Around Baseball 2018

[G-Snarls]

Addy Russell could be in trouble. Melissa Reidy is giving details publicly on some talk show. Thread is either been pulled or too much traffic.

 

http://www.expandedroster.com/2018/12/19/melisa-reidy-is-speaking-out-its-time-for-everyone-to-listen/

 

https://deadspin.com/mother-of-addison-russells-child-shares-details-of-mist-1831202751

[Brownie19]

Bwahahahaha....

 

HOLY f*** HAROLD. How does he maintain a job?

[Brownie19]

You don't say! lol

 

Ah f*** me. Too lazy to look back a page.

[Spanky__99]

Addy Russell could be in trouble. Melissa Reidy is giving details publicly on some talk show. Thread is either been pulled or too much traffic.

 

http://www.expandedroster.com/2018/12/19/melisa-reidy-is-speaking-out-its-time-for-everyone-to-listen/

 

https://deadspin.com/mother-of-addison-russells-child-shares-details-of-mist-1831202751

 

Guy's a real POS.

[TheHurl]

I understand that Theo's definition of D-Bag is different than a traditional D-Bag...but if he's going to have a No D-Bags painted on his office you have to figure he drops Addy now.

[Brownie19]

I understand that Theo's definition of D-Bag is different than a traditional D-Bag...but if he's going to have a No D-Bags painted on his office you have to figure he drops Addy now.

 

He'll probably justify it by saying his sign says "no douche bags" - and Addy is a MASSIVE douche bag and thus doesn't conflict with his policy.

[Boxcar]

Holy f***, I'm starting to think that Harold Reynolds could get up, pull his pants down and stick his cock in Matt Vasgersian's ear and no one would bat an eye. This guy has the ultimate in job security.

[Abomination]

I didn't see anyone post it, but MLB and Cuba have now reached a posting system agreement that allows Cuban players to play in the MLB without having to defect from Cuba.

 

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/mlb-union-cuba-deal-1.4953087

[Spanky__99]

I didn't see anyone post it, but MLB and Cuba have now reached a posting system agreement that allows Cuban players to play in the MLB without having to defect from Cuba.

 

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/mlb-union-cuba-deal-1.4953087

 

Finally... good for baseball and both parties.

[Angrioter]

MLB reaches deal that will allow Cuban players to sign without defecting

[King]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/theres-a-downside-to-the-opener/#comments

 

Sheryl Ring getting shredded in the comments section, again

[Boxcar]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/theres-a-downside-to-the-opener/#comments

 

Sheryl Ring getting shredded in the comments section, again

 

Ummm...not really

[TheHurl]

Her arguments for why it's bad for baseball were better than Boxy's.

 

The arbitration process will probably have to change as the management changes how they pay players. Arbitration follows legal precedents and the "Comparable" process. I had a chance to sit in on a mock hockey arbitration (it was a competition between Brock and York). At the end the NHLPA and a team lawyer talked about all the parts that were inadmissible. i really thought it was some of the better points made which weren't allowed.

[Boxcar]

Her arguments for why it's bad for baseball were better than Boxy's.

 

The arbitration process will probably have to change as the management changes how they pay players. Arbitration follows legal precedents and the "Comparable" process. I had a chance to sit in on a mock hockey arbitration (it was a competition between Brock and York). At the end the NHLPA and a team lawyer talked about all the parts that were inadmissible. i really thought it was some of the better points made which weren't allowed.

 

I was clearly not prepared to face any opposition

[Bobthe4th]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/theres-a-downside-to-the-opener/#comments

 

Sheryl Ring getting shredded in the comments section, again

 

Maybe they have they deleted them since you posted this, but there isn’t a single comment critising the author.

 

The top comment is criticising Fangrsphs overall but starts “I enjoy Sheryl’s work”.

[Bobthe4th]

I didn't see anyone post it, but MLB and Cuba have now reached a posting system agreement that allows Cuban players to play in the MLB without having to defect from Cuba.

 

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/mlb-union-cuba-deal-1.4953087

 

The biggest impact could be that now if a player defects from Cuba they will have to wait one to two years before signing for a MLB team. I can see players not wanting to wait until they are over 25 and a free agent (if their team doesn’t want to let them go before then), but it’d be risky either sitting out a year or two or playing in the DR or similar.

[Abomination]

The biggest impact could be that now if a player defects from Cuba they will have to wait one to two years before signing for a MLB team. I can see players not wanting to wait until they are over 25 and a free agent, but it’s be risky either sitting out a year or two or playing in the DR or similar.

 

Well Cuba can also post them before they're 25, and in fact it would be to their advantage to do so.

[Bobthe4th]

[Abomination]

 

I'm of two minds about this kind of stuff. I think ultimately that players will adapt (or should adapt), and it'll sort itself out on its own. That said, I could see something along the lines of requiring at least two infielders on each side of the diamond when the pitcher releases the ball or something (not counting pitcher or catcher). That would help reduce the extreme shifts we see slightly, while still allowing teams to deploy them in general.

[Bobthe4th]

I'm of two minds about this kind of stuff. I think ultimately that players will adapt (or should adapt), and it'll sort itself out on its own. That said, I could see something along the lines of requiring at least two infielders on each side of the diamond when the pitcher releases the ball or something (not counting pitcher or catcher). That would help reduce the extreme shifts we see slightly, while still allowing teams to deploy them in general.

 

Yeah that could work. In the short format versions of cricket (probably the closest major sport to baseball) there are fielding restrictions designed to increase the runs scored and therefore entertainment.

[Krylian]

I'm probably more of a "purist" than the majority here, but even I don't see any problem with the shift. You have 9 players on the field and you should be able to position them however you want. If you want to put 7 of them in left field cause you think that gives you a competitive advantage you should be allowed to do that...but then you have to deal with the consequences when the hitter slaps it to right field. And if you want to have all 4 infielders on the right side that's fine...but if hitters decide to start dropping bunts down the left field line, then you deal with the outcome.

[Brownie19]

I'm of two minds about this kind of stuff. I think ultimately that players will adapt (or should adapt), and it'll sort itself out on its own. That said, I could see something along the lines of requiring at least two infielders on each side of the diamond when the pitcher releases the ball or something (not counting pitcher or catcher). That would help reduce the extreme shifts we see slightly, while still allowing teams to deploy them in general.

 

All I can picture is the setting on my high school volleyball team. He lines up on the side (in the rotational position he has to) and then when the ball is put into play, he runs into the middle to become the setter again. Would we see an infielder standing right on the line and then moving as the pitcher goes into his windup? That's stupid.

[Brownie19]

I'm probably more of a "purist" than the majority here, but even I don't see any problem with the shift. You have 9 players on the field and you should be able to position them however you want. If you want to put 7 of them in left field cause you think that gives you a competitive advantage you should be allowed to do that...but then you have to deal with the consequences when the hitter slaps it to right field. And if you want to have all 4 infielders on the right side that's fine...but if hitters decide to start dropping bunts down the left field line, then you deal with the outcome.

 

What's next - they'll draw a line on the infield that fielders must stay behind to prevent them from playing in on a bunt - or to cut down a run at home? Will infielders be allowed to play deep with their feet in the outfield?

 

This is beyond stupid. Hopefully Shapiro can knock some sense into these f***s.

[Bobthe4th]

What's next - they'll draw a line on the infield that fielders must stay behind to prevent them from playing in on a bunt - or to cut down a run at home? Will infielders be allowed to play deep with their feet in the outfield?

 

This is beyond stupid. Hopefully Shapiro can knock some sense into these f***s.

 

Haha, nah it's not stupid to consider ways to limit the shift. IMO it won't happen but that doesn't mean it shouldn't even be discussed.

 

For every person who moans that restricting fielders from standing where they want is against the unwritten rules, there's a person who moans about the lower numbers of hits causing games to be even more boring than normal.

[G-Snarls]

What's next - they'll draw a line on the infield that fielders must stay behind to prevent them from playing in on a bunt - or to cut down a run at home? Will infielders be allowed to play deep with their feet in the outfield?

 

This is beyond stupid. Hopefully Shapiro can knock some sense into these f***s.

 

Yes. Players will have dots they have to stand on until the pitcher releases the ball. They're not allowed to shade left or right based on the batter's profile, nor allowed to play deep in a tie game with a runner on base. If they move before the pitch they're offside. 1 ball penalty.

[Brownie19]

Haha, nah it's not stupid to consider ways to limit the shift. IMO it won't happen but that doesn't mean it shouldn't even be discussed.

 

For every person who moans that restricting fielders from standing where they want is against the unwritten rules, there's a person who moans about the lower numbers of hits causing games to be even more boring than normal.

 

Except the spike in runs per game (1993 to 2010) eerily lines up with the steroid era. The # of runs per game per game over the last few years is similar to what we saw from 1980 to 1993. The other obvious factor in the reduction in runs is the improvement in pitching - and the way teams use pitching. What if limited the shift doesn't work? Are they going to put governors on our pitchers? Every pitch over 95 MPH is an automatic ball - we need more scoring!

 

Changing the rules to address one component of a perceived issue seems incredibly short sighted. Baseball is cyclical - it always has been. Don't f*** it up with stupid rules.

[P2F]

Cahill to the Angels. 1-yr/$9M.

 

So who the f***'s pitching for Toronto in 2019?

[Bobthe4th]

Cahill to the Angels. 1-yr/$9M.

 

So who the f***'s pitching for Toronto in 2019?

 

One or 2 veterans on relatively cheap short term deals. Gio Gonzalez and Jeremy Hellickson?

[BTS]

I have not seen anyone articulate a single valid reason for regulating the shift. Drop a goddamn bunt down the opposite field line if you're tired of grounding into the shift.

[Bobthe4th]

I have not seen anyone articulate a single valid reason for regulating the shift. Drop a goddamn bunt down the opposite field line if you're tired of grounding into the shift.

 

In theory, the shift takes hits away. In theory, hits are more exciting than outs. Ergo, limit the shift = more hits = baseball is more "fun".