Baseball manifesto

[Votto]

I've had it with MLB. Small market teams like my Reds are nothing more than a farm system for teams like the Yankees, who now have former Red's stars like Aroldis Chapman and Todd Frazier. Currently the good players they do have are rumored to be traded soon cuz they are "rebuilding" and are just too good to be Reds anymore. And here I thought that rebuilding meant holding on to your good players. Silly me.

So here is my proposal. The current system of dividing up divisions based upon location is inadequate and archaic. Ever since the last baseball strike the system has been out of skew. Now there is no limit as to how much a player can make and the smaller market teams simply cannot pay what the elite players require. So to address this problem, what should be done is dividing the divisions based upon payroll. That means all the high payroll teams will be in their own division and all the low payroll teams in their divisions.

That way the have not's can have a better shot at going to the playoffs, where a 3 or 4 game series can possibly go in favor of the underdog lower payroll teams.

I usually stop watching about June because the Reds are usually out of the race by then, and I'm sure less and less people even follow these losing small market teams at all anymore. This would revitalize MLB and give hope to those who have no current hope. Or we can just let baseball die.

 

[washamericom]

I've had it with MLB. Small market teams like my Reds are nothing more than a farm system for teams like the Yankees, who now have former Red's stars like Aroldis Chapman and Todd Frazier. Currently the good players they do have are rumored to be traded soon cuz they are "rebuilding" and are just too good to be Reds anymore. And here I thought that rebuilding meant holding on to your good players. Silly me.

So here is my proposal. The current system of dividing up divisions based upon location is inadequate and archaic. Ever since the last baseball strike the system has been out of skew. Now there is no limit as to how much a player can make and the smaller market teams simply cannot pay what the elite players require. So to address this problem, what should be done is dividing the divisions based upon payroll. That means all the high payroll teams will be in their own division and all the low payroll teams in their divisions.

That way the have not's can have a better shot at going to the playoffs, where a 3 or 4 game series can possibly go in favor of the underdog lower payroll teams.

I usually stop watching about June because the Reds are usually out of the race by then, and I'm sure less and less people even follow these losing small market teams at all anymore. This would revitalize MLB and give hope to those who have no current hope. Or we can just let baseball die.

i feel your pain, baseball gerrymandering. i lost interest when: roberto alamar spit in an umpire's face then was inducted into the hall of fame.

i lost faith. but politically it's a methaphor for the left today.

9/27/1996 - Alomar spits at Hirschbeck

 

[Votto]

I've had it with MLB. Small market teams like my Reds are nothing more than a farm system for teams like the Yankees, who now have former Red's stars like Aroldis Chapman and Todd Frazier. Currently the good players they do have are rumored to be traded soon cuz they are "rebuilding" and are just too good to be Reds anymore. And here I thought that rebuilding meant holding on to your good players. Silly me.

So here is my proposal. The current system of dividing up divisions based upon location is inadequate and archaic. Ever since the last baseball strike the system has been out of skew. Now there is no limit as to how much a player can make and the smaller market teams simply cannot pay what the elite players require. So to address this problem, what should be done is dividing the divisions based upon payroll. That means all the high payroll teams will be in their own division and all the low payroll teams in their divisions.

That way the have not's can have a better shot at going to the playoffs, where a 3 or 4 game series can possibly go in favor of the underdog lower payroll teams.

I usually stop watching about June because the Reds are usually out of the race by then, and I'm sure less and less people even follow these losing small market teams at all anymore. This would revitalize MLB and give hope to those who have no current hope. Or we can just let baseball die.

i feel your pain, baseball gerrymandering. i lost interest when: roberto alamar spit in an umpire's face then was inducted into the hall of fame.

i lost faith. but politically it's a methaphor for the left today.

9/27/1996 - Alomar spits at Hirschbeck

I take issue with Pete Rose being banned from the Hall of Fame.

Take this into consideration. Ty Cobb was the last hit king to be inducted into the baseball hall of fame, or should it be hall of shame? For you see, Ty Cobb was the first player to be banned from the game. It was he who nearly beat to death a fan in the stands because he called him a "half negro". Ty was what you might call a racist, as well as just a general SOB everyone hated. In fact, the players on his own ball club hated him to the point that when someone beat Ty for a batting title one year, his own team mates sent the other chap a congratulatory card.

So why was Ty reinstated for nearly murdering a fan in the stands, who was in a wheelchair as well? It was because the entire baseball establishment was so racist, that everyone ran to the defense of Ty Cobb, even the players on his own team who hated him, and whom he hated. They told MLB to either let him back into baseball, or they would walk.

And the rest is history.

So what is worse, gambling on games, not throwing them to lose, or nearly murdering a handicapped man in the stands because you are an ardent racist?

Baseball says Pete is far worse.

 

[Votto]

For those interested in what I'm talking about, a good movie on the subject is called "Moneyball".

Good flick.

 

[Fenton Lum]

When these socialist sports team owners who have taxpayers build their palaces start funding that shit themselves, perhaps I'll pay some attention to them. As for now, fuck 'em all.

 

[Bruce_T_Laney]

When these socialist sports team owners who have taxpayers build their palaces start funding that shit themselves, perhaps I'll pay some attention to them. As for now, fuck 'em all.

If I remember correctly the last team to build their stadium without public funds were the Giants in San Fran.

I agree owners should build their own stadium and not ask for handouts from the taxpayer.

I've had it with MLB. Small market teams like my Reds are nothing more than a farm system for teams like the Yankees, who now have former Red's stars like Aroldis Chapman and Todd Frazier. Currently the good players they do have are rumored to be traded soon cuz they are "rebuilding" and are just too good to be Reds anymore. And here I thought that rebuilding meant holding on to your good players. Silly me.

So here is my proposal. The current system of dividing up divisions based upon location is inadequate and archaic. Ever since the last baseball strike the system has been out of skew. Now there is no limit as to how much a player can make and the smaller market teams simply cannot pay what the elite players require. So to address this problem, what should be done is dividing the divisions based upon payroll. That means all the high payroll teams will be in their own division and all the low payroll teams in their divisions.

That way the have not's can have a better shot at going to the playoffs, where a 3 or 4 game series can possibly go in favor of the underdog lower payroll teams.

I usually stop watching about June because the Reds are usually out of the race by then, and I'm sure less and less people even follow these losing small market teams at all anymore. This would revitalize MLB and give hope to those who have no current hope. Or we can just let baseball die.

Cubs fan here and I agree the smaller market teams are screwed. Reds, Pirates and Astros are usually the bigger teams minor league system.

I wish they would level the playing field,for smaller teams.

 

[BlackFlag]

i lost faith. but politically it's a methaphor for the left today.

Oh good grief you fucking hack

Can't you set aside your obsession with the left to talk about baseball for even a second? Holy crap.

Regarding the topic, I'm prepping myself to lose Bryce Harper to the Cubs or Yankees after 2018. If he stays he'll be a hero, but he'll have to turn down a lot of money.

I'm all for a salary cap.

Imagine what would happen to Green Bay in the NFL if they had baseball's pay rules?

 

[Votto]

i lost faith. but politically it's a methaphor for the left today.

Oh good grief you fucking hack

Can't you set aside your obsession with the left to talk about baseball for even a second? Holy crap.

Regarding the topic, I'm prepping myself to lose Bryce Harper to the Cubs or Yankees after 2018. If he stays he'll be a hero, but he'll have to turn down a lot of money.

I'm all for a salary cap.

Imagine what would happen to Green Bay in the NFL if they had baseball's pay rules?

I suggest my method first.

Divide the divisions based upon payroll so that each team in the division has a chance to advance to the post season. That way no one is effected except giving hope to the fans. Players and owners will continue to be free to do as they like.

In a small series in the playoffs, anything can happen.

 

[washamericom]

I've had it with MLB. Small market teams like my Reds are nothing more than a farm system for teams like the Yankees, who now have former Red's stars like Aroldis Chapman and Todd Frazier. Currently the good players they do have are rumored to be traded soon cuz they are "rebuilding" and are just too good to be Reds anymore. And here I thought that rebuilding meant holding on to your good players. Silly me.

So here is my proposal. The current system of dividing up divisions based upon location is inadequate and archaic. Ever since the last baseball strike the system has been out of skew. Now there is no limit as to how much a player can make and the smaller market teams simply cannot pay what the elite players require. So to address this problem, what should be done is dividing the divisions based upon payroll. That means all the high payroll teams will be in their own division and all the low payroll teams in their divisions.

That way the have not's can have a better shot at going to the playoffs, where a 3 or 4 game series can possibly go in favor of the underdog lower payroll teams.

I usually stop watching about June because the Reds are usually out of the race by then, and I'm sure less and less people even follow these losing small market teams at all anymore. This would revitalize MLB and give hope to those who have no current hope. Or we can just let baseball die.

i feel your pain, baseball gerrymandering. i lost interest when: roberto alamar spit in an umpire's face then was inducted into the hall of fame.

i lost faith. but politically it's a methaphor for the left today.

9/27/1996 - Alomar spits at Hirschbeck

I take issue with Pete Rose being banned from the Hall of Fame.

Take this into consideration. Ty Cobb was the last hit king to be inducted into the baseball hall of fame, or should it be hall of shame? For you see, Ty Cobb was the first player to be banned from the game. It was he who nearly beat to death a fan in the stands because he called him a "half negro". Ty was what you might call a racist, as well as just a general SOB everyone hated. In fact, the players on his own ball club hated him to the point that when someone beat Ty for a batting title one year, his own team mates sent the other chap a congratulatory card.

So why was Ty reinstated for nearly murdering a fan in the stands, who was in a wheelchair as well? It was because the entire baseball establishment was so racist, that everyone ran to the defense of Ty Cobb, even the players on his own team who hated him, and whom he hated. They told MLB to either let him back into baseball, or they would walk.

And the rest is history.

So what is worse, gambling on games, not throwing them to lose, or nearly murdering a handicapped man in the stands because you are an ardent racist?

Baseball says Pete is far worse.

Pete Rose should be in the hall of fame... it's time. he's paid his dues twice now.

 

[washamericom]

For those interested in what I'm talking about, a good movie on the subject is called "Moneyball".

Good flick.

great flick.

 

[Votto]

I've had it with MLB. Small market teams like my Reds are nothing more than a farm system for teams like the Yankees, who now have former Red's stars like Aroldis Chapman and Todd Frazier. Currently the good players they do have are rumored to be traded soon cuz they are "rebuilding" and are just too good to be Reds anymore. And here I thought that rebuilding meant holding on to your good players. Silly me.

So here is my proposal. The current system of dividing up divisions based upon location is inadequate and archaic. Ever since the last baseball strike the system has been out of skew. Now there is no limit as to how much a player can make and the smaller market teams simply cannot pay what the elite players require. So to address this problem, what should be done is dividing the divisions based upon payroll. That means all the high payroll teams will be in their own division and all the low payroll teams in their divisions.

That way the have not's can have a better shot at going to the playoffs, where a 3 or 4 game series can possibly go in favor of the underdog lower payroll teams.

I usually stop watching about June because the Reds are usually out of the race by then, and I'm sure less and less people even follow these losing small market teams at all anymore. This would revitalize MLB and give hope to those who have no current hope. Or we can just let baseball die.

i feel your pain, baseball gerrymandering. i lost interest when: roberto alamar spit in an umpire's face then was inducted into the hall of fame.

i lost faith. but politically it's a methaphor for the left today.

9/27/1996 - Alomar spits at Hirschbeck

I take issue with Pete Rose being banned from the Hall of Fame.

Take this into consideration. Ty Cobb was the last hit king to be inducted into the baseball hall of fame, or should it be hall of shame? For you see, Ty Cobb was the first player to be banned from the game. It was he who nearly beat to death a fan in the stands because he called him a "half negro". Ty was what you might call a racist, as well as just a general SOB everyone hated. In fact, the players on his own ball club hated him to the point that when someone beat Ty for a batting title one year, his own team mates sent the other chap a congratulatory card.

So why was Ty reinstated for nearly murdering a fan in the stands, who was in a wheelchair as well? It was because the entire baseball establishment was so racist, that everyone ran to the defense of Ty Cobb, even the players on his own team who hated him, and whom he hated. They told MLB to either let him back into baseball, or they would walk.

And the rest is history.

So what is worse, gambling on games, not throwing them to lose, or nearly murdering a handicapped man in the stands because you are an ardent racist?

Baseball says Pete is far worse.

Pete Rose should be in the hall of fame... it's time. he's paid his dues twice now.

Did I say he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame? No. I merely pointed to their hypocrisy in deciding such things.

What he did was a serious matter. Sure, he did not throw games like the Black Sox did in 1919, who ironically threw the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. However, he probably did gamble on games he was playing/coaching to win. This is a problem because you may end up using certain players, especially pitchers, to win a particular game even though it may be better for the team to use others for use in future games the next couple of days, or you may over extend a pitcher who is doing well in a game just to win as you ignore the injury implications for the player in question.

Add to this his lying and apparent lack of regret and only admitting to things, somewhat, after it was clear he would never get back in the Hall of Fame, just to sell a book and make some cash.

Disgusting.

As much as it pains me to say it, he got what he deserved.

 

[rightwinger]

Rebuilding a team is not like it used to be. Used to be you kept the stars you wanted to rebuild around and tried to keep a somewhat winning team (80 wins) then tried to sign some key free agents

Now the plan seems to be to drive your team down into the dirt (look at Houston Astros). Lose 100 games for a few years in a row and stock up on prime draft picks. Trade your veterans while they still have value and stock your farm system with high end prospects. Cut your payroll to near nothing.
Once your prospects mature, you have a team full of low paid/highly skilled position players. It is then that you use your excess cash to go after free agents

Houston should win 105 games this year after all those years of being an embarrassment

 

[Votto]

Rebuilding a team is not like it used to be. Used to be you kept the stars you wanted to rebuild around and tried to keep a somewhat winning team (80 wins) then tried to sign some key free agents

Now the plan seems to be to drive your team down into the dirt (look at Houston Astros). Lose 100 games for a few years in a row and stock up on prime draft picks. Trade your veterans while they still have value and stock your farm system with high end prospects. Cut your payroll to near nothing.
Once your prospects mature, you have a team full of low paid/highly skilled position players. It is then that you use your excess cash to go after free agents

Houston should win 105 games this year after all those years of being an embarrassment

Right, now the way things are structured a small market team must get kicked around for a decade or so with the hopes that their rising stars gel at the exact same time without being lured away by Yankee money. So if the planets align just right, you may make the playoffs about every 10 years or so, if you are lucky.

 

[rightwinger]

Rebuilding a team is not like it used to be. Used to be you kept the stars you wanted to rebuild around and tried to keep a somewhat winning team (80 wins) then tried to sign some key free agents

Now the plan seems to be to drive your team down into the dirt (look at Houston Astros). Lose 100 games for a few years in a row and stock up on prime draft picks. Trade your veterans while they still have value and stock your farm system with high end prospects. Cut your payroll to near nothing.
Once your prospects mature, you have a team full of low paid/highly skilled position players. It is then that you use your excess cash to go after free agents

Houston should win 105 games this year after all those years of being an embarrassment

Right, now the way things are structured a small market team must get kicked around for a decade or so with the hopes that their rising stars gel at the exact same time without being lured away by Yankee money. So if the planets align just right, you may make the playoffs about every 10 years or so, if you are lucky.

Must suck being Joey Votto

Cincinnati seems to be following the model of KC and Houston in dumping veterans while they still have value and stocking the farm with stars of the future
The young guys, when they come up, don't get paid much and you have them five years before arbitration and seven years before they can become free agents
Its all Moneyball now

 

[Votto]

Rebuilding a team is not like it used to be. Used to be you kept the stars you wanted to rebuild around and tried to keep a somewhat winning team (80 wins) then tried to sign some key free agents

Now the plan seems to be to drive your team down into the dirt (look at Houston Astros). Lose 100 games for a few years in a row and stock up on prime draft picks. Trade your veterans while they still have value and stock your farm system with high end prospects. Cut your payroll to near nothing.
Once your prospects mature, you have a team full of low paid/highly skilled position players. It is then that you use your excess cash to go after free agents

Houston should win 105 games this year after all those years of being an embarrassment

Right, now the way things are structured a small market team must get kicked around for a decade or so with the hopes that their rising stars gel at the exact same time without being lured away by Yankee money. So if the planets align just right, you may make the playoffs about every 10 years or so, if you are lucky.

Must suck being Joey Votto

Cincinnati seems to be following the model of KC and Houston in dumping veterans while they still have value and stocking the farm with stars of the future
The young guys, when they come up, don't get paid much and you have them five years before arbitration and seven years before they can become free agents
Its all Moneyball now

So why not restructure the divisions so all the sucky teams can play for a playoff spot?

Why not keep fans of small market teams, or are they not needed?

 

[Unkotare]

Rebuilding a team is not like it used to be. Used to be you kept the stars you wanted to rebuild around and tried to keep a somewhat winning team (80 wins) then tried to sign some key free agents

Now the plan seems to be to drive your team down into the dirt (look at Houston Astros). Lose 100 games for a few years in a row and stock up on prime draft picks. Trade your veterans while they still have value and stock your farm system with high end prospects. Cut your payroll to near nothing.
Once your prospects mature, you have a team full of low paid/highly skilled position players. It is then that you use your excess cash to go after free agents

Houston should win 105 games this year after all those years of being an embarrassment

Right, now the way things are structured a small market team must get kicked around for a decade or so with the hopes that their rising stars gel at the exact same time without being lured away by Yankee money. So if the planets align just right, you may make the playoffs about every 10 years or so, if you are lucky.

Must suck being Joey Votto

Cincinnati seems to be following the model of KC and Houston in dumping veterans while they still have value and stocking the farm with stars of the future
The young guys, when they come up, don't get paid much and you have them five years before arbitration and seven years before they can become free agents
Its all Moneyball now

So why not restructure the divisions so all the sucky teams can play for a playoff spot?

Why not keep fans of small market teams, or are they not needed?

Might be simpler for you to quit whining.

 

[rightwinger]

Rebuilding a team is not like it used to be. Used to be you kept the stars you wanted to rebuild around and tried to keep a somewhat winning team (80 wins) then tried to sign some key free agents

Now the plan seems to be to drive your team down into the dirt (look at Houston Astros). Lose 100 games for a few years in a row and stock up on prime draft picks. Trade your veterans while they still have value and stock your farm system with high end prospects. Cut your payroll to near nothing.
Once your prospects mature, you have a team full of low paid/highly skilled position players. It is then that you use your excess cash to go after free agents

Houston should win 105 games this year after all those years of being an embarrassment

Right, now the way things are structured a small market team must get kicked around for a decade or so with the hopes that their rising stars gel at the exact same time without being lured away by Yankee money. So if the planets align just right, you may make the playoffs about every 10 years or so, if you are lucky.

Must suck being Joey Votto

Cincinnati seems to be following the model of KC and Houston in dumping veterans while they still have value and stocking the farm with stars of the future
The young guys, when they come up, don't get paid much and you have them five years before arbitration and seven years before they can become free agents
Its all Moneyball now

So why not restructure the divisions so all the sucky teams can play for a playoff spot?

Why not keep fans of small market teams, or are they not needed?

Everyone gets a prize mentality

Are you really content in winning a division full of losers and then getting your butt kicked year after year in the playoffs?
It would be like winning a prize in the Special Olympics and then competing against real Olympians

There is a model for small market teams to get good. KC, Houston, Pittsburgh, Miami and Oakland did it.

With 30 teams in baseball, you can only expect to win once every 30 years anyway. You have to be patient