MLB Off-Topic

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

With the news in the NFL today, I guess now attention shifts to the A's in terms of bay area teams on the hotseat. Build new stadium or be moved?

[dubcity]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

With the news in the NFL today, I guess now attention shifts to the A's in terms of bay area teams on the hotseat. Build new stadium or be moved?

Last I heard they are going to narrow it down to a stadium site in Oakland this year. Not sure where the money to build it is supposed to come from.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Last I heard they are going to narrow it down to a stadium site in Oakland this year. Not sure where the money to build it is supposed to come from.

Sooner or later something with them and Rays has to happen. Manfred wanted to get CBA done before moving onto Rays/As stadium situations. CBA is done with, Raiders are out of Oakland, and Rays can't seem to find a place to play, so I don't see any of this lasting very long.

[redsox4evur]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Listening to sports radio right now and they are discussing a good question. What are top the stories in the league right now? The Cubs repeating but what else is there? Or what's the biggest story in each division?

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

For quite some time now Manfred said the main thing Montreal would need to really be considered for a team(besides an ownership group) is actual plans for a stadium. Looks like we might actually have a group and stadium plans now!

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/source-montreal-baseball-investors-met-mlb-conditions/

"I can tell you we are no longer looking for investors and that we believe we have all the ingredients to be able to welcome a team, be it an expansion one or one that already exists,"

The source said the investors have a solid financial set-up, support from two levels of government, various potential locations for a stadium as well as at least five different designs for the venue.

The investors are just waiting for a call from MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to get the ball rolling.

Relocation is probably easier than expansion. Rays move to Montreal would be easiest since no divisions need to be changed. If A's were to move, then maybe Expos go to AL East, Jays to AL Central and Royals or Twins moving to AL West?

[The Masked Modder]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

This is a big news in Montreal today.

The investors would rather get a team via relocation than an expansion team. They are ready to pay more for a relocated team too. 1B$ is a huge chunk of change for an empty depth chart that will take you 3-4 years to build to something semi-competitive.

And these people can pay to play, no doubt. No more Claude Brochus as owner. Rich, rich people involved.

And Warren Cromartie is the face of the project. Because, people here just love Cro. Since Gary Carter left us (RIP) and Felipe Alou is over 80 years old, he's the best option.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Eric Byrnes is such an awful analyst. Why does he have a job doing this? He makes Harold Reynolds look like Stephen Hawking in a way.

[SPTO]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

1. If things don't turn around in Tampa quickly then get ready for the Jays/Rays rivalry to get extremely heated once they move to Montreal.

2. Yeah, Eric Byrnes sucks. MLB-N needs to think about easing him off and finding a suitable replacement who is knowledgeable and entertaining without making a boob out of himself on a near nightly basis.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I like Byrnes as a human being, but not an MLB Network analyst.

What did he say, though?

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

2. Yeah, Eric Byrnes sucks. MLB-N needs to think about easing him off and finding a suitable replacement who is knowledgeable and entertaining without making a boob out of himself on a near nightly basis.

I think MLB Network needs to poach Kurkjan off of ESPN...pay him out of his contract and bring him to the good side.

Eric Byrnes is almost as bad as Mitch Williams, for sure. I think we need more Pedro.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

1. If things don't turn around in Tampa quickly then get ready for the Jays/Rays rivalry to get extremely heated once they move to Montreal.

Would Washington let them keep Expos name/history? In NHL, Coyotes refuse to give Winnipeg the Jets history,but they at least got the name back.

And apparently all the news today has been known for months? Maybe a strategic "leak" right before Jays in Montreal series.

The stadium was last thing Manfred said he needed from Montreal to really consider them and they now apparently have it. He also said he's not looking to add more teams until rays/As stadium situation gets sorted, and Montreal group says they'd rather go after relocated team. How is this not a perfect fit and everything lining up? Guess I'm way too wishful in thinking the Rays could move to Montreal in 2018.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I think MLB Network needs to poach Kurkjan off of ESPN...pay him out of his contract and bring him to the good side.

Eric Byrnes is almost as bad as Mitch Williams, for sure. I think we need more Pedro.

1000000000% agree. Kurkjian is too good for ESPN's group, as much as I like Dari Nowkhah. I would miss Tim and SVP though. Amsinger and Kurkjian would be great TV.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Would Washington let them keep Expos name/history? In NHL, Coyotes refuse to give Winnipeg the Jets history,but they at least got the name back.

And apparently all the news today has been known for months? Maybe a strategic "leak" right before Jays in Montreal series.

The stadium was last thing Manfred said he needed from Montreal to really consider them and they now apparently have it. He also said he's not looking to add more teams until rays/As stadium situation gets sorted, and Montreal group says they'd rather go after relocated team. How is this not a perfect fit and everything lining up? Guess I'm way too wishful in thinking the Rays could move to Montreal in 2018.

Because if they do move, the MLB might not want both Canadian teams in the same league. If anything, they might move New Montreal to the NL East and move the Marlins or Nationals to the AL East.

Which in turn would place either both Florida markets in the same league, or both DMV markets in the same league.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Because if they do move, the MLB might not want both Canadian teams in the same league. If anything, they might move New Montreal to the NL East and move the Marlins or Nationals to the AL East.

Which in turn would place either both Florida markets in the same league, or both DMV markets in the same league.

If Montreal gets a team, it'd be Tampa so you wouldn't have to worry about 2 Florida teams.

But Montreal in AL East is best. The rivalries they'd have with Jays and Red Sox would be huge. Much bigger than any rivalry the Rays got, or a team like Nats would have.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

If Montreal gets a team, it'd be Tampa so you wouldn't have to worry about 2 Florida teams.

But Montreal in AL East is best. The rivalries they'd have with Jays and Red Sox would be huge. Much bigger than any rivalry the Rays got, or a team like Nats would have.

That's true, I completely overlooked/ignored that.

I'd love to see the Expos back, regardless of what league they end up in. I'm sure Expos fans would love to have their rivalry back with Philadelphia or Atlanta.