Post by: Nik on February 04, 2020, 11:22:36 PM
Well might as well start this off with a nutty trade:
To Dodgers: Mookie Betts, David Price
To Twins: Kenta Maeda
To Red Sox: Alex Verdugo, Brusdar Graterol
So, to cap it off, an incredibly profitable team in a huge market traded one of the best players in the world because they didn't want to pay the luxury tax and be slightly less profitable. What a scam the owners are pulling these days.
Post by: Dappleganger on February 05, 2020, 12:32:50 AM
Post by: Nik on February 05, 2020, 08:08:58 AM
To top it off, the Dodgers are apparently only paying 1/2 of Price's salary and to make room for Betts in the outfield traded Joc Pederson to the Angels.
The Dodgers might be real good.
Post by: bustaheims on February 05, 2020, 08:28:32 AM
I can't explain the impetus for this move from Boston's perspective.
Nope. I get moving Price - he wasn't providing value for money - but Betts is a perennial MVP candidate. You pay that kind of guy and keep him around. Verdugo is a good young outfielder, and will cover a good portion of what Betts brought, but, he's not enough of a return to justify moving out your best player.
Post by: Nik on February 05, 2020, 09:26:11 AM
I mean, if you're looking for a baseball reason beyond saving money on the tax, you won't find one.
Post by: digdug on February 05, 2020, 09:58:54 AM
feel free to poke holes in my theory...
but Maybe Mookie Betts won't be that good a hitter
if he doesn't know what pitch is coming ahead of time?
Post by: bustaheims on February 05, 2020, 09:59:49 AM
I mean, if you're looking for a baseball reason beyond saving money on the tax, you won't find one.
Nope. Luxury tax seems to be working as a soft cap. Teams don't want to be stuck over the line for any length of time.
Post by: pmrules on February 05, 2020, 10:29:01 AM
this is mostly speculation.
feel free to poke holes in my theory...
but Maybe Mookie Betts won't be that good a hitter
if he doesn't know what pitch is coming ahead of time?
This line of thinking is exactly where my mind went ...
Post by: Nik on February 05, 2020, 11:09:21 AM
this is mostly speculation.
feel free to poke holes in my theory...
but Maybe Mookie Betts won't be that good a hitter
if he doesn't know what pitch is coming ahead of time?
That doesn't really add up for a number of reasons. I don't think there are any serious suggestions that the Red Sox have been stealing signs for Betts' entire career and his minor league numbers are terrific so...
Post by: bustaheims on February 05, 2020, 01:20:54 PM
this is mostly speculation.
feel free to poke holes in my theory...
but Maybe Mookie Betts won't be that good a hitter
if he doesn't know what pitch is coming ahead of time?
If that were true, you'd probably see a more significant difference between his home and road splits - especially once you factor in the advantages that Fenway provides power hitting righties and plunking balls off the Green Monster.
Post by: Nik on February 05, 2020, 02:12:33 PM
If that were true, you'd probably see a more significant difference between his home and road splits - especially once you factor in the advantages that Fenway provides power hitting righties and plunking balls off the Green Monster.
Betts is a weird case in that he hits more HR away from Fenway but much fewer doubles.
Either way, WAR corrects for park factors so his "value" is pretty static regardless.
Post by: Andy on February 05, 2020, 02:28:47 PM
I mean, if you're looking for a baseball reason beyond saving money on the tax, you won't find one.
Well it's not like Betts is controllable for a bunch of years. He'll be an FA next year and has made it known that he fully intends to test free agency. Boston is getting back a very good young OF who has many years of control in Verdugo alone. So it's not just the tax they're worried about; they might lose Betts if he decides to sign elsewhere or have to dole out 400 million plus to retain him, which they still can do next year anyway. I don't love this for Boston but I'm not sure it's nearly as silly as some are making it out to be.
Post by: Nik on February 05, 2020, 02:42:31 PM
Well it's not like Betts is controllable for a bunch of years. He'll be an FA next year and has made it known that he fully intends to test free agency. Boston is getting back a very good young OF who has many years of control in Verdugo alone. So it's not just the tax they're worried about; they might lose Betts if he decides to sign elsewhere or have to dole out 400 million plus to retain him, which they still can do next year anyway. I don't love this for Boston but I'm not sure it's nearly as silly as some are making it out to be.
I'm not sure that the Red Sox not wanting to pay market rates for their best player makes it much better from a baseball perspective. This doesn't make them a better baseball team this season and there's not much of a chance that they will be for the duration of Verdugo's controllable years vs. retaining Betts.
Discussing it from a ...ugh, assets management point of view I'd be careful about repeating anything about a Red Sox player and what he "made known" when local Boston media is notorious for just parroting whatever negative stuff ownership wants to spread about players once it suits their purpose.
Post by: Highlander on February 09, 2020, 11:55:48 AM
Post by: Nik on May 31, 2020, 07:34:21 PM
The Washington Nationals, a team principally owned by a man worth 5.3 billion dollars, is slashing the pay of some of his minor league players from 400 a week to 300. Others he's letting go entirely.
Said owner could afford to pay 500 minor leaguers 400 dollars a week for 413 years and still be a billionaire.
Post by: seahawk on June 06, 2020, 10:02:26 PM
https://es.pn/2YcAeNj
https://es.pn/2My9eSQ
Post by: L K on June 10, 2020, 09:53:34 AM
Post by: CarltonTheBear on July 23, 2020, 03:08:06 PM
Soto's positive is from a test two days ago. Results came back this morning. All the rest of those tests were negative, but Soto practiced (as an asymptomatic carrier) with the team that day. Nats will be tested again today, but obviously not have results before the game.
— Hannah Keyser (@HannahRKeyser) July 23, 2020
So opening day is going well.
Post by: bustaheims on July 23, 2020, 03:38:15 PM
Soto's positive is from a test two days ago. Results came back this morning. All the rest of those tests were negative, but Soto practiced (as an asymptomatic carrier) with the team that day. Nats will be tested again today, but obviously not have results before the game.
— Hannah Keyser (@HannahRKeyser) July 23, 2020
So opening day is going well.
Leave it to MLB to make the worst RTP plan.
Everyone else is going into isolation bubbles with no travel, delaying things more, or other more sensible protocols. MLB? Let's have all the teams travel across the region. Oh, and one of our teams can't play in their home city, so, they need to share a stadium. Our first choice is one they and their opponents wouldn't have visited under the shortened schedule, but, that won't be a problem right?
Post by: Nik on July 23, 2020, 03:38:57 PM
And this is the sort of thing Ford and Tory would have been ok with letting into the country.
Post by: CarltonTheBear on July 23, 2020, 04:00:38 PM
Everyone else is going into isolation bubbles with no travel, delaying things more, or other more sensible protocols. MLB? Let's have all the teams travel across the region. Oh, and one of our teams can't play in their home city, so, they need to share a stadium. Our first choice is one they and their opponents wouldn't have visited under the shortened schedule, but, that won't be a problem right?
I'm all for blasting the MLB here, but odds are if the NBA and NHL were starting new seasons now instead of finishing up they probably wouldn't be doing bubbles/no travel either.
Post by: bustaheims on July 23, 2020, 04:09:56 PM
I'm all for blasting the MLB here, but odds are if the NBA and NHL were starting new seasons now instead of finishing up they probably wouldn't be doing bubbles/no travel either.
That's fair, though, part of me would hope at least one of those leagues would recognize the problem and postpone things as much as possible.
The Canadian government not allowing U.S. based teams to travel back and forth across the border would have a much more significant impact on the NHL - enough that they might actually make the smart choice. Maybe. I hope. The NBA would probably be looking at a similar scenario to MLB.
Post by: Nik on July 23, 2020, 07:22:49 PM
Half an inning in and this is already one of the weirder things I've ever seen.
Post by: Bender on July 23, 2020, 10:00:44 PM
I'm not keeping tabs. What's happened?
Half an inning in and this is already one of the weirder things I've ever seen.
Post by: Nik on July 24, 2020, 12:28:04 PM
I'm not keeping tabs. What's happened?
Half an inning in and this is already one of the weirder things I've ever seen.
Oh nothing specific, I just meant the empty stadium and mask wearing players.
And it looks like its Buffalo for the Jays.
Post by: Highlander on July 24, 2020, 12:32:36 PM
Post by: Highlander on July 24, 2020, 02:14:49 PM
Post by: herman on July 27, 2020, 09:12:49 AM
Post by: CarltonTheBear on July 27, 2020, 09:13:24 AM
The Marlins' home opener against the Baltimore Orioles tonight has been canceled, sources tell ESPN, as the team remains in Philadelphia and continues to undergo testing.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 27, 2020
Post by: L K on July 27, 2020, 09:47:33 AM
Post by: Bender on July 27, 2020, 09:55:34 AM
The Marlins' home opener against the Baltimore Orioles tonight has been canceled, sources tell ESPN, as the team remains in Philadelphia and continues to undergo testing.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 27, 2020
*Facepalm
Post by: Arn on July 27, 2020, 10:25:42 AM
I was surprised to see players with face coverings over the weekend. Something I haven't seen in other sports as they're in the "bubbles" or whatever.
Though I did also wonder why some were bothering - more often that not it was covering only the mouth not the nose or half hanging off altogether.
Post by: CarltonTheBear on July 27, 2020, 10:30:14 AM
I was surprised to see players with face coverings over the weekend. Something I haven't seen in other sports as they're in the "bubbles" or whatever.
Though I did also wonder why some were bothering - more often that not it was covering only the mouth not the nose or half hanging off altogether.
The skeptic in me figures that's more of a performative gesture than anything else.
Post by: Arn on July 27, 2020, 10:35:45 AM
Actually done properly it might not be a bad way of convincing some sceptics to wear masks and normalise it a little. But doing it half assed probably plays in to the people who don't want to wear one....
Post by: herman on July 27, 2020, 10:40:27 AM
It's so shocking that a team in Florida could possibly get a covid outbreak playing in a league with garbage strategy for limiting exposures.
Apparently the Marlins were clean, but recently came into contact with the Atlanta team who had some players also test positive.
Post by: herman on July 27, 2020, 10:46:49 AM
The Marlins are still in Philly.Tonight’s Yankees-Phillies game is cancelled, source tells The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 27, 2020
Post by: CarltonTheBear on July 27, 2020, 10:47:55 AM
The Marlins are still in Philly.Tonight’s Yankees-Phillies game is cancelled, source tells The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 27, 2020
This feels like the day the NBA cancelled their season but you know MLB ain't doing that.
Post by: herman on July 27, 2020, 11:04:21 AM
Post by: Arn on July 27, 2020, 11:13:07 AM
Post by: bustaheims on July 27, 2020, 11:36:15 AM
Post by: CarltonTheBear on July 27, 2020, 01:15:32 PM
Now we REALLY get to see if MLB is going to put players health first. Remember when Manfred said players health was PARAMOUNT?! Part of the reason I’m at home right now is because players health wasn’t being put first. I can see that hasn’t changed.
— David Price (@DAVIDprice24) July 27, 2020
Post by: Arn on July 27, 2020, 02:44:22 PM
https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/miami-marlins-coronavirus-outbreak-phillies-mlb-season-20200727.html
Post by: Peter D. on July 27, 2020, 05:25:20 PM
Post by: Groundskeeper Willie on July 27, 2020, 05:36:44 PM
Players flying in and out of cities in a country where the virus is spiralling out of control and with no league-directive quarantine measures set in place nor required. What could have gone wrong?And Doug Ford and John Tory were ok with this going to Toronto?
Post by: Bender on July 28, 2020, 12:57:35 PM
Glad the feds put the kibosh. Absolute nonsense.Players flying in and out of cities in a country where the virus is spiralling out of control and with no league-directive quarantine measures set in place nor required. What could have gone wrong?And Doug Ford and John Tory were ok with this going to Toronto?
Post by: Highlander on July 28, 2020, 01:04:20 PM
Post by: Frank E on July 28, 2020, 01:56:28 PM
Glad the feds put the kibosh. Absolute nonsense.Players flying in and out of cities in a country where the virus is spiralling out of control and with no league-directive quarantine measures set in place nor required. What could have gone wrong?And Doug Ford and John Tory were ok with this going to Toronto?
Just FYI, the plan submitted to the province and approved by Chief Medical Officer of Health required the teams to be isolated from gen pub.
I think the issue became the crossing border thing, which is a federal thing, and has nothing to do with the province. The feds didn't want to open that can of worms.
Post by: herman on July 28, 2020, 02:26:13 PM
Can't understand why MLB didn't use the bubble approach, so far it has worked for the other leagues. Complete madness to let this happen. And too bad, I have been loving seeing the Jays play again.
A tight bubble is not feasible for baseball. The teams and support staff and stadium grounds crews, etc. is a significantly larger number of people than hockey. For a regular season grind, that's kind of crazy, even though baseball is the most distanced of the 4 major sports.
Hockey's RTP looks to be working well right now, thanks to Canada generally managing things well, but if it is needed for the next regular season as well, there'll be an uproar from players and staff.
Post by: bustaheims on July 28, 2020, 02:28:01 PM
The Miami Marlins 2020 season at least temporarily, has been paused. This will allow the team to continue to monitor health and safety of players.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) July 28, 2020
In team vote, vast majority of Nationals players voted against going to Miami for three-game series this weekend, sources tell The Athletic. Decision will rest with MLB.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 28, 2020
#Phillies also may be stopped from playing for a few days but not as long as the #Marlins. Plan would be then for the #Yankees, who were supposed to play at home v. #Phllies Wed/Thurs, to instead play at #Orioles, who were supposed to play Marlins
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 28, 2020
One scenario under discussion, according to source with direct knowledge: Marlins, Phillies would quarantine for undetermined period. Yankees would travel to Baltimore and play Orioles on Wednesday and Thursday. Marlins, Phillies would try to make up postponed games later.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 28, 2020
Phillies-Yankees postponed in New York, too. Phils will resume as road team at home against Toronto Friday night.
— Bob Brookover (@brookob) July 28, 2020
Just unpack that last RT from Ken. A team that may have been exposed to COVID-19 by another team that has lost half its roster to COVID-19 will isolate, then play another team who was barred from playing in its own country because the gov't was concerned about MLB’s plan to play https://t.co/WnThl8o6vu
— Kaitlyn McGrath (@kaitlyncmcgrath) July 28, 2020
Yeah. The season is off to a great start.
Post by: Highlander on July 28, 2020, 03:32:30 PM
Post by: bustaheims on July 29, 2020, 01:25:25 PM
Another Marlins player has tested positive for COVID-19, sources tell The Athletic. Only positive result in most recent tests. Brings team total to 16 players and two coaches.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 29, 2020
Half their roster. Half.
Shut. It. Down.
Post by: Bender on July 29, 2020, 01:55:45 PM
Another Marlins player has tested positive for COVID-19, sources tell The Athletic. Only positive result in most recent tests. Brings team total to 16 players and two coaches.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 29, 2020
Half their roster. Half.
Shut. It. Down.
I can't believe they ever thought this was going to work.
Post by: L K on July 29, 2020, 03:10:53 PM
So now we have a rushed season where players are going to be at increased risk of injury and we are jamming games into double headers to account for a lack of safety on COVID exposure. MLB is absolutely incompetent.
Post by: herman on August 02, 2020, 01:37:03 PM
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) August 2, 2020
Post by: L K on August 02, 2020, 05:34:26 PM
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) August 2, 2020
He packed up his stuff in the middle of the night and left the hotel. He’s opting out. He informed the team during the game. But of a bizarre series of events
Post by: herman on August 02, 2020, 07:30:36 PM
I’m just glad he’s okay— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) August 2, 2020
He packed up his stuff in the middle of the night and left the hotel. He’s opting out. He informed the team during the game. But of a bizarre series of events
Post by: Arn on August 03, 2020, 10:01:35 AM
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) August 2, 2020
He packed up his stuff in the middle of the night and left the hotel. He’s opting out. He informed the team during the game. But of a bizarre series of events
With the way MLB (and indeed some other players) have handled things, I'd be surprised if he's the last
Post by: Arn on August 04, 2020, 08:48:03 AM
More games postponed.
Seemingly players visiting a casino this time being the cause.
They really do need to shut it down. The rules aren't stringent enough and even if they were it seems you can't control your players to stop them doing these things if they're not in a "bubble"
Post by: Iafrate on October 16, 2020, 08:26:13 PM
Post by: L K on October 17, 2020, 04:57:57 AM
Post by: Guilt Trip on October 17, 2020, 09:06:30 AM
Personally I?m just glad that the league that pretends Pete Rose and Barry Bonds don?t exist can celebrate how awesome Houston is.I agree. Two Hall of Famers
Post by: Heroic Shrimp on October 17, 2020, 12:47:55 PM
Robbing a home run and pretending you didn’t is more disrespectful than any bat flip, great addition to the game pic.twitter.com/Bi00uNDsgg
— Steve Berman (@BASportsGuy) October 17, 2020
Lol.
Post by: CarltonTheBear on October 17, 2020, 12:53:49 PM
Post by: herman on October 17, 2020, 05:01:18 PM
Post by: Highlander on October 18, 2020, 02:10:46 PM
It's not MLB but worth posting somewhere:Classic, thanks for sharing this one.Robbing a home run and pretending you didn’t is more disrespectful than any bat flip, great addition to the game pic.twitter.com/Bi00uNDsgg
— Steve Berman (@BASportsGuy) October 17, 2020
Lol.
Post by: Guilt Trip on October 18, 2020, 02:18:24 PM
Post by: Iafrate on October 25, 2020, 10:20:43 PM
Post by: Arn on October 26, 2020, 04:31:28 AM
You know what I have not heard anyone say: man I miss seeing pitchers hit
The only time I miss it would be when a pitcher randomly mashed a home run.
That was fun. But I don't miss all the other thousands of pitcher at bats.
Post by: L K on October 26, 2020, 01:35:23 PM
You know what I have not heard anyone say: man I miss seeing pitchers hit
I miss seeing some of the pitchers who swing like I would in the batters box. I somewhat understand the argument about the strategy element of the game but those same people whinge about guys not throwing complete games anymore so why are you happy about a starter getting pulled after 5 innings because of a hitting option
Post by: Iafrate on October 30, 2020, 11:44:28 AM
In other news Cleveland will hire Tommy Lasorda as their new manger because why not.
Post by: Nik on October 30, 2020, 11:50:05 AM
The Rays declined their option on Charlie Morton and Mike Zunino today.
I have to say it was pretty bizarre watching some people try to paint the World Series as being a small market underdogs vs. big market overspending goliaths. The Rays are a terrible organization who thrive on just never paying players. We should all be rooting for their collapse and, hopefully, an eventual move to Montreal.
Post by: Guilt Trip on October 30, 2020, 12:47:42 PM
White Sox have hired Tony Larussa as their new manager. Because what else would make sense than hiring a 76 year old who has been retired for almost 10 years.I was going to say at least Larussa is still alive until I see that so is 93 year old Lasorda. Wow, I thought he was dead.
In other news Cleveland will hire Tommy Lasorda as their new manger because why not.
Post by: bustaheims on October 30, 2020, 12:53:03 PM
White Sox have hired Tony Larussa as their new manager. Because what else would make sense than hiring a 76 year old who has been retired for almost 10 years.
In other news Cleveland will hire Tommy Lasorda as their new manger because why not.
It's weird, but, at least La Russa has connections to the ChiSox. He's just completing the circle.
Post by: bustaheims on October 30, 2020, 12:56:51 PM
The Rays declined their option on Charlie Morton and Mike Zunino today.
I have to say it was pretty bizarre watching some people try to paint the World Series as being a small market underdogs vs. big market overspending goliaths. The Rays are a terrible organization who thrive on just never paying players. We should all be rooting for their collapse and, hopefully, an eventual move to Montreal.
Yeah. Their scouting and development systems are excellent. They have a knack for identifying pieces in organizations that are undervalued or underdeveloped, and that's helped them be a contending team, but, other than that, they're terrible.
Post by: Nik on October 30, 2020, 01:00:28 PM
The Rays declined their option on Charlie Morton and Mike Zunino today.
I have to say it was pretty bizarre watching some people try to paint the World Series as being a small market underdogs vs. big market overspending goliaths. The Rays are a terrible organization who thrive on just never paying players. We should all be rooting for their collapse and, hopefully, an eventual move to Montreal.
Yeah. Their scouting and development systems are excellent. They have a knack for identifying pieces in organizations that are undervalued or underdeveloped, and that's helped them be a contending team, but, other than that, they're terrible.
Sure, but also a lot of it is that it's actually not super difficult to look over another team's roster and be like "We'll take two of your best prospects for our developed major leaguer". That doesn't take away from their scouting/developing but it's not quite the same as digging through the draft for talent.
Post by: CarltonTheBear on November 10, 2020, 01:58:35 PM
White Sox have hired Tony Larussa as their new manager. Because what else would make sense than hiring a 76 year old who has been retired for almost 10 years.
Yeah, about that:
Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in February and charged with DUI a day before the team hired him, according to court records obtained by ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 10, 2020
News with @pinepaula and @MoynihanCharles: https://t.co/C1lHlik4Zl
ESPN obtained the full arrest report for Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa's DUI charge.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 10, 2020
"Do you see my ring?" La Russa said to the arresting officer. "I'm a Hall of Famer baseball person. I'm legit. I'm a Hall of Famer, brother."
News at ESPN: https://t.co/C1lHlik4Zl pic.twitter.com/GnqS5k7V9e