Around Baseball 2022

[Deadpool]

A pitch clock in MLB is long overdue.

 

I'm looking forward to the 2023 season. A pitch clock, banned shifts, bigger bases, (hopefully) robo umps, etc. Baseball needs to change and it looks like it finally will. I think all of those changes will make the game better without angering the diehards.

 

Depending on HOW the implement the shift bans, I'm not on board for that one (yet), but the rest are definitely big improvements. Roboumps being the thing that would improve baseball the most.

[John_Havok]

If they bring this to the MLB, they need to actually enforce it. Last time they tried pace of play things, the VETRIN guys were just ignoring the "don't step out of the batter's box" rule w/ zero consequences.

 

That's the thing, it cannot just be a pitch clock. There has to be corresponding rules set up so they cant get around it. Can't have the catcher holding the ball for a long time, have to set a max # of times the batter can call time, or the catcher can call time in any PA. Would also feel like setting a max # of throw overs with runners on base would be a smart thing also.

[Brownie19]

If they bring this to the MLB, they need to actually enforce it. Last time they tried pace of play things, the VETRIN guys were just ignoring the "don't step out of the batter's box" rule w/ zero consequences.

 

I saw the other day the umpire refused to let Kenley Jansen throw more than 3 warm up pitches because he took so f***ing long to get to the mound and throw his first 3 pitches. Ump took a lot of heat for that - but it's going to take guys actually enforcing the rules to impart change. 25 minutes off a baseball game is f***ing huge and that s*** should be implemented immediately. We need games to flow like they did when Doc and Buehrle pitched (to the extent possible). Guys like Pedro Baez who take 30 seconds between every pitch and destroy the pace of play must be shown the door.

[TwistedLogic]

Depending on HOW the implement the shift bans, I'm not on board for that one (yet), but the rest are definitely big improvements. Roboumps being the thing that would improve baseball the most.

 

From what I've read (and I'm hazy on this so I could be wrong here), it would likely be two rules that go into place:

 

- You must have four infielders beginning each play on/inside the dirt at all times. This kills the ability to stack people in the outfield.

 

- You must have two infielders beginning each play on either side of second base. This kills the ability to put three or four guys on one side.

 

These two simple rules would effectively kill shifting as we know it (or at least significantly neuter it) and I don't see how the game would be any worse for it. Not only would offense pick up, it's just more intuitive for casual fans and makes baseball easier to understand.

 

Again though, it's possible I'm misremembering and this isn't the route they're going to take. Feeling too lazy to look it up right now.

[Abomination]

From what I've read (and I'm hazy on this so I could be wrong here), it would likely be two rules that go into place:

 

- You must have four infielders beginning each play on/inside the dirt at all times. This kills the ability to stack people in the outfield.

 

- You must have two infielders beginning each play on either side of second base. This kills the ability to put three or four guys on one side.

 

These two simple rules would effectively kill shifting as we know it (or at least significantly neuter it) and I don't see how the game would be any worse for it. Not only would offense pick up, it's just more intuitive for casual fans and makes baseball easier to understand.

 

Again though, it's possible I'm misremembering and this isn't the route they're going to take. Feeling too lazy to look it up right now.

 

Yeah. It would still allow reasonable shifting, it would just eliminate some of the extreme measures. A team could still rotate an outfielder to the shallow outfield or infield, but at least that would create a more dangerous hole.

[Terminator]

Very surprised nobody decided to take this on.

 

It's hard to mess with perfection.

[Stangstag]

Yeah. It would still allow reasonable shifting, it would just eliminate some of the extreme measures. A team could still rotate an outfielder to the shallow outfield or infield, but at least that would create a more dangerous hole.

 

Outfield shifting is about to get wacky.

 

Left-Center, Right-Center, Rover for some batters

[Terminator]

[BTS]

 

Would have got what, like 2/16 or something on the open market?

[Laika]

 

excuse me?

[Terminator]

So the Rockies just spent over 380 million to lock up Kris Bryant, Ryan McMahon, Kyle Freeland and Antonio Sensatela...

 

EDIT: If you include the Arenado cash which no doubt allowed them to make a lot of these moves it's 420 million for those 4 players.

[BTS]

Rockies twitter seems really happy with the Freeland extension, so good for them I guess.

[G-Snarls]

Rockies twitter seems really happy with the Freeland extension, so good for them I guess.

 

It's hard to find pitchers who actually want to pitch for COL

[Laika]

It's hard to find pitchers who actually want to pitch for COL

 

I guess this is a big part of it

 

Has AAV is palatable and he's not replacement level

[John_Havok]

I guess this is a big part of it

 

Has AAV is palatable and he's not replacement level

 

There's also an opt-out clasue that he can exercise after 2024 if he places top 5 in Cy Young voting in either 2023 or 2024. Not that it's likely to happen...

[Terminator]

So looking into this a little deeper and Freeland was headed to arb this year and is under team control next year. His new deal includes both of these years.

 

He was going to get about 7 mil in arb this year, and then next year would be about 10 mil or so?

 

So it works out to something like a 3 year 47 million dollar extension to lock him up through his age 31-33 seasons. That still seems crazy and given that he had another year of control I don't know what the rush is.

[Laika]

Yeah lol

[bzapple]

I don't know why the Rockies keep committing money to so-so major leaguers. Remember when the Jays extended Grichuk and the general feeling was like, ok, not awful or anything, but why did they do that? The Rockies have done that sort of extension over and over again. It's like they're betting on all their current players developing into stars so they can be like, "man, we're so smart" without recognizing the very real possibility that these guys won't even be worth what they make in arbitration. They're basically telling their fans, this is our team, get used to it, it's not getting any better.

[John_Havok]

I don't know why the Rockies keep committing money to so-so major leaguers. Remember when the Jays extended Grichuk and the general feeling was like, ok, not awful or anything, but why did they do that? The Rockies have done that sort of extension over and over again. It's like they're betting on all their current players developing into stars so they can be like, "man, we're so smart" without recognizing the very real possibility that these guys won't even be worth what they make in arbitration. They're basically telling their fans, this is our team, get used to it, it's not getting any better.

 

It's the Rockies. the dude running that place loves spending money, just... not on great players. Arenado was the best contract they ever handed out (like, at least he was a legit Top tier star player), then panicked and dumped him. Now they're just throwing money at mediocrity.

[Terminator]

I don't know why the Rockies keep committing money to so-so major leaguers. Remember when the Jays extended Grichuk and the general feeling was like, ok, not awful or anything, but why did they do that? The Rockies have done that sort of extension over and over again. It's like they're betting on all their current players developing into stars so they can be like, "man, we're so smart" without recognizing the very real possibility that these guys won't even be worth what they make in arbitration. They're basically telling their fans, this is our team, get used to it, it's not getting any better.

 

They are locking up the core of a 70-win team by handing out over $400 million dollars in contracts. It's insane lol.

[JFD]

At least Semien and his Rangers look like complete ass

[HERPDERP]

Tommy Pham on Luke Voit's slide into Tyler Stephenson: " If Luke wants to settle it, I get down really well. Anything. Muay Thai, whatever. Like I said, I've got an owner here who will let me use his facility. So f*** 'em. I'm out."

 

[Laika]

Tommy Pham on Luke Voit's slide into Tyler Stephenson: " If Luke wants to settle it, I get down really well. Anything. Muay Thai, whatever. Like I said, I've got an owner here who will let me use his facility. So f*** 'em. I'm out."

 

 

this was not a dirty slide, lmao

 

Voit looks immediately remorseful about the contact

 

Stephenson literally dives into Voit's path to make the tag

[Stangstag]

Tommy Pham on Luke Voit's slide into Tyler Stephenson: " If Luke wants to settle it, I get down really well. Anything. Muay Thai, whatever. Like I said, I've got an owner here who will let me use his facility. So f*** 'em. I'm out."

 

 

Tommy Pham seems like a kind of a douche ngl

[John_Havok]

this was not a dirty slide, lmao

 

Voit looks immediately remorseful about the contact

 

Stephenson literally dives into Voit's path to make the tag

 

Yeah i dont think it was dirty, but i can see why some could come to the decision that it was - it kinda looks like he grabbed his head and his head ended up taking a bit of a hit. I don't think he was grabbing at it to deliver a blow, it actually looked like he was trying to keep the catcher up and all he could grab was his head area based on where his arms were during that part of the slide.

[BTS]

It's the second inning and the White Sox have 4 errors. Tim Anderson has 3.

[Virgil_Hiltz]

It's the second inning and the White Sox have 4 errors. Tim Anderson has 3.

 

Elvis Andrus approves.

[TwistedLogic]

It's the second inning and the White Sox have 4 errors. Tim Anderson has 3.

 

I was watching, they should have been charged with more errors. They are f***ing atrocious. Looked like a little league team.

[BTS]

I was watching, they should have been charged with more errors. They are f***ing atrocious. Looked like a little league team.

 

Yup. I felt bad for Keuchel. He wasn't good, but they booted everything hit on the ground. One of the worst innings I've ever seen.

[TwistedLogic]

Yup. I felt bad for Keuchel. He wasn't good, but they booted everything hit on the ground. One of the worst innings I've ever seen.

 

That's why I was so mad. I picked up Keuchel for a spot start in my H2H fantasy league (lmao) and his outing was like 3x as bad because of how disgusting their defense was.