Riccardi re: dealing Doc *Update 3, pg 6*

[Mustard_Tiger]

The Jays wouldn't support a balanced schedule. They get a lot of money through Boston and New York coming to Toronto three times a year.

[J-Roc]

Even though the Jays have done all right against the Red Sox and the Yanks in the past, it just tells me they've had decent teams. With a balanced schedule, you play crappier teams more often and just have more chances to pull out those wins you "don't deserve".

The fact is the Jays management has not supported altering the schedule or getting out of the division. Well, they need to pick a side. The GM says it's too hard to compete in this division. So wtf, let's try and get out of the division. Raise some noise.

If the Jays decide to rebuild without even seeing if this latest iteration of the team can compete (ie. throw some money at this current roster and go for it in 2010), then we've become one of "those teams". Royals, Pirates....teams with no hope.

[|llsT oNe]

Angels leading in the sweepstakes? god, no

I know I am a bit concerned as well, I wouldn't take anything less than Jered Weaver and Brandon Wood but they are suggesting it's only gonna be one of the two and another mediocore prospect, yikes.

Even Wood sucks. Their prospects are all suspect.

[Brinbe]

Argh... The Angels? Please, no. Weaver's not bad, but Wood hasn't done anything in his time in the bigs. Who cares if he's lighting it up in AAA?

Seriously, there have to be better teams (prospect-wise) to deal with. If JP blows this one, get rid of him. That might be blunt, but he needs to absolutely nail this, and anything less shouldn't be tolerated (and I say that knowing prospects are never a slam-dunk).

[Geddy]

As much as it is a pain to be in the same division as the Red Sox and Yankees, I wouldn't want the Jays to be in any other division.

[Dr Positivity]

I'm completley for having 6 teams in the playoffs with the top 2 getting a bye. 8 is a problem because not allow does it allow bad teams in, but it also puts the 1st/2nd seeds and the value of them in a vulnearable position because let's face it, the MLB playoffs more than any other is a "level playing field once you hit the playoffs" sport, it just takes hot hitting and pitching for 3 games of 5 like with Colorado or the Dodgers sweeping the Cubs. However if you make it 6, finishing high in the regular season becomes important, even more important than now, and the top 2 don't have to worry about facing a hot bitch of a team like Colorado/the Dodgers. Then of course you give teams like us and the Rays more of a deserving chance.

There's the question of pitchers taking that week off, but a 5 game series isn't that long... most of these guys are used to starting every 5 days anyways. They essentially just miss one start

[Modern_epic]

Ugh, no byes, please. I would be shocked if they are considering it, and can't imagine enough teams voting for it.

Byes aren't a good thing in baseball. 7 days of not playing ball is going to mean that your team plays like crap in it's first few games. Baseball is all about rhythm. More bad teams are going to win the WS if the inject byes in, not less.

[Attonitus]

Ugh, no byes, please. I would be shocked if they are considering it, and can't imagine enough teams voting for it.

Byes aren't a good thing in baseball. 7 days of not playing ball is going to mean that your team plays like crap in it's first few games. Baseball is all about rhythm. More bad teams are going to win the WS if the inject byes in, not less.

I am not a big fan of byes either but I know there are alot of people against opening it up to 8 teams from each league as well but I don't necessarily think it would put "bad" teams in. The Top 8 in the AL would be:

1. Boston (54-34)
2. New York (51-37)
3. LA (49-37)
4. Detroit (48-39)
5. Texas (48-39)
6. Tampa Bay (48-41)
7. Seattle (46-42)
8. Chicago (45-43)

The top 9 teams are all above .500 and 8th place is only 10 games behind 1st. Now, the NL is a bit different but I think opening up the playoffs would increase regular season attendance in all "mid-market" teams as the fans would actually have hope of making the playoffs after the all-star break and the added playoff revenues you think would be a cash cow for the league.

Of course, this all spurns history and perhaps takes away from the mlb's competitive superiority over the other sports leagues but I gotta imagine if they put it to an owner's or fan vote the majority would be in favour of expanding the playoffs but I suppose we wouldn't knwo until they actually did (I won't hold my breath).