Master Index of Archived Threads


MLB in 2021

Benjamin Grimm Oct 28 2020 10:34 AM

I first thought about making this a poll, but there are just too many possibilities. Manfred is saying that this 60-game, no-fans season has caused teams to take on over $8 billion in debt. (Whether that's true or not matters less than the fact that that's what his position is.) This past summer, there was an unstated assumption that 2020 was going to be a one-off, and everything would be normal by Opening Day 2021. While that's still possible, it seems extremely unlikely. (We would need an effective vaccine in place and efficiently and widely rolled out by March. Not impossible, but pretty unlikely.) So where does that leave us? If 60 games with no fans costs $8 billion, the owners aren't likely to want to do that again. Do they delay the season again, hoping that things will be better by May or June? (That's essentially what they did last time.) Or start the season, with no fans, or few fans, and hope that they can ramp up the attendance later? Or will the cancel-the-whole-season faction win out this time? And there's still the question of whether the DH endures in the National League (the latest buzz is that it won't, at least in 2021). And the extra-inning rule. And expanded rosters. And expanded playoffs. This can be an ongoing thread where we track the developments as they occur, and speculate about what may happens and react when it does happen. Even in normal times, this would be an interesting winter for the Mets, with the new deep-pocketed owner. But it will be interesting for every other team as well because of the enormous uncertainty. https://media.makeameme.org/created/i-have-no-wldd1j.jpg>

Edgy MD Oct 28 2020 10:59 AM Re: MLB in 2021

I don't think they should do what they did last year, but I do think they should work from the assumption that nothing is going to get better any time soon, build a plan to operate under those conditions, and then build into it adjustments based on mileposts being hit. To me, that probably means locking team personnel and families in strict bubbles, closed spring training, and (very) limited and isolated seating in ballparks. I'd love to see them return to league play. That's tough, but they have time to figure it out. I think they were very interested before this in trying to regionalize the travel as much as possible, and they probably see this season as the precedent they wanted, for that at least.

ashie62 Oct 28 2020 11:09 AM Re: MLB in 2021

Bubbles, 100 games starting in May. Spring training wherever. DH is a yes. So so many unknowns

whippoorwill Oct 28 2020 11:13 AM Re: MLB in 2021

The thing is , traveling for the families is part of the fun Cancelling a year means guys on the bubble (and minor league teams) will not get another chance Very sad and tough decisions

batmagadanleadoff Oct 28 2020 11:14 AM Re: MLB in 2021

=ashie62 post_id=49162 time=1603904963 user_id=90] 100 games starting in May.

That's what I was wondering. More games. Would that help the finances? Or is this a situation where the more games played under covid conditions, the more money they lose?

Edgy MD Oct 28 2020 11:23 AM Re: MLB in 2021

As a passionate DH opponent, I may be missing something, but what does the DH do to ameliorate the effects of the COVID pandemic?

Benjamin Grimm Oct 28 2020 11:37 AM Re: MLB in 2021

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=49169 time=1603905299 user_id=68] Or is this a situation where the more games played under covid conditions, the more money they lose?

The position of the owners and the commissioner during the negotiations last summer, was the more they play, the more they lose. That's why the season only had 60 games while the players were proposing 114.



That may be mitigated somewhat if they can get partial attendance, but who knows? Maybe they can sell fewer tickets for higher prices?

metsmarathon Oct 28 2020 11:41 AM Re: MLB in 2021

sigh... i just hope the civil war dies down in time for pitchers and catchers to report.

MFS62 Oct 28 2020 12:00 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Edgy MD wrote: As a passionate DH opponent, I may be missing something, but what does the DH do to ameliorate the effects of the COVID pandemic? I saw a news article that said the DH will not be used in the National League in 2021 (the last year of the current union contract), but may be reinstated in the next agreement. Later

Benjamin Grimm Oct 28 2020 12:30 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Edgy MD wrote: As a passionate DH opponent, I may be missing something, but what does the DH do to ameliorate the effects of the COVID pandemic? It's dubious, but the only thing I can think of is that it means fewer player substitutions, which means you can get by with fewer players on hand. But then again, it was accompanied by an expanded roster...

bmfc1 Oct 29 2020 12:22 PM Re: MLB in 2021 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 29 2020 12:30 PM

Tony LaRussa (76 years old) is the new manager of the White Sox. The guy that condoned McGwire and Canseco's cheating. The arrogant prick from the Cardinals. That asshole. From The Athletic: [BLOCKQUOTE]Nine years after he last managed and won a World Series with the Cardinals, and 34 years after he was fired midseason as White Sox manager, Tony La Russa is back to take up his old job, the White Sox announced Thursday.[/BLOCKQUOTE] The article speculates that this is a Reinsdorf move. That's two reasons in a short period of time for the White Sox, otherwise irrelevant to us as Mets fans, to be disliked.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 29 2020 12:27 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Wow... About 42 years after they last hired him as manager. That would be pretty much like if the Mets hired Joe Torre.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2020 12:34 PM Re: MLB in 2021 Edited 6 time(s), most recently on Oct 29 2020 02:22 PM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Or is this a situation where the more games played under covid conditions, the more money they lose? The position of the owners and the commissioner during the negotiations last summer, was the more they play, the more they lose. That's why the season only had 60 games while the players were proposing 114. There is an article in today's NYP stating that the Dodgers, despite their WS run, will lose something like $125 Million this year and the average MLB team around $97mil each. Somebody is going to need to square this with those articles that Forbes runs each year, and are in turn re-quoted by many others, claiming that ALL teams rake in huge profits each and every year (including this one!!) regardless of how poorly the franchise performs on the field or in the front office. The truth has got to lie somewhere in the middle but I have no clue as to which figures to believe.

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 29 2020 12:47 PM Re: MLB in 2021

The White Sox are always making unconventional managerial moves from Ozzie Guillen to Jerry Manuel to Robin Ventura. That's one odd practice I associate them with.

MFS62 Oct 29 2020 01:01 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Tony LaRussa (76 years old) is the new manager of the White Sox. The guy that condoned McGwire and Canseco's cheating. The arrogant prick from the Cardinals. That asshole. My old friend who I've known for over 35 years, but haven't seen for a while, is a fervent White Sox fan. His screen name on the old FASTBALL.com site was Shoeless Don (for Shoeless Joe Jackson). He must be fuming. He loathed LaRussa and called him "Tony The punk". He never forgave him for (an unnecessary wise-ass move to show how smart he was) pinch-running Jerry Dybzinski in the ninth inning of game 5 of the 1983 ALCS. The guy got picked off, costing the Sox the game and the pennant. Later

Benjamin Grimm Oct 29 2020 01:31 PM Re: MLB in 2021

I don't know the details of that game, but it sounds like Jerry Dybzinski deserves a good share of that blame.

Edgy MD Oct 29 2020 01:40 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Tony LaRussa (76 years old) is the new manager of the White Sox. The guy that condoned McGwire and Canseco's cheating. The arrogant prick from the Cardinals. That asshole. My old friend who I've known for over 35 years, but haven't seen for a while, is a fervent White Sox fan. His screen name on the old FASTBALL.com site was Shoeless Don (for Shoeless Joe Jackson). He must be fuming. He loathed LaRussa and called him "Tony The punk". He never forgave him for (an unnecessary wise-ass move to show how smart he was) pinch-running Jerry Dybzinski in the ninth inning of game 5 of the 1983 ALCS. The guy got picked off, costing the Sox the game and the pennant. Later But ... the Sox lost that series in four games.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 29 2020 01:54 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Oh! In that case, the pickoff in Game 5 is really rather moot.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2020 02:39 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Then there was "The Faction", a self-appellation of a group within a Cardinals on-line forum that despised LaRussa when he was in StL and basically blamed him for everything that went wrong. When the Mets met the Cards in the (must have been 2000) playoffs, this board (actually it would have been the predecessor of this one) attracted a brief appearance by a Cardinal fan from that board loudly proclaiming his team's inevitable superiority. When the Mets went on to win the series 4-1 his explanation for why his pronouncements didn't pan out was simple: his team was still vastly superior -- anyone could see that! -- but LaRussa's incompetence was a drawback they couldn't overcome. Point being, once you decide that the head coach/manager is the source of all your problems, it absolves everyone else of blame. Pickoffs are his fault, HRs allowed are his fault, etc. Met fans certainly heard (or started) their fair share of that during the Bobby V days.

stevejrogers Oct 29 2020 04:08 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Oh! In that case, the pickoff in Game 5 is really rather moot. Here is a WaPo article on the actual play/game: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1983/10/09/dybzinski-felt-like-a-beached-whale/785b1921-97c4-435b-8a09-6f59c5e1f015/

MFS62 Oct 30 2020 06:20 AM Re: MLB in 2021

Edgy MD wrote: But ... the Sox lost that series in four games. Yes, it was a five game series, and they lost, 3-1. It was the deciding game. Always the editor. How's the job search coming? Later

smg58 Oct 30 2020 06:48 AM Re: MLB in 2021

I'm old enough to remember when Tony LaRussa was the youngest manager in the game. I still like my managers to be older than I am. And if they're much older, so much the better. If the NFL pulls off a full season this year but baseball owners balk at doing so next year, won't the optics be, I don't know, bad? The next CBA discussion is already not likely to be cordial, and they really don't want the public seeing them unequivocally as the bad guys. However, they might really be that stupid. Of course, the public might be stupid enough to think an $8 billion dollar debt spread around a room of 30 multi-billionaires is something worthy of sympathy. Oh, and in case my opinion on the subject has not been made sufficiently clear: fuck the DH.

Frayed Knot Oct 30 2020 06:51 AM Re: MLB in 2021

My old friend who I've known for over 35 years, but haven't seen for a while, is a fervent White Sox fan. His screen name on the old FASTBALL.com site was Shoeless Don (for Shoeless Joe Jackson). He must be fuming. He loathed LaRussa and called him "Tony The punk". He never forgave him for (an unnecessary wise-ass move to show how smart he was) pinch-running Jerry Dybzinski in the ninth inning of game 5 of the 1983 ALCS. The guy got picked off, costing the Sox the game and the pennant. Not quite. Dybzinski started and played that whole game. Looks like he was the regular starter that year vs lefties [165 of his 255 ABs that year came vs LHPs] so got the nod vs the O's Mike Flanagan. In a 0-0 tie in the 7th inning of Game 4 [Sox down 2 games to 1] TLR put on the Sac Bunt play w/runners on 1st & 2nd, no outs, and Dybzinski at the plate ... he bunted into a force play. The next batter hit the third single of the inning but lead runner Vance Law was held at 3rd. Dybzinski, not realizing that the runner was held, was caught between 2nd & 3rd. That forced Law to try to make it home but he was tagged out. A subsequent balk sent the runners to 2nd & 3rd but the batter flied out to end the inning. The Orioles went on to score 3 runs in the top of the 10th to win the game and the series. The ChiSox were outscored 19-3 in that series winning only the first game 2-1 behind a CG 5-hitter by that year's CY Winner Lamarr Hoyt. Your friend may have plenty of legit reasons to dislike LaRussa, but losing that series based on his strategy 'blunder' with Dybzinski doesn't seem like it should rank very high on the list, or even be on the list at all if you ask me. Bad bunt followed by bad base-running on the part of Dybzinski, but it's not like LaRussa inserted him into the lineup for the specific purpose of doing either.

Edgy MD Oct 30 2020 07:48 AM Re: MLB in 2021

Edgy MD wrote: But ... the Sox lost that series in four games. Yes, it was a five game series, and they lost, 3-1. It was the deciding game. Always the editor. How's the job search coming? Later Really? It wasn't game five. It wasn't the ninth inning. Dybzinski wasn't pinch-running. He wasn't inserted in the game late by LaRussa at all, but had started. And he wasn't picked off. I don't like LaRussa either, but ... let's be cool.

MFS62 Oct 30 2020 07:58 AM Re: MLB in 2021

Thanks for the research. It was the way my friend told it- often. Perception (of a pissed off fan) is reality. I never had a reason to question him. I hadn't paid much attention to the series, it was the American League, after all. I told it as he used to tell it to me. Later

Benjamin Grimm Nov 10 2020 01:31 PM Re: MLB in 2021

I wonder if the promising vaccine news from Pfizer (and the hoped for promising news from AstraZeneca) will encourage MLB to be a bit bolder in going forward with a longer season? They may still want to wait until May 1, but maybe they can plan a full schedule from that point forward?

batmagadanleadoff Dec 08 2020 07:43 AM Re: MLB in 2021

Report: NL teams told to plan for no DH in 2021 Excerpt: For weeks, baseball front offices have had to try to put together offseason plans without knowing whether half the league's teams will play with a designated hitter in 2021. Adding a DH to the NL is something that has made sense from a competitive standpoint for a long time, is something the players have wanted for a long time, and is something the owners also want. So, naturally, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is saying “don't count on it.” According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, teams were sent a memo by the league office last week telling them to operate under the assumption there will not be a DH in the National League in 2021. https://www.brewcrewball.com/2020/12/7/22159973/report-nl-teams-told-to-plan-for-no-dh-in-2021

Edgy MD Dec 08 2020 08:05 AM Re: MLB in 2021

Adding a DH to the NL is something that has made sense from a competitive standpoint for a long time, is something the players have wanted for a long time, and is something the owners also want. I wish folks would back up such statements, instead of just stating them as fact. This just doesn't live up to the journalistic standards I've come to expect from JaymesL at BrewCrewBall.com.

Frayed Knot Dec 08 2020 08:37 AM Re: MLB in 2021

Edgy MD wrote: Adding a DH to the NL is something that has made sense from a competitive standpoint for a long time, is something the players have wanted for a long time, and is something the owners also want. I wish folks would back up such statements, instead of just stating them as fact. Yeah, I was going to say the same. - Adding a DH to the NL is something that has made sense from a competitive standpoint for a long time -- Really! How so? - is something the players have wanted for a long time -- some players, yes, probably even a majority. But it's hardly a universal feeling and some are quite adamant against it. - and is something the owners also want -- again, 'some' is probably correct, but not all and in this case not necessarily even a majority

Benjamin Grimm Dec 15 2020 02:12 PM Re: MLB in 2021

And so it begins: Major League Baseball, union at odds on whether start of 2021 season should be delayed

bmfc1 Dec 15 2020 02:34 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Here we go again: the owners want to get rid of some of those annoying regular-season games and the players do not. If the owners were sincere about it being about safety then they could extend the season by a week and back-load the schedule with doubleheaders but we know that they really want an excuse to cut salaries.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 16 2020 10:43 AM Re: MLB in 2021

I think that starting on May 1 is reasonable. Extend the season into mid-October and include a bunch of those 7-inning doubleheaders and you can still squeeze in 162 games. And play the World Series in Hawaii.

Edgy MD Dec 16 2020 02:17 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Or in New Zealand.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 12 2021 08:53 AM Re: MLB in 2021

Rob Manfred: MLB teams should plan for spring training to start on time, full 162-game season to be played Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred informed clubs Monday that they should be preparing for spring training to start on time in February and to plan on a full 162-game season being played, three people with direct knowledge of the conference call told USA TODAY Sports. MLB does not have the legal right to unilaterally delay the start of the season without approval from the union because of the collective bargaining agreement, and the union made it clear it wouldn't accept anything less than 100% pay for the season.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 12 2021 10:22 AM Re: MLB in 2021

USA Today is all over the coverage of the 2021 season: New MLB guidelines leave room for fans to attend spring training and regular season games Regular-season tickets are expected to be sold in pods again with seating at least six feet apart I wonder what percentage of the seats can be filled with this arrangement? Maybe close to 50 per cent, depending on the size of the pods? That's a wild guess, I really don't know for sure.

Willets Point Jan 12 2021 04:20 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Seating in the stands isn't the biggest concern, in my opinion. I'd be more interested in how they're handling restrooms, concourses, as well as fans arriving and leaving.

Frayed Knot Jan 12 2021 04:44 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Come to our stadium and enjoy the game ... just try not to eat or piss.

ashie62 Jan 12 2021 05:35 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Baseball will achieve some normalcy in 2020.

MFS62 Jan 12 2021 05:39 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Frayed Knot wrote: Come to our stadium and enjoy the game ... just try not to eat or piss. And if you must piss, please use our recyclable plastic bottles. Our seating bubbles have been tinted to protect your privacy. Later

Benjamin Grimm Jan 15 2021 09:30 AM Re: MLB in 2021

USA Today seems to give this topic more coverage than anyone else. MLB rule changes: League still discussing universal DH and expanded playoffs for 2021 season

bmfc1 Jan 15 2021 10:11 AM Re: MLB in 2021

"the return of seven-inning doubleheaders and extra-inning games beginning with a runner on second base". The writers love these rules to the point where they don't give the "cons" a fair hearing because they get to stop working quicker. The runner on 2d in the top of the 10th rule gave us the Alonso lead-off two-run homer.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 15 2021 10:19 AM Re: MLB in 2021

And the top of that inning only had two plate appearances, because the runner on second was doubled off.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 25 2021 03:03 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Cactus League is asking MLB to delay the start of spring training. Things are especially bad in Arizona right now, and the forecast is that things will be a lot better by the middle of March. But starting spring training on March 15 for 15 of the 30 teams would make Opening Day on April 1 pretty close to impossible. I don't know if there's a possibility of the 15 teams starting workouts elsewhere. We'll have to see how this plays out. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30776834/cactus-league-asks-mlb-delay-start-spring-training-covid-19-pandemic

Benjamin Grimm Feb 09 2021 05:36 AM Re: MLB in 2021

The extra-innings runner will return in 2021, as will 7-inning games in doubleheaders. MLB, MLBPA agree to health protocols, 7-inning doubleheaders, runners on second in extras

batmagadanleadoff Feb 09 2021 05:59 AM Re: MLB in 2021

No DH or expanded playoffs. This second base rule is disturbing given that MLB intends to play a 162 game season. Whatever. Fans'll get used to it with time. If this rule was invented at the dawn of baseball, nobody would give it a second thought.

Edgy MD Feb 09 2021 06:00 AM Re: MLB in 2021

I'm not sure I read you. Is it disturbing or is it whatever?

batmagadanleadoff Feb 09 2021 06:23 AM Re: MLB in 2021

Both. Disturbing because the 162 game season tells me that this rule might have some legs beyond this year. Whatever because what the hell can I do about it if I don't like it? Write a letter to the editor?

Benjamin Grimm Feb 09 2021 06:53 AM Re: MLB in 2021

MLB slightly deadening ball, adding humidors in five more parks amid HR surge, according to reports Associated Press wrote: Major League Baseball has slightly deadened its baseballs amid a years-long surge in home runs. MLB anticipates the changes will be subtle, and a memo to teams last week cited an independent lab that found the new balls will fly 1 to 2 feet shorter when hit over 375 feet. Five teams also plan to add humidors to their stadiums, raising the total to 10 of 30 MLB stadiums equipped with humidity-controlled storage spaces

Fman99 Feb 09 2021 08:17 AM Re: MLB in 2021 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 09 2021 08:18 AM

A dead ball is still better than Covid induced dead MLB fans, I guess. Going on record as hating the 7 inning DH (though I'm used to it, that having long been the standard in the minors) and hate hate HATING the runner on 2nd in the 10th. It's just so phony.

MFS62 Feb 09 2021 08:17 AM Re: MLB in 2021

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=55759 time=1612875540 user_id=68] No DH

That hurts the Mets. Now they have to weaken themselves defensively (i.e.- Dom Smith in left field and not at first base) without any offense as an offset.

I haven't read anything about this, but will they still be able to use one when they play AL teams? The announcement doesn't say anything about whether that has changed.



Later

Benjamin Grimm Feb 09 2021 08:28 AM Re: MLB in 2021

There's no reason to think that that would change. And I agree with Fman. That runner-on-second thing is even stupider than the DH. I'd rather see games end after 12 innings in a tie than to have that stupid rule.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 09 2021 08:29 AM Re: MLB in 2021

Did anybody know that the Mets were one of a handful of teams that were already using a humidor? I didn't.

LWFS Feb 09 2021 09:28 AM Re: MLB in 2021

7-inning doubleheaders aren't terrible. Neither-- deep breath, then proceed-- is the DH, really. (Our current personnel make it a much, much easier transition for me, mentally.) These don't change the fundamental game. But, yeah, the second base thing. Hoo, boy. At least in fussball, they play a bunch of overtime before going to penalty kicks. Getting ON base and getting a guy in position to score is kind of the big challenge of, like, offensive baseball, right?

seawolf17 Feb 09 2021 09:45 AM Re: MLB in 2021

Rules That Are Stupid, Ranked: 1) Three-batter minimum 1a) (outlawing defensive shifts would go here if they try it) 2) Extra Inning Secret Bonus Runner 3) Fucking up the minor leagues 4) Not allowing position players to pitch 5) The DH 6) Seven-inning doubleheaders

LWFS Feb 09 2021 09:47 AM Re: MLB in 2021

=seawolf17 post_id=55791 time=1612889128 user_id=91] Rules That Are Stupid, Ranked: 1) Three-batter minimum 1a) (outlawing defensive shifts would go here if they try it) 2) Extra Inning Secret Bonus Runner 3) Fucking up the minor leagues 4) Not allowing position players to pitch 5) The DH 6) Seven-inning doubleheaders

This, exactly. Only with big gaps between minor leagues and #--



WAIT... position players CAN'T PITCH

Edgy MD Feb 09 2021 10:31 AM Re: MLB in 2021

Yup. They're engineering shit into the game.

seawolf17 Feb 09 2021 11:15 AM Re: MLB in 2021

Players have to be designated "hitter" or "pitcher" now (with the exception of two-way guys like Ohtani and the guy from the Reds), and "hitters" can only pitch in extra innings if there's nobody left. Totally dumb.

dinosaur jesus Feb 09 2021 11:25 AM Re: MLB in 2021

=seawolf17 post_id=55791 time=1612889128 user_id=91] Rules That Are Stupid, Ranked: 1) Three-batter minimum 1a) (outlawing defensive shifts would go here if they try it) 2) Extra Inning Secret Bonus Runner 3) Fucking up the minor leagues 4) Not allowing position players to pitch 5) The DH 6) Seven-inning doubleheaders

I'd put the bonus runner first, and I'd add the automatic intentional walk. But yeah. They're all non-solutions to real problems (the games really are too damn long) or real solutions to non-problems (extreme shifts are fun. They exploit the basic structure of baseball in a really creative way).

duan Feb 09 2021 11:37 AM Re: MLB in 2021

I hate the DH but I was looking forward to it this year. I really wanted it to solve the mets Smith-Alonso conundrum. Having said that I can cope 90 games of Dom in Left, 20-30 Games of Dom in First with Alonso resting, and 10 DH Games meaning you have 122 games of Alonso on first and 10 of Alonso on First/DH. They both get plenty of ABs and late innings defensive switcheroos can happen with either depending on batting orders etc.

duan Feb 09 2021 11:38 AM Re: MLB in 2021

I hate the runner on 2nd and the 3 batter minimum. Also the 3 batter minimum made more sense when there was a DH as there was no PH'ing for the Pitcher .

seawolf17 Feb 09 2021 01:10 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Oh, I forgot about the automatic intentional walk. I'm sort of okay with that; it's minimal impact, really, but I guess I'd put it between the DH and the seven-inning games.

Edgy MD Feb 09 2021 01:24 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Players have to be designated "hitter" or "pitcher" now (with the exception of two-way guys like Ohtani and the guy from the Reds), and "hitters" can only pitch in extra innings if there's nobody left. Totally dumb. "Nobody left," meaning ... I have to use tomorrow's starter before I can use J.D. Davis?

smg58 Feb 09 2021 01:55 PM Re: MLB in 2021

=Fman99 post_id=55772 time=1612883836 user_id=86]Going on record as hating the 7 inning DH

A seven-inning designated hitter? For the love of God, please don't give Manfred any ideas.



I do like the deader ball. If the league seriously wants to shorten games, it needs to discourage the three-outcome (BB, K, HR) approach to batting. And have universal pitchers hitting. And add the shift to the Bill of Rights.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 10 2021 11:38 AM Re: MLB in 2021

MLB players to wear electronic tracers or face discipline This report comes from a TV station in Des Moines, Iowa. Major League Baseball players, on-field staff and non-playing personnel who require access to them at ballparks must wear electronic tracing wristbands from the start of spring training and face discipline for violations . I think this particular rule is going to be ignored by many players: Players, on-field staff and non-playing personnel who require access to them may not during spring training, the season or the postseason go to indoor restaurants, bars, fitness centers, casinos or any indoor gathering of 10 or more people.

seawolf17 Feb 10 2021 11:48 AM Re: MLB in 2021

The fuck?!

Benjamin Grimm Feb 10 2021 11:53 AM Re: MLB in 2021

I know! It's hard to believe (and I'm not sure I do) that the MLBPA agreed to this.

LWFS Feb 10 2021 01:18 PM Re: MLB in 2021

With all due respect to Des Moines... call me when Dubuque or Davenport confirm this codicil

Edgy MD Mar 03 2021 07:51 AM Re: MLB in 2021

Yesterday saw the invocation of a new rule for Spring Training games that allows a manager to pull the plug on an inning if his pitcher throws 20 or more pitches. Cancel culture!

MFS62 Mar 03 2021 08:11 AM Re: MLB in 2021

=LWFS post_id=55916 time=1612988309 user_id=84] With all due respect to Des Moines... call me when Dubuque or Davenport confirm this codicil

Force field of dreams.

Later

Edgy MD Mar 04 2021 01:08 PM Re: MLB in 2021

According to Jeff Passan, a source has told ESPN (and it has subsequently been confirmed) that the AAA season will be delayed by a month, with players initially reporting to our 2020 friends, the alternate training sites. This is to allay concerns about players coming from camp and instantly jumping into travel without a quarantine period first, or something like that. The season will extend into September to make up for lost time.

Frayed Knot Apr 09 2021 12:59 PM Re: MLB in 2021

From the, 'Why didn't one of us think of this?' file, Phil Mushnick is referring to the designated man on 2nd/extra inning runner as the 'Manfred Man'

seawolf17 Apr 09 2021 02:15 PM Re: MLB in 2021

That's brilliant.

MFS62 Apr 09 2021 02:53 PM Re: MLB in 2021

=seawolf17 post_id=60250 time=1617999319 user_id=91] That's brilliant.

Yes. Phil covers the media, so I wonder if he heard it somewhere or coined it himself.

Later

Frayed Knot Apr 09 2021 03:32 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Could be either. Readers send in stuff all time to him (I've done so) and he always credits those if/when he uses a line sent in. Not sure if this is the first time he's used this particular phrase.

Edgy MD Apr 16 2021 07:51 PM Re: MLB in 2021

It turns out that GCL is being replaced by the so-called Complex League. I guess the old name is outmoded as this group will be expanded to include complexes from both of Florida's coasts. The Mets will be fielding two teams in this league, which will essentially replace the 35 jobs lost with the elimination of Kingsport. Although it's not clear if one of the teams will be represent slightly higher-level group. The other half of the missing jobs went along with the elimination of the New York Penn League. That's where the players with a meaningful amount of college experience tended to make their first stop, so it'll be interesting to see where those players get assigned. I guess they'll go to the St. Lucie complex one way or another. Fun Fact: Two squads at one level out of one location means two staffs. It means two managers, two pitching coaches, etc. And it means two bench coaches. And those two coaches will be Ender Chavez and Endy Chavez.

batmagadanleadoff Apr 16 2021 09:41 PM Re: MLB in 2021

My hunch is that Sandy isn't going anywhere.

Frayed Knot Jun 14 2021 06:46 PM Re: MLB in 2021

It's just occurred to me that, aside from the Mets (57 games played coming into tonight), every team in MLB has already played more games in 2021 than they did all last season. And it still seems to me that this season is just getting going. I mean, we still have 16 games left to play against the Nats.

stevejrogers Jun 15 2021 06:08 PM Re: MLB in 2021

Frayed Knot wrote: It's just occurred to me that, aside from the Mets (57 games played coming into tonight), every team in MLB has already played more games in 2021 than they did all last season. And it still seems to me that this season is just getting going. I mean, we still have 16 games left to play against the Nats. To be honest, while I do heed the idea of “it gets late early” some years, and maybe it's a byproduct of being a Ranger and Knick fan that follows both of their leagues' postseasons that go deep into June, mid-June always seemed still early-ish in a given season.