Red Sox To Sign J.D. Martinez

[notin]

Yes, it would be much easier to add a pitch clock.

 

I'm just saying that I'm against it.

 

The MLB rulebook already has rule 8.04 specifying how long a pitcher can take between pitches. A pitch clock would only enforce existing (and clearly ignored) rules.

 

http://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/54615/pitch-clock-hey-theres-already-a-rule

[Station 13]

The Angels knew the last years would stink - they were just hoping the early years (3 years) would be enough along with a gradual decline. That didn't happen.

 

Let's not forget Pujols also play 1B, and that weighed on his contract. Baseball views JDM strictly a DH. He wasn't attached to draft picks either. That did not helped JD market. Remember Edwin Enarcarion 3 year ago, and Nelson Cruz too, both got far lesser deals.

 

JD did get the biggest deal given to a DH, but far less than the $200M ballpark he was seeking. Opting out will not really help his case next year much.

[notin]

The Angels knew the last years would stink - they were just hoping the early years (3 years) would be enough along with a gradual decline. That didn't happen.

 

I think that's pretty much how every long term mega-contract has worked. I realize it, so there is no way anyone capable of getting an MLB position doesn't.

 

That's probably why they salary is typically back-loaded with the higher salaries in the lesser productive seasons. But this approach allows the GM more financial flexibility during the player's good years to put a better team around him. The end years when the player is anticipated to be not as good and in clear decline and probably injury-riddled were going to have a very negative effect on the team anyway...

[notin]

I think Austin/San Antonio could clearly support a team. Vegas might (and I am generally hesitant as a baseball fan to have another elevation driven launching pad). If there were no territorial issues, Brooklyn would be an obvious candidate.

 

It is hard to say the Expos fan base was bad because they reacted poorly to how horribly baseball treated them - between the Loria reign, getting rid of their French radio outlet, the 3-way franchise deal with Boston and Miami, and then the league running them as a ward of the state. IF they had ownership that was committed to actually serving that community it could (Would) very well work out.

 

Per the 2010 census, Charlotte, Portand, and Sacramento are all slightly larger metropolitan areas than San Antonio, and like San Antonio, all are capable of supporting NBA franchises. Orlando is right there as well and also has an NBA team, but I don't like the idea of having more Florida baseball teams for two reasons.

 

1. A significant chunk of Florida population includes retirees relocating from other states, many of who bring their allegiances to other teams with them (and pay very cheap Spring Training ticket prices in March only to see those prices skyrocket in April). And

 

2. My fear is that any team in Orlando will have some horrible Disney-themed name, like the Orlando Guardians of the Galaxy or the Orlando Jedi Knights...

Edited August 24, 2018 by notin

[Slasher9]

the Orlando Jedi Knights...

this would instantly make them my 2nd favorite team slightly ahead of "whoever is playing the MFY"

[sk7326]

Per the 2010 census, Charlotte, Portand, and Sacramento are all slightly larger metropolitan areas than San Antonio, and like San Antonio, all are capable of supporting NBA franchises. Orlando is right there as well and also has an NBA team, but I don't like the idea of having more Florida baseball teams for two reasons.

 

1. A significant chunk of Florida population includes retirees relocating from other states, many of who bring their allegiances to other teams with them (and pay very cheap Spring Training ticket prices in March only to see those prices skyrocket in April). And

 

2. My fear is that any team in Orlando will have some horrible Disney-themed name, like the Orlando Guardians of the Galaxy or the Orlando Jedi Knights...

 

The trick with San Antonio is that Austin is 80 miles away - and combined there is some potential there. I am hesitant to put a team in Florida given the Rays' struggles. Portland is not a terrible idea. In my fantasy though North Carolina is the natural place for the Rays to move to.

[sk7326]

Let's not forget Pujols also play 1B, and that weighed on his contract. Baseball views JDM strictly a DH. He wasn't attached to draft picks either. That did not helped JD market. Remember Edwin Enarcarion 3 year ago, and Nelson Cruz too, both got far lesser deals.

 

JD did get the biggest deal given to a DH, but far less than the $200M ballpark he was seeking. Opting out will not really help his case next year much.

 

Martinez was a victim of Pujols contract. Yeah, Martinez did not have background in 1B like Pujols did, but there is no doubt that they could put him at 1B if it came down to it.

[mvp 78]

Per the 2010 census, Charlotte, Portand, and Sacramento are all slightly larger metropolitan areas than San Antonio, and like San Antonio, all are capable of supporting NBA franchises. Orlando is right there as well and also has an NBA team, but I don't like the idea of having more Florida baseball teams for two reasons.

 

1. A significant chunk of Florida population includes retirees relocating from other states, many of who bring their allegiances to other teams with them (and pay very cheap Spring Training ticket prices in March only to see those prices skyrocket in April). And

 

2. My fear is that any team in Orlando will have some horrible Disney-themed name, like the Orlando Guardians of the Galaxy or the Orlando Jedi Knights...

 

Orlando Sith

[notin]

Orlando Sith

 

Would their bats be double-barreled, reminiscent of Darth Maul's light saber?

[mvp 78]

Would their bats be double-barreled, reminiscent of Darth Maul's light saber?

 

I gotta think about this one.

[mvp 78]

How about like this?

 

[notin]

How about like this?

 

 

The sequel could be very bad. Where an aging Air Bud gets injured and the Angels have to put him down.

 

Sort of like what they want to do with Pujols...

[mvp 78]

The sequel could be very bad. Where an aging Air Bud gets injured and the Angels have to put him down.

 

Sort of like what they want to do with Pujols...

 

Yeah. If you saw Air Bud 2

 

SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ALL OF THE AIR BUD MOVIES DON'T READ ANY FURTHER!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

he took that huge hit in the last football game. His hips will probably be toast before long. Maybe a DH only profile?

[Kimmi]

The old how to fix baseball idea. Well, I might as well throw my hat into the ring....

 

1. DH for all leagues. No point in watching pitchers get hurt on the bases or swinging the bat. I like watching pitchers hit as much as I like seeing the Little League All Star pitcher face the runt kid at the end of the bench. It's embarrassing for the pitcher hitting and is unnecessary

 

2. With 2 wild cards and a play in game, I find the need for 3 divisions to be utterly useless. I would add two teams to make 32 total with 16 in the AL and 16 in the NL. We would then have 2 8 team divisions within each league. The winner of each division gets a bye in the playoffs. The other 4 teams will square off 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5. It would be a best of 3 series played in the higher seed's ballpark on 3 consecutive days. The ALDS will start the following day. With the likely need for a one day buffer after the season and before the wild card games, that will leave a maximum of 4 days off for division winners, allowing them to fight for the division to the last day using their ace in the process and getting them back for game 1 of the ALDS. Wild card teams who advance will have presumably burned at least their top 2 starters and if it went to 3 games, their top 3. This would convey a huge advantage to the division winning teams. The regular season would feature equal games vs all same league teams and a smaller but equal amount of games vs the interleague teams. All teams within the same league will play all teams an equal amount of times, which would ensure that the teams fighting for the playoffs don't have an advantage or disadvantage based on scheduling.

 

3. Each spot in the order gets a single strike zone challenge per game. This would be reviewed by electronic means with an immediate result. The batter must make the request within 3 seconds of the pitch. Conversely, a team gets 9 strike or ball challenges per game on the pitching side with the catcher making that request within 3 seconds. This preserves the ability of the umpires to manage nearly all of the game with the batter and pitcher having some say on egregious calls

 

4. 28 man rosters with 25 active is a brilliant idea. Stash the last 3 starters on the inactive before each game and actually have 24 of your 25 guys able to enter the game. This will flesh out some benches and allow for better pinch hitting opportunities later in the game. As it is, every pen is deep and a lot of teams are carrying 13 pitchers. This allows for only 3 bench guys limiting the effectiveness of the pinch hitters to preserve depth

 

5. You cannot limit the amount of pitching changes per inning, but you can require a pitcher to face 3 batters. This will effectively limit the LOOGY's and force a manager to play more than just matchups. Also, any pitcher removed for "injury" before their 3rd batter gets immediately placed on the DL.

 

6. Move teams from abysmal fan bases. We have some great cities in this country and in Canada. Why do we continue to watch games in Oakland and TB? Move Oakland to SJ (I like that idea). Move TB to the Carolinas or to New Orleans. Expand in Las Vegas and in Boston (yes, an NL Boston team or maybe outskirts of Boston like Foxboro). Montreal had a terrible fan base. No need to revisit that mistake.

 

Some good and interesting ideas Jacko, but I would be opposed to #3 and #5.

[Kimmi]

Me? I’d rather watch a “boring” baseball game than an “exciting” football game any day. But a Pitch Clock would not ruin the game. And limiting the Shifts wouldn’t ruin it either. There is widespread concern throughout the league about MLB keeping up with the NBA, the NFL and other sports. The game of baseball has always been strong enough to survive minor tweaks. That’s what they’d be in my opinion. What’s so beautiful about the shift anyway? The shift hampers the action that was always there to begin with. It would be organically creating more action by getting rid of it (in most capacities).

 

I get frustrated when a pitcher takes forever in between pitches, but I like that human element aspect of that part of the game. I like the cat and mouse that sometimes goes on between pitcher and batter, and I love to see how different pitchers respond to being in jam. Some pitchers just seem to be so deeply inside their own heads.

 

I am actually in favor of limiting the shift, as contradictory as that may sound. I think baseball was designed to be played with 2 infielders on each side of 2nd base.

[Kimmi]

The MLB rulebook already has rule 8.04 specifying how long a pitcher can take between pitches. A pitch clock would only enforce existing (and clearly ignored) rules.

 

http://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/54615/pitch-clock-hey-theres-already-a-rule

 

Isn't there (or wasn't there) also a rule about the batter not stepping out of batter's box in between every pitch to adjust his gloves or whatever?

 

I actually think it helps the pitcher a great deal to pitch quickly and not overthink what he's doing, but I don't want to see that forced upon a pitcher by MLB. OTOH, I have often said that the Red Sox coaches should tell some pitchers (Buchholz comes to mind) that they are not allowed to shake off the catcher or that they are not allowed to throw to first base unless called for from the dugout.

[notin]

The old how to fix baseball idea. Well, I might as well throw my hat into the ring....

 

1. DH for all leagues. No point in watching pitchers get hurt on the bases or swinging the bat. I like watching pitchers hit as much as I like seeing the Little League All Star pitcher face the runt kid at the end of the bench. It's embarrassing for the pitcher hitting and is unnecessary

 

2. With 2 wild cards and a play in game, I find the need for 3 divisions to be utterly useless. I would add two teams to make 32 total with 16 in the AL and 16 in the NL. We would then have 2 8 team divisions within each league. The winner of each division gets a bye in the playoffs. The other 4 teams will square off 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5. It would be a best of 3 series played in the higher seed's ballpark on 3 consecutive days. The ALDS will start the following day. With the likely need for a one day buffer after the season and before the wild card games, that will leave a maximum of 4 days off for division winners, allowing them to fight for the division to the last day using their ace in the process and getting them back for game 1 of the ALDS. Wild card teams who advance will have presumably burned at least their top 2 starters and if it went to 3 games, their top 3. This would convey a huge advantage to the division winning teams. The regular season would feature equal games vs all same league teams and a smaller but equal amount of games vs the interleague teams. All teams within the same league will play all teams an equal amount of times, which would ensure that the teams fighting for the playoffs don't have an advantage or disadvantage based on scheduling.

 

3. Each spot in the order gets a single strike zone challenge per game. This would be reviewed by electronic means with an immediate result. The batter must make the request within 3 seconds of the pitch. Conversely, a team gets 9 strike or ball challenges per game on the pitching side with the catcher making that request within 3 seconds. This preserves the ability of the umpires to manage nearly all of the game with the batter and pitcher having some say on egregious calls

 

4. 28 man rosters with 25 active is a brilliant idea. Stash the last 3 starters on the inactive before each game and actually have 24 of your 25 guys able to enter the game. This will flesh out some benches and allow for better pinch hitting opportunities later in the game. As it is, every pen is deep and a lot of teams are carrying 13 pitchers. This allows for only 3 bench guys limiting the effectiveness of the pinch hitters to preserve depth

 

5. You cannot limit the amount of pitching changes per inning, but you can require a pitcher to face 3 batters. This will effectively limit the LOOGY's and force a manager to play more than just matchups. Also, any pitcher removed for "injury" before their 3rd batter gets immediately placed on the DL.

 

6. Move teams from abysmal fan bases. We have some great cities in this country and in Canada. Why do we continue to watch games in Oakland and TB? Move Oakland to SJ (I like that idea). Move TB to the Carolinas or to New Orleans. Expand in Las Vegas and in Boston (yes, an NL Boston team or maybe outskirts of Boston like Foxboro). Montreal had a terrible fan base. No need to revisit that mistake.

 

1. DH everywhere. Agreed.

 

2. No more expansion. If anything, go back to pre-division baseball and just use the best teams rather than giving a team an advantage by being in a division of low-market, constantly-tanking teams.

 

3. More challenges will lengthen games. And there always becomes the question of baserunner placement. For example, what if a catcher doesn’t throw at a runner moving on a 3-2 pitch because it’s called a ball. If that call gets reversed, what do you do with the baserunner? Send him back? He is legally on second, but the catcher also made the right play by not making an unnecessary throw and risking an error.

 

4. I’m ok with this, especially if they bring back double headers. Every team used to play two on Sundays. Maybe every team need not do this every Sunday, but there could be a lot more scheduled, which would go a long way to keeping the World Series out of November.

 

5. Agree except for the DL part and the 3 batter thing. While I hate the LOOGY strategy, it shouldn’t be negated by rules, but rather by strategic decisions. Also what do you do if a pitcher faces only two hitters and ends the inning? Does he have to come back and start the next inning or go on the DL?

 

6. Some teams do need to move, but it won’t be easy with existing lease agreements. And Boston, while a passionate fan base, might not be as big so as to support two teams. There are several untapped markets that make more sense...

Edited August 25, 2018 by notin

[sk7326]

1. DH everywhere. Agreed.

 

2. No more expansion. If anything, go back to pre-division baseball and just use the best teams rather than giving a team an advantage by being in a division of low-market, constantly-tanking teams.

 

3. More challenges will lengthen games. And there always becomes the question of baserunner placement. For example, what if a catcher doesn’t throw at a runner moving on a 3-2 pitch because it’s called a ball. If that call gets reversed, what do you do with the baserunner? Send him back? He is legally on second, but the catcher also made the right play by not making an unnecessary throw and risking an error.

 

4. I’m ok with this, especially if they bring back double headers. Every team used to play two on Sundays. Maybe every team need not do this every Sunday, but there could be a lot more scheduled, which would go a long way to keeping the World Series out of November.

 

5. Agree except for the DL part and the 3 batter thing. While I hate the LOOGY strategy, it shouldn’t be negated by rules, but rather by strategic decisions. Also what do you do if a pitcher faces only two hitters and ends the inning? Does he have to come back and start the next inning or go on the DL?

 

6. Some teams do need to move, but it won’t be easy with existing lease agreements. And Boston, while a passionate fan base, might not be as big so as to support two teams. There are several untapped markets that make more sense...

 

The population is larger - the baseball playing population is larger. Growing the game is a good thing - that doesn't really get accomplished via contraction or whatever. You can fix the inequity you mention by just having a more balanced schedule. (I'd do 12 teams in division, 9 games cross division and 6 interleague).

[notin]

The population is larger - the baseball playing population is larger. Growing the game is a good thing - that doesn't really get accomplished via contraction or whatever. You can fix the inequity you mention by just having a more balanced schedule. (I'd do 12 teams in division, 9 games cross division and 6 interleague).

 

I don’t recommend contracting. But getting the Rays out of Tampa and to a city of potential Rays’ fans as opposed to retired Yankee fans might help that perennially cash-strapped organization...

[sk7326]

I don’t recommend contracting. But getting the Rays out of Tampa and to a city of potential Rays’ fans as opposed to retired Yankee fans might help that perennially cash-strapped organization...

 

I am very much for the Rays and A's moving. The A's have wanted to go to San Jose for years while the territorial monopoly issues have held it back.

 

Personally 32 teams makes a lot of logistical things much easier ...

[notin]

I am very much for the Rays and A's moving. The A's have wanted to go to San Jose for years while the territorial monopoly issues have held it back.

 

Personally 32 teams makes a lot of logistical things much easier ...

 

Not necessarily.

 

Don’t forget the last 3 expansions in baseball were not a result of growing popularity; they were needed to pay off collusion lawsuits the owners lost.

 

I’d rather MLB just got rid of this “division” thing and took the best 4 teams from each league, or best 5 teams if they want to keep the wild card (which the networks probably do).

[Bellhorn04]

One thing is for sure, this season has raised some serious concerns about teams not really trying that hard to win games.

 

For example the Yankees are currently in a stretch of 13 games vs the Marlins, Orioles, White Sox and Tigers before going to play against an actual baseball team in Oakland.

 

It's like the whole season hinges on how many cream puff games you have left vs. real games...

[Emp9]

Not necessarily.

 

Don’t forget the last 3 expansions in baseball were not a result of growing popularity; they were needed to pay off collusion lawsuits the owners lost.

 

I’d rather MLB just got rid of this “division” thing and took the best 4 teams from each league, or best 5 teams if they want to keep the wild card (which the networks probably do).

 

What would that entail? All teams play other teams in their league the same number of games? For example, the Sox wouldn’t play the Yanks, Rays Jays, Balt 18-19 times a season? It would be more evenly divided amongst the league?

[S5Dewey]

What would that entail? All teams play other teams in their league the same number of games? For example, the Sox wouldn’t play the Yanks, Rays Jays, Balt 18-19 times a season? It would be more evenly divided amongst the league?

 

I don't horribly dislike the current playoff format but IMO having 3 divisions in each league is ridiculous. Split 'em into two divisions, East & West. Play each team in your own division the same number of times & throw in two or three teams in the other division - whatever it takes to make the numbers work.

 

When the playoffs come take the top 2 in each division and let them play off. 1 vs. 2 and the winners play for the DC. No wild card. The WC makes for 5 (or 6) teams, making playoff scheduling cumbersome. But if you insist on the WC have the #2's play the 3's in a one-game showdown.

 

Too simplistic?

[Bellhorn04]

I like 4 divisions total. Of course, with 30 teams total they need to either add 2 or subtract 2 to make 4 even divisions.

[oldtimer]

I like 4 divisions total. Of course, with 30 teams total they need to either add 2 or subtract 2 to make 4 even divisions.

 

Where would you put those franchises? Montreal again? New Orleans, Raleigh?

 

Not a lot of big cities in the west that don't already have teams>

[moonslav59]

North carolina probably could support a ML team, but the problem is where to put the team where a few cities would go to the games. I'm not sure just one NC city would be enough.

 

I wonder about Indianapoli or Buffalo. Maybe San Antonio, San Jose or try Montreal again.

[sk7326]

Not necessarily.

 

Don’t forget the last 3 expansions in baseball were not a result of growing popularity; they were needed to pay off collusion lawsuits the owners lost.

 

I’d rather MLB just got rid of this “division” thing and took the best 4 teams from each league, or best 5 teams if they want to keep the wild card (which the networks probably do).

 

It motivated doing it - but without willing cities and large expansion fees it'd have not happened.

 

32 teams, 4 divisions - 12 games in the division, 9 out of the division, 6 interleague games. It's a more balanced schedule - 135 of the teams 162 games are identical in each league.

 

Division winners make it, 4 wild cards otherwise. Two wild card games. Elimination games are awesome, and we should have more of them.

[sk7326]

North carolina probably could support a ML team, but the problem is where to put the team where a few cities would go to the games. I'm not sure just one NC city would be enough.

 

I wonder about Indianapoli or Buffalo. Maybe San Antonio, San Jose or try Montreal again.

 

Well naturally it would be Charlotte or somewhere in the Triangle. I think San Antonio or Austin (who could draw fans from both places being only an hour and half apart) is a natural. San Jose has wanted the A's (and vice versa) for years but the anti trust exemption has blocked it.

[moonslav59]

Well naturally it would be Charlotte or somewhere in the Triangle. I think San Antonio or Austin (who could draw fans from both places being only an hour and half apart) is a natural. San Jose has wanted the A's (and vice versa) for years but the anti trust exemption has blocked it.

 

NC must have about 15 minor league teams. They love baseball.

 

A park near 40/540 could draw enough from Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill might work.

 

I'm not sure Charlotte could draw enough by itself, and if you place the stadium on the way to Greensboro or the triangle, say Salisbury or Ashboro, you may not get enough people from Charlotte to make the trip.

 

It's about 45 mins to Salsibury and 90 minutes to Ashboro... way too far. It;s about 90 minutes from Raleigh to Ashboro, making it a nice central location but too far from anywhere, except maybe Greensboro & Winston-Salem.

 

Salisbury is about 45 minutes from Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Greensboro. That might be too far for both.

 

Charlotte may be the best single location, but it's too far from other NC cities to get a sizable draw from elsewhere. I know many Sox fans travel from Maine, NH, VT and CT, so maybe it might work. Maybe place the park as far North East from Charlotte as possible so as to not lose many city fans.