If it ain't broke …
No, really, all I wanted was a weather forecast.
When baseball commissioner Bud Selig talked to reporters in the back of Comerica Park press box right before Game 3, I went back there hoping for an explanation of how this would-be evening game turned into a late afternoon start. It turned into a brainstorming of potential minor changes to the playoff system, including ways Selig could make it tougher on wild-card teams after all those wild-card berths in the World Series in recent years.
Uh-oh.
Mind you, the commissioner loves the wild-card system, pointing how out teams often go in with win totals in the mid-90s, and that the playoffs over the last seven years show balance in baseball. But ideas, the commissioner said, could include giving the wild-card teams fewer home games. It’s just something to consider, he cautioned.
My idea? Don’t do anything. Giving a club four home games in a five-game series just sounds like an exhibition. I don’t care how much value needs to be placed in having the league’s best record. If there’s really a problem, the way to balance it out is to make the first round a best-of-7 series, the one move baseball can’t do.
Short of that move, I’d argue that warping the wild card is something baseball can’t afford to do. As long as each league has three divisions and an unbalanced schedule, there has to be a wild-card slot with a fair shot. The Tigers took the AL wild card with just two fewer wins than the top-seeded Yankees. The White Sox, second in the wild-card race, had enough wins to run away with the NL Central or NL West. Should the Tigers really have been penalized for being in the AL Central? Should the Yankees and Mets really be rewarded moreso for playing in divisions that were just about settled by Labor Day?
Jason Beck
(This is posted in last night’s too… but I wrote it while Jason wrote this I guess.)
Wow. Late post here. Thanks Marty.. I guess it just never crossed my mind the whole season that no one knew my name.
Anyway, I agree that Santiago was the right choice today. I, too, however think Omar is the better player.
I know it’s easier to say this as a fan of the team, but from an objective viewpoint, was there a better offseason move than the Tigers signing Kenny Rogers? The media harps on it so much, but really what he has done to the young guns on the team alone makes him underpaid (if you can say that!) I hope Surly Verly and Bondo are taking notice to his quiet fire that is always burning when he’s on the mound. “Give me the God **** BALL!” I believe is the Gambler’s motto for this postseason, and I love it.
Tomorrow is a STATEMENT game for Jeremy Bonderman. He will forever be known as the man who knocked the Yankees out of the playoffs, but he can upgrade his status to true ace if he gets it done tomorrow. Everyone needs the guy who they KNOW will stop a slide, or crush the other opponent when they’re weak, and that’s Bondo’s role on this team in the next decade. Tomorrow, he can prove that he’s not only ready for it, but that he’s already taken that role. I’m not asking for 5 perfect innings with only 40 pitches again, but hey I’d take it!
WHY Bud!! WHY!! Jason, I COMPLETELY agree with you. This isn’t the NBA. The playoffs actually matter in baseball. Tinkering with this would be complete and utter stupidity. PLEASE let it be Bud. Take Paul McCartney’s advice, and just let it be!!
Giving wild card teams less home games is ridiculous. There is nothing wrong with the current system. Win a series, move on. What is wrong with this???
Tomorrow, Bondo can lose and everything is okay. The Tigers will win this series. Does that mean I am ignoring JL’s “each game is important” mantra? Of course not! They have to take it one game at a time. I am just saying that if Bondo happens to have trouble and the Tigers lose, he will have a chance to redeem himself in the World Series. Here we go!!!
Jason, Thanks for sharing this with us. I’m enjoying more and more your opening up to us, your candor concerning issues like this. Much appreciated.
Sounds like some folks are lamenting…(after the fact of course)….the early exit of baseball’s marquis team. A 3 out of 5 first round elimination can be very precarious for those who feel the top teams should have some kind of “given right” or assurance to advance. I wonder if the Yankees had been the Wild Card team, whether we’d be having this discussion?
All right, here’s the take of an old school fuddy duddy for you.
The system in place today is all about generating money first and interest second in baseball. In other words, GREED. They’ve got it now so they might as well stick with it. Yeah, I don’t get that 3 out of 5 first round either. Why can’t baseball change it to 4 of 7? (You mentioned they can’t.)
Now,if fairness and truth are the ultimate goal(lol), go back to the old system. American League, National League. Make 2 stacks of 15 teams each like the old days. Everybody plays everyone else an equal number of games. If you want interleague play, fine, everybody in one League still plays everyone in the other equal number of games, whatever number is decided.
No playoffs. Only a World Series. This would be FAIR. No questions at the end of the year who deserved to be in.
The next logical compromise would be to divide each League into 2 divisions, East-West, North-South…whatever. (when they did this back whenever, I didn’t like it, but eventually got used to it) Everyone still plays everyone else equal number of games.
So now the next logical greedy step would be to divide each league into 4 divisions, which would eliminate the wild card conundrum altogether. Everybody still plays everyone else equal number of games, 2 playoff rounds of 4 out of 7, World Series (best season record is starting home team).
But I’m an old schooler, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to go back to 2 Leagues, 2 stacks, you watch more graphically your team climb or fall through this “pile” and certainly get a truer feel for how they are doing in relation to all the other teams.
But… we have this system in place today that assures more money will be made, more baseball played(not a bad deal), and the hottest team, not necessarily the best, will be champs.
Bud, you can’t have your cake and eat it too.
Lastly, the irony, in my humble yet biased opinion is that, this year at least, the best teams HAVE risen to the top DESPITE this greedy system. And our team is one of them. Go Tigers!!!!
I like the Wild Card because it allows a good team stuck in a good division to make the playoffs. Otherwise a weak team can win a division merely because of its location and good teams would be eliminated.
The only change I would make would be to make the Division Series a best of 7 situation. The best of 5 is a totally different animal and should be a relic discarded.
That said, I am a Yankee fan making my second visit to the Tigers blog.
I think my next visit will be to congratulate you on your World Series victory.
This is an amazing team, far better than I imagined. Good pitching and defense always beats good hitting and you have proven it convincingly.
One game away from sweeping Oakland. It looks certain you will do it.
Best wishes Tiger fans. You have a great team this year.
That,s nice to hear from a Yankees fan. Cool.
Paul1040, thanks for that. I do recognize you from the Yankee blog.
I can’t help but think that this wild card garbage Selig is coming up with is a direct reaction to the Yankees being eliminated. I read this report yesterday afternoon, and I think he’s about to make a huge mistake.
Like Marty, I’m also old school and liked the original two league system. Having said that, I thought the implementation of the wild card was the best idea MLB had had in years. Why should a division winner with an 83-78 record be rewarded with extra home games over a team that went 98-64? That’s just ludicrous, and defeats the entire purpose of the wild card. Does anyone think the 2004 Boston Red Sox should have been penalized?
The only positive I can see, if it even is a positive, is that end of season games would take on more meaning in terms of home field advantage. I really don’t, however, think that would change much if anything about the way clubs approach postseason.
The reason you can’t have a first round best of seven is, according to Selig, because you’d have to cut the regular season to 154 games. I don’t see what’s so “impossible” about that, other than you lose X amount of games with paltry attendance and viewership.
I hope this one strange little man, Mr. Bud Selig, isn’t allowed to unilaterally dictate things like this. I’m hoping it’s just a not very well thought out, gut reaction to complaints from the east coast.
I never comment, but there’s nothing like the stupidity of Bud Selig to bring me out of the shadows.
Obviously he’s upset the Tigers took care of the AL East champ and might take care of the AL West champ. Shouldn’t we be grateful he’s around to keep that pesky Wild Card team in its proper place? Heck, instead of giving four games to the division champ in round one, just cancel the round and let the division champ win by default! Therefore everyone wins! Or replace the Wild Card team’s players with trained monkeys! Not only would that be amusing, wouldn’t it be fun when the started flinging their own ***** at the opposition?
Now that I’ve got that out of my system. Those suggestions have to be the dumbest (am I allowed to curse here?) **** I’ve ever heard. Why would you even dream of messing with the playoff system? Just because too many Wild Card teams are having success? Fans tune in for the upsets, not to see the Yankees steamroll through the playoffs to meet the Mets in the perennially touted Subway Series that NO ONE TUNED IN FOR THE FIRST TIME AROUND. Doing something idiotic like giving the division champ four home games out of five WOULD BE SUICIDAL for the MLB. Ensuring there are no more upsets in the first round is unfathomable to me. I can’t imagine WHY anyone would want that, even if their team is one of the teams that would benefit. I can’t see how this would help the game at ALL. And what happens if one of those upstart Wild Cards beats the mighty Yankees on their home turf? Does Selig just say, “To **** with the Wild Card, let’s just give the World Series to the Yankees”? For Christ’s sake. I can’t even form coherent sentences. Bud Selig should pay for my impending lobotomy. alsaldfjhahg *smashes random keys in rage*
Alexandra S
The way the Tigers out-pitched the four-letter darling Yankees, I doubt the outcome woulda been any different, if it would have been a seven game series, and ALL the games would have been played in New York.
Beyond that, though, this smells of MLB trying to make sure one of the east coast teams(e.g.-Boston and New York)has an easier path to the Series.
Well, Selig’s thoughts are nothing but a minor nuisance right now. The Tigers are looking down the throat of a World Series appearance, no matter what anyone thinks. Sorry to cause a bother to Bud.
I am wondering if the season ending sweep at the hands of the Royals hasn’t helped(there is more than enough evidence to that, huh?…lol). The Tigers went from being somewhat favored, to the underdogs they started the season as, and when they played their best ball.
Time and time again, teams in all sports have shown they play their best, when they have that “us against the world” mentality. It seems, our heroes from Detroit are loading up their sling shots, and slaying another giant.
Well we’re down 2 after 2. Haren looks pretty good but the free swinging RHB need to lay off that split finger. He made Monroe, Ordonez and Inge look pretty bad.
Good to have Gomez in the lineup as Thames would be dealing with the same stuff.
I sure don’t like Monroe batting 2nd. You have the perfect #2 hitter and aguy that can hit and run, spray the ball to right, bunt whatever but most importantly stay out of the strikeout and give you a chance to put 2 on with none out.
Monroe should be hitting #3
Ordonez is getting into a disturbing funk once again as is Inge. We’ve been dodging bullets so far with no production from Ordonez thru Rodriguez in the lineup.
We need them to start hitting the ball.
I think Guillen is possibly affected by playing first base seems to be out of his game too.
Haren is going to be tough–geez Bradley again–he is killing us.
Same thing just happened with Ordonez thru Rodriguez–we will not be able to win if the middle of the lineup doesn’t start acting like they belong there.
This one doesn’t look good. If the As score nay more it might take us right out of the game.
Bonderman needs to be watched like a hawk right now. Short leash time.
I hope C-Mo comes through here but it would be nice if Polanco was up here.
Clutch hit by Monroe! Now Polanco with a runner in scoring position.
Oh how quickly we go from hero to goat. Way to be alive Monroe!
Granderson has just been fantastic. got a break on Monroes hit. The think I feared with Polanco happened –that he would smoke a 2-0 or 3-1 pitch but that it might gor right at someone. He is hitting the ball so well. Monroe didn’t play that very well on the bases but realistically it would have been 2 out and Ordonez up. The way he is swinging the bat right now that is not an exciting proprosition right now.
BTW
Bonderman is done– Leyland need sto take him out after the walk to Thomas. No question about it.
Well-here’s the guys I’ve been *****!n about. Ordonez Guillen Rodriquez.
#4 #5 #6
These are the guys that are supposed to win ball games for you. Let’s see what they got. Good swings and good at bats are critical.
That’s better. But we got screwed over by the ump on Gomez’ AB. Actually Thames should have been swinging in that situation anyway.
One more thing on the 2-2 pitch to Sanitago Inge has to get down to 2nd when the ball posps out of Kendall’s mitt. That removes a force out–not smart.–Guys need to watch how Guillen manages the bases.
One more time–Bonderman is done–long inning AB for the Tigers and I really doubt he is going to be able to to get through another inning.
I’m afraid that if that ball doesn’t hit Bondo, the inning is over. Dan, you got lucky there!
C’mon Curtis! Let’s see some more of that October magic you keep showing you have!
Bondo was on borrowed time.
The old man on third less than 2 out bugaboo for the Tigers strikes again.
Guillen hit the ball hard and Chavez made the play and the throw. A bit deflating and let’s hope it doesn’t stoke the As fire.
Tough Break
Grilli’s lost out there.
What the heck is Leyland doing?
What happened to Leyland’s philosophy of not losing a playoff game without your best pitchers on the mound?
That’s ridiuclous. Grilli is the guy I said shouldn’t be on the playoff roster.
Why don’t you bring in Jones now—Oh I know JL, because you think there is a rule that he can only pictch to start of the 9th innin.
No matter that you need STRIKES now.
idotic
Leyland is definitely living right…He dodged a major bullet that inning.
One things for sure…if the Tiger’s win this game it’ll be dramatic!!!
Why not put Jones in for the 9th?
Top of the order up for us in the bottom of the 9th and he will not be able to put in to protect a lead tonight!!
I agree! Jones or Rodney should be in the game. To me this is defensive managing. showing no confidence in the offense. Then again, what do I know. Leyland’s gotten them this far…
Somebody call the dugout and inform Leyland of Bradley’s success off of Ledezma…
D-A-R-E T-0 D-R-E-A-M!!
YEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
The Detroit Tigers, are going to the World Series!!!!!!!!!!!!
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’d say that was pretty dramatic!!!!!! Yeah BABY!
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!!!! I LOOOOOVEEE YOOOOOOOOUUUUU DEEEEETROOIIT TIIIIGERS!!! THANK YOU!!!
COngragulations Tigers fans. You deserve this one! Now may you go on to beat the pants off the NAtional League!
All I can say is: WOW!
This was really great to see. We love to second guess the guy but that Lovable Ol’ Coot really has sone an increible job this year of managing the players and making them feel they belong and in themselves.
He is open season on strategy for me but I think he may have learned a thing or two this post season too.
Granderson & Polanco have been playing their a$$e$ off. Curtis is keeping his focus and his eye on the ball even against LHP. He has had 2 triples taken away from him by the As outfield yesterday and today and had an immense hit early in the 5th when Haren was ready to go into cruise control.
His stolen base yesterday was also a sign of good things to come.
Polanco was simply phenomenal. He is a manager’s dream and just seems to get better as the going gets tougher.
Ledezma did the job but it was dicey. I am surprised that Jones or Rodney didn’t get the ball in the 9th.
Grilli was throwing hard but he is not ready for prime time. I hope JL doesn’t feel he has to stubbornly go to him again in a key situation like that. Hard to believe he was throwing in the 8th inning of tie game.
Santiago acquitted himself very well I thought.
Monroe dug deep and got a good swing against street in the 9th to keep things alive.
And finally, our cleanup hitter has cleaned up!!
We have a lot to look forward to and I hope the extra time we are being blessed with will help heal a few wounds.
JL will have some decisions to make about the World Series (nice to be able to say that) roster. I suppos some of his decision may depend upon the outcome of the NL Series. I really don’t think Casey will be able to play and if that happens then Big Red will be activated. He may anyway, and the likely candidate to offer his seat will undoubtedly be Perez. No question about this in my mind.
I don’t know how Maroth is doing but I would not be totally surprised if he replaces Grilli or Miner if the Mets beat the Cards. Delgado and the corner outfielders hit from the left side.
…..Magglio Ordonez appeared locked in as he looked over the offerings from Houston Street. I had gooseflesh………I was anticipating a groundball single to left and Monroe would have to really bust a move if he was going to slide across the plate with the winner…….
It had been another well played, tense and exciting postseason game in Detroit, beginning with Bonderman’s early troubles, followed by a Tiger uprising, then the seemingly inevitable tie score. I began to pace as the Tiger hitters mounted one threat after another, all coming to an abrupt and unsatisfying conclusion. By the time Jason Grilli had thrown twelve consecutive pitches outside the strike zone, I’d finally grown weary enough to settle into my chair, alongside my wife who had put aside her knitting. We watched as Wilfredo Ledezma, the guy I had called the Poster Child of the 2003 Tigers, sprinted in from the bullpen. It all seemed correct now, we’d come full circle, and I can’t say as I was surprised when Ledezma induced a pop up to end the inning. Would he come back for the ninth? Yes he would, and after seeing who would hit for Oakland, I surprised myself by agreeing with that decision. “Plenty of time for Rodney and Jonesie” I thought, “this may go on for awhile.” Ledezma retired the side again, and everything was in place. We’d win this thing right now. With one out, Granderson made a bid for a triple, but was turned away by a hobbled Milton Bradley, who made a nice running catch. “Well,” went my addled brain, “we probably don’t score that run from third with one out anyway.” Two out, nobody on and, as has happened so many times this season, this is where the Tigers would strike. I waited for Monroe to lift the winner into the leftfield bullpen, but he instead produced a sharp single to center. Good at bat, good job. I reminded my wife that “I keep saying we’re more likely to score a guy from first than from third, now we get the gapper from Polanco.” Nope, another single. Ordonez stepped up, looked at one, then swung…………
At the crack of the bat, I jerked a finger at the TV and exclaimed one short and loud “HA!” If I’d been an announcer, it would have been pitifully undescriptive, but it felt like the most flowering of prose. As my wife whooped, I just leaned back and quietly enjoyed the moment, taking it all in.
Winners…………….
Well Dan, I would also love to see Shelton and Maroth on the World Series Roster. We’ll see.
Great game! Tigers prove they can come from behind for the second time in post season.
Noticed you guys were a little down on Maglio, but he came through twice. Amazing! Bonderman showed some real courage and focus after a shakey start. Very impressive.
Not sure what you meant by Santiago aquitting himself. Did you mean from that missed double play ball hit to Polanco? I agreed with the commentators, that Polanco should have flipped the ball to Santiago covering.
JL’s use of the bullpen was strange wasn’t it. But once again his moves somehow worked. Macha sure understood the significance of the moment, using closer Street to finish the 7th with bases loaded. (not holding anything back). But JL had faith in the depth of his bullpen. Walker against the lefty was logical, but very scary. Bringing Grilli out for the 8th was, well, you said it, and I too question this move. If the Tigers did not close this one out, I was very worried about Zito tomorrow and then the momentum could have shifted in a major way going back to Oakland. After the 2 outs Grilli throws 12 straight balls, and JL keeps him in. Anybody out there yelling at the TV? One thing in Grilli’s favor was that his ball had a nice sinking movement (at least that’s what I thought I was seeing) and he wasn’t missing by much on most of those pitches. It was like his release point was off by about 4 to 6 inches, consistantly low. JL must have felt he could eventually induce a ground ball, and gave him 3 chances to do it! Very scary! Then Ledezma didn’t seem like the right choice to come in with the bases loaded, but it worked. Again I was surprised JL sent him out in the 9th against a RHB wasn’t it? Ledezma must have some rise on his pitches because he has induced a lot of pop ups lately. He got them again this evening. Wilfredo gets the game 4 victory… Who’da thunk?
One thing about Leyland I admire and respect is that he used his entire roster in this ALCS, except Miner. That’s pretty impressive.
Would love to see the NLCS go 7 hard fought games. I like the Mets as the opponent that would create the most national attention. They have a very interesting and talented team. Missing Martinez and Hernandez really hurts them… St. Louis is exploiting this. I don’t really want to see the Cardinals in the World Series, I’m tired of them, but they have a great manager and they know how to win, and then there’s Pujols…
For now it will be fun for us and good for our Tigers to be able to relax and enjoy being American League Champs for a few days. Kind of watch these two teams beat up on each other, while having some time to rest and heal. Great day! Thank you Tigers!!! You made us proud!!!
Rich, We were blogging at the same time. As usual I enjoyed your eloquent installment. Very nice. You once again paint a compelling and colorful portrait,this time of your thoughts and transpirings as you and your wife cheer the Tigers to ALCS victory. It was as if we were all there with you. Fortunately for you, we weren’t…would have been awkward. I was sitting with my wife too. Bless her, she puts up with my boyish ways, and she actually cheers for the Tigers too. Not over the edge like me, oh no, but in a wonderfully understanding and supportive way. Priceless.
As for what I yelled when Maglio connected, I’m pretty sure it was “Whoa, that’s gone!” Profound eh?
Marty, I thought I would go hoarse after the 8th straight ball. That was insane. It’s easy to laugh it off now, but if Wilfredo doesn’t get that out it’s a COMPLETELY different series. But, in the end, things worked out.
Magglio Ordonez, I think your home run added two years to my life I’m so happy. I was in a room full of Yankees fans in 2003 when Aaron Boone hit his home run, and I can tell you that it’s a heck of a lot better when it’s your team that does it! I went nuts, unlike Rich. I ran out into my street and screamed at the top of my lungs, which drew some glares as I live in Twins country!
I think I’d rather see the Cardinals in the Series. You get by Pujols, they don’t have much else. Their pitching is iffy after Carpenter, and their bullpen isn’t incredibly solid like it has been in the past. That said, La Russa scares me. However, the Mets have a deeper lineup and a better bullpen in my opinion. The starting rotations are the same: one stud, the rest average.
CONGRATS! Enjoy the week off boys! Let’s go win it all!!!
I screamed “GET OUT!” at the TV, much like Dave Dombrowski did in the booth.
The morning after….
A restful sleep last night was much a needed. Marty, as to Santiago I really meant he just played solidly while he was in. He was not at fault in the botched DP. BTW that was the only (for lack of a better word) mistake Polanco has made. And it wasn’t a bad idea just that Rock forgot how short his legs really are!!
I have been down on Ordonez and I think anyone who has been (Leyland included) was justified. There are times that he gets himself in a funk and his style makes it look like he is overwhelmed and self absorbed. He may end up going through this in the Series a bit and the fact that he can snap out of it with a bang is always encouraging and hopeful.
Walker came through last night and did exactly what he is supposed to do as the “situational lefty”. Very good sign.
I hope Gril,li can get over his performance–I actually think he will. He was throwing BBs last night and was just a little too pumped. Would I put him in an a similar situation in the Series. No. He, at this stage, is far more suited to be coming in in the middle innings. Ledezma worked out but we would be cursing both him and JL if Bradley’s well hit ball finds the seats. In fairness to Ledezma I don’t think there is a pitcher (other than Kenny) that can get that monster out right now.
The best thing about this victory is that these guys (who I’ve said a number of times) really are good enough to win it all. The 2 things they have done (and this is to Leyland’s everlasting credit) is to believe in themselves and to make the game fun.
They are making history and a Series ring for these guys is better than a 50/50 proprostion in my opinion.
Let’s get a new Blog subject going and dissect what we know needs to be done in order to do that!!!
Wow, what a moment!
What does a team do to keep sharp in the interim?
Could this have anything to do with the NY Yankees losing out two years in a row in the first round to a wild-card team? Watching the ALDS, the announcers from both FOX and ESPN were almost in despair at the propect of the highly-touted, highly-rated Yankees team failing to advance. Something has to be done! The almighty Yankees can’t be dismissed so readily! We need to make it harder on the Cinderella teams, on the smaller-market teams, on the teams that challenge the ratings to begin with!
This is just my take. I don’t think it’s an entirely invalid observation. The networks certainly didn’t hide it: they wanted the Yankees. It’s just business, as I’m sure there is much more money for the Networks with the Yankees market glued to FOX and ESPN all October, along with the spin of pitching the rest of America to tune in to watch and follow the greatest team ever assembled on it glorious road to the Fall Classic.
About the playoffs: I would eliminate the divisions. Its not that the Tigers (and other successful wild card teams) are crappy, rather the term “wild card” is stigmatising and (obviously) misleading.
The top 2 teams get home field advantage. The 4th team plays the 1st team.
The first round this year would have been:
OAK @ NYY
DET @ MIN
-and-
PHI @ NYM
LAD @ SDP
Note that the Cardinals had the 5th best record and would not be in the playoffs.
Creating 3 divisions from 2 was a mistake. With 2 divisions at least there were enough teams in each to separate the wheat from the chaff. But why should we even bother with divisions? They are arbitrary and capricious and do not add any value (as in scheduling) that cannot be accomplished without them.
Divisions were originally created as an excuse to have a playoff where there was no tradition of such. Now that the general public has accepted and expects baseball playoffs, there is no longer a need for the artifice.
Good points ergie. Creating 3 divisions was a mistake in my opinion. Guess I was trying to get this point across at the top of this blog.
As I said, I liked the old “one stack” system, then got used to the East and West configuration, but really didn’t like this last 3 division change.
I always felt that the Tigers’ best rivalries were Baltimore, New York, Toronto, and Boston. MLB decided for some stupid reason that regional teams would create better rivalries. I didn’t see it with Cleveland, Minnesota, Chicago, and Kansas City. I was really disappointed in the allignments. At first I saw it as MLB trying to sepatate the haves from the have nots. Most of the Central teams were struggling at the time of the reconfiguration.(not looking at any stats, just going on my memory here). The baseball world must agree now that this is the strongest division, both leagues included. Sweet irony.
Still, I’d rather see a balanced schedule, playing all other AL teams 12 and 13 games each to make 162. Some adjustment in that number if interleague games continue. I mean, to me, playing Kansas City, Cleveland, Chicago and Minnesota 18 and 19 times a season gets old.
Now that we’re completely indoctrinated into the playoff format, like you suggest, top 4 teams advance, 1-4 and 2-3.
You are absolutely right ergie, the term Wild Card is stigmatising AND misleading. After all, the Tigers had the 4th best overall record in baseball this year….The BEST record for most of the season. Under the present system,they deserved a post season shot if any team did.
I agree with you, Ergie, about the creation of three divsions. That’s when things really began to get silly. That brought us this ridiculously unbalanced schedule, and created an AL West where the winner only had to beat out three other teams. I suppose the idea was to give more teams a chance at postseason play which, while I don’t necessarily agree with, at least makes some kind of sense. Turning around and penalizing the teams that do battle their way in seems to defeat much of that purpose.
If we are to make an attempt to be “fair,” we’ve got to balance out this scheduling. There are far too many interleague games, so many that one of the prime baseball months (June) is almost totally wasted on this novelty. I’d rather have seen the Tigers have an extra series with the Yankees and Red Sox, along with Tampa Bay, than to play FIVE series with NL teams.
How about two divisions again, East and West? It cuts down on travel, recreates classic matchups, and you can take one wild card from each division. Pare the interleague down to one “classic” rivaly series, alternating home and home yearly (which makes them more intense), add one, maybe two other interleague series, and go from there.
I still maintain that this is just a gut reaction from a weak commissioner to this insane insistence that the Yankees belong in the World Series every uh..darn year.
I’d also like to point out the obvious. The Yankees DID have home field advantage over their wildcard opponent. If they couldn’t hold serve, that’s their problem. You don’t change the entire setup just because they failed to develop or acquire any pitching.
With a couple of days of perspective behind now:
I think some keys to the WS are evident. Inge and Pudge need to hit more. Inge has to cut down on his Ks and move some runners. Pudge has to hit better than .172
It will be good to get Carlos back at SS where he is hitting an unbelievable .571–at 1B he is hitting .188 !!
I think it is imperative that Shelton be added to the roster–logical guy to go would be Perez.
The rotation needs to be changed. Rogers has not given up a run in 15 innings and has averaged ~ 1 hit every 2 IP and a strikeout an inning.
There is no question he should be the opening game pitcher. I don’t care who we face he HAS to be the guy.
Bonderman should go next with Verlander and Robertson interchangeable–though I would lean to Verlander over Robertson.
If Maroth is healthy they could reconsider Grilli or Miner. Particularly if we face the Mets. The Mets have Delgado, Green, Chavez and Beltran (better to have him hit RH) to deal with.
As to the lineup I woudl go with:
Granderson
Polanco
Monroe
Ordonez
Guillen
Casey/Shelton
Pudge
Thames/Gomez
Inge
I think batting Monroe 3rd instead of Casey or Polanco would mean you give a power hitter better pitches to look at with Ordonez behind him.
Casey or Polanco hit the ball wherever its pitched anyway so they wouldn’t benefit as much as Monroe might from that 3-4 tandem.
If they were or had to play Shelton I presume he would be dropped further in the lineup and Gomez or Thames moved up.
Pudge should not be hitting 6th if he is not producing offesively.
Granderson/Polanco–get something going from the getgo. Polanco is an ideal #2 hitter. Monroe did get a hit to the right side with Grandy running the other day but that was an anomaly. He can’t and shouldn’t be trying to spray balls to the right side. He needs to be given the latitude to drive the ball with impunity. I think you maximize the power potential of the middle of the lineup with Monroe batting 3rd.
We’re gonna see a couple of our beloved Tigers slump in this series. It’s inevitable. (I think!) I remember in ’68 when of of the most dependable and consistent guys had a very difficult series–Bill Freehan. And in ’84, Darrell Evans with a single hit in 5 games. It happens.
I think everything will hinge on the pitching though. I guess that is stating the obvious, but on paper we match up with either the Cards or the Mets very well as far as the starters go.
What will be interesting in the next few days are what decisions are made in
“Ley Land”
You guys got me thinking…
I’ll postulate a theorem: The 3 division setup AND the unbalanced schedule work in harmony to make the wild card team stronger than the winners of other divisions.
As evidence (not proof) I offer the following:
1) Games playes against 90 game winning teams in 2006; DET(54), MIN(54), CWS(50), OAK(34), NYY(28).
2) The history of wild card teams in the post-season.
The wild card will ALWAYS play a large number of games against a 90+ winning teams while a division winner MAY or MAY NOT.
Not only do wild card teams therefore pay their dues during the course of the season, but they may also be “toughened up” in a way not available to division winners.
Somebody out there may be able to mathematically (dis)prove this.
If you haven’t heard this yet:
Go to http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061014&content_id=1713121&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det
Then look down under the photo of Placido under “More Coverage” and “Related Links”
Select the audio file:
“Ordonez’s walk-off shot”
It’s worth listening to and who knows maybe someday there will be Tiger fans that remember Dan Dickerson as fondly as we remember
Mr. Ernie Harwell.
Thanks for that heads up, Dan. I didn’t subscribe to audio this season so I just assumed that wouldn’t be available to me. Yeah, good call by Dickerson. You know, the Fox play by play guy didn’t do bad on that, although he’s hard to hear. He certainly captured the excitement of the moment. I was pleasantly surprised.
The only sure thing I have regarding the roster is, you now MUST take another firstbaseman, simply because of Casey’s injury, whether Sean can play or not. I doubt Maroth will be added, but if so, I think Miner would be dropped. JL loves Grilli.
Ergie, interesting. I’m lousy at math, so I wonder if your hypothesis holds true of the NL this season? That was the Dodgers, right?
Good point Press, 90+ did not happen in the NL (90 wins in an arbitrary number).
I’ll rephrase so it is more generic: With an unbalanced schedule and 3 divisions, the wild card and its division winner ALWAYS play MORE games against eventual playoff contenders during the course of the season than the other division winners.
The effect likely serves to depress their W/L records and their apparent strength. As a corollary by not playing as many games against eventual playoff contenders, the other division winners either do not have their weaknesses exposed or, due to their winning percentage, are unmotivated to do something about their weaknesses.
In other words, the wild cards consistently do well in the post-season because it was designed into the system.
Looking at it this way is kind of an epiphany. If I were MLB, I would have an emergency redo of the 2007 schedule. Eliminate the divisions, balance the schedule and admit the top 4 teams to the playoffs.
That’s what I thought you were getting at, and it’s a good point.
Do you think Bud Selig would understand this? As a matter of fact, I still can’t see WHY he suddenly thinks this is a big deal, unless he was just making an attempt to steer the media away from that game time change last Friday.
They can even keep the three divisions, but they’ve got to equalize that schedule. I don’t know of many people in baseball who approve of it. You don’t think……….that was done to create more Yankee-Red Sox games for Fox? Nah, couldn’t be……
You know, I was in error up there. The Tigers actually played SIX interleague series this season. SIX. That’s absurd. The NL Central got totally hosed by having to play the AL Central this season.
What a mess. And this clown wants to award more home games………
Another way to look at it…
If Tigers played 1/3 of the season against the next best 4 teams while the Yankees only had to play 1/5 of the season against the next best 4 teams and they ended up with similar records, then how did the Tigers get to be regarded as the underdog?
Well that one’s easy. I considered them underdogs and predicted they’d lose to either New York or Oakland because they’re pitching had been bad lately. The media considered them underdogs because the Yankees had “The Greatest Lineup In History.”
Anyway, here’s my idea for realigning the divisions.
WEST
Oak
Sea
Tex
LAA
KC
Minn
CENTRAL
Det
Chi
Tor
Cle
Bal
TB
EAST
NYY
Bos
Teams in the East division will play each other 162 times, with the division winner gaining a bye for the entire first round. The East runnerup will play a team to be determined by lottery and will also have homefield. The winners of the Central and West divisions will play each other on neutral fields for two mornings, after which both will be automatically eliminated from further postseason play. In the second round, the remaining teams still standing will meet in the ALCS.
All games shown on Fox, with the exception of the morning games.
An excellant suggestion Rich, one that brillantly manages to balance respect for the immense history and tradition of the game with the reality and urgency of marketing and merchandising in the postmodern age. I like the cross-marketing opportunities that the lottery presents. Lets say we hold the lottery on the last day of the regular season live on ESPN, hosted by Chris Berman of course, as part of a special 6-hour sportscenter. At 9pm eastern time Vanna White draws a team from the official playoff bubble and that team plays the following night in the stadium of the East runnerup. Its not a lot of time to prepare, let alone make travel arrangements but lets face it, they are the lottery (or wildcard team if you will) entry and the sanctity of the the East runner-up must be preserved.
This has the advantage of keeping excitement in every market because any team could win the wildcard/lottery and therefore every team is in the pennant race.
The playoff between the East runner-up and the wildcard should be a best of five or a best of seven whichever comes first. Game three could be played at the wildcard teams ballpark and any important announcements, or distracting theoretical musings that Commissioner Bud Selig feels compelled to share should not wait till the off season but should be made at the same time as the wild-card teams press conference. In the same room if possible if there is enough room.
I went back last night and re-read the comments on the season finale and the next day. Riveting stuff all of it, everyones passions at the boiling point, and lets face it, confronted with the very real sorrow of tragedy, or if you like, the unmistakeable first stirrings of farce, we all had to to confront our own secret fears, disappointments and hopeless longing. And Rich, I called you out that next morning for your prediction of gloom but even then I knew you didn’t mean it; not the man of Norm Cash journeys and cross-country baseball travels and travails. But they bailed us all out, our release and redemption all the sweeter and more sustaining for the unbelievably long and dark night of the soul that preceded it. We all dared to dream and what else could we do because not a soul thought we had a ghost of a chance.
“Small and true-flying pebbles have been known to bring down giants”, still brings a smile to my face and yes Marty, you are definitely my Tiger, chico. Dare to dream, Dan implored us repeatedly, and we did with the endlessly naive belief of children and full-throated passionate, heckling indignation of the cantakerous old men we swore
we’d never become.
There are too many heroes to mention what with Rogers, Polanco, Gomez, Thames, Inge, Ordonez, Santiago, Guillen, Monroe, Zumaya, Verlander Rodney, Bonderman in true working class Detroit fashion it was a ball club, a team that refused to quit and gave us some of the greatest days and nights we’ll ever know. But I think for me the best was seeing Granderson delight and astonish us with tremendous determination and desire, play after play, with no warning at all becoming a Tiger for the ages before our very eyes. I think it was you Marty that said it months ago and its true, there is nothing like seeing Granderson tear around the bases or the outfield. He has become some kind of ballplayer.
And I would like to **** and hoolar with each and every one of you, and blast reggaeton and pour champagne down on all of your heads. So, congratulations on the pennant first and foremost to you Jason, because you created and maintained (at a certain healthy and necessary distance; there are doctors and there are inmates, and though they may have things in common it is better that some separation be observed) this space for us to gather and gave us so many terrific reports and posed the real and abiding questions all season long(when the ALCS started I couldn’t find your blog and I absolutely went nuts). And heres bubbly on your head Dan, and Rich and Marty, and for you Tigerfan, mescratch, condusive, Steve, Ergie, Dsmith and all you other crazy dreamers who bleed Tiger blue year in and year out, win or lose, come what may. I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed all of you this ridiculous, enchanted and wonderful season. Now lets go take the series.
Rube–no truer words have ever been spoken.
Here’s a thought–Do you think MLB will adjust the time of game 6 or game 7 if it is cold and snowy in Detroit? Somehow I have a feeling if the Mets are playing it ain’t gonna happen like it did in the ALCS.
It will be pretty hypocritical if the weather is brutal and getting worse as the night wears on but the game remains at prime time.
Rube, You’re back!! I was about ready to make a formal plea for your return. Where you been?
Thank’s for the kind words. I struggle with one liners, while the prose flows from you like the ball flew from Maglio’s bat. Sweet…You have a “gift”.
When I wrote that, our Tigers had either lost game 1 to the Yankees or were ready to play it. Things were not looking well. That Yankee fan was kind of rubbing it in too, like the “Philistine giant”. (Hope he’s doing OK) We WERE all clinging to a few last tattered vestages of hope…. Can’t ever give up right? Here we were emotionally drained,disappointed, PRACTICALLY resigned to dreams of next year… Slaying a giant with a small smooth stone may not have been the perfect baseball analogy, and it was admittedly a little over the top, but… if we don’t “dare to dream”, why bother investing our hearts and souls into this game, this team, in the first place? Well,guess we weren’t ready to **** on the fire and call in the dogs yet….cause here we are.
Can’t take credit for the Granderson statement…Someone please step forward.
Rich, your division realignment honestly got me laughing out loud! That was good stuff! Another of the writers on this blog who has the “gift”.
Ergie, Those numbers you brought to light and your theorem concerning the Wild Card team are intriguing. You’ve made a convincing case that the post season successes of the WC teams might be rooted in real statistics rather than just plain luck?
Wonder how long that label “the greatest lineup in history” will be remembered? Next year? Next month? So like today, eh?
I too would like to thank all you guys whom Rube mentioned for all your installments. It’s been a pleasure reading, and being a part of this blog, and I too symbolically annoint you all with generous portions of champagne.
Now, if you want to know which way the Tiger winds blow, keep your eye on Dan. He has been without a doubt,through the season, the one guy, the glue that holds this blog site together. The helmster. Kudos Dan
Okay, I’ll step forward. The Granderson statement came from me. We got a chance to witness what I referred to in this last series when he legged out that triple and everytime he ran down a long one. That’s why, before setting out on my August baseball mission, I purchased a Granderson t-shirt to go along with my Norm Cash jersey and my “I was a Tigers fan long before 2006″ t-shirt.