Other Baseball

As far as I'm concerned, it's about time; long over due. Still a ways to go ... the players have to vote, and then we'll see ... https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-players-association-takes-historic-step-toward-unionizing-minor-league-baseball-players/

Earlier, @Squirrel posted the following in a game recap thread: I hear this a lot ... 'so and so just doesn't have much of a baseball IQ' ... what exactly does that mean? That they lack knowledge of the game, or are just poor executers or are prone to mistakes? I think it fair to ask 'What was he thinking?' and being disappointed at decisions made in a split second and think you'd have done it differently for a better outcome, but I'm very doubtful that it's because a lack of knowledge of the game and how to play, i.e. IQ, but rather issues of inexperience. Seems like a topic worth digging into. What do we mean by baseball IQ? Is baseball IQ somet…

Looks like this might be it for Nelson, as he's having his worst season in many, many years. Current numbers: .235, 10 HR and a .343 slugging percentage. No, he hasn't been hurt, in fact he's already got 426 ABs and is on pace to play almost a full season's worth of games (145). On the positive side, he does have 64 RBI (a number that would lead the Twins by a decent margin), which speaks to his nose for driving in runs even at an advanced age. When it's said and done the guy will have some really nice career numbers. Anyone think Nelson will still be playing next year? I just don't see it.

I have seen 24 I have 6 to go. Miami, Tampa, Washington, Philadelphia, Cincinnati and St. Louis. I just knocked off 8 of them this month so it's on my mind. Ranking stadiums is like ranking a .275 hitter with a .270 hitter, the margins are thin so my ranking will be in tiers to reflect the slim differences. I have been to the Old Yankees stadium and I have been to Turner Field, I have not been to their replacements, therefore two of my 24 stadiums need to be eventually replaced by the newer versions but I will include the older versions in my rankings until I do. It has taken a lifetime to see 24, I can't chase that moving target because I'm sure there will be chang…

Link to MLBTR Article The former Twin prospect sent to Cincinnati as part of the Tyler Mahle trade should make his debut sometime this weekend. Here is a Reds Fan site article on how he could get into the lineup. UPDATE: Batting 7th and playing 3rd tonight

Is a base hit by a player who has basically failed in year one on a horrible team in a 14-2 loss a big deal or great play? No. But, according to MLB Media it's worthy of front page news. Why? Because of the exit velocity. Who cares? The point of the game isn't to see who can hit the ball the hardest. I just don't see how this is a draw for the game. I've taken my three kids to games at target field and let them each choose three players in the lineup. Whoever ends up with the most home runs wins? Hits are the tie-breaker. Runs are the second tie-breaker. I just don't think we would ever change to whoever hits the ball the hardest. …

Per MLB.com. https://www.mlb.com/news/gunnar-henderson-called-up-by-orioles Lots of teams possibly "missed" on Henderson as he was taken 42nd overall (the 1st pick of the 2nd round), including the Twins. Twice. The Twins took Cavaco and Wallner instead. Maybe Brooks Lee makes this miss hurt less, but maybe if the Twins had drafted Henderson they could have taken a top arm instead in 2022. And I know, the MLB is a HUGE crapshoot, but...

https://www.barrettsportsmedia.com/2022/08/30/diamond-sports-rsn-sale/ Diamond Sports, which owns 21 regional sports networks mostly under the Bally Sports brand, has as much as $8 billion in operating debt. Sinclair bought the regional sports networks from Disney in 2019 for $9.6 billion. Sports Business Journal reporter John Ourand reports companies who have considered buying the regional sports networks have predicted Diamond Sports Group will eventually file for bankruptcy, noting it would be a “worst-case scenario” for the NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS teams whose games air on the channels.

Worth the click and reading through Passan’s thread about the extension. Can’t say I’ve seen a deal like this constructed before in baseball.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/21/sinclair-to-launch-20-mo-direct-to-consumer-streaming-service-bally-sports-on-june-23/ $20/mo

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/fernando-tatis-jr-suspended-80-games-for-performance-enhancing-drug-violation.html

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…

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/tim-anderson-out-4-6-weeks-due-to-torn-ligament-in-hand.html

That was quite the fall from grace for Reyes. Quite the statement by the Guardians as well as Reyes could have been optioned. The Guardians had the courage to DFA their Big Whiff while the Twins did not - yet... https://www.mlb.com/news/franmil-reyes-designated-for-assignment-by-guardians

Your one stop shop for all things trade related around the league.

Probably worth it’s own thread. Holy cow what a blockbuster trade. I can’t believe Washington is blowing up their franchise.

Per mlbtrade rumors. Trivino also included in the deal. No reports of who is going back to the A's. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/yankees-to-acquire-frankie-montas-lou-trivino.html

Wondering why Taylor Rogers didn't close out the game last nite in San Diego? Answer: Today! In a surprise move the Milwaukee Brewers traded their All-Star closer to the Padres. They got Taylor Rogers back in return, as well as two decent prospects, and someone that MIGHT contribute short-term. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/brewers-trade-josh-hader-padres.html P.S. Oh, and remember the Twins have basically paid Rogers salary for this season.

I don't know the whole story, but it appears that in the renovation, the wheelchair accessible seats were moved into locations with sightline issues. It's more involved than that, so I'm not making light of this, at all. But, the claim is that Wrigley, post-renovations, is less accessible than before, and does not meet ADA standards. https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-cubs-wrigley-field-lawsuit-americans-with-disabilities-act/12051494/

Anyone see him on PTI…. I am so old but interesting comments

MLB's latest offer is a hard $181 million in guaranteed spending, with each team unable to exceed their allocated limit. The union wants at least $260 million guaranteed, with teams allowed to exceed their limits up to 20% before incurring a loss of a draft pick. The deadline for a potential agreement is 25 July. MLB has offered to get rid of the qualifying offer system for impending free agents if a draft agreement can be reached. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34249909/sources-mlb-mlbpa-remain-80m-apart-international-draft-money

Wait, didn’t we have one of these last year between Tampa Bay and Boston in September? I guess we had another one tonight: Ryan Tapia with the inside-the-park grand slam as the Blue Jays score four touchdowns in a big win over the Red Sox!

I was thinking about this after watching a video of a minor league team that does all kinds of crazy extra things to entertain. This topic has come up some with recent rule changes coming up to limit shifts, increase base stealing, and generally to increase hits on balls in play as well. Some rules also for pace of play like pitch clocks are being used in minors. These rules create many debates on if they should be imposed or not. Some of those debates are about strategy of defense, or changing the way the game is played. There has been much debate over the years about strike outs up, hits down, home runs, and the three true outcomes. There was an article about…

I just saw the news of Minnesota's own, Max Meyer, has been promoted to the Marlins. Max went to HS here and college at the U, then was drafted 3rd overall in the 2020 draft. With his debut set for Saturday, I figured to make a post to see if anyone had any good baseball stories about Max. As a U alumni, I remember his freshman year as a closer with the dominating slider. In the CWS when MN was facing Oregon he even faced Larnach. I also recall during his junior year, going to watch him pitch and the movement on the pitches was really something. It was fun looking over some of the scouts shoulders and hearing their comments and exclamations of "wow" Best of…

So is Buxton going to get snubbed? Did he decline? Or is it still TBD? With two guys who have fewer HR than Buxton already getting spots for the AL (Rameriz and Rodriguez) and the only two guys ahead of Buxton in HR total not accounted for (Judge and Trout), it would seem he already either declined, or was not asked. I’d be more than fine if he declined. I’d likely be perturbed if he wasn’t a top four choice.

Great story in the Wall Street Journal today. As a person with a disability who played JV and various summer leagues, I was never very good, but I enjoyed playing until I had a coach who felt like I shouldn't play because of my disability. That coach belittled me in front of my team until I quit. Seeing this story gives me hope that societally we are starting to change our ideas about such things. The Pure Joy of Baseball for These Children With Disabilities - WSJ Credit for the image belongs to the Wall Street Journal and Nate Smallwood.

This is not about any player in particular. I was thinking the other day on two main questions. First, how long does a player need to have some level of success before you trust they will break out of a down turn, or slump? How long into a down turn or slump do you stick with that player before giving up? History may suggest it is a combo kind of thing. I know many will look to are the results reflective of underlying numbers. Looking at Correa early on his numbers were not good, but he was hitting the ball hard, and he had years of success, so of course you expect he would break out. We have seen some guys have breakout years in contract seasons and people p…

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/dodgers-rumors-mookie-betts-second-base.html

I guess with the Nationals and the Pirates having the seasons that they are, anything is possible. But this bizarre double/triple play with one out already (involving old friend Ehire Adrianza) is crazy. Something I've never seen or heard of, even though I have actually read the rule book (many years ago): https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/06/30/nationals-pirates-controversial-play/