Ok, what do you think of the Astros moving to AL?

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by tcdyess

Evening out the leagues seems to make total sense:

http://m.espn.go.com/mlb/story?storyId=7239006

I just think the Astros will be at a disadvantage being built for the NL.

Astros fan for almost 50 years, so when I read this in the paper this morning, I screamed with glee. Literally. Other coffee shop patrons were confused.

I live in Seattle, within easy walking distance of Safeco, and proudly wear my Astros cap to most games. Now that they're in the same division, I'll get to see loads of Astros and Rangers games, and will no longer care that the Mariners absolutely suck.

I have always thought it was ridiculous that the AL West has only four teams, so from a pure baseball point of view, I'm still happy about this move.

Totally psyched about this!!!

[nolemmings]

I think Houston is probably still the furthest west although Minnesota is very close also

Gary, Kansas city is further west than Minneapolis.

I see no great reason to move the Astros, who have enjoyed national league affiliation for 50 seasons. Move the Brewers back to the A.L., place them in the Central and move the Royals to the West.

I would not mind seeing expansion by two teams, with four divisions of eight teams each. Or maybe eight divisions of four teams each, ala the NFL.
Not likely in the present economy though.

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by Runscott

I live in Seattle, within easy walking distance of Safeco, and proudly wear my Astros cap to most games.

I have always wondered, and still do, why attendees of a MLB game will wear attire of a team that is not playing that day. So if you go to a Mariners/Orioles games, what are you trying to say by wearing an Astros hat? That you like the Astros and could care less who wins the Mariners/Orioles game? Personally, if I go to a game and don't have attire of either team, I'll either buy a shirt of the home team for $25 before the game starts at their pro shop, or I'll wear a generic shirt.

100% non-confrontational question, just wondering! There is no right or wrong answer, only looking for your thoughts. Thanks for any insight!

Rob

[novakjr]

Personally, evening out the leagues,and having interleague play stretched throughout the season aren't even the most important parts of that article... I can't be the only one that noticed that the DUMBASS 2nd Wild-card team crap is still in there...

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

I have always wondered, and still do, why attendees of a MLB game will wear attire of a team that is not playing that day. So if you go to a Mariners/Orioles games, what are you trying to say by wearing an Astros hat? That you like the Astros and could care less who wins the Mariners/Orioles game? Personally, if I go to a game and don't have attire of either team, I'll either buy a shirt of the home team for $25 before the game starts at their pro shop, or I'll wear a generic shirt.

100% non-confrontational question, just wondering! There is no right or wrong answer, only looking for your thoughts. Thanks for any insight!

Rob

I don't own a Mariners or Orioles cap, but I do have an Astros cap (since it's my team) - I wear it to baseball games because it's a baseball cap and I'm at a baseball game. I guess I could wear a fedora or go bare-headed.

I actually used to have a Mariners cap, and I did wear it to Mariners games, unless the Rangers were playing, in which case I did not, because I wasn't pulling for the Mariners. Basically, I support the team of whatever city I'm living in, except when the Astros or Rangers are in town. Except Atlanta - I lived there for 12 years and never liked them much. I went to lots of games, and pulled for them unless the Astros were in town, but I didn't care much for them.

I never realized this was a peeve for anyone. What gets me is when the Cubs, Yankees or Red Sox are in town - you see thousands of people wearing brand-new gear. Maybe I'm wrong, but they sure seem like bandwagon fans.

[Runscott]

After giving this more thought, I wanted to add - I think some people think that when someone shows up in their stadium not wearing the home team's hat, that they are either the enemy (if their team is playing), pretending to be the enemy (if the home team sucks - this happens a lot in Seattle), or they are rubbing another team's greatness in the home team's face.

As an Astros fan, all I can do is show off that there's one team even worse than Seattle, and that we'll be getting a better draft choice.

It will be weird having my favorite NL team, AL team, and home team, all in the same division in 2013. But looking forward to it - might even get season tickets.

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by Runscott

After giving this more thought, I wanted to add - I think some people think that when someone shows up in their stadium not wearing the home team's hat, that they are either the enemy (if their team is playing), pretending to be the enemy (if the home team sucks - this happens a lot in Seattle), or they are rubbing another team's greatness in the home team's face.

I think its great to wear attire of a team's rival as long as that rival is playing. But if a Yankee fan wears a Yankees hat to Fenway when the Red Sox are playing the Orioles or something, it annoys me. And I'm a Yankees fan haha. If I go to Yankee Stadium and they are hosting the Red Sox/Orioles/Phillies/whoever, its great to see the other teams fans show up supporting their team. But it annoys me to see Red Sox attire at a Yankees/Rays game! haha. Just a peave, nothing hateful, but a peave

So back on topic, it seems they've approved the Astros to the AL West. Houston fans will have to stay up late watching those West Coast matchups. And also 10 of the 30 teams will now be in the playoffs. 5 AL teams and 5 NL teams. The two Wild Card teams, if I understand it right, will have a 3 game playoff to end up with 4 playoff teams. Personally, I don't like it. In a few years they'll raise it to a 5 game series then 7 game series. Its all for money. Like Yogi Berra replied when asked how much $ is enough ... "Just a little more!"

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

I think its great to wear attire of a team's rival as long as that rival is playing. But if a Yankee fan wears a Yankees hat to Fenway when the Red Sox are playing the Orioles or something, it annoys me. And I'm a Yankees fan haha. If I go to Yankee Stadium and they are hosting the Red Sox/Orioles/Phillies/whoever, its great to see the other teams fans show up supporting their team. But it annoys me to see Red Sox attire at a Yankees/Rays game! haha. Just a peave, nothing hateful, but a peave

What you are saying makes sense, and I will keep it in mind - I can always wear my Texas A&M hat to game the Astros aren't playing in. Plus, that way people might feel sorry for me and buy me beer.

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

So back on topic, it seems they've approved the Astros to the AL West. Houston fans will have to stay up late watching those West Coast matchups. And also 10 of the 30 teams will now be in the playoffs. 5 AL teams and 5 NL teams. The two Wild Card teams, if I understand it right, will have a 3 game playoff to end up with 4 playoff teams. Personally, I don't like it. In a few years they'll raise it to a 5 game series then 7 game series. Its all for money. Like Yogi Berra replied when asked how much $ is enough ... "Just a little more!"

I don't like the 10 playoff team thing, but the up-side is that the wild-card team will have to go through an extra series to get to the division winners.

What I really dislike about this is the interleague games will take place throughout the entire season. As you say, it's all about money.

Things that have peeved me about baseball, in no particular order:

DH
Interleague play
Too many playoff teams
No day games for the playoffs
Getting rid of the huge cheap cheap sections in the outfield
Any use of the replay
No brush-back pitches (ala Gibson and Drysdale)
Batters standing and enjoying their HR's (pitchers should be able to nail them for that)
Yankees fans wearing their caps, anywhere

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Things that have peeved me about baseball, in no particular order:

DH
Interleague play
Too many playoff teams
No day games for the playoffs
Getting rid of the huge cheap cheap sections in the outfield
Any use of the replay
No brush-back pitches (ala Gibson and Drysdale)
Batters standing and enjoying their HR's (pitchers should be able to nail them for that)
Yankees fans wearing their caps, anywhere

DH - while I tend to watch more AL games, I do feel the NL to be more "pure", whatever that means. It seems back in the day (1800s), a team of 9 would should up to play a game. Pitchers could hit. Look at Ruth and Joe Wood!

Getting rid of the huge cheap cheap sections in the outfield - I agree, some stadiums it seems like the cheap seats are still $30/ticket. The Yankees have cheap bleacher seats that I think are $15/ticket but they usually sell out before the season even begins.

Batters standing and enjoying their HR's (pitchers should be able to nail them for that) - I have a feeling you feel this way cuz you watch the opposition hit HR after HR off of Astros pitching lol. Pitchers can retaliate but will likely get rejected

Yankees fans wearing their caps, anywhere - lol!!!

p.s. I think its the Red Sox who would've benefited from the extra Wild Card team in the AL this year and the Braves in the NL. Imagine though, if they had the 5 team Wild Card - the excitement of STL and the Rays comebacks wouldn't have been there, cuz comeback or not, they would've been playing each other any way in the Wild Card game. More Wild Card teams makes the regular season ever-so-slightly less meaningful.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

I think its great to wear attire of a team's rival as long as that rival is playing. But if a Yankee fan wears a Yankees hat to Fenway when the Red Sox are playing the Orioles or something, it annoys me. And I'm a Yankees fan haha. If I go to Yankee Stadium and they are hosting the Red Sox/Orioles/Phillies/whoever, its great to see the other teams fans show up supporting their team. But it annoys me to see Red Sox attire at a Yankees/Rays game! haha. Just a peave, nothing hateful, but a peave

So back on topic, it seems they've approved the Astros to the AL West. Houston fans will have to stay up late watching those West Coast matchups. And also 10 of the 30 teams will now be in the playoffs. 5 AL teams and 5 NL teams. The two Wild Card teams, if I understand it right, will have a 3 game playoff to end up with 4 playoff teams. Personally, I don't like it. In a few years they'll raise it to a 5 game series then 7 game series. Its all for money. Like Yogi Berra replied when asked how much $ is enough ... "Just a little more!"

I still think adding the extra wild-card teams is ridiculous.

To put it in simple terms, "they're adding a F*ck*ng rat-tail to the MLB Playoffs."

Even with 3 game series', that still means that 3 teams will get a bye. All division winners, I'll assume. Which is even more ridiculous, considering the fact that many wild card teams(under the current system) finish with a better record than the worst division winner.. The whole thing is just a very poorly thought out concept, from top to bottom. What's next? Maybe they can do a loser's bracket, and make the whole thing double elimination? But it is at least a little better than a 1 game playoff.. This whole thing is turning into that scene from "Baseketball"

Dan Patrick: With the first nine months of the Baseketball postseason out of the way, the playoff picture is starting to emerge.
Kenny Mayne: So, with last night's victory over Boston, next week the Milwaukee Beers must beat Indianapolis in order to advance to Charlotte. That's in an effort to reduce their magic number to three.
Dan Patrick: Right, and then the Beers can advance to the National Eastern Division North to play Tampa.
Kenny Mayne: So, if the Beers beat Detroit and Denver beats Atlanta in the American Southwestern Division East Northern, then Milwaukee goes to the Denslow Cup, unless Baltimore can upset Buffalo and Charlotte ties Toronto, then Oakland would play LA and Pittsburgh in a blind choice round robin. And if no clear winner emerges from all of this, a two-man sack race will be held on consecutive Sundays until a champion can be crowned.