MLB Off-Topic

[jeebs9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Also not a fan of Manfred’s handling of the Astros/ Red Sox cheating scandal. Commissioners job is to protect the integrity of the game and with each bit of news that comes out I feel that more and more he is failing the job description.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

I don't think this is over either.

https://youtu.be/Uu0HHn2G3qU

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[Caulfield]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't know, I think it is time for a concerted campaign to remove Manfred; the guy just comes up with bad idea after bad idea.

to be fair, he doesn't come up with the bad ideas; he just approves them.

[jeebs9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Mike Bolsinger is suing the Astros.

https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/4712164002

“Yes, Bolsinger is seeking unspecified damages, but they’re not all for himself. He wants the Astros to forfeit the roughly $31 million in bonuses from their ill-gotten World Series title, and for the money to go to charities in Los Angeles focused on bettering kids’ lives, as well as to create a fund for retired baseball players who need financial assistance.“



According to his lawsuit there were bangs on 12 of his 29 pitches.



His last game in the majors was against Houston, he got crushed and was sent back to the minors after it and never got another chance in the majors since. After that season he’s had to go play in Japan.



I doubt he wins it but hope he does. Astros better hope he loses, wouldn’t be surprised if there’s other players with similar situations that would have a reason to come after them if this works out for him. Get em Mike.

Class action suit here we come! I was waiting for this!! I wondered if anyone would get to this level. There just too evidence for it not to. Other players will join. I don't know how this works vs a private company no less a sport.

“There’s a message to be sent to youth out there. Especially athletes, more specifically baseball players,” Bolsinger told USA TODAY Sports. “It was awesome to (grow up and) watch game played the right way. We’ve kind of drifted from that. It’s something we can really express to these kids: You don’t have to cheat to get to where you want to go. *

“This kind of stuff doesn’t need to happen.”

I just don't know how anyone could defend what they did.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I will content myself thinking he personally came up with the reliever has to get 3 minimum batter rule.

Go away Manfred!

[dickey1331]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

These playoff changes would be pretty odd. The 2nd best team gets to choose which wildcard team they play.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I love the idea of division winners picking which team they want to play. I think that's awesome

Sent from my SM-G970U using Operation Sports mobile app

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't know, I think it is time for a concerted campaign to remove Manfred; the guy just comes up with bad idea after bad idea.

I agree with his changes thus far to pace of play. I'd agree with an automated strikezone, even with a rule against shifts.

But his work otherwise is junk. Their treatment of MiLB is horrific, their handling of the scandals this offseason is poor and they still can't figure out how to market the game sufficiently.

I honestly fully expect a lockout when the CBA expires.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Operation Sports mobile app

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

This new playoff idea is dumb. MLB just cannot stop making unnecessary changes. Time I realized that Manfred will not be happy until he turns me (and others) away from the sport similar to the NFL and NBA.

[Sportsforever]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The beauty of baseball is it's rhythm. It's there with you every day for 162+ games over the summer months. The marathon of a baseball season separates the good teams from the also rans, but on any given day it doesn't surprise anyone if the worst team in the league knocks off the best team; that's baseball.

Why on earth, then, would you want to let FOURTEEN teams into the playoffs in a sport where in a short series(s) a lesser team can upend a superior team, thus upending the wonderful separation that a 162 game schedule gives you?

Personally, I think 10 teams is too many...but that ship has sailed. This nonsense, however, shows that Manfred doesn't get it.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Mike Bolsinger is suing the Astros.

https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/4712164002

“Yes, Bolsinger is seeking unspecified damages, but they’re not all for himself. He wants the Astros to forfeit the roughly $31 million in bonuses from their ill-gotten World Series title, and for the money to go to charities in Los Angeles focused on bettering kids’ lives, as well as to create a fund for retired baseball players who need financial assistance.“

According to his lawsuit there were bangs on 12 of his 29 pitches.

His last game in the majors was against Houston, he got crushed and was sent back to the minors after it and never got another chance in the majors since. After that season he’s had to go play in Japan.

I doubt he wins it but hope he does. Astros better hope he loses, wouldn’t be surprised if there’s other players with similar situations that would have a reason to come after them if this works out for him. Get em Mike.

Bolsinger had a 6+ ERA on the year in 2017 and a 6+ ERA in 2016. He's a career 4.92 ERA.

What the Astros did was wrong and cheating, but they didn't end this dude's major league career.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

This new playoff idea is dumb. MLB just cannot stop making unnecessary changes. Time I realized that Manfred will not be happy until he turns me (and others) away from the sport similar to the NFL and NBA.

This is what I'm saying. I see no evidence of gaining fans as a result of the rules in play, and as much as my undeniable passion for baseball will live on, there is a tipping point for me with the league. Not to not watch it entirely, but maybe to not watch all 162 Giants and Braves games, or maybe unsubscribe from MLB.TV or not play fantasy, or not talk about it on social media.

Every little bit should matter to them. I am irate over just about every change except for limited commercial time between innings and pitching changes (and although I disagree about the stadium netting, I understand its reason, it is only a recommendation to organizations, and I know it would've happened with or without Manfred involved). If he can help do something about the blackout restriction policy, I'd be in favor of that as well. Literally everything else though has been a travesty for me.

EDIT: I'll take that back. Limited defensive conferences and "keeping one foot in the box" (whatever that rule may be) have not been awful, and the pitch clock isn't the worst thing but I don't want to see or have to hear about it. I think that and the batter's box thing have always been rules anyway, just not enforced the same way they are now.

[Mentch]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

This new playoff idea is dumb. MLB just cannot stop making unnecessary changes. Time I realized that Manfred will not be happy until he turns me (and others) away from the sport similar to the NFL and NBA.

MLB only needs to make 1 change for the playoffs, and that’s to make the wild card round into a best of 3 series instead. All the other ideas are incredibly stupid, especially the reality TV style of deciding playoff spots. I guarantee you that’s an attempt to gain revenue from casual fans, and a rather poor one at that

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Bolsinger had a 6+ ERA on the year in 2017 and a 6+ ERA in 2016. He's a career 4.92 ERA.

What the Astros did was wrong and cheating, but they didn't end this dude's major league career.

Just to play devil's advocate, I remember one night in 2009 my dad and I spontaneously went to a Giants game the night before we had to road trip, and we were under the impression it was Randy Johnson's turn in the rotation... only to completely forget that he was on the disabled list, and Jonathan Sanchez was going to pitch in his spot.

Entering that mid-July start, Sanchez (still on his rookie contract, by the way) was on a steady decline with a 5.30 ERA and was demoted to the bullpen. This was his shot to show something, and one more shoddy performance definitely meant being sent down to AAA, being a trade piece for somebody by the deadline (he still had nasty stuff, but couldn't figure out the control and effectiveness), or not getting a new contract with a team at the end of the year.

That night, Sanchez threw a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts and no walks (there was an eighth inning error by Juan Uribe).

This start changed everything for him. He stayed in the rotation (even upon Johnson's return) and ended the season with a 4.24 ERA. He stayed with the Giants for two more strong seasons (honing a 3.07 ERA the next season), and was an important trade piece to the Royals when we snagged Melky Cabrera (who was great till his steroid suspension). He made about $14 million more from contracts following that season as a result, compared to a measly $1 million.

Now, if that night Sanchez doesn't throw a no-hitter, and instead faces a team that is stealing his signs? Way different story.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Bolsinger was going to no-hit the Astros, but I'm saying that his lawsuit absolutely holds merit in my eyes. In a way, this start very well may have ended his major league career. If he instead throws a quality start, there is no telling where it could have gone. Sanchez's story is a strong anecdote for that.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

As unpopular as some of these proposed changes are, imo it will help baseball long term.

Pitch clock, expanded playoffs, I like both.

I'd make regular season shorter though. 160 games instead.

Expanded playoffs means more meaningful regular seasons for more teams. We all know what September is like for non playoff contending teams. Imagine more teams having a shot. Attendance and TV ratings would be up.

4WC teams is abit much though. I wouldn't mind 3 and then top 2 division winners get a BYE.

3WC teams last year would mean 93 win Cleveland team makes it. Would also mean 3rd WC spot in NL would go to 86 win Mets, while 85 win Dbacks and 84 win Cubs just miss out but were way closer than they ended up being chasing the Brewers.

WC round ends up:
Twins vs Indians
A's vs Rays
Cards vs Mets
Brewers vs Nats

3 game series here.

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I also actually like getting to choose your opponent. It doesn't create a competitive imbalance and doesn't reduce the level of play at all. (I don't like that it's tied to a TV show though).

I don't like the expansion of the postseason though.

That said, I would do ANYTHING to get rid of the one and done wild card game.

I also don't think teams will want to sit a week for the first round of the playoffs. That just isn't ideal for baseball.


Remember though, any change needs to be approved by the MLBPA so it's not unusual to see an extreme initial proposal knowing that it would be scaled back in the negotiation phrase.

MLB only needs to make 1 change for the playoffs, and that’s to make the wild card round into a best of 3 series instead. All the other ideas are incredibly stupid, especially the reality TV style of deciding playoff spots. I guarantee you that’s an attempt to gain revenue from casual fans, and a rather poor one at that

It's not aimed to gain fans at all. It's strictly aimed at the advertising money they would bring in with the show. That's why this proposal is conveniently timed with the expiration of current TV deals.

As unpopular as some of these proposed changes are, imo it will help baseball long term.

Pitch clock, expanded playoffs, I like both.

I'd make regular season shorter though. 160 games instead.

Expanded playoffs means more meaningful regular seasons for more teams. We all know what September is like for non playoff contending teams. Imagine more teams having a shot. Attendance and TV ratings would be up.

4WC teams is abit much though. I wouldn't mind 3 and then top 2 division winners get a BYE.

You have to drop to a quite a few less games than 160. They are already at a place where they can't start any earlier and can't go any longer.

(Unless you start the official season for all teams at the ST sites like college baseball does).