NL is destroying AL

Fager I had to go to NY yesterday and was listening to talk sports radio the whole trip. This series has been a disaster for MLB in every way shape and form. Not just the weather and the ratings, but the hosts and callers seemed unanimous in their belief that I share, that the playoff system now means that the best team is not gonna win most often.
Its gonna be hard to get fans interested in baseball until playoff time next year. They've taken 162 games and basically made them count for very little.
Anyone whos ever played baseball at any level, even little league, knows that the best team in the league can lose to the worst team in the league on any given day much more easily than they can in the other sports.
Its truly a game of inches.
The old format pitted the two best teams in each league in a 4 outta 7 wheer the pitching rotations and matchups mirrored the regular season, 1 vs 1, 2 vs 2, 3 vs 3, etc.
The three outta 5 is a joke and really puts the pressure on the HOME TEAM, because its such a short series that if the home team doesnt sweep the first two they get real tight.
If they are gonna have that disgrace of a round, at least make it 4 outta 7. Then the wildcard thing just has to be changed. Why does a division winner like the Cards get to go when the Phillies won 5 more games? If a whole division stinks, they don't deserve to go.
The other thing that makes no sense is that teams in the same division can't meet in the first round. WOuld someone please explain the reason for this to me because I just don't get it. WHy penalize the team with the best record and make them play the 3rd best team in the leaugue just because the 4th best came from their own division?
None of this ever made sense to me, but it will never change because its all based on money. And adding that additional round meant more TV money and more teams in the playoff race come September and higher attendance.

[dr. fager]

O-
I understand where you're coming from. But being a fan of a small market team (Pirates) there is a lot more pressing issues in MLB than the playoff format. Trust me, I'm a traditionalist....I was mad when they renamed the hockey divisions from Smythe and Patrick...to East and West.

I'm bitter at the game, but for different reasons. If they want to make it the league of 100 million dollar payrolls, then just eliminate teams that can't compete...sorry but revenue sharing isn't working. I'm sick and tired of developing players only to have them sold to the higher bidders, I miss the days when players had loyaltly to teams that took a chance on them. I'm only 32 to boot.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by dr. fager

O-
I understand where you're coming from. But being a fan of a small market team (Pirates) there is a lot more pressing issues in MLB than the playoff format. Trust me, I'm a traditionalist....I was mad when they renamed the hockey divisions from Smythe and Patrick...to East and West.

I'm bitter at the game, but for different reasons. If they want to make it the league of 100 million dollar payrolls, then just eliminate teams that can't compete...sorry but revenue sharing isn't working. I'm sick and tired of developing players only to have them sold to the higher bidders, I miss the days when players had loyaltly to teams that took a chance on them. I'm only 32 to boot.

They need a better system of revenue sharing coupled with a salary floor. It is the lack of a salary floor that is killing the league. Teams are collecting $30 million in revenue sharing and then putting together teams with $23 million payrolls. Their team goes 50-112 and the owner still profits. Meanwhile the teams that are putting together $100 million payrolls to try and compete with the big money teams are forced to pay revenue sharing and the owners are taking a huge hit financially to try and field a competitive team. If a salary cap can never be agreed on then tax the crap out of teams that exceed $120 million like they currently are, but don't allow teams to receive revenue sharing unless they are putting it into player contracts.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by dr. fager

O-
I understand where you're coming from. But being a fan of a small market team (Pirates) there is a lot more pressing issues in MLB than the playoff format. Trust me, I'm a traditionalist....I was mad when they renamed the hockey divisions from Smythe and Patrick...to East and West.

I'm bitter at the game, but for different reasons. If they want to make it the league of 100 million dollar payrolls, then just eliminate teams that can't compete...sorry but revenue sharing isn't working. I'm sick and tired of developing players only to have them sold to the higher bidders, I miss the days when players had loyaltly to teams that took a chance on them. I'm only 32 to boot.

Here is an interesting article on the subject. For teams like the Pirates it is more profitable to be a terrible team then to field a competitive team.

http://www.mikesmets.com/2006/05/why...ing_conce.html

[dr. fager]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Here is an interesting article on the subject. For teams like the Pirates it is more profitable to be a terrible team then to field a competitive team.

http://www.mikesmets.com/2006/05/why...ing_conce.html

good stuff, thanks.