2020-2021 Offseason Thread

[notin]

Hopefully, Theo Epstein and Ken Griffey Junior will work on saving what's left, because young fans whose parents drag them to live games ain't watching much on the tube and staying up past their bedtimes (and we aren't, either). A lot of kids who play baseball and attend games grow up to become young adults who watch more of the other, shorter sports during waking hours and call in to those shows.

 

If MLB wants to make their game more exciting, the universal DH is a no-brainer. There is absolutely nothing less exciting in baseball than watching a pitcher try to hit. In fact, it might be the least exciting routine activity in any sport. In other sports, players doing something outside of their normal activity can be exciting, like watching a kicker or punter attempt a pass. Or better yet, a tackle...

 

the MLBPA wants it. The owners should want it. Not sure what the obstacle is here, other than one side or the other refusing to accept it as part of some negotiation ploy...

[moonslav59]

If MLB wants to make their game more exciting, the universal DH is a no-brainer. There is absolutely nothing less exciting in baseball than watching a pitcher try to hit. In fact, it might be the least exciting routine activity in any sport. In other sports, players doing something outside of their normal activity can be exciting, like watching a kicker or punter attempt a pass. Or better yet, a tackle...

 

the MLBPA wants it. The owners should want it. Not sure what the obstacle is here, other than one side or the other refusing to accept it as part of some negotiation ploy...

 

It seems like both sides want something in return for giving the universal DH a go, when both side want or should want it.

[mvp 78]

Hopefully, Theo Epstein and Ken Griffey Junior will work on saving what's left, because young fans whose parents drag them to live games ain't watching much on the tube and staying up past their bedtimes (and we aren't, either). A lot of kids who play baseball and attend games grow up to become young adults who watch more of the other, shorter sports during waking hours and call in to those shows.

 

My son is playing his 5th year of little league this year. He has zero interest in actually watching an MLB game.

 

Great job MLB.

 

I had him ask his teammates last year who their favorite player was and who the best player in MLB was (just so that he could get to know his teammates better). Most of them didn't have a favorite player and some of them couldn't even guess as to who could be the best player (most often the answer was either Trout or Betts).

[mvp 78]

If MLB wants to make their game more exciting, the universal DH is a no-brainer. There is absolutely nothing less exciting in baseball than watching a pitcher try to hit. In fact, it might be the least exciting routine activity in any sport. In other sports, players doing something outside of their normal activity can be exciting, like watching a kicker or punter attempt a pass. Or better yet, a tackle...

 

the MLBPA wants it. The owners should want it. Not sure what the obstacle is here, other than one side or the other refusing to accept it as part of some negotiation ploy...

 

The problem is that ownership brought it up as a negotiating ploy rather than just saying "hey, we're keeping the DH this year."

 

Ownership wanted to trade universal DH for expanded playoffs (aka more unpaid games for the players).

[mvp 78]

We've talked about this elsewhere, but I don't think installing universal DH fixes anything. It can combat part of the problem, but it needs to go much further.

 

1. Market MLB stars better

2. Pitch clock to speed games up

3. Get rid of replay

4. Robot umps

5. Universal DH

6. Revamp current tv production (product is stuffy and old)

7. More urban youth baseball programs

[moonslav59]

we've talked about this elsewhere, but i don't think installing universal dh fixes anything. It can combat part of the problem, but it needs to go much further.

 

1. Market mlb stars better

2. Pitch clock to speed games up

3. Get rid of replay

4. Robot umps

5. Universal dh

6. Revamp current tv production (product is stuffy and old)

7. More urban youth baseball programs

 

b_i_n_g_o!

[moonslav59]

The problem is that ownership brought it up as a negotiating ploy rather than just saying "hey, we're keeping the DH this year."

 

Ownership wanted to trade universal DH for expanded playoffs (aka more unpaid games for the players).

 

Don't the players get a share of each playoff round they play in?

 

Maybe not enough, but something, right?

[mvp 78]

Don't the players get a share of each playoff round they play in?

 

Maybe not enough, but something, right?

 

They wanted to expand it without increasing the pooled money.

 

Any team that has a payroll above $50M or so, players would make less per game in the playoffs than the regular season. The only way it gets close to a normal payroll is if your team manages to win the World Series.

[mvp 78]

Don't the players get a share of each playoff round they play in?

 

Maybe not enough, but something, right?

 

But the "hey, it's something right" logic could never fly when you have an agreed upon CBA.

[moonslav59]

But the "hey, it's something right" logic could never fly when you have an agreed upon CBA.

 

Okay, I'm no expert on these CBA issues. I did not realize the playoff pool money stays the same while the games increase.

 

That would be a big no from a union man like me.

 

If they shorten the season (and pay) while doing that with the playoffs, I can understand why the union didn't even bother with a counter offer. Like adding the DH makes up for that.

 

The DH is good for the game and owners, too.

 

I get the feeling the next negotiations will be a big pain.

[mvp 78]

Okay, I'm no expert on these CBA issues. I did not realize the playoff pool money stays the same while the games increase.

 

That would be a big no from a union man like me.

 

If they shorten the season (and pay) while doing that with the playoffs, I can understand why the union didn't even bother with a counter offer. Like adding the DH makes up for that.

 

The DH is good for the game and owners, too.

 

I get the feeling the next negotiations will be a big pain.

 

You get more money as the playoffs go one, but it's still not enough to cover the normal payroll costs. Someone is getting shortchanged somewhere.

[a700hitter]

We've talked about this elsewhere, but I don't think installing universal DH fixes anything. It can combat part of the problem, but it needs to go much further.

 

1. Market MLB stars better

2. Pitch clock to speed games up

3. Get rid of replay

4. Robot umps

5. Universal DH

6. Revamp current tv production (product is stuffy and old)

7. More urban youth baseball programs

Limit access to electronics and give the kid a pensy pinky or spaldeen and teach them some games that can be played in a driveway or alley. Pitch to your kids. Kids love to hit the ball long before they understand the game.

[moonslav59]

You get more money as the playoffs go one, but it's still not enough to cover the normal payroll costs. Someone is getting shortchanged somewhere.

 

You'd think with more big games on TV, there's be more money for the pool.

[a700hitter]

The Giants have designated outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe for assignment, tweets Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Sale trade is shaping up as Sale straight up for Moncada, unless injury prone cheater Koepech can make something of himself.

[moonslav59]

The Sale trade is shaping up as Sale straight up for Moncada, unless injury prone cheater Koepech can make something of himself.

 

Kopech does still have 5 years of team control, so I'm not sure writing him off is a good idea, just yet. He is 24 and reached the ML level in 2020.

 

[a700hitter]

Kopech does still have 5 years of team control, so I'm not sure writing him off is a good idea, just yet. He is 24 and reached the ML level in 2020.

 

Not writing him off yet, but he has hit some major bumps on his road.

[moonslav59]

Not writing him off yet, but he has hit some major bumps on his road.

 

Indeed, but why choose the year he's expected to be on the ML roster to say the trade is basically Sale for Moncada?

 

He did have a pretty decent minor league history (3.05 ERA and 1.21 WHIP)

Edited February 4, 2021 by moonslav59

[a700hitter]

Indeed, but why choose the year he's expected to be on the ML roster to say the trade is basically Sale for Moncada?

shaping up to be. That’s what I said. Let’s see if Koepech makes the team and contributes or hits another bump.

[Kimmi]

That’s a no from me, dog.

 

That's a hard no from me. Two year deal, max.

[Kimmi]

If that's the case, it's pretty close to a punt.

 

:eek:

[Kimmi]

If this is all we're doing, I might have to jump in with the crowd saying things like "How lovely-trading Mookie freed up room for Garrett Richards, Adam Ottavino and Kike Hernandez!"

 

You're breaking my heart Bell.

[Kimmi]

Threat Alert Level: 7

 

Panic Level = .5

[Bellhorn04]

You're breaking my heart Bell.

 

Sorry, Kimmi. But please, don't take me too seriously. It's just a way to vent some frustration. If we make another decent signing or too, I'll feel better.

[moonslav59]

You're breaking my heart Bell.

 

The truth hurts, sometimes.

[Kimmi]

Sorry, Kimmi. But please, don't take me too seriously. It's just a way to vent some frustration. If we make another decent signing or too, I'll feel better.

 

Bloom is not finished.

[Kimmi]

The truth hurts, sometimes.

 

No truth. Only doom and gloom.

[moonslav59]

No truth. Only doom and gloom.

 

Did we not sign Richards, Hernandez & Ottavino (okay add Renfroe, too) with the budget space left open by the loss of the Betts contract?

 

The reality is doom & gloom.

 

This is the cliff you and many of us knew was coming.

 

Why sugar coat it now?

 

That being said, I do think "the cliff" is not as bad as I thought it would be. I see us with an outside chance at making the playoffs, especially if we add a few more low cost pieces, but are the players we just added what you had in mind as what we'd be replacing Betts with?

 

I expected better, but I aslo expected us going over the tax line, this year. I can understand pushing it back a year, but I wasn't expecting this, when we traded Betts.

[Bellhorn04]

Surely to God someone is going to sign Porcello. MLBTR predicted he'd only get 1 year and $5 million. I don't get it. He's still durable and the advanced stats still like him.

[Bellhorn04]

I expected better, but I aslo expected us going over the tax line, this year. I can understand pushing it back a year, but I wasn't expecting this, when we traded Betts.

 

For me it only reinforces that trading Mookie was a long-term decision. They weren't just thinking about 2021 and luxury tax. They were resigned to the fact they weren't going to pay him as much as what he wanted and he would be a free agent, so they had to trade him. And they think the flexibility part will last until 2032, so even if they semi-punt this year, they could be more aggressive in a year or two.

[moonslav59]

For me it only reinforces that trading Mookie was a long-term decision. They weren't just thinking about 2021 and luxury tax. They were resigned to the fact they weren't going to pay him as much as what he wanted and he would be a free agent, so they had to trade him. And they think the flexibility part will last until 2032, so even if they semi-punt this year, they could be more aggressive in a year or two.

 

I understand the thinking. There is a lot of merit to the idea of spreading out the risk.

 

I just can't get over a top spending team like the Sox not being able to afford a once in a lifetime player like Mookie.