Brownie19

It is amazing how much hockey brings out the worst in people. As was noted, people do s*** in other sports that are considered "against the unwritten rules" and grown men are typically able to restrain themselves. But not in hockey. Someone pointed out the other day how they had to move the hand shakes in minor hockey to before the game (instead of after) because kids, playing a youth sport, can't control their emotions enough to display sportsmanship AFTER the game. Too many fights while shaking hands that they changed the rules. Did you know in women's hockey, they still shake after the game? We still do for baseball as well. I know I sound like a huge pussy, but I do think that's kind of sad. That all said, I'm a hockey dad who spends copious amounts of time in arenas these days and even just watching it, my blood boils when someone cheap shots a kid - and if it's ever against my kid, it takes everything in my bones not to turn into a raging lunatic. I remember being happy this weekend when #7 got hit from behind in the boards (he was fine - thankfully), because that little prick has been running around trying taking dirty shots at our players all game. That night I spoked a joint and was reflecting on the game - and I felt like such a moron. There's just something about hockey that brings out the absolute worst in people. Reilly deserves a lot of games. He ought to have just dropped the gloves and grabbed him instead.

Couple big swings here Jonn, but you look like Javy Baez swinging at a 58' curveball.

He's joking man...

It's the Padres.

He has a right arm and a heartbeat. That is it.

$6.4 AAV. Seems like a reasonable gamble when guys like Wade Miley, Martin Perez, Erick Fedde, Pagan and Alex Wood are all making more. Junis just got 1 yr $7M - he may be a comparable for Yariel, although Yariel likely has much higher upside.

The 4th OF historically still gets like 450 PA's. There is room for Belly, Varsho, KK and Springer in this OF. Especially when you consider Belly crushed LHP last year. I'm optimistic Springer bounces back. I love that guy.

Verdugo sucks hairy balls and Soto is a DH.

The guy can only pitch twice through the lineup and walks 5 per 9. Teams aren't paying for that type of pitcher.

To be fair - if I'm running a league, or own a team in the league, that's probably good image to strive for.

1000% he is. Again - it's f***ing embarrassing that the MLB arbitration system still acts like it's 1995.

Huh? Kirk Jansen Teo Biggio Espinal Tellez Smoak Travis Those are all guys who weren't really top prospects who forced there way onto the team and into a start role for the Jays over the last 8 years. Then of course you add Vlad and Bo to the list. Also - the Jays aren't projecting any of our AA/AAA guys to be "starters" this year - but there does certainly look to be room for them to force their way into a starting role. It's a pretty nice little setup actually.

To be fair - it also doesn't seem to have much impact on the NFL, which does make me question why MLB is so focused on a clean image. The NFL is bizarre. "me too" like 25 girls - high paid player in the league. Kneel for an anthem in a silent protest - cancelled immediately.

Which may be exactly why Atkins isn't adding guys on multi-year deals and/or signing more vets. We probably need to see what the farm system can give us this year.

Yeah - I don't know if being religious keeps you out of trouble. Franco was probably religious.

I was going off this - https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds/postseason-zips?enddate=2023-10-01&series=ALWCS2 Probability of winning may be different than the betting lines. I'm also sure there are other probability predictors.

Seems doubtful. Great hitter, but $400M+ for a DH isn't a great idea IMO.

I like that devil guy - BUT - you can't shame anyone these days. That's cancel material. Some people like bad dragons in their orifices and that's perfectly fine. What's really sad is Bauer is cancelled for participating in a kink the woman told him she was into and asked for. In 1965, she probably would never have told him she was into something like that and if he got rough with her (whether she loved it - or hated it), in all likelihood, he wouldn't have been cancelled. She either wouldn't have told anyone, or would have been dismissed for suggesting it.

Fair point - I should have googled that. He wasn't charged - I should have said that.

Yes I can, because far too many fans understand the randomness and luck of it all. The Dodgers have "won the offseason" this year - all while increasing the likelihood of winning a playoff series by 2%. As for hitting home runs - that's just the new narrative. in 2015/2016, the Jays were s*** on for "relying on the long ball too much" and "you can't wait for the HR in the playoffs - the pitching is too good - you need to manufacture runs". Teams started looking for high contact rates and few K%'s as you needed to put the ball in play in the playoffs to win. Arizona was 22nd in HR's last year and they went to the world series. Did they benefit from a few hitters (like Moreno) hitting home runs WELL above their typical rate, in key games? Of course they did - but that's all random s***. The Twins were 3rd in the majors in HR's last year - did that make them a serious WS contender in your mind? Me neither. They weren't even favored v. the Jays, who couldn't hit s***. This talk that you need to hit HRs to win in the playoffs is just another copycat situation. A few teams have success with it and then everyone thinks that's answer. You see this s*** all the time. KC started the "you can't wait for the HR in the playoffs - the pitching is too good - you need to manufacture runs" narrative in 2015/2016 - when they really just ran into a f***ton of BABIP luck. KC also started the "lockdown bullpens win championships" - until Washington won in 2019 when it became "great starting pitching is what it takes to win in the playoffs". This s*** changes regularly because there is no formula to win in the playoffs - just as there's no formula to win at the casino regularly. So much randomness in both.

OK - I can buy that.

1. Don't kink shame. While I agree that violence against women is exposed and punished a lot more than it was in 1965 (which is great), we're also a lot more open about sexual kinks than we were in 1965. A woman who likes it rough is openly sharing her fantasy's and desires with a partner is certainly not abnormal. 2. Bauer was felt to be uncoachable by moronic teams that were behind the times and were unhappy that he wouldn't just fall in line and pitch the way they wanted. He was 100% just ahead of the curve and willing to speak up against the old philosophies (most of which were adopted by the best teams in baseball shortly thereafter). Now perhaps he could have expresses his views/opinions and justified his concerns with their approach in a better manner (or maybe he did it in a very polite and constructive way - who knows), but I also suspect there was simply some "old boys" who got their tighty whiteys in a knot because he challenged them - and they come from a generation that believes old people should never be challenged. I guess perception is reality, but I'm not sure Bauer deserves all the blame for that. I find it really sad that teams won't sign him due to PR concerns. Most of those PR concerns are due to the fact that most fans won't even know he was found not-guilty and that the bitch made all that s*** up to try and steal his money. They've already assumed guilt in their minds and are either unable or unwilling to change that. That's a s***** society right there. It's like the Bills punter. Cut, career over - all for false allegations from a party he wasn't even at. f*** society for letting this type of thing happen.

Like the Mets and Braves did last offseason?

Runs prevented also equals greater chance of success. A run prevented is a run scored. The Jays probability of beating Minnesota last year was 55.6%. The Rays were a 99 win team and their probability of beating the Rangers was only 56.7%. Even the best teams in baseball are only expected to win their series like 60-63% of the time. If the best teams were expected to win their series like 80+%, then I'd agree that pushing and "going for it" more often would yield much better playoff success. But it really doesn't move needle a lot.