MLB Off-Topic

[AC]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't hate it aesthetically but apparently it's a bitch and a half to get to and it's surrounded by old people / people who don't watch baseball. I'm in favor of the Rays increasing attendance and expanding their budget some. I know they don't need any help being competitive but I think it'd be better for the game.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't know how the Montreal could get an MLB team at any point in the nearish future. The Canadian dollar is extremely low, and will likely remain low or near its historical average for a while (years), the Federal government has a moratorium on allocating public money to stadium projects (I doubt the new PM will reverse course on this item), the Province of Quebec's finances are pretty rough, and I'm not sure what private entity or entities would shell out the cash for a stadium project.

The only group that comes to mind is some consortium with the Saptuo family as its face, with perhaps an additional consortium of backers like Molson, Bell, etc...

This isn't the Montreal of 1969—which is a complicated subject in and of itself. Montreal is a wonderful city, has a great baseball heartbeat, and is one of my favorite places to be in general, but man, I just don't see how it could work short of the eccentric Saputo family spending half their fortune on the whole thing. Just because a market is big doesn't make it a good market for certain products.

[AC]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Canadian dollar recently hit an all-time low and projections are for it to establish a new precedent for awfulness without oil getting any better. It's being understated how bad it is. I'm very grateful Rogers didn't cut budgets, it's costing them quite a bit of money to run this team and people don't realize it.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Rays definitely need some big change to boost attendance, regardless if its by getting new stadium or relocating. Boost average by even just 10,000(25k isnt great,but still big improvement), and thats 800,000+ extra fans. Dozens of millions of extra dollars from ticket sales alone, per year.

If a new stadium wont be built, or just wont have 25,000+ fan expectations, might be best to move. Like i said,just a 10,000 bump in attendance, which still has them near bottom of league, brings in so much extra money in home games alone. Might be too tempting to pass up on if opportunity happens to relocate.

Don't know how many have mlb ready stadiums, or in a case like Montreal, a stadium that'll do temporarily until new one gets built, but mlb seems like they'd be more willing to move than nhl/nba where they need arena ready to even consider someone, compared to mlb where it seems like they just want stadium plans to consider a city

[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Cardinals GM says support is increasing for DH in National League

Be it 5 years from now or 50, this is the future.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Cardinals GM says support is increasing for DH in National League

Be it 5 years from now or 50, this is the future.

I think it's time. I loved seeing pitchers hit, but with the lack of offense in the game and how good pitching is getting, I think I'd rather see a guy that can hold his own up there rather than someone who may get on base 20% of the time.

[Sheamazin]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

And miss out on this.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't want to sit here re-posting why the DH is a bad idea for the NL regarding in-game strategy, but if there's one thing I have to say, I don't want my manager's sole duty in games to just become:

"Is that pitcher tired? Alright, bring the next one in."

The biggest issue for me though will be if the change comes in the same offseason that it is announced. Let's say they do agree to bring the DH today, like actually today. I'd hope they could wait for it to come into effect until 2018 at the earliest. NL teams are built for not having a DH, that is literally how they've assembled their group of guys. Same argument goes for the AL with no DH. Give NL teams time so they can be ready for this a couple of years down the road to restructure their 25-man roster.

And people say that the DH creates jobs? You don't think pinch-hitting isn't an important job? I could almost name as many important specialty pinch-hitter as I can specialty DH'ers (probably kidding, but those guys stay in and play defense afterward too; there is a premium for these guys as the league continues to lose overall power). There is a higher precedence for specialty pitchers in the NL as well given that their spot in the order would come up soon (part of the "NL built for no DH argument," at least), especially if a pinch-hitter comes up for the other team.

Most of all, if the reason is because pitchers are bad hitters, I think there should be a heavier emphasis on making their pitchers better hitters, period. I can't complain about my Giants pitchers hitting at all, given that they had nine home runs all of last year.

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't want to sit here re-posting why the DH is a bad idea for the NL regarding in-game strategy, but if there's one thing I have to say, I don't want my manager's sole duty in games to just become:

"Is that pitcher tired? Alright, bring the next one in."

The biggest issue for me though will be if the change comes in the same offseason that it is announced. Let's say they do agree to bring the DH today, like actually today. I'd hope they could wait for it to come into effect until 2018 at the earliest. NL teams are built for not having a DH, that is literally how they've assembled their group of guys. Same argument goes for the AL with no DH. Give NL teams time so they can be ready for this a couple of years down the road to restructure their 25-man roster.

And people say that the DH creates jobs? You don't think pinch-hitting isn't an important job? I could almost name as many important specialty pinch-hitter as I can specialty DH'ers (probably kidding, but those guys stay in and play defense afterward too; there is a premium for these guys as the league continues to lose overall power). There is a higher precedence for specialty pitchers in the NL as well given that their spot in the order would come up soon (part of the "NL built for no DH argument," at least), especially if a pinch-hitter comes up for the other team.

Most of all, if the reason is because pitchers are bad hitters, I think there should be a heavier emphasis on making their pitchers better hitters, period. I can't complain about my Giants pitchers hitting at all, given that they had nine home runs all of last year.

Amen to everything you said, Blzr.

I love the strategy of the NL...I mean, just as a fan, it's fun to think about the future innings and speculate the best move to make and see if I'm right. The PHs, juggling relief pitchers...it's a funner brand of baseball, even with the fact there is more offense on the AL side.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Amen to everything you said, Blzr.

I love the strategy of the NL...I mean, just as a fan, it's fun to think about the future innings and speculate the best move to make and see if I'm right. The PHs, juggling relief pitchers...it's a funner brand of baseball, even with the fact there is more offense on the AL side.

And let me clarify, I don't want the AL to get rid of the DH either. I like the leagues having different things. They can keep it. Just don't change it here lol.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Amen to everything you said, Blzr.

I love the strategy of the NL...I mean, just as a fan, it's fun to think about the future innings and speculate the best move to make and see if I'm right. The PHs, juggling relief pitchers...it's a funner brand of baseball, even with the fact there is more offense on the AL side.

Depends on who you ask. I'd have much more fun seeing Ortiz send one over the Monster than seeing Buchholz swing and miss on three straight.

And if you think having a DH takes away strategy, then that's just completely wrong.

[redsox4evur]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Depends on who you ask. I'd have much more fun seeing Ortiz send one over the Monster than seeing Buchholz swing and miss on three straight.

And if you think having a DH takes away strategy, then that's just completely wrong.

Yep one could argue that having a DH actually could lead to more strategy from managers.

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

So let's play, here.

How is there more strategy in the AL vs. NL? It's certainly not from the lineup...it's purely what pitcher to put in what situation.

[redsox4evur]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

So let's play, here.

How is there more strategy in the AL vs. NL? It's certainly not from the lineup...it's purely what pitcher to put in what situation.

How is there more in the NL? It's essentially the same instead of bringing in a new guy, it's taking out your starter.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

So let's play, here.

How is there more strategy in the AL vs. NL? It's certainly not from the lineup...it's purely what pitcher to put in what situation.

I NEVER said there was more strategy. You made it seem like there is no strategy in the American League. Which I said is completely false.