jaysblue

In the playoffs, you play all your top guys more minutes anyways, and the Raptors still have a deep bench with VanVleet, Ibaka, OG and Powell if everyone is healthy. Guys like Wright or Miles likely wouldn't even be getting that many minutes anyways off the bench in a playoff game. It would be nice if the Raps had another 3 point shooter.

Ellington or Matthews would be nice.

All my draft picks are available FYI.

It would have to be a number that still gives managers flexibility and doesn't suffocate them completely in a 9-inning game. Like I said if pitchers get injured in game, that is an exception to the rule. If you had a maximum of 5 pitching changes in a game, that is pretty much on average I would say in a regular season game where a starter goes 5-6 innings anyways. Another idea to add on with this would be have a reserved roster of 2-3 spots where a player can be scratched from a game, whether it's for rest or healing up from a very minor day-to-day injury. So let's say if you have a reliever pitch 2-3 innings and can't go the next day, you scratch him and use one of the reserves which is likely a bullpen arm to fill that pitchers place. Pretty much it's like having a 26th and 27th player, but they aren't active for every game. I'm sure many teams would utilize those extra roster spots throughout the season so those players would still get some innings in and would mean more MLB contracts handed out to relief pitchers to fill up those spots. I'm not advocating for this, but just cool to talk about different ideas.

They should adopt the DH in the NL as well. I'm sure the MLBPA would love that because that means an extra 15 starting jobs available for players. MLB does need to speed the game up a bit without completely tampering with the overall game. Like Jim alluded, they should cut down on the amount warm-up pitches relievers throw from the mound. A way to maybe reduce the amount of pitching changes would be to have a maximum number of pitching changes per 9 innings. Would add a bit more strategy and prevent managers from wasting a reliever just for only one out. Not sure what the number should be, maybe 4 or 5? Nothing too extreme where managers have no flexibility whatsoever. Also, if there is an injury, then that should be the exception, though that pitcher would have to go on the DL for a minimum of 10-days so no teams take advantage of that loophole. If the game goes into extra innings, then each team gets another 4 or 5 pitching changes for another 9 innings.

Even if he has a competitive team, I'm sure he can find another OF who can put up similar numbers to Meadows in 2019.

I think it'll be easier to trade for another OF or two. Meadows isn't like a Soto or Acuna. I wouldn't pass on getting a potential MIF stud in a 30-team dynasty league.

More bat flips please.

A couple of reasons why it might be tough to draw a lot of hype and the casual fan to watch MLB games during the year: 1) April-June: this is the time when both the NHL Playoffs and NBA Playoffs are on. Here in Canada, do you think people in Toronto will care about the Jays in April/May when the Leafs and Raptors are making deep playoff runs? What about viewership across Canada when the Flames or Jets are on? Even in some parts of the US, especially in the north regions, baseball probably isn't that popular during April & May. 2) NFL starting up in September: for the most part, majority of MLB teams are out of it, and with the NFL season starting, likely the fanbases of those teams and casuals don't care anymore since its a lost season anyways. More casuals will tune into the NFL every Sunday. 3) There are 162 games over a full season and most of the games are really long in comparison to basketball or hockey. Baseball games likely last between 3-4 hours on average and for someone who is a casual fan, it could be a lot. NBA games are fast paced and there is always something happening. It's tough to get excited about a baseball game every night in comparison to games in the NBA. There seems to be more buildup to a regular season Lakers/Warriors game than there is for a Yankees/Red Sox series. Maybe because in the NBA those teams only face each other 3-4 times versus 18 times like in baseball. 4) The NBA is a star driven league: NBA teams only carry 12 players on the active roster and its not like everyone on the bench plays. In the NBA, one or two superstars can carry a team, where in baseball that doesn't work. So it's easier to promote guys like Steph Curry, LeBron, Giannis, Harden etc. We have even seen a player like Giannis carry his team, whereas in baseball that doesn't work. Just look at the Angels all these years with Mike Trout. Casuals prefer going to baseball games only in the summer. It's an afternoon or night out with a group of friends. They don't even go to Blue Jays games to watch any of the game. More just to sit in the stands, get some sun, talk, drink beer and to take selfies. 2-3 games over the course of the summer are enough for these kind of people.

I'm probably one of the very few who love watching late night west coast baseball games. So relaxing! I'll usually watch a game if one of my favourite pitchers is on the mound or if its a good pitching matchup. I was a huge Tim Lincecum and Dan Haren fan, so I would always make sure to try and catch all of their starts. But not every fan is like that lol.

But are they going to playing like this for the rest of the season? Do you really think that?

It's kind of funny how people a month ago were calling the Raptors one of the best teams in the NBA, and now all of a sudden after a tough stretch, they won't even beat Indiana in a Best of 7 according to some posters. Such bandwagons! The Raptors are still one of the Top 5 teams in the NBA even after this cold streak. They could add a good point shooter at the deadline and that would go a long way in helping them down the stretch and into the playoffs. Even if the Raps lose Leonard after this season, Masai isn't just going to stand pat and do nothing. I'm sure the Raptors fill the void with a player who was better than DeRozan anyways. Even if the Raptors stand pat, they are still likely a middle of the pack team in the East.

Billy Beane was the best prospect ever. Had all the tools!

Would be nice if Galvis could come close to providing the value Marco Scutaro did when he was with the Jays in 2008 and 2009. Scutaro posted a 4.2 WAR in 2009. More than whatever Tulo did here.

Yeah if its known AD will only sign with the Lakers, then I think Raptors take Siakam off the table.

Asdrubal Cabrera went for less lol.

I don't see Philly or Boston offering that type of package lol. Knicks would be foolish to sacrifice their future and bank on that they could resign Davis and another NBA star. Lakers are still No. 1 to land IMO, but I wouldn't sleep on the Raptors. Masai seems all in this season and what better chance would you have at a NBA Championship with both Leonard and Davis. Might be the last year with Leonard anyways, so do whatever you can to give yourself the best chance to win this season. Worst case if Leonard leaves, you still have a solid core of Davis and Lowry. I'm hesitant in trading Siakam though, but not opposed to the idea as well.

Not bad for off the top of my head eh? I like the Reds lineup don't get me wrong, but I don't consider it one of the best lineups in baseball with the Red Sox, Yankees, Astros, or Dodgers right now. Does the Reds lineup have more upside over some of the other teams I mentioned? Sure and I've even acknowledged that. Right now it's more in the middle of the pack. I still would rank the Reds lineup in the Top 10, though it's not one of the best lineups in the league even if they added Realmuto.

I'll take the Astros lineup all day long over the Reds lol. Don't even have to think about it.

I agree, the Reds will be a fun team to watch in 2019. I'm rooting for them and think they could be around .500 and surprise. Though you said yes one of the best lineups in baseball. I have 8-9 lineups currently ahead of them even if they added Realmuto, who I'm not that crazy about to begin with. I expect Votto to improve his power numbers and have a better season. Puig I think could put together a big season in Cincy. I'm a big fan of Winker and Senzel at some point in 2019 once called up could really be an impact bat in that lineup. I think there is some regression offensively with Gennett, Suarez and Realmuto

Just off the top of my head, I still take the Red Sox, Yankees, Astros, Dodgers, Cubs, Brewers, Nats, Rockies, Cards lineup over the Reds. So not a Realmuto away from being the best lineup in baseball.

Best lineup in baseball? They are more than being a Realmuto away from being the best lineup in baseball.

Yeah I was strongly considering going since I've never been to Cooperstown before and seeing Doc being inducted as a Blue Jay would have been special, but him going in neutral, I'm just not that crazy about going anymore.

I'm looking more forward to seeing Vladdy's home debut than the Home Opener or Canada Day. The game is going to attract the real die hard fans + the casuals. Depends when his first home game is. If they decide to have his MLB debut at home and against a good team like Boston or the Yankees, I think the dome will be pretty full.

I would imagine ticket sales are down again. There are still a lot of tickets available for the Home Opener lol. The game I'm aiming for is Vlad's home debut. I'm sure that game will be a hot item and sold out for sure.