Interminable All-Star Break 2012

[Frayed Knot]

Ceetar wrote: As Greg said up above, the possibility of scheduled doubleheaders are part of the new CBA. Part of the flexibility to schedule two uneven sets of 15 teams. Not sure the logistics of it or if that's even necessary, but there will also be a 26th man available for doubleheaders on rosters.

Per the contract language Greg reproduced: "© The original schedule may contain one home split doubleheader for each Club."

That simply allows for the possibility of clubs writing One Double-Header (as in singular) into the schedule which would be of the Day/Night variety.
This is hardly a return to the days of weekly DHs nor do I see it as some positive by-product of inter-league play.


DHs in the "good old days" were common for two reasons:

1) travel was long so more off days were needed.
This idea put forth by a lot of commentators (in their endless quest to "fix" baseball) that a great way to shorten the season is simply to return to weekly double-headers don't realize what they're saying; players aren't going to agree to play 8 games a week.

2) Clubs felt they needed to give customers a 'two for one" discount in order to increase attendance. Single games now average a MUCH larger pct of a sell-out so the practice wouldn't pay the way it used to.

[seawolf17]

Oh, and Prince Fielder won, a fact that nobody will remember ever.

[Frayed Knot]

MFS62 wrote: Another sports story to follow during the break is the never-ending saga of Dwight Howard to the Nets.

One of these years you're actually going to start a [crossout]LI[/crossout], ummmm, [crossout]NJ[/crossout], er ... Brooklyn Nets thread instead of trying to slide Nets info into every unrelated thread you can find.

[G-Fafif]

75+ hours to go...

[bmfc1]

What's with the extra day off this year? Something to do with the extra playoff spot, I think (or am imagining). nah, because that was scheduled before the playoff spot was added (this has been brought up with the worry about ties at the end of the season, since they didn't necessarily leave time) It was always either 3 or 4, I think they just decided to make it uniform for everyone. Not exactly an arbitrary decision; and it does have something to do with larger changes. It's included in the current CBA, albeit for 2013 to 2016. E. 15/15 Realignment Beginning with the 2013 championship season, the Office of the Commissioner will prepare a schedule based on the following criteria: (A) There will be no more than 20 Interleague games. The bulk of Interleague play will be based on a rotating division format, but may include no more than one series against a prime inter-league rival unless they play two two-game series. In the years when the corresponding divisions are scheduled for Interleague play, two series of three or fewer games against the prime inter-league rival may be played. ( Each Club will play no fewer than 17 games against each Club in its division if the schedule is 181 days or more. Each Club will play no fewer than 18 games against each Club in its division if the schedule is 180 days or fewer. (C) The original schedule may contain one home split doubleheader for each Club. (D) The All-Star break will contain four days for all Clubs. The extra day off seems compensation for the squeezing in of potential scheduled day-night doubleheaders and other complications arising from daily Interleague nonsense to come.

How are we gonna live without having the MFYs brighten out lives six times a season? Revisions to inter-league play mean 3 games against another division in the AL, plus 3 or 4 games against your "rival" EXCEPT every three years, when the Mets are back to 6 against the MFYs when the NL East plays the AL East.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/50910/official-subway-series-to-4-games-max

My prediction: MLB screws with the schedule so the Mets/MFY series are Saturday-Sunday which means somehow playing a series which ends on Friday.

[Frayed Knot]

Concocted non-event events like this which thrive on hype, loud calls, and more talk than actual action (see also: drafts, pre-game shows, etc.) are tailor-made made for Chris Berman; they're the reason he's employed. ESPN, which (except for the BB2N gang off in a segregated portion of the Bristol campus) can now go back to ignoring baseball now that what they think is the highlight of the season is over, wouldn't pull him off of something like this at gunpoint. America loves Berman.

And notice that most of those Berman-love quotes involve him calling the HR contest. Again, stuff like the HR derby is the perfect (non)-event for him as he is the perfect (non)-announcer for the (non)-sports fan who tunes into (non)-event like that.
It's a perfect fit.

But notice that ESPN doesn't put Berman on their Monday Night Football package; that when ESPN had the early round baseball playoffs he wasn't their go-to guy either; and when 'The Masters' sold their Thursday & Friday rounds to ESPN a few years back they had one condition: No Berman! (even though he fancies himself a golf expert).

[TransMonk]

http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Greinke-to-start-3-games-in-a-row-for-Brewers/-/1612/15462226/-/j2pha4z/-/index.html

Greinke to start 3 games in a row for Brewers Third start will make franchise history MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Zack Greinke is set to make franchise history Friday. He is scheduled to be the team's starting pitcher for the third straight game. Greinke started last Saturday's game, but was ejected in the first inning. The umpire threw him out after he thought Greinke was arguing a call. Since he only threw four pitches on Saturday, the team started Greinke on Sunday. The last Brewers pitcher to start on consecutive games was C.C. Sabathia, who started the game before and after the All-Star break in 2008. Greinke is scheduled [to start] Friday's game, Milwaukee's first game after the All-Star break. This would make him the first pitcher to start three straight games in one season since Red Faber for the Chicago White Sox in 1917.

[G-Fafif]

52 1/2 hours to go...

[G-Fafif]

28 hours and change...

[TransMonk]

Four days is too long. I feel like a junkie.

[Ceetar]

TransMonk wrote: Four days is too long. I feel like a junkie.

I know! I could even live with the occasional 4 days off if I at least had an out of town scoreboard today, but they did it to everyone.

Hell, just give everyone the week off and play the WBC this week instead of the ASG every fourth year.

[bmfc1]

Ceetar wrote: Hell, just give everyone the week off and play the WBC this week instead of the ASG every fourth year.

Brilliant! The Crypt Keeper would object (how else could we determine home field advantage in the WS?) but it's a great idea.

[G-Fafif]

While we ask, "When's on next?" Jerry Seinfeld considers "Who's on first?" tonight at 7 on MLBN.

[G-Fafif]

Do try and catch the Seinfeld-Costas "Who's On First?" show (under "MLB Network Special," probably) when it airs again. Listening to Jerry dissect a baseball bit is better than Ronnie dissecting the split-finger fastball.

Only 18 1/2 hours to go!

[G-Fafif]

Less than four hours remain, pending tarp time. Per Sonny Curtis, we might just make it after all.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

G-Fafif wrote: Do try and catch the Seinfeld-Costas "Who's On First?" show (under "MLB Network Special," probably) when it airs again. Listening to Jerry dissect a baseball bit is better than Ronnie dissecting the split-finger fastball.

The program was excellent, but after they spoke in the open about the bit being on permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame they used a different version for the show.