More Bud = More Boredom
Early reports have surfaced indicating that Commissioner of Major League Baseball (MLB) Bud Selig will be offered a two-year contract extension that will prolong his reign through the 2014 season. The offer will be made after MLB team owners approve it while they are meeting this week in Scottsdale, Arizona.
This is terrible news for those of us who like a little variety in our baseball schedule. The Commissioner, shown below in his classic “I’m trying to get it” pose, is in love with the “unbalanced” schedule, which calls for teams to play eighteen games against teams in their own division, while playing far fewer ones against teams in the other divisions. For almost sixty years, from 1901 to 1960, the eight teams in each league played a 154 game schedule. It was a beautifully symmetrical plan in which teams played each other twenty-two times, with eleven games at their place and eleven games at yours. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a balanced schedule.
Then things started to change. The leagues expanded. The schedule was increased to 162 games to accommodate the new teams. Then leagues placed their teams into two divisions. More teams entered the leagues 1977 and 1993. Next, the leagues went to a three division format. The most recent round of expansion came in 1998. That’s more or less how we got to where we are today.
Now I like watching the Giants play, and often beat, the Padres as much as the next guy, but eighteen times a year? Every time I sneeze, it’s the Padres. Or the Rockies. How often can a guy watch Matt Latos pitch? How about if you’re a fan of the two-time American League Champion Texas Rangers and you have to watch them play perennial beat-em-up Seattle eighteen times? How much longer are we going to be subjected to this? The answer is at least until 2015, because that’s when another Commissioner will take over. To quote the 1960’s British blues band Cream, “what a bring down.”
I’d like to go to AT & T Park and see some of the other clubs, like the defending World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals, the rapidly improving Washington Nationals (don’t laugh; you’d better watch out for these guys) or the always in contention Philadelphia Phillies more times than is presently possible without jumping on a plane. I enjoy the privilege of living in one of only four markets that has a team from each league in it, so I get to see American League teams, too. It’s easy to ride BART over to the Network Associates Coliseum and enjoy seeing the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox or the Detroit Tigers.
Perhaps one day the schedule will be modified. We may never have a fully balanced schedule, which I understand and accept. I’m hopeful, however, that we can have something more balanced than what we endure now. Maybe twelve games against teams in the same division might work. It would enable teams to play each non-divisional foe eleven times. This would expand the schedule to 168 games, perhaps facilitating double headers, which used to be a staple but are now almost extinct as dinosaurs.
Item last. I’ve poked Commissioner Bud Selig, who’s used to it, I’m sure. Many people say he is an honorable, decent, well-intentioned man, and I agree. However, he’s made up his mind on this matter, and as you can see from this picture, when it’s closed he projects an uncanny resemblance to Fort Knox.
Time takes time, but it passes, too, so maybe one day things will change. One can only hope.
Gotta disagree. I personally like the unbalanced schedule because it makes it much more likely that the team that plays the best in the division wins the division.
When it was unbalanced, you could go under .500 against your division but, if you dominated the other two, you could still win. Nowadays, not so much.
I agree, sometimes it seems like the Cards are playing the Brewers or the Reds every other week, but that’s the way divisions should be. Playing the ones that matter so much that you get sick of them, while the other teams in the NL are exotic treats.
Thank you for your comments, Champ. All of your points are well taken and logical.
There is room for a periodic RANT, which is a rarity here at Team Grubby. It really lets you get your feelings out, leaving room the rational. Something tells me more dates against the Yankees or Red Sox might impact the revenue of a team like the Oakland A’s, which would seem to be rational, especially if you’re making decisions based on an insufficient revenue stream. After all, to quote Bob Dylan, “money doesn’t talk, it swears.” And there’s nothing like Boring Bud for increasing revenues, in most cases.
Things won’t change for another five years, anyway. It will be interesting to see what happens under different leadership. I have a feeling this debate will go on for perpetuity, like the DH.
I’m loving the Cardinals chances for 2012, but that’s another post; this one clearly NOT a rant. I’ve been sweet on the Cardinals for a long time, as in Boyer, Groat, Javier and White.
Of course, you’ve got to rant occasionally. And there’s no doubt that Bud Selig has given us many different things to rant on–All-Star Game counting, wild card(s), not eliminating blackouts. No problems with that at all!
Thanks for the positive thoughts on the Redbirds. I hope you are right and I’m optimistic as well!
When it comes to Grubby Glove, I know that I will learn a lot and be amused too. What can I say, I really enjoy your blog. Thanks.
Like putting an empty uniform in charge of your ICU! Not the best person to manage all of baseball! Not even close!
Hi Mike. Also like the reference to Cream, but respectively disagree about the unbalanced schedule. In 1994, when MLB still had a balanced schedule, the season ending strike saved it from what might have been one of the greatest embarrassments in the history of the sport: a sub .500 team winning its division. The Rangers, at the time of the strike, were leading the AL West, but were well under .500. With an unbalanced schedule, this can pretty much never happen, and there is no perfect solution. The closest (and I have been an advocate of this on our metsmusings podcast since its’ inception) thing to it, beginning in 2013 when we FINALLY/THANK GOD, have two fifteen team leagues, each with three five team divisions is: playing 16 games against each team in your own division, another 8 against the remaining ten teams in your league, and 18 games against one division (with a three year rotation) in the opposite league, which would allow you to play your natural rival a home and home series every season. (16 x 4) + (8 x 10) + (3 x 6) gets you to = 162, and it would take a total of seven seasons to complete. Finally, this year and for the forseeable future, Mat Latos will be only making one visit to AT& T Park, now that he is a member of the Cincinnati Reds.
I love the unbalanced schedule… and the fifteen team per league idea. I’ll be getting to Houston this year to see them in the national league!