2021 MLB Season Thread

[100% pro-life no matter what]

The fact that Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds, and Roger Clemens aren't in the Hall of Fame is a travesty.

[100% pro-life no matter what]

I love the expanded playoffs.  I've always been of the belief that, in all sports, the right size for the playoffs is 50% of the league.  It's such a nice distinction that success (making the playoffs) and failure (missing them) are equally likely.

College sports might be slightly different, but only because we're lying to ourselves by pretending that certain conferences are actually on the major level of the sport.

Here are the sizes of the US pro sports' playoff fields (using the standard MLB one for now):

NBA: 53%
MLS: 52%
NHL: 52% (will drop to 50% with the introduction of the Seattle Kraken)
NFL: 44%
MLB: 33% (53% under the 2020 format)

The MLB number sticks out like a sore thumb compared to the other sports all hovering around 50% of their leagues.

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Following Governor Abbott lifting all covid restrictions in Texas, the Rangers will become the first US sports team to allow a full-capacity crowd on Opening Day:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-rangers-allowing-100-capacity-at-stadium-for-opening-day/

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Call me old-school, but I don't care what your pitch count is, you don't take out a pitcher with a no-hitter after 8 innings

[100% pro-life no matter what]

I'll jump off a bridge before I cheer for the Trashstros or Barfs.

I feel like there are way too many teams you hate in every sport.  I could honestly name far more teams I like (even beyond my favorite team in every sport) than teams I have any level of dislike for (probably only Cowboys, Patriots, Mets, Ohio State football, Notre Dame football, Tennessee football- but only in a "like to laugh at them" type of way-, Kentucky basketball).  There are obviously other teams I'll cheer against in a regular season for the purpose of division standings, but that doesn't necessarily mean I don't like them if they make the playoffs.