Official MLB Discussion Thread

[v9733xa]

How about this? www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28673912/mlb-weighing-major-changes-postseason-including-growing-number-teams-14

Major League Baseball is mulling significant changes to its postseason, including increasing the number of teams from 10 to 14 and adding a reality-TV-type format to determine which teams play each other in an expanded wild-card round, sources told ESPN.

MLB is considering a move in which each league would have three division winners and four wild-card teams make the postseason, sources said. The best team in the league would receive a bye into the division series, while the two remaining division winners and the wild-card team with the best record of the four would each host all games of a best-of-three series of the opening round.

The potential changes were first reported by the New York Post.

Once the teams clinch, and the regular season ends, the plan gets congested:

-- The division winner with the second-best record would select its wild-card opponent from the three wild-card winners with the worst records of the four.

-- The team with the worst record of the three division winners would pick its opponent from the remaining two wild-card teams.

-- The final matchup would pit the wild-card winner with the best record against the wild-card team not chosen.

All of the selections, sources said, would be unveiled live on television the Sunday night of the final regular-season games.

The winners of the wild-card series would advance to the divisional round. Currently, two teams from each league play a winner-takes-all wild-card game, and the winner faces the team with the league's best record.

The appeal of the changes, according to the Post, is twofold. It potentially would increase fan interest, and could benefit MLB via richer television rights package.

Deals with ESPN and Turner both expire after the 2021 season.

[Corvus]

Feb 10, 2020 19:14:51 GMT -5 v9733xa said:

How about this? www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28673912/mlb-weighing-major-changes-postseason-including-growing-number-teams-14

Major League Baseball is mulling significant changes to its postseason, including increasing the number of teams from 10 to 14 and adding a reality-TV-type format to determine which teams play each other in an expanded wild-card round, sources told ESPN.

MLB is considering a move in which each league would have three division winners and four wild-card teams make the postseason, sources said. The best team in the league would receive a bye into the division series, while the two remaining division winners and the wild-card team with the best record of the four would each host all games of a best-of-three series of the opening round.

The potential changes were first reported by the New York Post.

Once the teams clinch, and the regular season ends, the plan gets congested:

-- The division winner with the second-best record would select its wild-card opponent from the three wild-card winners with the worst records of the four.

-- The team with the worst record of the three division winners would pick its opponent from the remaining two wild-card teams.

-- The final matchup would pit the wild-card winner with the best record against the wild-card team not chosen.

All of the selections, sources said, would be unveiled live on television the Sunday night of the final regular-season games.

The winners of the wild-card series would advance to the divisional round. Currently, two teams from each league play a winner-takes-all wild-card game, and the winner faces the team with the league's best record.

The appeal of the changes, according to the Post, is twofold. It potentially would increase fan interest, and could benefit MLB via richer television rights package.

Deals with ESPN and Turner both expire after the 2021 season.

I like it to be honest. I love keeping a finger on the pulse of baseball in as broad of a capacity as possible, so these proposed changes feel like they would reward that kind of behavior. Allowing for more teams and giving some teams agency in selecting their match-ups both sound like they'd open up opportunity for discussion among all levels of viewers. Would be neat!

[Calvinball]

My

[v9733xa]

Alrighty boyos, starting to get the first details of the plans for play this year. It's honestly absolutely fascinating: www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29183345/mlb-safety-proposal-includes-10000-tests-per-week-social-distancing

Highlights:

Major League Baseball's ambitious return-to-play plans include processing upward of 10,000 coronavirus tests per week, overhauling stadiums and in-game settings to encourage social distancing, and rigorous rules intended to prevent against the spread of COVID-19, according to a draft of the league's health-and-safety manual obtained by ESPN.

The document, which is missing multiple sections, will swell beyond its robust 67 pages when complete. In this form, it is still a highly detailed road map that would require a staggering amount of effort to complete before the league's hopeful mid-June return to facilities and early-July opening day.

Players and other team personnel not participating in the game would sit in stands, separated by at least 6 feet. They would apply the same distancing standards to the national anthem. High-fives, fist bumps and hugs would be prohibited under the plan, as would be spitting, tobacco use and sunflower seeds. Pitchers would have their own set of balls to throw during bullpen sessions. Players would be discouraged from showering at stadiums after games and would not be allowed to take taxis or use ride-sharing apps on the road.

MLB would break individuals into safety tiers, with Tier 1 (players, on-field personnel and medical personnel) and Tier 2 (other "essential" employees, including front-office officials) receiving consistent testing. Around 100 individuals would comprise the top two tiers, with other personnel that don't necessarily interact with them, such as cleaning crews and groundskeepers, in Tier 3.

Under the plan, players would undergo multiple temperature screenings daily, including at home before coming to the stadium. MLB would test Tier 1 and 2 individuals for coronavirus multiple times a week, according to the document, calling testing "a critical component" of the game's return. Family members would be tested, too.

Amazing, but also necessary. Thoughts?

[Calvinball]

Happy Bobby Bonilla day everyone!

[Calvinball]

I'm torn. On one hand I think it's really dumb for professional sports to be replaying while the country is experiencing such a spike in Covid cases, it's great that countries that have the virus much more under control are able to resume professional sports but we aren't anywhere close to that yet.

On the other hand I'm about to watch the fuck out of some baseball next week.

[v9733xa]

Bold prediction:

The season will be cancelled part way through once one or two teams have outbreaks.

This is a mistake.

[v9733xa]

Jul 18, 2020 11:14:06 GMT -5 v9733xa said:

Bold prediction:

The season will be cancelled part way through once one or two teams have outbreaks.

This is a mistake.

Look boys, it begins... 

[Unlearner]

[Calvinball]

www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29698468/mlb-tells-reds-starter-trevor-bauer-disciplined-wears-special-cleats-support-dodgers-pitcher-joe-kelly

Trevor Bauer can be an absolute gem.

[Corvus]

The Braves beat the Marlins 29-9 last night... wow.

Go Braves!

[sfdxsm]

www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2021-mlb-spring-training-dates-schedule-when-do-pitchers-and-catchers-report-for-all-30-teams/

[Corvus]

I went to Game 5 of the World Series last night. Sad the Braves couldn't pull it off, but the energy was electric. Here's hoping we win on the road!

[v9733xa]

[Corvus]

Holy shit! Braves won the World Series!!!