2020 MLB thread

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

Trust, I feel the same way and the 'opener' drives me nuts. I am happy for the 3 batter minimum rule but there are still way too many pitching changes, to were you can almost count on seeing 4-5 pitchers every game.

I also wish MLB would come up with some type of functional rule to speed up at bats.
1-No pick off attempts
2-No stepping out of the batters box between pitches unless there is an injury and if you do it's a strike
3-15 seconds from the pitcher getting the ball to pitch or its a ball

Anything to get games down to around 2 1/2 hours.

I'm mostly ok with the opener as they appear to at least thrown an inning or two. If they only throw to 1 or 2 batters, something has gone horribly wrong.

Considering how hard it is to steal bases, I'm wondering about the pickoff idea. I'd need to flesh that idea out further, tho. How do you prevent runners from getting a running start on the way to 2B? I mean, I guess by letting them throw to 2nd? Oh, and throwing the damn ball.

I've harped on #2 for at least a decade. I think this is the single biggest thing that slows down the game. Watching replays of old games from the 70s or 80s - it's the single most noticeable thing. Like maybe a batter or two in the lineup has a little routine but there's not some giant choreographed thing that takes 30s between each pitch. I want to watch baseball, not preening.

#3 is basically the pitcher equivalent of this.

SI

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

I'm mostly ok with the opener as they appear to at least thrown an inning or two. If they only throw to 1 or 2 batters, something has gone horribly wrong.

Considering how hard it is to steal bases, I'm wondering about the pickoff idea. I'd need to flesh that idea out further, tho. How do you prevent runners from getting a running start on the way to 2B? I mean, I guess by letting them throw to 2nd? Oh, and throwing the damn ball.

I've harped on #2 for at least a decade. I think this is the single biggest thing that slows down the game. Watching replays of old games from the 70s or 80s - it's the single most noticeable thing. Like maybe a batter or two in the lineup has a little routine but there's not some giant choreographed thing that takes 30s between each pitch. I want to watch baseball, not preening.

#3 is basically the pitcher equivalent of this.

SI

On #2 it is like everyone is like fricking Mike Hargrove now.

On the pickoff rule my way to implement would be this. The batter cannot leave the base to lead off until the pitcher has the ball and is on the rubber. This would have the added value of speeding up pitchers to prevent a huge leadoff or running start.

So in the framework of a 15 second pitch clock, pitcher gets the ball, clock starts, he can get the sign before getting on the rubber (say that takes 5-6 seconds) then he toes the rubber and pitches, 3-4 seconds, which will still hold the runner close enough that we won't see crazy SB numbers.

[sterlingice]

The news this morning about the delayed vote was the first time I really felt the season was in jeopardy of not even starting.

MLB 2020 season update: Where things stand with MLBPA set to vote on 60-game season Sunday - CBSSports.com

I think the season hinges on this vote. If the players reject it, the season is gone. Which is really unfortunate because, well, they've given so much more but the owners keep negotiating in bad faith.

And this is not to say the season will go off without a hitch. Far from it. But if this vote is negative, it won't even start.

SI

[sterlingice]

I believe Mike Leake is the first (and probably won't be the last) to opt out of the 2020 season:
Diamondbacks' Mike Leake becomes first known MLB player to opt-out of 2020 season - CBSSports.com

SI

[SirFozzie]

Yup, David Price opts out of the 2020 season. Saves the Red Sox $6 million. Saves the Dodgers $6 million too, but he won't pitch for them.

David Price Opts Out Of 2020 Season - MLB Trade Rumors

[Danny]

Wouldn't be surprised to see more opt out during the season if testing positive etc..

[Mota]

Freddy Freeman diagnosed with COVID. Even if he's fine and gets to start playing in a couple of weeks, he misses most of the training period and will most likely get a slow start to the season. Maybe with a veteran like Freeman, he can do with less practice, but there will be several cases coming up of players who will have significant effects on their performance.
We're not doing payouts with our fantasy baseball league this year, given that the results will almost be completely random with all the upcoming quarantines coming up.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Mota

Freddy Freeman diagnosed with COVID. Even if he's fine and gets to start playing in a couple of weeks, he misses most of the training period and will most likely get a slow start to the season.

Basically the conversation I had with my kid over lunch. My guess is that the Braves are sunk by this randomness.

[PilotMan]

This season is toast. Even if they get started, I don't see it finishing all 60 games. I think I'd opt out too if I was a player.

[ISiddiqui]

The scary thing about Freeman is that he isn't just a he tested positive but has no symptoms. His wife has said Freeman feels like he's been hit by a ton of bricks. I hope he is ok - as plenty of people who have survived have had some lung damage.

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[Lathum]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

The scary thing about Freeman is that he isn't just a he tested positive but has no symptoms. His wife has said Freeman feels like he's been hit by a ton of bricks. I hope he is ok - as plenty of people who have survived have had some lung damage.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

Yeah, I saw he was in pretty rough shape ( I thought this only was bad for old people!)

I honestly will be shocked if he plays at all this season given what we have seen with regards to some peoples weight loss, limited lung capacity, etc...

It's a shame, I am a huge Mets fan but love Freeman, guy embodies what a ballplayer should be.

[JPhillips]

Looks like he'll be fine, but the line drive Tanaka took to the head today was really scary.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

The scary thing about Freeman is that he isn't just a he tested positive but has no symptoms.

I thought he was symptomatic, but that the other guys tested positive were asymptomatic?

(I may have simply misread that, I'm just sayin I thought it was one vs the other with the 4 Braves)

edit to add: Found it, at least I didn't dream it Freeman's wife, Chelsea, posted on Twitter that he had "body aches, headaches, chills and a high fever.''

[GrantDawg]

Nick Markakis is opting out, but what got me is Snit's press conference about it. I think Nick sitting out hit him more than Freddie being sick. There is some fear creeping in now that I don't think was there before that actually started camp.

[Coffee Warlord]

My bet on this season might be optimistic. I've been betting some team gets a big outbreak of positive tests within about 2 weeks of the season starting, panic ensues, and the season shuts down.

Might not even make it to the 24th before panic sets in at this rate.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

My bet on this season might be optimistic. I've been betting some team gets a big outbreak of positive tests within about 2 weeks of the season starting, panic ensues, and the season shuts down.

Might not even make it to the 24th before panic sets in at this rate.

I am being optimistic that because the positive rate is so much lower than basketball right now that these early tests will drive player to be more careful. But, I agree, all it is going to take is one big outbreak and they will shut it down, which is honestly the right call if we are talking 6-8 or more players on one team. Too many variables and the Us as a whole has not been cautious enough about this.

[bhlloy]

First team withdraws from the MLS restart altogether (FC Dallas). Doubt they will be first across all sports, but at least MLB has the large roster/camp of 50 players so 8-10 positive tests wouldn’t necessarily be the end of the road.

How you stop a larger scale outbreak with where the US is right now though, I’m not sure. I wonder what the overall success rate is going to look across all leagues.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

First team withdraws from the MLS restart altogether (FC Dallas). Doubt they will be first across all sports, but at least MLB has the large roster/camp of 50 players so 8-10 positive tests wouldn’t necessarily be the end of the road.

How you stop a larger scale outbreak with where the US is right now though, I’m not sure. I wonder what the overall success rate is going to look across all leagues.

I don't think MLB is going to cancel the season, there's just too much money involved, but I could see 25-30% of name players dropping out and it being a full asterisk season.

The craziest part is that they seem convinced having a normal travel schedule makes sense even though you won't have fans at these games - even with private jets & teams who can have multiple planes/buses that seems like a recipe for disaster.

[JPhillips]

It's never going to be thought of as a real season, so MLB should have been more creative. Do a tournament or something and take the pressure of the World Series out of the equation.

(Yes, I know the whole point is TV/streaming playoff money, but I can dream.)

[Ksyrup]

The whole thing is stupid and watching all of these sports preparing to play is like watching a slow motion train wreck. At no point since April has it felt like team sports in the US were really going to come back - or be able to play uninterrupted, if they forced games to start.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

The whole thing is stupid and watching all of these sports preparing to play is like watching a slow motion train wreck. At no point since April has it felt like team sports in the US were really going to come back - or be able to play uninterrupted, if they forced games to start.

I still think basketball & hockey could pull off a quick sprint playoff scenario in a bubble. Pro football's 1x/week game model & the amount of $$$ involved mean I think they can pull it off. College football? Not a chance unless you're willing to let players play with COVID and say yeah we really don't care if 100% of you get it at your age. Baseball? Maybe if they did it in a localized area, but involving travel? Not a chance.

[bhlloy]

Basketball is the one I think could be in real trouble, let's say 2-3 of the better players on a single team get it, that team is basically done. A mild outbreak during the playoffs and it either significantly alters the whole thing beyond recognition or they just have to call it.

At least the Jazz know a couple of their starters are going to be OK

[Fidatelo]

Bringing back sports right now is super dumb, but dolla dolla bills, ya'll!

[Ksyrup]

I was just reading about the potential for long-term damage to lungs in Covid patients. Generally, the more severe the infection, the worse the lung damage could be, but I have to imagine that in athletes, even a minor decrease in lung capacity/function could be the difference between having a job and not. I get that all of these sports are at least going to try (much in the same way we just decided to force-open the country mostly ahead of the federal guidance), but I will be shocked if it works.

[JonInMiddleGA]

So ... Yasiel Puig to the Braves (after an injury to Pache last night).

Historically, I've been more pro-Puig than anti. He's a pain in the ass headcase but at least he does show up in the post-season usually (more than a lot of Dodger bats can say).

However ... given the attitude issues already displayed by Acuna, I wouldn't want Puig within 1,000 miles of him.

Vegas will have to set the over/under high on the number of beanbrawl wars the Braves end up in.

[JPhillips]

Puig played hard in Cincy and immediately went out into the city to work and meet people. The Reds don't need yet another outfielder, but he was great in terms of being a team player.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Puig played hard in Cincy and immediately went out into the city to work and meet people. The Reds don't need yet another outfielder, but he was great in terms of being a team player.

I'm just so down on Acuna as a mature human being that, if there's anything negative to pull from something, I expect he'll find it.

[GrantDawg]

I think Puig was more a Markakis replacement. I don't think Pache is that hurt, they just would rather not have to depend on him too much. The Braves did need another bat for the DH slot.

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[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I think Puig was more a Markakis replacement. I don't think Pache is that hurt, they just would rather not have to depend on him too much. The Braves did need another bat for the DH slot.

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The implication, as I took it, was that it opened up an OF / roster spot. Not so much about production, just about the spot itself

[PilotMan]

Puig is the fucking bomb of a person. Love that guy. He's hot headed, hell yeah, but he was what the young Reds team needed. He kind of got lost in Cleveland, but he's fantastic for the community and a leader.

[sterlingice]

It's sortof baseball, if you squint

Royals Summer Camp Intrasquad Game: 7/15/20 - YouTube

SI

[ISiddiqui]

Well the Puig to the Braves thing was all for naught. He tested positive for COVID 19 and won't be signed by the Braves.

[Lathum]

Doesn’t feel like opening day is in six days.

[ISiddiqui]

Like I get the bubble tournaments. MLS is Back has gotten pretty well after a rough start with a couple teams with outbreaks. I think NBA will go the same way (and I think the NBA has done better with pre tourney testing and isolation).

But traveling back and forth across the country? I don't see how that works well.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

It's sortof baseball, if you squint

That's a really good phrase to describe the unfortunate look/sound of the Braves podcast team attempting to do pbp.

A clip from that first game happened to roll through the kid's YT viewing last night (otherwise I wouldn't have seen it). The first play summed it up: CF camera view from behind the pitcher, batter rips a line drive down the left field line for an eventual double .... the camera shot never changed, we just stared at home plate the entire play.

That was so painfully awful that they'd be much better served to not air this shit at all.

[Arles]

MLB COVID-19 testing results show small number of positives one week before 2020 Opening Day - CBSSports.com

Pretty crazy, 10,548 samples were collected recently from MLB players and coaches and just 6 tested positive.

[stevew]

So where are the Jays going to play? Buffalo?

[Vegas Vic]

I’m watching a live Reds’ intersquad game on MLB.tv. Cincy Ballers vs Fred’s Reds. The Ballers are wearing the Shamrock green alternate uniforms. It’s a bit surreal, with an empty Great American Ballpark, and ambient crowd noise in the background. The PA announcer does his usual thing, and if someone gets a base hit or makes a good defensive play, they dial up the cheers accordingly.

The camerawork is excellent, even with a skeleton crew. I can’t tell any difference in the multiple angles and replays from a normal telecast. Chris Welsh is doing all of the play by play by himself.

[MrBug708]

Mookie!

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Mookie!

He said with an audible sigh of relief and quiet satisfaction.

[tarcone]

Not going to deny that I had no idea why you guys were talking about Mookie Wilson. Then I saw what you were actually talking about. Age is a crazy thing.

[Ksyrup]

20 years ago I ran 10 fantasy baseball teams at a time. In 2019 I couldn't name the 2nd starter on my favorite team and had never heard of a closer who had 30+ saves the previous 2 seasons. And I still bought Extra Innings every year for the past 15+ years (I canceled for this year even before the shutdown).

[Lathum]

I do DFS baseball pretty heavy. Have a few high 4 figure tournament scores.

Fanduel is running a 3 million dollar tournament Friday. Entry is $3, so there are about 1.2 million entries. Rumor is there will be a huge overlay. Max entries is 150 per account. I will be in for the max for sure. Free money if the overlay comes through.

[molson]

[Ksyrup]

I didn't even remember Betts wasn't on Boston until this signing.

[henry296]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I do DFS baseball pretty heavy. Have a few high 4 figure tournament scores.

Fanduel is running a 3 million dollar tournament Friday. Entry is $3, so there are about 1.2 million entries. Rumor is there will be a huge overlay. Max entries is 150 per account. I will be in for the max for sure. Free money if the overlay comes through.

To do that many lineups are using some app/software to help generate the lineups and then upload them into FanDuel?

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by henry296

To do that many lineups are using some app/software to help generate the lineups and then upload them into FanDuel?

Yeah. I use lineup HQ through rotogrinders and upload them through a CSV file. Then I go through the lineups and make any tweeks or adjustments. Also have to watch for starting lineups to come out and any weather issues. If the news is really late there is a quick player replace option. I take it pretty seriously and usually finish in the top 1-2% of the rotogrinders baseball rankings and top 7-8% for all sports. NBA drags me down and I have pretty much stopped doing it. Just can't crack the code.

I rarely max enter, usually I do about 20-30 entries so I will do those with paper and pencil. They have a million dollar contest tonight and I am doing 50 entries by hand.

[Fidatelo]

Rumor is there will be a huge overlay.

Out of curiosity what does this mean?

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

Out of curiosity what does this mean?

So the prize pool is guaranteed 3 million dollars. Entry fee is $3 per lineup, so there is a total of 1,190,476 max entries. Reason it isn't an even million is the site keeps the rest, called the rake.

Anything under 1 million total entries and there are less total entries meaning free money.

Currently there are about 132,000 entries, that will go up a lot in the next day and a half, but lets say it only goes up to 700,000. That means there would be 2.1 million dollars in entry fees, but a 3 million dollar prize pool, resulting in 900,000 of free money since you are only competing against 700K lineups and not 1.2 million.

The top 300K get paid, min is $5 on a $3 entry, so if about 55% of your lineups cash you can make a decent profit.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Mookie!

I feel like if I called someone that I should get punched.