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Offense not looking good tonight. Not they they can always look good.

I really don't like the waste pitch of throwing so high that no one is tempted to swing. As least make it close enough to tempt the hitter.

or Tim got the sign wrong. One of them did

hard to tell but possible. with the goofs he's made this year its hard to know.

it did

but not always smart on the base path.

Mostly because it's not his decision to play him.

For this I think it is what is best for baseball. Maybe not the competition of the games but the best for the health of the game.

This is the best part about baseball and why it's so difficult to win on a consistent basis. It has more randomness than any others. Of course a 7 game series is going to be more selective than a 3 game. It does create more suspense and interest in the games. As someone else pointed out, the NCAA tournament is one of the most watched "sports" because of the one and done. however, most of the time the best teams still make it thorough.

Just look at your own list. The smallest market teams are at the bottom and have revenues about a third of the bigger market teams. If you know you don't have the resources of the top 5 teams, what can you do to compete. Don't look at the value of the team as that isn't realized until they sell. Look at the revenues.

It probably will cheapen winning the division if the first series stays at 3 games. But overall it would be better for the game. Look at all the interest generated here when the season started. Everyone was talking how to improve the team because the thought of the playoffs was in reach. The teams that are in or will be on the bubble will have the "games to clinch the playoffs" interest.

This I agree with. They need to find a way to make the money the incentive. I've always pushed for a salary cap and floor to even the playing field. I disagree totally with the last part. The revenues of the MLB varies so widely in MLB and there is such little revenue sharing that the system inherently favors the large markets. All of the other leagues have a much better revenue sharing system and salary caps that it evens the playing field.

I agree as well

It's doesn't seem to bother the NFL to have people without the NFL network to miss the Thursday night games as the season goes on.

Agreed. It's all about driving up the interest in the sport, which has been decreasing.

I think it will help. There will be increased fans interest with a chance to go to the playoffs to win the World Series. Think about any pennant race. It drives interest.

That's just it. It's not really different from baseball where there a few dominant teams and some hopeful rebuilding teams. The relegation really doesn't make it more competitive. It's like any others without salary caps, those with the money win. I'm all for rooting for the local team as evidenced by my Sox fandom regardless of what teams I've worked for.

Exactly. If the team was in the playoffs or at least in contention more it would drive up the interest.

The EPL is the epitome of competition. That's why Man U was won the championship 14 out of the last 30 years or so.

Only very recently. In general not as much.

There is an inherent flaw. What exactly is a replacement level player? According to WAR the Sox would have only 1.8 less wins if the player played for the Sox instead of Robert. He looks to be a great deal better than a player who can be replaced by a readily found player. So currently Engel is .5. If the Sox sit Robert and play Engel in CF they should expect to be only 1 game different now? I don't think so. Take it to another level. Mazara is .2 and Engel is .5 with only 3 games difference in games played. Does Mazara look essential the same value as Engel this year?

They will need to make that trade because they have more competition for that final spot. The team with the hot month is the team that wins now. The bottom line is that if more teams are in it, the competition for those assets will be greater.

Teams don't need a 100 win roster now and teams makes trades just for the opportunity to play the 1 game play in wild card game.

Even better lawyers.

Yes. There will be some upsets even with a 3 games series but most often that will be due to an injury or other factor. This is also what makes it a lttle more intriguing as well for he general fan.