A Schelling For Your Thoughts

I’ve never been a huge fan of the NBA (mostly because the Milwaukee Bucks are such an incredibly unexciting franchise), but it’s games like tonight’s Cavaliers-Magic matchup that make me tune in during the playoffs, especially in the last two rounds.

My friend and former Badger Herald Sports Editor Aaron Brenner‘s Facebook status now asks “tell me again how college hoops is better than the pros?” following the LeBron game winner.

Personally, I’ve always been one of those that felt college hoops was better. If for no other reason than the fact that referees seem to enforce the rules better and make calls that should be made, like traveling.

Or maybe it was because I just didn’t like the NBA. But when you objectively compare the NBA playoffs to the NCAA Tournament, there’s a clear winner.

The NBA playoffs are longer, more intense and better played than the NCAA Tournament. Case in point: Game 2 of the Cavs-Magic series. The Magic were down more than 20 points in the first half before coming back to take a 2-point lead with one second left.

And despite blowing that lead, LeBron James somehow, someway drilled a game-winning 3-pointer to send the series back to Orlando tied at one game apiece. Had James missed that shot, the Cavs would be looking at a potential sweep at the hands of the Magic.

After dominating the first two rounds of the playoffs, a 4-0 series loss for Cleveland would have been mind-boggling to say the least.

You can’t get that kind of excitement in the NCAA Tournament. The one-and-done system of March Madness eliminates that factor. Sure, games are inherently more crucial if a team’s season can end on one loss, but that also allows for lesser teams to more easily knock off the true heavyweights (see George Mason’s 2006 Final Four bid).

There are a lot more ways to look at this argument, but I just wanted to post a quick reaction to the incredible finish to tonight’s game. Let’s hope both series stay equally exciting.

Consider me sold on the NBA > NCAA argument.

So interleague play started today. Are you excited? I’m not.

Sure, it’s great to see the Brewers play the Twins, the Yankees and Phillies, the Mets and Sox, and it gives players like Mat Gamel an opportunity to play every day as a DH. But aside from those positive aspects, matchups like Toronto and Atlanta are not exactly thrilling to anyone involved. Oh, and Pirates versus White Sox? Yawn.

And that’s exactly the problem: interleague games inevitably are going to be either a novelty in baseball or just another series. Since the novelty factor only works for regional rivalries or intriguing superstar matchups, the novelty factor loses some credibility.

So as the Twins continue to swing white-hot bats against the Brewers and Manny Parra, I got to thinking about how interleague play can be improved or fixed. First of all, level the playing field. Is it really fair for the Crew to face the hot bats in Minnesota for two series over the next month while the Reds get to feast on the lowly Cleveland Indians for six game?

Or what about the Cubs and Padres stuck playing each other while fans of every other team enjoy the novelty that is interleague play?

Now, obviously the extra teams in the NL (16 to the AL’s 14) are the reason behind the need for the series between the Cubs and Padres. That imbalance, however, is exactly what could be used to make interleague play much more interesting. Let me show you what I mean.

There are 30 teams in the MLB. Naturally, that should mean 15 teams in each league. I’ve always thought if Texas can be in the AL West, why not Houston? Send the Astros to a new division and everything about the structure of the MLB makes more sense.

Each division then has five teams and each league 15. But what about scheduling? Won’t each league have a team that has to sit out? That’s where the improvement in interleague play comes into the picture.

Instead of dumping all the interleague games in a one-month span like the novelty that baseball makes it out to be, spread them out. In fact, have every team in the American League play every team in the National League. That way, there can be interleague matchups interspersed throughout the schedule to avoid any problems with an odd number of teams in the NL and AL.

If a team plays all 29 other teams for at least one three-game set, that takes just 87 games. Add three more three-game sets between regional interleague rivals like the Cubs and Sox and that leaves 66 remaining games.

Three more three-game series against each team in the division (36 games) to keep the unbalanced style schedule, and you have 30 remaining games. This is just enough to play the 10 other teams in the league for one more three-game set .

What’s more, the change to interleague play solves a couple other problems. If every team plays every other team, there is no need to determine home field advantage at the all-star game. Also, if teams play more games against the other league, the DH for the NL or pitchers batting for the AL is less of an issue in the World Series and interleague games.

Sure, it could create more roster issues for teams and makes scheduling a lot more complicated, but it can (and should) be done.

Besides, wouldn’t it be great to see the Cubs and Red Sox play every year? Or what about the Yankees and Dodgers? Brewers and Orioles? OK, so maybe everything about it isn’t that great.

Terrible loss for the Brewers right? Maybe.

You see, I’ve always been a big Rickie Weeks fan. Even when he was hitting below the Mendoza line at this point last year, I still had faith in him. Why? Because the guy can hit. It was only a matter of time before he showed it and it looked like this year was going to be the year. Tough break, Rickie.

But as devastating as this loss would appear on paper to the Brewers with the loss of Weeks’ nine home runs and his 100 run, 100 RBI pace, it could be a blessing in disguise. Hear me out on this one.

Last night, third baseman Mat Gamel had one heck of a coming out party. He crushed a three-run home run to give the Brewers a 4-0 lead in the third inning and made an incredible defensive play that earned a spot on last night’s SportsCenter Top 10 plays. And while he followed up that incredible play with a not-so-impressive throwing error, which eventually allowed the Cardinals to get back in the game, the rookie showed exactly why so many people have such a high opinion of his skills as a major leaguer.

The other great thing about Gamel? He’s left-handed. It doesn’t take a baseball genius to figure out that he would fit perfectly in a platoon at third base with Bill Hall, who hits a mere .200 against righties.

Yet, if manager Ken Macha wants to play Gamel and Hall at the same time, Hall could take over at second base. With Weeks vacating second base and Hall’s familiarity with the position, Gamel’s chances of staying up with the Brewers went up dramatically with the injury to Weeks. And while Weeks has been producing well so far this season, Gamel has a better track record as a producer.

With last night’s home run, Gamel has hit nine home runs this season between Nashville and Milwaukee while driving in 34 runs and hitting at a .333 clip.

The Brewers have been living and dying by the long ball this season, so shifting the home run production from the leadoff spot to lower in the lineup can only serve to improve the number of runs scored on their home runs.

Jason Kendall and the Brewers pitchers can’t be expected to provide a lot of RBI potential for Weeks in the leadoff spot, despite his 100 RBI pace. Gamel, on the other hand, showed just how likely he is to have opportunities to hit with men on base with Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Mike Cameron and Corey Hart batting in front of him. And if he can produce like he did in St. Louis, perhaps he will provide some protection for Hart and help him get out of his recent slump.

So now how do the Brewers replace Weeks at second base? Last night, Macha opted to start the hot-hitting Craig Counsell in place of the injured Weeks. Tonight, it looks to be Casey McGehee, who Macha said would start the first two games against Houston with the Astros sending a pair of lefties to the mound.

So, it looks like a platoon at second base to go along with the inevitable on at third. Of course, Counsell and McGehee are not exactly known for their offensive prowess, so what other options do the Brewers have?

The most likely one is second baseman Hernan Iribarren. Milwaukee recalled Iribarren from Triple-A Nashville today to replace Weeks on the roster. And while Iribarren doesn’t have the power of Weeks, he is hitting .308 in 35 games for Nashville and could be an excellent table setter for Braun and Fielder.

So how will utilizing a rookie in Iribarren at second base and a rookie in Gamel at third base help the Brewers after the loss of Weeks?

Well, in a best-case scenario for the Brewers, Gamel picks up the slack as far as power numbers while Iribarren, Counsell and McGehee set the table for the rest of the team. The one Weeks stat most people overlook is runs. At this point last year, he had scored more runs than he has this year, despite hitting nearly 100 points higher and hitting more home runs.

If Weeks’ replacements can play a strong defensive second base and provide a high on-base percentage, the loss of his power bat will not be nearly as significant, especially if Gamel provides an added boost in the No. 7 spot.

Sure, it’s great to see Weeks hitting lead-off home runs, but if players like Iribarren, Counsell and McGehee can get on base, the Brewers’ true run producers — Braun and Fielder — should be expected to drive them in. And if they don’t, hopefully Gamel will.