Selig: Less Time Off During Playoffs

"There is too much standing around in the postseason. There were extra off days in the middle of series and too many days after the end of the regular season. The Yankees should not have been able to get away with using only three starters. No team should. The game should be the same one played during the season. Angels manager Mike Scioscia complained about it and it seems Bud Selig was listening.

“We’re going to change it,” Selig told reporters in Chicago today. “I don’t disagree with Mike Scioscia. I think he was right, so we’re going to try and tighten that up. When you plan the playoff schedule, you don’t know how many games the first round would go. So it’s difficult. There were clubs that sat around. Some were necessary, but some were not (Boston.com).”

I 100% agree. There is way too much time off. No team should be able to go with just 3 pitchers. In no way am I taking anything away from the Yankees, because if you can take advantage you should, but this is something that has to change. Good to see Selig at least seems to be on top of it.

Kelvim Escobar Sent To Bullpen

"Angels RHP Kelvim Escobar has been dropped from the rotation after one start and sent to the bullpen due to a lack of stamina in his surgically repaired throwing shoulder. Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said Escobar will not pitch again until the middle of next week. There is a possibility that Escobar, expected to be a reliever the rest of the season, could wind up on the disabled list. "If he's not ready to pitch by the middle of next week then we'll have to DL him. We don't anticipate that," Scioscia said before Thursday night's game at Tampa Bay (Sportsline)."

Kelvim is just not ready to be a full time starter. He should be decent out of the bullpen, but is really a year away from being an impact player. The Angels have not been playing well, and I really think there should start being whispers of firing Mike Scioscia. He is really holding back some of the young talent and I just don't understand it. There offense needs help and instead of bringing up guys like Sean Rodriguez or Brandon Wood, he continues to play Aybar and Kendrick. Sorry that makes no sense to me...

Scioscia Gets 10 Year Extension

"Mike Scioscia's extension with the Los Angeles Angels puts the most successful manager in franchise history under contract through the 2018 season (Sportsline)."

I am not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, I really like when teams stick by their guy (like Atlanta), but on the other hand this guy had by far the best team last year, and lost in the first round of the playoffs. I do think he is a good coach, but why give him this extension now? Shouldn't they see how this team responds to the disappointment that was the end of last season? I don't know, in the end I think it is a good deal for the Angels, but the timing is a little odd to me.

-BMack