Baseball Today – MLB Playoff Expansion: Good or Bad?

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Mar 032012
 

Major League Baseball Logo

Major League Baseball (MLB) has added a second wildcard team from each league. It is the first playoff expansion since 1995. Adding more cities with an opportunity to make the postseason is the right thing to do. Baseball still trails every other sport in the percentage of teams that qualify for the playoffs, despite playing twice as many games. However, I have mixed feelings about this. I like that another team will have a chance to make the playoffs. I don’t like that the two wildcard team will play a one game play-in. The winner of the one-game playoff will face the team with the league’s best record in the Division Series.

My biggest objection of the new playoff system is that after undergoing an arduous 162-game season and earning a playoff berth, two teams can be eliminated in 24 hours.

If the playoffs had included 10 teams when the wildcard was implemented in 1995, the second wildcard team would have averaged 89 victories. And 11 teams would have won at least 90 games, so by adding the second wildcard team they aren’t diluting the quality of teams making the playoffs. The 2011 St. Louis Cardinals are the fifth wildcard team to win the World Series since the playoff field doubled in 1995. The other four wildcard champions were the Florida Marlins (now the Miami Marlins) in 1997 and 2003, the Anaheim Angels (now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) in 2002 and the Boston Red Sox in 2004.

Follow the Money

This is obviously all about the money. By having what amounts to a Game 7 in each league MLB will draw a huge audience. This should recreate the same type of excitement that was played out on September 28, 2011. Arguably, this was the best night ever in MLB history. Ironically had this system been implemented last year despite their staggering September collapses, the Red Sox and Atlanta Braves would have gotten into the playoffs as the second wildcard under the new system.

The most significant impact this change has is that now winning your division is even more important. Not only do you get home field advantage, but you won’t have to play in that one-game playoff. Even if you win the “play-in” game you have probably used your ace pitcher. Plus, it’s another day they have to use their bullpen. So even if you get by that one game, the chances of winning the next round are not very good.

A Third Place Team Could Win the World Series

Here is the ugly scenario that could happen under the new system. Let’s say Team A wins 95 games but finishes second to Team B and then gets eliminated in the one-game playoff by Team C that won only 86 games. In this scenario, a third place team could win the World Series.

There will always be inequity when leagues are divided into divisions. This allows for the possibility of a team missing the playoffs with a better record than some of those that qualified. Bottom line, win your division.

The American League East could have three strong teams fighting for the division title. The New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Red Sox want to get into the postseason, but not as a wildcard with the chance of being eliminated in one game. As long as a team still has chance to win the division there won’t be any resting of starters, even if they have clinched a wildcard spot.

On the flip side, once a team has locked up the American League Central they will have the luxury of resting their starters because no other team in their division is contending for either the division or one of the two wild cards. In this scenario the new format hurts the teams in strong divisions while rewarding teams in weak divisions that it can clinch early.

It’s Not Fair!

As long as you have divisions and wildcards there will be unfairness. Before 1969, the two teams with the best record in their respective leagues played the World Championship and home field advantage wasn’t determined by a meaningless exhibition game. MLB split into two divisions in each league in 1969, and in 1994 they went to three divisions. 1995 was the year the wild card came into existence.

The primary reason the wildcard was added was related to the 1993 season. The San Francisco Giants finished the season with a 103-59, but didn’t make the playoffs because they were unfortunately in the same division as the 104-58 Atlanta Braves. Adding wildcards doesn’t resolve the problem because it’s possible the wild card team(s) has a better record than two other division winners, yet they have to take part in the play-in game.

To prove my point, since 1995, 14 teams have missed the playoffs even though they had a better record than one of the division winners. Doesn’t seem right, does it?

A Better Idea

If I were “King” I have the five teams with the best records in each league (regardless of Divisions) and have the two lowest teams play a best of two out of three to determine the fourth team. Teams shouldn’t be rewarded because they play in a weak division. If you’re barely over .500, you shouldn’t make the playoffs.

 Posted by mickey536 at 1:26 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Baseball Today – Will the Cardinals Repeat in 2012?

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Feb 232012
 

St. Louis Cardinals

As we approach the 2012 Major League Baseball season I was wondering if the St. Louis Cardinals minus Albert Pujols had enough left to successfully defend their world championship. Defending any title is never easy, especially when you lose a player of the caliber of Pujols from your lineup. The loss of a player of Pujols’ magnitude could cripple most teams. I don’t see that happening with the Cardinals. This team has won 11 World Championships and has been in the playoffs 8 of the last 12 years. The Cardinals don’t ever seem to be in a rebuilding mode, but instead it is a reloading mode. Here is my breakdown of the 2012 St. Louis Cardinals:

IN THE OUTFIELD

As a possible replacement for Pujols, the Cardinals signed Carlos Beltran. Hopefully the Cardinals do not expect Beltran to produce Pujols’ numbers, but they do need Beltran to produce similar stats that he had last season. He had a

Carlos Beltran

combined .300 average with 22 home runs, 88 RBI and scored 78 runs. Compare those to Pujols’ .299/37/99/105.  If Beltran still had the speed he displayed earlier in his career, the Cardinals might put him in the number two spot, but it is more likely that he will bat fourth behind Matt Holiday.

Matt Holliday had a good 2011 season hitting .296 with 22 HRs, 75 RBI and scored 83 runs. However, those numbers were below his career average of .315/29/110/107.  The St. Louis Cardinals will need

Matt Holiday

more production out of Holliday in 2012. Batting in the number 3 spot with Beltran behind him should help. In addition to improving his offensive numbers, he needs to stay healthy, he missed 38 games in 2011.

Jon Jay should be the starting center fielder. Jay should continue to perform well defensively. If Jay’s slugging numbers (10 HRS, 37 RBI and .344 OBP) don’t improve he won’t be part of the solution to help fill the Pujols gap.

Pujols’ departure opens a right field spot. Lance Berkman will move to first. Allen Craig, a former first-round pick of the Cardinals, should be the everyday right fielder when he is fully recovered from offseason knee surgery that requires him to miss the first month of the season.

Cardinal Outfielder Allen Craig

In 2011, Craig hit .315 in 75 games. Plus he hit 11 home runs and drove in 40 in only 200 at-bats. The right-handed slugger offers the Cardinals added pop off the bat. On defense, Craig is a very versatile. In only 119 games with St. Louis, Craig has already seen action at six positions, including first base. This gives the Cardinals added depth to a squad with a couple aging players (i.e. Lance Berkman).

THE INFIELD

In 2011 the Cardinals traded for Rafael Furcal to play shortstop in attempt to fill a need they have had for several years. Furcal’s production at the plate was less than impressive. In 50 games he hit .255, scored 29 runs, stole 4 bases and had and OBP of .316. He needs to get on base more to take advantage of his speed. His fielding was an upgrade to a defensive that had a lot of holes.

If David Freese can perform any way close to what he did during the 2011 postseason, batted .397 with five home runs and a postseason record 21 RBI,  he should play a major role in filling the gap. The Cardinals should

David Freese

be set for a while with the talented Freese at third base. If Freese can stay off the DL for the first time in his major league career he should produce solid numbers for the Cardinals, to help fill the “gap”.

With the departure of Pujols there is a need to fill the first base position. For the better part of the last decade this position has been filled by Albert Pujols. That should be a no brainer with the 2011 MLB Comeback Player of the Year, Lance Berkman on board. Berkman had a great 2011 season; hitting 31 home runs, 94 RBIs, 90 runs and had an OBP of .412. The move to first base will save Berkman’s legs for the season. Defensively, he is a dependable first baseman.

Daniel Descalso

Second base continues to be a problem area for the Cardinals. Skip Schumaker signed a two-year deal, so he is in the mix to be the second baseman. The Cardinals need Schumaker to be more productive offensively. His .283 average was good, but with an OBP of .333 he only scored 34 runs. Schumaker’s primary competition for the second base position is Daniel Descalso. Descalso’s 2011 numbers are close to Schumaker’s, with a .264 average, .334 OBP and only 35 runs scored.

BEHIND THE PLATE

Yadier Molina

Yadier Molina is, arguably, the best defensive catcher in baseball. If Molina has as good a year as he did in 2011 where he had highs in batting average, HRs, RBI, OBP and runs scored the Cardinals will be very happy.

THE STARTING ROTATION

With the distinct possibility that the Cardinals will score less runs 2012 than they did in 2011, the pitching staff will have to step-up and give up less runs. With Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Jaime Garcia at the top of their rotation they have the arms to pull it off.

Chris Carpenter

Hopefully Chris Carpenter will pick up where he left-off in the 2011 playoffs. Assuming he has fully recovered from breaking his toe on a fishing trip to the Amazon he should have better start than he did in 2011.

The Cardinals were without 20 game winner (2010) Adam Wainwright for the entire 2011 season. Even without Wainwright the Cardinals were able to overcome that loss, and with an incredible late season run were able to win one of the most exciting World Series for their 11thworld Championship. If Wainwright returns to his previous level of performance it would give the Cardinals two legitimate aces.

Also having Wainwright back will cut down on bullpen innings as well.

Jaime Garcia who has won 13 games in each of his first two years should continue to improve. With Garcia as the third starter the Cardinals have starting rotation is one of the best in baseball. Garcia will only get better under guidance of pitching coach Dave Duncan.

Kyle Lohse sits in the number 4 slot. He won 14 games in 2011 with a 3.39 ERA. Lohse will be a solid fourth or fifth starter for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Unless the Cardinals sign Roy Oswalt, Jake Westbrook will probably be the fifth starter. He was 12-9 in 2011 with a not so good 4.66 ERA. If the Cardinals sign Oswalt, he would either the third or fourth starter in the rotation.

A POSSIBLE 12th CHAMPIONSHIP

The Cardinals will get Allen Craig back after knee surgery, which is good news.

Lance Berkman Cardinals

If Carlos Beltran has a “Lance Berkman” type year, Berkman can have another solid season, Matt Holiday stays healthy and performs at his career numbers, Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter stay healthy and pitch at the level they are capable of and the bullpen repeats its supremacy the Cardinals could be hanging their 12th World Championship banner.

The bottom line is that Cardinal fans should be optimistic about the future. Obviously losing Pujols wasn’t a good thing, but having the $250 million available and a very good farm system the Cardinals should be in a good position before the trade deadline to reload if necessary.

 

 Posted by mickey536 at 10:43 am  Tagged with: , , ,

Baseball Today – World Series Payday

 Baseball Today  No Responses »
Dec 182011
 

2011 World Series

The St. Louis Cardinals earned a bonus of $323,170 for winning the 2011 World Series. In all, players from 10 different teams received post season bonuses, including four teams that didn’t make the playoffs.

Who gets what is determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Each playoff series has a separate pool: the Division Series, the League Championship Series, and the World Series. The bonus pool is funded by 60 percent of the gate receipts for the first three games of the Division Series, the first four games of the League Championship Series, and the first four games of the World Series.

During the season, the players determine who will get a full share, partial share, or no share. Usually, players that have been with the team the entire year receive full shares. There have been cases where players join the team just prior to the trade deadline to be voted a full share. Athletic Trainers, equipment managers and clubhouse managers usually receive a partial, or no share.

Get Paid by Both World Series Teams

2011 was a good year for Arthur Rhodes. He will get a World Series and League Championship ring. Since he played for both the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals he will get shares from both teams. It’s the seventh time in World Series history that has happened. Last year, Bengie Molina played for the Rangers and Giants.

The pool is intentionally limited to the minimum number of games required to win the series so as to discourage any artificial extension of the series by greedy individuals (the 1919 Chicago White Sox).

The amount of the gate is determined by stadium size, number of premium seats, luxury boxes, and attendance. Since most stadiums seat about the same number of fans and ticket prices are determined by MLB, the pool money is about the same no matter who plays.

The World Series champion earns 35 percent, the World Series loser earns 24 percent, and the four Division Series losers get three percent. If you were starting to feel sorry the four runner-up teams, the four second-place teams that don’t qualify for the playoffs get one percent.

This year’s total players’ pool was $57,299,244.23, with the Cardinals taking $20,627,727.92 and Texas taking $13,751,818.61.

Here’s the breakdown of the other teams:

Championship Series runners-up

• Tigers – Total: $6,875,909.30, Individual full share amount: $126,901.50

• Brewers – Total: $6,875,909.30, Full share: $133,511.33

Division Series runners-up

• D-backs – Total: $1,718,977.33, Full share: $26,674.74

• Yankees – Total: $1,718,977.33, Full share: $26,238.86

• Phillies – Total: $1,718,977.33, Full share: $30,400.62

• Rays – Total: 1,718,977.33, Full share: $30,758.08

Second-place finishers (non-Wild Card winners)

• Braves – Total: $572,992.44, Full share: $11,088.51

• Indians – Total: $572,992.44, Full share: 10,366.06

• Angels – Total: $572,992.44, Full share: $10,862.42

• Giants – Total: $572,992.44, Full share: $10,689.58

Get Rewarded for NOT Making the Playoffs

The players on the Angels, Braves, Indians and Giants are rewarded for NOT making the playoffs.

A full World Series share for the 2010 champion San Francisco Giants was worth $317,631.29. The figure is less than the $365,000 earned by members of the2009 New York Yankees.

1903 World Series Boston Pilgrims

In the Beginning

The winners of the first World Series actually got smaller shares than the losers.

The 1903 Boston Pilgrims earned $1,182 per man for defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates, whose losing share was $1,361.25. The reason was that Pittsburgh players were given the owners share of the gate.

I don’t know if it was ever proven to be true; that during the 1913 World Series the Philadelphia Athletics players were told to lose game five of the 1913 Series to the New York Giants. The Athletics were up three games to one and the team had already sold tickets for game six. So if they clinched in five they would have to refund the money. Since player’s pool only splits game receipts from the first four games only the owners would get the receipts from game six. Athletics owner Connie Mack told his team that if they won game five he would give them the game receipts from it. As it turned out, Philadelphia won game five, so we’ll never know if the rumors were true. Each player on the A’s earned $3,246.36.

The Cincinnati Reds won the infamous 1919 World Series beating the Chicago

The eight "Black Sox" players

White Sox who conspired to fix the Series. Ironically, the Reds winning share ($5,207.08) was greater than what the eight “Black Sox” players were offered to fix the series.

The 1918 Red Sox winning Series shares of $1,102.51 are the lowest in baseball history.

In 1923 the first World Series to gross over $1,000,000 was the first played at Yankee Stadium. The New York Yankees winning share was $6,143.49 per man.

In 1933, In the midst of the Great Depression the New York Giants collected $4,256.72 apiece. This was $1,886.77 less than the ’23 Yankees earned. Even by 1943, with World War II raging the Yankees earned $6,139.46 for beating the Cardinals. Twenty years later, they still made a little less than the 1923 Yankees.

The 1954 New York Giants were the first team in baseball history to earn over $10,000 for winning the World Series. They defeated the Cleveland Indians and earned $11,147.90 per man.

What a Sweet Deal!

On top of all that, players also get a championship ring valued at anywhere between $20,000 and $40,000 depending on how generous the owner of the team is. The Yankees 2000 World Series ring weighs more than an ounce, features 22 diamonds and 34.5 grams of gold.

Surprisingly, the most expensive ring to date went to the 2003 World Series champion Florida Marlins.  After essentially buying their title during the previous off-season, the team continued their extravagant ways after team owner Jeff Luria designed the ring himself.  It is huge, with enough room to fit the name, number, and position of each player onto his ring.  It also showed the team`s season record, results of all three post-season series, and a likeness of the World Series trophy on the side.  It was made of 14-karat gold with 16-karat inlay, 13 rubies, 229 diamonds, and the eye of the Marlin`s logo was a rare teal diamond.

No matter how you slice it, Major League Baseball players have a pretty good deal going.

 Posted by mickey536 at 8:04 am  Tagged with: , , ,

Baseball Today – 2011 Major League Baseball

 Baseball Today  No Responses »
Nov 282011
 

Baseball Money

A Baseball Team Got it Right

Congratulations to the Cleveland Indians for having the common sense to sign outfielder Grady Sizemore to a one-year, incentive-based contract. The former all-star has played in only 210 of a possible 486 games over the past three years. Sizemore’s base salary in 2012 will be $5 million, and he can make another $4 million based on plate appearances. All baseball contracts should be structured this way.

National League Most Valuable Player

Congratulations to Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun. Braun made

Milwaukee Brewer Ryan Braun

Milwaukee baseball history by becoming the first player from the city to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award since Henry Aaron in 1957 did it with the Milwaukee Braves. We got to see how great Braun is during the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Ryan Braun was also part of a record-tying four member 30-30 Club. Joining Braun were Matt Kemp, Jacoby Ellsbury and Ian Kinsler. For a while it looked like Kemp was going to have a shot at a Triple Crown but faded at the end.

Detroit Tiger Pitcher Justin Verlander

Cy Young and MVP!

I have to admit that I was disappointed when I heard that Justin Verlander had won the American League MVP honor. He received 13 of 28 first-place votes and 280 points.

Boston outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury was second in this year’s voting with four first-place votes and 242 points. Verlander got over 3 times the number of first place votes. He played in 34 games compared to Ellsbury’s 158 games. In those 158 games, he scored 119 runs, drove in 105 and batted .321. Add 32 home runs and 212 hits and not too many players have had better years. Toronto outfielder

Boston Red Sox Jacoby Ellsbury

Jose Bautista (five firsts, 231 points), had similar numbers in 148 games. Rounding out the top five are New York Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson (three firsts, 215 points) and Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera (two firsts, 193 points).

I wonder what Adrian Gonzalez is thinking. In 159 games he scored 108 runs, drove in 117 and batted .338.

Major League Baseball is the Best

After watching the Cardinals and Rays complete remarkable comebacks to make the playoffs it would be hard to argue against baseball being the best sport. The 73,425,568 fans that attended baseball games in 2011 would agree. I would put Game 6 of the 2011 World Series in the top ten all time of best games played in any sport.

Two Wild Card Teams Added

Now baseball has agreed to add another wild card team. This will make for a higher number of playoff races coming down the wire. I am disappointed that the two wild card teams will play a one-and-done format. One bad game and your season is over. I would have liked to seen a best of three. Some would argue that playing three games would punish the division winners, because they would have to sit around and wait. Well, what happens when a team sweeps their opponent and the other league’s series goes seven games? The team that swept sits around and waits. If you are concerned that a three game format would extend the season into November, then take two games off the regular season.

Even after adding two more wild card teams, baseball still has the lowest percentage (33) of its teams making the postseason.

Could Instant Replay be Next?

I’m somewhat encouraged that baseball continues to improve its product. My hope is that they start to take a more proactive approach to implementing instant replay. The other thing that needs to be changed is having the All-Star game determine who gets home field advantage in the World Series. The team with the best record should have the home field advantage. This year, Texas had the best record, but St. Louis got to play game 7 at home.

I like the move of Houston to the American League. Even though the sale of the Astros was dependent of on the move, I think in the long run everybody in baseball benefits. An intrastate rivalry will develop between the Astros and the Texas Rangers that will make Astro fans forget about the National League.

I am also pleased that the inter-league games will be spread out. American League teams will no longer have to go through nine-game stretches without their designated hitter or National League teams having to use a DH spot they are not sufficiently equipped to fill.

Collective Bargaining Agreement

I would like to thank the players and management for working together that resulted in the announcement of a preliminary Collective Bargaining Agreement. This means we will have uninterrupted play through 2016.

A Hall of Fame Infield?

I wonder if the current Yankee infield of Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Can and Alex Rodriguez could someday all be members of the Hall of Fame.

The 2011 Major League Baseball Season

These are some of my favorite memories of the 2011 Major League Baseball season:

  1. On July 9, 2011, Derek Jeter fortified his place in baseball history with his

    Derek Jeter 3000th Hit

    3000th hit, becoming the 28th player in MLB history to reach the mark, and only the second shortstop after Honus Wagner. Derek Jeter homering for his 3,000 hit and going 5-for-5 with the game-winning RBI on that fairy tale day at Yankee Stadium.

  2. Mariano Rivera earning a record 602nd save.

  3. Minnesota Twins' Thome

    The secret assault of Jim Thome to record his 600th home run. Thome is only the 8th player in baseball history to hit 600+ home runs.

  4. Franciso Liriano, Justin Verlander and Ervin Santana pitching no-hitters
  5. The incredible pitchers’ duel between Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay in a sudden-death elimination game.
  6. Watching Texas Ranger manager Ron Washington show his emotions in the dugout.

  7. St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols

    Albert Pujols homering three times in a World Series game.Only Babe Ruth (twice) and Reggie Jackson had done it before.

  8. Tony La Russa managing his sixth league championship and third World Series title. He ranks third with 2,728 wins over 33 seasons as manager. Only Connie Mack (3,731) and John McGraw (2,763) won more. I wish he had stayed around long enough to at least pass McGraw.
  9. The thrill of watching Cardinal David Freese’s heroics.
  10. Tiger’s Justin Verlander and Dodger’s Clayton Kershaw both won the pitching Triple Crown in their respective leagues (Wins, ERA and Strikeouts). This is the first time there’s been dual pitching Triple Crowns since 1924.
  11. Toronto Blue Jays Jose Bautista proved that 2010 wasn’t a fluke as he

    Toronto Blue Jay Jose Bautista

    claimed the home run title again in 2011. His 43 home runs were two more than New York Yankees’ Curtis Granderson. Bautista is the first player to win the title in two straight years since Alex Rodriguez did it in 2002-03.

  12. Watching Tampa Bay Rays Sam Fuld play defense. There is no better example of his all-

    Tampa Bay Ray Sam Fuld

    out play that a game against the Chicago White Sox, soaring through the air to rob Juan Pierre of a bases loaded triple.

  13. Evan Longoria winning the wild-card with a solo home run in the bottom of the 12th inning.

    Tampa Bay Rays Evan Longoria

 

 

 

 Posted by mickey536 at 12:59 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,
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