Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest » MLB

The Crushing MLB Schedule Should Be 154 Games

Friday, March 9th, 2012

Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin was a guest of Chris Russo on Mad Dog Radio, yesterday. During the interview he pointed out that his team played 203 games 227 days last season. Think about that. Spring schedules are now in excess of 30 games. Granted, most of the star players don’t play the entire game […]

Expanded Playoffs Necessary in Lieu of Salary Cap

Thursday, March 1st, 2012

All reports indicate that MLB will expand its playoff system this year to include a second Wild Card team. MLB continues to be the only sport that doesn’t get it. What I mean by that is they don’t have the understanding or ability to create an economic system where the disparity in local revenues between […]

MLB Clubhouse Ban on Alcohol Should be the Standard

Sunday, February 26th, 2012

Why is the Red Sox decision to ban alcohol from the clubhouse a news story? It’s a rhetorical question since its Bobby Valentine’s first step in cleaning up the lax atmosphere that helped doom the Sox last September. I think Valentine’s response, however, tells you that this is a practice that is largely accepted around […]

Media & MLB Failed a Test, Not Just Braun

Saturday, February 25th, 2012

Now that all the information has come out and a decision made, what is the fallout from the Ryan Braun failed drug test fiasco? Braun is the one that failed the drug test. He is also the one that has to play with suspicions going forward. Think it was hard to win an award before? Don’t be […]

Mad Dog Russo Claims MLB Gave Him Inside Info That Ryan Braun Did Steroids

Friday, February 24th, 2012

I have been holding off commenting about the developments in the Ryan Braun steroid case until tomorrow as I read various pieces of evidence. Unlike some mainstream members, I don’t like to throw stones at someone over steroids. Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, however has historically been anti-Players Association. Our good friend Bob Mantz Jr. over […]

Nauseating MLB Political Correctness at it Again

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Yesterday I wrote at Sports Media Watchdog about the public overreaction to the ESPN “Chink in the Armor” story; today I came across a story about MLB messing with tradition in the name of political correctness. Last September, the League prevented the Mets from wearing hats honoring first responders during their game against the Cubs […]

Prospect Rankings Are Out and Its Buyer Beware

Sunday, February 12th, 2012

We’re at the time of year now when the various media outlets and fan blogs start releasing their minor league top prospect lists for 2012. Baseball America is clearly the industry standard leader in this venture, popping out their Top 100 lists every year since 1990. (Their number one Number One? Braves left hander Steve Avery). Whether you […]

MLB Supports SOPA and That Should Bother You

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Having trouble using Wikipedia today? That’s because the online encyclopedia is participating in an “Internet blackout” in protest of two controversial anti-piracy bills: The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). Reports indicate each has a good chance of being passed early this year. I think it’s important to understand this isn’t something falling […]

Mets and Yanks History With the 2nd Wild Card

Friday, November 18th, 2011

Bud Selig announced yesterday that MLB has added a second Wild Card team that he hopes will be in effect for the 2012 season. I am all for this as I believe it will engage more cities later in the season. It will also give meaning to winning a division championship, which has largely been […]

Rain, MLB Incompetence, and Jack Zduriencik Will Decide ALDS

Saturday, October 1st, 2011

MLB worries about how a one-game Wild Card playoff will impact the integrity of a 162 game schedule. What I worry about more is how the suits at MLB impact the integrity of the 162 game schedule. Last night’s Game 1 between the Tigers and Yankees should never have taken place. You can’t tell me […]

Yankees Fans Want Pom-Poms, Two Headed DH, Connie Marrero, Civil War, Stray Dogs

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

Over the last week I discussed how I would vote for Curtis Granderson for American League MVP; how Ivan Nova has a great shot at AL Rookie of the Year; and provided platitudes about the work of Russell Martin. Although each was widely read, there was no “pat on the back,” or “good point.” Nothing. Just Crickets. But […]

Selig Doctrine, Major League, A Night With John and Suzyn

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports outlines what I call the “Selig Doctrine” in his column yesterday with this quote about MLB ownership: “Bud was consolidating,” one high-ranking baseball official said. “He wanted people who wouldn’t rock the boat – people who owed him and would serve under his throne.” MLB is trying to wrestle control of […]

MLB Fraternizing and Pat Riley

Monday, May 9th, 2011

This blurb on Sunday by ESPN’s Buster Olney (subscription required) caught my attention: Before every game, position players on both teams will gather on the foul lines and do their last sprints before the first pitch, and often this leads to greetings in the outfield behind second base — hearty handshakes and hugs. If Joe […]

Potential New Playoff System Is a Welcome Change

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

I like hearing that Bud Selig is actually talking about something that will move the game forward. The cynic in me wonders how convenient it is that the news was released on the same day MLB took over the Dodgers, but a leopard isn’t going to change their stripes completely. The new playoff system, if […]

Reviving the Brooklyn Dodgers Through the NBA

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

The New Jersey Nets have petitioned the NBA League Office to change their name in preparation for their move to Brooklyn in two years. It made me wonder if they could honor the Brooklyn Dodgers by taking on the name of the former National League baseball club. There still is a great nostalgia and love […]