Last week I talked about how fixing the NFL playoff seeding to make it fairer is very easy.
Here are the updated standings: actual and new.
If the playoffs began today, the AFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) Den 11-2; 2) NE 10-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Cin 9-4; 4) Ind 8-5.
Road playoff games: 5) KC 10-3; 6) Bal 7-6.
AFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) Den 11-2; 2) NE 10-3.
Home playoff games: 3) KC 10-3; 4) Cin 9-4.
Road playoff games: 5) Ind 8-5 ; 6) Bal 7-6.
If the playoffs began today, the NFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) Sea 11-2; 2) NO 10-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Phi 8-5; 4) Det 7-6.
Road playoff games: 5) Car 9-4; 6) SF 9-4.
NFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) Sea 11-2; 2) NO 10-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Car 9-4; 4) SF 9-4.
Road playoff games: 5) Phi 8-5; 6) Ari 8-5.
See how the playoff seeding (and who makes the playoffs) is much fairer that the way the NFL does it now? Also, in the AFC, we would have two division races: Between Denver and KC and between New England and Cincy. In the NFC, we'd have one division race: Between New Orleans and Carolina, but the race for a home playoff game and to just make it into the playoffs would be far more exciting and fair.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Tuesday, December 03, 2013
The NFL Playoff Set Up is Unfair
The NFL is the least fair league in American sports when it comes to determining who makes the playoffs and what seed each team gets. I have a plan to change that. Each conference has two divisions of 8 teams. The NFC East and South become one division and the NFC Central and West become another. Int he AFC, the East and North merge and so do the South and West.
The teams currently in NFC East play each other twice a year. They play teams in the former NFC South once a year, rotating home games every year. The NFC East teams play the former AFC East teams once every four years just as they do now. Those teams play two teams in the NFC North and West.
The two division winners from each 8-team division in each conference gets a bye. The other four slots are determined by best record.
If the playoffs began today, the AFC playoffs would like like this:
Byes: 1) Den 10-2; 2) NE 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Ind 8-4; 4) Cin 8-4.
Road playoff games: 5) KC 9-3; 6) Bal 6-6.
So wait, Kansas City is tied for the second best team in AFC and gets the fifth seed and a road playoff game against a team with a worse record? How the hell is that fair?
AFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) Den 10-2; 2) NE 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) KC 9-3; 4) Ind 8-4.
Road playoff games: 5) Cin 8-4; 6) Bal 6-6.
That's much fairer. But it gets better. Right now the Bengals have a 2 game lead in the AFC North and the Pats and Colts have three game leads. That makes for a pretty boring stretch run. But in the new format:
AFC East and North standings:
1) NE 9-3; 2) Cin 8-4.
AFC South and West standings:
1) Den 10-2; 2) KC 9-3; 3) Ind 8-4.
Suddenly we have 2 out of 2 division races instead of 1 out of 4. Now let's check the NFC. If the playoffs began today, the NFC would look like this:
Byes: 1) Sea 11-1; 2) NO 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Det 7-5; 4) Dal 7-5.
Road playoff games: 5) Car 9-3; 6) SF 8-4.
So Carolina and San Fran will start out on the road even though both teams have better records that the teams they're facing? Let's check out the new format to see if it's fairer.
Byes: 1) Sea 11-1; 2) NO 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Car 9-3; 4) SF 8-4.
Road playoff games: 5-6) Dal, Det, Ari, Phi are all 7-5, so a complicated tiebreaker would determine the top two teams. Right now, Dal and Det would be in because they're division champs, but the new format would judge them based on their record and not the records of the teams in their division.
Well, that made things a lot fairer. With regards to the division races, they wouldn't necessarily be any closer, but more teams would be on the fringe of making a run, particularly in the new East and South division.
So there you have it, an easy way to fix the NFL playoffs.
The teams currently in NFC East play each other twice a year. They play teams in the former NFC South once a year, rotating home games every year. The NFC East teams play the former AFC East teams once every four years just as they do now. Those teams play two teams in the NFC North and West.
The two division winners from each 8-team division in each conference gets a bye. The other four slots are determined by best record.
If the playoffs began today, the AFC playoffs would like like this:
Byes: 1) Den 10-2; 2) NE 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Ind 8-4; 4) Cin 8-4.
Road playoff games: 5) KC 9-3; 6) Bal 6-6.
So wait, Kansas City is tied for the second best team in AFC and gets the fifth seed and a road playoff game against a team with a worse record? How the hell is that fair?
AFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) Den 10-2; 2) NE 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) KC 9-3; 4) Ind 8-4.
Road playoff games: 5) Cin 8-4; 6) Bal 6-6.
That's much fairer. But it gets better. Right now the Bengals have a 2 game lead in the AFC North and the Pats and Colts have three game leads. That makes for a pretty boring stretch run. But in the new format:
AFC East and North standings:
1) NE 9-3; 2) Cin 8-4.
AFC South and West standings:
1) Den 10-2; 2) KC 9-3; 3) Ind 8-4.
Suddenly we have 2 out of 2 division races instead of 1 out of 4. Now let's check the NFC. If the playoffs began today, the NFC would look like this:
Byes: 1) Sea 11-1; 2) NO 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Det 7-5; 4) Dal 7-5.
Road playoff games: 5) Car 9-3; 6) SF 8-4.
So Carolina and San Fran will start out on the road even though both teams have better records that the teams they're facing? Let's check out the new format to see if it's fairer.
Byes: 1) Sea 11-1; 2) NO 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Car 9-3; 4) SF 8-4.
Road playoff games: 5-6) Dal, Det, Ari, Phi are all 7-5, so a complicated tiebreaker would determine the top two teams. Right now, Dal and Det would be in because they're division champs, but the new format would judge them based on their record and not the records of the teams in their division.
Well, that made things a lot fairer. With regards to the division races, they wouldn't necessarily be any closer, but more teams would be on the fringe of making a run, particularly in the new East and South division.
So there you have it, an easy way to fix the NFL playoffs.
Monday, November 04, 2013
Fights I Want to See
Not all of these fight are possible, but these are the boxing matches I'd like to see.
Heavyweight
Wladimir Klitschko vs. Vitali Klitschko
The brothers can decide which is the true heavyweight champion.
Light Heavyweight
Adonis Stevenson vs. Sergey Kovalev
Both are explosive power punchers, but true light heavyweight champ Stevenson showed slick boxing moves last fight and Kovalev is a pressure fighter. Should be far more exciting than your average power punchers' snoozefest. Winner can take on super middleweight kingpin Andre Ward.
Middleweight
Gennady Golovkin vs. Peter Quillin
Golovkin is a power puncher who can box; Quillin is a boxer with power. Quillin is underrated. Winner faces Sergio Martinez for the true middleweight title.
Welterweight
Floyd Mayweather vs. Tim Bradley
Bradley's relentless will should be a rare test for Mayweather. I wish that Golden Boy-Top Rank cold war would end.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Danny Garcia
I don't think Garcia can compete yet with Mayweather, but his power should pose a good test for Pacquiao (if the latter gets by Rios). The cold war gets int he way of this one.
Junior Welterweight
Danny Garcia vs. Ruslan Provodnikov
The win over Alvarado and performance against Bradley makes Ruslan a viable contender against Garcia. Both guys have power, will, and are hittable. Should be an all action, fight of the year candidate.
Heavyweight
Wladimir Klitschko vs. Vitali Klitschko
The brothers can decide which is the true heavyweight champion.
Light Heavyweight
Adonis Stevenson vs. Sergey Kovalev
Both are explosive power punchers, but true light heavyweight champ Stevenson showed slick boxing moves last fight and Kovalev is a pressure fighter. Should be far more exciting than your average power punchers' snoozefest. Winner can take on super middleweight kingpin Andre Ward.
Middleweight
Gennady Golovkin vs. Peter Quillin
Golovkin is a power puncher who can box; Quillin is a boxer with power. Quillin is underrated. Winner faces Sergio Martinez for the true middleweight title.
Welterweight
Floyd Mayweather vs. Tim Bradley
Bradley's relentless will should be a rare test for Mayweather. I wish that Golden Boy-Top Rank cold war would end.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Danny Garcia
I don't think Garcia can compete yet with Mayweather, but his power should pose a good test for Pacquiao (if the latter gets by Rios). The cold war gets int he way of this one.
Junior Welterweight
Danny Garcia vs. Ruslan Provodnikov
The win over Alvarado and performance against Bradley makes Ruslan a viable contender against Garcia. Both guys have power, will, and are hittable. Should be an all action, fight of the year candidate.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Game 5 - Ortiz Shines Again
David Ortiz has had a legendary World Series. Ortiz is hitting an unconscionable .733 against St. Louis with 2 homers and 6 RBIs. His OPS for the five games is over 2.000. In the first, he doubled home Dustin Pedroia to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.
Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright settled down and pitched five straight shutout innings. Meanwhile Matt Holliday homered off of Jon Lester in the bottom of the third to tie the game. But int eh seventh, Xander Bogaerts and Stephen Drew began a rally which ended with two runs plated when it was all over. Boston had a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, Koji Uehara struck out two to solidify the victory. Boston take sa 3-2 lead heading into Game Six back east.
Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright settled down and pitched five straight shutout innings. Meanwhile Matt Holliday homered off of Jon Lester in the bottom of the third to tie the game. But int eh seventh, Xander Bogaerts and Stephen Drew began a rally which ended with two runs plated when it was all over. Boston had a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, Koji Uehara struck out two to solidify the victory. Boston take sa 3-2 lead heading into Game Six back east.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
2013-2014 NBA Predictions
Check out the preview on Amazon. Only $1.49.
East
Just missing the playoffs: Atlanta
Out in first round: Boston, Brooklyn, Cleveland, Detroit.
Out in East Semis: Miami*, Chicago*
East Finals: Indiana defeats New York*
West
Just missing the playoffs:
Out in first round: Denver, Golden State, Houston, LA Lakers.
Out in West Semis: Oklahoma City*, LA Clippers*.
West Finals: San Antonio* over Memphis.
* Division winner
2014 NBA Finals: San Antonio over Indiana 4-2.
East
Just missing the playoffs: Atlanta
Out in first round: Boston, Brooklyn, Cleveland, Detroit.
Out in East Semis: Miami*, Chicago*
East Finals: Indiana defeats New York*
West
Just missing the playoffs:
Out in first round: Denver, Golden State, Houston, LA Lakers.
Out in West Semis: Oklahoma City*, LA Clippers*.
West Finals: San Antonio* over Memphis.
* Division winner
2014 NBA Finals: San Antonio over Indiana 4-2.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Game 4 - Going Going Gomes
The Cardinals go on the board first when Carlos Beltran singled home Matt Carpenter. The Sox's Clay Buckhholtz only pitched one more inning, but Felix Doubront pitched another 2 and 2/3 innings giving up only one run.
With the score 1-1 in the top of the sixth, Jonny Gomes homered in Dustin Pedoia and David Ortiz. That ended Lance Lynn's day.
In the bottom of the ninth, a banged up Allen Craig pinch hit and laced what normally would be a double off the wall. Instead, he limped to first. Kolten Wong pinch ran. One batter later and with Carlos Beltran up, Wong jumped off first. Boston's closer Koji Uehara picked off Wong and for the second consecutive night, the game ended on a bizarre play.
Boston won 4-2 and tied the series at two.
With the score 1-1 in the top of the sixth, Jonny Gomes homered in Dustin Pedoia and David Ortiz. That ended Lance Lynn's day.
In the bottom of the ninth, a banged up Allen Craig pinch hit and laced what normally would be a double off the wall. Instead, he limped to first. Kolten Wong pinch ran. One batter later and with Carlos Beltran up, Wong jumped off first. Boston's closer Koji Uehara picked off Wong and for the second consecutive night, the game ended on a bizarre play.
Boston won 4-2 and tied the series at two.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Game 3 - An Obstruction of Justice?
Boston's Jake Peavy struggled in the first inning. Everything he threw seemed to be over the plate. He may have been fortunate to get out of the inning only giving up two runs. Matt Holliday and Yadier Molina grabbed the two RBIs that inning.
In the fourth, Peavy had loaded the bases with no one out. Pete Kozma, who has been having a nightmarish World Series came to the plate in hope of redeeming himself. Instead, he struck out looking. The pitcher Joe Kelly popped out next and then so did Matt Carpenter.
After Xander Bogaerts tripled off of Kelly in the fifth, he scored on a ground out. In the top of the sixth, Daniel Nava knocked in Shane Victorino to tie the game at two.
Craig Breslow let two men on in the seventh, even though one reached on a dribbler and the other reached on a dubious hit by pitch. Junichi Tazawa gave up the go-ahead single to Matt Holliday which plated two Cards.
Red Sox Manager John Farrell can be questioned for pinch hitting for Felix Doubrant in the seventh with none on and two out. Doubrant had pitched two dominating innings and the Sox didn't have much going offensively in the inning. The top of the order was due up in the top of the eighth and perhaps it would have made more sense to save Gomes for later. That became especially true when relief pitcher Brandon Workman made his major league debut at the plate in the ninth.
Carlos Martinez gave up two runs in the eighth when Nava hit into a ground out and when Bogaerts singled. The game was tied at four heading into the ninth.
With runners on second and third in the bottom of the ninth, Workman faced John Jay. Jay grounded to second when Dustin Pedroia snatched the ball and fired home. Yadier Molina was out. Then, catcher Jared Saltalamacchia fired down to the third. Will Middlebrooks couldn't get the ball. He was positioned about a foot away from third place in fair territory. When the runner, Allen Craig tried to scamper home, Middlebrooks lifted his legs. Though Craig was gunned out at home, obstruction was called.
The Cardinals won 5-4 in walk off fashion in one of the most bizarre endings to a World Series game. St. Louis is now up 2-1 in the series.
In the fourth, Peavy had loaded the bases with no one out. Pete Kozma, who has been having a nightmarish World Series came to the plate in hope of redeeming himself. Instead, he struck out looking. The pitcher Joe Kelly popped out next and then so did Matt Carpenter.
After Xander Bogaerts tripled off of Kelly in the fifth, he scored on a ground out. In the top of the sixth, Daniel Nava knocked in Shane Victorino to tie the game at two.
Craig Breslow let two men on in the seventh, even though one reached on a dribbler and the other reached on a dubious hit by pitch. Junichi Tazawa gave up the go-ahead single to Matt Holliday which plated two Cards.
Red Sox Manager John Farrell can be questioned for pinch hitting for Felix Doubrant in the seventh with none on and two out. Doubrant had pitched two dominating innings and the Sox didn't have much going offensively in the inning. The top of the order was due up in the top of the eighth and perhaps it would have made more sense to save Gomes for later. That became especially true when relief pitcher Brandon Workman made his major league debut at the plate in the ninth.
Carlos Martinez gave up two runs in the eighth when Nava hit into a ground out and when Bogaerts singled. The game was tied at four heading into the ninth.
With runners on second and third in the bottom of the ninth, Workman faced John Jay. Jay grounded to second when Dustin Pedroia snatched the ball and fired home. Yadier Molina was out. Then, catcher Jared Saltalamacchia fired down to the third. Will Middlebrooks couldn't get the ball. He was positioned about a foot away from third place in fair territory. When the runner, Allen Craig tried to scamper home, Middlebrooks lifted his legs. Though Craig was gunned out at home, obstruction was called.
The Cardinals won 5-4 in walk off fashion in one of the most bizarre endings to a World Series game. St. Louis is now up 2-1 in the series.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Game 2 - Cards Tie it Up
After a pitchers' duel between Michael Wacha of St. Louis and Jon Lackey of Boston through the first three innings, Matt Holliday tripled to lead off the fourth and later scored. A David Ortiz two-run homer int he sixth gave the Sox the lead.
Only Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia have been hitting well for the Sox thus far in the World Series, despite the eight run outburst in Game 1. As it would turn out, the two runs off of Ortiz's bat weren't enough for Boston to win.
An errant throw the next half inning by Boston's Craig Breslow began a chain that would allow three Cardinal runners to cross the plate in the top of the 7th. Carlos Beltran, playing in spite of aching ribs, went 2 for 4 with an RBI. After two strong innings by Carlos Martinez, Trevor Rosenthal got the save. The Cardnials won 4-2 to tie the series at one.
Only Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia have been hitting well for the Sox thus far in the World Series, despite the eight run outburst in Game 1. As it would turn out, the two runs off of Ortiz's bat weren't enough for Boston to win.
An errant throw the next half inning by Boston's Craig Breslow began a chain that would allow three Cardinal runners to cross the plate in the top of the 7th. Carlos Beltran, playing in spite of aching ribs, went 2 for 4 with an RBI. After two strong innings by Carlos Martinez, Trevor Rosenthal got the save. The Cardnials won 4-2 to tie the series at one.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Game 1 - Sox Blowout Cards
In the first inning, Pete Kozma wasn't able to grab a throw headed towards him, but umpire Dana DeMuth incorrectly called the Dustin Pedroia out. Manager John Farrell raced out to argue and asked DeMuth to get help from his fellow umpire. DeMuth demurred and the call was reversed. That gave the Sox the bases loaded. Mike Napoli cleared the bases with a three-run double.
Things got worse for the Cardinals in the second. Pitcher Adam Wainwright spaced on a little pop up right to him. Kozma committed another error. And though Carlos Beltran saved a David Ortiz grand slam with a catch near the wall in right, he hurt his ribs crashing into the padding and left the game.
Up 5-0 in the second, Jon Lester pitched into the eighth giving up no runs, five hits, and striking out 8. Ortiz hit a two-run homer in the seventh and the Sox added one more in eighth to win 8-1.
Things got worse for the Cardinals in the second. Pitcher Adam Wainwright spaced on a little pop up right to him. Kozma committed another error. And though Carlos Beltran saved a David Ortiz grand slam with a catch near the wall in right, he hurt his ribs crashing into the padding and left the game.
Up 5-0 in the second, Jon Lester pitched into the eighth giving up no runs, five hits, and striking out 8. Ortiz hit a two-run homer in the seventh and the Sox added one more in eighth to win 8-1.
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
2013 MLB Playoff Precitions
NL
Reds over Pirates
Dodgers over Braves
Reds over Cardinals
Dodgers over Reds
AL
Tampa Bay over Cleveland
Detroit over Oakland
Boston over Tampa Bay
Detroit over Boston
World Series
Detroit over Dodgers
Reds over Pirates
Dodgers over Braves
Reds over Cardinals
Dodgers over Reds
AL
Tampa Bay over Cleveland
Detroit over Oakland
Boston over Tampa Bay
Detroit over Boston
World Series
Detroit over Dodgers
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