Around Baseball 2023

[Brownie19]

Yeah the Marlins have been one of the worst teams in baseball when you look at their regular season success, though they have two World Series (1997 and 2003) since 1993 so in their 30 years of existence. However since even 2003, the team has been not relevant at all other than grabbing a Wild Card spot in 2020.

 

The Rays have had regular season success most years since 2008 so 10 years after they were established. However, haven't won a World Series.

 

As a fan, would be a lot more fun watching the Rays instead of the Marlins given their consistent success mostly every season. Whereas tough being a Marlins fans for 2-3 decades, but hey they won two World Series.

 

I forgot this even happened. Just looked up their team in 2020 - woof - how did they grab a WC spot?

[Brownie19]

They very well could’ve told him they wanted him to pitch and then had a change of heart after meeting with him because of his lack of remorse according to the accounts.

 

I thought I heard/read that this is what happened.

[L54]

I thought I heard/read that this is what happened.

 

In my head it went like this

 

Hey Trevor, we would really like to have you back in 2023. Are you willing to make a public apology and show remorse for what you have done?

 

No. I didn’t do anything illegal and that will basically be me admitting my guilt. PR suicide.

 

Okay, we are going to DFA you.

[Brownie19]

I don’t hate that Soto trade for Detroit. He’s utterly replaceable. They got three 40 FV prospects or young MLB players. Depth it always a problem for the Tigers.

 

What would Toronto have had to give up to get Soto? Biggio, Otto Lopez and some prospect? Soto can't throw strikes, but I think I'd do that deal.

[Orgfiller]

I forgot this even happened. Just looked up their team in 2020 - woof - how did they grab a WC spot?

 

Because half the league made the playoffs and in 60 games you’re more likely to see more variance in outcomes due to the smaller sample size, not to mention all the rest of the baggage the players, league and world were dealing with at the time. There were some guys who had excellent 2020 seasons that haven’t replicated that success, and same for those that had brutal ones that have bounced back. It was a really strange season in general.

[Orgfiller]

What would Toronto have had to give up to get Soto? Biggio, Otto Lopez and some prospect? Soto can't throw strikes, but I think I'd do that deal.

 

Basically yeah, and as a homer I’ll say Biggio has already demonstrated a higher floor and upside than any of the guys the Tigers got, albeit with a lot less team control.

[TheHurl]

For the record there is a paper out there on worst franchises just based on the on-field/court/ice success. I believe the winner at the time was the Clippers, but I genuinely can't remember. However, i took the criteria and applied it to post expansion Leafs, and I think they came 12th worst. It must be in a google sheet somewhere. Maybe I will update it for you all... probably not though.

[Stangstag]

In my head it went like this

 

Hey Trevor, we would really like to have you back in 2023. Are you willing to make a public apology and show remorse for what you have done?

 

No. I didn’t do anything illegal and that will basically be me admitting my guilt. PR suicide.

 

Okay, we are going to DFA you.

 

Being a **** isn’t illegal. But just as an example, if you call someone the N word you should probably apologize.

[jaysblue]

I forgot this even happened. Just looked up their team in 2020 - woof - how did they grab a WC spot?

 

Yeah the shortened season definitely helped.

 

I would have thought in 2005 their season wouldn't have been that bad. They had Dontrelle Willis who had his best season, AJ Burnett, Josh Beckett along with Carlos Delgado for one season.

 

The Marlins are definitely an odd franchise when you look at the history.

[connorp]

In my head it went like this

 

Hey Trevor, we would really like to have you back in 2023. Are you willing to make a public apology and show remorse for what you have done?

 

No. I didn’t do anything illegal and that will basically be me admitting my guilt. PR suicide.

 

Okay, we are going to DFA you.

 

Yeah. That’s why I’m thinking Luba will have to talk to him and he’s gotta find a middle ground. At least be remorseful about the position he put himself and the team in. That it won’t happen again yada yada

[Laika]

What would Toronto have had to give up to get Soto? Biggio, Otto Lopez and some prospect? Soto can't throw strikes, but I think I'd do that deal.

 

Biggio only has a few years of control left so Tigers prob not into him.

 

TBH I like each of Maton and Vierling and the prospect a little bit.

 

Not sure Toronto has that package unless Tigers really love guys like Lopez/Horwitz/Jimenez/Pop/Juenger or unless Toronto gives up some uncomfortable prospect to lose like Barger, Orelvis, Robberse, Macko...

[Grant77]

Have you ever even spent time in New England? It is arguably the most progressive region of the United States. It is so progressive even the Republicans have to be sane. This is the region where the people voted for Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. And many of the progressives are baseball fans, so this fanbase would probably be as upset as any if a controversial figure like Bauer was on the team.

 

Are you seriously suggesting the New England fanbase would care less about this issue then the St. Louis or Kansas City or Astros fanbase?

 

https://www.complex.com/sports/2017/05/ugly-history-boston-being-most-racist-sports-city-america

 

Yes I have been to Vermont and Massachusetts

 

I am indeed suggesting that they would get less blowback for signing Bauer than other teams would. Voter habits are not necessarily indicative of how sports fans will react. The team has nothing to lose, their reputation is a 0/10 and they always sell out anyways. I would argue that Cora (who should have a lifetime ban) has done more harm to baseball than Bauer and it hasn't lost them any fans.

[Grant77]

Yeah the Marlins have been one of the worst teams in baseball when you look at their regular season success, though they have two World Series (1997 and 2003) since 1993 so in their 30 years of existence. However since even 2003, the team has been not relevant at all other than grabbing a Wild Card spot in 2020.

 

The Rays have had regular season success most years since 2008 so 10 years after they were established. However, haven't won a World Series.

 

As a fan, would be a lot more fun watching the Rays instead of the Marlins given their consistent success mostly every season. Whereas tough being a Marlins fans for 2-3 decades, but hey they won two World Series.

 

It's crazy that the Marlins aren't the team with the least playoff success during that time span (Mariners). The Pirates also had some pretty raw years other than 2013-15.

[jaysblue]

It's crazy that the Marlins aren't the team with the least playoff success during that time span (Mariners). The Pirates also had some pretty raw years other than 2013-15.

 

Yeah Mariners have been pretty bad though have had several 85+ win seasons since 2001. They won 93 games in both 2002 and 2003, though missed the Postseason. With the expanded Postseason, I think some of those years they would have snagged a Wildcard. But yeah, their Postseason success has been abysmal.

[G-Snarls]

Yeah Mariners have been pretty bad though have had several 85+ win seasons since 2001. They won 93 games in both 2002 and 2003, though missed the Postseason. With the expanded Postseason, I think some of those years they would have snagged a Wildcard. But yeah, their Postseason success has been abysmal.

 

Couldn't win with Ken Griffey Jr and Randy Johnson on the team at the same time

 

Pfffft. They suck.

[G-Snarls]

That's pretty much like having Ohtani and Trout I suppose and can't even make the playoffs

[jaysblue]

Couldn't win with Ken Griffey Jr and Randy Johnson on the team at the same time

 

Pfffft. They suck.

 

Yeah or even with Ichiro and King Felix.

 

Seems like they had some decent regular seasons after 2001, though were unable to take the next step.

[jaysblue]

That's pretty much like having Ohtani and Trout I suppose and can't even make the playoffs

 

Angels haven't been that successful since they won in 2002. They had some strong regular season teams but never did any damage in the Postseason.

 

They definitely are wasting prime years on Trout and Ohtani which is sad.

[Grant77]

Yeah Mariners have been pretty bad though have had several 85+ win seasons since 2001. They won 93 games in both 2002 and 2003, though missed the Postseason. With the expanded Postseason, I think some of those years they would have snagged a Wildcard. But yeah, their Postseason success has been abysmal.

 

Every team had to deal with that Yankees/Red Sox duo that would take the East and Wildcard seemingly every year.

 

Some pretty good teams missed because of that, most of all the 1998 Blue Jays. That team had Delgado, Green, and Canseco slugging 40 bombs and Clemens, Hentgen, and Carpenter. I always wonder what they could have done in the playoffs.

[Grant77]

Couldn't win with Ken Griffey Jr and Randy Johnson on the team at the same time

 

Pfffft. They suck.

 

That's underselling it.

 

They had Ken Griffey Jr, Randy Johnson, Alex Rodriguez, Edgar Martinez, and Jay Buhner together for five years and didn't do anything.

 

Some will raise an eyebrow at me including Buhner, but he hit 40+ home runs three times during that span and was top 3 in MVP voting.

 

How could the Yankees trade him for Ken Phelps? Ken Phelps, Ken Phelps, Ken Phelps....

[jaysblue]

Every team had to deal with that Yankees/Red Sox duo that would take the East and Wildcard seemingly every year.

 

Some pretty good teams missed because of that, most of all the 1998 Blue Jays. That team had Delgado, Green, and Canseco slugging 40 bombs and Clemens, Hentgen, and Carpenter. I always wonder what they could have done in the playoffs.

 

Yeah in the AL East and for one of the Wild Card spots, that was the case.

 

Blue Jays in 1998 were so much fun to watch. Roger Clemens during his time with the Jays was on a whole other level. Delgado, Green, Canseco put up amazing power numbers. That lineup was awesome.

 

Other Blue Jays teams could have had a chance like in 2003, 2006, 2008 with the expanded Postseason.

[Grant77]

Yeah in the AL East and for one of the Wild Card spots, that was the case.

 

Blue Jays in 1998 were so much fun to watch. Roger Clemens during his time with the Jays was on a whole other level. Delgado, Green, Canseco put up amazing power numbers. That lineup was awesome.

 

Other Blue Jays teams could have had a chance like in 2003, 2006, 2008 with the expanded Postseason.

 

One can't help but wonder how differently the Ricciardi era would be viewed if they had made the playoffs 3 times on a modest payroll. There's a half decent chance he could still be our GM to this day.

[Brownie19]

One can't help but wonder how differently the Ricciardi era would be viewed if they had made the playoffs 3 times on a modest payroll. There's a half decent chance he could still be our GM to this day.

 

You shut your whore mouth Grant.

[John_Havok]

posted as Neilburg Sask is my hometown and his short stay there was still talked about years later. Population at that time would have been .. like 300 at best. It's about 400 now.

 

R.I.P. Bill Campbell

Former Expo pitched in Neilburg, Saskatchewan and served close to a year in the Vietnam War

By Danny Gallagher

 

Canadian Baseball Network

 

Bill Campbell began his adult baseball career at age 19 with the Neilburg Monarchs of the Northern Saskatchewan league in 1966.

 

And he finished his big-league career in 1987 with another Canadian team, the Montreal Expos.

 

He's the only known Expos player to serve in the Vietnam War. He joined the U.S. Army about a year after he left Neilburg and was in Vietnam for just under 12 months on jungle patrol and as a radio/teletype operator.

 

Soup Campbell was one of the finest relief pitchers in major-league history. He's the only player in the majors to record at least 17 wins and 17 saves in the same season, a feat he accomplished with the Minnesota Twins in 1976, going 17-5 with 20 saves in a league-leading 78 appearances in 167.2 innings.

 

Only Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace reliever and former Expo ElRoy Face had a season with more wins without a start when he marvelled with a 18-1 record in 1959.

 

Campbell, 74, died Jan. 6 after spending more than two weeks in hospice care in the Chicago area where he lived. He had been suffering from cancer. His wife Linda called the Twins' Fantasy Camp headquarters in Fort Myers, Florida to report his death.

At the tail end of his career at age 38, Campbell caught on with the Expos, signing a contract during spring training on March 6, 1987. He made the roster out of West Palm Beach and pitched in 10 regular-season games with middling results before he was released May 1. His last strikeout victim in his long career was Gary Carter in Campbell's final outing on April 30.

 

Campbell's stint with in Neilburg was memorable. He flew into Edmonton from California on June 18 and then he was picked up at the Husky bus stop by teammates Glen Brockhoff and Larry Flecik and a friend Glen Hinch in Lloydminster which straddles the Saskatchewan/Alberta border.

 

"Bill didn't have a dime in his pocket. We paid for his hamburger and a Coca Cola. Then, we had a few beers at the Neilburg Hotel, the only bar in town. It was a Saturday night,'' Brockhoff said.

 

The next day, June 19, Campbell made his debut with Neilburg and it was a memorable one. He fired a no-hitter, one batter short of a perfect game in a seven-inning game, the nightcap of a doubleheader. He struck out 10 to lead the Monarchs to a 5-0 victory over North Battleford. Jay Johnston reached on an error in the seventh to break up the perfect game. Campbell finished that season with a 5-3 record and a 3.46 ERA. He also batted .270 with four homers and 13 RBI in 23 games.

 

At the 1966 Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament, Campbell fanned 14 and hit two triples as Neilburg won the championship game.

 

"Campbell was 6-foot-3, real slim and he could throw hard. He had a great slider and curveball,'' Flecik said. When Brockhoff saw Campbell pitch that no-hitter, he knew right then and there he had major-league stuff.

"Oh, he was an awful good American in this town,'' Brockhoff said. "What impressed me in batting practice was when he was in the outfield. He was unbelievable. He'd catch fly balls behind his back. He was really good. If the ball was hit over the fence, he'd jump over the short, wooden fence and catch the ball.''

 

Several years after leaving Vietnam, Campbell was signed as a free agent by the Twins at a Dennys restaurant in Ponoma, Calif., the same Dennys where Bob James was signed by the Expos in 1976. After leaving the Twins, Campbell spent time with the Red Sox, Cubs, Tigers, Phillies, Cardinals and the Expos.

 

"We are going to miss him at Twins Fantasy Camp this week. He was our coach who led all the stretching exercises and got the campers in shape on day one. Such a good person,'' said Campbell's Florida friend Chad Yoder. "We start tomorrow (Jan. 7). We will have our banquet and of course, announce that (sad news) at the banquet. I'm going to challenge all my friends and teammates to bring in a can of Campbell Soup to put in his locker and then I will donate it to a needy organization after the camp in his honor.''

Campbell is survived by his wife Linda, a professor of psychology at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois, and three children.

 

Danny Gallagher's story about Campbell contains information obtained from a chapter in his new Expos book Around The Horn, which is due for release in mid-January.

 

Quick follow up , I found a full season recap from that season online at http://www.attheplate.com/wcbl/1966_30i.html

 

My dad’s rookie season with them was in 1967 and he played until 1969.

[Grant77]

You shut your whore mouth Grant.

 

I knew everyone would like that

[jaysblue]

One can't help but wonder how differently the Ricciardi era would be viewed if they had made the playoffs 3 times on a modest payroll. There's a half decent chance he could still be our GM to this day.

 

They would have acted differently at those trade deadlines for sure with an expanded Postseason. Doubt JPR would still be here though haha.

 

I think in 2008, they could have been successful in the Postseason. Halladay and Burnett in the second half were the best #1-2 punch in baseball. Also, imagine if McGowan and Marcum stayed healthy in 2008. They had a very solid bullpen. Their offense was awful though. They needed a big bat and they never addressed that issue in April/May. They gave too many ABs to guys like Brad Wilkerson, Kevin Mench, Shannon Stewart which definitely hurt them.

[jaysblue]

Giants signed reliever Luke Jackson to a 2 year/$11.5M contract.

[jaysblue]

If the Jays had Adam Lind and Aaron Hill's 2009 breakout in 2008, does the 2008 team sniff the Postseason?

[Terminator]

 

Tomi Lahren's husband is coaching in the Mets org now

[Dick_Pole]

If the Jays had Adam Lind and Aaron Hill's 2009 breakout in 2008, does the 2008 team sniff the Postseason?

 

By far the biggest what-if to me is what if Bautista got hotter just a couple month before in 2009? Would the Jays have kept Halladay? This team went from all pitching-no offense to all offense-no pitching in record time.