2014 MLB Thread

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Perhaps. But then I don't automatically make the jump to labeling someone homophobic like some do here, I think.

Who is labeling now?

[stevew]

Didn't want to see him as our closer anymore but it's a bummer to see Grill I get traded. Pretty cool dude.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Who is labeling now?

Some might assume markprior is homophobic because he was "at a loss for words".

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by stevew

Didn't want to see him as our closer anymore but it's a bummer to see Grill I get traded. Pretty cool dude.

Haven't followed Grilli at all this year, but he was good last year. Did he have problems this season as a closer?

[JPhillips]

Homer Bailey has pitched six innings of an interesting game in SF. Only 62 pitches thrown and he's been interesting before.

edit: I jinxed the no-hitter.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Some quick research seems to indicate that the scheduling change at Wrigley was due to concerns about traffic congestion around the ball park due to "the event".

With claims of upwards of a million people at the last one and a request from a local alderman to move the game it doesn't seem quite as out of the ordinary.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Homer Bailey has pitched six innings of an interesting game in SF. Only 62 pitches thrown and he's been interesting before.

edit: I jinxed the no-hitter.

But not the sweep.

[stevew]

Wish I was paying more attention to Bryce Harper's rehab whereabouts because I would have attended that Sat night game vs the Rubberducks where he hit 3 homers.

Also saw future Yankee cleanup hitter Peter O'Brien today. Homeboy is absolutely ripped, possible to the point where I'd question his connections to the Miami area. Anyways, he looked lost at the plate.

Then I saw Tiger prospect Steven Moya. Dude looks a lot like Dom Brown, he hit a "homer" today but it was really a double. Ball appeared to hit the side of the wall 5-10 feet below the yellow line but the ump was probably clueless as to what actually constitutes a homer at Jerry Uht field. The left field fence is the side of an arena where the D-League Erie Bayhawks play. Moya looks like a ball player, appearance wise.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by rowech

But not the sweep.

Have the Reds ever taken four on the West coast?

Nice weekend.

[cougarfreak]

First four game sweep in SF since 1972.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by cougarfreak

First four game sweep in SF since 1972.

So just barely in my lifetime.

Thanks.

[BishopMVP]

As expected, Yankees sign 8 of the top 30 international prospects on Day 1, going about $10 million over their bonus pool. (Red Sox also went over by a couple million after signing the top 2 pitchers available.) This all but guarantees an international draft will be coming in the next 2 years, which could drain the future talent pool coming from the DR/Venezuela similar to how Puerto Rican talent took a huge hit after they were added in to the MLB draft. I know owners love the short-term savings, but reducing the total amount of money available to players (and agents) in a country has negative effects on the future talent pool.

[Neuqua]

Cubs sweep the Red Sox in Fenway for the first time since 1915.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Neuqua

Cubs sweep the Red Sox in Fenway for the first time since 1915.

Just making things up?

[Vince, Pt. II]

Rumor has it the A's owner Lew Wolff was given permission late last night to move the A's "out of Oakland." No destination specified. I see three possibilities here:

1. Oakland quickly comes around on a stadium deal. (Most likely)
2. Wolff moves them out of the Bay Area. (Least likely)
3. Wolff gets to move them to San Jose or Fremont, the Giants raise a huge stink about territorial rights.

Good that there's finally some movement on the issue from MLB, but I'm going to be sad for all the loyal A's fans if the team moves. That fan base definitely deserves better.

[bhlloy]

Trout-diculous

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Trout-diculous

Right? The graphic said he has only 2 walk off hits. Is that just this season? I figured he would have had one or two his first couple of seasons.

[stevew]

As get the Shark and Hammel? I guess they aren't fooling around. Pretty easy team to root for as well.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by stevew

As get the Shark and Hammel? I guess they aren't fooling around. Pretty easy team to root for as well.

Speak for yourself. I hate them!

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Speak for yourself. I hate them!

I will root for literally anybody over a team whose ownership thought "The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" was a good idea.

That stupidity was a bridge too far.

[DanGarion]

And here I am a fan of both teams. I'll never understand the hate some fans have of the other team Dodgers/Angels it's weird.

[MrBug708]

I was a big fan of both, even rooted hard and was celebrating the World Series that the Angels won, but something flipped in the minds of the long time Angel fans minds and it got pretty vicious. So I wrote them off as a team I could root for.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by DanGarion

And here I am a fan of both teams. I'll never understand the hate some fans have of the other team Dodgers/Angels it's weird.

It's somewhat traditional to hate the 'other' team in one city. If Dodgers/Angels fan don't, then I don't understand why they don't. That's weird.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

It's somewhat traditional to hate the 'other' team in one city. If Dodgers/Angels fan don't, then I don't understand why they don't. That's weird.

Weird I could have swore the Dodgers are in LA and the Angels are in Anaheim. They are even competely seperate counties. But what do I know.

[Subby]

Probably took a little longer than expected, but ATL and WAS are separating from the rest of the NL East. Nats 1.5 games back after beating the AAA Cubs and the Braves WON'T STOP WINNING.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by DanGarion

And here I am a fan of both teams. I'll never understand the hate some fans have of the other team Dodgers/Angels it's weird.

Umm what? steve was talking about the friggin A's. That's the team I hate (sports hate).

I don't hate the Dodgers. I was raised in a Dodger household. I am sick of the over the top coverage the Dodgers get, though.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

I will root for literally anybody over a team whose ownership thought "The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" was a good idea.

That stupidity was a bridge too far.

I don't hate teams for stupid shit like that.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

I was a big fan of both, even rooted hard and was celebrating the World Series that the Angels won, but something flipped in the minds of the long time Angel fans minds and it got pretty vicious. So I wrote them off as a team I could root for.

And Dodgers fans became jealous of the Angels success with a traditional Dodger at the helm...

Isn't easier to just admit both sides have idiots and not to make grand generalizations off those few?

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

It's somewhat traditional to hate the 'other' team in one city. If Dodgers/Angels fan don't, then I don't understand why they don't. That's weird.

LA isn't like most other two sport cities. Generally, fans will just care about the teams they follow and not really care about what the other teams are doing. The Angels and Dodgers haven't really directly competed for anything. The Clippers are so far below the Lakers in terms of prestige that the Lakers could care less what Clips fans think. Until the past season and this year's playoff meet, the Kings and Ducks never even made the playoffs in the same year.

The only LA based rivalry which has the kind of enmity and bitterness seen in other two team cities is UCLA and USC--and they can't stand each other at all.

[Chief Rum]

Angels are tied for the second best record in baseball. They have just one representative in the All Star Game. Baseball (and everyone associated with it), you really suck at this.

[cuervo72]

I've had some OOTP teams like that.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Angels are tied for the second best record in baseball. They have just one representative in the All Star Game. Baseball (and everyone associated with it), you really suck at this.

Aybar and Richards are the only other ones who are really close, though, right? Aybar over Ramirez would have been ok, and, really, Jeter is the one stealing the spot. And Richards is up for the final vote

SI

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Aybar and Richards are the only other ones who are really close, though, right? Aybar over Ramirez would have been ok, and, really, Jeter is the one stealing the spot. And Richards is up for the final vote

SI

It's ridiculous that Richards even has to go through a vote to get in. I can accept Aybar getting the shaft because of Jeter, although it's amazing to me how often it seems like Angels get screwed over by the fans' vote or by the manager's choice or whatever. They seem to lose every 50-50 vote they're in.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I don't hate teams for stupid shit like that.

That's okay. Nobody's perfect.

I don't fault Moreno for his ambition, but c'mon. That was willful fuckery. "Hey, I know the contract says we have to do this, so we'll do this technical loophole thing that satisfies it even though you know, I know and everybody knows that nobody is going to call us the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim," but will instead drop the "of Anaheim" so even though we avoid breach, we still fuck you over in pursuit of expanding our market."

Meanwhile the locals get to pay the tax money for the renovations and shit on the stadium while the benefit that was supposed to accrue to the community never actually did.

I couldn't root for an owner who would fuck over his community like that any more than I could root for the Marlins under Loria (particularly now, in light of the stadium stuff down there).

[Lathum]

Sale has to get the vote in spot, right?

[sterlingice]

Where The Top 30 International Prospects Have Signed - BaseballAmerica.com

I have to take my hat off to what the Yankees did with the international signing period. We all knew this was a loophole as soon as we saw the rules:
Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - The Official 2013 MLB Thread

But, in traditional Yankee fashion, they didn't just break the system, they shattered it. And, of course, we'll all be moping about in a few years about how it isn't fair when they trade the 3 best of these guys plus filler for Mike Trout and then another 2 for some stud SP.

Without the pick penalties that are incurred in the amateur draft, the penalties here are just money. And any team could have done this: they just spent about $20M (~$12M in bonus + 75% tax) to completely restock the farm system down at the lower levels.

SI

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Without the pick penalties that are incurred in the amateur draft, the penalties here are just money. And any team could have done this: they just spent about $20M (~$12M in bonus + 75% tax) to completely restock the farm system down at the lower levels.

Not quite. They also aren't allowed to sign any player for more than 250k in the next signing period (or maybe two). You are correct that if you're going to incur those penalties, you might as well sign every "top guy" in one class. Now, 16 y/o Dominicans and Venezuelans have a higher bust rate than even 18 y/o HS draftees, and the Yankees scouting department hasn't been great lately, but all it takes is one of the 10 to turn into an MLB regular during his pre-arb years and you've come out ahead money-wise. I like the two pitchers the Red Sox got (and we've got a great track record recently with guys like Bogaerts, Manuel Margot, Wendell Rijo and Rafael Devers), but I'd love it if we'd signed 5 more guys like the Yankees did.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Not quite. They also aren't allowed to sign any player for more than 250k in the next signing period (or maybe two). You are correct that if you're going to incur those penalties, you might as well sign every "top guy" in one class. Now, 16 y/o Dominicans and Venezuelans have a higher bust rate than even 18 y/o HS draftees, and the Yankees scouting department hasn't been great lately, but all it takes is one of the 10 to turn into an MLB regular during his pre-arb years and you've come out ahead money-wise. I like the two pitchers the Red Sox got (and we've got a great track record recently with guys like Bogaerts, Manuel Margot, Wendell Rijo and Rafael Devers), but I'd love it if we'd signed 5 more guys like the Yankees did.

Yeah, there's the every other year plan. But, yeah, if you're going to blow it out of the water, just blow it totally out of the water

SI

[Scarecrow]

Sometimes being a Royals fan makes you shake your head. Wonder why they're picking up the leftover lefties this week?

July 6: sign Scott Downs
July 8: sign Joe Saunders

October 26: World Series Sweep!

[BishopMVP]

Huh, Rays also have (barely) gone over despite trading for extra slots. Rays Still Face Maximum Penalty After Acquiring International Slot Values - BaseballAmerica.com

[BishopMVP]

Red Sox DFA AJ Pierzynski. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Possibly 5 rookies starting for the Sox tonight (Betts, Bogaerts, Bradley, Holt, Vasquez) plus Rubby De La Rosa pitching. I love it.

Masahiro Tanaka getting an MRI on his elbow. Tommy John claims another one?

[Logan]

WFAN-NY morning radio guy:

Craig Carton ‏@cc660
see tanaka in 2015. Just heard terrible news if ur a yankee fan

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Huh, Rays also have (barely) gone over despite trading for extra slots. Rays Still Face Maximum Penalty After Acquiring International Slot Values - BaseballAmerica.com

if they face the max they didn't 'barely' go over. I think you have to be 15%+ over to get hit with the max penalty.

[cartman]

If Jose Altuve was 6 foot 4 instead of 5 foot 4, he'd be an unstoppable monster.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

if they face the max they didn't 'barely' go over. I think you have to be 15%+ over to get hit with the max penalty.

OK, they barely went over the 115% threshold that triggers real penalties. Like how every prospect watcher immediately adds 5% to their teams NA draft budget.

[sterlingice]

Ok, that was a fun way to win tonight for the Royals. Totally unexpected, but fun

SI

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Ok, that was a fun way to win tonight for the Royals. Totally unexpected, but fun

SI

It was a huge homerun for this club. Puts them in a great mindset heading home to play a big series against Detroit. Salvador is absolutely amazing with runners in scoring position. It's borderline freaky.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

It was a huge homerun for this club. Puts them in a great mindset heading home to play a big series against Detroit. Salvador is absolutely amazing with runners in scoring position. It's borderline freaky.

Without runners in scoring position: 309/347/466
With runners in scoring position: 212/280/353

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by rowech

Without runners in scoring position: 309/347/466
With runners in scoring position: 212/280/353

I'm assuming that's just this year. His career numbers are MUCH different.

[cartman]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

I'm assuming that's just this year. His career numbers are MUCH different.

Considering last year was his first full season, that isn't much of a sample size. He did have a good 2013, but this season is closer to what he showed with RISP in his limited playing time in 2012 (.281/.319/.375), about the same number of games he's played this season.