"Going Off The Grid" is a weekly survey of sports execs and personalities offering their thoughts on a handful of pressing (and trivial) issues in sports and pop culture. This week, a panel of MLB experts dish on the postseason, including their thoughts on the Wild Card after five years and most-feared October pitcher.
- MLB Network and Fox Sports analyst Tom Verducci
– Predicts another drought will end this year with an Indians World Series victory.
- Red Sox radio play-by-play announcer Joe Castiglione
– Loves college football.
- Dodgers and Fox Sports broadcaster Joe Davis
– No easy task taking over for Vin Scully after a 67-year run.
- Cleveland Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes
– Favorite sport, behind baseball, is rugby.
| Going Off The Grid | |||||
| WS home field going to team with best record is... | The expansion of the Wild Card has been... | Most feared pitcher in October (active or retired)? | Rule changes you'd like to see this offseason? | Ballpark food you'll miss when season is over | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Verducci
|
Better than the Gregorian calendar | Fun. Guarantees two sudden-death games | Bob Gibson -- in the shadows, giving shivers | Pitch clock, limit on timeouts | Fish tacos in San Diego |
 Castiglione |
The right way to do it | Good. Keeps many additional clubs alive | Bob Gibson | Pitch clock, no catcher visits, 1 pitching coach visit per game | Ice cream machine at Fenway Park |
 Davis |
A good move. Attached meaning to ASG ran its course
|
Great for baseball. Creates more drama deeper into season
|
Orel Hershiser (drop my check in the mail, partner) | Some kind of limit to September roster sizes
|
Cold Stone Creamery in Arizona's press room
|
 Hoynes |
I miss it being tied to ASG winner | One of the best things Bud Selig did | Dave Stewart --the death stare scared me from the press box | Reinstate 4-pitch walk. It gave me time to use the bathroom | Brownies in Progressive Field's press room |
Do you want to get your thoughts in the Grid? If so, shoot an e-mail to
jcarpenter@sportsbusinessdaily.com
.
