Centerfield

Vic Sage wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Joel Schumacher has recently openly apologized for Batman Forever, including the nipple pouches. Yeah, it stunk, but I didn't find it particularly worse than the other three movies from that serial. And your inability to discern any qualitative difference between BATMAN FOREVER and BATMAN (89), or even BATMAN RETURNS, is why you are the lone voice of dissent in this WONDER WOMAN lovefest. What's the third movie that I'm missing? I wonder if I watched the third one. I liked Batman '89 a lot. Batman Returns was a big step back, but still better than Batman Forever. At least BR had Michelle Pfeiffer.

Lefty Specialist wrote: The baseball draft is such a different animal. Football and basketball picks can have an immediate impact. Even the best draftees in baseball are usually at least a year or two away. Mike Piazza was a 62nd round pick as a favor to his father by Tommy Lasorda. An undrafted TJ Rivera will have a better baseball career than a lot of first-rounders, I'd bet. Tanking for a better draft pick probably isn't worth it. Well see, that's it exactly. There are many out there that feel just like you. That tanking for a better draft pick isn't worth it. But this article seems to be saying just the opposite. That it IS worth it. There are no guarantees obviously, but the higher the pick, the better your odds of finding a star. This difference can be measured.

I wonder how sports would be different if, instead of rewarding tanking, we gave the first overall pick to the team with the best record that missed the playoffs. And then went in order from there, with the playoff teams picking last. It would encourage teams to remain competitive throughout the entire season.

Frayed Knot wrote: That guy goes through a whole lot of rigamarole to tell us that really high draft picks have a better shot at turning into stars compared to less high ones. Gee, thanks. But that theory in itself has been challenged. Plenty of folks cite the Piazza and Pujols and suggest draft order doesn't matter, or that it's a complete crapshoot. I think there is enough there, if it's true, to suggest that it does make sense to tank. Basically, the two desirable results are to make the playoffs, or finish last.

Should we really be hoping that the team tanks? I mean, this is not like the NBA draft where the #1 pick makes an immediate impact. I've heard more than a few times that it's not worth it, and baseball draft picks are all too speculative. This article suggests that the top few picks might actually be pretty valuable. http://outfieldflyrule.com/2015/09/01/the-mlb-stretch-run-for-losers-understanding-the-importance-of-a-top-draft-pick/ Scroll down through the Braves garbage and to the analysis, about halfway through the article.

Well it was nice to lead for a change. I'm off to bed. 2017 sucks BHMC.

Really right? It's like 86 mph.

They're trying to show me up by showing they care.

Is it legal to trade someone on the DL? Cause Walker has value. Middle infielder with an .822 OPS over the last two seasons is not bad.

Mets at Dodgers. We are starting Tyler Pill. The goal tonight is to record an out before they've scored four runs.

That picture of Gal Gadot is even more stunning than the first. And the first was pretty stunning.

Thank you Mets for a truly awful hour of baseball. Off to bed. Fitting end to a shit day.

This team is pathetic.

I don't think Puma is saying that the Mets will get a lot, just that he thinks these are the players what will bring "the most". Whatever that might be. I'm thinking with so many teams out of it, the return may not be all that great. We are probably looking at a bunch of Dilson Herreras.

Fman99 wrote: I'd like to see Wheeler keep his pitch count down. Well. He kept it relatively low. See, as much as Wheeler sucks in person, he is the perfect pitcher for west coast games when you have to wake up early the next day.

Lucas Duda has a nearly .900 OPS with 12 HR's. Is a solid fielder at 1B, and is 31 years old. Other than Jay Bruce (or maybe Addison Reed) will bring back the largest bounty at the trade deadline. I think you have to try trading him and see what you have in Dom Smith for the second half. I guess if you're not happy with Smith, you can consider bringing him back, or signing/trading for another 1B. The alternative is to keep him, offer arbitration, and either take the draft pick or keep him for another year. You also wonder what type of deal a 32 year old Duda gets on the open market. Maybe he only gets a 3 year deal. Don't really know the answer to this one. It's one of the tough choices you have to make over the next few months. If I'm Sandy, I trade him then re-sign him. We are going to need power bats next year.

I'm irritated that there are so many teams competing with us for the first pick next year. All this winning is terrible.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: This team's strategy is to intentionally bat their kids on top of the plate hoping for hbps and walks then "stealing" in an attempt to draw bad throws and run the bases without hitting. Complete bullshit. I know that being patient and drawing a walk is probably the best way for a lot of these kids to get on base. But dammit, no one ever remembers drawing a walk in Little League. You remember your home runs and your bases clearing doubles. What's the point of playing baseball if you're not going to swing. Shame on these coaches for making it about wins and losses instead of playing the game. There are guys in our league who coach this way too. "Wait for your's Jimmy." Even as Jimmy has no intention of swinging. In our rec teams, we have a "swing from your shoes" policy. Get a pitch to hit, swing hard. Anyone taking a called strike 3 gets squirted with water. Of course, for us, the "wait for your's Jimmy" team just wrapped up their second straight league title. And for all of the walking etc., the coaches do a great job drilling them on fielding. That team practices all the time and they like, NEVER, throw to the wrong base. Whatever. Our team is much cooler and would kick their asses in a brawl.

You know, the cover derby will not be very fun this year.

Completely forgot about this game and then checked the score. In some ways, it's like the off-season has already started.

I think we are done. It's ok I guess. We should get a lot back for guys like Bruce and Duda and Reed. Walker too if he comes back healthy. I think you play Dom Smith for 80 starts then try to re-sign Duda if he's not ready. Pick high in the draft next year.

The upside is too big not to do a 1 year deal.

This thread reminded me how much I enjoyed the deGrom Friday night game in Pittsburgh. Just a perfect game. Nice to think about in light of the disaster yesterday.

Ashie62 wrote: Conforto should go to DL and Nimmo promoted. Ian Happ is the next Cubs phenom. Hope he pans out as well as their last one. (Schwarber)

G-Fafif wrote: Sewald's appearance on that card is his 2017 highlight. Thank you Grimm. It's too bad he had to detach his leg to get that pose. I think it speaks volumes that Paul Sewald is our reliever of the month. We should see what Brian Stokes is doing these days.