~2019 MLB Thread~

[OrangeAfroMan]

Can't wait for the next 9-7 Super Bowl champ!!!

[ELA]

Can't wait for the next 9-7 Super Bowl champ!!!

I'm legitimately torn between what I hate more, that, or roughly 115-120 out of 130 teams playing meaningless games midway through the season.

[CWSooner]

I'm legitimately torn between what I hate more, that, or roughly 115-120 out of 130 teams playing meaningless games midway through the season.

Meaningless because not factoring into the NC?  I think that's just wrong.  Teams still have goals.
For example, the University of Tulsa will never win a national championship.  That doesn't, or shouldn't, anyway, mean that their games are meaningless.  They have the goals of winning their division in the AAC, winning the AAC, and winning their bowl game.

[ELA]

Meaningless because not factoring into the NC?  I think that's just wrong.  Teams still have goals.
For example, the University of Tulsa will never win a national championship.  That doesn't, or shouldn't, anyway, mean that their games are meaningless.  They have the goals of winning their division in the AAC, winning the AAC, and winning their bowl game.

I agree, but the current system makes those goals meh.  It's CFP or bust.

[CWSooner]

I understand that point.

Yet another reason to go back to bowls and polls, IMO.

[Kris60]

I agree, but the current system makes those goals meh.  It's CFP or bust.

It’s only that way if you think of it that way.  And it’s honestly always sort of have been like that anyway.  Winning the MAC doesn’t have any less impact on the national title scene than it 30 years ago, but it’s still a worthwhile goal for the teams in that conference.  I’ve had some gratifying seasons as a fan watching teams that started out poorly and improved as the season went on to make a bowl.

[ELA]

It’s only that way if you think of it that way.  And it’s honestly always sort of have been like that anyway.  Winning the MAC doesn’t have any less impact on the national title scene than it 30 years ago, but it’s still a worthwhile goal for the teams in that conference.  I’ve had some gratifying seasons as a fan watching teams that started out poorly and improved as the season went on to make a bowl.

No, but the importance of winning your conference or playing in a good bowl vs. the national title certainly has.

[MarqHusker]

I realize 'my' team has had a taste of MNC/NC life, but I've always felt and will always be more attracted and interested in College Football between September and November no matter what the bowl/poll/alliance/bcs/cfp system is at a given time.   I really get checked out following the CCG game weekend, which is silly in itself, though there can be some good games, its the construct I don't like.

That happened, once the conferences/bowls ceded Jan 1 to everybody else.  They butchered NYD, a day college football owned for decades.   Stubborn as the Rose Bowl Game (people are), they don't cede their ground.  They own 2pm local time Jan 1 (2 if conflicting with Sunday) and that's that.

ahem: back to MLB.   I get really into baseball from go (especially if I go to Cactus League) then April until end of May, check out a little bit until early-mid July for a couple weeks (mostly radio), and then pull back in at Labor Day.   I catch some portion of just about every Brewers game radio or TV, but it is a grind.  It is like keeping up with a soap opera.  27-30 nights a month.

[Kris60]

No, but the importance of winning your conference or playing in a good bowl vs. the national title certainly has.

I guess this is something you and I have went around on before and just see differently.  Last year’s Rose Bowl between Washington and Ohio St to me wasn’t any less important than it was 30 years ago when Michigan St and USC played in it.  Both games were matchups of really good teams that won their conferences but weren’t in the NC picture.  I struggle sometimes to see the difference in how the bowls were viewed.


Every bowl, even the major ones, has had its share of “meaningless” games that goes back well before the CFP.

[ELA]

I guess this is something you and I have went around on before and just see differently.  Last year’s Rose Bowl between Washington and Ohio St to me wasn’t any less important than it was 30 years ago when Michigan St and USC played in it.  Both games were matchups of really good teams that won their conferences but weren’t in the NC picture.  I struggle sometimes to see the difference in how the bowls were viewed.


Every bowl, even the major ones, has had its share of “meaningless” games that goes back well before the CFP.

Yes, but a few things.

1.) Even if it was "meaningless" as far as the national championship went, it was still the peak bowl for that team.  Ohio State could do no better than the Rose Bowl, Alabama the Sugar Bowl, etc..., even if it had no national title implications.  It was still the goal bowl.  Now, if you are in the Rose Bowl, it means you weren't good enough for your real goal.

2.) Even in the BCS era, the national title game was a single game.  It was such an elite echelon, that coverage could not and did not singularly focus on it.  The way the coverage is now, you would think they went straight to a 64 team playoff, because the 4 team playoff seems to be covered like the NCAA basketball tournament.

3.) The randomness of the bowl tie ins.  Even as your goals adjusted with each loss, it went from Championship Game, to Rose Bowl, to NYD bowl, to just getting a bowl.  I know there was some playing with that, but there was at least somewhat of a correlation.  Now, the Big Ten just has a bunch of random bowl deals, and they have to take 6 different teams over 6 years or something.  So once you get to 6 wins, meh?  Nothing you do from that point on impacts anything.  I don't think MSU has been to the Citrus or Outback Bowls this cycle, so hell, we might go 6-6 or 7-5 and wind up playing NYD just because we can, and the other bowl eligible teams can't.

[Kris60]

Yes, but a few things.

1.) Even if it was "meaningless" as far as the national championship went, it was still the peak bowl for that team.  Ohio State could do no better than the Rose Bowl, Alabama the Sugar Bowl, etc..., even if it had no national title implications.  It was still the goal bowl.  Now, if you are in the Rose Bowl, it means you weren't good enough for your real goal.

2.) Even in the BCS era, the national title game was a single game.  It was such an elite echelon, that coverage could not and did not singularly focus on it.  The way the coverage is now, you would think they went straight to a 64 team playoff, because the 4 team playoff seems to be covered like the NCAA basketball tournament.

3.) The randomness of the bowl tie ins.  Even as your goals adjusted with each loss, it went from Championship Game, to Rose Bowl, to NYD bowl, to just getting a bowl.  I know there was some playing with that, but there was at least somewhat of a correlation.  Now, the Big Ten just has a bunch of random bowl deals, and they have to take 6 different teams over 6 years or something.  So once you get to 6 wins, meh?  Nothing you do from that point on impacts anything.  I don't think MSU has been to the Citrus or Outback Bowls this cycle, so hell, we might go 6-6 or 7-5 and wind up playing NYD just because we can, and the other bowl eligible teams can't.

Those are fair points.  I think the biggest difference in our viewpoint is just how we grew up viewing the Bowls. You’ve mentioned before the Rose Bowl was a family event for you.  All the major bowls held equal standing with me with whatever one(s) that had NC implications getting more of my attention.

If I had grown up rooting for a team that had a yearly bowl tie in I might view it differently today.

[OrangeAfroMan]

ahem: back to MLB.  I get really into baseball from go (especially if I go to Cactus League) then April until end of May, check out a little bit until early-mid July for a couple weeks (mostly radio), and then pull back in at Labor Day.  I catch some portion of just about every Brewers game radio or TV, but it is a grind.  It is like keeping up with a soap opera.  27-30 nights a month.

Everyone knows it's a grind, but this is a good point and MAY be why baseball is waning with younger people:  you have to really love baseball to be a baseball player.  You have to go out 6 days a week to play this one game.  Football players can like it and like other things, and while their Friday nights are taken by games in HS...it's 10 or so games and that's it.  2.5 months and you're done.  You get to run every play, get to hit people, score TDs....

In baseball, when you score, the guy who got the hit is the star.  You mostly spend your time standing around.  And it takes half your year.  A lot of kids grow up playing football and basketball - not because they're in love with either, but because they get to dabble in both. 

The grind is tough in and of itself, but to endure it, you've got to love it.

[OrangeAfroMan]

Being a G5 program now is a lot like when there was a mythical NC for everyone back in the day.  You couldn't really control it, other than go out and win all your games.  Be the best of your group.  Win your conference.  


You can play for Tulsa, and as long as you don't have any $$$ games vs a stud P5 team, go out and compete and have fun and win games.  Their NC may be ending the year ranked.  Being a draft pick.  Being a special, undefeated team that is always remembered at Tulsa.  

[ELA]

Everyone knows it's a grind, but this is a good point and MAY be why baseball is waning with younger people:  you have to really love baseball to be a baseball player.  You have to go out 6 days a week to play this one game.  Football players can like it and like other things, and while their Friday nights are taken by games in HS...it's 10 or so games and that's it.  2.5 months and you're done.  You get to run every play, get to hit people, score TDs....

In baseball, when you score, the guy who got the hit is the star.  You mostly spend your time standing around.  And it takes half your year.  A lot of kids grow up playing football and basketball - not because they're in love with either, but because they get to dabble in both. 

The grind is tough in and of itself, but to endure it, you've got to love it.

I think that's part of it, along with 4 hour games, and being forced to pick one sport at the age of 8.