Seahawks08 wrote:That's why I believe there should be two trophies awarded: one for regular season champ in each league (MLB/NFL) and the other for playoff champ. I think soccer has that somewhere but not 100% sure.
bluehenbillk wrote:Has anyone read how screwed up the 2012 MLB Playoff setup is, for this one year?
The NLDS & ALDS will be played in a 2-3 format. So the 2 best teams in each league will open up the playoffs with 2 road games?!?
Cmon, that's f'd up.
They effed this up IMO. A one game play-in game between the WC's? Then a 2-3 series in the LDS's?
Often the second WC team is right on the heels of the first, but two years ago the Wild Card Yankees (who finished 1 game back of Tampa) had a 6 game lead on the next team in the AL (Boston). Does Boston really deserve the right to face the Yankees for one winner take all game? NFW.
I understand what they're doing with the extra wildcard - they're putting more emphasis on winning the division - so yea in that NYY-BOS scenario, I don't feel sorry for the NYY, nor would I if it was my Phillies - win your division or you goto a one-game playoff to continue.
But winning your division, then going on the road - that's just stupid.
bluehenbillk wrote:I understand what they're doing with the extra wildcard - they're putting more emphasis on winning the division - so yea in that NYY-BOS scenario, I don't feel sorry for the NYY, nor would I if it was my Phillies - win your division or you goto a one-game playoff to continue.
Still don't like it. How about you beat a team 3-0 in a season ending series for the first WC slot, then they get a one game playoff to win it back? Single game eliminations in baseball should only be used for tiebreakers IMHO.
bluehenbillk wrote:I understand what they're doing with the extra wildcard - they're putting more emphasis on winning the division - so yea in that NYY-BOS scenario, I don't feel sorry for the NYY, nor would I if it was my Phillies - win your division or you goto a one-game playoff to continue.
Still don't like it. How about you beat a team 3-0 in a season ending series for the first WC slot, then they get a one game playoff to win it back? Single game eliminations in baseball should only be used for tiebreakers IMHO.
You either have to do it that way or not at all. No time to do a best 2 out of 3 while everyone else sits, nobody is interested in November Fall Classics. Bottom line, if you want to avoid the one-game playoff, take care of business & win your division. Still even with the extra 2 teams now in, baseball still has the fewest playoff teams of any major sport so be careful where you throw stones.
89Hen wrote:
Still don't like it. How about you beat a team 3-0 in a season ending series for the first WC slot, then they get a one game playoff to win it back? Single game eliminations in baseball should only be used for tiebreakers IMHO.
You either have to do it that way or not at all. No time to do a best 2 out of 3 while everyone else sits, nobody is interested in November Fall Classics. Bottom line, if you want to avoid the one-game playoff, take care of business & win your division. Still even with the extra 2 teams now in, baseball still has the fewest playoff teams of any major sport so be careful where you throw stones.
I guess I'd rather not do it if that's my only choice. Baseball is about long term stats and series, not one game "playoffs".
OK - I'm gonna say/suggest something that most Phils fans will want to ostracize me for, but take two deep breaths & a couple seconds before you starting pounding your keyboard/phone....before this year's trading deadline, should the Phils deal Utley away?
Don't get me wrong, he's my favorite position player, but the degenerative knee & hip ailment is never going to go away or get better. The seasons of 30 HR's are gone. Things are only going to get worse. Regardless of how much shorter or longer he's a Phillie he'll be beloved in this town forever. But, with Hamels up, and Victorino up, and Chooch up, are Chase's days numbered??
I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to Chase leaving if that meant we could resign Hamels. Chase is still good in the field, but if he's in and out of the lineup, even that becomes less useful. Hamels has to resign, everything else comes second (ha, no pun intended - get it, second base! Har! )
People forget that once Utley came back last year, the phillies had the best offense in the NL (scored the most runs). He's the three hitter and that alone should give one pause if you want to trade him. What will the lineup look like if he is traded? Rollins, Vic, Pence?, howard?, mayberry, polly, ruiz, 2B, P ? I'm sorry but that lineup will not win them a WS.
And I believe the Hamels deal is only being held up due to years. The phils have the money, just not sold on 7+ years. Victorino may be the odd man out after this season.
Let's face it - the Chase Utley era is coming to an end soon. He's signed through next year - 2013. Right now, it's hard to see him being back with the Phils after that, and how much he plays this year & next - well I hope it's like last year but who knows. Utley & the Phils tell you the bare minimum, if that.
Phils' offense has absolutely sucked this spring, and there's no immediate prospect of improvement. I'm calling it now: the Phils will not win the NL East this year, and they may even miss the playoffs.
The ONLY way they miss the playoffs is if one of their big 3 goes down. If all three are healthy, they will win around 90 games regardless of the offense. And with two wildcards, that's more than enough wins to make the playoffs.
Just like last year, need to wait for Utley and Howard to get back. The problem is no Ibanez in the lineup. I know people harp on him for being a below average hitter, but at least he put some fear into the pitcher's mind that he could crank a pitch. Mayberry doesn't do that, at least not yet.
NHL has it. Doesn't mean shit.
