2024-25 MLB Hot Stove thread

[JonInMiddleGA]

fwiw, I put the WH-outside-the-South? question to my FB peeps. I'll report back if there's a consensus answer.

[Mota]

Thanks GrantDawg and Jon for the suggestions! I like that Williamson Bros suggestion, that looks like something very different than what I have access to in Toronto. Waffle House. Varsity. Mary Mac's. Lots of good options and not enough time! I only have 2 dinners, and one of them is likely going to be time constrained, since I'm there for work and have meetings on Monday. Tuesday is going to be a bit more open, so I will DEFINITELY do Waffle House in the morning, work on my laptop for most of the day, and then do a bit of exploring in the afternoon. I see the College Football HoF is near the Varsity and Mary Mac's, is that worth checking out?

[JonInMiddleGA]

fwiw re: Waffle House outside the South

I got like a dozen responses ... 11/12 haven't done WH outside the core territory (not surprising really, I mean, we have Waffle House at home lol)

The one who had dined in Virginia and said it was pretty much the same across the board.

[GrantDawg]

College Football HOF is definitely worth it. If you have the time, the World of Coke is across the street and fun as well.

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk

[flere-imsaho]

Thanks Jon for the extensive research, I believe I will give it a go!

GD: Unfortunately, no time for sight-seeing. The sole purpose for this trip is that Mom is finally moving from her house to a cottage in a retirement community, so I'm loading up a U-Haul to bring back some of the stuff for which she won't have space. It'll be a quick 2-day jaunt from Maine to Chicago. The first day is about a 10 hour drive and the second should be ~8, depending on traffic. I'll also probably leave super early so that I can unload and return the truck on the same day. So, may do WH for dinner and just get on the road and pick up something when I stop for gas.

[GrantDawg]

I was responding to Mota

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

College Football HOF is definitely worth it. If you have the time, the World of Coke is across the street and fun as well.

fwiw, I hadn't been to the CFB Hall since shortly after it opened, so I waited to comment until I could ask Will for his thoughts (cause he took a friend just a few years ago).

His answer was kinda what mine was gonna be: if you're into college football, totally worth it. If you're not, then probably not worth the time + cost ($35 now)

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I was responding to Mota

Whoops!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

Thanks Jon for the extensive research, I believe I will give it a go!

GD: Unfortunately, no time for sight-seeing. The sole purpose for this trip is that Mom is finally moving from her house to a cottage in a retirement community, so I'm loading up a U-Haul to bring back some of the stuff for which she won't have space. It'll be a quick 2-day jaunt from Maine to Chicago. The first day is about a 10 hour drive and the second should be ~8, depending on traffic. I'll also probably leave super early so that I can unload and return the truck on the same day. So, may do WH for dinner and just get on the road and pick up something when I stop for gas.

Late in the game I got a pretty fantastic answer from a friend who is very well traveled across the U.S. and I think it bears sharing here. It was long so I'll only summarize.

She basically said that if you wanted to experience the food then just about anywhere ought to do. But if you wanted the experience then that's probably going to be more of a deep South/core territory thing. WH is so ingrained culturally for a lot of us in those areas that there's a certain feeling that's hard to replicate.

Hell, she really hit on something so well that I believe I will provide at least a partial quote.

That said, nobody at a WH in AZ is going to call me “baby girl” and give my husband what for. I took my dad (before and during dementia) to a WH about once a week for years. The people watching was without compare. Old men arguing about anything and talking about nothing while avoiding chores. HS sweethearts with no place to go hanging out for way too long. The ladies eating lunch after a church meeting who would never “gossip” but will tell each other everything happening in town under the guise of asking for prayer for those people. The teenage boys piling too many in to a booth like a clown car, arguing and teasing with each other but still saying yes ma’am to the waitress and holding the door for the church ladies.

I have to believe that people outside of the south eat at WH but in the south people’s lives spill out there, on display without shame or caution. To eat at a small town southern WH is to get a glimpse of a disappearing world.

[RainMaker]

Does the WH experience change depending on what time of day you go? Late night WH feels like dinner and a show.

[GrantDawg]

Yes, for sure. The later your are there, the greater your chance someone is going to do something crazy.

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Yes, for sure. The later your are there, the greater your chance someone is going to do something crazy.

And let's be honest: location, specific location, plays a major factor. Every WH doesn't draw the same clientele, nor have the same kind of floor show.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

And let's be honest: location, specific location, plays a major factor. Every WH doesn't draw the same clientele, nor have the same kind of floor show.

I can only speak to those within driving distance of me. All qualify. I guess maybe one in a high end neighborhood wouldn't, but then to be honest I wouldn't put money on that. Rich people get drunk and want a waffle at 3am too.

[flere-imsaho]

I'll be sure to check back in with a trip report, folks!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I can only speak to those within driving distance of me. All qualify. I guess maybe one in a high end neighborhood wouldn't, but then to be honest I wouldn't put money on that. Rich people get drunk and want a waffle at 3am too.

I've kinda run the gamut over the years.

There's a couple WH I drive past occasionally that I won't stop at any time of day, a couple others that I won't go after dark. Many are indeed "a great melting pot" a few are ... inhospitable to people who don't fit the local demographic.

[Lathum]

Soto not making the All Star team is a fucking joke.

[Mota]

There is a Waffle House right by Truist that I will definitely be going to, althought it probably is one of those that "doesn't qualify", since it will probably have quite a bit of MLB related traffic.

I have no problems with Soto not making it. He hasn't played well enough. And he's also jumped teams several times now, so he's not "our guy" to anybody, he's paid to produce results.

[Mota]

I just looked at Soto's stats and I'll take it back. His OPS is .904. Slow start skewed people's minds, obviously it did mine.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Mota

I just looked at Soto's stats and I'll take it back. His OPS is .904. Slow start skewed people's minds, obviously it did mine.

He's been the best hitter in baseball the past month and a half and is 8th in baseball in RC+. Him not making the all star team is ridiculous.

[Atocep]

The draft is a week away and this is an interesting one. Ethan Holliday seemed like a lock to go #1 this time last year but he's had some issues with his swing and has fallen on some team's draft boards. His bat is more like his dad's than Jackson's with more of a power approach than an all fields one. The Nationals are reportedly down to him and Kade Anderson and leaning Anderson as he fits their timeline better. If the Nationals don't take him he likely falls to the Rockies at 4 because the Angels only take college guys and the Mariners apparently aren't big fans of Holliday.

Seth Hernandez may have the highest ceiling in the draft, but HS right handers have a god awful track record near the top of the first. The Reds haven't made it a secret they want him at 9 though.

Ike Irish is an interesting guy. He's similar to Schwarber coming out of college in that he's a bat first iffy catcher. The difference is he's been more of an all fields hitter with some pop rather than a straight pull power only guy.

Eli Willits is the son of former big leaguer Reggie Willits and a far safer pick than Ethan Holliday. He doesn't have the upside with the bat but has a much higher floor and is a lock to stick at short.

Holliday could still go number 1 but right now it sounds like the Nationals are leaning Anderson and the Angels like Anderson or Liam Doyle at 2. The Mariners really want one of those 2 pitchers but could go Aiva Arquette from Oregon State at 3.

[JPhillips]

This is fun.

Cal Quantrill had not gotten an out past the 5th inning all season.....he had retired 11 straight batters entering the 6th today, but puts 5 straight runners on and the streak lives on

[RainMaker]

One of the dumbest rules is that every team gets an All-Star. No one is tuning in to see Shane Smith.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

One of the dumbest rules is that every team gets an All-Star. No one is tuning in to see Shane Smith.

Totally agree.

It made more sense back in the day before you could literally watch every game online.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

One of the dumbest rules is that every team gets an All-Star. No one is tuning in to see Shane Smith.

Eh, helps in Cleveland I imagine.

Nobody is tuning in to see half the AL starting lineup either, nor the two TB reserves, nor 3 SD relievers, nor ... well, hopefully you get the idea.

But to pick on the biggest missing name, nobody is making their watch / don't watch decision based on the presence or absence of Juan Soto either.

[RainMaker]

I just think it's silly in today's age. Put the best players in the league out there who deserve it. Not these handouts for poverty franchises. Fine with a rule that allows for a player from the team hosting the event.

Soto and Suzuki are having a better season than Kyle Stowers. Joe Ryan and probably a few dozen other pitchers are having a better season than Shane Smith.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I just think it's silly in today's age. Put the best players in the league out there who deserve it. Not these handouts for poverty franchises. Fine with a rule that allows for a player from the team hosting the event.

Soto and Suzuki are having a better season than Kyle Stowers. Joe Ryan and probably a few dozen other pitchers are having a better season than Shane Smith.

But the benefit of a market engagement boost for/from those markets that are already struggling outweight the benefit of adding (for example) Joe Ryan.

The rosters are already too large and with the replacement for SP + injury replacements, it's creeping up to near NFL "Pro Bowl" absurdity at an alarming rate.

Just not something I see as a problem worth trashing tradition over.

[Mota]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I just think it's silly in today's age. Put the best players in the league out there who deserve it. Not these handouts for poverty franchises. Fine with a rule that allows for a player from the team hosting the event.

Soto and Suzuki are having a better season than Kyle Stowers. Joe Ryan and probably a few dozen other pitchers are having a better season than Shane Smith.

But then you could just watch the Dodgers play the Yankees instead, since most of the all-stars would probably come from those teams. At least with the current rules, a lot of teams are represented that would never have a chance. MLB is not a level playing field in any way, so even if you're stuck cheering for a team that has a payroll lower than Ohtani, you can still see someone on the field that is representing your team.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Mota

But then you could just watch the Dodgers play the Yankees instead, since most of the all-stars would probably come from those teams. At least with the current rules, a lot of teams are represented that would never have a chance. MLB is not a level playing field in any way, so even if you're stuck cheering for a team that has a payroll lower than Ohtani, you can still see someone on the field that is representing your team.

Then the owners should put a better product on the field instead of pocketing the revenue sharing.

An all star game without Juan Soto if an absolute joke.

[Ksyrup]

Nobody really cares anymore. Really, the only people who care are the players for contract incentives. Like, there are a bunch of people pissed the Brewers rookie pitcher got named after 5 starts, taking a spot (and probably some money) away from more deserving vets.

[Danny]

The alk star game in all sports is a waste of time at this point.

[bhlloy]

Potentially in baseball less than any other sport given the relative contact/injury risk but hard to disagree. Should just keep the home run derby and maybe come up with something fun for pitchers where they don’t have to throw hard and risk their arms and be done with it.

I can feel the wrath of JimGA coming from here

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Mota

But then you could just watch the Dodgers play the Yankees instead, since most of the all-stars would probably come from those teams. At least with the current rules, a lot of teams are represented that would never have a chance. MLB is not a level playing field in any way, so even if you're stuck cheering for a team that has a payroll lower than Ohtani, you can still see someone on the field that is representing your team.

Being non-competitive is mostly a choice. Every mlb team is receiving around $200 million in revenue sharing or more. There's only 9 teams spending that much in payroll. These owners are all billionaires and will sell the team at some point for massive profits. Theyre choosing to be bad right now by pocketing money or through incompetence.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Potentially in baseball less than any other sport given the relative contact/injury risk but hard to disagree. Should just keep the home run derby and maybe come up with something fun for pitchers where they don’t have to throw hard and risk their arms and be done with it.

I can feel the wrath of JimGA coming from here

Oh look, we're total opposites on this lol.

I give less than a single shit about the HRD. Risks screwing up a player's swing for weeks for utter foolishness.

But if they're going to turn players loose to risk injury for silliness like the WBC then they can damned sure show up & try for something that's actually part of MLB.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Being non-competitive is mostly a choice. Every mlb team is receiving around $200 million in revenue sharing or more. There's only 9 teams spending that much in payroll. These owners are all billionaires and will sell the team at some point for massive profits. Theyre choosing to be bad right now by pocketing money or through incompetence.

Yes. Baseball's problem is that the easiest way to make a profit is to not try to be competitive.

[Atocep]

With the front office shake up in Washington, they moved to a more analytic front office and Eli Willits being a 17 year old switch hitting shortstop, he lit up analytic models and is a mild surprise at 1st overall.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Oh look, we're total opposites on this lol.

I give less than a single shit about the HRD. Risks screwing up a player's swing for weeks for utter foolishness.

But if they're going to turn players loose to risk injury for silliness like the WBC then they can damned sure show up & try for something that's actually part of MLB.

Absolutely correct on HRD and WBC.

All Star game? It can be an entertaining exhibition, but nothing like the competitive game is used to be. At least this year they are dropping those horrible uniforms. I haven't watched an AS game since they began using those. Going back to wearing their team's unis will give me a reason to give it a look this year.

In today's game I prefer none of my team's pitchers play. Let other teams take the risk.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Sweed

All Star game? It can be an entertaining exhibition, but nothing like the competitive game is used to be.

Which is why this is the one time of year I miss Pete Rose.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Which is why this is the one time of year I miss Pete Rose.

Agreed. I hated Rose because he didn't play for my team.

[Lathum]

Apparently there is a celebrity soft ball game. I think I recognize 4 of the names.

[miami_fan]

It is a low bar for sure but I think baseball's ASG is the most competitive among the four major men's leagues. I am not sure what the competitive expectation for the exhibition is supposed to be. From the limited amount that I have watched over the last few years, both teams are trying to score runs, get people out, have a willingness to make diving attempts at catching the ball etc. They are playing baseball which is more than I can say for the NBA, NHL and NFL versions of the ASG.

The funny part for me is this is supposed to be a game for the fans and significant portion of the fans watch the game through their fingers and don't want the individual players on their team to put any more than a basic effort for fear of the player being injured. I would love to see Skenes and Skubal go three innings apiece like Jim Palmer and Tom Seaver did in 1970. I doubt Pirate and Tiger fans feel the same way. I would hate to exist in the sports world if either guy came up lame in the third inning or after the game.

[Ksyrup]

The game no longer matters in any way. It's just TV inventory for the league/partners and a bonus live event for one team each year. Simply announcing an all-star team - even two, for mid-season and end of season - pretty much takes care of the fans.

[miami_fan]

What is the point of scheduling the Futures game on the Saturday before the All Star Game? I feel like that would be perfect spot to showcase the younger talent and be the show piece for "All Star Monday". Have the softball game, the Derby and then the Futures game in prime time on Monday. The All Star game including the red carpet show whatever that is on Tuesday.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Mota

But then you could just watch the Dodgers play the Yankees instead, since most of the all-stars would probably come from those teams. At least with the current rules, a lot of teams are represented that would never have a chance. MLB is not a level playing field in any way, so even if you're stuck cheering for a team that has a payroll lower than Ohtani, you can still see someone on the field that is representing your team.

I assume that's why the rule was there in the first place, so it wasn't Yankees vs. Dodgers/Cardinals. I think it makes sense when you have 12 teams/league. 15? Pushing it.

Also, no mention yet of interleague play diminishing the impact of the ASG?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Also, no mention yet of interleague play diminishing the impact of the ASG?

Eh, I was gonna but just never got around to fitting it in to any other comment.

But yes, interleague play has taken 100% of the "special" away from the ASG.

[Ksyrup]

Just saw that Jim Clancy passed away at 69. RIP.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Just saw that Jim Clancy passed away at 69. RIP.

First it was the guys I knew in the league when I was a kid retiring.
Then it was seeing guys come into the league and retire in my lifetime.
Then it was players my age playing in the league.
Then it was these guys becoming coaches and HOF managers.
Now we're at the place where the guys I grew up with are dying.

[JonInMiddleGA]

A "swing-off"? Srsly?

Bwahaha.

God, please put baseball out of its misery

[miami_fan]

I checked in and out until the end of the 6th.

Another celebration of the great Hank Aaron? Check. You can't have too many of those for my liking.

A celebration of one of the game's modern day legends in Clayton Kershaw? Check.

Not that it was needed but a final bit of closure between Freddie Freeman and Atlanta? Check.

That only thing missing was some sort of silliness a la John Kruk going to bat right handed against Randy Johnson or Bonds lifting Torii Hunter after Hunter robbed him of a home run.

Good job baseball.

[Ksyrup]

Didn't watch a second of the entire weekend.

I did read that for the Aaron tribute, they left out the part of Scully's call where he talks specifically about how remarkable it is that Aaron did what he did as a black man in the deep south. Tracks with where the country's at and MLB not wanting to piss off the racists in charge of the country right now.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

A "swing-off"? Srsly?

Bwahaha.

God, please put baseball out of its misery

Well, it made the runner on 2nd base idea seem comparably less stupid anyway.