Other Baseball

The White Sox made headline last week after naming 76-year old Tony La Russa as the team’s next acting manager. This decision seems like it was driven by Jerry Reinsdorf, the owner of the White Sox and the Bulls. La Russa had previously served in the same role before being fired and going on to win the World Series with Oakland and St. Louis. Since his hiring, there has been plenty of controversial information that has come to light.Hiring Tony La Russa When the White Sox hired Tony La Russa, it was a bit of a shock. He hasn’t managed since 2011 with the Cardinals and his tenure with that club didn’t exactly end on the highest note. He’s been elected to MLB’s Hall of Fame…

I just read this potential rule change on Twitter and I am intrigued: https://twitter.com/sean_forman/status/1321455174091739136?s=20 For those who may be unable to see embedded tweets: This would discourage pulling your starting pitchers so early. It was also suggested in the replies that each new pitcher could require a new DH, which would discourage frequent cycling through relievers too. So the DH would basically be a permanent PH for that pitcher -- but once that pitcher is out of the game, you'd need to pick another DH or let the pitcher bat. What do you all think? I don't hate relief pitching but it would be nice to incentivize leaving a guy like Sn…

My proposal to radically change MLB playoffs, and deal with some of the issues plaguing the sport at the same time; I call it the All 30, and just like it sounds, it means every team makes the playoffs. See below for how it would work. The leagues are still split; Round 1 Only the teams in places 10-15 face off (10 v 15, 11 v 14, 12 v 13). It is a one game playoff, played at the higher seed's stadium, and occurs on the Tuesday after the regular season ends.Winners advance to the next round, losers are slotted into draft picks 17-22, with the worst record team at 17, and the best record team at 22--this will prevent tanking, as there is now a clear incentive to not l…

Both Manager Rick Rentaria and pitching coach Don Cooper were let go. Was a bit surprised by this, because the White Sox seem to be moving the right direction, and this was even a year early for where most people expected them to be. Would be interesting to see if there was something internal that led to the late season fade from winning the division and the second seed to finishing as the 7th seed.

Six MLB players got qualifying offer. Who, if any will sign them? Trevor Bauer, Marcus Stroman, Kevin Gausman, DJ LeMahieu, George Springer, J.T. Realmuto are the six. It is worth 18.9 million. Personally, I think four should think about it. Stroman, Gausman, LeMahieu, and Springer. Bauer is an interesting case as well. Reason I say the four should think about it is because teams are cutting so much cost, and uncertain how next CBA will pan out, some teams will be less likely to give up picks and so much cash to bring them in, with a possible lost season from pending work stoppage. I have little faith they will work it out without losing at least some a season. …

Feel free to chime in here about any of the (non-Twins) 2020 MLB postseason games!

Twins local viewership up 9%. Link to the article at Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2020/10/04/mlb-sees-local-tv-and-streaming-viewership-up-over-4-for-2020/#36bd03b33dac

Does MLB and its TV affiliates (mostly Fox Sports channels) realize how idiotic they are being by not being available to be watched on major providers? YouTube TV just cancelled FSN on their platform, Dish Network has not had that channel for nearly a year now, and many other services do not play the baseball games on the platform anymore. I personally don’t do it, but it’s pretty easy to find these games online illegally. Shouldn’t MLB want people to be able to watch the games? MLB also blacks out games for people within a specific area around a team under their own subscription, meaning Iowa and Las Vegas can’t watch several teams, and all of Canada can’t watch the Blue…

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2914226-jeff-luhnow-says-astros-still-employ-people-involved-in-sign-stealing-scandal

https://sports.yahoo.com/report-the-designated-hitter-will-only-be-used-in-the-american-league-in-2021-194000216.html

Talking baseball history here of the original teams since 1920. No expansion team is above .500 lifetime and that is 60 years of expansion baseball. Someone do the AL rankings since the Twins are one of the original 8. I'm a NLer as the AL dominates in the WS, i.e. the Yankees. 1920 on in the live ball era: 1. Cardinals though "In the regular season the Dodgers" especially since integration. The Cardinals didn't win until they got some HOF black and Hispanic players in the 1960's. 11 WS wins since 1926 and many second place finishes. Why the droughts in the 1950's, 1970's, and 1990's? Ownership as Gussie and son of the beer family had issues at times. Current …

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/sports/baseball/mlb-playoffs.html?fbclid=IwAR0a3ZM86C5WTtTczzlMeKcJv1ydlZtK2mPj6CDX9GpSHGNC6ZRwa3lf_oY This is ****ing embarrassing. They have taken a season that already has questions, but had a postseason that would at least give it some merit of legitimacy, and blown it all into a complete bastardization of what baseball is supposed to be.

I see that Yelich is still effected by a broken kneecap from last year and has a longterm contract now through 2028. It always raised an eyebrow that he had 11 HR before the break in 2018 and then was in contention for the triple crown. Cabrera of the Tigers contract is a disaster. He had a chance of 2 triple crowns in a row then his tail off at 34. What a way to get into the HOF as $180 million wasted on a washed up player. Albert Pujols: From one interview when he said he faced Octavio Dotel it seemed like he admitted without saying it that he was 2 years older than listed. Thank God the Angels thought he would lead them to the promise land with one playoff a…

So Twitter got me thinking... What's the perfect length of baseball season? And then what's the perfect playoffs to be paired with that season. I've enjoyed the 60 game season, other than not being able to go to games, but 60 in a normal year is just too short and is obviously not what's going to happen going forward. But man, it's going to be tough to go back to 162, having seen a) The best teams still bubble to the top with 60, b.) the increased importance of each game. The only downside of this 2020 package is that the number of playoff teams and seeming indifference between being seed 1 and seed 8 hasn't been great, although the NL is sure interesting going into t…

As Molina had his 2000 hit last night who are the hit leaders when appearing as a catcher? This is what someone posted. Ivan Rodriguez - 2749 Jason Kendall - 2160 Carlton Fisk - 2145 Yadier Molina - 1978 AJ Pierzynski - 1971 Ted Simmons - 1908 Gary Carter - 1907 Mike Piazza - 1906 Bill Dickey - 1896 Yogi Berra - 1765 Gaby Hartner - 1738 Johnny Bench - 1646 Joe Mauer - 1118 I don't think Mauer gets in the HOF for several years with that number of hits because others like Madlock won 3 or more batting titles. Can Molina get 183 hits to be number 2 in hits for catchers? The catcher is the middle linebacker of the defense though he can't run very well. He will be …

This is an AP article lifted from the StarTribune web site. https://m.startribune.com/detroit-tigers-manager-gardenhire-announces-retirement/572465591/

For those who missed the news today, Pat O'Conner, the President and CEO of Minor League Baseball, announced his retirement. He had been leading things with the minors for nearly three decades and done some amazing work in growing the minor league game. Sadly, as the contract between minor league baseball and major league baseball is up this offseason, I think this is simply a sign that we're about to see a hostile takeover of the minors by Major League Baseball, essentially designating the minor leagues as another one of its entries on the ledger, rather than the humanity that it truly deserves. Former Minnesota Twins GM Bill Smith has been working as O'Conner's seco…

Here is the pitching box Grateral 1.1 innings one run Kolarek 0.2 innings no runs Dodgers take lead May 5.1 innings 3 runs Gonzalez 1 inning one run Baez 0.2 innings no runs Kolarek gets the win even though he only made it through the second inning and only recorded 2 outs?? Doesn't make sense to me https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/boxscore/MLB_20200916_LAD@SD/

MLB.com has a new section on their website where you have access to over 3 million MLB videos going back to 1929. Looks like a pretty incredible resource! https://www.mlb.com/video?utm=mlbfilmroom-redirect

With things heating up, I figured we could have a thread for general non-Twins trade deadline discussion. A couple notes: - The deadline is 4 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 31. - Only players from 60-man pools can actually change teams this year, but players outside of 60-man pools can be included as "players to be named later" (I believe this is to reduce unnecessary player travel and exposure).

Did anyone see the rundown play that turned into a DP for the Cardinals yesterday? https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2020/2020-08/28/3867d0c8-e080eeb1-cdd26d57-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Can anyone tell (or know of a source saying) whether the catcher actually had the ball in his mitt on the first tag? He had the ball in his hand ready for a throw, since it was a rundown situation, but just before the tag his body blocks view of whether he tucked the ball into the mitt. Then after that, I can't tell when the ball is back in his hand for the eventual throw that led to the other out. I've only found one camera angle to judge by.

With Twins baseball on hold for a second consecutive day, I thought it might be a good time to ask -- what does everyone think of the rule changes so far? 1. 3-batter minimum (or end of inning) for pitchers 2. Designated Hitter in both leagues 3. 7-inning doubleheaders 4. Runner starts on second base in extra innings Edit to add: 5. Expanded rosters

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mlb.com/amp/news/foul-ball-hits-teddy-bear-in-a-s-stands.html

First Zach Plesac gets Ubered back to Cleveland for going out with friends. Now this in Oakland. You're embarrassing us, MLB. https://sports.yahoo.com/as-outfielder-defends-bench-coach-ryan-christenson-after-apparent-nazi-salute-213617303.html

Long time announcer Thom Brenneman was suspended yesterday by the Reds after getting caught on a hot mike using a homophobic slur. The suspension came during game two of a double header. I'm guessing he's worked his last MLB game. Awful. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/08/19/us/cincinnati-reds-broadcaster-thom-brennaman-anti-gay-slur-spt-trnd/index.html

How is there not a day game on TV every day during this 60 game schedule? Over half of the US population is either working from home or sitting at home out of work. NBA and NHL schedule games throughout the day for fans of that sport. It’s like they’re actively trying not to market the sport to people who normally don’t have the time to watch it.

Before the season started, I was wondering about what would happen if the virus started spreading like wildfire in a clubhouse. Well here we are. The Marlins have registered 14 total cases in recent days and their home opener against Baltimore has been cancelled. There's talk of perhaps the Phillies/Yankees game being cancelled as well, as the Phillies are coming off a 3-game series against Miami. Patrick Reusse's take should come as no surprise to those who have read his columns over the years:

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world from Target Field, the Yokohama Bay Stars lost 2 - 8 to host Yakult Swallows at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on the evening of 7 August. Clad in his official Twins home navy Max Kepler jersey, your correspondent was there to provide a taste of live baseball in the time of Coronavirus. The 2020 season began for Japan professional leagues in early June. At first, teams played in empty venues as they have thus far in the Major Leagues, but a few weeks ago NPB began allowing limited fan attendance. Jingu normally seats 39,000, but Yakult issues only 5,000 tickets at present, which go on sale about a week in advance. Apparently all of t…

Doesn’t it seem like the MLB missed on a slam dunk by not scheduling more day games (see any weekday games)? When we have more people working from home, staying indoors in the evenings, and playoff basketball and hockey (as unreal as that is) doesn’t it seem ludicrous that there aren’t more (if not MOST) day games being played during the week? Why did baseball get this so backwards? Listening to baseball on the radio is a national pastime, as is watching a day game, and yet with more and more people either stuck at home during the day due to COVID or the changing work environment (more jobs being done from home) the MLB decided to fight playoff basketball and playoff hock…

I noticed this one-sentence item in the most obscure part of this morning's StarTribune print edition: San Diego released former Twins All-Star second baseman Brian Dozier.