Saturday, March 03, 2012

More Playoffs

MLB Announcing that they are adding another team to the post season mix starting this year.

If I read it correctly, it sounds like it is going to be a one game playoff between two wild card teams, then what we've come do know as the "regular" playoff system starts with the ALDS best-of-5 gamer, and ALCS best-of-7.

There is always a tug of war between the baseball traditionalists and the baseball needs innovation crowd.

This is a change as of now anyway that I don't particularly care for and would have preferred to see the ALDS expand to a 7 gamer.

One positive I see to this is that it will further dilute the you need to spend money in baseball argument as it expands the field of particpation in October.

Now, we could have a third place team, get hot, and go on a run, much like the last two Super Bowl champions have done.

More excitement or yawner?

30 comments:

old professor said...

Don't like the new playoff format. It would appear that there will be two wild card teams and they will play one game, with the winner moving one. The ALDS five game series will be a 2-3 game format. The first two games will be on the road for the higher seed with the final three at the higher seeds home. Has to be done due to the need to do away with a travel day. This would seem to punish the higher seed in they must be on the road for the first two games.

Crash regarding your last post in the previous blog, the I am not sure the Yankees view Mason Williams with the same tag as Austin Jackson.

Crash said...

Pineda starts today against the Phillies.

Mason Williams is still a ways off and he's only 20. He played in the NY-Penn league last year. Starting at AA may be a stretch for him right now. He's 6 foot 150 pounds. The kid needs to put on some size. He can hit for average and has crazy speed.

Crash said...

NY Post saying that Pineda isn't a lock for the rotation, mainly because he came to camp out of shape. What a load of crap. You don't trade your best prospect for someone that won't make the rotation. If Garcia, Nova, and Hughes all pitch better than Pineda then I completely agree with putting him the bullpen or minors. But not because of his weight.

Crash said...

So much for the prediction by the NY Post...Pineda looks good! 2 scoreless, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks.

Per Girardi, only CC and Kuroda are "locks" for the rotation.

Mid said...

I think Hughes steps it up this year. He's done being the new kid, the prospect, he's had a taste, now he ups his game in 2012 is my prediction.

Crash said...

CC starts today followed by Hughes. Tomorrow must be Kuroda and Garcia. I don't think either of them have made an appearance yet.

old professor said...

Crash, Garcia pitched on Sunday and gave up two runs on a home run to Pence. However, his fastball was at 88-90 which for him is high.

Pineda apparently has been working with Rothschild on a changeup and used it in the game yesterday. As for his weight, he is already down to what was supposed to be his reporting weight.

At this point, regardless of what is being printed; the rotation has to be CC, Kuroda, Pineda, and Nova. Hughes and Garcia will battle for #5. Or it could be Garcia at #4 and let Nova and Hughes battle.

What could prove interesting is if all six have a great spring. Then you could see what could be two pitchers splitting the number 5 spot with one starting and going five the other finishing the game and the next time around, they reverse who starts and finishes.

That also allows you to keept both individuals stretched out in the event there is an injury.

Miller looked terrible yesterday - I bellieve he is the Rule 5 player from the Nationals the Yankees were hoping would be the long man out of the pen. He walked three gave up five runs in in 1/3 of an inning. Never have seen an ERA of 135.000.

Crash said...

Maybe not all good after all for Pineda. Scouts had his fastball sitting between 88-91, and he struggled to get it to 91. Last year he averaged over 94.

Is this a case of too early in spring don't worry about it, or is it Phil Hughes all over again. For now it's just something to watch, but if the velo doesn't come up in the next start or 2, then there's trouble.

old professor said...

Just to comment on the velocity of Pineda - Rothchild indicated he is not concerned with the velocity because it is his first outing of the Spring. He indicated it takes about four or five outings to get the arm strength up. If he is still throwing at the same velocity by the first week of April, then worry.

Crash said...

Hughes was hitting 93 consistently on the gun today. He was around 90-91 last year.

Crash said...

Kuroda gets the start today against the Rays.

old professor said...

For Hughes to hit 93 in his first spring outting is a good sign. However, he did take the loss. I would think that if he continues to improve, the Yankees will make him the #4 or 5 starter. Nova still has to prove last year was not a fluke. Garcia could also go into the rotation versus Nova.

Texiera hurt his thumb again - he says it is nothing to worry about, but last year he did something similar during the season and it bothered him for a substantial period of time.

Crash said...

I'm not worried about a pitcher taking a W or L in spring training. They're just trying to build strength and work on command at this point.

If Teixeira's thumb is just jammed, taking a couple days off will heal it. I wouldn't be worried about it.

Crash said...

After Kuroda a lot of kids scheduled to pitch including Phelps and Warren. Both are very high on Cashman's list of pitchers that could help out the club.

old professor said...

It looked like most of the pitchers that followed Kuroda are in mid-season form. Soriano pitched well, Wade pitched well, Whalen gave up a hit or two and Warren was effective.

Mo indicates he will announce his decision regarding retirement or return at mid season.

Crash said...

So they have been through the rotation once already. Nova gets his second start today.

ESPN article is pointing out Jeter is off to a bad spring start, and he couldn't make his trademark jump throw yesterday. Essentially they said he's getting old (the oldest starting SS in the game) and it could be a bad season for him.

Gimme a break Jeter is 1 for 8...in spring training. Let's talk maybe in June or July, even September or October about this and see where he is at then.

Crash said...

Big East tourney is under way...Uconn vs. SU in quarterfinals about to tip off at noon. I shared with Mid earlier this week that Syracuse probably has the best shot at the National Championship this year. Anything less than a Final Four appearance has to be considered a disappointment. I think teams like Kentucky, Duke, and NC are overrated. A team like Michigan State could make a lot of noise in the tournament this year.

Crash said...

The NY Giants were about $9MM over the cap for next season. Notably Kareen Makenzie, Brandon Jacobs, and Mario Manningham are free agents. While Osi, Nicks and Cruz look for new deals. But add this to the ever growing Elite status of Eli Manning. He has restructured his contract to give the Giants a much needed break in the salary department. He was scheduled to make $10.75MM base salary this season (2012) but will now make a base of only $1.75MM. I believe the rest of the salary can be earned in bonuses which can be spread out over the life of the contract. This saves the Giants about $6.75MM toward the cap. People are suggesting they can re-sign Jacobs now. I say forgot Jacobs, they need Osi back on the D-Line.

old professor said...

Crash, Nova got lit up again two innings five hits three runs. He may be playing himself back to the minors and leave the Yankees rethinking trading Noesi.

As for the Giants - Jacobs is over the hill, and Osi is a cancer in the club house - goodbye to both. They may want to rethink letting Manningham go. Eli has to be out of his skull taking that kind of reduction.

Crash said...

Yup that's the second rough outing for Nova. I don't know if it's something lingering from last years injury or if it's a dead arm or what. But he is beginning to pitch himself out of the rotation.

I agree with the Jacobs comments. I still like Osi, don't think he's a cancer in the clubhouse, I think he's been frustrated with the lack of a new deal. His teammates love him.


But I also agree on Manningham. He has shown he can be productive and big threat. I know the Giants recently resigned Hixon. He was injured all last year. So I don't know if that makes Manningham expendable.

Crash said...

Even though the Yankees have signed Ibanez, I see Vazquez has been getting some starts at DH already this season. He's in the starting lineup again for today's game against the Braves.
Jeter, Granderson, Cano, Swisher, Chavez, Martin, Jones, Dickerson, Vazquez and Freddy Garcia gets the start.

old professor said...

Nova pitched like crap in the second inning. Phelps pitched well as did Betances. Of greater concern is the lack of offense this team is showing (yes I know the argument about pitchers being ahead of the hitters - didn't seem to be the case with yankee foes the last four games). But until the 9th inning yesterday they had gone 15 innings without a run.

Now comes news that David Robertson's injury may be more severe than originally thought. This cannot be good news and may make the decision as to who stays in the rotation and who goes to the pen (or who gets sent down) a little easier to figure out. If Nova does not pitch well, I could see him being sent down. This would give you a rotation of CC, Kuroda, Pineda, Garcia and Hughes. The pen would figure to be Mo, Soriano, Wade, Mitchell (rule five from the Nationals) Logan and someone from the youth movement (Phelps, Warren, Betances).

Giants have told Kareem MacKenzie to shop around in free agency. At 33 his best years are behind him and he did have some issues with younger quicker defensive lineman. It will be interesting to see how the Giants restructure their team due to salary cap issues.

Crash said...

Just got my Giants Super Bowl BluRay in the mail yesterday. Going to be giving a watch this weekend.

old professor said...

Okay here is a new one to consider. First David Robertson sprains his foot while carrying empty boxes. Now David Price of the Rays has to be removed from his game because he was toweling himself off between innings and hurt his neck. Either pitchers are complete prima donnas or teams should think this is the sign of the coming apocalypse and find a place to build an ark.

Crash said...

I think too much is being made of Robertson's foot. Girardi said if he misses 2 weeks he could miss opening day. Ummm...big deal it's opening day. He's a relief pitcher. Let him miss the first week or 2 if he's going to be there for the rest of the season.

MLB Radio was making a ery deal about Pineda's velocity being way down this spring. Even more telling was in the first half he averaged 96 MPH, July it dropped to 95, August 94, and September down to 93. Now he's sitting 90-93. Not good. If it doesn't come back in the next start or two I would shut him down and give him a long toss program.

Crash said...

Oh...and Garcia pitched 3 scoreless innings, 1 H, 2K, 33 pitches 20 strikes.

Crash said...

Banuelos (new nickname apparently is ManBan) pitched 2 scoreless today.

old professor said...

Garcia may have just locked up the number four spot in the rotation and the final spot is now between Hughes and Nova and if Nova has a third bad outting he can look to SWB for his next professional start.

Go back and read what I said about the Pineda trade - the Yankees gave up too much to get him. Montero will be an offensive force for Seattle and Noesi will probably out perform Nova this year. Cashman has to be having some sleepless nights.

old professor said...

Pineda struggles but wins - one has to wonder whether he was overthrowing to try and get the velocity up.

Marshall the rule five from the nationals has another strong outting and will make the team.

Andrew Jones has to be on the bubble with his performance so far. The minor league outfielder Almonte is having a solid spring.

Crash said...

Hughes had a good outing today. Actually got through 3 IP well under his pitch count. So he probably threw bullpen to get the number up. He has to be ahead of Nova at this point. I watched CC a little bit today and he is very noticeably slimmer than last year. Let's see if he can keep off the weight and pitch well in the second half.

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