There’s just no vision or leadership.
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MLB 2020
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- Mar 2008
- 7494
- Off the purple line
- I'm slutty: Roma (on haitus until Jose is fired), Liverpool, and Dortmund
- Del Taco
I didn't get my picks in but they will involve the Dodgers in the final. Haha.
I'm glad they're going to play. Baseball is the one sport where I actually pay attention to news because I don't care about spoilers. But as I posted yesterday, I haven't followed any news. I watched the Michael Kay show a few weeks back when I was eating lunch and he did make one important point about the owners and players: The players in all sports expect to be paid their full contracts but they aren't playing. This wasn't an injury situation (e.g., players on the DL). Of course, this also wasn't a situation where players could control playing. Almost every country had some kind of quarantine. The reality is that in other types of jobs where people couldn't do their jobs, they weren't paid. Again, I haven't followed the news on this. The best I could tell the players want to play, the owners want a season, there is some pre-opening of the CBA posturing happening, but I don't know why either side would be up in arms. Get back to Spring training and play ball. Empty stadia won't be fun, but really I haven't been as bothered by empty stadia as I would have expected watching Bundesliga and EPL games.
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There is a better grounded fear that the relatively quick re-start will lead to more injuries, especially among pitchers, and the DH is being pitched as a way of reducing any risk from batting and running the bases.
An argument I could make with a straight face if needed, but not one I really believe in.
I am expectedly grumpy about the likelihood that the league I care about will be playing with the DH from now on.
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- Mar 2008
- 7494
- Off the purple line
- I'm slutty: Roma (on haitus until Jose is fired), Liverpool, and Dortmund
- Del Taco
The news crawl on MLB Network on Tuesday night said no universal DH in 2020 but there will be a man on second base to start innings during extra innings. I don't watch the World Baseball Classic but my sense is they used that gimmick for WBC. Is that correct? And I know they used that move in the Olympics for softball tournaments. I saw some former Olympians interviewed who said they were cool with that move. I think I expressed this before, but I'm not a fan of this. Yet, I can't stand extra innings except in playoff games. I'm all for ties. Even in 60 games, a tie does not undo the integrity of the game. If you can't win the game in 9, then that's that.
There was one other minor rule change listed in the crawl but I can't remember it now.
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The crawl was wrong (or you read it wrong). There will be a universal DH for this season.
The WBC has used starting extra innings with runners on first and second. Originally from the 13th in 2009, then the 11th in more recent editions. The Atlantic League has used the runner on second variant.
Among the other rules changes are that pitchers are allowed a wet rag in their back pocket (so as not to use saliva to rub down the ball), no spitting, high fives or sunflower seeds, etc.
https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-rule-changes-for-2020Last edited by ursus arctos; 24-06-2020, 19:53.
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Very sad and disturbing story about Andrew Toles, who a few years ago looked like he was going to become a solid contributor for the Dodgers—he was arrested in Key Weat for trespassing for sleeping on the grounds of the Key West airport. It seems that he’s been homeless for some time.
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Originally posted by Incandenza View PostVery sad and disturbing story about Andrew Toles, who a few years ago looked like he was going to become a solid contributor for the Dodgers—he was arrested in Key Weat for trespassing for sleeping on the grounds of the Key West airport. It seems that he’s been homeless for some time.
Maybe this will be a chance for him to get help.
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Originally posted by Hot Pepsi View Post
He shouldn’t be arrested for that.
Maybe this will be a chance for him to get help.
I didn't know that he had left baseball. Apparently the Dodgers are "aware" of the situation and will be reaching out, hopefully he's in a place where he is willing to accept help. The story about Delonte West a few months back and now this just hammer home how precarious the situation is for many in this country. Even professional athletes are just like other people, and just a few bad breaks and things going wrong can lead to being homeless, and it seems that once you've experienced homelessness it's extremely difficult to get your life back on track.
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- Mar 2008
- 7494
- Off the purple line
- I'm slutty: Roma (on haitus until Jose is fired), Liverpool, and Dortmund
- Del Taco
I think the Dodgers were hoping for a reclamation project in many ways with Toles, who had some problems before he came to LA. He seemed to do well for them, but then was injured and couldn't play his way back into a crowded outfield. None of this is to counter Inca's original post (that a player shouldn't be homeless and if an MLB player is homeless, what does that say about economic hardships more generally), but it could mean that the money he did earn wasn't properly protected by the people who should have been helping him.
Although now that I re-visited the Wiki page, someone added a new section about mental health issues, which certainly could explain disciplinary issues at most stages of his adult baseball career (i.e., college and pro ball).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Toles
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- Mar 2008
- 3353
- at the edge of the sea
- Plymouth Argyle, Plymouth Gladiators, Seattle Mariners
- cream crackers spread with nutella
Major league baseball will not provide minor league teams with players. So the season is cancelled.
https://www.milb.com/news/2020-minor...season-shelved
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- Mar 2008
- 7494
- Off the purple line
- I'm slutty: Roma (on haitus until Jose is fired), Liverpool, and Dortmund
- Del Taco
I know we still have about a month to go provided there are no unique health problems that delay the start or completion of the season, but I'm not going to learn much that will change things for me. Here are my annual picks that (like always) feature a combination of no-brainer and perhaps dumb luck or just plain stupid picks.
AL East
Yankees
Rays
Red Sox
Blue Jays
Orioles
Red Sox have lately been an every other year team and the Rays also need to deal with the NL East, but I still think the Rays will be better. I haven't looked at the schedule but on MLB Now they said that Yankess last 10 (?) games are against the worst teams from the East (I assume Marlins and Orioles) and their pitching is too good.
AL Central
Twins
White Sox
Cleveland
Royals
Tigers
This is tough. The Twins were the real deal last year and have added quality. Cleveland traded Kluber and Bauer. I think Cleveland is better than they played last year and the Twins can't seem to do the business two years in a row. But I think Minnesota keeps top spot and White Sox jump up to second.
AL West
Astros
As
Angles
Rangers
Mariners
The big question for me is if the As can hold onto the Wild Card spot again. I think the lack of fans will benefit the Astros more than any other team. If the As can't hold the Wild Card (and I think they will), it could be three from the AL East even with the East playing the East.
NL East
Atlanta
Mets
Philies
Nats
Marlins
This is division where I am probably making the least by the book picks with the Nats finishing fourth. I think age will catch up. If Stras or Mad Max feel the effects of the long season then they will be cooked. With that said, obviously the Nats benefit most from this delayed start since the pitchers got some extra rest. Atlanta is solid and I expect the Mets to get it together (but I said that last year as well).
NL Central
Reds
Brewers
Cubs
Cardinals
Pirates
Sorry, UA. I am shocked that the Cubs dynasty never happened but I think Theo's excellent decision making ran its course and was followed by poor decision making. The owner doesn't seem to want to spend and they are pitching weak. Perhaps the Cards finishing fourth is even more of a shocking pick since they were in the playoffs last year. I'm buying what the Reds have done, esp. since they were a weak hitting team (bizarre in this climate) but pitching was strong. They have added some big bats and I think Bauer will return to form. The question will be if those personalities gel. I think they will benefit for the short season. I have no horses in this race other than living in Chicago so would prefer the Cubs to win this division. But I see the tide changing a bit: Brewers staying strong and Reds making a leap.
NL West
Dodgers
Dbacks
Padres
Rockies
Giants
Padres could benefit from the short season. Arizona should benefit from improved pitching and outfield depth. Dodgers are too strong. Hopefully Pollock is out for the season or traded. I'm disappointed Price is staying home, although totally understand why any player would make that move.
AL Wild Cards: Repeat--Rays beat the As
NL Wild Cards: Brewers beat the Mets
NL: Dodgers
AL: Astros
WS champ: Dodgers (Fourth year in a row, I think. But it's a time when fandom and logic come together. If Kershaw comes out the bullpen in the playoffs, Friedman better be looking for a new gig.)Last edited by danielmak; 09-07-2020, 04:33.
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Originally posted by danielmak View PostSorry, UA. I am shocked that the Cubs dynasty never happened but I think Theo's excellent decision making ran its course and was followed by poor decision making. The owner doesn't seem to want to spend and they are pitching weak.
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