As was mentioned last week, Rob Manfred has a plan for an in-season MLB tournament. This plan is misguided IMO. I am not an NBA fan, and have not been for some time. So when I heard about this NBA Cup, I had absolutely no idea what it was.
I went to The Athletic and found a story about the logic of an MLB in-season tournament and found that it is based on the premise of the NBA Cup.
Per The Athletic’s Chad Jennings, Andy McCullough, and Sam Blum:
“The more apt and recent model for an in-season tournament is surely the NBA Cup, which was introduced in 2023 and starts with essentially a regular-season round-robin from which eight teams advance to a week-long, single-elimination tournament. It’s formatted so that all but the championship game count in the regular season standings, and teams that don’t advance to the knockout round play non-tournament games to keep the schedules even.”
I have to assume that the premise would also necessarily have the tournament be a part of the 162 game schedule, as is the NBA Cup. There is no feasible way they can make this a separate tournament in addition to the 162 game schedule. The season is already long enough, not that I want it shortened.
Apparently this tournament would do nothing to shorten the schedule, but would instead entrench a string of games into the middle of the season.
I cannot see how this would not negatively impact the integrity of the 162 game schedule. Since I do not follow the NBA, I have no idea how their NBA Cup impacts the legitimacy of the NBA Championship for the fans.
The reason behind this? Money, of course. Apparently Networks and Streaming Subscriptions are willing to pony up huge TV contracts for such a tournament. Both the owners and the players would make out handsomely with the TV deals. Owners like the A’s, Marlins, Rays, Pirates, and Angels would continue to pocket the revenues without improving their roster. The players on the winning teams would benefit handsomely. How those funds will be divvied up will have to be negotiated between MLB and MLBPA, so who knows how that might work out.
The WBC already impacts the MLB, and the worldwide appeal to the sport. MLB does not need another interference.
What makes this plan even worse (in my opinion) is that Manfred wants to tie this tournament into a two team expansion and a realignment. I hate the idea of 2 more teams. The talent is already watered down enough. The existing revenue sharing owners know that their revenue sharing shares will be diluted with the expansion of 2 more teams. In 2021, Manfred hinted that the expansion fee might be in the $2.2B range. Does anyone expect the billionaire owners of the teams that already do not invest in their team’s payroll will do anything with this fee except pocket it for themselves?
It just seems that the emphasis on MLB is to increase how much the owners can keep vs how they can make the game better. I am working on a more complete post on the financial status, but MLB does not need a salary cap as much as they need a salary floor. If the owners cannot meet that floor, they need to sell to an owner who will.
MLB has already forced the contraction of MiLB cities. Maybe they should start looking at contraction of MLB owners rather than expansion.
Manfraud is a moron.
& soccer sux
I’ll admit I’m intrigued with the idea of making the winner included in the draft lottery. That would reward teams who try to compete
Has that been discussed or is that an idea that came to you? Admittedly this would not change my mind, but I do like the idea to make it a little more competitive.
My own idea. It came from the same mind that comes up with trade thoughts though.
For all those looking for a Steven Kwan trade to LAD, FWIW, I found this little nugget in a MLBTR chat.
“The Amed Rosario/Noah Syndergaard deal from 2023 is the only player-for-player swap between the two teams in the last 11 years, though they’ve had some cash considerations deals. I can only assume the lack of action is lingering hate from the 1920 World Series.”
I admit I’m still mad about that 1920 World Series
Oh, and the 2017 World Series, which is why I”ll root for the Steelers tonight. F the astros
I remember it, a night game, right?
Jeff- I don’t disagree with anything you’ve written here. But let’s get real. If this potential fiasco means more money for owners and players, it’s gonna happen. Sounds like another scheme to reach out to that nebulous “younger audience” we keep hearing about, Neither side cares one iota about “the integrity of the game.” Those days died with Bowie Kuhn and Bart Giamoti. And how does this impact the playoffs or World Series? In my opinion an in season playoff boondoggle would harm the importance of both. Then baseball will increase the number of teams allowed into the postseason due to decreased interest. Yes, Manfred is an idiot. But he’s a useful idiot for the billionaire owners and almost billionaire players who love the almighty dollar.
Very well said. For an idea that seems to financially benefit both parties, how are they going to say no?
I don’t see the better teams wanting anything to do with this. They will be focused on peaking in October and won’t want to risk injury on a gimmick this game doesn’t need.
The only thing that should be expanded are the rosters.
Move the Rays to Portland, OR
Portland has an investment group, a riverfront location identified and architectural plans for a beautiful 35,000 seat ballpark.
Still not much action going on. Rays traded for Ken Waldichuk and Brett Wisley from the Braves. Atlanta gets cash and a PTBNL. Rays DFAd Osvaldo Bido and Tsung-Che-Cheng to make room on the 40-man.
Did Michael Chavis sign a minor league deal> >???? Read that on X.
Yes. On Christmas Eve he signed a MiLB contract with Cincinnati with a ST invite.
By David Williams,
“One potential driving force in Tucker’s negotiations is that he reportedly has a preference for not being the center of attention. Although all three teams pursuing him play in major markets, Tucker would not be asked to be the primary star on any of them.”
He also stated his preference for signing with a team that will let him sit in the far corner of the dugout and not announce his name when he comes to bat.
Good. Come here. I promise not to buy your jersey.
Give me the money then look the other way. Doesn’t work like that, But, he sure wouldn’t be the center of attention here.
Unless he signed a huge contract and had a horrible season.
Well yeah, that could happen. Not likely, but possible. $40 million per is 5 WAR per. He hasn’t done that in two years.
I actually think he’d love playing with our guys. Just the kind of personalities that I think would fit him perfectly.
I think you’re right. And he’s 29, doesn’t play a position that’s all that demanding physically, he’s athletic, he could productive for 5 or more years in this lineup.
So is Duran, Abreu (24), Buxton (32) Robert Jr. There are a number of players that could help this lineup.