Other Baseball

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/11/us/johnny-damon-dui-bodycam-video-spt-trnd/index.html I have had clients treated a lot worse by cops for doing a lot less during a traffic stop. Can't quite figure out what the difference is though.

https://www.startribune.com/indians-ramirez-reyes-isolated-after-covid-19-violations/600031477/ My only comment is that you can't fix stupid.

Free agency is likely going to be a really slow burn this year, but I still think it's worth having a thread to discuss signings. This is a re-signing, but still of a guy who was going to hit the market: $8M seems like a lot for a guy coming off a career worst season, especially since salaries are supposedly going to drop. I can understand why he'd immediately take that deal.

With spring training in full swing, who are the favorites in the A.L.?15. Baltimore Orioles BetOnline O/U - 63.5 wins The Orioles are brutal and play in a deeper division than the Tigers, but I’m a bit surprised they’re dead last. Switch-hitter Anthony Santander has a 111 OPS+ and 31 home runs over his last 130 games. Left-hander John Means owns a 3.81 ERA since 2019. They at least have a couple nice pieces… I think? 14. Detroit Tigers BetOnline O/U - 67.5 wins The Tigers are somewhat thinking about getting better, hiring A.J. Hinch to manage a pretty thin roster. The big three pitching prospects, Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning, will themselves determ…

The SB Nation site, Let's Go Tribe, they're doing some over-unders for their players. Today they discuss Eddie Rosario. I mainly just liked their Tweet about it... https://twitter.com/LetsGoTribe/status/1365315753159843841 https://www.letsgotribe.com/2021/2/26/22301007/over-under-2021-preview-eddie-rosario

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBg8_44uDZ0

Recent revelations out of Manfreds office indicate Yankees used electronic communications to gain an unfair advantage on opponents. I thought so all along. How about we get a few high draft picks of theirs?

3 years $102 million. $40 million year 1, $45 million year 2. Opt outs after each year.

Here is my proposal for blowing up the MLB draft..... Part 1 has the goals and a summary Part 2 has the details Eventually I will publish part three (and maybe 4) which analyzes the money distribution and makes predictions about what I think would actually happen.... https://mikesixel.com/fixing-the-mlb-draft-part-one/ edit: There is an intermittent issue with my site.....which they are working to fix. If you get an error, apologies in advance....just try reloading.....

Ken Rosenthal and Eno Sarris have broke news that there will be changes to the baseball in 2021. MLB is going to lighten the ball by an ounce and reduce the Coefficient of Restitution (how much the ball bounces when it hits the bat). The info was part of a MLB memo sent to general managers. A lighter, less bouncy ball will result in what is called the equivalent of "raising the fences five feet". I like the change. I grew up in an era where power hitters were special. Doubles hitters, like Tony Oliva, rocked. Singles hitters who could draw walks were important. Made for an interesting game.

https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2020/11/10/luhnow-files-22m-breach-of-contract-lawsuit-against-astros/ This could get interesting.

I wrote a little something on my blog....about blowing up the playoffs for MLB. No one will do it, but they should.... https://mikesixel.com/the-new-second-season-for-mlb/ (no ads on the site......)

The 2021 Major League Baseball season is nearly upon us, and while the American League Central division looks like a two-horse race, there’s plenty of storylines to follow. What are those most engaged seeing?We’re more than well versed on the Minnesota Twins but what does the view of this club, and those it competes with, look like through the lens of invested influencers from around the division? One of my favorite sleepers this season is the Kansas City Royals. I think they’re clearly better than Detroit and wouldn’t be shocked if they outpace Cleveland. Tales From the Central Series: ClevelandDetroitChicagoThis isn’t the World Series club of a few years ago, but MLB …

The 2021 Major League Baseball season is nearly upon us, and while the American League Central division looks like a two-horse race, there’s plenty of storylines to follow. What are those most engaged seeing?We’re more than well versed on the Minnesota Twins but what does the view of this club, and those it competes with, look like through the lens of invested influencers from around the division? Only maybe the San Diego Padres have made more splashes this offseason than the Chicago White Sox. Now viewed as the AL Central division favorite, there’s a rivalry renewed for Minnesota. Tales From the Central Series: ClevelandDetroitKnown as White Sox Dave, Dave Williams is …

Arenado is going from the Rockies to the Cardinals. What, if any was your favorite fan trade scenario for him. My favorite one I saw was he had a no trade clause and thus could veto a trade here. No one wants to be here

The 2021 Major League Baseball season is nearly upon us, and while the American League Central division looks like a two-horse race, there’s plenty of storylines to follow. What are those most engaged seeing?We’re more than well versed on the Minnesota Twins but what does the view of this club, and those it competes with, look like through the lens of invested influencers from around the division? In recent years, the Cleveland Indians have been among the best teams in baseball, nearly taking home a World Series in the process. Now they’re stripping it down and have spent this offseason dealing most of their notable names. I caught up with You Tube content creator Prest…

Every year, there is plenty to debate when it comes to baseball who should or shouldn’t be elected to Cooperstown’s hallowed halls. Last year, there were two players inducted from the BWAA ballot, Derek Jeter and Larry Walker. This year’s ballot is full of a lot of question marks and there is a chance that no players are inducted when results are announced in the coming days.Over the last handful of years, there has been an unclogging of the ballot, especially since voters are limited to 10 names per ballot. This has allowed the writers to take a longer look at some of the other top candidates that remain. If I were lucky enough to have a ballot, this is how I would vote:…

The 2021 Major League Baseball season is nearly upon us, and while the American League Central division looks like a two-horse race, there’s plenty of storylines to follow. What are those most engaged seeing?We’re more than well versed on the Minnesota Twins but what does the view of this club, and those it competes with, look like through the lens of invested influencers from around the division? The Detroit Tigers became the Fightin’ Gardy’s for a minute, and now are stockpiling former Minnesota players. Realistically though, they’ve also got an incredible farm system and look for a return to relevance soon. Tales From the Central Series: ClevelandPaul Sporer is known…

He makes my all time outfield: Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Henry Aaron. But think of whom is left out - Roberto Clemente, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Oscar Charleston, Rickey Henderson, Wee Willie Keeler, Joe DiMaggio, Mike Trout, James “Cool Papa” Bell, Barry Bonds, Ed Delahanty, Stan Musial (but he moved to first base). ...

How is it that MLB can't figure out Universal DH or not? Not fair to players. Not fair to teams. Not fair to the Twins signing Cruz. If MLB can't get this figured out there is no way we have baseball after labor negotiations after next season. Manfred is a joke. I'm just pointing this out before both points become front page news (not that most fans are aware of this) I'll step off my soapbox now

Hank Aaron passed away this morning. He was 86 years old. Feels like we're losing MLB legends every week, unfortunately.

Lindor trade finally finalized. After a long time of meetings, Francisco Lindor & Carlos Carrasco are no loner w/ CLE. I haven't studied the trade yet but it seems that the Mets got the best of the deal https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30668781/sources-new-york-mets-finalizing-deal-acquire-ss-francisco-lindor-cleveland-indians Maybe things will start to shake loose.

Just saw in the New York Times that Cleveland is dropping the Indians moniker. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/13/sports/baseball/cleveland-indians-baseball-name-change.html No word about to what they might change. Wind Surge seems to already be taken.

It appears that the Rays are trading LHP Blake Snell to the Padres for four players... https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1343411664251719682

I was having a chat with my high school-aged son today about pitches and the topic of the screwball came up. I recalled that Fernando Valenzuela threw it. That led me to look up his stats for his rookie season when he won the ROY and CY awards. He was 13-7 with 11 CG and 8 SHO in 192 IP. Now that doesn't seem like a ton of innings, but that was the strike year of 1981 and the Dodgers only played 110 games. He did his damage in 25 starts. That reminded me (from my heydays of baseball card collecting) of the 1980 Oakland A's staff of Rick Langford, Mike Norris, Matt Keough, Steve McCatty and Brian Kingman. If I recall correctly, this is about the time teams started to sw…

Twice former Twin Craig Breslow was promoted to Asst GM in Chicago, working alongside former Twin Randy Bush. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/cubs-promote-craig-breslow-assistant-general-manager.html

Major League Baseball announced today that they officially recognize the Negro Leagues as major leagues. A terrific decision that goes toward remedying the fraught history of the sport. I thought it would be appropriate to start a thread where everyone can discuss it.

This year's edition of the Winter Meetings is virtual due to the pandemic. That didn't stop movement and rumors Monday.LANCE LYNN TRADED TO WHITE SOX FOR DANE DUNNING AND AVERY WEEMS The lede was buried Monday as Jeff Passan reported late that the White Sox have traded for Rangers starter Lance Lynn. The burly right-hander has finished in the top-6 for the A.L. Cy Young in each of the past two seasons. The Rangers pulled away six years of promising right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning, who impressed in his debut with the White Sox. Dunning pitched to a 3.97 ERA, including a seven-inning masterpiece against the Twins in September. Avery Weems is reportedly the second pl…

I've been to 41 MLB parks with 40 since 1993. I missed 5 or 6 starting in the early 1990s when I landed my first computer job and then joined Cardiovascular Research and Radiology in 1992 where I received 22 days paid vacation. I went on 2 trips with 7 baseball parks to the East in 1994 with 2 in Canada and the HOF and all of the parks west of Colorado in 1995 along with 10 National Parks. I hated old Tiger and Yankee Stadiums and Milwaukee being replaced. I hate the cramped Fenway and the parking and Wrigley should be replaced as well. San Diego 2, the new and departed, stadiums and the Angels are mediocre compared to Dodger stadium. I wished I would have visited the M…

Monumental hire by the Marlins. Congrats to them and good luck to HER!