What exactly did the teams think was going to happen when every team started gaming the system, calling up its top propsect 4 or 5 days after the traditional Super Two cutoff date, then patting itself on the back while ignoring that EVERY OTHER TEAM was doing the exact same thing?

Because 'top prospects' are just a small percentage of the total... the Nationals brought up Drew Storen May 17th, but I'm sure they don't care that much that he will become a super two.

Yeah, it's odd - almost like people think there's an actual cutoff date rather than a percentage of a year that relies on what other teams do as well.

Teams really should go into it knowing it's a calculated risk. If you hold off the guy for a few months trying to avoid super-two, you risk simply losing that play. Keeping them to 6.6 years of service rather than 6.8 may not pan out, whereas keeping them to 6.9 instead of 7.0 will.

Rumor was that the next CBA would eliminate super-two status to avoid these shenanigans. Let's hope the union comes to a little common sense.

Because 'top prospects' are just a small percentage of the total... the Nationals brought up Drew Storen May 17th, but I'm sure they don't care that much that he will become a super two.

Drew Storen will be the Nationals closer sooner than later, and closers typically get paid very well in arbitration. Jonathan Papelbon, Bobby Jenks, and Jonathan Broxton to name a few.

The system gives each team artificial incentive to keep good players out of the majors when its otherwise in the best interests of team, players, and fans that they be there. Its a waste and should be changed.

Matt Wieters is also going to be a Super Two, albeit in 2011

It's a bit early to say what will happen next year, and the linked piece doesn't do so. It notes that as of now, Wieters could have two years and 129 days, which this year would qualify him. But it notes that in all other years, the minimum was 2 years and 130 days. We obviously need to see what happens the rest of this year and next year.

But if it doesn’t, Strasburg, is only likely to be a super two after 2012.

I'd laugh a little if that happens. Basically all the money the Nationals got by having all those people buy tickets to a game that Strasburg never played in will end up in Strasburg's pocket and then some.

Strasburg's going to be locked up through his arb years long before then.

And if he has a chance at being a super two his leverage for that contract is going to be that much greater.

How can they already know what the cut-off will be? There's more than 3 months left to play. Some guys could still go back down, some others could come up.

The guys who might get sent down or called up probably aren't guys who are potentially eligible for Super Two status, or at least not enough to significantly alter the projection.