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2021 MLB Thread

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by Unlucky 13, Jan 2, 2021.

  1. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    You can always hope his away splits from coors are what the Cards get from Arenado as opposed to the home splits. Spoiler: you’ll like the away splits.

    That said he’s still a fantastic player. Seeing as how the Cards got 50M in the deal and gave up no top 5 organizational prospects, I have to wonder if this makes the price on Bryant drop as the market has been set by a better player (albeit one making more money).

    Patiently awaiting the Mets to pounce on Bauer and Bryant.
     
  2. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    It looks like the Cubs are never going to be competitive again under the current ownership, so you can just have him.
     
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  3. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Lol damn. Can I interest you in taking Familia off the Mets hands? I can’t wait til Sandy trades him again lol.
     
  4. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Apparently, the Ricketts are firm in that they/the Cubs are so deeply in dept all of the sudden, that payroll is going to be drastically reduced for the forseeable future. It currently stands at 128m, which is 12th in MLB. In 2019, it was 221m, and everyone thought that it would stay right below the tax threshold forever as the Cubs rake in money left and right. Suddenly, after last year, that's no longer the case, and that's part of why Theo left.
     
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  5. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    MLB really should force owners like them, the Pirates, Indians and now Rockies to sell. Piss off if you aren't interested in actually winning.

    The players likely are going to need to trade a salary cap for a salary floor at this rate.
     
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  6. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    I mean at this point based on the non-return the Cubs already took for Darvish plus the non-return the Rockies got for Arenado, I'm not sure Bryant has value above a bucket of balls.

    The way these teams are acting is astoundingly uncompetitive. PAYING the Cards to take your franchise player away?
     
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  7. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    I'm not a fan of Rob Manfred, but I do strongly believe that MLB needs to be able to pull the plug on the season if things get bad with regards to Covid. Everyone is hopeful that things are going to get gradually better, and they might, but it could also get worse. We just don't know. And if that happens, then putting an indefinate pause on the baseball season just seems to be prudent.
     
  8. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    I'm totally in favor of a delay. I'd love to attend a game or two later in the summer. I will actually be vaccinated in the coming weeks (federal USPS worker), but the longer the delay, the more fans will be able to attend. This will boost revenue and remove one of the owner's biggest gripe points.

    The stats thing ... as a fan IDGAF though I understand for incentives and bonuses, some kind of pro-ration would be needed. But if it's just about counting stats, then the players will look bad.

    I like the expanded playoffs, and one can easily make the counter to the players' argument - allowing more teams should increase spending because you are more likely to see a payoff from a playoff series. I don't get the union opposition to the NL DH at all.
     
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  9. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    The tweets aren't all written the most clearly, but the players have always wanted the DH in the NL. I think the issue relating to that is that MLB wants them to give up something to get it, and the MLBPA never wants to give up anything....ever. So, we'll see where it goes. I personally hate the DH and AL style baseball, and have grown to find watching games far less enjoyable over the past few years.
     
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  10. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    Yeah I thought I had read MLB proposed it along with the expanded playoffs a week or two ago and it was shot down, which I found curious.

    I think the statistical revolution is probably more responsible for style of play than DH though. I think having elder sluggers like Thome and Big Papi in those cleanup roles is good. Just need to stop with 2b and cf focusing on launch angle and HRs rather than OBP.
     
  11. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    I read a few articles this morning that said that the current fight is more about the long term and the upcoming end to the CBA than it is about the 2021 season. However, given that so many writers are now strongly on the side of the players for reasons that I can't wrap my head around (instead of being on the side of the fans, as they generally were in the past), its hard to know what is fact and what is opinion sometimes.

    Either way, it looks like even if Covid-19 is completely taken care of and not an issue, that the 2022 season could be in at least partial jeopardy.
     
  12. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Looks like it’s down to the Mets and LAD for Bauer. Mets offer according to Jon Heyman is 3-4 years and around 30m a season with an opt out after year one (and possibly year 3). Come on Alderson get it done!

    Degrom
    Bauer
    Thor (due back around June)
    Carrasco
    Stroman

    Luchessi and Peterson hold Thor’s spot until June.
     
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  13. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Well this didn’t age well :confused2:
     
  14. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Enjoy Albert Almora, Boik. Now that he's off the Cubs, he'll probably fulfill his potential as "Derek Jeter in Center Field" for you guys.
     
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  15. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    lol that would be nice. But he’s probably a 4th OF/late inning replacement and compliment to Nimmo. The whole Mets needing a CF thing is very overrated imo. Always was. Nimmo has elite OBP skills coming in around 40% for his career vs RHP and 35% vs LHP. His D needs some work which is why you bring in an Almora who for now is basically just a replacement for Marisnick. Now Almora still has unfulfilled potential according to many but until he shows something in terms of consistency to me it’s Nimmo in CF.

    I do think going this route increases the chance that the Mets go after a 3B upgrade so I think Kris Bryant is likely in play. We’ve talked in the past how little I think of Joe Maddon as a manager. I think there’s a chance getting away from Maddon could help both Almora and Bryant so that’ll be something to watch.

    Do hope the Mets stay away from Arrietta as he’s trending in the wrong direction but they’ve been tied to him for the past week or so. Hard pass imo. I’d rather go Paxton or Odorizzi if we get another SP.
     
  16. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Mostly just still frustrated on what a bill of goods Theo sold us on Almora. He was absolutely not who Cubs fans wanted in that draft (which featured Carlos Correra and Byron Buxton at the top), and when Mark Appel fell, we were sure that he was going to be the pick. It felt a lot like the Fins taking Ted Ginn in 2007, and getting the same kind of BS about his family and character from the team.
     
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  17. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Do you guys think that the loss of last season, and the potential disruption of 2021 will have a permanent negative effect on a lot of minor league prospects? To me, it seems inevitable.

    One example from the Cubs is 2019 first round pick RHP Ryan Jensen. He was 21 when he was drafted that July, but is now 23 and has only played 12 innings of rookie ball so far. The original idea was that he'd fast track through A and AA ball in 2020, start 2021 in AAA, and then would be prepared to be called up if and when necessary this season to MLB. But as it stands, with the long layoff and the changes in the system, who really knows anymore. He'll likely be closer to 30 than 20 before he ever puts on a MLB uniform in the best case scenario.

    I would imagine that most franchises have guys like this.
     
  18. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Yeah I don’t see how it can’t. Hopefully they find a way to get some games in for those guys this year. I guess they have to adopt the same protocols as the major league clubs
     
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  19. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    @Unlucky 13 according to Andy Martino (Mets beat writer) Mets and Cubs are talking again about Bryant. Could be interesting :drink:
     
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  20. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    At this point, I think the best the Cubs can hope for is a prospect who eventually develops into much more than he's thought of today. Good luck to the Mets if you get him. Hopefully he finally comes back from the wrist injury he suffered in 18'.
     
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  21. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Let’s see what happens. Nothings done yet. But TY. I’m curious what the return would be.

    I did like Alderson sliding in to the Benintendi deal last night and getting Khalil Lee out of it. KC # 8 prospect and OF help in our upper minors from a 20 year old who can play CF/probably hit lead off for our #26 prospect Josh Winckowski (acquired from Toronto in the Matz deal a few weeks back) and PTBNL.
     
  22. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Cubs writers are speculating that if there is a deal, the Mets might send a bad contract back to the Cubs in order for Chicago to get a better prospect. But really, looking at the Mets salary situation, I couldn't figure out who that would be. It seems to me that if they're trying to contend in 2021, then anyone with a big number would be important to that.
     
  23. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    It would be Betances at 6m or Familia at 11.7m. Alderson traded Familia during his first tenure and Familia gets a 1M bonus if traded. The Mets have been linked to Justin Wilson so I assume there still interest there in a 2nd lefty among other relievers.
     
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  24. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    So, the rumor today I saw at a few places is that the Cubs are asking for catcher Francisco Alverez in Bryant talks. Doesn't mean that the Mets welcomed that idea, just that it was what Chicago said they wanted back.
     
  25. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Hard pass on giving up Alvarez. I know y’all asked for him and so did the Rockies for Arenado at which point Alderson apparently hung up the phone
     
  26. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure

    I'm a big fan of the changes happening with the minor leagues. Everything that they've done just makes a lot of sense. Especially the makeup of the Western Conference of AAA, which now has far fewer teams traveling halfway across the country to play games on a regular basis. That was just so dumb for the minors. And a lot of the A level teams will be grouped so close together that there's very little travel at all.

    And although I've enjoyed keeping tabs on all of my team's minor league clubs for about the past decade, I agree with trimming the fat and making the lowest level ones unnecessary. The MLB clubs can just turn their Spring Training complex into a defacto rookie league and have all of the youngest players just stay there until they're ready to move up to Low A.

    The next step needs to be building a residential complex for the players to live in while they're there, and have the teams house, feed, and train them like they're college athletes. Its an increased cost, but it would obviously maximize the development and pay off in the long run.
     
  27. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    When you have a 250m payroll, an extra 13m in overage tax doesn't seem like that much. does it? Basically like sales tax on a purchase.
     
  28. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    When asked specifically, Jed Hoyer said that the Mets rumors are completely false, and he hasn't been engaged in talks with them. Now, he could just be lying, but FWIW it doesn't seem like anything is happening there right now.
     
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  29. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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  30. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    What does it saying, there’s nothing there except that an adblocker is disabling Instagram
     
  31. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Lol, I'm sorry! I see it fine. Its a joke that the Marlins hope to have 20% attendance this season, how thats brave of them to double previous years.
     
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  32. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Baseball is broken. (Appologies again if you can't see Instagram posts)



    It says that in each of the past three seasons, there have been more strikeouts than hits. This never happened in any of the previous 147 MLB seasons.
     
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  33. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    MLB Network had a segment saying as much a few weeks ago. I think they said even 30 years ago there was an average of like 7 more balls per game put in play per game and like 11 more per game from 50 years ago. It’s crazy.

    I get that homers make money for players and WAR and other sabermetrics value homers but the game needs excitement and the way you get it is by putting the ball in play. It creates the potential for something exciting to happen as opposed to strikeouts. The game is naturally slow so trying to speed it up and make it basketball or hockey just doesn’t work.
     
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  34. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    The balls in play figure doesn't even tell the whole story either, given how many more these days are weak dribbles to the infield. You really don't have to go back 30 years, because ten years ago was totally different from today. Those games were full of fly ball outs. How many running catches by outfielders do you see on Baseball Tonight these days?

    Between the strikeouts, the overemphasis on walks and OBP, and so many more players swinging for the fences every at bat, its just so messed up. I argued with people about this years ago, and was shouted down because this is what the math said was better. Well, the math is boring, I'm sorry.
     
  35. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    The OBP imo is very valid that it’s important. The NYY were emphasizing walks in the 90’s during their championships and getting in to the bullpens early by building pitching counts in SP. it makes a lot of sense mathematically and in terms of the way baseball should be played. The problem is that my 8 hitter or my lead off guy (unless it’s Rickey Henderson) shouldn’t be swinging for the fences. That’s just stupid and ruins the potential for big innings.
     
  36. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    I certainly think that working counts is important. Both to wait for a good pitch to swing at and to wear down the opposing team's starter. Obviously, a walk is far better than an out, and you don't want guys swinging at unhittable pitches. If the other team is determined not to give you anything, then of course take it.

    But my problem is that so many of today's players seem to have lost the ability or desire to get on base via the single. And that combined with the advent of all of the defensive shifts effects everything else about the game all the way through.
     
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  37. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    Home runs are fun, but I enjoy squeezes and things like that, and you just don't see them often these days. It's a shame. Most teams now don't have batters who can lay down bunts well enough to call a squeeze with a runner on third. It frustrates me to see how more and more teams seem to be struggling with getting runners home from third with less than two outs. That should be a high percentage run scoring situation, but I believe that percentage is getting lower and lower these days as batters ignore the situation and take their usual swing for the long ball approaches.

    Don't get me started on fewer balls in play, and plays from the outfield. I remember a game in 2019 where the Marlins were rallying and hit an intermediate fly ball out to left field with one out. The tying runner tagged and headed home, and Charlie Culberson proceeds to make one of the best throws from the outfield I've seen in recent memory. A 97mph strike directly to the spot it had to be to give the catcher a chance to make the tag. Great play, and I guess it's not surprising that a career utility player would have the tools to make a defensive play like that. I don't think we see things like that nearly as much in baseball anymore.
     
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  38. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    Oh and a huge sigh of relief from me a few weeks ago when I saw the news of the Ozuna signing. Not ideal to have to play him in left field for a season, but worth dealing with that to have him batting behind Freddie again. I'm expecting a potent lineup and an overall improved starting pitching staff, even though most of the projections are picking Braves to finish third or fourth again, as usual. What a bunch of nonsense.

    The other big signing was the Snitker extension. The metrics can't quantify his leadership and effect on the team. That's why the projections about Atlanta have been wrong for three seasons now, and will be again this year too.
     
  39. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Unusual feeling to start the baseball season for me. This is the first time since 2007 (the year they hired Lou Pinella) that the Cubs are neither tanking/rebuilding, or considered one of the better teams in the NL. They're just mediocre and with the future way up in the air. I'm having trouble getting too excited about it, and I chose not to renew MLB.TV this year.
     
  40. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    Yeah definitely disappointing to see them essentially cede the division to the Cardinals. It seems for the last 3ish years they have tried to walk the line between really committing themselves versus trying to flip assets and rebuild a longer term team. Personally I put the blame mostly on the Rickett's who keep harping on money and how strapped they try to portray themselves. Ridiculous.

    My wife got the MLB TV though. :chuckle:

    But hey, how about them Tigers!?! The Legend of Akil Baddoo has begun. :up:
     
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