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Major League Baseball 2024
- Thread starter alkeiper
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Contrary to what fans say, they did spend a lot of money and are 8th in payroll I think. They just spend it really poorly. Giving big contracts to Suzuki, Swanson, Hoerner, and Happ were huge mistakes. Especially Happ/Suzuki since a few top prospects play their positions and are being blocked. Jameson Tailon has been good this year, but he got a pretty steep contract as well. They brought Hendricks back for 16.5 million for some reason. Yan Gomes got a 6 million contract. These players are mediocre to bad.
Jed Hoyer mentions wanting to be like the Tampa Bay Rays all the time where they can put together great cheap rosters. But, some of those contracts like giving Dansby Swanson almost the identical contract Jason Heyward had, contradicts that. I think Jed's time is ticking here anyway, and if he doesn't get fired this year, they'll just move on next year. Either way, the Cubs should at least be in the mix for top free agents.
I'll never forget when Bryce Harper was actively posting Chicago stuff on social media and wanted to be here, yet they barely gave him an offer and declined. 6 years later, Harper still rules and The Cubs are an embarrassment. Verlander was another that wanted to be here, and Kate Upton was looking up places to move in Chicago, but the Cubs picked Jose Quintana to trade for instead. I wanted both of those guys so bad.
Jed Hoyer mentions wanting to be like the Tampa Bay Rays all the time where they can put together great cheap rosters. But, some of those contracts like giving Dansby Swanson almost the identical contract Jason Heyward had, contradicts that. I think Jed's time is ticking here anyway, and if he doesn't get fired this year, they'll just move on next year. Either way, the Cubs should at least be in the mix for top free agents.
I'll never forget when Bryce Harper was actively posting Chicago stuff on social media and wanted to be here, yet they barely gave him an offer and declined. 6 years later, Harper still rules and The Cubs are an embarrassment. Verlander was another that wanted to be here, and Kate Upton was looking up places to move in Chicago, but the Cubs picked Jose Quintana to trade for instead. I wanted both of those guys so bad.
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snuffbox
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Harper and Verlander would've been great signings/trades. Quintana was effective for a year or two versus Milwaukee but not a whole lot else, and certainly not as impactful as Verlander continued to be. They'd probably have remained in the WS window from 2016 to the present.
And, true, they're spending a lot of money but not well. Not resigning Bryant turned out to be a good decision. But they're over paying just as much right now for guys that just haven't been effective or worth it. Hendricks is beloved there and had a great run but they've made those tough cuts before, not sure why this scenario was different to the tune of 16mil.
As a Brewers fan, I've gotten used to a team that will never spend the money to truly compete for a World Series. Being in the mix for a round of playoffs is better than the 1990s doldrums. But I empathize for Cubs fans who waited so long for a Series and then had to go right back to mediocrity and worse due to ineptitude despite often large payrolls.
And, true, they're spending a lot of money but not well. Not resigning Bryant turned out to be a good decision. But they're over paying just as much right now for guys that just haven't been effective or worth it. Hendricks is beloved there and had a great run but they've made those tough cuts before, not sure why this scenario was different to the tune of 16mil.
As a Brewers fan, I've gotten used to a team that will never spend the money to truly compete for a World Series. Being in the mix for a round of playoffs is better than the 1990s doldrums. But I empathize for Cubs fans who waited so long for a Series and then had to go right back to mediocrity and worse due to ineptitude despite often large payrolls.
alkeiper
Welcoming our new insect overlords
I think the real problem with the Cubs is outside of Hoerner and Happ there's very little on the team that's come up from the farm system. You can make all the right free agent moves but without homegrown depth you're just the Los Angeles Angels.
Yeah, like this kid Moises Ballestros is like 20/21, but he's killing it. Bring him up. I've been hearing about how awesome Cade Horton is for three years, yet they don't bring him up. Owen Caissie is another one as is Matt Shaw.
That said, their number one prospect is Pete Crow Armstrong and he looks like he'll never be an average hitter. The defense is amazing though.
That said, their number one prospect is Pete Crow Armstrong and he looks like he'll never be an average hitter. The defense is amazing though.
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alkeiper
Welcoming our new insect overlords
Last place teams and their most likely all stars.
Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Elected and deservingly so. Leads AL first basement in bWAR, OBP and OPS.
White Sox: Garrett Crochet. Leads American League in strikeouts.
Athletics: Mason Miller. Brent Rooker has a higher WAR but there's more space for pitchers and Miller has a buzz about him.
Marlins: Tanner Scott. Left handed reliever, again easy to find space for these types. Jazz Chisholm is a dark horse because NL outfield is shallow this year.
Cubs: Shota Imanaga and Ian Happ. Imanaga has the early hype. Happ has a weak field to break through.
Rockies: Elias Diaz. He's a good catcher and even All Star teams need backup catchers. Ezequiel Tovar might get crowded out, I feel like you want Elly De La Cruz in the All Star game if you can. And Cal Quantrill is good but a Rockies pitcher? Perhaps Ryan McMahon to fill a manager's love of a utility infielder.
Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Elected and deservingly so. Leads AL first basement in bWAR, OBP and OPS.
White Sox: Garrett Crochet. Leads American League in strikeouts.
Athletics: Mason Miller. Brent Rooker has a higher WAR but there's more space for pitchers and Miller has a buzz about him.
Marlins: Tanner Scott. Left handed reliever, again easy to find space for these types. Jazz Chisholm is a dark horse because NL outfield is shallow this year.
Cubs: Shota Imanaga and Ian Happ. Imanaga has the early hype. Happ has a weak field to break through.
Rockies: Elias Diaz. He's a good catcher and even All Star teams need backup catchers. Ezequiel Tovar might get crowded out, I feel like you want Elly De La Cruz in the All Star game if you can. And Cal Quantrill is good but a Rockies pitcher? Perhaps Ryan McMahon to fill a manager's love of a utility infielder.
Cackling Co Pilot Kamala
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Howard Eskin suspended from Citizens Bank Park after making unwanted advance toward an Aramark employee
Howard Eskin, a longtime Philadelphia sports broadcaster, has been suspended from Citizens Bank Park for the rest of the season.
www.cbsnews.com
alkeiper
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Working for Aramark is bad enough without dealing with Howard Eskin.
Cackling Co Pilot Kamala
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Obviously harassment is horrible and indefensible in any context but doing it to an Aramark employee does seem especially lecherous. Does he think the Subway sandwich artists are too prudish?
I think Justin Steele might be in the mix as well. He's been fantastic lately, but hasn't got any wins because of the shitty bullpen. He pitched a complete game today, and I think another great start could help him get in.
alkeiper
Welcoming our new insect overlords
Steele has pitched well, I just don’t see a chance in hell that an 0-3 starter makes the all star team.
Edit: I looked at his b-ref page, i didn’t realize he already won a game today.
Edit: I looked at his b-ref page, i didn’t realize he already won a game today.
Cackling Co Pilot Kamala
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Ykw folks? It might end up being a pretty good summer after all.
Cackling Co Pilot Kamala
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Life comes at you fast.
alkeiper
Welcoming our new insect overlords
Tuned into the Twins game and happened upon Jose Miranda’s twelve at bat hitting streak. Raised his average from .294 to .329 in three games.
JHawk
Thank You, Fuck You, Bye!
When Jose Ramirez punched him last year, he knocked the talent completely out of him too
Cackling Co Pilot Kamala
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He was having a really crappy season before so that fight was the proverbial punch in the turd bowl!
Cackling Co Pilot Kamala
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Today, Ben Rice became the first Yankees rookie to hit three home runs in one game. Take that, Kevin Maas!
Boomer sports writers when they find out Ben Rice went to an Ivy League college.
Boomer sports writers when they find out Ben Rice went to an Ivy League college.
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Baez's hard hit % has fallen since joining Detroit and since he rarely walked as it was, he's no longer able to get away with just swinging at everything and seeing it pay off. Vlad Sr is considered a "free swinger" by many but had a better eye than most give him credit for and would draw walks/work the counts effectively. He also had a much higher pull rate for the majority of his career.
Tim Anderson's Hard Hit % fell off a cliff this year. His BABIP was also a career low .301 so I think he could bounce back better than Baez may.
Baez is hitting far better on the road the last 3 years. If I were a contending team, I'd risk pulling the trigger and seeing if he can acclimate to more of a hitter's park.
This was from 2023 before Detroit moved CF in at 412 Feet and lowered the CF & RF wall to 7 feet. "Since Statcast began tracking batted-ball distances in 2015, Comerica Park has had more outs of 410 or more feet (55) than any other Major League park; Coors Field (48) is the only other park with more than 18. Comerica Park also has 13 of the 38 outs of 420-plus feet hit in that time span. That includes Riley Greene’s long out to center against the Astros last Sept. 14 -- initially measured at 424 feet, later adjusted to 422."
I don't think it's a coincidence that both players moved from stadiums that were a bit more conducive to their playing styles to parks in Detroit & Miami that were much tougher. Comerica Park is 24th for RH Home Runs while Wrigley Field is 18th and LoanDepot Park is 25th for RH Home Runs while Guaranteed Rate Field is 16th using a 3 year rolling average. That impacts guys like Baez and Anderson and could be a difference of 3-8 HR a season.
Tim Anderson's Hard Hit % fell off a cliff this year. His BABIP was also a career low .301 so I think he could bounce back better than Baez may.
Baez is hitting far better on the road the last 3 years. If I were a contending team, I'd risk pulling the trigger and seeing if he can acclimate to more of a hitter's park.
This was from 2023 before Detroit moved CF in at 412 Feet and lowered the CF & RF wall to 7 feet. "Since Statcast began tracking batted-ball distances in 2015, Comerica Park has had more outs of 410 or more feet (55) than any other Major League park; Coors Field (48) is the only other park with more than 18. Comerica Park also has 13 of the 38 outs of 420-plus feet hit in that time span. That includes Riley Greene’s long out to center against the Astros last Sept. 14 -- initially measured at 424 feet, later adjusted to 422."
I don't think it's a coincidence that both players moved from stadiums that were a bit more conducive to their playing styles to parks in Detroit & Miami that were much tougher. Comerica Park is 24th for RH Home Runs while Wrigley Field is 18th and LoanDepot Park is 25th for RH Home Runs while Guaranteed Rate Field is 16th using a 3 year rolling average. That impacts guys like Baez and Anderson and could be a difference of 3-8 HR a season.
Cackling Co Pilot Kamala
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Pete Alonso is not old and has appeared in three All Star Games previous to this. Idk why they would feel the need to give him career reward. It might come down to his jersey being the best seller for the Mets as stupid as that sounds?
alkeiper
Welcoming our new insect overlords
CJ Abrams was the other extra infielder chosen, so I’m guessing it came down to positional need. Mookie probably isn’t playing so Lindor may make the team regardless.
alkeiper
Welcoming our new insect overlords
MLB announced Alonso for the Home Run Derby.
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I think this is the key reason for Alonso's inclusion tbh. He's a draw for the HR Derby and seems to enjoy competing in it.
Other HR Derby competitors thus far = Gunnar Henderson, Alonso, Alec Bohm, Bobby Witt Jr, Marcell Ozuna, Jose Ramirez