Bellhorn04

I think sk7326 has a point. And it's not so much about age discrimination as it is about experience discrimination.

In the pro sports and entertainment businesses, awards ARE marketing tools. We're not talking about the Nobel Prize.

Kinsler also had a respectable ALDS against the Yanks with the bat, including a key RBI in Game 4.

Is the great game of baseball in trouble? Certainly the game is still extremely popular and the men who own major league franchises or otherwise have their fingers in the financial pie are still making tremendous piles of money, as are the players. But there are some indicators that its popularity is on the decline-downturns in attendance and most recently the TV ratings for the game’s ultimate showcase, the World Series. There have also been some rumblings and grumblings in various quarters, including right here on this forum, about the quality of the game itself as sporting competition and as entertainment. Let’s enumerate what seem to be the most widespread and most recent complaints. 1) The games are too long, because of all the time between pitches, the mound visits, the pitching changes, and now the replay reviews. 2) The game has become dominated by stat geeks and computer analysts. They decide who the best players are, who the best players for the money are, and how to win more games. 3) All the fielding shifts are annoying and frustrating to watch. 4) Too much emphasis on the long ball. Too many hitters taking an all or nothing approach. Increase that launch angle so you can launch the ball over that damn shift and into the seats. 5) Thanks in large part to 4), there is not enough emphasis on the finer points of the game. 6) Bullpen games are now a thing, and the pitching ‘opener’ is a thing. The idea of a starter trying to throw a complete game now is a joke. You don’t really expect any of your pitchers to attempt to make it through the order three times, do you? 7) Two leagues with different rules, with opposing views on whether the pitcher trying to hit and run is a good idea. This creates a mess when the two leagues play against each other. 8) Umpires continue to call balls strikes and strikes balls at an unacceptable rate. Why not try robot umps? So what should be done to improve the game? What CAN be done? Will the game start to show the impact of declining popularity on the bottom line and will that motivate the powers to do something about it?

Kershaw stays with Dodgers.

And the other Alex Gonzalez...

Hal has really had his fill of the play-in games. 3 of them in 4 years! :D Also, I didn't realize this until I looked it up...the Yanks haven't won the division since 2012! :cool:

The Astros were the best team we played.

Henry is the most underrated component of the Red Sox amazing run of success in the 21st century.

Can't be helped. And fortunately we've got an owner who is willing to incur the tax.

I don't care about them. Give me Eovaldi, Pearce and Buchholz and I'm good.

Oh I get that. When it came to the question about free agents he could have said something like 'We're working hard on all those matters' or something truly vague. What he said suggested that there would be more than one Qualifying Offer, which anyone following the team knows makes no sense. I just find it mildly amusing.

I like Robertson too. The question of course is how much he's looking for.

!!!

You don't think Cora was aggressive enough in when he pinch hit for them? He certainly was in the postseason, I thought. In the regular season he probably placed less emphasis on it.

The 07 team also went 11-3. The 13 team was 11-5. Combined totals 44-14. A winning % of .759. Not bad.

Dave is a great GM but he makes some confusing statements when the season is over.

Yep. Hal still can't figure out why those babies don't sell out every game at $2,500 a pop. They're a hilarious sight on TV, aren't they?

Yeah, poor little Hal Steinbrenner just doesn't have the money any more.

Price has already opted in.

Supremely well played AC.

Woo hoo! The party ain't over.

I wuz only trying to have some fun.

That's a very bold call on Price.

That's what ya said last year Dave!