Other Baseball

This is shaping up to be one of the most watched post-seasons in a long time, despite all of the games being hidden behind the paywalls of cable networks. I know that stations like TBS and ESPN are available on most low-end cable subscriptions, and MLB network just a tick or two up from there, but I feel like putting the games on cable isn't good for growing the game here in the US. I know there is a big push in MLB to get baseball back in the inner city, to get more african-americans playing baseball, and to grow it with the youth of today so that the best athletes don't all leave baseball for other sports. I feel like it's hard to do that when the games are accessib…

After watching another non-competitive game last night for our local 9, I did some digging to see if the numbers support my growing conviction that this League is broken. The vast gulf between the have and have-not franchises in a league which has refused to embrace parity and revenue sharing, and a players Union that is more concerned about the top 5% than the 95% of the rest of the players has ruined the game. As of this morning, Aug 10, 2022, the top 8 revenue teams have a combined run differential of plus 845. The bottom 8 teams have a combined run differential of minus 310. Our local squad has not faced the Mets, but so far vs. the Dodgers, Yankee…

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:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/04/dee-gordon-receives-80-game-ped-suspension.html Let's hope he hasn't been training with his brother Nick!

12 years $430 million.

Machado is another one of my favorite non-Twins. He's really, really good, of course. But he's also somewhat dirty. http://m.mlb.com/bos/video/v1309699983/bosbal-pedroia-exits-game-after-collision-at-second Honestly, I think Machedo just went in hard and accidentally spiked Pedroia but others may see it differently. The Orioles won that game but the next day the Red Sox tried to hit him and actually aimed at his head, which is a serious no-no. I was somewhat surprised that Machado didn't charge the mound but Barnes should get a fairly big penalty. If he had aimed at his body, this probably goes away but head-hunting is different, so we'll see. Machado doubled …

Jon Heyman of Fanrag Sports interviewed Kenley Jansen about this weird off-season. He really dove in on tanking in baseball, and believes there's only 6 teams in the NL that are actually trying to compete this season. Eric Hosmer also discussed how the integrity of the game is being compromised when good players remain unsigned 2-3 weeks into spring training. More at the link here. https://www.fanragsports.com/dodgers/heyman-jansen-worried-about-mlb-effort-imbalance/

This seems like a divisive topic for whatever reason. Baseball's "old guard" seems to dislike the idea of a player flipping their bat ten feet in the air and disrespects the pitcher. Meanwhile, you have pitchers like the Dodgers' Kanley Jansen who said after the game "You can do whatever you want to if you hit me out, I don’t care. You got me." (Then you have Yasiel Puig who went the other direction and overtly set the bat down after glancing at the pitcher.) Personally, I love it. I love it so hard. It's a great moment. Baseball is supposed to be fun and, to me, this is a way of expressing that. So, what do you think? Where do you stand on the idea of…

This is an AP article I lifted from the StarTribune web site. https://www.startribune.com/cleveland-indians-look-into-changing-name-amid-pressure/571623572/

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.

Big mistake letting this guy go

It appears that the Miami Marlins will do their best to make life difficult in the NL East for Mike Redmond. Sources are indicating that the Marlins have traded RHP Josh Johnson, LHP Mark Buehrle, SS Jose Reyes, C John Buck and IF/OF Emilio Bonafacio to the Blue Jays for Yunel Escobar and several prospects. Holy ridiculousness!!! Embarrassing for baseball are the Marlins!

Along with Alan Trammel. Congrats to them both.

First, this is not an either or, the answer could be neither. Over the last few years there has been a lot of talk of how badly the minor league players have been treated. I read a good article on ESPN last night that brought up some interesting things. One thing is that there is no uniform way for minor league players to be treated, other than pay. The pay is not much, even though it went up lately. There are still stories of players living in cars, or packing motel rooms, or players spending more on rent then they make to play so needing families to help pay their rent. In my opinion, players should have to basically just survive to play in the minor l…

I lifted this link from another blogger whom I read with regularity. It's a lengthly piece on the concept of the electronic strike zone. I have never been a fan of the idea, mostly for reasons of tradition. But everyone has their own take on the concept. It's a pretty indepth discussion, maybe it will cause some to revisit their own perception of the whole issue. Regardless, to paraphrase what a very wise man said recently, "who would have thought balls and strikes could be so complicated"? https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/37347/robo-strike-zone-not-simple-think/

I'm sorry if this may be against forum rules but I feel it needs to said. After watching many baseball games this year (not just Twins) I have come to the conclusion that major league umpires are terrible. I understand its a thankless job and nobody is volunteering to it, but come on, let's get some guys that know what the hell they are doing. Buckner was terrible last night (and tonight too) and I have seen other games where the strike zone moves from batter to batter, even pitch to pitch. This is unacceptable. This and the fact the base umpires seem disinterested because they know that replay will "fix" any mistakes make watching some games unbearable. How about tak…

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.

Interesting article on the hard ball times, but this might lead to some additional labor unrest... I really hope this isn't the case, but it's looking more and more like we're in for a major labor stoppage at some point in the near future. https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2020/05/08/an-owner-player-salary-fight-could-be-looming/

What is this, The Bachelor? Will the Yankees give the Twins a rose every year in the playoffs? This is a bad idea.

A thread for news from around Major League Baseball. Tonight in L.A., the Angels will forego their DH in order to let Shohei Ohtani both hit and pitch in the same game. Ohtani is starting pitcher and will bat second. I think this is his first time in a true two-way role? Has an American League team voluntarily given up their DH in a game, since the rule change in 1973? https://www.mlb.com/news/shohei-ohtani-pitching-batting-second So far hitting in 2021, Ohtani is 2-13 with a Homer and 6 K’s. Can’t wait to see how he does!

Did someone leave the stove on?? Because it's HEATING UP!

This is an AP article posted on the StarTrib web site. And we haven't even started real full-time training yet. I have a LOT of trouble visualizing a feasible path toward full-time nationwide baseball if this is happening at this stage. https://www.startribune.com/phillies-5-players-test-positive-for-virus-at-florida-camp/571371162/

According to mlbtraderumors, the 25 year old might be on the trading block. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/06/royals-have-recently-offered-yordano-ventura-in-trades.html He has a nice contract but he's underperforming this year and his anger issues - he started another brawl last night with Machado (this has been a great year for baseball brawls) so KC might look to move him. No idea what they'd want back. From the article: "The extension once seemed an asset, but now may no longer have surplus value. Though we’re now one and a half years into the contract, the vast majority of the guarantee remains to be paid. Ventura has received just over $1MM of what he…

Reusse wrote a blog on baseball's pace of game and how it is turning him to watching hockey. Specifically, he talked about the game the other night that was 4:32 for a nine-inning game and its 1:06 seventh inning. I completely agree... but then again, I haven't watched more than 15 total innings of playoff baseball over the last few years. So, it'd be a bit hypocritical of me to disagree with him. http://www.startribune.com/baseball-s-pace-drives-baseball-lover-to-hockey/397200271/

Jeter. Don't get me wrong, he is talented and a sure fire hall of famer, but I can't think of a more over-rated player in my lifetime. Defensively he was below average at best, offensively he was solid, but benefited IMO from ridiculous lineups around him. Again, hall of famer? Yes. One of the best to play the game like some people claim. No way. The coverage this year is going to be puke worthy.:whacky028:

Since the Crime Dog retired from baseball, all I have heard from professional commentators is that Fred McGriff will not get inducted to the Hall of Fame. At first I somewhat agreed with them, but after a while it was hard to not be impressed by 493 HR's, almost 2,500 hits, 1,500+ RBI's, and a lifetime OPS of .886. Even though McGriff Played in the "Steroids Era", his body never changed, he remained a lanky, tall player through the duration of his career. I feel confident in saying Crime Dog was not a cheat. McGriff never won a Gold Glove, but I do remember him being a very good defensive first baseman and he was a key contributor to the highly successful A…

The Braves GM and his top assistant have been forced to resign over a major league baseball investigation into the teams international signings. John Hart has resumed the role of GM until the position is refilled. It is possible that some of the signings including the top international 16 year old the Braves signed this year might be voided. (Most of this information came from posts on mlbtraderumors). Should the Twins be interested and at what price for Kevin Maitan(he could be an unrestricted FA). John Coppolella and his top assistant Gordon Blakely have been forced out and it is expected some scouts will also be forced out. Stunning is that up to 15 baseball club…

wow. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/yankees-sign-aaron-hicks-to-dollar70-million-seven-year-extension-officially-out-on-bryce-harper/ar-BBU3Og1?ocid=spartanntp

I'm not sure if this has been posted yet or not but the MLB is contemplating some changes to the game. http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26190498/robot-umps-shift-ban-coming-atlantic-league • Using a TrackMan radar system to help umpires call balls and strikes • Extending the distance between the pitching rubber from 60 feet, 6 inches to 62 feet, 6 inches in the second half of the season • Mandating that two infielders are on each side of the second-base bag when a pitch is released, with the penalty being a ball • A three-batter minimum for pitchers -- a rule MLB and the MLB Players Association are considering for the 2020 season as they near an agreement on a sma…

Here are this year's candidates: http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_2015.shtml And a refresher on the Hall voting procedure: http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/hof_voting.shtml Go!