glory

The Astros have the better offensive talent, but overall, I'd give the edge to the Rays (and I hate doing that). If Verlander and Osuna were healthy, then it would have been more advantageous for the Astros.

Wouldn't surprise me if the Rays sweep this series. They not only have the better team, but they are also way better equipped to handle 7 games in a row.

I thought I read (a while ago) that AA handled the draft signings in 2009 with JP on the way out, but I maybe I'm misremembering that. Beeston and Boras' issues are definitely well known so not surprising if Beeston was the culprit on the Jays end. You're right it's been so long, and so much has changed in the front office that I doubt it would be an issue, plus Paxton is coming off injury so he's not going to be as picky about where he goes.

After watching Aaron Boontoyo manage against the Rays in the ALDS, it's clear the role of a manager is to just do whatever the front office/analytic team wants, and be the shield when the criticism comes. If the f'n Yankees are doing stupid pre determined analytical crap, then it's a league wide epidemic. The Rays are just way better at it than everyone else. You could replace Buntoyo with someone else and it probably wouldn't make any difference in how the team is managed on the field. It will just be another face taking orders from Atkins and co.

If Paxton can pass a physical, then he's probably the best combination of affordable (due to injury) and upside. Although he still held a grudge with the Jays org even after he was traded to the Yankees, as he brought it up on a NY radio interview after the trade. I'm sure Shapiro (and money) can fix that, but whatever AA did to him during the draft must have been pretty bad. Jays seemed pretty serious about Odorizzi last winter too, so wouldn't be surprised if that is revisited without the QO involved.

I know I’m in the minority on this forum when it comes to the Rays, but I have to fight the good fight. You guys will come around someday....

I don't have any favorite teams aside from the Jays, so if they are not involved, then at least give me the best matchups that will be better for national exposure. I wanted the Lakers/Clippers in the NBA playoffs. The Raptors were gone, so might as well root for the better matchup rather than any cinderella team that most people wouldn't care about. Astros/Yankees (and now Astros/Dodgers) is the better matchup. Subjectively we can disagree on that, people enjoy different things, but no one can say that the Rays will have any sort of national (or even local) interest. That doesn't benefit anyone. It's more fun watching something that you know everyone else is watching. That won't be the case if the Rays go deeper. If the Rays had a Tatis Jr. type of superstar, then my opinion might be different since I'd watch just to see him, but there's not a single positive to the Rays going far unless you actively root for them. Literally any other team aside from the Rays would have been fine with me, but like I said, I know how this story ends. They are making the WS and probably winning it.

Touche.

On what planet are the Rays lovable? The 'lovable underdog' that no one in their own f***ing state wants to watch? Give me a f***ing break. I know you're on the Rays dick, and you and the three other people in the US who will watch the Rays in the World Series can have a blast, but it's bad for the sport. No one in Tampa will care, and no one in America will care. 300k watched the Rays/Jays Game 2. That's WNBA numbers, and you can't blame the Jays because Canadian viewers don't count in US ratings. The cheating Astros facing both of the teams they cheated out of potential titles, or the f***ing Rays who underpay everyone and no one cares about. Tough choice. Boring is always better than riveting.

Well, the ultimate ratings matchup would be Astros/Dodgers, and there's still a chance of that happening, but I've already accepted that the Rays are going to ruin it for baseball.

MLB would have gotten great ratings for Yankees/Astros. Story wrote itself. Now they have to hope fans hate the Astros enough to watch the ALCS because they sure as hell won't be watching for the Rays. Sucks.

That was the most Rays game ever. At least the Jays weren't on the receiving end this time. Rays are winning the WS.

Almost got 101 at his head, now hits what could be the series ending HR. That is kind of poetic, even though I'm pulling for the Yanks here.

The f***ing Rays.

Boontoyo pinch hits Mike Ford (36 wRC+ this season) for his catcher instead of Frazier, which means Gary Sanchez (who has trouble behind the plate) has to come into the game at catcher with Chapman on the mound. Charlie has a tear in his eye right now.

The Yankees are about to feel what the Jays feel every time they face the Rays. This has Rays walk off win written all over it.

Chapman in with 2 outs in the 7th.

Yankees let Glasnow off the hook by making 2 outs on 3-0 pitches. He is having trouble finding the strike zone.

Convincing a player to play in Canada comes with disadvantages but telling big leaguers to potentially spend half a season in a minor league facility comes with different challenges. It’s hard either way, but this adds more to it than the norm.

I think people are underestimating how difficult it will be to attract players to the Jays this winter. Players won't know whether they'll play home games in Canada, Buffalo, or Dunedin. They won't know whether they'll be playing half their games in a big league park or a minor league park. I know at the end of the day money/term talks, so if the Jays overpay they'll have a shot, but it's still going to be a factor. I'm talking about notable free agents, not the FAs who will scramble for any job they can get. Kim makes sense from an age perspective. I don't know how good he is or good he can be in the future, but if you can get a FA at age 25 and plug him into your lineup right away, then that's a pretty good outcome if he's any good. I don't know if Ryu can be a factor at all, or if he's even someone who will make an effort to recruit, but that might help as well.

That's how it always worked. The only reason they are doing no off days now (in addition to wanting to end the playoffs without interruption ASAP) is because there are no travel days. When the playoffs expand next year (hopefully with normal travel and fans in attendance), then the WC round will likely be 3 consecutive days since the higher seed gets all the home games, but beyond that, it will go back to the original format you highlighted above.

I'm guessing the Rays will use Glasnow and Snell in a tandem to get through 5-6 innings before going to the pen. That's probably their best chance. The "no days off" gimmick is at least making it tougher to advance the deeper a team goes. Teams can't get by on 2 good starters in this format.

Tatis is the best thing to happen to baseball in 2020. Nothing he did was absurd. Machado's hypocrisy on the other hand is definitely funny. I'm fine with Manny, but he needs to take it if he dishes it out.

While I wouldn't recommend it if I were Bauer's agent, I hope he stays true to the 'one year deal' strategy. If he stays healthy, that could actually optimize how much money he makes short term, similar to a NBA player. Higher AAV for a short deal rather than lower AAV for a 'set for life' contract. It would go against what every top level baseball player does nowadays. He wouldn't have the security, and one injury will basically destroy his earning potential, but it's the ultimate bet on yourself move.