Quote from fenn68 on March 9, 2022, 2:43 pm

Another reason to get irritated with MLB ownership ... the new deal they have with Apple+ streaming service.

Basically they have agreed to have Apple+ stream a Friday night double header each week for some serious money. That on the surface is fine EXCEPT as I understand it it is exclusive rights and that game cannot be broadcast elsewhere. For example if the Padres are playing the Dodgers in September in the midst of a playoff fight and Apple+ picks up the game ... locally Bally Sports cannot broadcast the game in SD. Sort of the same as Sunday night games with ESPN except almost everyone has ESPN included as a station in their service, so no extra cost in most packages. However, Apple+ is only available by subscription at an additional cost.

Not sure on the logic for either MLB or Apple+ ... clearly they want to make more money ... just not sure the rationale each side is using to think this will create more money (although MLB get money upfront). Not sure this will generate more baseball fans but could alienate some of their loyal fans (and regional broadcast partners).

I guess Apple+ believes this will get more subscribers to see these game (and in turn hook them on Apple+ for other programming). I just can't imagine that many fans (who don't have Apple+) will subscribe to get a few games for their team. I know I will not be one.

Quote from BoosterSD on March 9, 2022, 2:59 pm

Quote from fenn68 on March 9, 2022, 2:43 pm

Another reason to get irritated with MLB ownership ... the new deal they have with Apple+ streaming service.

Basically they have agreed to have Apple+ stream a Friday night double header each week for some serious money. That on the surface is fine EXCEPT as I understand it it is exclusive rights and that game cannot be broadcast elsewhere. For example if the Padres are playing the Dodgers in September in the midst of a playoff fight and Apple+ picks up the game ... locally Bally Sports cannot broadcast the game in SD. Sort of the same as Sunday night games with ESPN except almost everyone has ESPN included as a station in their service, so no extra cost in most packages. However, Apple+ is only available by subscription at an additional cost.

Not sure on the logic for either MLB or Apple+ ... clearly they want to make more money ... just not sure the rationale each side is using to think this will create more money (although MLB get money upfront). Not sure this will generate more baseball fans but could alienate some of their loyal fans (and regional broadcast partners).

I guess Apple+ believes this will get more subscribers to see these game (and in turn hook them on Apple+ for other programming). I just can't imagine that many fans (who don't have Apple+) will subscribe to get a few games for their team. I know I will not be one.

This would tick me off as well. At least I think I have Apple+ via my sister in law or my parents.

But I am not signing up either, if worse comes to worse, I will simply use the gamecast from MLB. I have to do this for DBack games anyway.

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 13, 2022, 11:42 am

Two years ago the Teams moving up were the Padres and Chisox.

Both have basically now arrived as perennial Playoff picks.

My next picks are the Tigers and Marlins.

Both have some extremely talented prospects and/or young players already on board.

I’m not sure what Jeter was thinking but not going after Castellanos shouldn’t have been a deal breaker….at least not for me.

Might be a bad look for Jeter if they win it all in the next 2-3 years without adding a huge payroll.

 

Quote from fenn68 on March 13, 2022, 12:26 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 13, 2022, 11:42 am

Two years ago the Teams moving up were the Padres and Chisox.

Both have basically now arrived as perennial Playoff picks.

My next picks are the Tigers and Marlins.

Both have some extremely talented prospects and/or young players already on board.

I’m not sure what Jeter was thinking but not going after Castellanos shouldn’t have been a deal breaker….at least not for me.

Might be a bad look for Jeter if they win it all in the next 2-3 years without adding a huge payroll.

 

From what I hear, the Jeter departure went much deeper than payroll and stemmed from an ongoing disconnect with the owner.

Quote from Randy Manese on March 13, 2022, 9:51 pm

FanGraphs has Matt Strahm signing with Boston for 3M for 1 year.  He did a great job for the Padres when healthy and sad to see him go, but we could not possibly bring him back at that price with the shaky knees he now has.  The acquisition of Strahm was one of Preller's better trades.

Quote from BoosterSD on March 15, 2022, 10:16 am

Trade for Matt Olson and then sign him to an 8 year $168M contract extension. Great move ATL. I know Freeman was a fan favortie, but Olson is younger and better.

Quote from fenn68 on March 16, 2022, 1:00 pm

In what seems as an odd signing … the Royals sign Zach Greinke for a guaranteed $13MM. First the Royals are not really contenders in the AL Central behind CWS, CLEV, DET, and MINN plus are not a high payroll team.

Maybe it is a gamble that he could turn into a trade deadline asset to get a good prospect … basically the contract turns into the price for a prospect.

Just odd.

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 16, 2022, 1:28 pm

Now lets give them Hosmer too for another reunion eh?

Quote from fenn68 on March 16, 2022, 5:17 pm

I still is a long way until opening day … and a lot could change with the COVID rules but as of now unvaccinated players cannot play games in NY … big issue for the Mets and Yankees (think Judge). No idea on others or the impact on visitors.

Then layer on that the Canadian policy that non-vaccinated people cannot enter Canada … problem if going to Toronto.

Exception in NY for baseball players … think not. Quite a few NY city workers were terminated for not being vaccinated … not going to make an exception for the high paid privileged class (have not with basketball’s Irving).

Something to follow.