MLB Off-Topic

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't blame anyone for feeling that way at all.

Much like basketball, once you doubt the legitimacy of what you're watching, it's hard to care.

[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

https://theathletic.com/1510522/2020/01/06/keith-law-covering-all-things-baseball-from-the-low-minors-to-mlb-leadership/

Ummm, wow, didn't realized that Keith Law moved to The Athletic. I might actually get a subscription now (I kid). ESPN's quality MLB content continues I guess with Buster Olney What a joke.

[Sportsforever]

MLB Off-Topic

I continue to get more and more heated about this Asstros bull****. **** that entire franchise. Strip the title. Strip Altuve of his bull**** MVP. I'll vomit if I have to hear how courageous Altuve is from the ESPN booth. That little **** and the rest of that model organization should be suspended half the season. Force them to tank 2020 and strip them of the draft picks and force them to suck so bad it kills them in attendance.

Embarrass this franchise MLB.

And **** Alex Cora and Hinch.

Edit: MLB wanted to make a mockery of all the steroid users and complete their grueling bs witch hunt and make Bonds the poster boy of it all. But won't supply the same energy to dealing with the Asstros, which just completed the worst offense since the Black Sox scandal.

Judge is a really good human being and he was cheated by that ****ing midget. I'm done rambling. But I might take a break from baseball this year. This sport has serious issues.





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Matrix, can DiehardYankee have his phone back now?


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[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

But I might take a break from baseball this year. This sport has serious issues.

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I’ve had a bad taste in my mouth since Selig walked into the Hall. The steroid era foolery has made the Hall meaningless, generally voter buffoonery has made other awards useless, and now the game and championship results are being ****ed with.

[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Ok, so I finally had time to read more in depth about the scandal:

According to a ESPN writer:

Because Manfred did not implicate Hinch as an instigator of the schemes, the suspension shouldn't make other teams shy away from hiring him. He's respected in the game and will be a heck of managerial free agent.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...ealing-scandal

Not good.


Here's a clear explanation on another point that I brought up before:

What sort of disciplinary action clears players for a "player-driven" scheme? The answer is a practical one. Between the well-defined lines that held GMs and managers responsible and the fear of the Major League Baseball Players Association defending any discipline against active players and sending the cases into grievance hell, Manfred's pragmatism here, though not satisfying, is understandable.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...ng-punishments


Here it is again:

There wasn't much sympathy for Hinch's actions around baseball, but there was a willingness to forgive. Executives agreed: He'll manage again after being suspended through the end of the next World Series.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...ng-punishments


Regarding the loss of draft picks:

From a financial standpoint, this is the most impactful aspect of Manfred’s punishment. Building on previous research and using a figure of $9 million per Win Above Replacement, last April Craig Edwards estimated the present day dollar valuation of the top 70 picks. For a team finishing with the best record in baseball and therefore picking 30th, as the Astros were slated to do, the present value of that pick is $10.1 million, while for the 70th pick — where such a team might draft again after the compensation and competitive balance picks are tacked on at end of the first round — that figure is $3.8 million. Double that (for two years) and that’s nearly $28 million in lost future value from those four picks alone, and perhaps more.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/rob-manf...rs-the-astros/

[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Some additional thoughts:

1) Seeing how Alex Cora was the only non player to participate in the scheme while with the Astros, being one of its creators and instigators and the fact that further investigation may show that he took said scheme to the Red Sox, where he compromised a 2nd franchise, this only supports my thinking that perhaps Cora should be permanently banned from baseball. It shows a pattern and, at the very least, I don't think the punishment should linear (Hinch got a year, so Cora gets 2). Lets see first what the investigation into the Red Sox finds, but what a shame.

2) I suppose Manfred will take into consideration that the Red Sox are repeat offenders regarding sign stealing by electronic means. If the scheme is similar to the one implemented in Houston does that mean a similar punishment? Is Dave Dombrowski (currently not employed by any team) about to get a 1 year suspension? Loss of draft picks? The punishment will probably be higher vis-a-vis the Astros's.

3) If the Astros truly want a clean slate I would get rid of Roberto Osuna. Not to play high and mighty, being that I root for a team that harbors two (Chapman and German) players with previous incidents of domestic violence but it would send the correct message that the lack of institutional control that according to Manfred included:

the baseball operations department’s insular culture – one that valued and rewarded results over other considerations

is over and that they will go above and beyond what is expected as a signal of true institutional change. It may not be done with fanfare but I wouldn't be surprised if the new general manager traded Osuna before the start of the season.

4) From a November 12th article:

Carlos Beltran, a member of the 2017 Astros, denied knowledge of a camera that his team allegedly used to electronically steal signs that season, claiming that the World Series champions stole signs organically and legally.

That's enough for me, Beltran should be fired.

5) Speaking of Beltran, did you know that he is 29th all time in fWAR for outfielders with 67.9? Pardon me for being reductive to make a point, but that's more than Hall of Famers Tim Raines, Tony Gwynn, Duke Snider and Andre Dawson. Point being, taking into consideration the "morality clause" regarding the HOF, will this in any way diminish his chances?

6) And on a less important note, Hinch's and Luhnow's suspension started on January 13th 2020 and ends the day after the World Series is over. That's not a year (don't give me that "baseball calendar year" excuse).

[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Also, Cora is being set up as the ultimate fall guy. I want to hear what he has to say.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

There’s no doubt in my mind that Hinch will manage again.

Not a single doubt.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Also, Cora is being set up as the ultimate fall guy. I want to hear what he has to say.

From what I read, he admitted that he "played a central role" in the whole thing.

Which is why he is going to face a stiffer punishment than Hinch and Luhnow.

"Cora was involved in developing both the banging scheme and utilizing the replay review room to decode and transmit signs. Cora participated in both schemes, and through his active participation, implicitly condoned the players' conduct," MLB said in a statement announcing the findings of its investigation.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Astros met with Buck Schowalter

[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Also, since MLB on FOX thinks of themselves as bad asses (A-Rod, Pete Rose) I look forward to seeing Cora as a studio analyst this year.

[steelerfan]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I continue to get more and more heated about this Asstros bull****. **** that entire franchise. Strip the title. Strip Altuve of his bull**** MVP. I'll vomit if I have to hear how courageous Altuve is from the ESPN booth. That little **** and the rest of that model organization should be suspended half the season. Force them to tank 2020 and strip them of the draft picks and force them to suck so bad it kills them in attendance.

Embarrass this franchise MLB.

And **** Alex Cora and Hinch.

Edit: MLB wanted to make a mockery of all the steroid users and complete their grueling bs witch hunt and make Bonds the poster boy of it all. But won't supply the same energy to dealing with the Asstros, which just completed the worst offense since the Black Sox scandal.

Judge is a really good human being and he was cheated by that ****ing midget. I'm done rambling. But I might take a break from baseball this year. This sport has serious issues.





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Midget?

Stay classy, *******.

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Astros met with Buck Schowalter

He's supposed to build up to a contender...not manage one on it's way down. [emoji39]

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[DamnYanks2]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Midget?

Stay classy, *******.

Quite the deflection. When your team likely cheated two other teams of a title. And has an illegitimate MVP. I apologize for nothing.

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[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Carlos Beltran stepping down as Mets manager