The boys of summer! (Baseball Thread)

[irishff1014]

The MLB is getting rid of compensation picks and implementing the universal DH. Fuck the DH

May God have mercy on our souls

When these negotiations are done baseball will be ruined.

 

[Wild Bill]

The MLB is getting rid of compensation picks and implementing the universal DH. Fuck the DH

May God have mercy on our souls

Great hitters will stick around longer and pitchers getting paid over a quarter of a billion won't be at risk of pulling a hammie running out a gently hit pop fly. I understand why some people don't like the DH but it won't be that bad.

 

[Wild Bill]

When these negotiations are done baseball will be ruined.

Why? I'm not disagreeing with you but I haven't followed this at all so I was just curious if there is something going on that will be an issue for the sport.

 

[zelezo vlk]

What is the meaningful difference in arguing for a DH and platooning hitters and fielders? If the pitchers don't need to hit and DH doesn't need to field, why are they the exceptions?

 

[ACamp1900]

As a baseball guy I always heard old timers talk about how the owners always do their best to ruin the sport,… I’m coming to understand…

 

[irishff1014]

Why? I'm not disagreeing with you but I haven't followed this at all so I was just curious if there is something going on that will be an issue for the sport.

They want to do away with steroid testing after the keep voting down steroid users for the HOF. The NL making pitchers hit made the game more fun. Changin the minumin and the young guys saleries are gonna make ticket prices go up. They keep talking about rasing salaries but nothing about the salary cap. I do think they should force some of the owners to spend more. But the NFL allows teams to tank too.

 

[zelezo vlk]

As a baseball guy I always heard old timers talk about how the wonder always do their best to ruin the sport,… I’m coming to understand…

The wonder?

 

[ACamp1900]

The wonder?

Thanks,… phone’s auto correct got me,… ‘the owners’

 

[BrownerandFry]

When these negotiations are done baseball will be ruined.

Well, we reach the same conclusion but I think baseball, the sport of my youth, has been in a decline at least 50 years in the making.

Here is my evidence:

World Series television ratings - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Numbers don't lie

people have moved on.

 

[Rogue219]

Love the Universal DH. I've never found joy in watching pitchers hit as a young Gen Xer. The future is now.

I like the draft lottery as it is a slight deterrent with regards to tanking. They need to start making some of these teams at least try or make the appearance of trying because despite what they say, they're flush with cash.

As a Pirates fan, I know whatever rules they change or tweak won't make much of a difference, but it's clearly time to push these owners toward actually wanting to win instead of hoarding their millions.

 

[GowerND11]

They want to do away with steroid testing after the keep voting down steroid users for the HOF. The NL making pitchers hit made the game more fun. Changin the minumin and the young guys saleries are gonna make ticket prices go up. They keep talking about rasing salaries but nothing about the salary cap. I do think they should force some of the owners to spend more. But the NFL allows teams to tank too.

I have not seen this at all. They stopped testing during the lockout due to the contract expiring... But they do not want to do away with it from any reports I've read.

Also, ticket prices have already been going up. Paying young players their worth is nothing compared to paying 36-40 WAY above what they are worth still getting paid and not producing.

 

[Rogue219]

In 2021, pitchers hit .110/.150/.142. They struck out in 44% of their plate appearances, and in nearly half the ones that didn’t end in a sacrifice bunt. They had nearly five times as many strikeouts as they did hits.

Joe Sheehan

Forgive me, but people actually think seeing this is fun?

 

[Rogue219]

Yes, I'm going to miss....whatever this is.

 

[Rogue219]

"Strategery."

 

[Rogue219]

Pitchers and catchers were supposed to report today.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Joe Sheehan

Forgive me, but people actually think seeing this is fun?

Yeah, honestly I don't get it at all. I'm a Tigers fan so I grew up watching mostly American League ball, but I really don't understand the appeal of watching pitchers suck it up at the plate. The alternative argument I always hear is "it adds more strategy." So does trying to roster a quality DH.

The numbers don't lie. Pitchers can't hit. You have a couple of unicorns like Dontre Willis (I guess) and obviously Shohei Ohtani but it's just dumb seeing them strike out, bunt, etc.

 

[stpeteirish]

They can’t even bunt anymore. Not well anyhow

 

[Rogue219]

They can’t even bunt anymore. Not well anyhow

Bunting is stupid unless you do it against the shift. To me, if a team runs a shift on me, I'm going to lay one down every time until they stop. Period.

Otherwise, it's giving away an out and the 27 outs you get in a game are too valuable.

 

[ACamp1900]

My view FWIW,... I always preferred the NL brand of game even if I'm a Halo fan. I think the game has more elements with the use of the bench and such when pitchers have to hit and managers have to manage. The game is just so narrow now in terms of approach. Just the two cents of someone who has lived and died baseball for most of my life... I'm slowly moving to other passions in terms of my time if I'm honest (I f'ing HATE Manfred and think the guy could fuck up a cup of coffee, I'm honestly stunned I would ever get to a point where I missed Selig). CFB is seeing the same dynamic as well in my world.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

My view FWIW,... I always preferred the NL brand of game even if I'm a Halo fan. I think the game has more elements with the use of the bench and such when pitchers have to hit and managers have to manage. The game is just so narrow now in terms of approach. Just the two cents of someone who has lived and died baseball for most of my life... I'm slowly moving to other passions in terms of my time if I'm honest. CFB is seeing the same dynamic as well in my world.

I get it, I find it really hard to watch any out of market game until the postseason. It's just not worth my time. If Detroit isn't on, there's no way I'm watching baseball.

I used to love the game when I was a kid with McGwire, Griffey Jr., Bonds, etc. Just doesn't have that same juice anymore


...pun intended.

 

[Rogue219]

I wish more teams would actually try to win, and that's coming from a Pirates fan, whose only hope is the team is sold. That's been the biggest disappointment in recent years. I get not throwing away prospects for a rental player and such, but I used to love the deadline trades when teams would actually make a go for it. It seems few and far between now that teams try to make a run for a championship. Nobody wants to give up prospects because they're cheap and have the years of control.

Game is flush with talent, especially on the mound. So many guys not only throw mid to upper nineties now, but the breaking stuff is ungodly. It's real easy for people to complain about strikeouts and want "contact" when guys are throwing breaking pitches in the low 90s. Good luck hitting a 93 MPH slider. I don't care what era of the game you prefer.

 

[irishff1014]

I almost hope this cuts in to the season. This will be the second time baseball has done this in my lifetime and I hope it hurts the players and the owners. The salary cap is needed but so is a minimum cap. These selfish assholes forget that the businesses, restaurants and locals that work at the stadiums to make sure everything is right for the ownership and the players get shit on.

 

[Rogue219]

I almost hope this cuts in to the season. This will be the second time baseball has done this in my lifetime and I hope it hurts the players and the owners. The salary cap is needed but so is a minimum cap. These selfish assholes forget that the businesses, restaurants and locals that work at the stadiums to make sure everything is right for the ownership and the players get shit on.

I understand your "both sides" narrative on this, but in this instance it is really only to a degree with the players. It's ultimately about money, yes, but the owners are the ones locking the players out. They can lift the lockout and keep negotiating if they wanted to. I think they should.

The owners want to limit their labor costs and expand the playoffs for more TV money. They players are not trying to get what they lost in the 1994 negotiations all back at once but have a platform asking for small gains in key areas: minimum salary, paying young players, competitive balance tax threshold. They have also dropped their biggest proposal changes in age based free agency and diminished revenue sharing.

There are larger points about free markets and competition that most of us won't understand even if somewhat engaged with the process, which most people are not. I think this could have been a groundbreaking negotiation but instead it has become about a couple of percentage points in splitting revenue. It's only money and it risks alienating fans (again), having another fractured season (2020) and losing games.

 

[Irishize]

Bunting is stupid unless you do it against the shift. To me, if a team runs a shift on me, I'm going to lay one down every time until they stop. Period.

Otherwise, it's giving away an out and the 27 outs you get in a game are too valuable.

Then you mean “sacrifice bunting“ is stupid. Bunting is an art and there have been plenty of players who could bunt for base hits when the situation presented itself (not just a ridiculous shift where the entire left side of the infield is vacant).

 

[Rogue219]

Then you mean “sacrifice bunting“ is stupid. Bunting is an art and there have been plenty of players who could bunt for base hits when the situation presented itself (not just a ridiculous shift where the entire left side of the infield is vacant).

Yes. If you're giving away an out, dumb.

Even bunting against the shift, players are batting above .500, so it isn't totally foolproof. Even when in the shift, teams have been able to field bunts against it for outs.

Ball go far, team go far.

 

[Rogue219]

 

[Rogue219]

I, personally, am finding it harder to "both sides" this.

 

[Irishize]

Yes. If you're giving away an out, dumb.

Even bunting against the shift, players are batting above .500, so it isn't totally foolproof. Even when in the shift, teams have been able to field bunts against it for outs.

Ball go far, team go far.

How’s that worked out for Joey Gallo & his ilk? Mario Mendoza has requested they replace his name w/ Gallo when referencing the “Mendoza Line”.

Shifts have been around for decades. They’re more exaggerated now so hitters need to adjust or get DFA’d. Like you stated earlier, “To me, if a team runs a shift on me, I'm going to lay one down every time until they stop. Period.”

 

[Rogue219]

How’s that worked out for Joey Gallo & his ilk? Mario Mendoza has requested they replace his name w/ Gallo when referencing the “Mendoza Line”.

Shifts have been around for decades. They’re more exaggerated now so hitters need to adjust or get DFA’d. Like you stated earlier, “To me, if a team runs a shift on me, I'm going to lay one down every time until they stop. Period.”

I'm not a batting average guy. Sorry.

I'm not in favor of making shifts "illegal" either, but I understand that entertainment is going to often be equal if not more important than the competitive portion of sport. If you can lay one down and get on base until the defense can figure out how to prevent this from happening, go for it.

 

[Rogue219]

My impression from all of these discussions is that the owners don't really give a shit if there isn't baseball.

December discussions happening in almost March. Not very promising.

The game is going to lose more fans. More than likely, for good.