Around Baseball 2025

[Brownie19]

15 minutes ago, Olerud363.354 said:

Yes crime.  Serious crime.  

2022 he had a 0.00 ERA in the playoffs.  2024 he had a 0.65 ERA I think in regular season. 

2024 he had like a 10.00 ERA in the playoffs. 

Minor crime - I will throw a low pitch so my friend can make 1000 on his Parlay then I will strike out the side.

Major crime - I will blow the ALCS so the mafia can make 9.8 million.

Casual Fan like Olerud363.354 - I look at the baseball reference (bad site compared to fangraphs) and see big ERA by Clase in 2024 playoffs but not 2022.  I wonder if major crime occurred?  Will ask the expert posters on Blue Jays Centre (formerly Blue Jays message board) what they think. 

You suspect Little of crime too?

[Governator]

Man, it's a shame how a select few every year don't realize just how fortunate they are to be in the position they're in and blow their entire future away in poor decisions, time and time again.  Whether it's gambling, domestic violence, steroids, sign stealing or what have you.  They never learn from other's mistakes, like have they never heard of Pete Rose?  That's before there were easy digital trails. Go take your gambling addictions to the tables, you deserve to lose it all if you're that naïve to think someone won't say something.

[Olerud363.354]

11 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

You suspect Little of crime too?

Give me a break.  If Little had Clase's regular season numbers and was already indicted for some minor gambling thing I would suspect him yes.

Reasons not to suspect Brendan Little of crime:  1.  Was already slumping leading up to playoffs.  2.  Not indicted for minor gambling crime. 

[Olerud363.354]

16 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

You suspect Little of crime too?

Brendan Little's career homerun rate per 9 is twice that of Clase's.   Outside of the 2024 playoffs the most homeruns Clase has give up in a season is 4.

Brendan Little gave up 7 in 39 innings in 2024.  2 in the 2025 regular season.  2 in the playoffs.  We can perhaps consider it was gambling related.  However maybe the more likely explanation is that Little isn't as good as his 2025 homerun rate, and Little has bad control, became afraid of walks, so this made it more likely for him to have meatball misses.   Plus Little so far has no associations with Gamblers.

Clase has a many more innings of low homer baseball before the 2024 playoffs.  Clase doesn't have control problems.  Clase has an association with Gamblers.

So basically given all that there is more reason to wonder about Clase's 3 homers in 7 innings in the 2024 playoffs than Little's 2 homers in 2025. 

[Spanky__99]

25 minutes ago, Governator said:

Man, it's a shame how a select few every year don't realize just how fortunate they are to be in the position they're in and blow their entire future away in poor decisions, time and time again.  Whether it's gambling, domestic violence, steroids, sign stealing or what have you.  They never learn from other's mistakes, like have they never heard of Pete Rose?  That's before there were easy digital trails. Go take your gambling addictions to the tables, you deserve to lose it all if you're that naïve to think someone won't say something.

Hell, even reckless driving intoxicated on backroads or speeding in a vessel late at night drunk and high, lots of suspect behaviour from young millionaires, who knew? 🥴

[Brownie19]

Hey Olerud - it was a joke.

 

[Olerud363.354]

2 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Hey Olerud - it was a joke.

ooohhh... sorry.  

Like the Ohtani thing Clase's 2024 ALCS numbers are a bit scary.  Not saying I personally think he blew the ALCS, or that Ohtani is a degenerate gambler who sent his innocent translator to jail... just that many other people do think both of that now...  

[jaysblue]

I don't think baseball is as fixed as let's say the NFL or NBA during the regular season. Serious money is bet on the NFL every week, and teams are likely directed to make sure they don't cover the spread or go over in some cases and some upsets do happen that shouldn't. The NBA as well when it comes to over/under and the spread. Also, some elite teams do likely throw games against weaker teams. 

In terms of player props, likely happens more in the NFL and NBA where players tell their friends to make a certain bet. 

In the MLB, I'm sure there are some players or pitchers who tell their friends "yeah I won't get a hit tonight or will miss the strike zone and issue a walk or two." It does happen, though not as much probably as in the NFL or NBA.

In terms of fixing the outcome of a game, easier in the NFL or NBA. Easier to control the outcome of a game/score. Doesn't really happen much in the MLB. 

[SeranthonySantander]

For all sports though, the books are adjusting lines in real time to promote as close to equal betting on all sides of their bets.  So they make their 10% pretty much every time.

[Pendleton]

4 hours ago, Governator said:

Man, it's a shame how a select few every year don't realize just how fortunate they are to be in the position they're in and blow their entire future away in poor decisions, time and time again.  Whether it's gambling, domestic violence, steroids, sign stealing or what have you.  They never learn from other's mistakes, like have they never heard of Pete Rose?  That's before there were easy digital trails. Go take your gambling addictions to the tables, you deserve to lose it all if you're that naïve to think someone won't say something.

I would include the countless deaths from accidents, many of which were undoubtedly reckless. It's insane how often they seem to happen within the baseball world 

[jaysblue]

Prop betting creates a lot of temptation for players to have a side hustle and also to help their friends, without having to throw an entire game.

NBA is the worst for sure and NFL. But we have seen it has spread across other sports like MLB as well.

Would also be nice if every second ad on Sportsnet or any sports broadcast isn't a sports betting app advertisement. Can't even watch Sportsnet or Sportscentre anymore without them providing the odds on every matchup. Sad. 

[BTS]

Kyle Hendricks retiring

A bit surprised. He was serviceable this year, and would have been able to land a few million dollars again next year to eat innings as a 5th starter if he wanted to. 

[SeranthonySantander]

On 11/9/2025 at 12:23 PM, SeranthonySantander said:

65 years seems kinda high 

Whoever even put single pitch betting options on a gambling site should be given 65 years

As long as there are betting outcomes like this it’s going to happen again, they will just make sure to be careful next time.

Its almost like entrapmenT

That was fast, all sites already put in a $200 limit for these bets.

[Ball4Life]

Hard to believe there isn’t some element of fixing wrt the outcomes of games, even MLB. I used to get really into spectator sports but have dialed it back the last few years. Just can’t trust anything anymore.

[Terminator]

56 minutes ago, BTS said:

Kyle Hendricks retiring

A bit surprised. He was serviceable this year, and would have been able to land a few million dollars again next year to eat innings as a 5th starter if he wanted to. 

Hell of a career for him

11 years, 27.3 WAR, about 85 mil in career earnings...all with a fastball that averaged 87.6 mph over the course of his career

[BTS]

1 hour ago, Terminator said:

Hell of a career for him

11 years, 27.3 WAR, about 85 mil in career earnings...all with a fastball that averaged 87.6 mph over the course of his career

Yup. I've always been a fan of crafty shitballers, so he was a personal favourite 

[Spanky__99]

22 minutes ago, BTS said:

Yup. I've always been a fan of crafty shitballers, so he was a personal favourite 

Eric Lauer is the next one.

[Jonn]

4 hours ago, BTS said:

Kyle Hendricks retiring

A bit surprised. He was serviceable this year, and would have been able to land a few million dollars again next year to eat innings as a 5th starter if he wanted to. 

Pretty incredible that he had an 11 year career with Independent League stuff. Ultimate pitcher just found a way.

[G-Snarls]

1 hour ago, BTS said:

Yup. I've always been a fan of crafty shitballers, so he was a personal favourite 

I distinctly recall your love of Mark Buehrle as well. You do seem to have a type. 

[Jimcanuck]

MLB's player manipulation rules have bit the A's hard in the ass.

Kurtz wins ROY, and is credited with a full year of service as a reward.

Because they called him up on April 23 and he had some injury time, he was 13 days short of PPI eligibility.  A's get no reward pick.

[Jonn]

8 minutes ago, Jimcanuck said:

MLB's player manipulation rules have bit the A's hard in the ass.

Kurtz wins ROY, and is credited with a full year of service as a reward.

Because they called him up on April 23 and he had some injury time, he was 13 days short of PPI eligibility.  A's get no reward pick.

Good f*** the A's.

[L54]

Still not as dumb as the Pirates fumble f***ing their handling of Paul Skenes 

[Spanky__99]

5 hours ago, Jimcanuck said:

MLB's player manipulation rules have bit the A's hard in the ass.

Kurtz wins ROY, and is credited with a full year of service as a reward.

Because they called him up on April 23 and he had some injury time, he was 13 days short of PPI eligibility.  A's get no reward pick.

Ouch.

[Spanky__99]

😅🤡🖕

 

[Spanky__99]

5 hours ago, G-Snarls said:

I distinctly recall your love of Mark Buehrle as well. You do seem to have a type. 

Brian Tallet's Stache... 😜

[jaysblue]

11 hours ago, Terminator said:

Hell of a career for him

11 years, 27.3 WAR, about 85 mil in career earnings...all with a fastball that averaged 87.6 mph over the course of his career

The career Josh Towers dreamed of. 

[jaysblue]

12 hours ago, Ball4Life said:

Hard to believe there isn’t some element of fixing wrt the outcomes of games, even MLB. I used to get really into spectator sports but have dialed it back the last few years. Just can’t trust anything anymore.

I definitely believe it more now than I did before. I don't think it happens much in the MLB as in the NFL or NBA during the regular season, but still have to be skeptical. 

More serious money is bet on the NFL and NBA every week from all over the world. NFL is probably the most bet sport every weekend. Also, it's the only sport that has a two-minute warning at the end of the half and at the end of the game, where the game comes to a complete stop. Why haven't people asked that question? In the NBA, all the timeouts that take place in the last two minutes of a game, even when the game is out of reach for one team. There definitely is some element of fixing the outcome of scores, over/under and games overall. Have to worry about the games that don't mean anything or the games where you have a heavy favourite. 

As for the Playoffs, I think there is an element of fixing if the league wants a certain team to go through and advance. NFL and NBA referees can make calls that influence a game. As for Vegas having an impact, don't think it's as prevalent as during the regular season. Maybe with the over/under's or point spreads. 

 

[Nexii]

I don't think the league needs to fix anything. People are gambling such insane amounts they're making a fortune just by taking their cut.

I've always thought myself more libertarian but what online gambling has become has really challenged that.

[Pendleton]

11 hours ago, BTS said:

Yup. I've always been a fan of crafty shitballers, so he was a personal favourite 

 

Same, I have always respected these pitchers who gained success from being great at their craft as opposed to having dominant talent. Pitching is an artform 

[SeranthonySantander]

Not that I think the Dodger's would necessarily try to get Imai but it will be nice to see one of these guys not go to that team.  He also complains in another interview that nobody is trying to hit homers anymore, they just want to run up his pitch count and foul off balls.

Regarding preferred teams, he said, “Feeling that I want to play for a specific team is most important. That is my greatest motivation. I will negotiate with clubs that need me. It doesn’t matter if they are in the East or West.” On U.S. media’s high evaluations, he responded, “I will only feel the reality after directly discussing with teams and hearing their assessments of me