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I'm not sure if there is anyone from Atlanta on this site, but I was wondering if Native Americans protest outside of the Atlanta Braves ballpark every year.  If so, does the Altlanta media give them as much  coverage as the Cleveland media gave to those protesting here?

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  • Gordon Bombay
    Gordon Bombay

    Over the summer, I went to the Oakland Coliseum to visit the place before baseball left. I LOVED this place after experiencing it. Shame the A’s are bound for Vegas (assuming all goes well after their

  • roman totale XVII
    roman totale XVII

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  • 2 weeks later...

The Cobb County Braves win in 6.

  • 4 weeks later...

And which free agents have the Indians  Guardians signed?

At least get rid of that ghost runner nonsense for god's sake.

  • 1 month later...

 

good news -- they are meeting today about the lockout:

 

 

A month into lockout, MLB and players will finally meet for negotiations

Bob Nightengale

USA TODAY

 

 

PHOENIX — Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association will meet Thursday afternoon for the first time since Dec. 1 to discuss some core economic issues and competitive balance issues in a video conference, two officials directly involved in the negotiations told USA TODAY Sports.

 

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the meeting had not yet been announced.

 

MLB reached out to the union to set up the call Tuesday morning after spending the last few weeks working on a new set of proposals for a new collective bargaining agreement in hopes of reaching a deal that would not delay the start of spring training, which is scheduled to start Feb. 16.

 

MLB is not expected to address free agency or salary arbitration in their proposals, but discuss further ways to de-incentivize tanking among teams, including the elimination of draft pick compensation for teams signing free agents.

 

 

more:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2022/01/11/mlb-lockout-news-thursday-meeting-scheduled-between-league-players/9171298002/

Assuming there is a 2022 season, the Rays' won't be splitting their home games between Tampa Bay and Montreal:

 

Tampa Bay Rays say split-season plan with Montreal rejected by MLB

 

The Tampa Bay Rays' plan to split their home schedule with the city of Montreal was scrapped by Major League Baseball officials earlier this week, a decision that Rays owner Stuart Sternberg called "flat-out deflating."  Rays officials had spent 2½ years hyperfocused on what was called a "sister city" proposal, believing it to be the best path toward increasing revenue without permanently relocating the franchise.  Now they must pivot, either by revisiting Tampa Bay-area-stadium talks that had previously stalled or by exploring a new city altogether.  Sternberg, who took questions in a video conference for more than half an hour on Thursday afternoon, was noncommittal.

 

The Rays have been the industry standard -- along with the Oakland Athletics, who are navigating their own ballpark issues -- at achieving sustained winning in spite of lesser revenue streams.  The Rays have won back-to-back American League East titles, outpacing financial behemoths like the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, and have reached the postseason seven times over the past 14 years.  But they have also ranked no better than 28th out of 30 teams in average attendance since 2011.  Last year, coming off a World Series appearance, Tropicana Field hosted 761,072 fans, a total that surpassed only those of the A's and the Miami Marlins.

 

The Rays' financial commitments have been commensurate with those attendance figures, their Opening Day payrolls never reaching $80 million and ranking within the bottom five in MLB at the start of each of the last 11 seasons.  The Rays' lease at Tropicana Field expires after the 2027 season, and the belief is that the team would need to solidify plans for a new home by 2023 if it hopes to remain in the area.

 

MORE:  https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33109350/tampa-bay-rays-say-split-season-plan-montreal-rejected-mlb

David Ortiz made the HoF, which means steroid usage doesn't matter anymore.  A lot more guys should be in now, right?

Very Stable Genius

24 minutes ago, DarkandStormy said:

David Ortiz made the HoF, which means steroid usage doesn't matter anymore.  A lot more guys should be in now, right?

Even if it does matter, Bonds should still be in. His numbers were HOF worthy even before he started juicing. 

I would be way more interested in visiting the HOF if they admitted the controversial, yet famous, impactful players and had real discussions about their achievements and their faults.

  • 2 weeks later...
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mad dog told stephen a, “if you get baseball prior to may 1st, i’d be shocked.”

  • 1 month later...

Nationals might be sold. Half the time I forget they even exist.

 

Seems like Vegas or San Antonio are really itching for another team. Though I'd like to see it in Columbus (if only) or Indianapolis.

3 minutes ago, TBideon said:

Nationals might be sold. Half the time I forget they even exist.

 

Seems like Vegas or San Antonio are really itching for another team. Though I'd like to see it in Columbus (if only) or Indianapolis.

 

The Nats exist. They have led Cleveland in attendance every season since 2009. In fact they probably avg. like 10k more per game. 

2 hours ago, TBideon said:

Nationals might be sold. Half the time I forget they even exist.

 

Seems like Vegas or San Antonio are really itching for another team. Though I'd like to see it in Columbus (if only) or Indianapolis.

I think it is a pipe dream to think Columbus would get a team. Same with Indy with the Reds and Tribe being so close to CBUS and Indy being between Cincy/Chicago/St. Louis.  

On 4/19/2022 at 9:42 AM, mrnyc said:

 

the fenway pizza chucka —

pretty funny story:

 

 

Man 😎,  I slogged through that article, waiting for a reward at the end that never came.    🤨 

On 4/20/2022 at 10:20 PM, DO_Summers said:

Man 😎,  I slogged through that article, waiting for a reward at the end that never came.    🤨 

 

duh chief’s triangle on da shoulda. dats the rewad. err, ah. 😂

crazy twins win over the tigers — i love the crowd reactions:

 

 

Trevor Bauer suspended 2 full seasons

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/trevor-bauer-suspension

 

Don't tell Jimmy and Dee. One sexual deviant per team is enough. Also holy sh*t, two years. that doesn't include time served! The poor, poor headcase.

 

Meanwhile, Yankees fans are cheering Chapman like he's Tom Hanks, and that animal is making $15 mill/yr. What a world.

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

if you can stand it lol --- mad dog and stephen a. go at it -- re the top five sports franchises of all time:

 

 

  • 3 months later...

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34556355/major-league-baseball-passes-significant-rules-changes-including-pitch-clock-banning-defensive-shifts

 

Major League Baseball passes significant rules changes including pitch clock, banning defensive shifts

 

So I read the article several times and still don't quite get it. Forget these poorly articulated and somewhat confusing bandaids, just shorten the damn season to 140 or 120 games. Late April to early October. Done.

 

And if they want more fans to show up, MLB needs some radical changes to make the game more hitter friendly. Bogaerts is hitting 319: Congratulations, you're at the top of the AL league. White Sox hitting 262: Congratulations as well, that's the AL team high.

 

I don't think silly pitching clocks are going to make the difference. Ultimately, people want to see hitting even if that means PEDs running rampant like it's a 1988 WWF house show.

1 hour ago, TBideon said:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34556355/major-league-baseball-passes-significant-rules-changes-including-pitch-clock-banning-defensive-shifts

 

Major League Baseball passes significant rules changes including pitch clock, banning defensive shifts

 

So I read the article several times and still don't quite get it. Forget these poorly articulated and somewhat confusing bandaids, just shorten the damn season to 140 or 120 games. Late April to early October. Done.

 

And if they want more fans to show up, MLB needs some radical changes to make the game more hitter friendly. Bogaerts is hitting 319: Congratulations, you're at the top of the AL league. White Sox hitting 262: Congratulations as well, that's the AL team high.

 

I don't think silly pitching clocks are going to make the difference. Ultimately, people want to see hitting even if that means PEDs running rampant like it's a 1988 WWF house show.

The shift ban and pitch clock will both lead to more action and much better pace leading to a more enjoyable and exciting product. Shortening the season isn't going to compel anymore people to watch the games if you don't fix the issue of pacing. Even as a diehard fan, I have difficulty getting through the 6th and 7th innings of a game with a comfortable lead and the relief pitcher is literally taking 45 seconds to deliver each pitch, in addition to the batter stepping out to change his gloves and get a few practice swings in between each pitch. 

The shift ban will allow more hits, more base runners and more runs. The pickoff rule, though I was conflicted about it, will also lead to more steals and again more runs. 

 

  • 3 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

one of my favorite tom hanks movies —

 

was schwept away

 

😂

 

 

Eff the Astros, but eff the Yankees even more. So all is good. 
 

I’m all in on the Phillies for the WS. 

My hovercraft is full of eels

1 hour ago, mrnyc said:

one of my favorite tom hanks movies —

 

was schwept away

 

😂

 

 

They wouldn't have gotten swept if they had closed the roof on Yankee Stadium.

^ speaking of that, a fav roast 😆

 

 

 

  • 1 month later...

Including luxury tax, Mets payroll is about half a billion next year.

 

Something has got to change with the MLB. This is ridiculous.

It is beyond ridiculous.  Soon, player contracts will be exceeding a billion dollars.  I don't understand why owners outside of the large markets continue to let this continue.

As of March 2022, only 6 owners were not billionaires, with the poorest worth half a billion.

 

Bear market aside, it seems most if not all teams can afford higher payrolls, even if they don't quite achieve Dodgers or Mets levels.

 

I know owners use the arbitrary "different size markets" as an excuse, but at the end of the day, a lot would rather moneyball a season. For example the Dolans are worth $5 bill but couldn't afford Lindor? Or evidently any of the Cy Young award winners we keep trading or not re-signing for 15 years.

 

Sure...

 

 

Edited by TBideon

MLB owners don't use any of their own money. 

 

 

  • 1 month later...

pitchers & catchers today!

 

 


2023 MLB spring training is here! What we can't wait to see

 

ESPN

 


With pitchers and catchers reporting to major league camps across Arizona and Florida this week, baseball is officially back -- and for the first time since 2019, we have a full spring training ahead of us.

 

The start of camp means a first chance to view stars such as Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander and Trea Turner in their new uniforms, and this year we'll get to see MLB's 2023 rule changes in action as soon as Cactus League and Grapefruit League games begin.

 

To celebrate the sport's return, we asked our MLB experts to weigh in on the teams, themes and stars they can't wait to check out as spring training begins.

 


more:
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35658502/2023-mlb-spring-training-preview-wait-see
 

  • 2 weeks later...

Me no likey

 

 

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

162 games in the regular season. Some games begin in snow, some World Series end in ice. Double headers are back to being 9 innings. 

 

And THIS is how they'll expedite games? Mind-boggling. You need a phD to understand all these pendatic rules.

 

I mean, what the f-k is this???

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2023-rule-changes-pitch-timer-larger-bases-shifts

 

"PITCH TIMER

In an effort to create a quicker pace of play, there will be a 30-second timer between batters. Between pitches, there will be a 15-second timer with the bases empty and a 20-second timer with runners on base. At last check, the pitch timer had reduced the average time of game in MiLB by about 26 minutes. This rule, which includes limits on throws to first base, has also increased stolen-base attempts. With this rule in place in the Minors this season, steal attempts per game have increased from 2.23 in 2019, at a 68% success rate, to 2.83 in 2022, at a 77% success rate.

The pitcher must begin his motion to deliver the pitch before the expiration of the pitch timer.

Pitchers who violate the timer are charged with an automatic ball. Batters who violate the timer are charged with an automatic strike.

Batters must be in the box and alert to the pitcher by the 8-second mark or else be charged with an automatic strike.

With runners on base, the timer resets if the pitcher attempts a pickoff or steps off the rubber.

Pitchers are limited to two disengagements (pickoff attempts or step-offs) per plate appearance. However, this limit is reset if a runner or runners advance during the plate appearance.

If a third pickoff attempt is made, the runner automatically advances one base if the pickoff attempt is not successful.

Mound visits, injury timeouts and offensive team timeouts do not count as a disengagement.

If a team has used up all five of its allotted mound visits prior to the ninth inning, that team will receive an additional mound visit in the ninth inning. This effectively serves as an additional disengagement.

Umpires may provide extra time if warranted by special circumstances. (So if, as an example, a catcher were to be thrown out on the bases to end the previous half-inning and needed additional time to put on his catching gear, the umpire could allow it.)"

 

And I'm not even going to rant about the defense shift changes because I didn't understand them before the rule change.

 

Shorten the f'ing season. Have ties. Limit games to 3.5 hours. There. Problem solved. And get rid of that ghost runner abomination. 

So the only game without a clock now has a clock. Thanks Manfred.

  • 1 month later...

 

welp ... it finally happened:

 

 


The Oakland A’s Say They’re Leaving for Las Vegas


The team said it has an agreement to acquire land for a new stadium in Las Vegas and plans to leave Oakland as soon as the end of the 2024 season

 


The Oakland A’s long and colorful residency in Oakland has generated dynastic World Series champions, some of baseball’s biggest personalities and a revolutionary roster-building strategy known as Moneyball.

 

What it has mostly lacked, however, is what the team feels is the combination of fan and government support that would make it a business success, too. So the team said Thursday it has decided to leave the Bay Area for Las Vegas as soon as the end of the 2024 season—with Major League Baseball’s blessing. 

 

The A’s ownership group, led by John Fisher, has reached a binding deal to purchase a 49-acre plot of land in Las Vegas, which would become the site of a new ballpark estimated to cost $1.5 billion built with a mixture of public and private financing. 

 

The A’s expect to contribute $1 billion of private capital to the deal, while asking the city of Las Vegas for $500 million to build their new ballpark. In addition, according to a person familiar with the matter, the land itself is expected to be sold to the A’s for $225 million by Red Rock Resorts, a casino company. 

 


more:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/oakland-athletics-las-vegas-mlb-move-fee5bd0d

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