This is going to be a short post today, mostly because I'm in the midst of typing a 15 page paper for school and feel typed out, not that anybody really cares, but that's just a brief aside.
What I would like to do is bring up the issue of playoff expansion in Major League Baseball. On the one hand, MLB commissioner Bud Selig and the owners are ready and willing to implement an additional team to the MLB playoffs in each league, and in turn, another round of games. Earlier this week, Commissioner Selig gave the indication that such a change to the playoff system seems like it is all but settled on, and ready to be included in the 2012 postseason.
Not everyone is happy about this scenario though. Many people questioned whether or not any players would come out and question or denounce the change of the playoff system. There is the assumption that another round of playoffs means more opportunity for injury and an unnecessarily longer season, so therefore the players would be against it. That notion has been reaffirmed as players are now finally stating their opinions on the change, despite the fact its been rumored since last fall. With Selig's announcement earlier this week, the prospect of a longer playoffs finally seemed incredibly real, and now players are finally speaking up. The most vocal of the naysayers though, has been San Fransisco ace pitcher, Tim Lincecum. The following is a quote of what Lincecum had to say about the new policy.
Personally I think it's kind of funky, just because the game has been this way for so long. Why mess it up, other than for monetary purposes, and that's probably what (Selig) is looking at... It doesn't seem very fair, and personally I don't know where his head is at. It doesn't seem right to me... Nobody wants to have to worry, 'Oh (expletive), now I've got another (expletive) team in the (expletive) mix... What if the (second) wild-card team is not deserving of getting in?* quote courtesy of the San Fransisco Chronicle
What do we learn from this quote, outside of the fact Lincecum's vocabulary has been known to be suspect? What I take from it is that its good to see a player stand up for his rights and the sanctity of the game. Its reassuring to see a player finally say that something isn't about the money, especially when so often players get pegged as the greedy guy, and often deservedly so. Evidently though to Lincecum, money isn't the only thing that talks. And that's really nice to see. Lincecum also brings up the practicality issues of a 10 team system, which I will get in to in a different post at a later time, but his foresight is impressive, if not simplistic and slightly rude in his delivery.
If nothing else, I'm impressed with Lincecum. He's like "The Spaceman" Bill Lee's fireballing son that had a normal type mom to keep him from being just as crazy as his dad, if that makes any sense. And if you don't know who Bill Lee was, Google or maybe even Youtube him. He was a great pitcher and a zany but intelligent mind.
Anyway, Lincecum hits a lot of right notions square on the head, which is less than what we can say about opposing hitters when it comes to his pitches. Seeing such a major MLB star make such a statement in direct negation of the league commissioner, I would hope, will make Selig and his people pause and reconsider, but one can only hope.
What's the baseline?
Tim Lincecum, ace pitcher, now becoming baseball player spokesperson. Its good to see such a star player take a stand for his fellow players and the sanctity or baseball. Its especially pleasant to see when in turn he's turning down money for the league, and ultimately himself. Much respect, Lince.
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