Squirrel

Your two posts, one after the other, are probably the best posts of the day ... lol

I’m pretty much the same. To me it’s just a game. But if this does go on, there are many who would be affected by this lockout. I don’t really care about the owners’, players’ or executives’ financial well being, I do care about everyone else who rely on their incomes from baseball, even seasonal workers

Labor negotiations often are, until they get down to business. And I've often been told, if neither side is happy but can live with it, then you've probably got a good contract

I just disagree. The owners didn't have to call a lockout, but they did. They'd have a stronger leg to stand on if they didn't because then they could say, 'See? The door's open but the players won't walk through it.' They closed the door and it is up to them to open it. If they do and the players don't walk through, then I sing a different song.

Let me clarify ... I said that both sides won't budge. But it's the owners who called the lockout/work stoppage, so the stoppage is on them to end. Period. It's the owners who have to lift the work stoppage in order for things to happen; it's up to them to come back to the table first to get the ball rolling. If this were a strike called by the players, then I would put that on them to come back to the table to get the ball rolling. However, I'm not sure how to resolve the issues when neither side seems to want to budge. But, as is very often the case with any kind of stoppage, very often things happen in the midnight hour to resolve things. We aren't in the midnight hour yet. However, I am getting more and more cynical about anything resolving itself.

I'm not panicked ... yet ... but I do grow increasingly cynical about things. Owners won't budge, players won't budge, there have been NO talks of any kind, which, in a labor stoppage isn't unusual until the very critical, last moments. However, I think the owner's path to baseball is sure ruination of the sport; the players don't do themselves any favors, but, they aren't the most egregious, imo. So ... what will happen? What are your thoughts. This post was based on, inspired by, this tweet:

Well, it’s certainly clear who’s calling the shots … and I don’t think it’s Manfred in this case but who Manfred represents. In a lockout, ownership doesn’t want ANY criticism

Right now I'll just put this out here with no comment other than that is a poor decision, imo ... https://nypost.com/2022/01/03/ken-rosenthal-out-at-mlb-network-over-rob-manfred-criticism/

I’m doing a gut/remodel of my master bath. And what I mean by ‘I’m doing’, I’ll be working with a design/construction team. We are in the very early design stages, so the actual work won’t happen for a while yet. I’ve also decided that I need to start replacing my 18+ yr old appliances. New frig and washer/dryer combo arriving tomorrow. Thankfully it’s cold enough outside that I can easily pack up what little is left in my frig/freezer and store outside for a few hours. And, I’m in the middle of a refi, but that is closer to done than not. Thankfully I was approved for an appraisal waiver, so that made that process go a bit quicker.

Well, December is baking season for me, so, lots of that. Then 2 weeks in FL with my Mom … helped get her condo decorated, and then yesterday, undecorated. Played some cribbage and got a near-perfect 28 hand, played tennis, and played ‘dodge the unmasked’ while out running errands. Next month I have a big cross-stitch project I need to get finished for a wedding gift. And work is always challenging. Coming up is some home improvement projects. So, there are many ways to pass the time, but yeah, I do scour a bit to try and find baseball news and tidbits. It’s fun following players on IG.

First off, I’m sorry to hear about your Dad. I lost mine just before Thanksgiving 3 yrs ago, so I understand. I don’t think there are high or low roads here. Disagreement drives the site. No one is right or wrong in sharing their opinions, as long as those opinions remain respectful and don’t go down the path of name calling or condescension, but that certainly is not you. But, sometimes I think our different communication styles sometimes cause confusion in understanding the points we are making. Ultimately, I don’t think the Rays’ organization is something to emulate in all things. Yes, player development, yes. But they lack a balance I’d like to see. That’s as succinct as I can say it.

As has been pointed out in this thread, the Rays aren’t as constrained monetarily as we were meant to believe. They could afford some retention but choose not. This is the part of their organization I do not want to emulate. Player development, absolutely. But there has to be a balance in there, and I think it’s an important balance for the game.

Again, I didn’t say retain everyone, so I think you are creating an exaggeration of what I said, and exaggerating your point a bit to try and make a point. I get it. We all get it. But fans do love to know their teams. Fans also love winning teams. Certainly there is a balance in this somewhere, just as it isn’t all about money, it’s not all about development and nothing else, either. When did the Rays last win the WS? Yes, the ultimate win does matter once in a while. And, personally, I am truly less inclined to take the time, effort, and money to go see a team play if I don’t know anyone on the team. Im also not inclined if they are losing. I am more so if one or the other, but really inclined if it’s both. Part of the fun, for me, isn’t just the winning, but a reason for it, the players themselves, and a connection to them from having followed them through the system and cheering them on when they make the big team. It’s why I hate to say good bye to players I love that have had the largest impact on the team, even though I understand why. I hated losing Berrios, but agree with why. Now, if Buxton had also gone? Hmmm … of course, the Twins aren’t winning, either. Both matters. The Rays do very well at one and not the other. The balance is off, imo.

I’m not suggesting retaining all but you need to keep a core. And having good, developed players will serve to trade for the pieces you need to make the final push. Fans do want to know some names to cheer for and a revolving door hurts that

And talent retention, once they’ve developed that talent. But retention is not a Rays’ characteristic but how I want us to be different. I want to root for the team I know not one with a revolving door where our best talent exits just when it’s flourishing

Donaldson won’t be the reason Miranda doesn’t come up. Miranda plays the same as Arraez. The fact that we have Arraez is more the reason, imo. Miranda plays 2nd, 3rd and some 1B. He’ll either come up when there are injuries or if Arraez is moved

Um, I disagree with this definition of framing. It’s to get the umpires to make the calls that you ARE entitled to. Framing isn’t about stealing. Do some employ it that way? Yup. So framing really is about both … which is why we need robo umps … to get the calls you should more often and not the calls you shouldn’t less often.

I think we will see several pitchers come up, but how many will shine? I chose a hopeful 1-2 … we will need that many to shine

I agree that it’s time for robo-umps, but not because catchers are cheating. I don’t consider framing cheating. I think both sides of this is flawed. I think framing came out of a necessity of missed strike calls. Maybe it’s gone too far, but I think there was evidence enough to use robo-umps before framing was a thing. Missed strike calls, missed ball calls … maybe framing evened the scales … either way, all I think exemplifies why it’s time.

I think that makes no sense, when you have Kirilloff, Larnach and Rooker (as of now), and even Gordon, and Arraez in a pinch. Sano is not going to be a full time DH, even though he will spend a chunk of time there, but so will Donaldson, Garver, Arraez and a few others. In his whole minor league career, Miranda has played LF a total of 3 times for a total of 25 innings. While I get that LF seems to be the place to play just about anyone, if that is where you are going to put Miranda, he is going to start the year in AAA to learn the position. And I think I read here somewhere on here, there was a good reason to not play Miranda out there more than that, so it is likely not going to be a regular place for him.

I think he’s played more 1st base than LF. And he’s played quite a bit at 2nd, which he has said is the position he likes best of all those he’s played. He has even played SS, but rarely.

Lol … I don’t want it which is why I redirected it to you! You can have all the glory, I’m fine with my role here ?

Not sure how you quoted that above with me saying that. Just for clarity, that was a statement @chpettit19 made, not me.

Ooou … the take down is real!

I think this is a very important statement to keep in mind. Was his breakout legit, and this is who he is going forward? Or will there be some regression back to what he has always been? Unless you are absolutely confident that the former is true, he will start the year in AAA and will be the first called up due to injury. Arraez could be traded and should be used as a trade chip, but Miranda could be, too, if everyone sees his year last year as legit. But if everyone is healthy, not sure I see Miranda on the roster to start the season, We won’t and shouldn’t move on from Donaldson until we know for certain of who we have with Miranda as a 3rd baseman