The art of the argument in Major League Baseball
September 20th, 2009 by Chris Humpherys
Other than the occasional Family Guy rerun, my television rarely strays from ESPN. While watching Sportscenter the other night, I happened upon some Yankees highlights and had a most interesting revelation.
Bud Selig makes All-Star Game matter
July 7th, 2009 by Chris Humpherys
Next week marks the mid-point of the major league baseball season, to be celebrated on Tuesday with the 80th annual All-Star Game in all its regalia.
Traditionally, baseball’s All-Star Game was strictly an exhibition game between the most popular athletes the American and National League had to offer. That all changed in 2002 when the All-Star Game was declared a 7-7 draw after 11 innings. Fans went into an uproar, asking how such a disaster could come to pass. Commissioner Bud Selig took the brunt of the blame.
That off-season, Selig decided to shake things up a bit. The Commissioner proposed that the outcome of the All-Star Game (from here on out, there would be an outcome) would determine home-field advantage in the World Series. The proposal was discussed in the 2002-2003 off-season and team owners voted unanimously to approve Selig’s suggestion.
Selig has received considerable heat for this controversial change to the Midsummer classic. Baseball purists continue to question why an exhibition game, played between players who might not play in the post-season, and managed by managers who will not manage in the post-season, should have any bearing on who gets an extra, October home game.
Consider the alternative, however.
Before 2003, home field advantage in the World Series was assigned arbitrarily by year and NOT by the team with the best overall record. While home field advantage in the wild-card rounds and the League Championship Series is rewarded by merit to teams with the best records, prior to 2003, the extra World Series home game alternated by year, with the American League team getting the first two (and last two, if necessary) home games in even-numbered years and the National League awarded the extra game in odd-numbered years. Sounds fair, doesn’t it?
While you might think home field advantage in baseball isn’t as important as in other sports, think again. From 1990 through 2002, before the rule change, the team with home-field advantage won the World Series nine out of twelve times, with the only exceptions being the ’99 Yankees, the ’92 Blue Jays, and the ’90 Reds. Over that same period, the team with the better regular season record only had home-field advantage in the World Series FOUR TIMES (’02 Angels, ’98 Yankees, ’97 Marlins, ’91 Twins). All four of those teams were crowned champions, meaning EIGHT times during that period, teams that held a better regular season record than their opponent did NOT receive home-field privileges in the World Series.
In 2001, the Diamondbacks had a worse regular season record than the Yankees yet received home field advantage because of the alternating years rule. Arizona won that World Series in a seventh game in their home stadium. In 1999, the Atlanta Braves had a better regular season record than the New York Yankees, yet didn’t have home field advantage to show for it. In 1992, the Atlanta Braves won more games than the Blue Jays, yet Toronto was awarded home field advantage simply because it was the American League’s year. Toronto also won that World Series.
Since Selig changed the rule in 2003, the outcome of the All-Star Game has had little bearing on who won the World Series. While the American League has won the past six All-Star Games, National League teams have actually won three of the last four pennants (’03 Marlins, ’06 Cardinals, ’08 Phillies).
The argument that the All-Star Game should not affect the post-season does not hold water for it is clearly a dramatic improvement over the arbitrary and inequitable system that preceded it.
Selig’s intention by proposing this change was to add relevance to the All-Star Game. In that respect, he succeeded. The fact that the All-Star Game affects the post-season gives the contest new meaning. Prior to that, the Commissioner was concerned players were taking the game lightly and not giving their best effort. Clearly the decision has generated quite a bit of scuttlebutt. It has probably affected how managers manage and players play out the contest. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Commissioner Selig deserves plenty of criticism for his tenure over major league baseball, but not for altering this rule. As seen recently, it has had little, if any, bearing on the World Series to date, and until another rule change is proposed, it is a dramatic improvement over the system that existed beforehand.
Your Daily SportsChumpdate – June 17, 2009: Sosa, Favre, Stallworth, Hedo, Smoltz, Rockies, Tiger and Shaq
June 17th, 2009 by Chris Humpherys
SAY IT AIN’T SOSA - The New York Times recently reported that former National League MVP Sammy Sosa failed a drug test in 2003. Surprise! I’ve never failed a drug test before… but I’m pretty sure my employer wouldn’t wait six years to tell me that I had. Read the rest of this entry »
Cheating in Sports: Do Fans Still Care?
May 6th, 2009 by Chris Humpherys
Close your eyes and think back.
You’re nine years old. You’re playing Risk or cards or chess with a friend. He leaves the room for a minute and you are suddenly left alone with the opportunity to give yourself a distinct advantage by moving a piece, changing the roll of your dice or switching cards without him ever knowing. Read the rest of this entry »
Your 2009 MLB Preview (in 1,000 words or less)
April 2nd, 2009 by Chris HumpherysSpring training is almost over and the season is upon us. Now that baseball is allegedly steroid-free, fans of the sport can finally get back to trusting the players in uniform. This means we can finally stop talking about the A-Rod, Bonds and Clemens sagas and focus on the sport the way it used to be before syringes entered the locker rooms. To all those who complained about the steroid era, remember when only two players hit fifty home runs a year, don’t come crying to us.
Whoever reigns supreme in October is anybody’s guess but several teams once again have a legitimate shot to win a World Series title. And last year’s Rays proved that the Cinderella team is alive and well in major league baseball.
American League East: The young, Tampa Bay Rays proved last year that anything is possible. They went toe to toe with the big boys all-season long and never backed down, proving that even smaller market, lower-budget teams can still compete against the league’s Goliaths. They have a sharp, pitching staff and several emerging superstars including Evan Longoria. It won’t be an easy task for them to repeat, however, as the Red Sox and Yankees are both loaded. Since baby Steinbrenner does not like to lose, the pinstripes made huge off-season acquisitions landing the highly coveted CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Mark Teixeira. Yet they will miss Alex Rodriguez for a few months to a bum hip and likely random photo shoot. The Sox will be equally troublesome. Their starting rotation is so deep, they sent Clay Buchholz to the minors to start the season and he had a spring training ERA of 0.46. This AL East could legitimately see three teams with over ninety wins. The Blue Jays who are always competitive will have an even more difficult time competing with the three beasts of the East and the Orioles will once again be longing for the days of yesteryear.
American League Central: The over/under for how many games the Chicago White Sox will win this season is 78. The over/under for how many times their manager Ozzie Guillen will curse in Spanglish in a post-game interview is three million. Take the over. This division should be highly competitive all season long as the Central features no clear cut favorite. Could this be the year the Indians put things back together again? They have the young talent to do so. With Mauer and Morneau, the unassuming Twins are never an easy out. The Tigers will look to rebound from a disappointing season. The Royals hope to surprise people like the Rays did last year, but until they take the field, it’s unclear whether they can be a .500 ballclub.
American League West: The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – say that three times fast – have owned this division in recent years. It’s as if they lengthen their team name with each division title. Expect more of the same dominance in 2009. For what it’s worth, they finished with one of the best records in spring training. Vlad Guerrero looks to rebound from a sub-par year by his standards. From top to bottom, the Angels should once again contend for a World Series title. The A’s won’t go quietly though, as they look to newly acquired Matt Holiday to shore up the middle of their lineup. Ken Griffey, Jr. returns to Seattle for what will eventually be his farewell tour and the Rangers hope that Josh Hamilton can continue his phenomenal comeback.
National League East: The Philadelphia Phillies are still basking in the glow of their first championship since Mike Schmidt played the hot corner. On the other hand, Mets fans hope they don’t have to find the tallest skyscraper to leap off of if their team inexplicably coughs up another late season lead. The Mets and Phillies have already started the trash talking so things should be tense all season long. Don’t sleep on the Braves or Marlins, though, who will do their best to keep the big city favorites from running away with things. The Mets begin 2009 in their new home. Goodbye Shea Stadium, hello Citi Field. The season-long battle in this division should be so entertaining for its fans, not even Bud Selig could screw it up.
National League Central: Cubs fans begin their 101st year of not having celebrated a world championship. They’re hoping this year will be different although even the most optimistic Cubs fans are understandably skeptical. They were handily beaten by Joe Torre’s Dodgers last year before they even realized they were in the post-season. Chicago is once again a heavy favorite to win the division despite the Brewers’ success last season. The Cardinals are never an easy out either as long as a man named Albert Pujols is in their lineup. Beware the Reds who may have one of the most promising young pitching staffs in the majors. The Astros and Pirates should bring up the rear of the division, but then again, that’s why they play the games.
National League West: Dodger fans all breathed a collective sigh of relief when management decided to re-sign Manny Ramirez. Having ManRam back will keep them in contention. Although that’s a good start, he alone will not guarantee a division title. The Giants, Padres, Rockies and Diamondbacks will do their best to keep L.A. honest. With the wild card team likely coming from one of the other two National League divisions, whoever wins the West should be the only team from this division in the post-season.
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