There are a couple of interesting big changes on the horizon in Major League Baseball.
First, the Houston Astros were just sold and as an incentive to get a 70 million dollar discount on the sale, the new owner agreed to move the Astros from the NL Central division to the AL West division.
This now gives both leagues an even 15 teams each with 5 teams in each division.
The second change, still being negotiated, is the addition of two more wild card teams, one in each league, at the end of the year. The two wild card teams from each league would play a one-game playoff to determine the official wild card team and then the playoffs would resume as they have for over a decade now.
Naturally there are fans who expressed opposition to this. 30% of all teams now make the playoffs but I’m not so sure that just getting one more game and one more team is all that negative. I think it makes the wild card spot not as exciting to get because now in just one game the season could be over for that team. Currently the wild card team’s only disadvantage is that they don’t get home-field advantage for the first round, which is a best of 5 series.
This change in the league structure will, however, mean that interleague play will be year round. On days where every team plays it means that at least one interleague game will be played on that day.
Even now I’m still up in the air about interleague play. I’d sort of rather see the leagues compete within their own leagues. This was one of the topics that was always great for debate…which league was better?
I do sort of like seeing some of the geographic rivalries each year like the Mets and Yankkes, the Cubs and White Sox, for example. But I never really cared about the other matchups that end up unfolding. Who really cares about aSeattle vs Florida
This now gives both leagues an even 15 teams each with 5 teams in each division.
The second change, still being negotiated, is the addition of two more wild card teams, one in each league, at the end of the year. The two wild card teams from each league would play a one-game playoff to determine the official wild card team and then the playoffs would resume as they have for over a decade now.
Naturally there are fans who expressed opposition to this. 30% of all teams now make the playoffs but I’m not so sure that just getting one more game and one more team is all that negative. I think it makes the wild card spot not as exciting to get because now in just one game the season could be over for that team. Currently the wild card team’s only disadvantage is that they don’t get home-field advantage for the first round, which is a best of 5 series.
This change in the league structure will, however, mean that interleague play will be year round. On days where every team plays it means that at least one interleague game will be played on that day.
Even now I’m still up in the air about interleague play. I’d sort of rather see the leagues compete within their own leagues. This was one of the topics that was always great for debate…which league was better?
I do sort of like seeing some of the geographic rivalries each year like the Mets and Yankkes, the Cubs and White Sox, for example. But I never really cared about the other matchups that end up unfolding. Who really cares about a
Oh, I should say
The Red Sox former manager Terry Francona has decided not to try to find a team to manage this year. It must be nice to be able to make that sort of decision, don’t you think?
There was talk that since former Red Sox GM Leo Epstein took the Cubs GM job that Francona might head there, but Dale Sveum just landed the Cubs managerial spot.
As expected Justin Verlander of the Tigers and Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers won the leagues Cy Young awards. Since both were pitching Triple Crown winners these were obvious choices.
No one cares about the Manager of the Year awards but they went to Joe Maddon fromTampa Bay
There was talk that since former Red Sox GM Leo Epstein took the Cubs GM job that Francona might head there, but Dale Sveum just landed the Cubs managerial spot.
As expected Justin Verlander of the Tigers and Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers won the leagues Cy Young awards. Since both were pitching Triple Crown winners these were obvious choices.
No one cares about the Manager of the Year awards but they went to Joe Maddon from
Ok, so my favorite team is the Mets and my least favorite team is the Phillies.
This might provide a clue about the 2012 season and these two teams.
Transactions:
Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent 1B Jim Thome.
This might provide a clue about the 2012 season and these two teams.
Transactions:
Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent 1B Jim Thome.
Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent RHP Jonathan Papelbon.
New York Mets signed free agent OF Vinny Rottino.
New York Mets signed free agent 1B Valentino Pascucci.
However, the Mets are moving in the fences at Citi Field slicing the playing surface there by 2%. Based on information provided by the team, had the fences been at the new dimensions since the stadium opened the Mets would have hit 81 more homeruns there and opponents 70. So this is a good thing for my team. I just don’t know if Rottino and Pascucci are just as good of a move.
Speaking of Free Agents, there are many but just a few of real consequence. Thome and Papelbon were decent signings for the Phils. With Ryan Howard out for months because of his Achilles tendon surgery, Thome can fill in there at firstbase. Papelbon, a closer for the Red Sox will take over that spot in Philly…for way too much money, but let them spend everything they have, I don’t care.
Other key free agents of note…
OF Carlos Beltran. He went from the Mets to the Giants in a mid-season trade and had a decent year coming off knee surgery. He should get a good chase.
Other key free agents of note…
OF Carlos Beltran. He went from the Mets to the Giants in a mid-season trade and had a decent year coming off knee surgery. He should get a good chase.
SS Jose Reyes. This one kills me. If the Mets don’t sign him I’m going to find it tough to continue rooting for them. The fact that they signed Rattino and Pascucci makes me think the team, which has had financial difficulties, is saving to pay him.
1B Albert Pujols. St. Louis
1B Prince Fielder. I think Fielder is a lock to leave Milwaukee
RP Heath Bell
OF Grady Sizemore. Yes, he has been injured but he is still just 29 years old. A 3 year deal might be workable and a team could get a decent return for him for a contract much smaller than he would have had if he had not been injured.
SP Mark Buehrle. Buehrle is just 32 and a lefty. Every team needs a left-handed starter and one who has thrown a couple of no-hitters is icing on the cake. If the Mets don’t sign Reyes I think they need to sign this guy or…
SP Roy Oswalt. He was part of that monstrous Phillie starting rotation and he had a decent year. He is 34 so anything more than a 2-year deal is foolish. This makes me think he stays in Philly, but we never know, do we?
So that’s baseball talk. I would talk more about hypnosis but my show schedule has been light. I’ve been getting requests to go all over the country but the fees people have been expecting to pay haven’t covered air fare, which is something that completely baffles me.
So with the show schedule light, hypnotherapy is spotty, hypnosis training is spotty and pretty much everything else I have tried to do not producing much, I have to find some additional ways to do better than just survive.
I am open to suggestions here.
I find myself at a crossroad in my life…again. And just when I find myself there and was dealing with the loss of my dog for a while, someone in my life kicked me and pooped on me when I was down. This is something I shall not forget…ever.
But I shall try to use it to my advantage in some way. Hopefully I will figure out exactly what that might be.
At least Beavis and Butthead are back on TV. They make more sense to me than what is going on in my world these days.
OF Grady Sizemore. Yes, he has been injured but he is still just 29 years old. A 3 year deal might be workable and a team could get a decent return for him for a contract much smaller than he would have had if he had not been injured.
SP Mark Buehrle. Buehrle is just 32 and a lefty. Every team needs a left-handed starter and one who has thrown a couple of no-hitters is icing on the cake. If the Mets don’t sign Reyes I think they need to sign this guy or…
SP Roy Oswalt. He was part of that monstrous Phillie starting rotation and he had a decent year. He is 34 so anything more than a 2-year deal is foolish. This makes me think he stays in Philly, but we never know, do we?
So that’s baseball talk. I would talk more about hypnosis but my show schedule has been light. I’ve been getting requests to go all over the country but the fees people have been expecting to pay haven’t covered air fare, which is something that completely baffles me.
So with the show schedule light, hypnotherapy is spotty, hypnosis training is spotty and pretty much everything else I have tried to do not producing much, I have to find some additional ways to do better than just survive.
I am open to suggestions here.
I find myself at a crossroad in my life…again. And just when I find myself there and was dealing with the loss of my dog for a while, someone in my life kicked me and pooped on me when I was down. This is something I shall not forget…ever.
But I shall try to use it to my advantage in some way. Hopefully I will figure out exactly what that might be.
At least Beavis and Butthead are back on TV. They make more sense to me than what is going on in my world these days.
Done.
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