Around Baseball 2023

[Pendleton]

Oakland A's starting rotation has a combined ERA of 7.88

 

They don't need pitching, they have Brent Rooker

 

[L54]

PITT 1-9 the last 10 coming back down to earth.

 

We probably need an AL EAST thread on its on. .550 is the worst winning %. Insane.

 

Orioles just won't stop winning. Mullins hits for cycle.

 

Yanks keeping their heads above water, decimated by injuries. Got to tip your cap.

 

As of today 80% of the AL East would end up in the post season. Crazy

[max silver]

As of today 80% of the AL East would end up in the post season. Crazy

 

I don't think there is a stronger argument to be made than this for why divisional realignment is needed in MLB.

[Carlos Danger]

I don't think there is a stronger argument to be made than this for why divisional realignment is needed in MLB.

 

Not in favor of that. We would probably be put in the AL central which would suck. Like going from the SEC to ACC in football.

[max silver]

Not in favor of that. We would probably be put in the AL central which would suck. Like going from the SEC to ACC in football.

 

I'd infinitely prefer the Jays play in the Central division vs the meat grinder East Division.

[Jonn]

I don't even think geographically the divisions are even aligned the best they could be. And now that both Leagues rules are the same. They should be able to swap around American League and National League teams freely.

 

The Dodgers, Angels, Giants, A's, and Padres should all be the same division.

 

The Phillies and Pirates should be in the same division

 

The Yankees and Mets should be in the same division

 

Marlins and Rays should be the same division or move the Rays to Montreal and leave them together with Toronto

 

Both Chicago Teams should be in the same division

 

Both the Cardinals and Royals should be in the same division

[Eat My Shatkins]

With a more balanced schedule they should just scrap divisions and rank the teams by their records for each league.

 

Right now the rank would be:

 

Tampa

Baltimore

Texas

Toronto

Boston

NYY

 

Minnesota

....

[Jimcanuck]

I don't even think geographically the divisions are even aligned the best they could be. And now that both Leagues rules are the same. They should be able to swap around American League and National League teams freely.

 

The Dodgers, Angels, Giants, A's, and Padres should all be the same division.

 

The Phillies and Pirates should be in the same division

 

The Yankees and Mets should be in the same division

 

Marlins and Rays should be the same division or move the Rays to Montreal and leave them together with Toronto

 

Both Chicago Teams should be in the same division

 

Both the Cardinals and Royals should be in the same division

 

I think historically teams in the same city (LA, NY, Chicago) were in different leagues for the chance they would meet each other in the WS, among other financial considerations. The distribution of the teams into leagues and divisions is not based on geography, but maximizing revenue.

[John_Havok]

However they were aligned in the past, they are aligned the way they are now to try and have as close to the same kind of travel as possible. It can never be perfect of course because central teams by default will travel less miles to the west coast and less to the east coast.

 

West teams travel the most, east the second most and central the least on average.

[max silver]

I don't even think geographically the divisions are even aligned the best they could be. And now that both Leagues rules are the same. They should be able to swap around American League and National League teams freely.

 

The Dodgers, Angels, Giants, A's, and Padres should all be the same division.

 

The Phillies and Pirates should be in the same division

 

The Yankees and Mets should be in the same division

 

Marlins and Rays should be the same division or move the Rays to Montreal and leave them together with Toronto

 

Both Chicago Teams should be in the same division

 

Both the Cardinals and Royals should be in the same division

 

Jays and Tigers should be in the same division as well. You basically drive across a bridge for series with these teams.

[Jonn]

Jays and Tigers should be in the same division as well. You basically drive across a bridge for series with these teams.

 

I would like to see this as well. I have always heard growing up there was once a rivalry between the Blue Jays and Tigers but I wasn't alive yet to ever witness those 80's teams.

 

I think the goal of any kind of realignment. Should be focused on maintain current rivalry's, creating new ones, and obviously try to balance out club strength. Either that or they need to do away with the division structure. Balance the schedule further and just go by top record regardless of division.

[glory]

I'd be ok with having no divisions. Just an AL and NL. Top 6 teams in each league make it. Top 2 in each league get a bye to the DS, and then 4 WC teams. With the balanced schedule and every team facing each other throughout the season, the divisions are essentially meaningless. It only serves to the get the historically low spending teams (both Central divisions) into playoff contention when they'd otherwise be way out of it (ex. the AL Central this season).

[connorp]

Bryce Miller looks pretty good.. and no, I have no stake

Teo may be heating up too

[Pendleton]

[BTS]

Juan Soto has a 152 wRC+ now. 400M contract back in play?

[G-Snarls]

Juan Soto has a 152 wRC+ now. 400M contract back in play?

 

Maybe

 

Plus he's still making it by as a full time OF for now and has a DH cushion in both leagues

 

Whoever doesn't give Ohtani 600M plus this year might be OK giving Soto 350M plus next year

[G-Snarls]

Juan Soto has a 152 wRC+ now. 400M contract back in play?

 

Vladdy 155 wRC+

 

He has also solidified his free agency buyout case

[L54]

Juan Soto has a 152 wRC+ now. 400M contract back in play?

 

Probably but I think that’s because teams are giving out these long contracts to soften the AAV blow.

 

14/400M signed through age 40. 28.5M per year.

[Pendleton]

[Ray]

Probably but I think that’s because teams are giving out these long contracts to soften the AAV blow.

 

14/400M signed through age 40. 28.5M per year.

 

If that’s the case, he’s not gonna end up netting that much more than if he just signed what the Nats offered him last year (15 years $440M). Personally, I think that was a more than fair offer by the Nats and don’t see him getting that much more.

[G-Snarls]

If that’s the case, he’s not gonna end up netting that much more than if he just signed what the Nats offered him last year (15 years $440M). Personally, I think that was a more than fair offer by the Nats and don’t see him getting that much more.

 

I'm not sure he even gets that much

 

He just didn't want to stay with Washington I presume. Why wouldn't anyone other than maybe Ohtani accept an offer like that

[THANOS]

Is Max Muncy the most valuable Mendoza Line batter ever lol?

 

900 OPS and batting .202 is nuts lol.

 

1.1 fWAR so far and projects for 5 fWAR over a full season, and all he needs to do is continue to walk and homer the same way and he'll do it batting 200 lol.

[L54]

If that’s the case, he’s not gonna end up netting that much more than if he just signed what the Nats offered him last year (15 years $440M). Personally, I think that was a more than fair offer by the Nats and don’t see him getting that much more.

 

I don’t think he will net more than the Nats offer. I’d be hesitant to pay him

[BigCecil]

Yandy Diaz 185 wRC+ and 2 WAR on a 3/24.

 

4 War season '22. Got to love those value signings.

[BigCecil]

Probably but I think that’s because teams are giving out these long contracts to soften the AAV blow.

 

14/400M signed through age 40. 28.5M per year.

 

I get these extended long term deals lower the AAV and the NPV cost of the deal, but they still leave a big mark when it comes to future decision making flexibility around payroll and roster construction. At some point the pipers all got to be paid. I cringe over the sugar high DET and LAA got signing Cabrera and Pujols to those long term deals back in the day.

 

Unless they are relatively team friendly like AA has pulled off, I think there are some solid reasons orgs like the 'Stros let Springer, Correa, Cole and Verlander etc move on.

[Stangstag]

Yandy Diaz 185 wRC+ and 2 WAR on a 3/24.

 

4 War season '22. Got to love those value signings.

 

These are the types of signings that great clubs make. Huge to get that kind of $/WAR value.

 

(Semien and Ray fit into that elite deals category but they were only 1 year unfortunately)

[BTS]

I get these extended long term deals lower the AAV and the NPV cost of the deal, but they still leave a big mark when it comes to future decision making flexibility around payroll and roster construction. At some point the pipers all got to be paid. I cringe over the sugar high DET and LAA got signing Cabrera and Pujols to those long term deals back in the day.

 

Unless they are relatively team friendly like AA has pulled off, I think there are some solid reasons orgs like the 'Stros let Springer, Correa, Cole and Verlander etc move on.

 

We're like 25% of the way through the season and it's rermarkable how almost every contract has been a disaster so far.

 

Trea Turner (11/300) - K-rate up like 7% and basically a slap hitter right now per Statcast

Carlos Correa (6/100)- has been replacement-level trash

Jake deGrom (6/185) - shut down after 30 innings because of multiple injuries

Carlos Rodon (6/162) - immediately diagnosed with chronic back issue and hasn't pitched

Edwin Diaz (5/102) - blew out his knee, hasn't pitched

Willson Contreras (5/87.5) - scapegoated for Cards pitching being terrible and moved off catcher for a week

Justin Verlander (2/86.6) - has only thrown 12 mediocre innnings

Andrew Benintendi (5/75) - replacement-level slap hitter

Kodai Senga (5/75) - no command, looks like a 1-2 WAR SP

Taijuan Walker (4/72) - the same 1-2 WAR SP he's always been outside of a decent 2022

Chris Bassitt (3/60) - showing signs of significant skill erosion

Jose Abreu (3/60) - looks completely cooked

Robert Suarez (5/46) - injured and hasn't thrown a pitch

Mitch Haniger (3/43.5) - has been injured and terrible

Tyler Anderson (3/39) - doesn't even look like a viable SP anymore

 

Well over $1 billion paid out to the above players, and they're cumulatively hovering around replacement level. Draft and develop, kids. Building through FA is a recipe for being very bad for a very long time.

 

There were some value signings out there: The Rays seem to have got it right with Eflin. Strahm, Lugo, and Bellinger all look shrewd. Some vets re-signing with their former teams for reasons other than $ look good (Kershaw and Rizzo).

[max silver]

We're like 25% of the way through the season and it's rermarkable how almost every contract has been a disaster so far.

 

Trea Turner (11/300) - K-rate up like 7% and basically a slap hitter right now per Statcast

Carlos Correa (6/100)- has been replacement-level trash

Jake deGrom (6/185) - shut down after 30 innings because of multiple injuries

Carlos Rodon (6/162) - immediately diagnosed with chronic back issue and hasn't pitched

Edwin Diaz (5/102) - blew out his knee, hasn't pitched

Willson Contreras (5/87.5) - scapegoated for Cards pitching being terrible and moved off catcher for a week

Justin Verlander (2/86.6) - has only thrown 12 mediocre innnings

Andrew Benintendi (5/75) - replacement-level slap hitter

Kodai Senga (5/75) - no command, looks like a 1-2 WAR SP

Taijuan Walker (4/72) - the same 1-2 WAR SP he's always been outside of a decent 2022

Chris Bassitt (3/60) - showing signs of significant skill erosion

Jose Abreu (3/60) - looks completely cooked

Robert Suarez (5/46) - injured and hasn't thrown a pitch

Mitch Haniger (3/43.5) - has been injured and terrible

Tyler Anderson (3/39) - doesn't even look like a viable SP anymore

 

Well over $1 billion paid out to the above players, and they're cumulatively hovering around replacement level. Draft and develop, kids. Building through FA is a recipe for being very bad for a very long time.

 

I'd argue Bassitt's numbers are still being dragged down by one disastrous start. His numbers are starting to more closely resemble his career norms since then, save for a too high walk rate.

[Pendleton]

The Cards made that whole public spectacle over moving their expensive new catcher off the position, only to move him back a week later.

[John_Havok]

I'd argue Bassitt's numbers are still being dragged down by one disastrous start. His numbers are starting to more closely resemble his career norms since then, save for a too high walk rate.

 

Yeah I’d like to know what these signs of skill erosion are with Bassitt also