SonofaRoache

I keep seeing hold Magical and Kopech down for service time. But what are we holding them down to do? I think we would be the first team to lose a grievance for service time manipulation if we did this. I can see it now. "Madrigal needed the extra week of light practice to prepare for the bigs. He was able to improve his deficiencies by just practicing" "Kopech really needed to throw leisurely in a controlled setting for 4 weeks to be ready to pitch in the bigs."

The real question is will the WS champ celebrate? Heck, will division champs even celebrate?

Yes and no. This season will be intense from the start and the pressure will be on.Robert and Madrigal will need to bat lower in the lineup unless they surprise in workouts. We should get about 8 to 10 starts or for each long term pitcher, so that'll be enough to evaluate. It won't be like a full season, but we will have a lot of data. I am concerned about the minors though.

AL East Yankees, Ray's, BoSox, Braves, Nationals, Mets, and Phillies AL West A's, Astros, Angel's, Dodgers, DBacks, Rockies, Giants I think we get off easier with the Twins, Indians, Cards, Brewers, Cubs, and Reds. These teams are good, but the top end elite talent isn't there. In fact, I don't think any team in the Central would finish higher than 4th in East or West with this season's scenario, as teams will try to win every game.

The Twins and Indians are skewed because the Sox are better than they were last year.

Rodon is playing for a contract, he is not opting out.

Why would players not want the expanded playoffs? I know the money isn't there but many would get a chance to increase their values on the market.

I'm not sure how the players can say no unless they want to file a grievance. Saying no means they get 50 games instead of 60.

Nope today.

If seed 1 plays seed 6 or 7, that team is most likely a good deal worse than the 4 seed. Last year would have been Dodgers vs Mets/Dbacks Astros vs Indians/Red Sox

Also remember, expanding the playoffs will reward the better teams. The reason baseball is more of a crapshoot is because each team that makes it is usually very good. Add in some middling teams and the top dogs could avoid that first round upset.

Let's also not forget teams tank because of the limited number of playoff odds. If they were expanded to 6 or 7 teams, more middling teams would actually try to win. Teams go into tank mode in July if they are not a top tier team. Thus, the teams we are speaking about probably would have won more games if they tried. Hell, the Sox could have won more games last year if they wanted to.

I mean since it is the longest, teams and fans need to be rewarded. Is it fair for a team to play 162 games, win 90 of them, and then miss the playoffs because they had a bad week or because a team won 91 games in a weaker division? The playoffs should be 7 games each series to ensure the team that won earned it, even the first round. If a team like the Cardinals wins it all with 83 wins, then so be it, it was earned.

As a Sox fan I am thrilled for expanded playoffs. I am also thrilled about getting some games in for developmental reasons. If Kopech and Rodon can start this season from the get go, I think we will have a shot at getting one of those extra playoff spots.

If the owners agreed to this deal 5 weeks ago, it would have needed to be more than 60 games. The owners waited things out until it only made sense to play less than 65 games. Then, they came in at the end looking like heroes for making "concessions".

Baseball is too long and too flukey to not have expanded playoffs, even if it means shortening the season by 10 games. In most cases there just isn't much of a difference between teams ranked 4 thru 6 in each league.

This has been discussed and is an option. Fans need to get serious to avoid a strike in '22 as well.

If their big money maker is the playoffs, wouldn't it make sense for them to do both? Shorten the season and ensure the playoffs actually happen? If the players said they give them 50 games, but the season must start in August, the owners would not accept the deal, because it would endanger the lengthy playoffs.

Because they are being assholes and fear their playoffs will be canceled. They want a quick season to get to the playoff money faster.

Coop said Kopech is ready and Rodon is pretty close to being ready and ot could be a matter of weeks.

If all of our pitchers are healthy, who do you guys think should be our starting 5?

A lot of Sox fans want the short season, but I am leery about playing less than 100 games. This was supposed to be a big developmental year for our young guys and we are punting that to 2021 if this season is too short.

Fam B Bro Dude R-e-l-a-x. We got this.

The owners only get playoff money if fans are interested in the playoffs. In this scenario, not many fans will be interested in the season or the playoffs. Might as well just have an RBI Baseball tournament to determine the champion.

That few games is a joke to be honest. 100 games needs to be played next season. MLB needs to stop wasting time and get this thing done.