The boys of summer! (Baseball Thread)

[BleedingGold]

I remember what the ARod deal did to Texas. I anticipate this will be an albatross preventing LA from reaching the World Series for several years.

And who cares what the Cubs do or don’t, they will still suck.

 

[Blazers46]

Great deal for Ohtani.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I remember what the ARod deal did to Texas. I anticipate this will be an albatross preventing LA from reaching the World Series for several years.

And who cares what the Cubs do or don’t, they will still suck.

I tend to agree. I remember when the Dodgers signed LA natives Darryl Strawberry & Eric Davis in what should’ve been the prime of their careers. Cocaine & injuries made it a disaster.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Holy shit that’s a major haul.

 

[DomerInHappyValley]

I remember what the ARod deal did to Texas. I anticipate this will be an albatross preventing LA from reaching the World Series for several years.

And who cares what the Cubs do or don’t, they will still suck.

Word is that the majority of the deal is deferred.

They won't feel the pain from this for years yet.

 

[NDPhilly]

Dodgers is such a boring decision

 

[IRISHDODGER]

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I tend to agree. I remember when the Dodgers signed LA natives Darryl Strawberry & Eric Davis in what should’ve been the prime of their careers. Cocaine & injuries made it a disaster.

Ohtani is the truest of professionals. No extracurricular concerns. My son is a huge fan so we've been following his career. Can't wait to see him win a WS in LA.

Also can't wait to see that batting order. I'd hate to be a pitcher facing that lineup. The only thing I haven't been able to find is how Angels and Dodgers stadium compares? Usually someone has done an analysis and made projection numbers for a player moving from one stadium to the other, often using exit velocities, etc.

Soto will have some nice bats surrounding him in NY but he had some really nice bats in SD. Ohtani has definitely upgraded in terms of surrounding himself with bats that should bolster his numbers (and vice-versa). I'm not a Dodgers fan but we'll be hardcore rooting for them now that they have Shohei.

Plenty of people have talked about how his contract is dumb/bad investment. But I've read a number of other people talk about this being an investment in winning over the Japanese market, increasing merch sales, etc. (along with improving their chances for a WS) They've invested in the most unique talent we've ever seen in baseball. In 30 years, nobody will be talking about Aaron Judge or Freddie Freeman and Trout will only be discussed as a consistently good hitter. Ohtani will be etched on the Mt. Rushmore and may be the harbinger of things to come.

 

[BleedingGold]

I think he’s a unique star and no doubt will be deserving of his quick appointment to baseball’s hall of fame assuming he can avoid lingering injuries.

I’m not sold on the notion this brings LA titles and in the end, doesn’t actually negatively impact their ability to do just that. How often in baseball is it the team you don’t expect or a team signed for short term success the one that holds the trophy in the end.

Then again I’m also the guy that still doesn’t buy you can plug statistics together and guarantee on field performance. You might be able to reduce your margin for an undesirable outcome, but that isn’t necessarily the case. Some much about life is qualitative.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Ohtani is the truest of professionals. No extracurricular concerns. My son is a huge fan so we've been following his career. Can't wait to see him win a WS in LA.

Also can't wait to see that batting order. I'd hate to be a pitcher facing that lineup. The only thing I haven't been able to find is how Angels and Dodgers stadium compares? Usually someone has done an analysis and made projection numbers for a player moving from one stadium to the other, often using exit velocities, etc.

Soto will have some nice bats surrounding him in NY but he had some really nice bats in SD. Ohtani has definitely upgraded in terms of surrounding himself with bats that should bolster his numbers (and vice-versa). I'm not a Dodgers fan but we'll be hardcore rooting for them now that they have Shohei.

Plenty of people have talked about how his contract is dumb/bad investment. But I've read a number of other people talk about this being an investment in winning over the Japanese market, increasing merch sales, etc. (along with improving their chances for a WS) They've invested in the most unique talent we've ever seen in baseball. In 30 years, nobody will be talking about Aaron Judge or Freddie Freeman and Trout will only be discussed as a consistently good hitter. Ohtani will be etched on the Mt. Rushmore and may be the harbinger of things to come.

You’re correct about him being a professional. He seems obsessed w/ winning & being the best at everything he does. I remember when he did his physical for the Angels and he topped out in every metric except for vertical leap. It motivated him to obsessively work to improve it over the winter and he came back w/ a vertical that put him in top percentile.

That said, I don’t know how long he can hold up as a two-way player. The torque he puts on that elbow is ridiculous

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I think he’s a unique star and no doubt will be deserving of his quick appointment to baseball’s hall of fame assuming he can avoid lingering injuries.

I’m not sold on the notion this brings LA titles and in the end, doesn’t actually negatively impact their ability to do just that. How often in baseball is it the team you don’t expect or a team signed for short term success the one that holds the trophy in the end.

Then again I’m also the guy that still doesn’t buy you can plug statistics together and guarantee on field performance. You might be able to reduce your margin for an undesirable outcome, but that isn’t necessarily the case. Some much about life is qualitative.

I don't necessarily disagree but the Texas Rangers are here to remind us that spending on big bats and creating overwhelming offensive power is the way to win in most sports. The way Ohtani's deal is structured, I believe it actually leaves room for LA to acquire some more pitching to supplement.

You’re correct about him being a professional. He seems obsessed w/ winning & being the best at everything he does. I remember when he did his physical for the Angels and he topped out in every metric except for vertical leap. It motivated him to obsessively work to improve it over the winter and he came back w/ a vertical that put him in top percentile.

That said, I don’t know how long he can hold up as a two-way player. The torque he puts on that elbow is ridiculous

This is a concern we share. I would love to see him move into a reduced pitching schedule or transition into a reliever who gives 2-3 innings. He's a torque/velocity guy and I don't know if they've fully solved the riddle for how to optimally schedule pitchers like this.

I wonder if there's a future where more players are asked to pitch an inning or two to help bolster the bullpen. I've read a post/story about this and about how Ohtani will usher in this new era but it's hard for me to fully envision how it'd work.

Either way, should be a really fun season watching Soto, Ohtani, Rodriguez w/the Mariners and whether or not the Orioles can start making a serious push with all of their young talent.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

It is going to be hilarious when some 80 something Wild Card team knocks the Dodgers out of the playoffs in October.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

It is going to be hilarious when some 80 something Wild Card team knocks the Dodgers out of the playoffs in October.

I think it'll be funnier when the Dodgers knock out all the small market teams, win it all and all the people who've forecasted similarly are left with a very bitter taste in their mouth. I hope Ohtani wins a couple rings, at least. I just love everything about his personality. And I really like Mookie Betts, he's a phenomenal athlete who just keeps putting big offensive and defensive WAR numbers, no matter what position he plays.

Mookie is such an athletic specimen.

Another fun storyline to follow is Acuna and whether or not he can stay healthy for another full season. Can he put up even 90% of his production from this year and keep it in the playoffs? Such a dominant player in the regular season.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think it'll be funnier when the Dodgers knock out all the small market teams, win it all and all the people who've forecasted similarly are left with a very bitter taste in their mouth. I hope Ohtani wins a couple rings, at least. I just love everything about his personality. And I really like Mookie Betts, he's a phenomenal athlete who just keeps putting big offensive and defensive WAR numbers, no matter what position he plays.

Mookie is such an athletic specimen.

Another fun storyline to follow is Acuna and whether or not he can stay healthy for another full season. Can he put up even 90% of his production from this year and keep it in the playoffs? Such a dominant player in the regular season.

That has to happen first. As you say about Acuna, the regular season. The sample size goes to a fraction of that come October.

It is probably better odds based on history that the Dodgers are going to win 100+ regular season games and NOT win a World Series.

I like Ohtani and I don't have anything against him or his decision. A billionaire offers you $700M, you take it.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

That has to happen first. As you say about Acuna, the regular season. The sample size goes to a fraction of that come October.

It is probably better odds based on history that the Dodgers are going to win 100+ regular season games and NOT win a World Series.

I like Ohtani and I don't have anything against him or his decision. A billionaire offers you $700M, you take it.

No doubt. If the option is betting on the Dodgers or the field, you take the field. Outside of finding some key pitching prospects, I don't know what more they could to make a run. If you were an owner, would you have been better served spreading that money across 3 players with similarly deferred contracts?

As much as I'm not a fan of big market teams, we'll be cheering on the Dodgers in the same way we cheered on the Angels when Ohtani was there. We don't have "teams" in any sport except ND football. Everything else we watch is player driven.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

LOL

 

[IRISHDODGER]

 

[ab2cmiller]

My childhood hero. Per WebMD, about 1/3 will survive for 5 years after diagnosis. Hopefully he can beat it.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

My childhood hero. Per WebMD, about 1/3 will survive for 5 years after diagnosis. Hopefully he can beat it.

Hopefully it’s slow-growing. Additionally, I’m sure he’ll get genetically tested so hopefully he’ll have a targeted mutation that he can treat w/ a targeted therapy.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Beltre, Helton & Mauer

Beltre was a no-brainer 1st ballot inductee. I figured Helton would get in sooner or later. Mauer was a surprise that he was first ballot and will lead to debates on others who were left out in years past that some claim had better cases


Speaking of better cases, I don’t know how you leave Gary Sheffield off in his last ballot. You can say PEDs, but he was never suspended. Plus, I’m always a fan of stars who had more career walks than Ks. He’ll get in on one of the Era Committees.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Solid response but I do think Beltran gets in next year.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Joe Maurer will be the first player inducted into Cooperstown born in the 1980s.

I hope Elvis Andrus is there for Beltre. What a pair they were together in Texas.

Helton seemed like an easy one.

As for Carlos Beltran, the cheating debacle is hurting him and I don't quite understand that considering the numbers he put up prior to that time in Houston. He was also instrumental in helping Latin players assimilate into the States as Major Leaguers.

I don't know about Gary Sheffield, but Vlad went in and Ichiro most surely will go. Their career WAR is right in Sheffield's range, and his career comp is Chipper Jones. PED discussion aside, he should go.

Billy Wagner, Ichiro and CC Sabathia should go next year. I won't make my case for King Felix, but I think he should go in there too.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The Orioles are going to be monsters going forward.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

The Orioles are going to be monsters going forward.

All they had to do was try. Angelos family has been one of the worst ownerships in MLB. Glad to see them make an effort now that the youngsters their front office drafted seem to be blossoming. The city could use all the positivity they can get. I would love to see the O’s make serious run. Last season was damn impressive.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

All they had to do was try. Angelos family has been one of the worst ownerships in MLB. Glad to see them make an effort now that the youngsters their front office drafted seem to be blossoming. The city could use all the positivity they can get. I would love to see the O’s make serious run. Last season was damn impressive.

To hear their fans chanting "Sell the team" last year while they were on pace to win 100 regular season games was really something.

Stocked in The Show, best farm system in baseball and new ownership. It's a good place to be.

 

[irishff1014]

All they had to do was try. Angelos family has been one of the worst ownerships in MLB. Glad to see them make an effort now that the youngsters their front office drafted seem to be blossoming. The city could use all the positivity they can get. I would love to see the O’s make serious run. Last season was damn impressive.

The sad part is he has a ton of money. He just chose not to ever spend it. My wife’s family member work for an attorney Towson And she talked about all the clients he had for asbestos and what not.

And to have Cal Ripken Junior, as part of the ownership for someone, the fans to really get behind is humongous. Then they make a good trade and go get a good starting pitcher for the 24 season, a lot of positives around that team right now.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

As an Italian American, I have family members in the waste management business, so let me assure all of you that I'm 100% certain when I say that these are complete garbage.

 

[irishff1014]

As an Italian American, I have family members in the waste management business, so let me assure all of you that I'm 100% certain when I say that these are complete garbage.

They look cheap

 

[KPENN]

I’m scared about what the NHL jerseys are going to look like. It’s going to be a disaster