Time for expansion?

[Slateman]

I don't even care what the numbers say, there is so much fucking trash ball going on daily that it counters the low scoring games. Fuck expansion, got enough teams that are absolute dog shit already.

Exactly. Time for some contraction. Get rid of those crappy Florida teams that no one wants to see anyway. While we're at it, get rid of Angelos and the Nats.

 

[Senser81]

Everyone loves seeing strike outs and home runs, but when you go 4 innings without seeing a runner on base the game can feel a bit like women's college softball.

Fixed.

Zimmerman's solution is surprisingly crazy. That would be the most extreme solution, which would probably create 10 other problems in an effort to fix 1.

Baseball should go to an offense/defense platoon split like the NFL. You would have a starting lineup of 8 fielders plus 1 pitcher, and 9 hitters. Guys who can hit and field would be rare "two way" players. Managers wouldn't have to dick around with pinch hitters or fielding replacements. You'd have the best hitters facing the best fielders. A reasonable argument would be made for Darwin Barney's inclusion in the MLB.

 

[NAHSTE]

Fixed.

Zimmerman's solution is surprisingly crazy. That would be the most extreme solution, which would probably create 10 other problems in an effort to fix 1.

Baseball should go to an offense/defense platoon split like the NFL. You would have a starting lineup of 8 fielders plus 1 pitcher, and 9 hitters. Guys who can hit and field would be rare "two way" players. Managers wouldn't have to dick around with pinch hitters or fielding replacements. You'd have the best hitters facing the best fielders. A reasonable argument would be made for Darwin Barney's inclusion in the MLB.

All for this*, because then the Braves could stop pretending Evan Gattis is a catcher or that Christian Betancourt has a future as a hitter.

Would have saved micromanaging types like Mike Scioscia from themselves as well. No longer would Mike Napoli rot in the dugout at the expense of shitbums like Jeff Mathis.







(*not really all for this but the scenarios are fun to imagine)

 

[Senser81]

All for this*, because then the Braves could stop pretending Evan Gattis is a catcher or that Christian Betancourt has a future as a hitter.

Would have saved micromanaging types like Mike Scioscia from themselves as well. No longer would Mike Napoli rot in the dugout at the expense of shitbums like Jeff Mathis.







(*not really all for this but the scenarios are fun to imagine)

What are your issues with an offense/defense split?

 

[Hasselbeck]

Forget expansion, if you want to see more offense.. bring back steroids.

:yup:

 

[Hasselbeck]

As for Montreal having it's own team, they had one. It failed. Move on. Personally, I think Vegas should get a team.

I see the addage that the Expos failed in much the same way one could say the Sonics "failed"

Attendance plummeted when it was realized the franchise was moving.. not because baseball in Montreal wasn't going to work. Same with the last few years the Sonics were around before they were jacked by OKC.

And hilarious you suggest Montreal failed then pitch Las Vegas as a city to get a team. A pro team would fail miserably in Las Vegas. Not because of gambling.. but because its a terrible sports town.

 

[NAHSTE]

What are your issues with an offense/defense split?

Just goes against everything the game has been for 150 years. Yes, I'm appealing to tradition. I realize that's typically a bad argument for maintaining status quo.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I'd like to circle this back to my original point, which is that the game doesn't require fixing at this time anyway. Certainly not radical fixing like expansion or changing the basic structure of the game. MLB is setting various attendance records in the early going again this season, they have a new TV deal with FOX & FS1, teams are getting wild amounts of money from regional networks, player contracts continue to grow at a steady rate, etc.

What are we fixing? A few strikeouts? I don't see the pressing need for change. Lower the mound if the K's keep increasing. But let's give the hitters a chance to adjust first. Again, these things tend to be cyclical. I'm personally enjoying a lower run scoring environment these days over the station to station game we had for 20 years. That was fun for a while, but I like cycles.

 

[NAHSTE]

I'd like to circle this back to my original point, which is that the game doesn't require fixing at this time anyway. Certainly not radical fixing like expansion or changing the basic structure of the game. MLB is setting various attendance records in the early going again this season, they have a new TV deal with FOX & FS1, teams are getting wild amounts of money from regional networks, player contracts continue to grow at a steady rate, etc.

What are we fixing? A few strikeouts? I don't see the pressing need for change. Lower the mound if the K's keep increasing. But let's give the hitters a chance to adjust first. Again, these things tend to be cyclical. I'm personally enjoying a lower run scoring environment these days over the station to station game we had for 20 years. That was fun for a while, but I like cycles.

I love the run environment currently as well.

One possible way to boost scoring is contract the Braves.

:smug:

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I love the run environment currently as well.

One possible way to boost scoring is contract the Braves.

:smug:

True.

Only the Padres have scored less.

 

[NAHSTE]

True.

Only the Padres have scored less.

How many did the Reds score over the past weekend? Asking for a friend.