NFT: How do you feel about the MLB 60-game plan?

I wish baseball would cut the season in half normally.

There are no wasted games in a 60 game season.

I am excited to see how the teams manage their starters and bullpen.

I think MLB is trying to prevent it by having additional playoff teams, but there is a good chance one of the expected more dominant teams miss the playoffs (ie. Dodgers, Yankees, Nationals). Just too easy to have a slow month or two, particularly when you factor in injuries.

don't know why people care so much about it "feeling legit" as far as the champion goes. Its an extreme circumstance that we are all in, including the players. 60 games should be plenty to weed out the crappy teams and, as usually, have the top teams rise to the top.

The only downside is getting off to a slow start likely dooms you 1/3 way into it but it is what it is.

In comment 14923833 KDavies said:

Quote:

I think MLB is trying to prevent it by having additional playoff teams, but there is a good chance one of the expected more dominant teams miss the playoffs (ie. Dodgers, Yankees, Nationals). Just too easy to have a slow month or two, particularly when you factor in injuries.

Many dominant players, who by definition congregate on great teams, will sit out this year. This is a window for marginal teams to compete.

I'm having a hard time getting excited over it. It's just not enough games to make this into any semblance of a real season. This is like having a 6 game NFL season.

Add in no fans I really can't get excited over it. Maybe i'll feel differently when it starts. I'm a big Yankee fan and if they won a world series in a season like this, would it even matter?

it’s going to be weird and different, and no doubt hamstrung by things like injuries or a sudden Covid outbreak with one or more teams that has to be dealt with. But as soon as games start I’ll of course be tuning right in

Stats will mean nothing and really, who will recognize a WS champion of a 60 game season. With all the health risks associated, rather they cancelled the season and put their energy into a new CBA. This whole process caused a bigger rift between players and owners. I fully expect a lockout in 2022. JMO.

I want baseball back as badly as anyone else, but this is going to be a jumbo-sized, glorified spring training.

In comment 14923833 KDavies said:

Quote:

I think MLB is trying to prevent it by having additional playoff teams, but there is a good chance one of the expected more dominant teams miss the playoffs (ie. Dodgers, Yankees, Nationals). Just too easy to have a slow month or two, particularly when you factor in injuries.

Agree with this take. What I always like about the baseball season is it is a marathon, not a sprint. A player and or team goes into a slump in a 60 game season, they might not make the playoffs in this format. From a Mets fan point of view, I like it. Over 162 games, the Mets have shown us that they will eventually end up what they are, an average team. In a 60 game season, anything can happen!

In comment 14923833 KDavies said:

Quote:

I think MLB is trying to prevent it by having additional playoff teams,

Under the current plan, there are no additional playoff teams, it's just the standard format. Nothing stopping them from continuing to discuss it and try to reach agreement with the players on expanded playoffs, but we see how well reaching agreement has worked so far.

Yawn

its going to be a bumpy ride.

But... just glad to have sports back. As far as how much of an asterisk this is - we'll just have to wait and see. Baseball should be about 110-120 games normally - the 162 is an antiquated model. So playing 60 is kind of like the hockey shortened strike season in 2012 when they played 48 games instead of 82. No one takes away from the Kings winning that year.

Now, if we go into a playoff series and a team's ace is sidelined with Covid... thats another story and the season was kind of a waste. We'll see.

(i'll never get over the Kings-Rangers series)

In comment 14923842 Danny Kanell said:

Quote:

I'm having a hard time getting excited over it. It's just not enough games to make this into any semblance of a real season. This is like having a 6 game NFL season. Add in no fans I really can't get excited over it. Maybe i'll feel differently when it starts. I'm a big Yankee fan and if they won a world series in a season like this, would it even matter?

Honest question, when the Yankees win what do you really get out of it other than joy/happiness? This is a question I ask myself too so I'm not singling you out but as a Yankee fan if they were to win a title in a 60 game season i'd be happy about it and then move on to 2021. It would be a real title since they played legit opponents and went through a full playoffs. Its not like they are playing vs. minor league teams.

I want baseball back and I'll enjoy watching 60 games instead of 0.

had they scheduled more games they probably would have already had to pause spring trainings that likely would have started in AZ and FL as those states cases were rising (and players have been testing positive).

Instead teams have another month of info to make informed decisions - like the Mets and Yanks coming to NY for "spring training".

I think the players made a concerted effort to have as much of a season as they could and the owners did the bare minimum expected of them 2 months late, but like I said we all may end up lucky that's how things went.

but it'll be hard to get too invested in the outcomes. Short of an epic World Series showdown between the Yankees and Dodgers, I expect this to be a forgettable season.

And will watch, but I really don’t care about the 2020 season any longer. It’s going to be a gimmick.

COVID is not going away.

not exactly apples to apples, that was due to mid season strike. They turned the season into 1st half/2nd half, with winners of each playing in the LCS. Point being though, nobody puts an asterisk on the Dodgers winning the series that season. Fucking Fernandomania

60 games with a lot more things altered really does make it like an exhibition season...but I don’t think fans of the playoffs teams and World Series winner will care, once October comes around.

Assuming they can pull it off, of course

In comment 14923855 Mad Mike said:

Quote:

In comment 14923833 KDavies said: Quote: I think MLB is trying to prevent it by having additional playoff teams, Under the current plan, there are no additional playoff teams, it's just the standard format. Nothing stopping them from continuing to discuss it and try to reach agreement with the players on expanded playoffs, but we see how well reaching agreement has worked so far.

My apologies. I thought the increased playoff teams was a done deal. If there is the normal amount of playoff teams, the playoffs really have the potential to have some bizarre teams in (and some good ones out)

And enjoy everything about it. Yea the last two months have been ugly but so has everything else going on in the world. I’ll take the distraction and be happy for it. Of everything that came out of the last month of the negotiations I’m just happy they canned the expanded playoffs for next year. That more than anything annoyed the hell out of me. Who needs a 162 game season that leads to more teams in the playoffs than not? I understood it for this season even though I still didn’t want it but adding it to next year would suck more than any of the other Bs that’s gone on. Want to expand the playoffs one more team? Whatever, but 8 teams per league is freakin ridiculous with a 162 game season.

Did I miss an update?

It happens

That's how I feel.

There's no way to have a "normal" season. Under the circumstances, we're all just going to have to roll with it.

It'll be a minor miracle if all those games get played anyway. There'll be players who have to quarantine, probably whole teams that have to quarantine, it's going to be very ragged. It won't be like anything we're used to, but it'll still be fun to watch baseball.

but the games will count. The stats will go up on fangraphs and on baseball cards. Teams will win the pennant and the world series and they'll get the same trophy everyone else gets.

Let's play ball!

In comment 14923902 mfsd said:

Quote:

60 games with a lot more things altered really does make it like an exhibition season...but I don’t think fans of the playoffs teams and World Series winner will care, once October comes around.

I agree with UConn, it's not that we won't care come October, it's that we won't care come April.

If they can't play at least half the season - 81 games, they might as well cancel it all.

The only positive is the desire to have the World Series over before November starts.

Feel like it is already a random season so why not go all in.

I think it'll be one of the most exciting regular seasons. 162 is a grind. you can't afford ups and downs in a 60 game season. it's high pressure to win each night. I'll watch. LGM!

and i'll take as much of it as I can get.

The CBA expires after next season and if you thought this was a battle, just wait!. Both sides are gonna dig in and would be shocked if there isn't a long work stoppage after 2021

In comment 14923980 Csonka said:

Quote:

I think it'll be one of the most exciting regular seasons. 162 is a grind. you can't afford ups and downs in a 60 game season. it's high pressure to win each night. I'll watch. LGM!

That's my view too, these games are going to matter quick - drop 10 of 15 to start the season you might be pretty fucked, haha.

It will be like college baseball. But, I wish it was 80 so you could cut the stats in half. 15 and 50 would be 30 and 100, 10 wins would be 20 wins, etc.

but not for 2021. If players had accepted owners' proposal it would have been for both years and we would have seen the last of pitchers' batting in the NL.

Another item in the rejected proposal that could still be "on" for 2020 is the one about starting extra innings with a runner on second base.

SNY reporting Jon Heyman's info.

sny - ( New Window )

30 would be better, but 60 is fine as long as the playoffs don’t run too far into football season.

And the surrounding circumstance with the virus makes it seem even noble that they are. Contrast with a work stoppage that would turn off a significant percentage of what truly is a dwindling fan base .

So what looks almost inevitable in 2021? A work stoppage , of course .