Around Baseball 2017

[L54]

Colby is the man

[Laika]

So he grew out just for the team photo or the Rays told him to shave it. I think he just wanted to look stupid in his mug shot.

 

Pretty sure in Houston during the season he had a beard almost that ugly

[Krylian]

Colby is the man

 

He looks as stupid as Stroman's tweets sound.

[TholesWeirdEye]

lol

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/bearded-colby-rasmus-gets-roasted-twitter/

[Boxcar]

Don Mattingly's genius idea to speed up baseball:

 

"Analytically, a few years back nobody cared about the strikeout, so it’s OK to strike out 150, 160, 170 times, and that guy’s still valued in a big way," Mattingly said. "Well, as soon as we start causing that to be a bad value — the strikeouts — guys will put the ball in play more. So once we say strikeouts are bad and it’s going to cost you money the more you strike out, then the strikeouts will go away. Guys will start making adjustments and putting the ball in play more."

 

TL;DR, let players know that strikeouts are not a desirable outcome.

 

How is this guy involved in baseball? I wouldn't trust him with a peewee team.

[glory]

Colby looks like someone who will end up on Dateline one day.

[BlueJayWay]

Article by Verducci today about rule changes:

 

http://www.si.com/mlb/2017/02/22/rob-manfred-mlb-rules-changes-mlbpa-tony-clark

 

This is interesting:

 

He broke out the threat of a never-before-used hammer: a provision in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that allows the commissioner to unilaterally impose new rules after notifying the union a year in advance. Manfred said he will send Clark the letter of notification this week.

 

So Manfred can impose changes after a year, as long as he notifies the MLBPA.

 

Also this:

 

More facts: The reason Manfred wants to shrink the strike zone is because umpires are calling more low strikes and because pitchers are throwing harder and lower. It’s all in the data, which also show that batting average on low pitches is much worse than batting average on high pitches.

 

Check this out: Here is how fast—and I mean fast—pitching has changed in baseball. In just the past eight years, average fastball velocity has increased by 1.1 miles per hour, while the average height of a pitch has decreased by 1.7 inches—and the trend is obvious:

[Terminator]

Don Mattingly's genius idea to speed up baseball:

 

"Analytically, a few years back nobody cared about the strikeout, so it’s OK to strike out 150, 160, 170 times, and that guy’s still valued in a big way," Mattingly said. "Well, as soon as we start causing that to be a bad value — the strikeouts — guys will put the ball in play more. So once we say strikeouts are bad and it’s going to cost you money the more you strike out, then the strikeouts will go away. Guys will start making adjustments and putting the ball in play more."

 

TL;DR, let players know that strikeouts are not a desirable outcome.

 

How is this guy involved in baseball? I wouldn't trust him with a peewee team.

 

Mandatory spankings from the manager to the player each time the player strikes out.

[Boxcar]

Mandatory spankings from the manager to the player each time the player strikes out.

 

That actually made me lol, because I could see grandpa Don suggesting that.

 

E: Now I've got images of Stanton getting bent over Donny's knee and getting a few waps. I need to see this become a reality.

[baseballsss]

I thought he might try for it as well but no one really cares about his home run milestones since he's a known and admitted 'roid user. It also takes a lot to get geared up and ready to play just to chase a largely meaningless milestone. There probably would only be a handful of teams that would be mildly interested.

 

Arod said he had a couple of offers and thought about it but said the pinstripes ment more to him than playing for another team. I actually believe him cause shiity teams would be dumb not to jump on the opprotunity to sell tickets.

[GD]

Dat Neckbeard

 

m'neckbeard

[TheHurl]

Article by Verducci today about rule changes:

 

http://www.si.com/mlb/2017/02/22/rob-manfred-mlb-rules-changes-mlbpa-tony-clark

 

This is interesting:

 

 

 

So Manfred can impose changes after a year, as long as he notifies the MLBPA.

 

Also this:

 

Honestly what will the 2021 TV contract look like? ESPN has lost like 7 million subscriptions in 2015 & 16 and were on pace to lose 7 million more this year. The playoffs will always be valuable but in another 4 years what will TV even be like...what percentage will be paying for it? MLB AM will be funding the revenue stream by 2022. And all anyone wants to do is bitch at Manfred for wanting to change the game. He is the only one saying that the game needs change, so until someone else starts talking about it and coming up with ways to add new young fans...well he's going to unilaterally make the changes.

[Bobthe4th]

Honestly what will the 2021 TV contract look like? ESPN has lost like 7 million subscriptions in 2015 & 16 and were on pace to lose 7 million more this year. The playoffs will always be valuable but in another 4 years what will TV even be like...what percentage will be paying for it? MLB AM will be funding the revenue stream by 2022. And all anyone wants to do is bitch at Manfred for wanting to change the game. He is the only one saying that the game needs change, so until someone else starts talking about it and coming up with ways to add new young fans...well he's going to unilaterally make the changes.

 

Quite a large percentage of sports bars will still buy TV sports packages, but you're right that individuals will mainly use the internet in the not too distant future.

[glory]

I get Manfred's agenda. Fans are on the older side, and for the game to stay relevant they'll need to get younger eye balls onto the sport.

 

The issue is, what the hell is going to be accomplished by getting rid of the IBB and just awarding 1B to the hitter? These cosmetic changes don't really accomplish anything.

 

Pitchers turning into Buehrle as far as pace, and batters stepping out less? That might help. Shaving 30 seconds for something that doesn't happen that often to begin with is a case of not seeing the forest for the trees.

[Krylian]

No more trips to the mound (except to pull the pitcher). They accomplish nothing.

 

No more calling time to adjust your f***ing batting gloves.

 

Those are the first two things I'd have the death penalty for.

[BTS]

No more trips to the mound (except to pull the pitcher). They accomplish nothing.

 

No more calling time to adjust your f***ing batting gloves.

 

Those are the first two things I'd have the death penalty for.

 

Yeah. If you want to speed the game up, and I believe it does need to be sped up, I like the following ideas:

- Strict pitch clock, and if time expires a ball is issued.

- Limit of one managerial visit to the mound per game. We don't need to see them waddle out there every time there's a pitching change.

- No mound visits from any player on the field.

- It's the batter's responsibility to be prepared for the pitch. Once the pitcher receives the ball, the clock starts, and if Dustin Pedroia is adjusting his batting gloves after 8 seconds, the pitcher can throw one in the zone for a strike.

- No batter timeouts unless he's injured.

 

I'd also look into whether relief warmup pitches on the mound are actually necessary. I'm sure MLB doesn't want to lose that commercial revenue, but full TV breaks every time there's a pitching change must eat 15+ minutes a game. It's absurd.

[Grant77]

I get Manfred's agenda. Fans are on the older side, and for the game to stay relevant they'll need to get younger eye balls onto the sport.

 

The issue is, what the hell is going to be accomplished by getting rid of the IBB and just awarding 1B to the hitter? These cosmetic changes don't really accomplish anything.

 

Pitchers turning into Buehrle as far as pace, and batters stepping out less? That might help. Shaving 30 seconds for something that doesn't happen that often to begin with is a case of not seeing the forest for the trees.

 

What's even more puzzling is that he had Tony Clark's support on a real solution (enforcing one foot in the box, increased fines for slow players etc.) and he instead enraged the PA by implementing this rule that doesn't solve anything.

[Stangstag]

I think another big issue is managers taking waaay too long to challenge a play.

 

The manager should have to challenge the play right away. No more calling the video guy and holding up the game for a full minute for every close play.

[Terminator]

Yeah. If you want to speed the game up, and I believe it does need to be sped up, I like the following ideas:

- Strict pitch clock, and if time expires a ball is issued.

- Limit of one managerial visit to the mound per game. We don't need to see them waddle out there every time there's a pitching change.

- No mound visits from any player on the field.

- It's the batter's responsibility to be prepared for the pitch. Once the pitcher receives the ball, the clock starts, and if Dustin Pedroia is adjusting his batting gloves after 8 seconds, the pitcher can throw one in the zone for a strike.

- No batter timeouts unless he's injured.

 

I'd also look into whether relief warmup pitches on the mound are actually necessary. I'm sure MLB doesn't want to lose that commercial revenue, but full TV breaks every time there's a pitching change must eat 15+ minutes a game. It's absurd.

 

I like these ideas of yours the best. I think they could at least lessen the number of warm up pitches one gets. I'd hate to see a reliever get injured though because he's not warm. But I think the biggest thing is the pace of the pitches thrown. If you get a guy coming in and after the pitch he steps off the mound, wipes his head off, stares at the ground and thinks, then finally settles in before throwing it just takes forever. The clock will help the most.

 

Another thing to consider is replay. I like it but at the same time it takes forever right now. They either need to speed it up or even get rid of it. The game was fine before it was implemented.

 

They could also implement some sort of time out system where you get three mound visits per game. SS, C, Pitcher or the dugout can call for a mound visit.

 

Then during the playoffs all of the rules could get relaxed some.

[TholesWeirdEye]

Yeah. If you want to speed the game up, and I believe it does need to be sped up, I like the following ideas:

- Strict pitch clock, and if time expires a ball is issued.

- Limit of one managerial visit to the mound per game. We don't need to see them waddle out there every time there's a pitching change.

- No mound visits from any player on the field.

- It's the batter's responsibility to be prepared for the pitch. Once the pitcher receives the ball, the clock starts, and if Dustin Pedroia is adjusting his batting gloves after 8 seconds, the pitcher can throw one in the zone for a strike.

- No batter timeouts unless he's injured.

 

I'd also look into whether relief warmup pitches on the mound are actually necessary. I'm sure MLB doesn't want to lose that commercial revenue, but full TV breaks every time there's a pitching change must eat 15+ minutes a game. It's absurd.

 

http://i.imgur.com/ZdQ4Peh.jpg

[HERPDERP]

http://i.imgur.com/ZdQ4Peh.jpg

 

OK I'm being a bit serious, but does anyone else do that with their nose, and notice their sense of smell shots up dramatically?

 

More notably I feel like I can smell my own oily noise, and its somewhat pleasant.

[Ray]

Theoretically speaking, I like the idea of a pitch clock to speed up the game. I can't help but think that will increase pitcher injuries a bit considering there will be less recovery time between pitches. Could definitely effect shoulders and elbows

[TheHurl]

What's even more puzzling is that he had Tony Clark's support on a real solution (enforcing one foot in the box, increased fines for slow players etc.) and he instead enraged the PA by implementing this rule that doesn't solve anything.

 

Blame Ortiz for that one. He refused to adhere to it and said go ahead and fine me every single at bat, I want to keep my mental advantage over a pitcher. That was pretty much the ending of that rule as they never fined him or anyone. For the record this little rule change didn't enrage the MLBPA. Tony Clark is one of the few that seems to understand things. He just doesn't like Manfred saying he can unilaterally make changes without the PA's approval. Telling current players that in 10 to 15 years players might get paid less than NHL players isn't going to bother a whole lot of current ballplayers. It's part of the reason the MLBPA doesn't work IMO.

[Brownie19]

Theoretically speaking, I like the idea of a pitch clock to speed up the game. I can't help but think that will increase pitcher injuries a bit considering there will be less recovery time between pitches. Could definitely effect shoulders and elbows

 

I believe there's actually studies that suggest working fast reduces the chance of injury. From everything I've read, there's no advantage to working slowly. Pitchers are just dumb.

[Brownie19]

Heyman reports the Mets seriously considered giving up Conforto for 1 year of JD Martinez before ultimately backing down.

 

No idea why the Mets would trade an OFer for another OFer (when they are loaded there), unless they were moving Martinez to 1st base or something. Interesting though. Jays need to pry Conforto away from the Mets.

[Ray]

Heyman reports the Mets seriously considered giving up Conforto for 1 year of JD Martinez before ultimately backing down.

 

No idea why the Mets would trade an OFer for another OFer (when they are loaded there), unless they were moving Martinez to 1st base or something. Interesting though. Jays need to pry Conforto away from the Mets.

 

I don't know why Mets are so low on Conforto. He still has a pretty high ceiling and has shown flashes of brilliance in the past despite having a rocky start.

 

I wonder if the Mets would throw in Conforto if we take Bruce and his entire salary for the season in return for someone like Dalton Pompey and maybe 1 other lottery ticket prospect. Probably not, but would love to land Conforto somehow.

[z3r0s]

its hard to see how the trade would shape up, but it does make sense for us.

[GodDonaldson]

Former Blue Jays pitcher Carlos Villanueva signed with Hanwha Eagles (Korean Baseball League)

 

There are few former Blue Jays playing in the league this year

Andy Burns (Lotte Giants)

Scott Diamond (SK Wyverns)

 

Other notable former MLB players in the league

Wilin Rosario (former Rockies)

Alexi Ogando (former Rangers, Red Sox, Braves)

Darin Ruf (former Phillies)

Hector Noesi (former Mariners, White Sox)

Sean O'Sullivan

Jeff Manship

Dustin Nippert (former Rangers, played in the league since 2011)

Michael Bowden

Nick Evans

David Huff

Henry Sosa

[BTS]

This is a fun site. A guy who ran on the Rogers Center field detailing his experience.

 

http://www.runningthefield.com/

[jaysblue]

Former Blue Jays pitcher Carlos Villanueva signed with Hanwha Eagles (Korean Baseball League)

 

There are few former Blue Jays playing in the league this year

Andy Burns (Lotte Giants)

Scott Diamond (SK Wyverns)

 

Other notable former MLB players in the league

Wilin Rosario (former Rockies)

Alexi Ogando (former Rangers, Red Sox, Braves)

Darin Ruf (former Phillies)

Hector Noesi (former Mariners, White Sox)

Sean O'Sullivan

Jeff Manship

Dustin Nippert (former Rangers, played in the league since 2011)

Michael Bowden

Nick Evans

David Huff

Henry Sosa

 

When does the Korean league start? I'll be in Seoul over March Break and would be cool to catch some games.