MLB Off-Topic

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

One change for the worse that took place and I never understood why were rosters going from 25 to 26. Ummm, why? I guess it was COVID, but that has passed so why not go back to 25? MLBPA won't go for it now, but I don't understand why the change was permanent.

They need to get it back down to 25 man rosters. And the way to entice the MLBPA to approve it is by expanding to 32 teams. The first wave of MLB expansion was in the early 1960's, after having played 60 years with 16 teams. The second wave of expansion was in the late 1960's. The third wave of expansion was in the late 1970's. The fourth wave of expansion was the early 1990's. The last wave of expansion was the late 1990's. So now since the expansion era started, this 25 years without expanding is easily the longest drought of not expanding, handily beating the period 1978-1992. Expansion is way overdue and two more teams is doable, especially if you consider 30 teams X 26 players = 780 and 32 teams X 25 players = 800. That's adding 20 jobs to the MLBPA. I believe they would accept that.

[DrJones]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Because they recognized when too much was too much.

That's why I disagree with your premise that owners push hard for HR because they think that HR = $$$. Baseball owners never voluntarily sacrifice short-term $$$.

It will take time for hitters to unlearn the launch angle way of batting and relearn how to be complete hitters again. This won't happen overnight, or even in one year or two. And obviously some won't be able to do that, and have enough natural power to be longball threats. But there is a place in baseball for them. What we don't need is everyone coming to the plate looking to hit a three run homer (my opinion).

Sure, you and I (the fans) don't want that. But will organizations really tell their hitters to try to play more of an aesthetically pleasing base-to-base style? Only if they think that gives them a better chance of winning games, and I don't think that's the case. They think that throwing 100mph is the best way to prevent hits (of all kinds), and they think that the best way of combating 100mph is to hit home runs (because that's easier to do against smoke than stringing 2-3 singles together). If the pitching mound is raised 3 inches, would teams really win more games by letting their starter pitch the 6th/7th innings as opposed to having fireballer relievers mow down batters even more effectively instead? Every advantage that a raised mound gives starters also applies to relievers, and relievers are cheaper to boot.

I might be out to lunch on this, but I personally feel that raising the mound would result in an even more extreme version of what we see now - more strikeouts, fewer hits. Yes, there would be fewer home runs, but also fewer singles and doubles, so I think orgs would double down on K as the most effective way of run prevention and HR as the most effective way of run creation. I think the mandatory 6-inning rule (again, I'm not necessarily endorsing this) would come much closer to getting the stylistic changes you want.

20-25 teams will stay this course. To start. The perennial have-nots, the bottom five, already know they can't compete with the money teams and have to find whatever advantage they can to win. Once these five teams start having more success than usual, its a copycat league. Another 5-10 teams will join in. That's all it will require.

Again, that presumes that the Tampas of this world will think that they can gain a competitive advantage and save money by relying more on their starters and less on their bullpen. I have a tough time believing that.

[Dead2009]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

https://x.com/Orioles/status/1825999566484943224

God ****ing damn it

[DrJones]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Fare thee well, Joey Votto.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40944835/joey-votto-long-cincinnati-reds-first-baseman-retires

[slickdtc]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Enjoyed every second of his time in Cincinnati. I only wish we had won more and he was able to get the recognition he deserves. Unfortunately, the last 4 years of his career kind of muddied his overall numbers as he tailed off pretty significantly from his first 13 years. Hopefully it’s enough for him to sniff the HOF because he really was that good. They don’t make hitters like Votto was very often!

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It's a shame how it ended.

He was trying to make a comeback and seems his retirement was in reaction to being told by the Jays they won't be calling him up even in September.

Jays don't have much to play for anymore, they could've gotten him in even just for a single game and that's it.

Or if they told him sooner, maybe that announcement comes before the Jays-Reds game so he could be there for it.


Someone did research and sounds like:
Deion Sanders
Jamie Moyer
Johan Santana
Vlad Sr (the only one I remember)

Joined Votto as guys who retired after being under contract with the Jays organization (but obviously never playing on the big league team).

And not a name people know for baseball anymore, but Pat Mahomes (Sr) also retired as part of the Jays organization.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Rangers plaque they had in their stadium to commemorate Judge hitting his 62nd HR in their ballpark has been stolen AGAIN.

This time they won't replace it.

Don't know what's more surprising, commemorating the fact that an opponent made history at your ballpark or the fact that the plaque was seemingly GLUED to the ground (which is why it's been stolen twice).

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Rangers plaque they had in their stadium to commemorate Judge hitting his 62nd HR in their ballpark has been stolen AGAIN.

This time they won't replace it.

Don't know what's more surprising, commemorating the fact that an opponent made history at your ballpark or the fact that the plaque was seemingly GLUED to the ground (which is why it's been stolen twice).

I'm trying to come up with a launch angle joke, but it's not landing.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm trying to come up with a launch angle joke, but it's not landing.

I might steal your idea for a joke, just don't Judge me if I do.

[Picci]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It came out Sept 6, 1999, twenty five years ago. The 1999 Mets four infielders had a combined 27 errors that year. The whole team, a total of 33. It was the fewest of any team’s since 1900 (excluding teams that played during strike-shortened seasons). Best ever? I can say I remember that year, and it was ballad-like in motion.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It came out Sept 6, 1999, twenty five years ago. The 1999 Mets four infielders had a combined 27 errors that year. The whole team, a total of 33. It was the fewest of any team’s since 1900 (excluding teams that played during strike-shortened seasons). Best ever? I can say I remember that year, and it was ballad-like in motion.

Going off-topic in an Off-Topic thread, seeing Olerud again reminds me of the story about Rickey Henderson joining the Mets and finding Olerud there. As has been well-documented, Olerud wore a helmet while playing defense because of a skull weakness (or injury, don't really remember,) and when Rickey saw that, he told Olerud he used to play with a guy who used to do the same thing when he was a Mariner (?, or Blue Jay?). Olerud said, ''Rickey, that was me!'' Lol Rickey not knowing who his teammates were.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Going off-topic in an Off-Topic thread, seeing Olerud again reminds me of the story about Rickey Henderson joining the Mets and finding Olerud there. As has been well-documented, Olerud wore a helmet while playing defense because of a skull weakness (or injury, don't really remember,) and when Rickey saw that, he told Olerud he used to play with a guy who used to do the same thing when he was a Mariner (?, or Blue Jay?). Olerud said, ''Rickey, that was me!'' Lol Rickey not knowing who his teammates were.

Real life version of

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

We knew it would happen eventually.

Twins draft pick, catcher Derek Bender has been cut by the team after tipping off batters about the pitches his pitcher was gonna throw.

Sounds like he did it because he just wanted the season to be over (instead of the team making a playoff run), but I also wonder if he bet on games in any way. It's the minors so I'm not sure how betting works for those games, either way this guy cost himself a pro baseball career most likely.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

We knew it would happen eventually.

Twins draft pick, catcher Derek Bender has been cut by the team after tipping off batters about the pitches his pitcher was gonna throw.

Sounds like he did it because he just wanted the season to be over (instead of the team making a playoff run), but I also wonder if he bet on games in any way. It's the minors so I'm not sure how betting works for those games, either way this guy cost himself a pro baseball career most likely.

What is he, a RULES BENDER??

Spoiler

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Jays were posting some pics of baseball fields their charity has helped build/fund.

This one on the east coast looks like something you'd build in a video game (in a good way).

Despite how it looks in the pic, it'll take a 500+ FT shot to hit a ball into the ocean for anyone wondering.