2021 Spring Training Discussion

[notin]

If Tampa relocated, it'd probably be to Nashville or some other new market rather than an existing market. I think Tampa is more likely to build a new stadium than move. The governor here loves his sports and will find a way to weasel tax payers into paying for a new stadium.

 

Nashville would be a true small market, as it ranks 36th among USA metropolitan areas. On it's own, only Milwaukee represents a smaller market with an MLB franchise. Charlotte, Portland, San Antonio and Sacramento are all larger markets, barring drastic changes fro the 2010 census, which is possible. I need more current data. And of course the Memphis metro area should be considered, which does make Nashville larger than Charlotte. (But Memphis is like 3 hours away, so it is not a given.)

 

Now a free stadium would be nice, although I hate when cities do that (and hate it more when teams hold them hostage for one).

 

Despite the obvious competition from the Yankees and Mets, they might have their best chance to carve out a fanbase in Brooklyn...

Edited February 3, 2021 by notin

[notin]

Also Brooklyn baseball is obviously most famous for the Dodgers, and that name is clearly unavailable. But the team did have a long history of changing names, going by the following

 

Brooklyn Atlantics

Brooklyn Grays

Brooklyn Grooms

Brooklyn Bridegrooms

Brooklyn Superbas

Brooklyn Robins

 

 

And informally, they were once known as the Brooklyn Infants.

 

Lots of good names to choose from each with historical significance.. Of course, if they kept the name Rays, they could make an easy tie-in with a slew of unconnected pizza parlors in NYC. Maybe they could keep the name the Brooklyn Rays. Or be more obvious and use the Brooklyn Original Rays or the Brooklyn Famous Rays or the Brooklyn Famous Original Rays or ....

Edited February 3, 2021 by notin

[moonslav59]

It would be dumb for the owners to lock out the players this year. Last year, the season was shortened because many cities were outlawing gatherings of 10+ people. That hasn't been the case since MLB started up last July. If it wasn't for local government, the season may have gone ahead. Now, there are no such restrictions. NHL and NBA are both doing indoors games. There's no reason for the MLB (a sport played outside and is fairly socially distant) to play fewer games this year.

 

Good points.

 

The owners have already shrunk the minor leagues, too.

[moonslav59]

If Tampa relocated, it'd probably be to Nashville or some other new market rather than an existing market. I think Tampa is more likely to build a new stadium than move. The governor here loves his sports and will find a way to weasel tax payers into paying for a new stadium.

 

I've always felt North Carolina could sustain a MLB team despite their population being rather spread out.

 

They have a ton of minor league teams that get great local support.

[mvp 78]

I've always felt North Carolina could sustain a MLB team despite their population being rather spread out.

 

They have a ton of minor league teams that get great local support.

 

Portland and Charlotte have similar market size. Both have been mentioned.

[mvp 78]

Good points.

 

The owners have already shrunk the minor leagues, too.

 

Slowly killing baseball.

[a700hitter]

Also Brooklyn baseball is obviously most famous for the Dodgers, and that name is clearly unavailable. But the team did have a long history of changing names, going by the following

 

Brooklyn Atlantics

Brooklyn Grays

Brooklyn Grooms

Brooklyn Bridegrooms

Brooklyn Superbas

Brooklyn Robins

 

 

And informally, they were once known as the Brooklyn Infants.

 

Lots of good names to choose from each with historical significance.. Of course, if they kept the name Rays, they could make an easy tie-in with a slew of unconnected pizza parlors in NYC. Maybe they could keep the name the Brooklyn Rays. Or be more obvious and use the Brooklyn Original Rays or the Brooklyn Famous Rays or the Brooklyn Famous Original Rays or ....

I think when they were called the “Robins” they were named after the manager.

[notin]

I think when they were called the “Robins” they were named after the manager.

 

Correct.

 

They used the nickname due to manager Wilbert Robinson.

 

Now if Tampa relocated to Brooklyn, they could adopt the old "Grays" moniker and that only requires adding one letter to their home jerseys...

[mvp 78]

Correct.

 

They used the nickname due to manager Wilbert Robinson.

 

Now if Tampa relocated to Brooklyn, they could adopt the old "Grays" moniker and that only requires adding one letter to their home jerseys...

 

I also liked to call the 92-94 Sox the Hobsons.

[harmony]

If Tampa relocated, it'd probably be to Nashville or some other new market rather than an existing market. I think Tampa is more likely to build a new stadium than move. The governor here loves his sports and will find a way to weasel tax payers into paying for a new stadium.

FWIW the taxpayers of Portland and Oregon are unlikely to subsidize a stadium for a profitable private enterprise.

 

This Portland resident is fine with that.

[moonslav59]

I also liked to call the 92-94 Sox the Hobsons.

 

Better than "The Butches."

[Bellhorn04]

Better than "The Butches."

 

Butchers might work though.

[notin]

FWIW the taxpayers of Portland and Oregon are unlikely to subsidize a stadium for a profitable private enterprise.

 

This Portland resident is fine with that.

 

... unless it gets paid for by the revenues of legalized marijuana...

[mvp 78]

... unless it gets paid for by the revenues of legalized marijuana...

 

*Black Sabbath riffs intensify*

[notin]

*Black Sabbath riffs intensify*

 

We're talking about Portland. Maybe Everclear would be a better choice...

[harmony]

... unless it gets paid for by the revenues of legalized marijuana...

Spiraling revenues from marijuana taxes go to far worthier causes.

[Thunder]

Nashville would be a true small market, as it ranks 36th among USA metropolitan areas. On it's own, only Milwaukee represents a smaller market with an MLB franchise. Charlotte, Portland, San Antonio and Sacramento are all larger markets, barring drastic changes fro the 2010 census, which is possible. I need more current data. And of course the Memphis metro area should be considered, which does make Nashville larger than Charlotte. (But Memphis is like 3 hours away, so it is not a given.)

 

Now a free stadium would be nice, although I hate when cities do that (and hate it more when teams hold them hostage for one).

 

Despite the obvious competition from the Yankees and Mets, they might have their best chance to carve out a fanbase in Brooklyn...

 

10 years from now, Nashville is going to be booming. It's the new Austin. My company is opening an office there this summer. I'm seriously thinking about moving there, especially if my best friend gets into grad school at Vandy.

 

Nashville will have more major sports teams very soon. They already have the Titans and Predators. If Memphis wasn't such a historical basketball city, the Grizzlies would probably move. Unfortunately, they are probably the only team that could move to Nashville, because there is no way the NBA would let there be 2 teams in Tennessee.

[mvp 78]

Spiraling revenues from marijuana taxes go to far worthier causes.

 

Like more weed

[Elktonnick]

The knuckleheads that run the player's union turned down the White House's advice to delay the start of the season by a month, according to Ken Rosenthal in the Athletic. Now if someone gets the virus and passes it on to their team mates and games get canceled or worse one of the older coaches gets really sick it is all on the union. Let's face facts baseball isn't basketball or hockey the logistics of spring training are far more complicated for an MLB team than any other pro sport. I think the union has made a real sucker's bet by gambling on not delaying ST until more were vaccinated.

[notin]

The knuckleheads that run the player's union turned down the White House's advice to delay the start of the season by a month, according to Ken Rosenthal in the Athletic. Now if someone gets the virus and passes it on to their team mates and games get canceled or worse one of the older coaches gets really sick it is all on the union. Let's face facts baseball isn't basketball or hockey the logistics of spring training are far more complicated for an MLB team than any other pro sport. I think the union has made a real sucker's bet by gambling on not delaying ST until more were vaccinated.

 

The one thing baseball does have going for it is by it's own nature, the game is very socially distanced. Only the catcher and batter are near each other. (Or runner and 1B if someone gets on.) All defensive players are far apart. And every time a ball is put in play, a new ball is brought in to replace it for the next hitter.

 

The NFL and NBA cannot compete with baseball for in-game protections from viruses...

[Bellhorn04]

The knuckleheads that run the player's union turned down the White House's advice to delay the start of the season by a month, according to Ken Rosenthal in the Athletic. Now if someone gets the virus and passes it on to their team mates and games get canceled or worse one of the older coaches gets really sick it is all on the union. Let's face facts baseball isn't basketball or hockey the logistics of spring training are far more complicated for an MLB team than any other pro sport. I think the union has made a real sucker's bet by gambling on not delaying ST until more were vaccinated.

 

Was a month really going to make a huge difference, though?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The knuckleheads that run the player's union turned down the White House's advice to delay the start of the season by a month, according to Ken Rosenthal in the Athletic. Now if someone gets the virus and passes it on to their team mates and games get canceled or worse one of the older coaches gets really sick it is all on the union. Let's face facts baseball isn't basketball or hockey the logistics of spring training are far more complicated for an MLB team than any other pro sport. I think the union has made a real sucker's bet by gambling on not delaying ST until more were vaccinated.

 

There was nothing prudent or sensible about their decision whatsoever, which is based entirely on partisan politics and the looming CBA battle. But it's not surprising, since the latest CDC data shows that ego-centric (my adjective) young adults are now the biggest spreaders of the virus in this country.

[Bellhorn04]

There was nothing prudent or sensible about their decision whatsoever, which is based entirely on partisan politics and the looming CBA battle. But it's not surprising, since the latest CDC data shows that ego-centric (my adjective) young adults are now the biggest spreaders of the virus in this country.

 

If they really want to keep everyone safe, have no season at all. One more month is a tiny adjustment.

[notin]

If they really want to keep everyone safe, have no season at all. One more month is a tiny adjustment.

 

Unless they use that month to vaccinate 10 million people...

[Elktonnick]

Nashville would be a true small market, as it ranks 36th among USA metropolitan areas. On it's own, only Milwaukee represents a smaller market with an MLB franchise. Charlotte, Portland, San Antonio and Sacramento are all larger markets, barring drastic changes fro the 2010 census, which is possible. I need more current data. And of course the Memphis metro area should be considered, which does make Nashville larger than Charlotte. (But Memphis is like 3 hours away, so it is not a given.)

 

Now a free stadium would be nice, although I hate when cities do that (and hate it more when teams hold them hostage for one).

 

Despite the obvious competition from the Yankees and Mets, they might have their best chance to carve out a fanbase in Brooklyn...

 

The one thing baseball does have going for it is by it's own nature, the game is very socially distanced. Only the catcher and batter are near each other. (Or runner and 1B if someone gets on.) All defensive players are far apart. And every time a ball is put in play, a new ball is brought in to replace it for the next hitter.

 

The NFL and NBA cannot compete with baseball for in-game protections from viruses...

The risk of spread is not from the in game experience but from clubhouse and training venues pre and post game interaction. Each ML team will have close to two hundred players coaches and ancillary individuals interacting with each other as they travel between training sites and game venues on a daily basis. Listen to all the former players and baseball analysts on MLB TV and radio virtually everyone thinks the player's association has made the wrong call.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Unless they use that month to vaccinate 10 million people...

 

In that Rosenthal interview there was talk of waiting for the new vaccine and that the MLB wanted to get players vaccinated first (though I don't know how feasible that is).

[Elktonnick]

Nashville would be a true small market, as it ranks 36th among USA metropolitan areas. On it's own, only Milwaukee represents a smaller market with an MLB franchise. Charlotte, Portland, San Antonio and Sacramento are all larger markets, barring drastic changes fro the 2010 census, which is possible. I need more current data. And of course the Memphis metro area should be considered, which does make Nashville larger than Charlotte. (But Memphis is like 3 hours away, so it is not a given.)

 

Now a free stadium would be nice, although I hate when cities do that (and hate it more when teams hold them hostage for one).

 

Despite the obvious competition from the Yankees and Mets, they might have their best chance to carve out a fanbase in Brooklyn...

 

Unless they use that month to vaccinate 10 million people...

The Biden administration's goal is to vaccinate 1.5 million a day. A month's delay would allow an additional 45 million to have been vaccinated. It is entirely conceivable that that number could be well greater pushing the total vaccinated to nearly 100million by the time a delayed ST would start. That would reduce the risk significantly.

[Bellhorn04]

Unless they use that month to vaccinate 10 million people...

 

People have been underestimating COVID-19 from the get-go. One more month of mitigation and we're good! Yeah right...

[Elktonnick]

Nashville would be a true small market, as it ranks 36th among USA metropolitan areas. On it's own, only Milwaukee represents a smaller market with an MLB franchise. Charlotte, Portland, San Antonio and Sacramento are all larger markets, barring drastic changes fro the 2010 census, which is possible. I need more current data. And of course the Memphis metro area should be considered, which does make Nashville larger than Charlotte. (But Memphis is like 3 hours away, so it is not a given.)

 

Now a free stadium would be nice, although I hate when cities do that (and hate it more when teams hold them hostage for one).

 

Despite the obvious competition from the Yankees and Mets, they might have their best chance to carve out a fanbase in Brooklyn...

 

Was a month really going to make a huge difference, though?

 

The White House seems to think so.

[Elktonnick]

Nashville would be a true small market, as it ranks 36th among USA metropolitan areas. On it's own, only Milwaukee represents a smaller market with an MLB franchise. Charlotte, Portland, San Antonio and Sacramento are all larger markets, barring drastic changes fro the 2010 census, which is possible. I need more current data. And of course the Memphis metro area should be considered, which does make Nashville larger than Charlotte. (But Memphis is like 3 hours away, so it is not a given.)

 

Now a free stadium would be nice, although I hate when cities do that (and hate it more when teams hold them hostage for one).

 

Despite the obvious competition from the Yankees and Mets, they might have their best chance to carve out a fanbase in Brooklyn...

 

People have been underestimating COVID-19 from the get-go. One more month of mitigation and we're good! Yeah right...

Vaccination is more than mere mitigation.