate and then gets in the face of Gomez. This is another problem with the MLB umpiring today, the inability to get the call right when large scale situation occur. Like in the NBA and NCAA basketball, the use of replay could have led to additional player being dealt with during the game [cough] [cough] Kelly Johnson [cough].
What do I expect in the end? Nothing. Bud might hand out a couple of fines and maybe a 1 game suspension, but nothing to address the root cause of the issue. In the end, what will it take for change? Season ending injury, career ending injuries or maybe incident that might end the reign as commissioner.
Only time will tell.
Bud Selig has lost control of the ship or at least lost control of the ability to right the ship when events occur that require a review and change in the rules. Even before I started this blog I knew the rules had to change, I even mentioned some of these rule changes within a previous post.
This is a simple rule change, simple! Any player who joins a fight outside of the original parties are ejected and hit with a suspension. This fact eludes Bud Selig that the rules have to change or at least he has to make the attempt to change the rules, even if the players union might reject them, then it is not on Bud.
Some will say that fighting is part of the game and that these "unwritten" rules are part of the baseball tradition. This complete bull, traditions are meant to be broken(or else there would still be gladiator fights at the Colosseum) and the rules should be changed. Baseball has been stuck behind this "unwritten" rules for too longer and something has to change, the first being the way we police the game.
One additional question I have out of the game today, how does Brian McCann not get ejected from the game? He escalates a volatile situation by standing in front of the plate and then gets in the face of Gomez. This is another problem with the MLB umpiring today, the inability to get the call right when large scale situation occur. Like in the NBA and NCAA basketball, the use of replay could have led to additional player being dealt with during the game [cough] [cough] Kelly Johnson [cough].
What do I expect in the end? Nothing. Bud might hand out a couple of fines and maybe a 1 game suspension, but nothing to address the root cause of the issue. In the end, what will it take for change? Season ending injury, career ending injuries or maybe incident that might end the reign as commissioner.
Only time will tell.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Instant Replay in MLB in here!
It took more that a decade, but it is finally here.... no it is not a new Star Wars movie. It is instant replay in baseball. It took longer than it should with the ARRP competition committee who moves at a snail's pace. Finally baseball has taken the needed step to move into the modern era and address the concerns of incorrect calls that do occur from time to time on close plays. In the end instant reply will do what it is suppose to do, get it right.
One thing that amazes me in this whole saga is how for years upon years, the 30 Major League managers spoke out against instant replay, but the minute Selig announces this change in the rules, they all do a 180 and are all in favor of the system. At least I know that Selig does have control over something in baseball.
Hopefully this will now not become a drawn out process. There is much debate how to handle most situations. If MLB wants to make this simple on themselves, employe the system that little league uses today.
Whatever MLB decides to use, I just have to say, replay is here!
One thing that amazes me in this whole saga is how for years upon years, the 30 Major League managers spoke out against instant replay, but the minute Selig announces this change in the rules, they all do a 180 and are all in favor of the system. At least I know that Selig does have control over something in baseball.
Hopefully this will now not become a drawn out process. There is much debate how to handle most situations. If MLB wants to make this simple on themselves, employe the system that little league uses today.
Whatever MLB decides to use, I just have to say, replay is here!
Monday, May 13, 2013
Brewers have season ending issues
Long time no posting... I had to take a little break from posting, but now I'm back to talk baseball, specifically Brewers baseball. In case you did not notice the Brewers were able to pull one out Monday against the Pirates, but one win in May does not make a season.
The Brewers as a whole and in the long term are all on the 60-Day DL with season ending problems. The most recent series against the Reds and Cardinals go a long way in proving that pitching wins you games in the long term and home runs win you a couple of games.
Brewers GM Doug Melvin and his budget bullpen time over time have caused the Brewers major trouble. Now the starters are getting into the mix when it comes to giving up runs with Burgos giving up a nice 10 spot the other night due to the overused pen. Years of pillaging the minor leagues for the short term victory has now come bite Melvin.
If you look at the trade that essentially won them the division, the Brewers gave up four major league players for a year and a half rental (Cain, Escobar, Jeffress, Odorizzi) and while winning is important while you can, long term success is more important. These guys would have would have all played important parts of the lineup for the Brewers since we would not have Segura.
The next person I would like to zero in on is Rickie Weeks. Whether the numbers the support this or not, Weeks has regressed in the past 4 years overall at the plate and remained level with the defense. Weeks has lost his way in how to bat and what kind of style he played when he was first called up to the major leagues. When he first came up, he was a average power, speed player that would beat out the high chopping play. Now Weeks has packed on the pounds and is carrying a couple of jelly rolls. I really wonder how many half step out plays Weeks would have beat out if he would drop about 10 pounds.
Do not hold your hopes up for this season, the team structure is too far gone to win anything. The overall issues of the Brewers in the end center around them being good, but just not good enough to compete in the division or in the wild card playoffs. The Brewers need to work on establishing the pitching in the minors and the draft. If the Brewers do take their lumps for the next couple of seasons and do not trade away the future, there is no reason this team can not win the division.
The Brewers as a whole and in the long term are all on the 60-Day DL with season ending problems. The most recent series against the Reds and Cardinals go a long way in proving that pitching wins you games in the long term and home runs win you a couple of games.
Brewers GM Doug Melvin and his budget bullpen time over time have caused the Brewers major trouble. Now the starters are getting into the mix when it comes to giving up runs with Burgos giving up a nice 10 spot the other night due to the overused pen. Years of pillaging the minor leagues for the short term victory has now come bite Melvin.
If you look at the trade that essentially won them the division, the Brewers gave up four major league players for a year and a half rental (Cain, Escobar, Jeffress, Odorizzi) and while winning is important while you can, long term success is more important. These guys would have would have all played important parts of the lineup for the Brewers since we would not have Segura.
The next person I would like to zero in on is Rickie Weeks. Whether the numbers the support this or not, Weeks has regressed in the past 4 years overall at the plate and remained level with the defense. Weeks has lost his way in how to bat and what kind of style he played when he was first called up to the major leagues. When he first came up, he was a average power, speed player that would beat out the high chopping play. Now Weeks has packed on the pounds and is carrying a couple of jelly rolls. I really wonder how many half step out plays Weeks would have beat out if he would drop about 10 pounds.
Do not hold your hopes up for this season, the team structure is too far gone to win anything. The overall issues of the Brewers in the end center around them being good, but just not good enough to compete in the division or in the wild card playoffs. The Brewers need to work on establishing the pitching in the minors and the draft. If the Brewers do take their lumps for the next couple of seasons and do not trade away the future, there is no reason this team can not win the division.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Selig disappoints with suspensions again!
If I started to say... Did anybody see that thing that fight late last week? You know the one that started with two guys but then everybody joined?
Would you not assume that I was talking about some incident that occur outside some bar or tavern? Well you would be wrong, I'm talking about the fight that occurred on April 11th between the Dodgers and Padres in which Zack Greinke was left with a broken collarbone.
What does Carlos Quentin get out of the whole ordeal? A very unjustly 8 games. What does Matt Kemp get? Nothing! While I don't think the suspension should be tied to when Greinke time on the DL, the suspension should have been longer and sent a clear message. As for Kemp, I guess you can go off on a 'Roid rage jumping on top of people swinging wildly, start a second fight plus cause trouble in the parking lot and you get no discipline.
Once again MLB front office lets another set of players off the hook, Bud Selig is letting the kids run the school and the discipline is non-existent. This suspension will have done nothing to prevent future incidents like it from occurring in baseball. Selig has had numerous opportunities to address the issues of bench clearing brawls in baseball, but he sits idle like he can do nothing about the issue.
The thing is, Bud Selig can do something about it, he can make a statement that this kind of behavior is not acceptable in the game of baseball. He needs to enact rules that eject & suspend any players who joins the fight outside for the initial players that started fighting. Rules like these exist already today in Soccer, Basketball and Hockey.
People might say that fighting and bench clearing brawls have been apart of the game since the start of time, but does not really make it acceptable? Should we not be progressing the game into the future and modernizing the rules of the game? I think this is the reason that Selig has not changed the rules, he is still stuck in this 1960's fantasy version of the game of baseball.
Bud Must Go! The game of baseball is counting on it, I know I have written about my disapproval of Selig before and this incident should further prove that Bud has no place anymore in baseball. It is time for change, time for new ideas, its time for a new commissioner.
Would you not assume that I was talking about some incident that occur outside some bar or tavern? Well you would be wrong, I'm talking about the fight that occurred on April 11th between the Dodgers and Padres in which Zack Greinke was left with a broken collarbone.
What does Carlos Quentin get out of the whole ordeal? A very unjustly 8 games. What does Matt Kemp get? Nothing! While I don't think the suspension should be tied to when Greinke time on the DL, the suspension should have been longer and sent a clear message. As for Kemp, I guess you can go off on a 'Roid rage jumping on top of people swinging wildly, start a second fight plus cause trouble in the parking lot and you get no discipline.
Once again MLB front office lets another set of players off the hook, Bud Selig is letting the kids run the school and the discipline is non-existent. This suspension will have done nothing to prevent future incidents like it from occurring in baseball. Selig has had numerous opportunities to address the issues of bench clearing brawls in baseball, but he sits idle like he can do nothing about the issue.
The thing is, Bud Selig can do something about it, he can make a statement that this kind of behavior is not acceptable in the game of baseball. He needs to enact rules that eject & suspend any players who joins the fight outside for the initial players that started fighting. Rules like these exist already today in Soccer, Basketball and Hockey.
People might say that fighting and bench clearing brawls have been apart of the game since the start of time, but does not really make it acceptable? Should we not be progressing the game into the future and modernizing the rules of the game? I think this is the reason that Selig has not changed the rules, he is still stuck in this 1960's fantasy version of the game of baseball.
Bud Must Go! The game of baseball is counting on it, I know I have written about my disapproval of Selig before and this incident should further prove that Bud has no place anymore in baseball. It is time for change, time for new ideas, its time for a new commissioner.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Time to relive Schroeder's No-Hitter
Another April 15 has come around again on the calendar which means it is time for Brewers color commentator to relive when he pitched the Brewers only no hitter in franchise history. Pitched? No, I did not make a mistake, or at least I did not make a mistake in the eyes of Schroeder.
I know really that Juan Nieves pitch that day, but you would think the way Schroeder carries on about the game that he pitched and played the other 8 positions which the exception of that play in centerfield by Yount (he only acknowledges that due to the overwhelming video evidence of the diving play).
This year has presented a problem for Schroeder with no game on Monday for him to live in his own glory, relive his warped reality, make a bigger deal out of his meteoric playing career. The only thing I can see happening is him reliving the day twice, once today and second on Wednesday. Whatever the outcome, it will be a another year in the books for the Schroeder no hitter parade.
I know really that Juan Nieves pitch that day, but you would think the way Schroeder carries on about the game that he pitched and played the other 8 positions which the exception of that play in centerfield by Yount (he only acknowledges that due to the overwhelming video evidence of the diving play).
This year has presented a problem for Schroeder with no game on Monday for him to live in his own glory, relive his warped reality, make a bigger deal out of his meteoric playing career. The only thing I can see happening is him reliving the day twice, once today and second on Wednesday. Whatever the outcome, it will be a another year in the books for the Schroeder no hitter parade.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
S.O.S to Major League Baseball and Bud Selig
This post today is an S.O.S to MLB and Bud Selig to fix the slowly sinking ship called baseball.... If you have not seen it by now, there was a conversational play in the Tampa Bay/Texas game on Monday night in which Marty Foster called Ben Zobrist. In one of my previous posts here, I talked about how Bud Selig is out of touch with the fans and implementing new technology and this incident proves once again the need for instant replay in baseball.
We have a commissioner in baseball that cares more about some fantasy image of baseball as it was in the 1960's than the progress of the game today. Selig thinks that people will plop down $50+ minimum including all costs to watch the games calls get botched. He would rather hear baseball get bashed in the media for 2 days with bad publicity and shave 2 minutes off the game now without instant replay than get the call right.
Would you go to a bank that does not use a computer system to keep track of the books? Would you go in there and open up an account if you saw someone working all day with a pencil and ledger paper? This is how Bud Selig has run baseball, like bank that is behind the times and has not caught up with the times, without modernization, there are bound to be big mistakes.
I'm really unsure what the big fear is about instant replay, you get the call right, you don't have controversy and it takes some stress off the umpires. Personally, I would not be asking to replay every single play in the game, give each manager two replays a game which would only add 8 minutes maximum and everybody goes home happy.
Peoples livelihood's are the on the line with each and every missed called. There are large amounts of money that gets moved with each and every play whether on the betting counters or on the playing field, someone gets affected by the wrong code. It is essential that baseball should take every realistic step to ensure that no call is blown.
I have said it before, and I will say it again, it is time for Bud Selig to step down as commissioner of MLB and find someone who will relate to what the fans are saying, relate to the younger generation and keep the integrity of the game. I know being the commissioner of MLB can not be an easy job and I would not want the job, but how much more will the fans endure before they stop showing up at the ballpark?
We have a commissioner in baseball that cares more about some fantasy image of baseball as it was in the 1960's than the progress of the game today. Selig thinks that people will plop down $50+ minimum including all costs to watch the games calls get botched. He would rather hear baseball get bashed in the media for 2 days with bad publicity and shave 2 minutes off the game now without instant replay than get the call right.
Would you go to a bank that does not use a computer system to keep track of the books? Would you go in there and open up an account if you saw someone working all day with a pencil and ledger paper? This is how Bud Selig has run baseball, like bank that is behind the times and has not caught up with the times, without modernization, there are bound to be big mistakes.
I'm really unsure what the big fear is about instant replay, you get the call right, you don't have controversy and it takes some stress off the umpires. Personally, I would not be asking to replay every single play in the game, give each manager two replays a game which would only add 8 minutes maximum and everybody goes home happy.
Peoples livelihood's are the on the line with each and every missed called. There are large amounts of money that gets moved with each and every play whether on the betting counters or on the playing field, someone gets affected by the wrong code. It is essential that baseball should take every realistic step to ensure that no call is blown.
I have said it before, and I will say it again, it is time for Bud Selig to step down as commissioner of MLB and find someone who will relate to what the fans are saying, relate to the younger generation and keep the integrity of the game. I know being the commissioner of MLB can not be an easy job and I would not want the job, but how much more will the fans endure before they stop showing up at the ballpark?
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Brewers: I saw this coming
With another loss early in the in season to the Diamondbacks on Sunday, the Brewers fall to 1-5 on the season. While most baseball people would say that it is too early to panic, I say just say the opposite. Especially given the lack of high quality free agent moves the Brewers did this past off season, it is time to look at making some changes.
The reason that this season is off to such a season is Doug Melvin. This bad start is the fundamental problem I have with Brewers GM Doug Melvin, he sometimes does not do the hard work to find that value for a free agent in the off season like another GM's would. Melvin employs a more wait and see philosophy. Melvin does not change the equation, he does not make the big off season move but instead we struggle in the same areas year after year.
If the Brewers are close in July, he pulls off a "Big Deal" and pillages the minor league system. We usually end up with some washed up pitchers (Cough.. Michael Gonzalez.. Cough Cough) who make their final playing destination Milwaukee.
Another problem with Melvin is the drafting that has occurred under his reign. Now I understand that is really took over a club that was underfunded and at the bottom of the barrel, but Attanasio has been in control of the club since 2005, so we have been able to put the club out of the basement and yet we do not see any major draftee's from him in the major leagues with the exception of Yovani Gallardo and Ryan Braun. Most of the players that came up were the product of Dean Taylor or via data that remained during Melvin's first year.
It is time to relook at the talent we are bringing up from the minor leagues, Kris Davis continues to struggle, Mark Rodgers is non-existent, Fries is getting wipe lash from all home runs he is giving up, Thronburg is having troubles (I think we brought him up too early). We rely on trades too much and wash up free agents, it time to not only look at the talent on the field, but who placed them there which means I would send Melvin packing!
The reason that this season is off to such a season is Doug Melvin. This bad start is the fundamental problem I have with Brewers GM Doug Melvin, he sometimes does not do the hard work to find that value for a free agent in the off season like another GM's would. Melvin employs a more wait and see philosophy. Melvin does not change the equation, he does not make the big off season move but instead we struggle in the same areas year after year.
If the Brewers are close in July, he pulls off a "Big Deal" and pillages the minor league system. We usually end up with some washed up pitchers (Cough.. Michael Gonzalez.. Cough Cough) who make their final playing destination Milwaukee.
Another problem with Melvin is the drafting that has occurred under his reign. Now I understand that is really took over a club that was underfunded and at the bottom of the barrel, but Attanasio has been in control of the club since 2005, so we have been able to put the club out of the basement and yet we do not see any major draftee's from him in the major leagues with the exception of Yovani Gallardo and Ryan Braun. Most of the players that came up were the product of Dean Taylor or via data that remained during Melvin's first year.
It is time to relook at the talent we are bringing up from the minor leagues, Kris Davis continues to struggle, Mark Rodgers is non-existent, Fries is getting wipe lash from all home runs he is giving up, Thronburg is having troubles (I think we brought him up too early). We rely on trades too much and wash up free agents, it time to not only look at the talent on the field, but who placed them there which means I would send Melvin packing!
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Yovani Gallardo leaves me with an uneasy feeling
Just a short entry today, does anybody else get that feeling when Gallardo pitches, he is just messing around? The guy with top stuff all-ways has 100 pitches by the 5th inning but yet he can get strike out over strike out. How?
Friday, March 15, 2013
Gomez deal has this person concerned
It was announced recently that Carlos Gomez signed a 3 year, $24 million extension with the Brewers through 2016. All I have to say is that the Brewers and other MLB teams never learn when giving out large contracts.
Like Bill Hall before him, Gomez has received a large extension for the future years for a better than usual year, I do not say all-star year because the numbers he had last year were only good numbers for him. He also has the tendency to end up on the DL more than I would like for someone who is getting $8 million a year. If he is even better this year, he will want even more money, if he is off, teams end up eating the contract, giving this kind of extension in this era is pointless, the teams are generally get burned.
It is funny that the Brewers have not learned from the Bill Hall deal who never lived out his deal with the Brewers. Gomez can be streaky at times, he can focus on the long ball too much while I would use the great speed he does possess. Only time will tell if the Brewers did the right thing and I sure this is not the first posting about this deal and it will not be the last.
Like Bill Hall before him, Gomez has received a large extension for the future years for a better than usual year, I do not say all-star year because the numbers he had last year were only good numbers for him. He also has the tendency to end up on the DL more than I would like for someone who is getting $8 million a year. If he is even better this year, he will want even more money, if he is off, teams end up eating the contract, giving this kind of extension in this era is pointless, the teams are generally get burned.
It is funny that the Brewers have not learned from the Bill Hall deal who never lived out his deal with the Brewers. Gomez can be streaky at times, he can focus on the long ball too much while I would use the great speed he does possess. Only time will tell if the Brewers did the right thing and I sure this is not the first posting about this deal and it will not be the last.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Baseball Pitchers, how much do they really pitch
With baseball spring training in full swing and the games finally being played, it is the annual start of baseball announcers starting talking about how managers should not overwork their pitchers because you will need them later. We will hear announcers state that there is no reason to go in the 7th inning with only 80 pitches, no reason to get the extra batter out, no reason to keep moving. This is what I hear through-out the year, during...
While I do agree that in spring training pitchers should not have to over do it since the games really do not count, the spring training games should be preparing yourself to extended innings for the regular season. I mean if you can not use your pitchers for extended times during each month for the reasons stated above, then when can you? Not everybody makes the playoffs.
My other concern is the uncounted innings that occur on pitching arms today that do not count in the offical stats, do contribute to shorting pitching appearances and causing the less inning/more injuries. It seems that pitchers are pitching more "off the books" with side sessions, simulated games, off season work outs, rehab games and fall/winter leagues it seems that pitchers never seem to have time off to truly rest their arms. I'm sure if you took all the above into account of the total innings pitched, more starting pitchers pitch more than 300 innings a season.
I think the advent of the 5 man pitching rotation has contributed to the the above issues. While the 5 many rotation does allow more time to rest, it give the pitcher more time to throw "undocumented" innings pitched, more time for injury.
Now I don't have 100% proof that what I'm saying in the above two paragraphs is what is really occurring, just my opinion, but if baseball keeps going with starting pitchers pitching as few innings as they do, then we can no longer call them starters, can we? We will need to start calling the starting pitcher the "first 3 inning thrower", followed by the "2 inning middle starter".
- Spring Training - "You don't want overwork your pitchers before the games that count"
- April/May - "It is still early in the season, you don't want to overwork players that you will need summer, plus not all your pitchers are in full swing"
- June/July - "Don't let your pitchers pitch too longer, since you will need them in the stretch run"
- August/September - "Don't overwork the pitchers now because you might need them for the playoffs"
While I do agree that in spring training pitchers should not have to over do it since the games really do not count, the spring training games should be preparing yourself to extended innings for the regular season. I mean if you can not use your pitchers for extended times during each month for the reasons stated above, then when can you? Not everybody makes the playoffs.
My other concern is the uncounted innings that occur on pitching arms today that do not count in the offical stats, do contribute to shorting pitching appearances and causing the less inning/more injuries. It seems that pitchers are pitching more "off the books" with side sessions, simulated games, off season work outs, rehab games and fall/winter leagues it seems that pitchers never seem to have time off to truly rest their arms. I'm sure if you took all the above into account of the total innings pitched, more starting pitchers pitch more than 300 innings a season.
I think the advent of the 5 man pitching rotation has contributed to the the above issues. While the 5 many rotation does allow more time to rest, it give the pitcher more time to throw "undocumented" innings pitched, more time for injury.
Now I don't have 100% proof that what I'm saying in the above two paragraphs is what is really occurring, just my opinion, but if baseball keeps going with starting pitchers pitching as few innings as they do, then we can no longer call them starters, can we? We will need to start calling the starting pitcher the "first 3 inning thrower", followed by the "2 inning middle starter".
Thursday, January 24, 2013
MLB losing touch with fans
A couple of days ago MLB approved a couple of rule changes for the upcoming 2013 season as explained in this article.Normally when I hear about rules changes, I'm ready to jump right into the article and update my knowledge of the rules in the sport. With this article, I was also struck by a sense of disappointment as MLB once again proved to me that they are out of touch with the fan's and their expectations of the game.
Frankly, I don't care about banning the third to first move or adding the seventh coach to the dugout during the game. Along with the on field interpreter rule, if those are the only rules that MLB could come up with this season, they are more out of touch than I ever thought. There are so many other problems that are holding up the progression of the game in America to worry about the assistant hitting coach being in the dugout.
We have been for about five years that MLB continues to look into the use/expanded use of instant replay, but yet we continue to hear week after week during the season about blown close calls that could have been easily and quickly reversed with replay.
The NFL went through the same kind of issues with incorrect calls on close plays back in 1997. The NFL was able to implement an "experimental" system for the preseason in 1998 with full implementation in 1999. It only took 1 year to put in a replay system, yet we are waiting year after year for MLB to get their act together to modernize the game. This modernization of the NFL coincided with major increase in popularity of the game while baseball continue with their slow downward trend. Most every other sport in the world uses some form of reply in their top tier professional league with the exception of soccer, but they are even investing in goal line technology. The young and middle aged people now a days know that these game are judged by the human element and that nobody is perfect, but if the technology exists to quickly correct the play/call, it should be used.
The main argument against instant replay from the anti-replay people is "The game is already running long, this will make the game run longer". My reply to that is, the game is already being held up by the manager auguring the call, replay would take 2 minutes or less to correct the call which would be far less than the time the manger spends yelling at the umpire.
Another argument against instant reply is that "It will interrupt the flow of the game". That is another weak comeback as the flow of the game has already been ruined when the player or manager is arguing the call.
Proponents of instant replay are not talking about stopping the game every five minutes to use instant replay. We are talking about 1-2 calls a game at most that need to be reviewed. Just give each manager 1 challenge per game just like in Little League. MLB seems like they would rather save 2 minutes during the game from not using replay and would rather receive negative publicity for 2 days on all the major sports cast shows.
People who are against replay do not truly care about the game and its future. They care about a past vision of the game, they are trying to hold onto something from their past and not look into the future. They want to remember the game for the black and white images that they see from time to time, but those images are in the past and can never be recaptured.
Another rule that needs to be changed is the DH rule between the two leagues. Most people want the DH to be used in both leagues, but personally I don't care how MLB want to address the issue as long as the rule is consistent between the two leagues especially since there is an odd number of teams now in each league.
It is time for Bud Selig to step down as commissioner. The game has passed him by, he is dragging the progress of the game down while other sport continue their rise in popularity. It should not take to genius to make the needed rule changes in a quick manner to help the game. He always says there are logistical and financial issues with these types of changes, but it has not stopped other sports from quickly put in similar major rule changes. If your focus is on the first to third move or how many people are in the dugout, the game has passed you by and you need to past the reigns to somebody else.
This will not be the last time you will hear me talk about MLB rules, instant replay or Bud Selig, as long as the game continues to fall behind other sports. All I can do is hope that someday baseball will wake up and listen to the fans as they walk away from the game.
Frankly, I don't care about banning the third to first move or adding the seventh coach to the dugout during the game. Along with the on field interpreter rule, if those are the only rules that MLB could come up with this season, they are more out of touch than I ever thought. There are so many other problems that are holding up the progression of the game in America to worry about the assistant hitting coach being in the dugout.
We have been for about five years that MLB continues to look into the use/expanded use of instant replay, but yet we continue to hear week after week during the season about blown close calls that could have been easily and quickly reversed with replay.
The NFL went through the same kind of issues with incorrect calls on close plays back in 1997. The NFL was able to implement an "experimental" system for the preseason in 1998 with full implementation in 1999. It only took 1 year to put in a replay system, yet we are waiting year after year for MLB to get their act together to modernize the game. This modernization of the NFL coincided with major increase in popularity of the game while baseball continue with their slow downward trend. Most every other sport in the world uses some form of reply in their top tier professional league with the exception of soccer, but they are even investing in goal line technology. The young and middle aged people now a days know that these game are judged by the human element and that nobody is perfect, but if the technology exists to quickly correct the play/call, it should be used.
The main argument against instant replay from the anti-replay people is "The game is already running long, this will make the game run longer". My reply to that is, the game is already being held up by the manager auguring the call, replay would take 2 minutes or less to correct the call which would be far less than the time the manger spends yelling at the umpire.
Another argument against instant reply is that "It will interrupt the flow of the game". That is another weak comeback as the flow of the game has already been ruined when the player or manager is arguing the call.
Proponents of instant replay are not talking about stopping the game every five minutes to use instant replay. We are talking about 1-2 calls a game at most that need to be reviewed. Just give each manager 1 challenge per game just like in Little League. MLB seems like they would rather save 2 minutes during the game from not using replay and would rather receive negative publicity for 2 days on all the major sports cast shows.
People who are against replay do not truly care about the game and its future. They care about a past vision of the game, they are trying to hold onto something from their past and not look into the future. They want to remember the game for the black and white images that they see from time to time, but those images are in the past and can never be recaptured.
Another rule that needs to be changed is the DH rule between the two leagues. Most people want the DH to be used in both leagues, but personally I don't care how MLB want to address the issue as long as the rule is consistent between the two leagues especially since there is an odd number of teams now in each league.
It is time for Bud Selig to step down as commissioner. The game has passed him by, he is dragging the progress of the game down while other sport continue their rise in popularity. It should not take to genius to make the needed rule changes in a quick manner to help the game. He always says there are logistical and financial issues with these types of changes, but it has not stopped other sports from quickly put in similar major rule changes. If your focus is on the first to third move or how many people are in the dugout, the game has passed you by and you need to past the reigns to somebody else.
This will not be the last time you will hear me talk about MLB rules, instant replay or Bud Selig, as long as the game continues to fall behind other sports. All I can do is hope that someday baseball will wake up and listen to the fans as they walk away from the game.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
MLB rule changes
As I was scrolling through the internet, I found a good article on Sport Illustrated from Tom Verducci. The article is here.
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