NL Central thread

[tomcat1]

The 1962 Mets had a better record after 31 games and it's not even close.

John, I just can't see the Reds playing as bad in their next 131 games as the 1962 Mets played in their final 131 games of 1962. I certainly hope the Reds will win a few games against the Cubs, Brewers, and Pirates.

No matter who our favorite teams are in any sport it sucks when our favorite team is out of the hunt only one month into the season and like I have told you, I have experienced this many times with some of my favorite teams.

So what do the Reds have down on the farm? Do they have any Triple A or Double A players who are ready to take the next step?

 

[tomcat1]

Season isn't too long. The post-season is too long.

John, I'm just curious, how would you shorten the post-season?

 

[JohnU]

John, I'm just curious, how would you shorten the post-season?

You don't. But there is no way of fixing it by addressing something different. If you want more post-season baseball, then have it and absorb the benefits and the consequences. The players want more off days and they all want the chance to play post-season ... and they bitch because the season starts in March and it's freezing. You have four choices there and one of them isn't going to happen -- they aren't going to shorten the post-season because that's the reason the play the other 162 games. The "fix" is to play all your games in a dome. Good luck with that.

 

[JohnU]

John, I just can't see the Reds playing as bad in their next 131 games as the 1962 Mets played in their final 131 games of 1962. I certainly hope the Reds will win a few games against the Cubs, Brewers, and Pirates.

No matter who our favorite teams are in any sport it sucks when our favorite team is out of the hunt only one month into the season and like I have told you, I have experienced this many times with some of my favorite teams.

So what do the Reds have down on the farm? Do they have any Triple A or Double A players who are ready to take the next step?

The prize is Nick Senzel, who'd be up now if there was any rush to urgency. He probably needs some ABs in the minors. He's nearly ready. Aside from that, a lot of 4-A guys who get high marks, depending. I think they are suspects, not prospects. There isn't anything wrong with the Reds that 3 more pitchers and 2 more outfielders wouldn't cure. Duvall is hitting .160 and is lost. Hamilton is the best player in baseball after he gets to first bases, which rarely happens.

 

[Clayton]

I'm in the minority but I think the baseball post-season is perfect. It only feels long, imo, if there is a play-in game. It kinda stinks having a great team lose to a Wild Card but I've seen both sides of it and the great team has every advantage going in if their manager plays it right.


The NBA playoffs are too long.

 

[Markwassillylaugher]

You don't. But there is no way of fixing it by addressing something different. If you want more post-season baseball, then have it and absorb the benefits and the consequences. The players want more off days and they all want the chance to play post-season ... and they bitch because the season starts in March and it's freezing. You have four choices there and one of them isn't going to happen -- they aren't going to shorten the post-season because that's the reason the play the other 162 games. The "fix" is to play all your games in a dome. Good luck with that.

the regular season must be cut back to the old 154 game season! I want to watch more playoff baseball not snowball fights at the start of the season!

 

[scoutyjones2]

the regular season must be cut back to the old 154 game season! I want to watch more playoff baseball not snowball fights at the start of the season!

8 games isn't going to do that...

 

[navamind]

8 games isn't going to do that...

Unless they find a way to work in some doubleheaders throughout the season. I'd love to see that happen.

 

[JohnU]

the regular season must be cut back to the old 154 game season! I want to watch more playoff baseball not snowball fights at the start of the season!

The season isn't going to be shortened and the playoffs aren't going to be cut back. The only way to address it is to play in March.
That's just the breaks.

 

[scoutyjones2]

Unless they find a way to work in some doubleheaders throughout the season. I'd love to see that happen.

Todays ballplayers can't do doubleheaders...

 

[tomcat1]

You don't. But there is no way of fixing it by addressing something different. If you want more post-season baseball, then have it and absorb the benefits and the consequences. The players want more off days and they all want the chance to play post-season ... and they bitch because the season starts in March and it's freezing. You have four choices there and one of them isn't going to happen -- they aren't going to shorten the post-season because that's the reason the play the other 162 games. The "fix" is to play all your games in a dome. Good luck with that.

John, We all have our opinions about this and I certainly respect your opinion. I agree with you that nothing is going to change concerning the length of the regular season or the post-season but it does make for interesting discussion and conversation. My opinion, which might not be worth a cup of coffee and a donut, is that the regular season is way too long but that doesn't mean that I'm not open to a shorter post-season also.

One thing that crossed my mind during this interesting conversation among all of us is why couldn't MLB schedule more of the early regular season games in the warmer cities and on the back end of the schedule, when it's warm everywhere, have more home games in the colder cities? Your thoughts?

 

[JohnU]

John, We all have our opinions about this and I certainly respect your opinion. I agree with you that nothing is going to change concerning the length of the regular season or the post-season but it does make for interesting discussion and conversation. My opinion, which might not be worth a cup of coffee and a donut, is that the regular season is way too long but that doesn't mean that I'm not open to a shorter post-season also.

One thing that crossed my mind during this interesting conversation among all of us is why couldn't MLB schedule more of the early regular season games in the warmer cities and on the back end of the schedule, when it's warm everywhere, have more home games in the colder cities? Your thoughts?

There are certainly (almost) enough southern or dome cities to make that possible. I don't know that teams want to spend the first 2 weeks on the road. It's something that has to be reconciled later in the season somehow and probably doesn't wash out properly. I don't evaluate that sort of thing. it makes some sense to at least play the first week in those conditions and with interleague play, it works. there are not truly 15 ballparks that qualify; you'd have to use DC or Baltimore, which are a bit more temperate than Detroit or Minnesota.
As to the length of season, it's been in place since 1961. Lop off 8 games and wonder ... gee, we finished 2 games out ... if only we played another week, we'da caught 'em. The 162 isn't going away. MLB will endure freak springs like this one and all will be well at season's end.

 

[tomcat1]

I'm in the minority but I think the baseball post-season is perfect. It only feels long, imo, if there is a play-in game. It kinda stinks having a great team lose to a Wild Card but I've seen both sides of it and the great team has every advantage going in if their manager plays it right.


The NBA playoffs are too long.

Clayton, I respect your opinion too and I agree with you that the NBA playoffs are way too long. Don't they crown a champion just before the MLB all star break takes place?

 

[tomcat1]

There are certainly (almost) enough southern or dome cities to make that possible. I don't know that teams want to spend the first 2 weeks on the road. It's something that has to be reconciled later in the season somehow and probably doesn't wash out properly. I don't evaluate that sort of thing. it makes some sense to at least play the first week in those conditions and with interleague play, it works. there are not truly 15 ballparks that qualify; you'd have to use DC or Baltimore, which are a bit more temperate than Detroit or Minnesota.
As to the length of season, it's been in place since 1961. Lop off 8 games and wonder ... gee, we finished 2 games out ... if only we played another week, we'da caught 'em. The 162 isn't going away. MLB will endure freak springs like this one and all will be well at season's end.

John, Well said! At least you didn't think my opinion was way off the deep end.

College baseball begins much earlier than the MLB regular season does and many of the northern college teams come south at the beginning of the college baseball season, where I live, and stay for over a month playing against different college teams in my area. I guess these kids bring their books with them too since they are suppose to be learning something, LOL.

 

[JohnU]

John, Well said! At least you didn't think my opinion was way off the deep end.

College baseball begins much earlier than the MLB regular season does and many of the northern college teams come south at the beginning of the college baseball season, where I live, and stay for over a month playing against different college teams in my area. I guess these kids bring their books with them too since they are suppose to be learning something, LOL.

I recall back in the 70s when a guy named Itchy Jones, who coached at Southern Illinois, took his teams south. Not many programs were doing that then. Hell, Florida State and Ariz. State and those schools play 70 or 80 games ... it's almost like a short minor league season. And they have the ballparks to go with it. There are elite baseball programs in Florida at colleges we never heard of. My indy team signed a guy who played at Faulkner University. I had to look it up. They win a lot of games.

 

[scoutyjones2]

all new stadiums going forward...retractable. Warm weather sites guarantee nothing

 

[skinzfan]

As a Nationals fan, the post season never seems that long to me.

 

[Markwassillylaugher]

As a Nationals fan, the post season never seems that long to me.

well you beat my Pirates again giving up just 3 hits!! come on Bucs, get back in the win columb!

 

[JohnU]

all new stadiums going forward...retractable. Warm weather sites guarantee nothing

The only warm weather parks that aren't domed are Texas, LA, SD and Atlanta. Texas will replace pretty soon.

 

[tomcat1]

I recall back in the 70s when a guy named Itchy Jones, who coached at Southern Illinois, took his teams south. Not many programs were doing that then. Hell, Florida State and Ariz. State and those schools play 70 or 80 games ... it's almost like a short minor league season. And they have the ballparks to go with it. There are elite baseball programs in Florida at colleges we never heard of. My indy team signed a guy who played at Faulkner University. I had to look it up. They win a lot of games.

John, You make a great point because when you look back at the college baseball world series champions it is loaded with teams from the south. I don't ever recall the black bears of Maine ever winning one of them but I could be wrong, LOL.