MLB Off-Topic

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

AT&T

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I kept thinking Pac Bell.

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[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Welp, sounds like Kyler Murray is going to enter the NFL draft rather than play with the A's.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Welp, sounds like Kyler Murray is going to enter the NFL draft rather than play with the A's.

That doesn't necessarily mean he won't play baseball. If he's a 1st round pick sure, but if he's selected 3rd round or later he'll probably pick baseball.

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

That doesn't necessarily mean he won't play baseball. If he's a 1st round pick sure, but if he's selected 3rd round or later he'll probably pick baseball.

You're not wrong but it isn't that simple:

Should Murray, 21, opt to enter the NFL draft, the real question will come Feb. 15 when A’s position players report to Mesa, Ariz. — Murray has an invite to big-league camp. He could still opt to be in the A’s camp, but the NFL scouting combine begins Feb. 26 and any high-round hopeful would be expected to attend. That’s when Murray would have to make a decision between football and baseball, and one source told The Chronicle that Murray, a likely first-round NFL pick, is leaning toward football.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Welp, the Giants now play at Oracle Park.

I'm an understanding individual when it comes to corporate name changes, and I will always call it what it is called in the current. That being said, I don't detest the name... but it also doesn't "match" this park to me.

Being an SF-peninsula native, I always associate Oracle with the buildings below (you may have seen them in Bicentennial Man, and in an aerial shot in The Internship). I drive by them almost every day:

Spoiler

Oracle Arena (the Warriors stadium) kind of had a feel that was similar to those buildings, so I thought the name and the building gelled quite well together:

Spoiler

There ain't all that much about the Giants' ballpark that makes me feel like the name matches the building. Everything is angular, there are no glass plates all around, and it doesn't exactly scream "futuristic" either (as the name "Oracle" would otherwise suggest).

Spoiler

Being the ballpark by the bay with a bunch of seagulls, Pacific Bell Park on the other hand was probably the coolest fitting name that I had ever heard of for the venue. Too bad that won't come back.

Outside of company location, the ballpark that would fit the name most is Marlins Park. But I guess it's not about what "matches" now is it.

Spoiler

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

You're not wrong but it isn't that simple:

So just out of curiosity (because I'm following this situation as closely as I can), let's say he decides to try the draft, gets taken in say the 4th round, doesn't sign and goes back to baseball.

Since he would have already paid Oakland back his signing bonus, would he re-enter baseball as a free agent? Or would Oakland still have his rights?

[ShowTyme15]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

So just out of curiosity (because I'm following this situation as closely as I can), let's say he decides to try the draft, gets taken in say the 4th round, doesn't sign and goes back to baseball.

Since he would have already paid Oakland back his signing bonus, would he re-enter baseball as a free agent? Or would Oakland still have his rights?

If I'm not mistaken Oakland would still own his draft rights since he signed his baseball contract.

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It's a unique scenario and I really have no idea.

I would think the last option would be him being a free agent. Most likely, the A's would still have his rights, but I could also see there being a situation where he just has to wait until the draft next June.

[SPTO]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Oracle Park....eh, i'm not feeling it. I was kinda hoping they'd find another telecom to take over the naming rights. At least the name is short and is actually somewhat catchy.


As for Kyler Murray, I always assumed he was just going to stick to baseball but he's probably been advised to try to go pro in football as he's easily the most talented/best out of the QB class this year. The issue I see is that he may not translate nearly as well there. That being said if he gets picked anywhere in the first 3 rounds he's definitely going to give it a shot.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I kept thinking Pac Bell.

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It was Pac Bell first, then AT&T

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[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It was Pac Bell first, then AT&T

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SBC Park was sandwiched in between the two.

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Going back to the strike discussion...

I think there are a few interesting topics to hash out.

1) Service time for players

Acuna, Kris Bryant are great examples of players EVERYBODY knows should be in the lineup on Opening Day but are held out purely due to service time and the team getting that one extra year of control. It takes an MLB player six years of service time before they can reach free agency and in years 3-6, they have to go thru arbitration. If the players want to get to free agency quicker, the concession will have to be less $$s...no doubt.

2) MLB Salaries

Owners want more $$, players want more $$...but teams have realized thru the Astros, Cubs, even the 2018 Braves (somewhat) that tanking to build up a farm system to later win is much more profitable and sustainable. So that means vets are on the outside looking in. Whatever decision is made on service time will indirectly affect this...the more that teams can lock up players,pl the more we'll see "the process".

Most owners will no doubt want to input a salary cap (min/ceiling) rather than the luxury tax rule, claiming it will increase parity. I would imagine NYY, BOS, CHI and LAD to advocate a hard no along with every player.

3) Rule Changes

Will the players push for an automated strike zone (which I would be ok with)? What about more items eligible for replay? The shift will also be a huge point of emphasis I think too.

4) MiLB Players

I personally think the MLBPA should strive to include all of the MiLB players and create a subsidiary association to represent them. I'm not sure of the logistics but it's time that these players are represented and taken care of...we all know the issues they face.

Doing so would definitely mean less money for the MLB players but I think that would be a huge PR boon for the players' cause and would do the MiLB players right...my idea is that the MiLB players association gets .025% of all MLB revenues to be shared equally to every player (taking the $10B revenue for 2018, I roughly count 5K MiLB players so allow each player a $50K salary - prorated according to time on the roster).

I'm sure there are more...these are the items I'm interested in.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

In my journey to accrue infinite amounts of pointless baseball trivia, today I learned that this past season the Red Sox became the 10th team to win a World Series after being no-hit during the regular season.

1917 White Sox x2 (Ernie Koob and Bob Groom, Browns, in consecutive games)
1940 Reds (Tex Carleton, Dodgers)
1952 Yankees (Virgil Trucks, Tigers, second of the season)
1958 Yankees (Hoyt Wilhelm, Orioles)
1971 Pirates (Bob Gibson)
1973 A's (Jim Bibby, Rangers)
1974 A's (Dick Bosman, Indians)
1981 Dodgers (Nolan Ryan, Astros, 5th no-hitter)
1988 Dodgers (Tom Browning, Reds, Perfect Game)
2018 Red Sox (Sean Manaea, A's)

[BatsareBugs]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

You mean 11th to play in the world series or 10th to win a world series? The Mets lost to the Royals in 2015.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

You mean 11th to play in the world series or 10th to win a world series? The Mets lost to the Royals in 2015.

Dammit, you're right. I keep thinking the Mets won.

10th team to win a World Series after being no-hit in the regular season.