Bleed Cubbie Blue: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:



Around SBN: Phillies Coast Past Brewers, Face L.A. In NLCS Bar-right-arrows



Why is our schedule so unbalanced?

So, I'm taking a look ahead at the rest of the schedule for the 2nd half of the season. Before I looked, I though to myself, "alright, we've been in St. Louis twice already this year and they haven't come to Chicago yet... perfect."

Then, I take a look at the schedule, and although we've played our first 6 games vs the Cards in St. Louis, we have 9 more to go... 6 at home (evening things out), but then the Cards get an advantageous 3 game set at home. Who the hell came up with that?

They couldn't at least make one of our home series a 4 game set, and reduce one in St Louis to a two game set... evening it out somewhat 8 games to 7? An extra 3 games is a big deal. What a bunch of BS.

Whatever happened to the days of the balanced schedule? For the last 5 years, our schedule vs the Cards has been uneven every year but one (2005).

2007, we went 11-5 vs the Cards, 7 at home and 9 in St. Louis
2006, we went 11-8 vs the Cards, 10 at home and 9 in St. Louis
2005, we went 10-6 vs the Cards, 8 at home and 8 in St. Louis
2004, we went 8-11 vs the Cards, 9 at home and 10 in St. Louis
2003, we went 8-9 vs the Cards, 10 at home and 7 in St. Louis

In 1996, the first full season after the strike, and the first full season after the re-alignment, we played 13 games a piece vs everyone in our division. At least we played the same number of games vs each division opponent, even though it was an odd number of games.

It used to be, in the days of the old NL East, that we would play 18 games a piece vs each of our division opponents. A perfectly even number, with no advantage.

The one to blame for this mess: Bud Selig. The man (who once tried to purchase the White Sox and move them to Milwaukee) becomes the commish... adds teams... re-aligns baseball... causes a strike... introduces interleague play and the unbalanced schedule... ignores steroids, and decides the all-star game should dictate home field advantage in the world series. Yeah... that's a great list you're building there.

 

 

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

1 recs | Comment 91 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Every NL team has schedules like this.

Plius, I’m not sure how you see having six games vs. the Cardinals in Chicago and three in St. Louis an “advantage” for the Cardinals.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 17, 2008 11:00 AM CDT   0 recs

Oh, I see.

Well… the Cubs split 6 games in St. Louis so far this year, which is pretty good for a road team in 2008.

Next year there will be more Cardinal games in Chicago. It alternates.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 17, 2008 11:12 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Will there? Really?

Because the last 5 years shows it hasn’t “truly” alternated. The Cards had an extra 2 games last year.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 17, 2008 11:16 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Given that...

... I think the schedule makers will give the Cubs the extra games in 2009.

Of course, we’re talking about the people who gave the Cubs a Chicago-Denver-Washington-Chicago-Cincinnati-St. Louis-Chicago itinerary over 17 days, so maybe not.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 17, 2008 11:30 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Then of course....

The Chicago-Chicago(southside)-San Francisco-St. Louis-Chicago itinerary.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 17, 2008 11:38 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

And...

the Tampa night game to Chicago day game blunder.

I'm thinking you weren't burdened with an overabundance of schooling, so why don't we just ignore each other til we go away.

by neverAcquiesce on Jul 17, 2008 12:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Preceded by

the Toronto to Cooperstown to Tamp trip—all in one day,

''Listen, losing Soriano is no box of chocolates.'' ~Lou Piniella

by JohnM on Jul 17, 2008 6:01 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

And one year they had two series in AZ

Think it was ‘03. Six games in that occassionally-covered-up-sensory-overload-shit-hole.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jul 17, 2008 8:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

IIRC...

The Rays do that to quite a number of teams due to poor weekday attendance during the day.

Let my ashes blow in a beautiful snow from the prevailing 30 mile an hour southwest wind...
When my last remains go flying over the left field wall, I'll bid the bleacher bums adieu,
And I will come to my final resting place, out on Waveland Avenue. --Steve Goodman

by NotSure on Jul 18, 2008 9:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Agreed

Good teams don’t cry like babies about the schedule. Good teams shut up and go out to get the job done. Thankfully I have heard not one peep of whining out of the Cubs about the schedule. It is what it is. Just like the AL winning homefield advantage in the World Series is what it is. Shut up and take care of business.

Rich Harden Fever, Catch It !!!!!!!!!!

by MDBNIU on Jul 17, 2008 11:16 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He played ball in College supposedly

which makes him attune to all things baseball in every way, shape and form. He knows more than you, just live with it.

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Jul 17, 2008 5:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

he didnt play college ball

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Jul 17, 2008 6:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

one peep of whining?

like you’re close enough to hear their voices…

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 17, 2008 12:54 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

What's wrong with playing the teams in your division more, anyway?

I enjoy the games against the Cardinals or the Brewers. I think it’s more important to play them and really prove who deserves to win the division than to play the Nationals and Marlins 3 extra times a year.

by princefieldersdiet on Jul 17, 2008 11:15 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

We should be playing the same amount of even games vs each division opponent

Just like it used to be.

The way it is right now, would be the equivalent if the NFL decided to schedule the Bears vs Packers 3 times in one year, and have the Bears play the Vikings just once. That would be kind of stupid… wouldn’t it?

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 17, 2008 11:20 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, I agree with you, so relax.

I think the teams should have an equal number of games home/away, I just like the unbalanced schedule in terms of playing the teams of your division more.

by princefieldersdiet on Jul 17, 2008 11:23 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Well, they always used to play more division games anyway

In the 80’s, the Cubs played 18 games vs each opponent in the NL East. And then played 12 games vs each NL West team. That added up to 162.

Now, we don’t always get 18 games vs our division opponents. More often, we play less than 18… and occasionally (in the Cards case) we play 19.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 17, 2008 11:31 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The difference is...

... in the NFL, all the divisions have the same number of teams. That isn’t the case in baseball, which is why you wind up with these wacky schedules.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 17, 2008 11:31 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes...

And we’re the only division with 6 teams. But, I still think each division in baseball should be playing the same, even number of games vs each division opponent. That should be priority #1 on the schedule making. Then, sort out the rest as evenly as possible.

Smaller divisions could be playing 18 games vs division opponents. The NL Central could be playing 16 games… then set aside your small package of interleague games… then league play.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 17, 2008 11:42 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hard to compare the football schedule to baseball...

those pansies only play once a week.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jul 17, 2008 12:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 17, 2008 4:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

correct me if I’m wrong…but I swear that I read somewhere that an older-couple (husband and wife) employed by MLB make up the schedule each year.

again, this could be me confusing this with something else

"Look at it this way: If you're a Cubs fan, the Greatest Day of Your Life is yet to come." ~ Cubs Forever

by IvyOnTheWall on Jul 17, 2008 11:37 AM CDT   0 recs

I thought this was the first year...

...that MLB used a computer, rather than human beings, to generate the schedule. Or did I dream this?

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 17, 2008 11:51 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Here’s a story about the couple who used to do the schedule.

I also direct you to this discussion here on BCB from April.

"It’s like they have 40,000 players on one team. Forty thousand people want to be in the dugout slapping fives. ‘Passionate’ is an understatement. Fans like that are special." -- Giants LHP Alex Hinshaw on Wrigley Field

by northsider on Jul 17, 2008 11:56 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Right.

Thanks for posting that link. The Stephensons did a FAR better job. Hopefully, they will let this contract back out and hire someone who does it by hand again. Computers can plug in team names but don’t understand that Denver and Washington should not be on the same road trip.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 17, 2008 1:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You'd think computers could be easily programmed to know that, though

''Listen, losing Soriano is no box of chocolates.'' ~Lou Piniella

by JohnM on Jul 17, 2008 6:04 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You'd think.

But, apparently not.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 17, 2008 7:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Maybe we can program computers to

eliminate the DH and make all teams play the game of baseball.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 18, 2008 8:27 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The robots took over

Just like in the Matrix.

by SuperContext on Jul 17, 2008 12:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It is the distant future...

...the Year 2000…the world is quite different ever since the robotic uprising of the late 90s.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 17, 2008 1:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

MLB=no logic.....unbalanced leagues, division and schedules

MLB must expand (but the trouble is lacking in talent) to 32 teams….16 each, one each for each league, move a NL to the AL (probably AZ or CO)...

I would add a team PR and Monteray MX….then realign to 4 divisions 4 teams each.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Jul 17, 2008 11:40 AM CDT   0 recs

It's no coincidence that

Bud Selig moved his Brewers to the NL… to take advantage of the Cubs fan base, generating more sell-outs in Milwaukee than they ever had before for a visiting team.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 17, 2008 11:49 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

While I like conspiracy theories...

the option to move to the NL was actually first offered to Kansas City. After they turned it down, it was offered to Milwaukee who took it.

by CubFan81 on Jul 17, 2008 12:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

that was a hollow offer, though

There was no question in MLB’s mind what was going to happen.

by Shanghai Badger on Jul 17, 2008 3:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No need to add anymore teams.

Send Colorado to the AL West… and move Houston the the NL West…

30 teams… and 6 divisions of 5 teams.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 17, 2008 11:53 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't know why they didn"t keep Houston in the West to begin with

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 17, 2008 11:55 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Didn't you read? "MLB must expand".

But seriously, I like your idea.

"It’s like they have 40,000 players on one team. Forty thousand people want to be in the dugout slapping fives. ‘Passionate’ is an understatement. Fans like that are special." -- Giants LHP Alex Hinshaw on Wrigley Field

by northsider on Jul 17, 2008 11:59 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

If the Rockies moved to the AL West

They would still play a “Los Angeles” based team… the Angels, and they would still play a “Bay area” based team… the A’s. That would keep them playing in their biggest TV markets.

Then, they would get to go to Seattle and Texas.

When they play interleague… they would have some built-in yearly matchups that actually make sense… anyone of their former division rivals.

Then, the Astros could move back to their original division… the NL West

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 17, 2008 12:06 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Plus...their park is taylor made for a DH.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jul 17, 2008 12:08 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

If I'm ever commissioner, this will happen!

"It’s like they have 40,000 players on one team. Forty thousand people want to be in the dugout slapping fives. ‘Passionate’ is an understatement." -- Giants LHP Alex Hinshaw on Wrigley Field

by northsider on Jul 17, 2008 12:10 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

And free beer for BCB'rs!!

"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun

by Bump Bailey on Jul 17, 2008 12:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Brought to you by the great Belgian lager, Budweiser!

"It’s like they have 40,000 players on one team. Forty thousand people want to be in the dugout slapping fives. ‘Passionate’ is an understatement." -- Giants LHP Alex Hinshaw on Wrigley Field

by northsider on Jul 17, 2008 12:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The problem with 30 teams in two leagues

Is that makes for 15 teams in each league, an odd number. Everyday would require either one team having an off day or an interleague game every day.

The whole thing would work better with 16 teams in each league each with 4 divisions of 4 teams

"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella

by El Borto on Jul 17, 2008 12:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Schedule interleague throughout...

And make more logical travel itineraries.

I don’t really see why all interleague games must take place during the same time. Plus, aside from the first “grand” weekend of interleague play… if they space out the interleague scheduling, they’ll get more prime games that don’t conflict with eachother.

For instance, currently, when the Yanks play the Mets… the Cubs are playing the Sox. If those series were taking place at different times, it would make for a better TV schedule.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 17, 2008 12:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

If you do that

You have 15 teams in each league, which necessitates interleague play or an offday for someone EVERY DAY

by Shanghai Badger on Jul 17, 2008 3:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Unless there is unlimited number of interleague games

this cannot work since each league has an odd number teams. Except during interleague play, there would always be at least one team in each league not playing on a specific day; a mammoth scheduling logistics nightmare.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jul 17, 2008 8:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

There are already too many teams

The talent level in this league is horribly watered down. The National League absolutely sucks right now.

Rich Harden Fever, Catch It !!!!!!!!!!

by MDBNIU on Jul 17, 2008 12:08 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

SWL, if you ever do a version 2.0 of the See 'n Say...

...you should definitely put “The National League sucks!” on it.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 17, 2008 12:18 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

that's "ticking timebomb"

good sir…

My timebomb TICKS.

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 17, 2008 12:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

you better hope it ticks...

because we obviously know what happens when it doesn’t.

by CubFan81 on Jul 17, 2008 1:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

it's tough to do so well

when you already have the best record in baseball.

Wait, what?

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 17, 2008 12:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Puerto Rico & Mexico?

Not a chance. The economy in those places won’t support a major league team. Plus, YOU try getting English-speaking ballplayers to want to live in Mexico for six months during the baseball season. (Yes, I know it’d be easier for the Spanish-speakers, and that’s not a slam on Mexico, just being realistic).

There are virtually no cities left in North America that could support major league baseball that don’t already have a team.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 17, 2008 1:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

What about Montreal?

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jul 17, 2008 1:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You're joking, right?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 17, 2008 1:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Or how about San Diego? They don't have a Major League team...

this year.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jul 17, 2008 1:52 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 18, 2008 8:29 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

vegas?

C.C.+Feilder+Gagne=The brewers just ran out of XXXL Jerseys

by jds2 on Jul 17, 2008 1:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

actually

I’ve always kind of wondered why there’s no big-league team in Indiana. Or, for that matter, something in Utah.

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 17, 2008 1:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Salt Lake City is too small.

Indianapolis is too close to both Chicago and Cincinnati and is filled with either Cubs fans or Reds fans.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 17, 2008 2:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Too close?

I get your point about the fans of Reds and Cubs (there’s a fair amount of Cards and Sox fans too). But, Indy to Chicago is 3.5 hours. Indy to Cinci is closer, at 2 hours. Besides, what did Washington do when the Nationals moved there? Everyone there was Oriole fans, right?

It might surprise some people, but Indianapolis is the 12th largest metro area in the nation. I think we could support a team here.

"This is the kind of thing … that makes you want to see the Chicago Cubs team lose." Marty Brennaman

by Bildo1805 on Jul 17, 2008 3:01 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

At what stadium?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 17, 2008 4:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

they're building a new football field, aren't they?

it’s a time-honored tradition.

Or, they could build up the very nice minor league stadium they have already, I guess. It’s right near the parking for the basketball arena, too.

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 17, 2008 8:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Um...

Conseco Fieldhouse is on the other side of downtown from Victory Field. That said, it’s walkable.

Maybe it’s close in Chicago terms :)

"This is the kind of thing … that makes you want to see the Chicago Cubs team lose." Marty Brennaman

by Bildo1805 on Jul 18, 2008 8:10 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

<