Around Baseball 2018

[Boxcar]

Dearest Boxy,

 

Here you go:

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/on-caring-for-one-another/

 

Sincerely,

Your old pal BTS

 

I don't want to rehash this too much, but I re read the article and then drove in to the comments and was kinda disappointed. It seems as though FG's primary demographic are hipster soyboys.

 

Something I don't understand is why women care if a woman makes it to MLB. If a woman made it based on merit, I'd say "that's pretty cool" and then get on with my day. What I see are a bunch of morons trying to live vicariously through others because they share a few arbitrary characteristics. This isn't the same as gay rights or the civil rights movement when there were disciminatory laws in place and we should all care about having a free, open society. There are aren't any written barriers to women getting in. So say an exceptionally talented woman makes into MLB. What does that say about people who may only share the characteristic of having a vagina? Hell, for all we know she could have more in common with a random guy than the woman. Why does her having a vagina give cause for women everywhere to pay themselves on the back? What does her accomplishment have to do with you?

 

The answer is nothing. These people just want attention and to feel like they are fighting for a worthy cause.

 

Then I saw an idiot in the comments section saying that it's not right to say that women are universally weaker and slower than men because trans people. So if a transwoman, who is basically a drag queen and still brimming with testosterone but identifies as a woman, that's enough to get the title of first female baseball player?

 

This is such a cancerous road to go down. I also watched a Francis Maxwell video and now need to puke.

[BTS]

I don't want to rehash this too much, but I re read the article and then drove in to the comments and was kinda disappointed. It seems as though FG's primary demographic are hipster soyboys.

 

Something I don't understand is why women care if a woman makes it to MLB. If a woman made it based on merit, I'd say "that's pretty cool" and then get on with my day. What I see are a bunch of morons trying to live vicariously through others because they share a few arbitrary characteristics. This isn't the same as gay rights or the civil rights movement when there were disciminatory laws in place and we should all care about having a free, open society. There are aren't any written barriers to women getting in. So say an exceptionally talented woman makes into MLB. What does that say about people who may only share the characteristic of having a vagina? Hell, for all we know she could have more in common with a random guy than the woman. Why does her having a vagina give cause for women everywhere to pay themselves on the back? What does her accomplishment have to do with you?

 

The answer is nothing. These people just want attention and to feel like they are fighting for a worthy cause.

 

Then I saw an idiot in the comments section saying that it's not right to say that women are universally weaker and slower than men because trans people. So if a transwoman, who is basically a drag queen and still brimming with testosterone but identifies as a woman, that's enough to get the title of first female baseball player?

 

This is such a cancerous road to go down. I also watched a Francis Maxwell video and now need to puke.

 

The argument that seems to be gaining traction is that MLB should be investing in their development and scouting, and that the current system of disregarding women when it comes to developing young talent is a barrier preventing women from playing.

 

And yeah, the comments are bad. I’m surprised I didn’t get downvoted into oblivion.

[Boxcar]

The argument that seems to be gaining traction is that MLB should be investing in their development and scouting, and that the current system of disregarding women when it comes to developing young talent is a barrier preventing women from playing.

 

And yeah, the comments are bad. I’m surprised I didn’t get downvoted into oblivion.

 

Why in the sweet f*** should any team spend resources scouting women? They can if they want but that surely will lead to a poor investment. I also keep hearing about a woman developing a sweet knuckle ball, like ok? Knuckleballers are almost exclusively the result of guys who sucked conventionally and the knuckleball was a way to re-establish themselves.

 

Not only that, but a similarly talented man will be able to throw that knuckleball harder and you still need a secondary or two to keep hitters off balance. Can you think of a single even 30 or 40 FV prospect right now who is a knuckleballer?

 

Then there's the "slap hitting 2b" because we apparently don't have literally thousands of those in all levels of the minors.

 

What they are essentially saying is that being a woman is a skill that will supposedly help your team win. I can't think of anything else. The only benefit I can think of for having a female player is for the publicity.

 

Also, I just want to point out that I used to volunteer with Hurl at a baseball tourney in Richmond Hill. The thing I remember most was watching a game where there was a female pitcher on the mound and she absolutely dominated the guys she faced, struck out the side. I found it fascinating, but this was a girl who clearly didn't simply make her team because she's female, she made it because she was really good.

 

I'm sure that PC police and current destroyer of baseball Rob Manfred will virtue signal about getting a female player in, he's probably dying for it to happen under his tenure so I can see some sort of incentive for the first team to do it, but will a biological woman ever make the majors based on merit alone? No. Like I said, though, it would be pretty cool if it happened.

[Boxcar]

There were a bunch of French playwrights after the War who sought to stir up emotions with what they called the ‘Theatre of the Absurd’. Ridiculous stuff on stage that often got lots of wild reactions from the audience.

 

To people who truly appreciate the strength, speed, and skill required for The Show, the notion of a woman playing MLB for real (not as a stunt like the dwarf who drew a four-pitch walk for the White Sox) is, well, absurd.

 

Ring’s piece was meant to be provocative. It succeeded. I for one won’t criticise people’s visceral reactions if they are provoked. We are who we are.

 

123 downvotes for...being too truthful?

 

Top response, and I quote: "wow." Like 30 upvotes. It's like they have no interest discussing even the possibility that women will not be able to get into MLB on merit.

 

Why are SJWs interested in baseball?

 

E: god what have you done to me, queen b.

 

Pretty much. The last article got clicks and comments and activity, and surely this one will devolve into the same kind of thing. If it gets fangraphs clicks and money I don’t really care and I’ll enjoy it as long as its around as a website, but it’s a dumb topic to spend much time thinking about.

 

But, to be fair, I’ve read plenty of articles about dumb topics (and thought about dumb topics myself) all related to baseball so I guess I shouldn’t criticize.

 

End of the day, my prediction is that a female will never play in the MLB, nor the NFL, NBA, or NHL, barring a legal requirement that it happen in some awful dystopian future. The physical disadvantages are too great.

 

71 downvotes. Lol wtf am I witnessing here?

 

I realize I’m missing the point of the post. I just wanted to say one thing in relation to this:

 

“we don’t know if a woman can play in Major League Baseball”

 

I think we do know. We can say with absolute certainty that a woman can play Major League Baseball. It’s inconceivable that somebody out there couldn’t at least mimic pre-power Jose Altuve. Or a Zack Granite/Marco Scutaro type. Leonys Martin is going to bat leadoff for the Tigers. He had a .232 OBP last year. Perhaps we don’t know if there’s a Mike Trout or even a Khris Davis. If we’re patient enough, we’ll probably find one.

 

As you expressed, the barriers to entry currently prevent us from developing these players. This saddens me.

 

While this entire post is completely f***ing absurd, I want to know where this guy gets his idea that there is undoubtedly a female, pre-power Altuve somewhere out there.

 

Like holy f***, at least 8 people found this valid or insightful?

Edited March 25, 2018 by Boxcar

[bones10]

123 downvotes for...being too truthful?

 

Why are SJWs interested in baseball?

 

Honest question, why do you care about this s*** so much?

 

This comes from a person who pretty much agrees with what you said previously.

[Boxcar]

Honest question, why do you care about this s*** so much?

 

This comes from a person who pretty much agrees with what you said previously.

 

Honestly, right now I'm bored.

[BTS]

123 downvotes for...being too truthful?

 

Top response, and I quote: "wow." Like 30 upvotes. It's like they have no interest discussing even the possibility that women will not be able to get into MLB on merit.

 

Why are SJWs interested in baseball?

 

E: god what have you done to me, queen b.

 

 

 

71 downvotes. Lol wtf am I witnessing here?

 

 

 

While this entire post is completely f***ing absurd, I want to know where this guy gets his idea that there is undoubtedly a female, pre-power Altuve somewhere out there.

 

Like holy f***, at least 8 people found this valid or insightful?

 

[burlingtonbandit]

Kingery signs 6 year deal believed to be worth $24 Million. Nice deal for them.

[Boxcar]

 

Thx for the entertainment.

[John_Havok]

Kingery signs 6 year deal believed to be worth $24 Million. Nice deal for them.

 

With 3 more club option years for good measure. Could be signed through 2026 if all options are picked up.

 

Option years are 13, 14 and 15 million.

[King]

Thx for the entertainment.

Read the comments here if you want to go down another rabbit hole

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/can-major-league-baseball-legally-exclude-a-woman/

 

My favourite part was when someone called out Sheryl Ring for using Jen "research shows that women could be good middle infielders in the mold of David Eckstein and Jose Altuve, who excelled despite smaller frames" Ramos as a credible source and they were forced to apologize to Jen for attacking her crediblity.

 

ballz1220

Please don’t quote Jen Mac Ramos as a “credible expert” she is clearly delusional and won’t ever address women in baseball fairly. She is a classic reactionary. She spends her whole life complaining about men.

Sheryl Ring (author)

Ramos is a very knowledgeable person in this area. I am proud to have had their assistance for this piece.

 

ballz1220

You don’t see how her bias pervades every single thing she writes? I will grant she is knowledgeable in how a small independent league team might operate, but citing pitch framing numbers as to why they “might” be able to be a catcher seemed like such a huge reach that including it int he article was laughable.

Also not sure why you are using a plural “their” for a singular individual. I can only assume this is a typo unless you were referring to multiple people’s help with this article.

 

Don Zimmer will have his revenge on Pedro

Ah, there it is. Brings the whole gender insecurity thing full circle. I can’t possibly imagine being so angry that it would bother you that Sheryl would refer to someone by their preferred pronouns, which, of course, affects you in no way. Clown comment, ballz

ballz1220

This is a gender thing? Thought it was a simple typo or more information needed to be added, based on the author going from a singular to a plural pronoun. If this is a “gender” thing well I thought this was a fact based place and using a plural for a singular would be silly. Words mean things.

 

Carson Cistulli

Ballz! Hello. I’m Carson Cistulli, one of the editors of this site. You appear to have a difference of opinion with the author and some of the author’s sources. That is wholly acceptable. What’s less acceptable — indeed, I would argue less effective, as well, in the construction of an argument — is the strident tone and employment of personal attacks.

 

Regarding the question of pronouns and gender, you’re entirely right: words do mean things. Indeed, roughly a year ago, the Associated Press determined that the words they, them, their — all of which have traditionally been used to denote the plural — can also have singular meanings in contexts such as the one here. Please regard the following link for more on that topic.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/03/28/the-singular-gender-neutral-they-added-to-the-associated-press-stylebook/?utm_term=.f4ea603d7f7c

 

Ultimately, if you object to the material here, you’re permitted not to read it. What you’re not permitted to do, I will stress, is attack the author or the author’s sources. We are all going to die eventually and this is, ultimately, meaningless. So perhaps take some comfort in that fact.

 

ballz1220

Carson,

 

Thank you very much. No one has ever attacked Ms. Ringer. I in fact love Ms. Ringer’s work and she has an added expertise to the site that has been wonderful to read.

 

The problem was not with her article but with her sourcing. When she uses a source that is militantly anti-male and spends all day complaining about white people on her twitter feed you will inevitably get push-back about said source. If you are not familiar with her tweets complaining about white men incessantly I would be happy to provide you as many examples as you need to prove that the source is incredibly biased and not to be trusted on this. Just as we would roll our eyes if a Nazi was critiquing the wonderful career of Mr. Shawn Green I think we should also roll our eyes here. The opinions of the source and the way that the source frames every interaction and aspect of her life matter.

 

As per the Washington Post article, I am glad they have seen fit to change the complete history of human language and how language differentiates one person and multiple people. If one were to read the author’s comment with no knowledge of anything they would be incredibly confused by the language. That is not a situation anyone wants.

 

As per your last paragraph, life is indeed too short to stress about the little things. We only have X amount of dollars and time left on this Earth. I have read fangraphs every single day since the beginning. I became a Premium Member the day that Cameron announced it. I only cancelled my subscription due to some of the people you have hired making it very clear I am not welcome. Fangraphs was always a wonderful site that I could go to and read about baseball and not think about anything else. I am afraid that it has gotten away from that which is why I vote with my wallet.

 

Out of respect for the community I do apologize for the personal attack on Ms. Ramos. I should have strictly focused on why the argument that a woman could easily been Jose Altuve was not a good argument.

 

Don Zimmer will have his revenge on Pedro

You owe an apology to jen, not Sheryl.

ballz1220

I did apologize to ms Ramos pleas see above

 

mikejunt

Perhaps you could also recognize that her last name is not “Ringer”.

[King]

To go beyond probability and find the reality of the situation, I spoke with Hardball Times writer Jen Mac Ramos. I’m a decent enough lawyer, but my scouting abilities leave much to be desired. Ramos, on the the hand, has already conducted groundbreaking research which found that women are fully capable of playing catcher in affiliated baseball leagues. That’s because, according to Ramos’s research, the offensive bar for catchers is lower, and catcher defense — specifically pitch-framing — isn’t something men do better than women. Ramos also told me that their research shows that women could be good middle infielders in the mold of David Eckstein and Jose Altuve, who excelled despite smaller frames. And Ramos explained that female pitchers already exist who could get by in the pros throwing 83-85 mph, pointing to Jamie Moyer and Jered Weaver as examples.

 

Most importantly, Ramos told me that women players and women’s leagues simply aren’t scouted by MLB teams, largely due to a structural belief in front offices that they aren’t good enough. Simply put, explained Ramos, “these women don’t even come close to a lot of front offices’ radars.” But Ramos was emphatic when I asked them whether there are women players good enough today to play affiliated baseball, at least in the minor leagues. “Yes,” they said.

 

 

I don't even

[BTS]

Jen Mac Ramos triggers me so much. Radio silence from everyone who sources her as to why her bigotry is acceptable.

[King]

I have been blocked by Jen Mac Ace Neptune Ramos on twitter for awaring her of this thread.

 

 

[BTS]

lol, what post did you link to?

[Boxcar]

Lol what a ****. Dude, did you just slide in to her DMs, bro? That's racist.

 

E: also thank you, the fact that you actually DM'd her this thread is such lulz. Then she blocks you why?

 

Lmfao. White men just assume they have a right to talk to women smh.

[King]

lol, what post did you link to?

"She's a legitimately terrible person, both hateful and bigoted. The hypocrisy required for Meg Rowley, Managing Editor of HBT, to write an article about meanness in the community while at the same time employing someone like Ramos, is absolutely mind-blowing."

[Boxcar]

You know, now that feminism is finally trying to infect baseball, I think that every team should take a female player with their last pick. Or maybe AA could do it with those mid-round picks he likes to throw away. Then, have all 30 women play a year and see what happens.

 

I feel like this would solve everything.

[King]

She called me out on twitter lol

[Abomination]

She called me out on twitter lol

 

What did you think was going to happen?

[King]

What did you think was going to happen?

I expected this

[Boxcar]

Wow, this is pretty shocking given prior suspensions handed out by MLB.

 

[JG34]

She called me out on twitter lol

 

That's one way to get some traffic to the board lol.

[BTS]

King, what have you done?

 

[King]

King, what have you done?

 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[vdubmvp]

I'm unbothered by the different things that people find offensive but what I hate is the "ugh I don't need this in my life and would have rather not had it brought to my attention" while then posting it for people who would have otherwise never seen it rather than just ignoring it and moving on. You might as well just ask your followers to give you attention and validation and not even give this place another thought.

[vdubmvp]

Also I'm not too sure why she'd be taking issue with leaffie's post...

[Boxcar]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

You...misgendered them? How are you even still allowed to live?

[BTS]

I'm unbothered by the different things that people find offensive but what I hate is the "ugh I don't need this in my life and would have rather not had it brought to my attention" while then posting it for people who would have otherwise never seen it rather than just ignoring it and moving on. You might as well just ask your followers to give you attention and validation and not even give this place another thought.

 

leaffie is the rare woman MRA with toxic masculinity

[Boxcar]

I made it too! I'm famous

 

Whoa holy f***, talk about a pity party in the replies. What did we even say that was wrong? She had a problem with Leaffie's post? How? Lmfao.

 

Boy, better alert the nearest Starbucks to her, they might need to go soy milk shopping.