Mailbox: Pollsters respect the teams with tough opponents
10/28/2001Sports editor:
This is in response to an Oct. 21 letter by Jason Paszko.
Tell me, Mr. Paszko, was Ball State one of the best 1-4 teams in the country, as Ohio was at 0-4?
I am only to assume by your comment that the AP and coaches' polls are seriously overlooking these such dominating opponents the Rockets play. The last I knew, Marshall lost to Florida by 30-plus points - sure gave them all they could handle.
I wonder if Mr. Paszko understands that when a team such as Toledo plays a poor team like Ohio, that winning is not enough. They must win and be convincing in doing so. Teams such as Miami and Nebraska can afford to have a bad performance because their programs are respected, which is not the case for Toledo when it comes to the polls.
JAMES SCOTT
Maumee
Sports editor:
In response to the letter last Sunday, which asked in part “what is dumber than watching a pitcher be ..” - as an endorsement of the American League designated hitter rule - I would respond as follows:
1. What could be more ridiculous than playing by two sets of rules for interleague play and the World Series - pitchers batting in National League parks and designated hitters in AL stadiums? Perhaps your letter writer is a football fan, and would like to see four-point TDs in AFC home games and six points for NFC. Or, how about six-men teams for NBA Western Conference games and five-men sides for Eastern Conference? The lords of AL baseball gave in to the likes of the late Charley Finley (see donkey ball deliveries, clown-colored uniforms, etc.) Baseball was meant to be a game of strategy. Without the ability to use a DH for the pitcher, a manager must actually make some critical decisions.
2. I believe the only reason the DH remains in the AL is that the owners are afraid to confront the players union about the loss of some jobs. Simple solution - phase out DH players by keeping extra roster spots for some number of years, and let them pinch-hit.
Baseball is a great game because players for the last 100 years have played by essentially the same set of rules. Lose the DH for the good of the game.
JAMES L. GEISSLER
Sylvania