Bud Selig and MLB have announced that they are looking to add 2 wild card spots (1 per league) in 2012, which would expand the number of teams in the playoffs from 8 to 10. This is a terrible idea, and I hope that they do not imply this rule.
All of the 4 major sports (MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA) have the division winners go to the playoffs, and there are the others. In MLB, it's 2 wild card spots. In NFL, it's 4 wild card spots. In the NBA and NHL, it's 10. If you look at the percentages of teams that make the playoffs, MLB has by far the lowest, and NBA and NHL the highest:
MLB: 26.27%
NFL: 31.25%
NBA: 53.3%
NHL: 53.3%
Making the playoffs is a big deal, because once your in the playoffs, no matter how bad your team is, you have a shot at winning it all. A medicore team should not be in the playoffs, and a bad team certainly shouldn't be. Because there are 5 wild cards, the Indiana Pacers made the NBA playoffs this year. The Pacers were 37-45, with a .451 winning %. Because they play half as many games as MLB, that would mean a 16 below .500 team would make the playoffs. Based on last years MLB standings, all but 7 teams had a better winning % than the Pacers. This means teams like the Cubs, Astros, Mets, and other rotten teams would be in the playoffs. I know that MLB adding 2 wild card sports is not nearly as many as the NBA or NHL, and the teams would still probably be over .500, but teams play so hard to make the playoffs right now in MLB that baseball should not make it easier to get to the playoffs.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
The 3 Camels + Hamels (JSS-Philly)
The 2k11 Philadelphia Phillies are known to many as the greats pitching rotation ever assembled. This assortment includes the four aces; Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels, and Lee. Along with the four aces is the highly mediocre Joe Blanton.
Career Summary:
Halladay was the ace on the Toronto Blue Jays from 1998-2009. His Blue Jays competed in the highly competitive AL East as the consistent 3rd place team after the Red Sox and (yawn) Yankees. Despite having an average to sub-par team throughout his tenure, Halladay compiled an impressive 3.43 ERA and 49 complete games. Halladay won 22 games and had a 3.25 ERA in his 2003 Cy Young season. He was traded to the Phillies in 2010 and won 21 games and collected his 2nd Cy Young. The trade included the Phillies relinquishing their prized prospect Kyle Drabek who is someone to keep an eye on. He is the most consistent pitcher in the rotation and is known to be the best of the four.
Cliff Lee was a very good pitcher for the Cleveland Indians from 2002- (half) 2009. Lee had a 4.01 ERA during his tribe tenure and collected the 2008 AL Cy Young award. Lee was traded to the Phils in 2009, and helped them in their run to the 2009 World Series where they subsequently lost to the Yankees. The trade included the Indians giving away current Philadelphia outfielder Ben Francisco, and Cleveland receiving catcher Lou Marson and other minor prospects were exchanged. He was traded to the Seattle Mariners in the offseason, but was later traded again to the Texas Rangers midway through the 2010 season. He was instrumental in the Rangers’ run to the 2010 World Series. Lee signed with Philadelphia in the winter of 2010-2011.
Roy Oswalt was the rock of the Houston Astros pitching staff from 2001-2010. The “Wizard of Os” had an impressive 3.24 ERA with Houston and was impressive during their 2005 World Series appearance. Oswalt played horrible in the first half of the 2010 season, compiling a 6-12 record. He was traded to Philly for J.A Happ (who is performing quite well) and two minor league prospects. The second half Oswalt was great, and helped them to their playoff run to the National
League Championship where they lost to eventual champion San Francisco Giants.
This brings us to Cole Hamels, who is known as one of the greatest pitching products of the Phillies minor league system. Hamels came up to the Phillies in 2006. He was 7-0 in the 2008 Championship run and recorded a sub-2.00 era in total. Hamels is the youngest of the four and may have not reached his full potential.
Opinionated Analysis:
Roy “Doc” Halladay has been superb and has been considered possibly the best pitcher currently. Halladay’s arsenal and consistency are unmatched in today’s game. Cliff Lee has been the centerpiece of two teams that have lost in the World Series. Despite this, he was the reason for both of the teams getting there. Oswalt is by far the least consistent pitcher. He is, of course getting older, but his stuff is still there, and would be the #1 pitcher on most teams’ roster. Cole Hamels has the 3rd best consistency in the NL behind Doc and Tim Lincecum, and holds the best changeup in the Majors. Hamels doesn’t have an overwhelming fastball or curve, but he has this aura of confidence and may be the best athlete on the team.
Bottomline:
When it is all said and done, Halladay will be the only one in the hall of fame. Nevertheless, Oswalt and Lee have had solid careers that will be remembered by Houston Astros and Texas Rangers (Adam Genecov) for a long time. Hamels will and has always been a key member of the organization for a while and is loved and hated by Philadelphia. Hamels has encountered speed bumps, but could one day reach superstardom and receive the credit he deserves.
Michael Berg is the Philly Correspondent of Jake Stein Sports and may continue to make posts, usually about Philadelphia sports. He plays basketball and lacrosse, and is a camp friend of Jake Stein. Michael currently resides in Philadelphia, though he grew up in Arizona.
Career Summary:
Halladay was the ace on the Toronto Blue Jays from 1998-2009. His Blue Jays competed in the highly competitive AL East as the consistent 3rd place team after the Red Sox and (yawn) Yankees. Despite having an average to sub-par team throughout his tenure, Halladay compiled an impressive 3.43 ERA and 49 complete games. Halladay won 22 games and had a 3.25 ERA in his 2003 Cy Young season. He was traded to the Phillies in 2010 and won 21 games and collected his 2nd Cy Young. The trade included the Phillies relinquishing their prized prospect Kyle Drabek who is someone to keep an eye on. He is the most consistent pitcher in the rotation and is known to be the best of the four.
Cliff Lee was a very good pitcher for the Cleveland Indians from 2002- (half) 2009. Lee had a 4.01 ERA during his tribe tenure and collected the 2008 AL Cy Young award. Lee was traded to the Phils in 2009, and helped them in their run to the 2009 World Series where they subsequently lost to the Yankees. The trade included the Indians giving away current Philadelphia outfielder Ben Francisco, and Cleveland receiving catcher Lou Marson and other minor prospects were exchanged. He was traded to the Seattle Mariners in the offseason, but was later traded again to the Texas Rangers midway through the 2010 season. He was instrumental in the Rangers’ run to the 2010 World Series. Lee signed with Philadelphia in the winter of 2010-2011.
Roy Oswalt was the rock of the Houston Astros pitching staff from 2001-2010. The “Wizard of Os” had an impressive 3.24 ERA with Houston and was impressive during their 2005 World Series appearance. Oswalt played horrible in the first half of the 2010 season, compiling a 6-12 record. He was traded to Philly for J.A Happ (who is performing quite well) and two minor league prospects. The second half Oswalt was great, and helped them to their playoff run to the National
League Championship where they lost to eventual champion San Francisco Giants.
This brings us to Cole Hamels, who is known as one of the greatest pitching products of the Phillies minor league system. Hamels came up to the Phillies in 2006. He was 7-0 in the 2008 Championship run and recorded a sub-2.00 era in total. Hamels is the youngest of the four and may have not reached his full potential.
Opinionated Analysis:
Roy “Doc” Halladay has been superb and has been considered possibly the best pitcher currently. Halladay’s arsenal and consistency are unmatched in today’s game. Cliff Lee has been the centerpiece of two teams that have lost in the World Series. Despite this, he was the reason for both of the teams getting there. Oswalt is by far the least consistent pitcher. He is, of course getting older, but his stuff is still there, and would be the #1 pitcher on most teams’ roster. Cole Hamels has the 3rd best consistency in the NL behind Doc and Tim Lincecum, and holds the best changeup in the Majors. Hamels doesn’t have an overwhelming fastball or curve, but he has this aura of confidence and may be the best athlete on the team.
Bottomline:
When it is all said and done, Halladay will be the only one in the hall of fame. Nevertheless, Oswalt and Lee have had solid careers that will be remembered by Houston Astros and Texas Rangers (Adam Genecov) for a long time. Hamels will and has always been a key member of the organization for a while and is loved and hated by Philadelphia. Hamels has encountered speed bumps, but could one day reach superstardom and receive the credit he deserves.
Michael Berg is the Philly Correspondent of Jake Stein Sports and may continue to make posts, usually about Philadelphia sports. He plays basketball and lacrosse, and is a camp friend of Jake Stein. Michael currently resides in Philadelphia, though he grew up in Arizona.
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