glory

Looks like Friday's Apple TV lineup has both the Yankees game and the Cardinals game, and MLB is not going to move them. So if you want to watch Judge possibly breaking/tying the AL HR record and Pujols possibly getting his 700th home run (assuming they don't get to those milestones earlier), then you'll have to watch it on Apple. To be fair, there was no way MLB could have had the foresight to predict this when they made the schedules, but they better hope neither of those milestones happen on Apple. Melanie Newman having to make a record breaking call that will be replayed for decades would be a travesty.

Gibbons in 2015 was definitely hurting the Jays in much of the same way as Buntoyo was hurting the team in 2021 (not knowing who his best relievers were, etc). I mean, the 2015 team was .500 at the deadline despite having a +1 million run differential, so even had that in common with 2021 Charlie, except the AL East in 2015 was considerably weaker than it was in 2021. I thought Gibbons got better in 2016-18, but definitely agree that it's revisionism with him, more so for his personality. Gibby vs Charlie in the personality department was night and day so it probably became more glaring when we had to watch Bongos in person for 3 years.

He's going to want more than $300m overall, and likely wants to be the highest paid position player in AAV, so I'll go with 9/350. If I had to guess a team, I'd say the Giants. I don't think the current Red Sox FO is going to sign a contract like that, and Cohen's going to have to replace practically his entire rotation next season (deGrom in particular), as well as dealing with FA for Diaz and Nimmo, so there's going to be a limit to what he can spend. Dodgers don't need him. Angels are trash and need to re-sign Ohtani, plus they might be sold, so I'd rule them out. I don't think Cashman wants to go that high, but if Judge breaks the non-roid HR record and wins the triple crown, then there's a good chance Cashman/Hal get run down by an angry mob if Judge leaves. From a branding standpoint, I think Judge would be foolish to leave the Yankees. He is much more marketable as a Yankee than as anything else, but that may not be important to him. I'd say it's going to be the Giants or Yankees, but I'd lean towards the Giants.

Hopefully this team is finding its groove at the right time. This team resembled a mid to high 80's win team for much of the season, but now they are turning it on. Right time to gel.

I don't disagree that umpiring needs to be resolved, but improving the pace of play and making a more entertaining product is pretty important. That's why I mentioned defensive 3 seconds in the NBA because the main intention was to improve the quality of play. They wanted players to be able to drive to the basket for dunks, and other things that made the game more enjoyable. They have since made rule changes that help offensive players, and that was done so that they never have to experience a 2004 Pistons/Spurs type of Finals again (low scoring, boring). My point is not that everyone has to accept the new rules, just that MLB is doing it for the same reason the NBA did their changes. Limiting pick offs will speed the game up but also lead to more stolen bases, which is what the league wants. The pitch clock should hopefully shave a good chunk of time from the average game. I'm not sure the shift regulations will add significantly more BABIP/doubles/triples, we will have to wait and see on that one. Hopefully the robo umps are coming soon.

Yeah, the NBA has changed so much in the last 20-30 years, and basketball fans don't care one bit. Seriously, watch an NBA game from 2000-05 and compare it to today. It's almost a different sport. Yet when baseball wants to do things to speed the game up or make it better, they have to feel the wrath of fans who think MLB is trying to ruin the sport. In 2001 the NBA implemented the defensive 3 second violation so someone like Shaq couldn't get sleep in the paint all game. If that happened in baseball, it would be the biggest injustice ever because it would be "unfair to limit where a player can stand" or whatever. I'm not saying people have to agree with every rule change, it's a matter of preference at the end of the day, but baseball continues to be the sport where change is next to impossible.

It's probably not going to happen, but Stripling better start game 3 of a WC series. Berrios has been too inconsistent all season.

Didn't see this coming.

Vlad is 23 and has a 133 wRC+ in a "down" year. Now if you think 2022 is closer to what he's going to be in his prime, and that 2021 was more of a fluke due to circumstances (minor league stadiums for 4 months), then you can adjust contract expectations from there, but his ceiling appears to be an MVP level offensive player. I say go for the reasonable long term deal (10-12 years) if it's available and put an opt out in there in year 6 or 7 (so he would have to opt out around age 30).

What a terrible play to challenge.

1-0 umpires.

Ryu hurt, Kikuchi pitching like s***, and Berrios having his worst season….yeah, Stripling definitely an unsung hero this season.

Schneider really going to pull Stripling after this inning, isn't he?

The Jays actually scoring runs off Rasmussen while the ump has been this bad is incredible.

This season, yes, but Berrios is definitely starting Game 3 of a Wild Card series either way (track record, contract, long term investment, etc).

Great AB by Bo despite the result.

Please no DP, Vlad.

Biggio hasn't had any issues vs LHP in his career, so he should have absolutely been in the lineup against Springs today. I'd be less insistent on Tapia since 1) he's Tapia, and 2) Espinal hits LHP well, so I'll revise by saying Espinal at 2B and Biggio in RF (or LF with Hernandez in RF) should have been the lineup. At least have one lefty in there, especially one that's actually good (Biggio).

Biggio and Tapia over Espinal and Merrifield is probably how I would have played it. Whether it would have made a difference or not is another story, but Springs carving this lineup up like he has is not surprising.

Springs historically does a lot better against RHB, so naturally the Jays stack the lineup with all RHB.

Stripling removed after less than 70 pitches on Friday, and now the only long man in the pen is taken out after 2 innings of work on a bullpen day. The Jays have a 5 game series with the Rays coming up, including a DH that will have White starting one of the games. The level of planning probably not optimal here.

If it was up to Schneider he would probably use at least 8 relievers in this game, but for better or worse probably need Kikuchi to eat up as many innings as he can with the Tampa series having a double header.

The Rays having a ton of important injuries and still either hosting the WC game or winning the division is ridiculous. They will always find a way.

If the Jays don't want to use Biggio in the OF, and also don't want to do a Biggio/Espinal platoon at 2B when all the numbers suggest it's the logical way to go, then I'm not really sure what's going on with him and the team. If the team has soured on him, then trade him in the winter. That way when they tender Tapia a contract and give him 450 PA (and $5m) in 2023, it won't be at the expense of a much better player already on the roster. Biggio is 2 wins better than Tapia this season with 100 fewer plate appearances. I'm not sure how a competent front office doesn't see that and adjust playing time to reflect that.

And this org is going to give him 400 plate appearances. On purpose. Not due to injuries. It’s crazy.