2016 MLB Postseason Thread

[RickStain]

He had a 3.12 ERA over his last 12 starts before his last one, when Cubs pitchers were being instructed to treat it like spring training to avoid giving anything to advanced scouts.

 

[justgladtobehere]

Either that or they could schedule eight doubleheaders for each team each season. Doubleheaders used to be scheduled regularly on Sundays. The problem is that games are now 3-plus hours rather than the 2 hours they used to be.

Doubleheaders were a thing because teams travelled by train. Getting 4 games in over a weekend cuts down on travel. Plus, there are teams that would lose $1 million just in ticket sales each doubleheader.

 

[old_tony]

Thus the birth of the day-night doubleheader.

 

[old_tony]

Doubleheaders also are not feasible any more because of the havoc it would wreak on starting pitchers. You either have to have a spot starter or someone go on three days rest, generally.

 

[LongTimeListener]

He had a 3.12 ERA over his last 12 starts before his last one, when Cubs pitchers were being instructed to treat it like spring training to avoid giving anything to advanced scouts.

OK, I'll buy he has been more effective of late. Maybe he had dead arm or some mechanical flaw. (Seven walks in one game?!?!?)

Still not fear-inspiring, though.

 

[RickStain]

He isn't the pitcher he was last year. He just isn't as bad as **** is trying to make out.

Sale had an ERA of almost 4 over his last 16 starts or so too

 

[cjericho]

He isn't the pitcher he was last year. He just isn't as bad as **** is trying to make out.

Sale had an ERA of almost 4 over his last 16 starts or so too

Arrieta has a slightly better ERA and Sale has a slightly better whip FIP is almost the same.

 

[HanSenSE]

Ah, c'mon dq. You know Bob Gibson could have pitched that game left-handed and destiny would have taken care of it.

On the matter of the cold and weather, the one thing I'd really like to see is MLB/Fox willingness to move the game up if playing it at night is going to be so miserable. I know that's too much to even dream, but it is by far the easiest solution.

Would love that too, but all of baseball's broadcast partners are so heavily invested in college football, ain't gonna happen. And that's also why a potential Cubs-Giants/Mets Game 2, involving two Top-10 TV market teams, gets shuffled off to MLB Network.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Baseball's TV setup makes it enormous riches, so they don't want to threaten the status quo. OK. But then they'll fret that ratings on FoxSports 1 (quick now, what channel is that on YOUR remote?) aren't as good as if they were on a broadcast network. Can't have it both ways, boys.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Would love that too, but all of baseball's broadcast partners are so heavily invested in college football, ain't gonna happen. And that's also why a potential Cubs-Giants/Mets Game 2, involving two Top-10 TV market teams, gets shuffled off to MLB Network.

That isn't true at all. That decision was made a long time ago as MLB's strategy to make money off cable. Postseason games drive up the per-subscriber fees all year long. Also, first-round Game 2s, regardless of who is playing, don't draw anywhere near as many eyeballs as blockbuster college football.

I can't believe people still buy this "Network is GOD" thing, but we go through it every year here.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

The NFL has a 1970s broadcast model. In many ways, it is the last great hit show of the network TV era, a lineal descendant of "I Love Lucy." Baseball has a 2007 or so model. It's built on cable. Which sport will grab the diffuse model that runs other entertainment programming today? That's your winner for the future

 

[HanSenSE]

That isn't true at all. That decision was made a long time ago as MLB's strategy to make money off cable. Postseason games drive up the per-subscriber fees all year long. Also, first-round Game 2s, regardless of who is playing, don't draw anywhere near as many eyeballs as blockbuster college football.

I can't believe people still buy this "Network is GOD" thing, but we go through it every year here.

The problem I have with it is MLB Network is part of the sports package add-on on most cable/satellite setups, so it is not as widely distributed as FS1, TBS or ESPN. Can't a repeat of Seinfeld be bumped off TBS or another showing of The Shawshank Redemption pulled from TNT? And while I know NHL Network and NBATV carry playoff games, they at least allow them on the team's RSNs to the home audience. Is baseball that desparate for cash, or do TBS and FS1 have them by the reproductive organs?

 

[LongTimeListener]

You're seriously making no sense.

MLB makes money hand over fist by having games on MLB Network.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

The problem I have with it is MLB Network is part of the sports package add-on on most cable/satellite setups, so it is not as widely distributed as FS1, TBS or ESPN. Can't a repeat of Seinfeld be bumped off TBS or another showing of The Shawshank Redemption pulled from TNT? And while I know NHL Network and NBATV carry playoff games, they at least allow them on the team's RSNs to the home audience. Is baseball that desparate for cash, or do TBS and FS1 have them by the reproductive organs?

Baseball's entire business model is built on one principle. NFL envy. If Roger Goodell jumped out of his Park Ave. window (please God), Rob Manuel would leap from his within 90 seconds.

 

[RickStain]

I believe MLB Network will be giving a free trial to basically all cable subscribers to coincide with the games that are on there.

 

[HanSenSE]

Make money on MLB Network, lose exposure on basic cable packages.

Obviously, I want baseball to succeed. But sometimes I question how it gets there. What Rick Stain posted is a good first step.

 

[Elliotte Friedman]

Tillman vs Stroman tomorrow night.

BAL one of the best vs righties, worst vs lefties. Jays decide in favour of Stroman over Liriano. If they lose, Rogers Centre might burn. Got my tickets, will make sure to be out of the building before then.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Make money on MLB Network, lose exposure on basic cable packages.

Obviously, I want baseball to succeed. But sometimes I question how it gets there. What Rick Stain posted is a good first step.

Dude.

Gets there? You're writing that as if baseball isn't succeeding wildly. It is making as much or money than football.

 

[User 11148]

Dude.

Gets there? You're writing that as if baseball isn't succeeding wildly. It is making as much or money than football.

Seriously ... Judging baseball on its postseason ratings is like judging a starting pitcher on his worst (or most recent) 16 starts.

 

[LongTimeListener]

But enough about Colby Lewis.