Well we can't discuss the P word.... so what has your team done in the off season to improve themselves?
MLB
- Thread starter WhyNotaSooner
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Braves fan here. Answer to question--nothing unless you count watching every team in the division not located in Miami improve dramatically.
Houston made a couple of moves. None bigger than securing Bregman through 2024. Something tells me that Corea might be a Yankee one day and Bregman moves to short.
My team has its center fielder, shortstop, number one starter, two other starters and best reliever out with injuries....and there's Boston and Houston, both of whom are better, in the AL to deal with.
The Yankees still have a solid bullpen and Paxton is a nice addition to the rotation. Maybe Gio Gonzalez will be too.
The Yankees still have a solid bullpen and Paxton is a nice addition to the rotation. Maybe Gio Gonzalez will be too.
My team signed the best player of our generation for the rest of his career! Other than that the HALOS have done nothing!!!!!
I haven't watched a major league baseball game since the last time MLB went on strike. I love the game, grew up playing it through little league and semi-pro but their ridiculous statements during the strike I just said FU. No regrets here.
Can't say I blame you.
I'm just too hooked on MLB to walk away, with a longing for the game being played the way it was 40-50 years ago....which is a total waste of time.
MLB is very dysfunctional these days for many reasons and now it's turned into an "arena" style game with the accent on homeruns at the expense of bunting, base stealling, small ball tactics and situational hitting. Then there are 3-5 hour rain delays, weekend games starting at night, two sets of rules between the NL and AL, etc.
It's rumored another work stoppage is looming in two years. Maybe that will be MY last straw.
The 'Stros have made some interesting moves: adding Michael Brantley is huge & Chrinnos ( sp? ) at catcher a plus offensively. My biggest worry is the loss of Marwin Gonzales and the back end of the starting rotation. The good news is that there are some incredible young arms waiting in the wings. Houston has the 6th rated farm system while both the Red Sox and Yankees are way down that list. The 'Stros have the best infield in baseball and it's not even close.
Yankees are rated 20th in the current Baseball America prospect rating. Given that Judge, Severino, Sanchez, Torres, Holder and Andujar have come out over the past 3-4 years, that low ranking can happen. The Yankees are deep in pitching, however, though it's at least 1-2 more years from being ready.
Astros have developed a solid farm system, helped in part by its past futility prior to 2015. The team is now run by a baseball savvy brain trust and the future looks very good. As an Astros fan since the Colt 45 days, I want this team to now start a dynasty.
Astros have developed a solid farm system, helped in part by its past futility prior to 2015. The team is now run by a baseball savvy brain trust and the future looks very good. As an Astros fan since the Colt 45 days, I want this team to now start a dynasty.
Expect to see some of that Astro farm system pitching. The 1, 2 combination is good w/ Verlander and Cole but after that it's average. Injuries have occurred to McCullers and the new gun from last year. Which means the bullpen will be worked overtime and subsequently grow tired. The bats for the Astros will need to stay hot until the pitching staff comes back together.
Which is more likely this year...the Astros winning 100 games or my Orioles losing 100?
Is there a worse player in the game than Chris Davis? He will make $23M this year!!!
Is there a worse player in the game than Chris Davis? He will make $23M this year!!!
If they would go back to the old rules, no DH, raise the pitchers mound to the old standard and play on grass were the bunt becomes a strategy, I might come back. But the games are too long and not very exciting, IMO. I'd rather watch my granddaughters play soccer than sit and watch MLB. But that's just me.
Right now, any baseball GM that doesn't worship at the altar of advanced metrics will be ridiculed mercilessly and will probably find himself out of a job in fairly short order. It's like the old days in which managers would always "go by the book" to avoid being second guessed. The reality is those same metrics will tell you that a guy who hits 30 HRs a year negates any disadvantage created by not even putting the ball in play...striking out.
A year ago, I read Keith Law's book about advanced baseball metrics and it was very informative. As a "dinosaur" who appreciated things like sac bunting and not striking out, I have to understand that those attitudes have pretty much gone the way of the dodo bird.
A year ago, I read Keith Law's book about advanced baseball metrics and it was very informative. As a "dinosaur" who appreciated things like sac bunting and not striking out, I have to understand that those attitudes have pretty much gone the way of the dodo bird.
The DH will be in the NL in 2-3 years. What the players' union wants, it will get.
It isn't just the union, it's network TV. In fact, TV rights is changing all sports. Including CFB.
I have been a national league guy all my life. Grew up a Cardinal fan and then became an Astros fan when I moved to Houston. I was sick when the Astros were moved to the American League and to make matters worse to the AL West where road games start about when I go to bed. Having said that I have to admit that the DH has grown on me. When you watch inter-league games in NL parks pitchers at bat are really boring. I agree that the DH will be on the NL before long.
Another problem with being in the AL West, no natural rivalries. The Ranger rivalry is a network/press created deal. Historically, the Astros' rivalry list included the Dodgers, Cardinals, and too a lesser extent, the Braves. It's hard to get excited about playing the Mariners or the Angels
Good point.
Thank you, Bud Selig. He should have moved his Brewers team back to the AL and maintained Houston's NL legacy.....in the NL Central.
I can't believe Selig has a plaque in Cooperstown.
The Brewers should have never been moved from the AL to the NL. Former commissioner Bud Selig is also the former owner of the Brewers and I believe one of his his children is still the principal owner of the Brewers. The move to the NL for the Brewers was all about the Brewers making more money. The Astros belong in the NL and the Brewers belong in the AL.
I love being in the AL now. We get to see a whole different set of teams. And moving the team also takes time to develop rivalries. When they were in the NL-West, used to battle LA as a rival, then they moved the the NL-Central and it becamse the Cards & Cubs... which felt organic to me. I'm enjoying the ability to learn about different AL teams now. And if keeps going the way it is, the Yanks and Red Sox will deliver pretty good rivals going forward. And the Rangers will develop into a good rival when they start winning again.
As a Cubs fan I miss playing the Astros. I'm also probably the Cub fan that hates the Brewers more than the Cardinals. That hatred comes from Selig moving them out of the AL to the NL.
Here's a format for MLB that's been written about:
First, it does away with an NL and an AL, but maintains traditional/geographic rivalries.
(Six 5-team divisions for the 30 teams).
Northeast......Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Phillies, Pirates
Southeast.....Orioles, Nationals, Braves, Rays, Marlins
Central....Reds, Indians, Blue Jays, Brewers, Tigers
Midwest....Cubs, White Sox, Cardinals, Twins, Royals
Southwest....Astros, Rangers, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Padres
Western....Angels, Dodgers, Giants, A's, Mariners
As I recall, each division would play a different one on a yearly rotation.
This would cut down travel time to some degree as well.
Another format in Forbes has, with two expansion teams added (Montreal and Portland ?), eight 4-team divisions, based on a more geographical setup.
First, it does away with an NL and an AL, but maintains traditional/geographic rivalries.
(Six 5-team divisions for the 30 teams).
Northeast......Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Phillies, Pirates
Southeast.....Orioles, Nationals, Braves, Rays, Marlins
Central....Reds, Indians, Blue Jays, Brewers, Tigers
Midwest....Cubs, White Sox, Cardinals, Twins, Royals
Southwest....Astros, Rangers, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Padres
Western....Angels, Dodgers, Giants, A's, Mariners
As I recall, each division would play a different one on a yearly rotation.
This would cut down travel time to some degree as well.
Another format in Forbes has, with two expansion teams added (Montreal and Portland ?), eight 4-team divisions, based on a more geographical setup.
MLB player pool is so watered down now, can't see them adding any teams.
Thirty-two would be ideal, but we have teams now who can't achieve 50% in-stadium attendance.
The Marlins averaged 10,014 per game (that is tickets sold, not asses in seats).
That is with a recently constructed $1 Billion, state-of-the-art stadium.
Put another 50 players on MLB rosters and the product just gets worse.
Absolutely agree on no expansion. But Manford is talking of it.
MLB is no longer the game I grew up with through the 1950's into the early 1980's. Too many teams, diluted talent and all the other reasons I mentioned earlier.......and now I'm hearing of a possible strike win the next 2-3 years, which I'm sure will diminish the fan base more than ever before.
And to think that two of baseball's most overrated players (Machado and Harper) just signed two of the largest deals in history. You would think that MLB is government operated with its reckless spending.
I listen to sports radio every day driving to and from work. It amazes me how nonchalantly Million Dollar contracts are discussed. A back up Offensive Lineman who may never play a down will "make" $3 - $4 Million per year. The Texans just signed AJ McCarron to a $3 Million, one year contract and they hope he doesn't play a down for them.
I've become jaded and decided, if the owners didn't have the money, they wouldn't sign those contracts.
Good for those who are able to take advantage of the system.
Very true.
My cousin was a scout for the Royals and he told high school players to take the money offered and run.
Nowadays, the worst player on the worst team makes over $500k annually. That's a lot more than my wife makes with her hard-earned PhD....and I think I read the average salary in baseball is now $4.36 million a year.
No one seems to care that Hollywood's actors make $20-30 million a year or have a net worth up to $400 million.....guess that's good to know that they do so well being our moral and political compass.
CT - One of our favorite Astros, Jake Marisnick, signed a 1-year, $1 Million dollar contract.
Almost feels like he is being taken advantage of at $1 Million.
Almost feels like he is being taken advantage of at $1 Million.
Watched "30 clubs in 30 days" and they had a 30 second feature on my Orioles which highlighted Chris Davis. What a waste of time. Look up his stats for last year and he makes $23M/year for the next 4 years.
I watched a little bit of the Toronto Blue Jays game last night and the announcers talked about the possibility of expansion. The game was being played in Montreal, so they were discussing what it would take for Montreal to get a team again. Sounded like any possible expansion in MLB will not happen anytime soon. They stated two reasons. 1) diluted talent in almost every organization and 2) not all teams are currently making enough money. Sounded like all clubs are currently making money, but some of them aren't making a lot of money. Guessing they were talking about the small market teams.
You are correct that baseball is nowhere close to where it used to be. When I was growing up in the 80's everybody looked at opening day as a holiday. Now I'm not sure that 25% of the students in my school even know that tomorrow is opening day.
I am glad there's YouTube to watch baseball games as far back as the 1950's.
No bat flips, no celebrations for walk off win celebrations by teams that are 25 games out of first place, smarter players, pitchers throwing over 275 innings with a handful of complete games, umpires who realized that they were not the drawing card, base stealing, hit-and-run, bunting, fewer strikeouts and overall better fundamentals by the players.....and commissioners with good and smart intentions for the game.
As for expansion, why not just relocate the A's and Rays ? Portland, Las Vegas, Charlotte, Montreal would be possible landing spots.
No bat flips, no celebrations for walk off win celebrations by teams that are 25 games out of first place, smarter players, pitchers throwing over 275 innings with a handful of complete games, umpires who realized that they were not the drawing card, base stealing, hit-and-run, bunting, fewer strikeouts and overall better fundamentals by the players.....and commissioners with good and smart intentions for the game.
As for expansion, why not just relocate the A's and Rays ? Portland, Las Vegas, Charlotte, Montreal would be possible landing spots.
