Baseball thoughts

I don't really want to comment on the whole Kenny Rogers dirty hand thing except to say "Stop it" and this really shows that rules in baseball are malliable at best. There are several rules that many have mentioned, but one I want to talk about is how pitcfhers are allowed to put their hands to their mouth when it is cold outside, but this is a ball when it is not cold. I think the umps actually tell the pitchers when it is cold enough. Ok, so that is pretty dumb rule that changes with the weather. Here is the real problem shown by that, the damn season is way to long!!! We shouldn't be playing the World Series in 40 degrees or colder. This is supposed to be the showcase of the two best teams, representing their leagues and they are playing a different game than during most of the season, during the hot summer months. The playoffs should be over by end of September, but I think I would settle for mid-October. How could this be accomplished? Well, eliminated the division playoffs would be a start, but a very bad one. I think the addition of the wild card has been good. I say remove 18 games from the regular season. This would allow the seaon to start a week later and end with enough time to get three weeks of playoffs before it gets too cold and the nature of the game changes. Plus, with a shorter season, and I think hockey and basketball would benefit from this, each game would mean more, and that is always a good thing

Where would those 18 games come from? Isn't that how many inter-league games that are played? hmmm....

Of course many people would fight this since it would mean less revenue for the owners, comparisons of records with prior seasons would be tough, but these are things that can be worked out. Less revenue for the owners? Ok, cut the players salary by 18/162 percent. Plus, with each game meaning more, there is a possibility that each game would generate marginally more revenue. Also, there is no reason, with the extra time we now have, that they couldn't make the division series a seven game series as well. Two more high-profit games for owners. (I have already talked about the 2-3-2 ... um ... disgraceful playoff format). And the reocrds thing, ahh, that was a straw man, nobody really cares about that. They mess with the game all the time.

Actually, one other point about the 2-3-2. I mentioned the logistics would be a bear, but wouldn't the extra travel and expense be good for the economy in a 2-2-1-1-1? Think of all that extra cash spent at the hotel, by the fans, by the press. Hotels and airlines need revenue right now. This would help the country, it's a patriotic thing.

Oh, and get rid of home team being determined by All Star game - stupid, stupid, stupid. The All Star game is an exhibition, get over it.

I am sure there are other problems with my ideas, but I can't think of them right now. Maybe you can tell me.

Later