Official Spring Training 2021 GDT/discussion thread

[jerb]

 

Arden Zwelling

@ArdenZwelling

 

Per manager Charlie Montoyo, Blue Jays pitchers scheduled to appear in first two games of spring:

 

Feb. 28 @ NYY — Kay, Zeuch, Waguespack, Baker, Merryweather

Mar. 1 vs. PIT — Ray, Pearson, Romano, Borucki, Liriano, Zulueta

[Ray]

Rogers pumps nearly $200M into this team in the offseason, and yet won't televise games home games because they'd rather broadcast Sportsnet Misplays of the Month? Pretty annoying.

[jerb]

 

Arden Zwelling

@ArdenZwelling

 

Correction: Joey Murray will be the final pitcher on Feb. 28 @ NYY, not Julian Merryweather.

[wilko]

Rogers pumps nearly $200M into this team in the offseason, and yet won't televise games home games because they'd rather broadcast Sportsnet Misplays of the Month? Pretty annoying.

 

It makes no sense. They own the f***ing network.

[Ray]

It makes no sense. They own the f***ing network.

 

It probably makes a little sense financially. They probably make more profit broadcasting reruns of s***** sports compilation as opposed to Jays games, where they have to send a whole tv and production crew down to Dunedin for a month (even longer now due to COVID probably). It's significantly more expensive to do, and while Spring Training games will outdraw most alternative options, the cost probably doesn't justify the TV revenue you're pulling in.

 

It's just annoying that they won't absorb a relatively small loss since people are super pumped up about this team.

[LGBJ29]

It makes no sense. They own the f***ing network.

 

I mean it must make sense for them when they crunch the numbers. It still costs them a ton of money to televise games. Sending a full crew with cameras, sound, production crew etc. you're probably looking at wages for over 100 people. If the expectation is for them is televise every game, you'd also have to pay for those 100+ people's living accommodations, meals, travel etc. Those numbers add up quickly. You can bet they've reviewed the data and they find televising a select few games and piggybacking opposing broadcasts is far less expensive with similar engagement.

 

I definitely agree its annoying for us die hards, but taking a step back it is understandable.

 

Edit: Ray beat me to it

[Ray]

I mean it must make sense for them when they crunch the numbers. It still costs them a ton of money to televise games. Sending a full crew with cameras, sound, production crew etc. you're probably looking at wages for over 100 people. If the expectation is for them is televise every game, you'd also have to pay for those 100+ people's living accommodations, meals, travel etc. Those numbers add up quickly. You can bet they've reviewed the data and they find televising a select few games and piggybacking opposing broadcasts is far less expensive with similar engagement.

 

I definitely agree its annoying for us die hards, but taking a step back it is understandable.

 

Edit: Ray beat me to it

 

I guess the good news is that we're playing the Yankees and Phillies a ton, and they usually broadcast all of their home games. Even the Pirates TV station has been good about it in recent years.

[Ehjays]

Rogers pumps nearly $200M into this team in the offseason, and yet won't televise games home games because they'd rather broadcast Sportsnet Misplays of the Month? Pretty annoying.

 

Just to confirm, this is for preseason only correct? Once the regular season starts we will have full coverage.

[wilko]

Just to confirm, this is for preseason only correct? Once the regular season starts we will have full coverage.

 

Yes.

[Virgil_Hiltz]

I mean it must make sense for them when they crunch the numbers. It still costs them a ton of money to televise games. Sending a full crew with cameras, sound, production crew etc. you're probably looking at wages for over 100 people. If the expectation is for them is televise every game, you'd also have to pay for those 100+ people's living accommodations, meals, travel etc. Those numbers add up quickly. You can bet they've reviewed the data and they find televising a select few games and piggybacking opposing broadcasts is far less expensive with similar engagement.

 

I definitely agree its annoying for us die hards, but taking a step back it is understandable.

 

Edit: Ray beat me to it

I would just be happy with a simulcast....pick up the other teams video feed and have the Jays announcers in Toronto. Seems to work ok for the Raptor announcers.

[Ray]

[gruber92]

Sunday's Spring opener vs the Yankees looks like it will be televised on SN, 1pm.

[Jimcanuck]

Sunday's Spring opener vs the Yankees looks like it will be televised on SN, 1pm.

 

Old news, bro.

[Jays24]

Sunday's Spring opener vs the Yankees looks like it will be televised on SN, 1pm.

 

Cant wait... it's a must win.

[TwistedLogic]

 

Yeah that's an unbelievable facility. I can't imagine it not playing a factor in attracting players in the future.

[jerb]

[Abomination]

It probably makes a little sense financially. They probably make more profit broadcasting reruns of s***** sports compilation as opposed to Jays games, where they have to send a whole tv and production crew down to Dunedin for a month (even longer now due to COVID probably). It's significantly more expensive to do, and while Spring Training games will outdraw most alternative options, the cost probably doesn't justify the TV revenue you're pulling in.

 

It's just annoying that they won't absorb a relatively small loss since people are super pumped up about this team.

 

They could just put a fixed camera out in CF and stream it on YouTube. Better than nothing.

[Spanky99]

 

God Damn!

[Jays24]

 

That looks friggin amazing. Wish our weather didn't suck so that could have been built here. Kind of ridiculous for the amount of money spent on a facility that far away from your home but good for them lol.

[Abomination]

God Damn!

 

Shatkins: Congratulations, you've just been promoted to AA!

Player: Damn it!

 

It is an interesting point though. I wonder if teams will start to try to get all their farm teams in one location? From a player development standpoint, it would be absolutely ideal for all minor league players to have the consistency of the training facilities and personnel.

[Jays24]

Shatkins: Congratulations, you've just been promoted to AA!

Player: Damn it!

 

It is an interesting point though. I wonder if teams will start to try to get all their farm teams in one location? From a player development standpoint, it would be absolutely ideal for all minor league players to have the consistency of the training facilities and personnel.

 

Very good point. Makes too much sense to not do that from almost every standpoint except how far Florida is from Toronto so calling people up from AAA would become harder.

[Jimcanuck]

Very good point. Makes too much sense to not do that from almost every standpoint except how far Florida is from Toronto so calling people up from AAA would become harder.

 

It's a 2 hr flight, in any event the higher leagues will be dispersed - there are tickets to be sold, money to be made.

 

There will still be plenty of players at the development complex, throughout the year.

[Ray]

Shatkins: Congratulations, you've just been promoted to AA!

Player: Damn it!

 

It is an interesting point though. I wonder if teams will start to try to get all their farm teams in one location? From a player development standpoint, it would be absolutely ideal for all minor league players to have the consistency of the training facilities and personnel.

 

I've been thinking this for a while now, but my guess is most minor league teams (sans AAA) will be absorbed by the major league teams and maybe even consolidated to Arizona/Florida within the next 10 years. It just makes so much more sense to have recently drafted high schoolers and IFA's going to one player development complex/facility where the major league team can control the variables. We're likely moving towards an academy type model where the complexes are used to house, feed, teach, and train minor leaguers year round surrounded by the best amenities. The Braves even have a hotel component to their newly created complex. It's just way more efficient than these kids going to a dilapidated minor league facility in the middle of Potatohead, Iowa where they are taking long bus rides, not getting the best coaching, eating junk, and sometimes not even knowing how to get around if they are 17 year old Dominican kids.

 

In that aspect, we're set up really well. The Bobby Mattick centre facility was laughably bad. Like, I'm pretty sure the average high school in the US that had a decent emphasis on athletics may have even been better. And most D1 college baseball programs probably blew it out of the water. Imagine Austin Martin going from Vanderbilts facilities to training at the Bobby Mattick centre lol.

[Deadpool]

 

There's a certain type of player who is REALLY excited for the "discipline rooms"

[LGBJ29]

I think my favourite part is that Mark Shapiro has been consistently dunking on Marcus Stroman since he made that tweet calling out this FO

[Spanky99]

There's a certain type of player who is REALLY excited for the "discipline rooms"

 

lol... I found that plug pretty odd, too? WTF???

[Brownie19]

I've been thinking this for a while now, but my guess is most minor league teams (sans AAA) will be absorbed by the major league teams and maybe even consolidated to Arizona/Florida within the next 10 years. It just makes so much more sense to have recently drafted high schoolers and IFA's going to one player development complex/facility where the major league team can control the variables. We're likely moving towards an academy type model where the complexes are used to house, feed, teach, and train minor leaguers year round surrounded by the best amenities. The Braves even have a hotel component to their newly created complex. It's just way more efficient than these kids going to a dilapidated minor league facility in the middle of Potatohead, Iowa where they are taking long bus rides, not getting the best coaching, eating junk, and sometimes not even knowing how to get around if they are 17 year old Dominican kids.

 

In that aspect, we're set up really well. The Bobby Mattick centre facility was laughably bad. Like, I'm pretty sure the average high school in the US that had a decent emphasis on athletics may have even been better. And most D1 college baseball programs probably blew it out of the water. Imagine Austin Martin going from Vanderbilts facilities to training at the Bobby Mattick centre lol.

 

I think that all makes sense - however, it's a bit sad that it would take minor league baseball from communities who've had it an supported it for all these years. Not sure how it would work if multiple teams play out of one center. Maybe that's more desirable for fans in those select destinations? How cool would it be to retire in Dunedin and be able to choose which team (A, AA, AAA) you go watch each week?

[TwistedLogic]

Sporstnet broadcast schedule for Spring Training:

[JaysAllMighty]

Sporstnet broadcast schedule for Spring Training:

 

https://media.sportsnet.ca/2021/02/home-away-from-home-sportsnet-announces-blue-jays-2021-spring-training-broadcast-schedule/

[wilko]

Sporstnet broadcast schedule for Spring Training:

 

That's not bad.