radio@spuxll.UUCP (Rick Farina) (07/22/85)
Judging from the recent rhetoric and comminuques dispatched from both sides in the Baseball Labor Dispute (also known as The Pigs vs. The Hogs, or The Hogs vs. The Pigs, depending on whose side you`re on), it would seem that a player`s strike is inevitable. For all practical purposes, it`s late-Semptember and there are two weeks remaining in the season. Suddenly, the division races have narrowed considerably. As of Monday, July 22, here`s how the races appear to shape up: AL East: Basically down to the Blue Jays and Yankees. The Tigers are only 4 1/2 back, but they have two teams to pass. Barring a miracle, the Tigers are out of it. AL Worst: The Angels, 6 games up on Oakland, can begin their magic number countdown. NL East: Basically the Cardinals and Mets. The Expos, only 2 1/2 back, have an outside shot. The Cubs won`t have to "embarrass" the City of Chicago with temporary lights (or a temporary relocation, Dallas?), after all. NL Worst: Down to the Padres and Dodgers. Pete`s Reds, 5 back, have to much ground to make up. Three of the four races will likely go to the last weekend (that`s August 2-5, folks). If there is an LCS and WS this year, then the teams that play in them will play under the cloud of an aborted season. But don`t bet on it. Burned by the lack of strike insurance, and still smarting from the 1981 defeat, the owners will wait out this one a long, long time. raf -----
roy@hpmtla.UUCP (roy) (07/26/85)
/***** hpmtla:net.sport.base / uvaee!jcc / 10:16 am Jul 26, 1985*/ In article <693@spuxll.UUCP> radio@spuxll.UUCP (Rick Farina) writes: > >If there is an LCS and WS this year, then the teams that play in them >will play under the cloud of an aborted season. But don`t bet on it. >Burned by the lack of strike insurance, and still smarting from the 1981 >defeat, the owners will wait out this one a long, long time. I hope so. As a fan, I'd hate to see the rest of the season ruined, but I am tired of this crap. I think the owners deserve to make money and the players are'nt hurting for money, are they? I have no sympathy for the players. Hell, I'd do what they are doing ( if I was capable of it) for 10% of what the average player makes. Anyway, if you consider what is best for the fans ( thats US ), the owners should really stick it out, show the players a hard line and maybe, just maybe, three things will happen: - The players will think twice about striking next time. - Ticket prices will remain stable. - Cities like Pittsburg will not lose franchises due to economic woes brought on by high player salaries. What does everyone think? We might as well discuss this issue, since in all probability it will be the only thing to talk about come mid-August. - Jay C. /* ---------- */
jcc@uvaee.UUCP (Jay Colognori) (07/26/85)
In article <693@spuxll.UUCP> radio@spuxll.UUCP (Rick Farina) writes: > >If there is an LCS and WS this year, then the teams that play in them >will play under the cloud of an aborted season. But don`t bet on it. >Burned by the lack of strike insurance, and still smarting from the 1981 >defeat, the owners will wait out this one a long, long time. I hope so. As a fan, I'd hate to see the rest of the season ruined, but I am tired of this crap. I think the owners deserve to make money and the players are'nt hurting for money, are they? I have no sympathy for the players. Hell, I'd do what they are doing ( if I was capable of it) for 10% of what the average player makes. Anyway, if you consider what is best for the fans ( thats US ), the owners should really stick it out, show the players a hard line and maybe, just maybe, three things will happen: - The players will think twice about striking next time. - Ticket prices will remain stable. - Cities like Pittsburg will not lose franchises due to economic woes brought on by high player salaries. What does everyone think? We might as well discuss this issue, since in all probability it will be the only thing to talk about come mid-August. - Jay C.
roth@ut-sally.UUCP (Mark Roth) (07/28/85)
I agree. I think that if the strike is going to happen that they not play at all anymore this year. No LCS and no WS either. There is plenty to keep a sports fan busy in Sept-Oct without baseball. Besides just how good a series would it be if the players don't play for a couple months? Another interesting question is what if they strike and it only lasts one or two weeks? Will they try and make up the games? There are some key series coming up for some teams. For example the Cubs play at home against St. Louis and NY before the strike and away at these two teams right after the strike. A short strike with no makeup could be a big boon for them if they have a good homestand and don't have to suffer in there biggest competitors home park.
mmf@sdchema.UUCP (Marsha Fanshier) (08/02/85)
> - Jay C. > I hope so. As a fan, I'd hate to see the rest of the season >ruined, but I am tired of this crap. I think the owners deserve to >make money and the players aren't hurting for money, are they? >I have no sympathy for the players. Hell, I'd do what they are doing >( if I was capable of it) for 10% of what the average player makes. >Anyway, if you consider what is best for the fans ( thats US ), the owners >should really stick it out, show the players a hard line and maybe, just >maybe, three things will happen: Everyone is always out to blame the players because of a strike. That's so easy! The players are out to negotiate a contract. The owners have refused to negotiate without pressure so the players put on the pressure. You're blaming the players because they took an action -- one that was easy for you to see. Are you blind that you cannot see the owners' inaction? This whole mess could have been avoided if the owners had sat down with the real intention of negotiating a contract MONTHS ago. They didn't. They wanted to force the players into an action that would be unpopular with the fans and when they players were forced into that situation you did everything the owners wanted of you with your emotional reaction against the players. I have a feeling that if your employers refused to deal with you in good faith that you might also be willing to take drastic, if not unpopular, action. > - The players will think twice about striking next time. Didn't they just strike a few short years ago? Aren't they thinking about it again right now? What makes you think this will change in the future? > - Ticket prices will remain stable. Perhaps, but the owners are always looking for a bigger piece of the pie just the way the players are. Prices could go up for lots of reasons. As fans this might be the one place we do have a means of power. With the last raise in prices of football tickets around here the sales dropped enormously. There is a limit to what people are willing to pay and owners and players both have to face that. > - Cities like Pittsburg will not lose franchises due to > economic woes brought on by high player salaries. Is this why no one supports the team? Are people in Pittsburgh too poor to go to baseball games? In any case it is important that a city support a club both for its survival and for the good of the league. I also think we need to keep a perspective here and not blame the players for everything that has gone wrong with baseball over time. If some cities can't handle the salaries in baseball then the subject needs to be addressed. To think that all blame belongs to the players and that solutions can be found in the overall contracts is a naive response to a complicated problem. The proposals the owners are making wouldn't even solve this problem. My own opinion: I don't think there is going to be a strike. I usually do think that strikes will happen (I wasn't fooled by the last football strike -- I knew they'd go) but in this case there isn't any real need. All these people need to do is sit down and do some serious negotiating and it seems they're finally getting around to it. With the Commissioner's help I think we will see baseball continue on to the playoffs and World Series and I plan to attend both here in San Diego. See ya then! Marsha Fanshier
bob@pedsgd.UUCP (Robert A. Weiler) (08/03/85)
Organization : Perkin-Elmer DSG, Tinton Falls NJ Keywords: In article <4500052@hpmtla.UUCP> roy@hpmtla.UUCP (roy) writes: >ruined, but I am tired of this crap. I think the owners deserve to >make money and the players are'nt hurting for money, are they? >I have no sympathy for the players. Hell, I'd do what they are doing >( if I was capable of it) for 10% of what the average player makes. > > What does everyone think? We might as well discuss this >issue, since in all probability it will be the only thing to talk >about come mid-August. > > - Jay C. > Well it certainly looks that way. But I disagree with you completely. It seems to me that if the owners dont want to pay such terrible high salaries, they should do what any other buisnessman does; offer less money. If this means you got to put a leash on George Steinbrenner (sp?) and Terrible Ted, so be it. On the other side of the coin, the players pension fund demands do seem a mite unreasonable considering the average salary these days. Somehow this isnt a very satisfying thing to argue about. Bob Weiler.
radio@spuxll.UUCP (Rick Farina) (08/06/85)
The season has ended, and the Division Winners determined and duly crowned.
Speculation on LCS and World Series pairings is, given the current
state of affairs, moot.
Here follows, then, in order of decreasing suspense, a summary of the races
that occurred the final week of the 1985 Major League Baseball season.
NL East: In the greatest collapse since the '64 Phillies, the Cardinals
fail in three tries to win a single game at home against
the fifth-place Phillies, thereby abdicating first place
to the surging Mets.
Congratulations to the Mets, who would have won this division
by at least 10 games in a 162-game season anyway.
AL Worst: The eleventh hour acquisition of Hendrick, Candalaria, and
Holland apparently provided the difference, as the Angels fend
off a last minute charge by the Royals.
NL Worst: Dick Williams' "Strike Strategy" backfires, and the Padres
instead eject themselves from the division race.
Pete finshes a respectable second.
The Dodgers win the title of this division, and along with it, the
right to return to the Major Leagues next year if they can defeat
the winner of the AAA Little World Series.
AL East: The mid-season re-entry of Earl Weaver and Billy Martin
was just not enough. Both clubs would have been better off
with Altobelli and Berra. But they would have been best off
with Cox, whose Blue Jays walk away with this division.
Congratulations to the Cleveland Indians, who finish a game
and a half over the Albany Yanks of the Eastern League.
And with this, we wrap up yet another exciting season
of Major League Baseball. As in years past, it`s now time to
cd ../football
Look forwarding to seeing you all again around the time of the
Winter Meetings, Fehr and McPhail notwithstanding.
raf
---radio@spuxll.UUCP (Rick Farina) (09/10/85)
Races at a glance (only contenders listed):
AL EAST: Toronto, New York
The Yankees have been living well recently off of
Worstern Division teams like Oakland, Minnesota, Seattle, etc. They're on
an incredible winning streak, winning something like 77 out of their last 80,
or something rediculous like that. And without a starting rotation!
And look at that: just when you expect the Law Of Averages to catch
up with them, they have to play REAL teams like Toronto, Detroit, Baltimore.
Looks like they've peaked too early. Also, they've gotten hot before,
pulling to within an arm's reach of Toronto, only to be denied.
Expect Toronto to reverse recent trends, and widen gap in the next week.
AL WORST: Kansas City, California
This year's version of KC's September Drive began early.
And how 'bout that Balboni! Expect KC to continue current trend, and widen
lead over California.
NL EAST: St Louis, New York
Now wait a minute, it's supposed to be the Mets and the
CUBS, not the Mets and the CARDINALS! Big series at Shea not as Big
as it seems; race will go down to final weekend thanks to Mets lack of
bullpen and Cardinals lack of healthy Clark.
NL WORST: Los Angeles
What can you say about a team with this kind of
fielding prowess? This kind of run-producing capability?? This kind
of lead??? Must be playing in the worst division in baseball.
Stay tuned.
raf
---david@fisher.UUCP (David Rubin) (09/12/85)
> NL WORST: Los Angeles > > What can you say about a team with this kind of > fielding prowess? This kind of run-producing capability?? This kind > of lead??? Must be playing in the worst division in baseball. Else that or must have incredible pitching. Suspect latter. David Rubin {allegra|astrovax|princeton}!fisher!david
malcolm@utcsri.UUCP (Malcolm MacPhail) (09/13/85)
> > Races at a glance (only contenders listed): > > AL EAST: Toronto, New York > > The Yankees have been living well recently off of > Worstern Division teams like Oakland, Minnesota, Seattle, etc. They're on > an incredible winning streak, winning something like 77 out of their last 80, > or something rediculous like that. And without a starting rotation! Since the all-star break the Yankees have won 35 and lost 17, and Toronto has won 34 and lost 16. (up to games played Sept. 11) So the Yankees have not gained any ground since then, lately they have been making up for their post all-star break slump. (i.e. when they lost 4 out of 5 to Cleveland or something like that!) I think they have won about 22 out of their last 26. > And look at that: just when you expect the Law Of Averages to catch > up with them, they have to play REAL teams like Toronto, Detroit, Baltimore. > Looks like they've peaked too early. Also, they've gotten hot before, > pulling to within an arm's reach of Toronto, only to be denied. > Expect Toronto to reverse recent trends, and widen gap in the next week. > The Yankees play Toronto 7 more times this season (starting tonight). -- Malcolm MacPhail, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto UUCP: {linus,ihnp4,allegra,floyd,utzoo,cornell,decwrl,uw-beaver}!utcsri!malcolm CSNET: malcolm@Toronto ARPA: malcolm%Toronto@CSNet-Relay --