Frayed Knot

Minor league baseball, taken as a whole, has been doing quite well in recent years. After a large reduction in the number of leagues, teams, and fans starting around the 1940s and running thru the '80s, attendance started climbing again since then (despite the oft-repeated phrase that no one cares about baseball anymore). The Cyclones are in a unique situation in that it's a low league team in the biggest city in the country. Madden's article mentions them as graduating to a AA franchise, something which the Yanquis used to be able to prevent since it affects their 'home turf' but maybe that kind of veto power is going away with this new world order. And let's also not bury the big reveal here: a large part of this is about heading off legal action over pay for minor leaguers. Part of this restructuring is going to be an adjusted upward in minor league salaries which, like a raise in the minimum wage, is going to cause a reduction in the number of jobs at the very lowest level.

What Madden (intentionally) fails to point out is that many of the teams/leagues slated for elimination are those which are owned and operated by the ML clubs themselves with attendance at those games basically being the friends & family plan, so the complaint here about putting the small entrepreneur out of business and robbing small town America out of baseball is overstated at best and blatantly misleading as a whole. And, yeah, the idea is that the big league clubs don't have to control so many players particularly when the percentage of them who will one day become major leaguers is so small. Colleges certainly play a larger role in the feeder system than they used to with those guys often skipping the low-level leagues that will disappear. Going forward, independent leagues could pick up more slack in the future where any player could then be available to any organization rather than being tied to just the one he is indentured to as the result of a years-earlier draft.

That the perfection that has been the long-term minor league set-up will be disrupted.

Yeah, an upgrade won't be easy (or cheap) and compensation draft picks ain't what they used to be.

Who was the guy hailed as "the Japanese Greg Maddux" when the Mets signed him? After a month, Bill Madden said, "instead they got the Japanese Mike Maddux" Seeing as how Madden's writing, then and now, basically involves taking dictation from MFY front office and/or pr types, which Yanqui, do you suppose, fed him that line?

Lefty Specialist wrote: I don't like CF's on the wrong side of 30. I agree that you don't want to go too overboard with this thing, but the ones mentioned above could all likely be acquired on a short-term basis so you wouldn't run the risk that they'd begin rusting out there like the tin-man whenever it starts sprinkling during a game. With Marte (31) they'd be on the hook for just one year plus an option. Pillar (not yet 31) would either be a trade w/a one-year commitment or, if non-tendered, a FA with a length to be determined. Bradley (30 early next season) would be a one year commitment only. And Margot is just 25 The wild card would be the (32 y/o) Japanese player so his age adds to the overall unknown quantity there.

I'm still wary of trusting defensive metrics, especially ones that tell me that Pillar is merely average and Bradley not even that good. While I acknowledge that Pillar may be somewhat past his prime, those 'ratings', to me anyway, don't come close to jiving with the eyeball test. The upside to Margot is if you think that his offensive potential is lurking somewhere beneath the surface all ready to appear. He was maybe a bit rushed (a full-timer for SD at age 22 after being 'the big bait' in a trade) so he could be at the right age/experience for a bust-out even though even his minor league numbers were never really that great in the first place [772 OPS vs 695 in ML]. iow, he might be Lagares of five years ago only hopefully without the constant injury interruptions short-circuiting whatever offensive growth you were hoping to get from him.

"If you're not going to penalize a team for this, the rules are meaningless". v. "Where's the crime? Everyone does it!" If "everybody does" THIS -- 'This' meaning what Fiers claims the 2017 Astros did w/cameras and what that video implies they're still doing -- then the sport has a bigger problem on their hands then they apparently realize and a whole buncha shit's about to come down. But given that the Astros have won 311 games over the last three season while going to three ALCS series (winning twice) and two World Series (winning one) some kind of STRONG message has got to be sent that goes beyond just fines, draft picks, and firing some front office go-getter than no one outside of team geeks (like us) have ever heard of. This isn't the NCAA where you can simply "vacate" championships and/or "subtract" career wins from head coaches (like anyone pays attention to that kind of shit anyway). btw, the Astros have a slightly worse record at home as compared to on the road over the last three seasons combined [154-89 vs 157-86] with only a HUGE home advantage in 2019 [60-21 vs 47-34] making it even that close.

Edgy MD wrote: The current personnel suggests (to my reading) that Brandon Nimmo is currently the opening-day centerfielder. Do you think they want someone to displace him or another defensive caddy, a la Lagares? Ideally I think they'd prefer Nimmo in a corner slot while bringing in an everyday CF w/a glove who also hits from the right side, or at worst a glove-first guy who plays vs LHPs. That, of course, brings up the question of how that affects Conforto, JD Davis, Dom, the Squirrel, and/or (dare we even say his name?) Cespedes. Brodie, btw, has apparently ruled out the idea of Rosario as a CF - which, given that the early season defensive disaster seemed more and more like the outlier rather than a sign of things to come as the season went on, strikes me as the right move.

It's no secret that the mets would like to upgrade, particularly defensively, at CF. So here https://nypost.com/2019/11/13/what-mets-could-be-looking-at-for-center-field-upgrade/The Puma speculates on potential targets for next year. Acknowledging that the FA market really doesn't have 'that type' of player, what's left is mostly trade options. - the long shot is Mookie Betts. Obviously great, but a heavy price tag and has already declared his intention to test the FA market after 2020 so that's $20-some million PLUS multiple players/prospects for one year of service More realistically on the list could include Pittsburgh's Starling Marte, SF's Kevin Pillar, or Manuel Margot w/the Padres Marte, 31, 845 OPS in 2019, $11.5 in '20, option for $12mil in '21 (wasn't he also a steroid cheat?) Pillar: possibly a non-tender candidate by the Gigantes, notched a 719 OPS last season (right about his career norm) and has been a stunningly good defensive player (mostly for Toronto). Turns 31 just after New Year's so it's possible that his defense might be a bit past its prime going forward. Margot: A first time arb eligible in 2020, the just-turned 25 y/o Dominican was a well regarded prospect [top 25 type of ratings in pre-2017] w/Boston before being part of the package dealt for Craig Kimbrel. Hasn't really lived up to his supposed potential so far [.248/.301/.387 across three season/1,400 ML ABs] Also mentioned are Boston's Jackie Bradley Jr., a terrific outfielder who might be a trade target although swings lefty where the Mets would prefer a righty and his hitting regressed after his breakout 2016 season [2017-19 = .234/.318/.409]; and Japanese FA Shogo Akiyama another lefty who turns 32 y/o in April and had some good numbers for 2015-19 w/Seibu

During the World Series, WSH was so confident that HOU was doing something that they 1) gave signs as if a runner was on 2B even if there wasn't and 2) changed signs several times during the game. As FK said, suspensions might happen and I wonder if it will be at a New Orleans Saints magnitude. [bLOCKQUOTE]From The Washington Post: During the World Series, the Washington Nationals went to great lengths to alter and disguise their system of catchers' signs in preparation for playing at Minute Maid Park, with pitchers and catchers using five different sets of signs. And they did all that specifically because they were pre-warned about Houston's ability to steal signs. The interesting part going forward is whether that "ability" was natural or electronically enhanced, as well as how much of it MLB is going to be able to prove. One wonders if Houston felt compelled to 'step-up' (so to speak) their electronic game after being the victim in the St Louis computer hacking case. And, yeah, I think this could reach a New Orleans Saints level.

if their system was based at least partly on literally making loud noises in the dugout when offspeed pitches were coming, how in the world did opponents not catch on? Oh they did. This was talked about both during the ALCS & the WS, the fact that other teams here too many well-timed bangs and whistles for it to be anything else but sign stealing. So, with the usual caveat that we don't know all the details yet, when you throw in the story by ex-Astro Fiers onto the mix, this is potentially YUGE. Stealing signs is one thing. Stealing them via the use of cameras, telescopes, etc where the visiting club has no realistic answer to, goes far beyond what is acceptable. iow, if you're going to cheat, you at least have to do it within the rules [oe: what LWFS said] And given the sophistication that would be needed to pull something like this off (a relay from the camera to the dugout and so on) there's no way that the field manager and general manager couldn't know about this. So depending on if and when MLB gets the facts on who knew what and when did they know it, we could potentially be looking at lengthy suspensions for the manager & GM in addition to the usual fines and possibly draft pick penalties.

=ashie62 post_id=26274 time=1573330592 user_id=90] I would take Darrell Evans over Dwight Evans

Simmons, Keith and Miller. I do not believe Munson was a Hall of Famer. There was a journeyman infielder who played around the same time named Bruce Bochte. The had approximately the same plate appearances and identical OBPs. (.756) If you're asking "Who is Bruce Bochte?" That's my point. If Bruce Bochte isn't a Hall of Famer, neither (IMO) is Munson. I don't believe Munson is a HoF'er either, but there certainly CAN be a big difference even between players with identical OPS's when one is a catcher and the other a LF/1B (Bochte) so you don't want to hang your entire argument on that. And now that Mattingly's been brought up, I've used similar reasoning with those Yanqui fans who argue for his inclusion as they often cite the similarity of career stats between Donny & Kirby Puckett, right up to the injuries which shortened both their careers. BUT, I point out: - Kirby was a CF (most of his career anyway) which trumps even a good fielding 1B like DM when offensive stats are more or less equal - Puckett had a lot of good years vs D. Baseball whose prime was more like six excellent seasons followed by six mediocre. Not sure how much that should matter but it seems to in the minds of voters. - KP's post-season record; it's not necessarily Donny's fault that he didn't have a post-season resume to speak of, but he didn't and Kirby did and Kirby's was a pretty darn good one with over 100 ABs plus two championships. - I wouldn't have put Puckett in were it up to me* and I don't believe in the 'If A then B' line of thinking anyway, so B doesn't get in just because A did and especially not when A was an iffy choice to start with. So, you want a reason as to why Puckett and not Mattingly? There's four, pick one or more that you like. * I always thought Kirby got in at least partially for the ball to his face that effectively ended his career, and also for the outgoing and fun nature he projected. Now had some of the darker aspects of his personal life been made public prior to his eligibility I don't think he passes muster. When his candidacy is partly for on field stuff, partly for sympathy, partly for likability, and then the likability end falls apart, those who voted might start to have second thoughts.

And if half-ish of those 40-ish come at home it'll put him in 4th place for stadium history just a few behind Wright. Slightly more than 40, and/or with a better H/R mix, and he moves into 3rd. Either way, as long as we don't hear a sentence starting with -- 'and in a striking similarity to the injury Yeonis Cespedes suffered, Pete Alonso was placed today on ...' -- at some point next year, 4th place is all-time is about the worst he'll wind up in despite not being there for nearly 85% of the stadium's history.

So Alonso could very well be in 3rd place (and almost certainly in 4th at worst) before the end of his second season despite having played in just two of the twelve seasons of the stadium.

Taking the QO also allows Wheeler (or any of these guys for that matter) to be a FA next year at which point they CANT be QO'd again. That would lead, theoretically at least, to a more open market to play in since there would no longer be draft pick compensation in the mix. It's going to depend on the circumstances obviously. There's always going to be the injury risk to consider and a guy like Rendon is going to cash in as he's at the peak of his earning potential now. But some of the younger guys may see the QO status as a kind of strategy to be played, at least until the CBA changes the rules down the line. It'll also depend on how good their agents are at getting a sniff into what teams are thinking years & dollar wise.

Nobody here, Francesa aside, is handing anyone anything. But a guy who earned himself the closer's job after just two months in the big leagues, then followed that up with a real good season as closer, and then followed that up with a GREAT season is clearly the one with the inside track, even coming off a poor season. He's 25 y/o (26 by early next season), is healthy as far as we know, and probably hasn't forgotten how to pitch. They'll have to see how he looks next spring (which is pretty much what folks are saying in this thread) but that he'll be the guy when it all comes out in the wash isn't exactly a wild assumption. Or if Familia, Lugo, Gsellman, or some TBA import looks better ...

Blake Taylor from the Ike deal ... that name is a blast from the past. He was one of those totally-far-away-but-may-work-out-some-day type of guys that often get tossed onto the back end of trades. Only 17 y/o when drafted and traded less than a year later (Apr of '14) while still just 18-1/2 y/o and with of all 21 Gulf Coast Lg innings under his belt. He then proceeded to pitch a whopping total of 41 innings in 2014 then 12 more in '15 and all of 8 in '16 ... and it was right around this point where he fell off my radar so it's nice to hear from/about him again. But he's been decent since then at several levels -- first as a starter, more recently out of the pen -- and is still just 24 even though that trade seems like it was about a decade ago and Ike's last ML AB was with the Yanx more than 3-1/2 seasons ago.

I'd start by arguing that Strasburg had a better season than Scherzer (starting with six more starts and nearly 40 more innings pitched) so I'm not even sure they got the right three.

=41Forever post_id=25991 time=1572922736 user_id=69]But if you announce finalists, you get additional days of coverage and discussion leading up to the announcement. And it's good news, showcasing the game's biggest stars. Everybody has fun talking baseball even after the season ends and before the hot stove stuff gets serious.

=Centerfield post_id=26045 time=1572982342 user_id=65]You will hear: *completely different pitcher *may have been tipping his pitches *fixed a flaw in his delivery *different mindset after experiencing a year in NY

Willets Point wrote: Shea looks very sculptural in it's skeletal form. And very skeletal in its structural form.

At least when it comes to HoF nominations (baseball, R&R, whatever) there's always a need to announce, or at least clarify, who the first time eligible guys/groups are. But we already know who the candidates for the 2019 CY award are: Pitchers who Pitched in 2019!! I just don't know why they feel the need to tell you in advance which of the (300?) possibilities Aren't going to win. Hell, we can guess most of those on our own. If I had to guess I think the reason for it is mostly that these awards announcements are now as much a TV show (MLBN) as anything (or at least MLBN is trying to sell them as such) and so this gives an incentive to finalists to be contact ready in case their name is called. Those guys who are likely to finish 4th and 5th but maybe had an outside shot as a surprise winner? ... well they can go get started on their off-season African safari without fear of missing out cuz no one from the network will be calling.

Aroldis Chapman opts NOT to opt-out after being enticed by the pre-deadline extension he got from the Yanx which tacks on the 2022 season on top of the '20 & '21 seasons that were already in the contract.