AJC > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 25 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBraves’ schedule off to strange start
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s opening day! Sort of.
The Red Sox and A’s have played a game that counts, even though it was halfway around the world, so I guess that makes it official. Sort of.
The Braves don’t have to cross the International Date Line, but they will have a wacky start to their season. After playing two exhibition games in Atlanta, they’ll fly to Washington to help the Nats open their new stadium Sunday night, fly back to Atlanta for the home opener on Monday night, then have an off-day Tuesday before resuming their three-game series against the Pirates on Wednesday.
This sets the tone for another year of an unbalanced number of division games, bizarre interleague matchups and ill-timed West Coast trips. So let’s take this opportunity to talk about the schedule.
Do you like the recent changes? Do you think the division schedules and interleague games give some teams an unfair advantage or does it all work out in the end?
By the way, one interesting note about MLB scheduling: For 24 years, it was done by hand by a Massachusetts couple, but in 2005, MLB started accepting bids to take advantage of newer technology. Here’s the story from MLB.com. Can you tell the difference?
Permalink | Comments (18) | Post your comment | Categories: Chop Chick
Comments
By geekboy
March 25, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
I think the Braves should be honored to help open the leagues newest stadium (and in the nation’s capitol). Anyone that complains is likely a godless commie. I think every team in baseball should play every team at least twice (AL/NL matchups), every team in their league 7 times, and the rest of the games spent playing in the division. It sucks you cannot see every great player at least once in Atlanta.
By richbrave
March 25, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
CC:
Don’t be alarmed. I was just playin’ with ya’ on the past blog. No daggers for Drese, O.K.? Just havin’ a little fun. By the way. Season ticket sales are UP slightly here in Richmond. Most folks want a last dance with our Braves. I certainly do.
By rekkidbraka
March 25, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Hey CC, do you agree with me that the unbalanced schedule is the worst thing to happen to baseball since the DH? Wait — check that. The worst thing to happen to baseball since Scott Boras was spawned or hatched or created in an evil scientist’s laboratory somewhere? Wait — check that. The worst thing to happen to baseball since Bud Selig’s toupee? Wait — check THAT…
By ChampDawg
March 25, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
The schedule is the least of the Braves concerns. Smoltz starting the season on the DL, another 40+ pitcher and another that hasn’t thrown a real game in 2 years, an aging 3rd baseman, a center fielder that has trouble with routes to the ball, and a big “likely” that the Braves will not be able to sign Tex. This 2008 season could be a really great one if all the IFS work out in the Braves favor or it could be another huge dissappointment.
By ManOfTeal
March 25, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
Go Marlins!!!
By Robby
March 25, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
I used to like interleague, still like going to interleague games. But we need to play teams in the National League. To me the interleague, DH, and going to Japan to start the season needs to be canned, along with Bud.
By GT
March 25, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this
Champ is right, the schedule is the least of the concerns now. It doesn’t matter which of the other 29 teams is the opponent of the moment, the Braves still have a lot to prove this year.
By Shannon
March 26, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
One change that struck me is that the M-Th games (if evening games) all have a start time of 7:10 instead of 7:35 in previous years (Friday is still 7:35). Why the change all of the sudden??
By Tomahawkin
March 26, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
I hate the unbalanced schedule, although I don’t mind seeing the mets and phillies 4 18 games, I get tired of seeing The Marlins and Nationals 4 18 games
As for teams in the Loser Central, a team can win the division by with a record of 83-79 (2006 Stl. Cardsinals), when they play all the other garbage teams in their division makes teams with better records lose out on the chance to play in the postseason
Plus I hate the fact that we only see the other teams in the N.L. 2 series, instead of 4, especially the West coast series that ase always good because they come on late at nite since they are in the Pacific zone
Plus the Unbalanced shcedule takes parity away from the game (Ask Blue Jays/Orioles fans who have to face the yeakess and Sox 18 times apiece…)
Get it back like it used to “Dud” Selig…
By Tomahawkin
March 26, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
Shannon, the times were brought ahead a half hour I believe, so that school kids will not be at the games so late, but don’t quote me on that…
It also might have to do with the change in networks…
By West Cobb Dad
March 26, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
Short and sweet: Inter-league in NOT a good thing for this game. The sked is always skewed. (Remember playing the Mets for like 12 games in the first month then never seeing them again until the last week or two season?) All because of inter-league. I miss the old 3 game series (these 2 or 4 game deals are silly). 7:35 weeknight start times (uh, anyone remember our traffic here sux?) Of course I am of the mind set that there should only be 2 divisions, East-West. Top team in each plays for the pennant and the winner in the Series. But it is all about the money. And when they say it ain’t about the money (globalization, good exposure for the game, doing it for the fans), believe me, it is about the money.
By JJ
March 26, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
The scheduling is just one of many things WRONG with baseball these days. Bud Selig is just a puppet to the owners whose only focus is making more money, even at the detriment of the traditions in baseball. I’m still a fair good baseball fan but my enthusiasm continues to wane. I’m just sick of all the traditions and the conservancy being thrown out the window.
Did anyone notice the ad’s on the helmets, hats, and uniforms of the A’s and Red Sox this morning? Won’t be long before the players look like Nascar drivers.
By Chris
March 26, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
I don’t like the unbalanced schedule. The 1 and only thing I like about it is that you have meaningful division games in September.
Other than that, who needs to see the Phillies 20 times? I hate that we miss out on teams like the Cardinals, Dodgers, etc.
I do like interleague play. It keeps a very long season (too long imo) interesting. It doesn’t hurt the NFL that the 2 conferences have interplay, and the same is true for baseball. Attendance numbers spike for interleague games, so that is here to stay.
The early-season start is always a bit odd. Most teams have a day off between opening day. Not sure why, but I’ll refer back to my opinion that the season is too long. Even in the South, April night games are chilly.
By Jonny
March 26, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
I despise inter-league play. After that, a lame schedule (and who came up with “sked”?) pales on the ridiculous meter.
By SA
March 26, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
What really irks me is a major newspaper using ridiculous “words” like “sked” and “pix”. Most of us are not thirteen years old and the AJC should attempt to maintain certain standards for literate people. I also hate the DH, interleague play and the unbalanced schedule.
By mirandawasrobbed
March 26, 2008 11:08 PM | Link to this
One change that struck me is that the M-Th games (if evening games) all have a start time of 7:10 instead of 7:35 in previous years (Friday is still 7:35). Why the change all of the sudden??
I think the Braves did this because pretty much all the teams start their games at 7pm nowadays. Maybe the figure it makes more sense to start these games at the top of the hour.
By mirandawasrobbed
March 26, 2008 11:16 PM | Link to this
I personally love the inter-league play. I remember going to the first inter-league game in Atlanta in 1997 between the Orioles and Braves. Got to see Cal Ripkin play.
However, I think there should be a balanced schedule throughout the inner-league play. Since teams in different divisions are battling teams for the wild card and home field advantage in the play off seedings that only makes sense. IMHO!
By Bill Sked
September 12, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
I, also, would like to know who came up with ‘sked’ for schedule. It really screws up my Googles for relatives.