Comments on: Cubs’ president Theo Epstein sees opportunity with the additional wild card http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/03/cubs-president-theo-epstein-sees-opportunity-with-the-additional-wild-card/ Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball. Wed, 22 May 2013 20:08:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: ray1950 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/03/cubs-president-theo-epstein-sees-opportunity-with-the-additional-wild-card/comment-page-1/#comment-268334 Sun, 04 Mar 2012 14:50:42 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=118373#comment-268334 Theo hopes to be a buyer at the trading deadline. Of course he does! Given blank checks by the Red Sox, he spent like crazy and left Boston with a few terrible contracts to absorb. I, for one, am glad he’s gone.

Theo’s so-called ability to build a farm system is going to be tested. The new Basic Agreement has a tax system in place that severely penalizes teams that go over a limit for spending in the first 10 rounds and more penalties on bonuses over $100,000 from the 11th round on. So even though we all know Theo loves to spend, he’s going to be in a bind.

As for the new playoff (play-in) plan, I don’t like it. A third of the teams will now make the playoffs. It’s beginning to resemble the NHL.

]]> By: ponsonbybritt http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/03/cubs-president-theo-epstein-sees-opportunity-with-the-additional-wild-card/comment-page-1/#comment-268325 Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:54:38 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=118373#comment-268325 The Houston Astros see an opportunity, too.

]]> By: paperlions http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/03/cubs-president-theo-epstein-sees-opportunity-with-the-additional-wild-card/comment-page-1/#comment-268254 Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:48:24 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=118373#comment-268254 Exactly. It is more like the right to play your way into the playoffs, which are composed of actual series and not a playoff birth in its own right.

]]> By: randygnyc http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/03/cubs-president-theo-epstein-sees-opportunity-with-the-additional-wild-card/comment-page-1/#comment-268253 Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:48:18 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=118373#comment-268253 It’s not the play-offs, by definition. They’re calling it a play-in, although they’re going to sell it like the former. With that said, it still has nothing to do with the Cubs.

]]> By: jwbiii http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/03/cubs-president-theo-epstein-sees-opportunity-with-the-additional-wild-card/comment-page-1/#comment-268250 Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:32:44 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=118373#comment-268250 I wouldn’t view the one game playoff as any different than this game.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA200809300.shtml

]]> By: paperlions http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/03/cubs-president-theo-epstein-sees-opportunity-with-the-additional-wild-card/comment-page-1/#comment-268249 Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:27:19 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=118373#comment-268249 Let me ask: if your team gets a wildcard, and loses that game, will you feel like they made the playoffs? I certainly won’t.

]]> By: paperlions http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/03/cubs-president-theo-epstein-sees-opportunity-with-the-additional-wild-card/comment-page-1/#comment-268248 Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:24:18 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=118373#comment-268248 Every team already gets those….they are called profits.

]]> By: jwbiii http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/03/cubs-president-theo-epstein-sees-opportunity-with-the-additional-wild-card/comment-page-1/#comment-268247 Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:21:06 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=118373#comment-268247 Because the Cubs were a mere 18 games out of fifth place (Braves) as opposed to an insurmountable 19 games out of fourth (Cardinals). Step away from the Kool-Aid.

]]> By: surly1n1nd1anapol1s http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/03/cubs-president-theo-epstein-sees-opportunity-with-the-additional-wild-card/comment-page-1/#comment-268243 Sat, 03 Mar 2012 17:51:56 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=118373#comment-268243 At what placement in the standings will participation trophies be awarded?

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