BASEBALL IS BACk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!k!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Abomination]

One good thing is if the players do file a grievance, all the agreements will be out in the open (or at least will be ruled on by an independent party). We'll see exactly who is acting in good faith and who isn't.

[Bobthe4th]

One good thing is if the players do file a grievance, all the agreements will be out in the open (or at least will be ruled on by an independent party). We'll see exactly who is acting in good faith and who isn't.

 

Spoiler alert: no one is

[KevinGregg]

I hear you, but finally making it was even sweeter. It would mean so much less with sub .500 teams making the playoffs.

 

The 38 win bucks squeaking into the playoffs just to get smashed by lebrons heat in 2013 was hilariously pointless, but it was also infuriating when the cardinals won the world series with 83 wins in 2006 and we didnt even make the playoffs with 87 wins.

Both systems are an example of a playoff system skewed too far in the wrong direction. Balance in all things.

 

Of course mlb has expanded the playoffs since 2006 and it feels like it's actually in a decent spot now

[saskjayfan]

So will we see Pearson this year?

[Spanky99]

So will we see Pearson this year?

 

Not sure, If 1 or 2 get hurt, likely. Lots of variables.

[saskjayfan]

Not sure, If 1 or 2 get hurt, likely. Lots of variables.

 

I'm not sure how the whole service time works this year. Nate needs as many innings for his development purposes and protection of his arm for next year. Looking forward to seeing him.

[KevinGregg]

I'm not sure how the whole service time works this year. Nate needs as many innings for his development purposes and protection of his arm for next year. Looking forward to seeing him.

 

Pretty sure they agreed in march that anyone who plays this year gets a full year of service time. Unless they totally cancel the season, then I think everyone just gets what they got last year

[glory]

So will we see Pearson this year?

 

With no minor league season, it would be insane not to have him on the roster from day 1. He already missed all of 2018, and now 2020 is compromised due to Covid. He turns 24 in 2 months, and pitchers who throw that hard have an unpredictable shelf life. I mean, if everyone stays healthy (big if), he'd only start about 12 games in a 60 game season, but that's better than being on the taxi squad throwing fake simulated games. Of course, starting him on the roster right away means that him, Vlad, Bo, and Biggio become free agents at the same time, but between potential work stoppages, CBA changes, etc, in the coming years, just put the best players on the field when it makes sense to do so.

 

If Pearson is on the taxi squad because we have to take a long look at Chase Anderson, Borucki, Yamaguchi, etc, in the rotation, then even a 60 game season will start to feel long. A rotation of Ryu-Pearson-Shoemaker-Roark-Thornton actually looks decent on paper, and the other guys can be used as depth in case of injury.

 

Although they have to explain how the 40 man roster situation works in a truncated season.

[BTS]

Pearson needs to be on the team from opening day. f*** worrying about service time for a goddamn pitcher.

[Spanky99]

Pearson needs to be on the team from opening day. f*** worrying about service time for a goddamn pitcher.

 

I agree with that, will Atkins?

[saskjayfan]

I agree with that, will Atkins?

 

It's going to be hard finding a reason to start him at AAA next year when he lights it up this year, but I'm sure they could find a way...lol. I'd prefer they just sign him to 7 years right now, but that's unlikely to happen.

[Grant77]

Sounds like we'll get a universal DH for just 2020, at least so far.

[Spanky99]

It's going to be hard finding a reason to start him at AAA next year when he lights it up this year, but I'm sure they could find a way...lol. I'd prefer they just sign him to 7 years right now, but that's unlikely to happen.

 

If he pitches this year, he'll certainly be pitching next year.

[Spanky99]

Sounds like we'll get a universal DH for just 2020, at least so far.

 

I don't even get the debate on the DH, pitchers don't hit and are saved from some stupid injury, 2 way players like Ohtani, etc... can still hit. Owners should love it. As for the players more jobs. It should be a no-brainer.

[Grant77]

I don't even get the debate on the DH, pitchers don't hit and are saved from some stupid injury, 2 way players like Ohtani, etc... can still hit. Owners should love it. As for the players more jobs. It should be a no-brainer.

 

I enjoy some aspects of National League strategy, but I agree that a universal DH would be a net positive overall.

[Spanky99]

I enjoy some aspects of National League strategy, but I agree that a universal DH would be a net positive overall.

 

National League strategy is out the window now, with minimum 3 batters etc, time to move on. I don't like that the RP match-ups are gone, but it is what it is, any dolt can be a manager now, everything's right there on paper from the analytics intel. Owners using this as a ploy in the CBA against players is far too transparent and should be taken as a joke, honestly.

[TheHurl]

any dolt can be a manager now.

 

now?

 

Seeing as this season will not be used for arbitration purposes I hope we see a bunch of arb eligible players coming off good seasons sit out multiple games.

[BlueRocky]

[P2F]

The second rule is just sooooooo f***ing dumb and you cannot convince me otherwise. Holy f***, it's okay to have ties in this sport if we must!

[BlueRocky]

I’ve seen them play with that rule down in double-A. Essentially the first batter will sac bunt the runner to third, then your team has a chance to sac fly him home to break the tie. If that fails you have another chance to bring him home with the final out.

 

I’ve seen multiple innings of these exchanges occur as both teams fail to cash-in the runner.

 

Mix in three-batter minimums on pitchers plus a live pitch-clock and you have Rob Manfred’s wet dream.

[Grant77]

This wet rag thing is a controversy waiting to happen. A third party or the umpires will have to hand them out on the field each half inning or we'll be talking about foreign substances every game.

[max silver]

I’ve seen them play with that rule down in double-A. Essentially the first batter will sac bunt the runner to third, then your team has a chance to sac fly him home to break the tie. If that fails you have another chance to bring him home with the final out.

 

I’ve seen multiple innings of these exchanges occur as both teams fail to cash-in the runner.

 

Mix in three-batter minimums on pitchers plus a live pitch-clock and you have Rob Manfred’s wet dream.

 

Think of the massive surge of excitement the old school dinosaurs would get to experience with the upswing in small ball tactics. If there's anything that can be counted on to bring new fans to the sport it's absolutely the unparalleled excitement of bunts and sacrifice flies.

[connorp]

The second rule is just sooooooo f***ing dumb and you cannot convince me otherwise. Holy f***, it's okay to have ties in this sport if we must!

 

Takes away from the purity of the game sure but i think a lot of fans and players would be ok with it once they get used to it. I’d think the people that love the 15 inning games are the minority.

 

I’m used to seeing it in competitive travel ball

[connorp]

Think of the massive surge of excitement the old school dinosaurs would get to experience with the upswing in small ball tactics. If there's anything that can be counted on to bring new fans to the sport it's absolutely the unparalleled excitement of bunts and sacrifice flies.

 

Guys is scoring position extra innings is intrigue and excitement really. Doesn’t matter how they come home

[Bobthe4th]

Guys is scoring position extra innings is intrigue and excitement really. Doesn’t matter how they come home

 

TBF I think it's more to do with ending the game as early as possible rather than trying to make the game more exciting.

[connorp]

TBF I think it's more to do with ending the game as early as possible rather than trying to make the game more exciting.

 

Maybe true but i think both play a part in the thinking. If a game goes to the 12th inning, it’s easier to digest if there was action in 10th and 11th. If there’s no runners and innings are 1-2-3, only the die hards are still invested at that point.

But yeah, I agree the main reason is to end it quickly but if that was only reason you’d just call it a tie after X amount of innings.

[Ray]

I’ve seen them play with that rule down in double-A. Essentially the first batter will sac bunt the runner to third, then your team has a chance to sac fly him home to break the tie. If that fails you have another chance to bring him home with the final out.

 

I’ve seen multiple innings of these exchanges occur as both teams fail to cash-in the runner.

 

Mix in three-batter minimums on pitchers plus a live pitch-clock and you have Rob Manfred’s wet dream.

 

They just ruined walk offs in one fell swoop. That sounds incredibly anti-climatic.

[Bobthe4th]

Maybe true but i think both play a part in the thinking. If a game goes to the 12th inning, it’s easier to digest if there was action in 10th and 11th. If there’s no runners and innings are 1-2-3, only the die hards are still invested at that point.

But yeah, I agree the main reason is to end it quickly but if that was only reason you’d just call it a tie after X amount of innings.

 

Yeah the North American aversion to draws has always been strange to me - even MLS used to have tiebreakers!

[connorp]

They just ruined walk offs in one fell swoop. That sounds incredibly anti-climatic.

 

Or they could walk off on a hit. A sac fly or wild pitch could also be very climatic if there’s a play at the plate. And if there is no auto runner the game is still just as likely to end in an anti-climatic way

[P2F]

Takes away from the purity of the game sure but i think a lot of fans and players would be ok with it once they get used to it. I’d think the people that love the 15 inning games are the minority.

 

I’m used to seeing it in competitive travel ball

 

Yes, I agree. I implied that tie games are the way to go here.