tmwiese55

It's decided by the regular season and every major conference team plus ND/BYU have a chance. But yea that's where my theory on 4 conferences comes in. Eventually the high major D1 will have to just separate themselves from the rest as far as rules and regulations go anyway. Four 16 teams conferences, each with a conference title game becomes a defacto 8 team tournament and the rest can still do the bowl system as is. And going to 6 teams just makes you argue between teams 5-8 instead of 3-6 like it is now, doesn't change anything.

They're playing with a whole different level of physicality, pressure, and travel. Along with great in season demands on their training and time. That said, I'd argue the lower levels should be reduced too. Just because someone else is doing it doesn't mean you should too. But fine, run them into the ground. Moreover, the guys at the D1 level have the draft to worry about. So now you're making them risk injury again for free. That said, my biggest points against expanding is just that all it does is move the argument down a few spots. And second, that I prefer these big regular season showdown which essentially are the playoff. Third, it reduces the chances of the best team actually winning. yea we all love upsets. But i'd be annoyed as hell if I'm Bama and go undefeated and have to play a 3 loss team that shouldn't even be there. BAd interception/call/fumble etc goes against you and you're out. Or your QB gets hurt in that game that you shouldn't even have to be playing etc. ETA: I also just looked up and a couple D3 and FCS teams, prompted by remembering Bama playing one this week. Seems D3 teams only play 10 game reg season and FCS play 11. I don't know off the top of my head the structure of each's tournament though.

Spreading to 8 doesn't solve anything, it changes the point where you're arguing about who's in, that's it. My bold prediction on how this all shakes itself out years down the line is that eventually the Big 12 will get poached and we'll have 4 mega conferences essentially separated from the rest of the football programs. Each conference will have it's own title game like now, and the 4 winners go to the playoff. Creates a de facto 8 team playoff essentially. Big 12 should add two teams as soon as possible to try and prevent this as much as possible. I saw Barry on Big Ten network saturday morning and they talked about this too. He made the same point I often do. He said how it's easy for us to sit here and pick and choose what we think is best for our entertainment, but we quickly forget that some 19 yr old kids actually have to play these games and we're already demanding a ton from them as it is. Personally I think they should be looking to find a way to get every team two bye weeks. The injuries pile up big time and with the increased awareness to them and not forcing players to play hurt (as much as previously anyway) it could really be a help to the kids. I'd guess starting a week earlier is the way to do it (they did have like 5 games a week early this year), probably don't want to go a week later as then you'll be running into finals week for some schools.

The only way UW doesn't get in if undefeated is this one in a million scenario. ND wins out (two road games vs top 25 teams), Clemson wins out, and a Big 12 team manages to only have one loss as they all play each other now and have to do rematch in the title game. In the history of CFB for all those 3 things to happen is going to be really damn tough. And even still, the committee could easily say, we can't leave out an undefeated B1G champ.

I have a Vaughn jersey as my go to. Favorite player as a kid during the crap years. Been meaning to get a hold of a Mike Fetters as well.

Cubs themed thread, this fits here much better. https://www.theringer.com/2017/10/20/16507056/chicago-cubs-dynasty-in-doubt-nlcs-loss-los-angeles-dodgers

Yankees and Astros also hit a ton of HRs. Though I do think Houston is surprisingly not too strikeout heavy, if I remember correctly. Overall premise is right that MKE should focus on sprinkling in a couple contact guys too for some balance. But this notion that HRs are bad or that teams should be bunting more and doing all this small ball stuff is a bit oveblown.

Yea I'd take that statline again out of 1B, especially for a combined like 7 mil. Will that happen, I'm not so confident. I think this theme was talked about in the last thread a bit, but this lays it out. https://www.theringer.com/2017/10/20/16507056/chicago-cubs-dynasty-in-doubt-nlcs-loss-los-angeles-dodgers

Today is deadline day for Jabari's extension. If they don't agree to something today he goes restricted FA next summer.

If that matchup becomes the 2017 World Series, I just won't watch. That was the Cardinals/Red Sox matchup of a few years ago for me. Literally didn't watch a play of it. My hatred of the Yankees has waned the last 15 years since they just haven't been that good so if that happened this year I'd probably watch and root for the Cubs to lose. Yanks being kind of the upstart underdog team is odd but that's what they are right now. Generally nothing to hate on their team other than Chapman I suppose.

I liked the layout and setup. But I agree that it seemed like the choices and variety went down this year. I usually just get basics anyway so it's not a big deal to me, just my observations walking around compared to past years.

Prince had been one of the most durable players in baseball before he signed the contract, never missed games. They'd have no reason to think it would go like this. It's very rare that you can't insure a player, situations like Jabari Parker's upcoming contract, Joel Embiid's upcoming contract, Amare Stoudemire is famously one that couldn't be insured due to his knee injuries. Plus, baseball is the least injury risk sport especially for position players.

Yup, once again it's all about health. When healthy the guy is still a good hitter. It's just how much can you rely on it at this point since he's so often injured. It's really that simple with him. One side points out that he's a good hitter, the other points out that he's hurt a lot. It's just too bad we don't have the DH, this wouldn't be nearly the concern it is now, besides massively reducing his injury risk it would also help because he's only going to get worse on D, and he's just adequate as it is now.

I'd love Hamels. But I just don't see the Rangers tearing down, if anything I'd expect them to try to sign players/pitchers rather than tear down. I bet they'll even be all over trying to get Darvish back

For that long back and forth that just went on you can simplify your disagreement to one simple thing, health. One side is saying he's always hurt, therefore he's just an ok player. The other side is saying yea but when healthy he's still a pretty good hitter. You're really not that much in disagreement, you're just looking at from different perspectives. I'd say it's consensus here that when healthy Braun is still a good hitter you'd want out there every day, that's all the one side is saying. That side is also ignoring the big pic that he's almost always got some injury lingering and misses a minimum around 30 games each year, which kills his overall value. Which is what the other side is saying. My short take as one who'd probably be called a Braun apologist is that the negative side is probably slightly overreacting here though I see the concern. just last year the guy killed it and was basically healthy all year. Then this year happens and we automatically assume he'll only play 100 games from now on. And even this year until mid-August when he got hurt he basically scorched the ball when he played. He's only got what 3 years left on this deal, there's a very good chance he can still average 125 games and a 280/350ish with 25 HR stat line. Yea not what he was but that's still a good contributing player.

The decision to bring him off the DL early this year only to re-injure immediately and then be out significantly longer could have been the difference in getting a couple Ws they needed. Next year, with a strong 4th OF prospect you're looking to get PT to instead of a guy like Perez and you just don't have to rush him back. Take the extra 4 days, shoot up the thumb while you're at it, recharge and get going. I just don't see what's to argue about here with Braun. You plan on 120-135 games, if you're unlucky you'll have what happened this year. If you get lucky maybe you'll get to 140 or 145 games, but very unlikely. When healthy he's a plus bat and you play him and try to ride him when he's hot. It's that simple. Then hope the DH comes in the last couple years of his deal.

A frontline starter is one thing, Gray is another. If a true impact starter becomes available, I'm sure Brinson won't be considered off-limits. Yea I'd agree with that take, if a trade is there for a legit topline pitcher and you need him to do it, so be it. Otherwise I just think you're downplaying how much he'd be playing. It wouldn't me occasional days for Braun, they have him on a pretty strict forced off days schedule even when he's healthy. If everyone managed to stay healthy he'd probably play roughly 4/7 of games, at least 50%. That's not insignificant PT and it's ignoring that it's inevitable people go on the DL. If we learned anything this year it's that depth is valuable, I wouldn't just dismiss it and then have to rely on Perez or worse out there for 50 games a year. And having both him and Phillips is kind of a numbers game protection, you basically have no idea if either is going to make it big time, but if you have both it sure increases your chances on at least one making it. ETA: Also, that possible lower PT you're worried about would be for 1 year. They prove yourself next year and then we'd have this problem to fix the year after. For now, go in with 4 guys and they'll get plenty of PT. Figure it out the year after if needed, that would be a good problem to have.

You wouldn't be. He'd also be playing 1-2 games a week for Braun when healthy and 35 games when Braun is on the DL. Plus 15-20 games for Santana and an occasional just for the heck of it in center vs righties for Phillips. Mid game swaps with Phillips when a lefty reliever comes in. Defensive replacements for Braun/Santana. I'd be surprised if he doesn't' get over 400 ABs assuming he holds his own and stays healthy himself. They could even start the year in more of a 50/50 platoon in CF. Of course Brinson gets all vs lefties but then enough games vs righties to sort of even out. Then it's the strong survive from there, who performs better.

Yea I'd say it's a no brainer, Brinson plays vs lefties and Phillips sits vs lefties. So that's 1-2 starts per week. He also plays for Braun 1-2 times per week. Tack on a spot start for Santana and a few stretches of Braun or any other OF on the DL and he's going to get plenty of ABs. That's of course assuming Broxton is gone. That said, the idea of Brinson being viewed as untradeable like he was often talked about at the deadline might be a bit overblown. It very well could be the best value you'd get from him is to bring back a top notch P. Was Gray/Quintana worth it, IDK, that's behind us. But say a Chris Archer comes on the block and Brinson has to be the headliner, I'm not hesitating. I would also add that I support at least on of Braun/Santana putting in cursory time working at 1B in the offseason to increase flexibility of lineups. In a weird way I think Braun might be better injury-wise to stand around in the OF doing literally nothing for 70% of plays than to be so involved like he would be at 1B, fielding grounders, stretching, running around for cutoffs, etc so I'd be for Santana trying it out.

I'd go with the Pina mother's day game #1 and Shaw's walkoff to stay alive vs the Cubs #2. I know the end of the year was frustrating/stressful, but April and May sure was a lot of fun when the offense was churning and they would always bounce back.

Very good assessment there on the current Braun situation LaThund. Good post.

Well he said closer to .900, so he only said above .851. Which he's done every year besides the thumb injury and the current year due to the late season falloff. It's all health, if he plays 140ish healthy games you're getting about what you'd expected for his money. If he plays 100 or is constantly dinged up making him hit poorly then you're not. You just have to plan on him missing games so have a strong 4th OF who can play multiple times a week and the current setup allows for that to happen easily. For comments like the Braun lovers need to realize he's not what he was and that he's not a great player anymore, I'd say the bashers should also realize that even though he's not what he was it does not make him some terrible Pablo Sandoval like bum out there. Of course he's not at the MVP level he was before all the injuries piled up, but when healthy he is still a very good hitter.

You wouldn't make him a 4th OF. If healthy he's still a very good hitter. Health is the key with him, it's that simple. You'd be a fool to sit his bat on the bench if healthy other than the normal maintenance keep fresh days like they've been doing the last few years. Now, if you have both Brinson and Phillips up and doing well next year then you don't need to force Braun out there if hurt like apparently they did second half this year. You just toss him on the 10 day and let him re-charge and keep asking the commissioner when the DH is coming to the NL. As other have said above, for next year this doesn't seem to confusing or any kind of a problem. You have 4 guys, two of which make a perfect platoon in CF but are rookies so you can't fully trust yet and it could be good to bring them along without as much pressure. Then have Brinson get 1-2 games each week for Braun and here or there for Santana. It actually all seems to come together really well for next year and because no other OFs are banging down the wall yet. Come 2019 though if both rookies show well next year and Braun is oft-injured again then you have some decisions to make. An outside the box team to ask him about being traded to is Boston imo. Contender every year and he can DH, he could slot in really well with them. ETA: think if you jettison him for nothing. You'd be starting two rookies, one who's been just as injury prone as him. If one is hurt (which it's tough to make a whole with all 3 OF not getting hurt) and/or just doesn't do well. Then all of a sudden you're starting Perez every day in OF or some castoff like Kirk or Sogard. Call me crazy but I'd rather have Braun, it's not my 20 mil. Keep all 4 for next year and your OF is set and deep, ready to handle injuries or a rookie not living up to hype.

I literally laughed out loud when I read this one.

Albatross would be a better word if he was awful, like hitting 235 or something. Yea he didn't perform to 20mil per year this year, not denying that or anything. But he was still a competent good player and put up ok numbers with a ton of bad luck holding back his offensive stats. I am worried about the cold streak in late August and the last 2 weeks or so of the year, that's like nothing we've ever seen from him before. But as some said, he's 33/34 now so a bit expected. To the points about the good contract earlier not making up for the bad of the contract now, I see your point and all but you're ignoring that it was negotiated and structured this way. Like they could have moved a few mil from now and the next 3 years up to earlier in the deal and the now he'd be making something like 13 mil per year and it wouldn't look so bad. Sure I agree on the second extension being a general mistake but who could have foreseen the injuries he's had to deal with (along with ped stuff not allowing him to deal with those injuries). I suppose I might seem too soft on him, maybe I am, but mostly I'm just saying that if you take this year and extrapolate to a full year 270/340 with 25 hr and 80 or so RBI would be the least of our problem. Of course it's not worth 20 mil but it's still not some liability like it's being talked about here, especially with the current salary structure of the team (which is likely why they structured his deal like they did). The main thing about him is health, it's that simple. If he can play 140ish games instead of 100 that's what you need to make the contract about 'fine'. Hopefully he can do that next year and soon after they put the DH in for the NL