Quote from Commie on March 26, 2019, 5:35 pm

Quote from David Nevin on March 26, 2019, 5:18 pm

D-Backs have lost their starting right fielder.

Stephen Souza Jr to undergo season ending surgery on his knee.

Poor guy just can’t stay healthy.

 

"Hey Dbacks, I know this guy named Hunter..."

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 27, 2019, 11:06 am

As noted in the Tweet by Madfriars it's "interesting" that suddenly Eloy Jimenez IS ready for the big leagues.

They had just sent him down to "work on his defense"....then they sign him to an extension an "viola!"...instantly

ready after all!

Will this raise the ire of MLB?

 

Quote from fenn68 on March 27, 2019, 11:47 am

Quote from David Nevin on March 27, 2019, 11:06 am

As noted in the Tweet by Madfriars it's "interesting" that suddenly Eloy Jimenez IS ready for the big leagues.

They had just sent him down to "work on his defense"....then they sign him to an extension an "viola!"...instantly

ready after all!

Will this raise the ire of MLB?

 

Maybe just the opposite .... MLB and the Union may both be happy with the signing of Jimenez to a long term record setting deal while avoiding the service time gaming.

We have seen the landscape of FA change over the last two seasons ... wonder how much discussions among the owners have lead to the very large number of high dollar extensions that keep stars in their home markets (good for league image and fans) while muting some of the Union concerns about the teams not spending their revenues on players ... would have been a core issue leading to a strike.

Maybe just a happy coincidence that the trend of not paying big money to FA after they reach their 30s created incentive for both teams and players to move to the big money extension approach both getting some security and stability with deals near players primes.

Going forward ... these moves may let reduce the tension in negotiations and have them more focused on the "tinkering" .... league minimum salary, how to calculate the control period to eliminate the gaming, ML pay for short term MiL options, etc.

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 27, 2019, 2:47 pm

Except this obviously proves they sent him down for the sole purpose of service time manipulation.

Yes they’re happy with the extension......but bringing him up immediately shows they sent him down for the “wrong” reasons.

 

Quote from fenn68 on March 28, 2019, 7:24 am

Quote from David Nevin on March 27, 2019, 2:47 pm

Except this obviously proves they sent him down for the sole purpose of service time manipulation.

Yes they’re happy with the extension......but bringing him up immediately shows they sent him down for the “wrong” reasons.

 

However that was the standard business decision over the past seasons ... so the CWS were doing the "expected" ... probably did not really bother MLB but did bother the MLBPA.

Given the reversal of the CWS and the Mets (Alonso) and the Padres (Tatis) going against the past norm as a good business decision ... adding that to the spate of big dollar extensions ... just makes me think the owners are agreeing to do some damage control as a pre-curser to the new CBA negotiations. A strike would be more detrimental to their profitability.  Sort of "positive" collusion effort, I guess.

Quote from fenn68 on March 28, 2019, 7:55 am

Did read some parts of the Cleveland's owner's statement on their future plans .... hard to extract a clear picture of how the will manage their roster. Important given the speculation surrounding Kluber and Bauer.

Probably the key point is that Dolan clearly indicates the Indians will still be losing money and he want to continue lowering the salary. Seems pretty clear he is not in the market to add any more payroll via trade or FA. Maybe even more impactful to Cleveland fans, probably not going to make a serious effort to extend anyone (think Lindor in 3 years and Bauer in 2 years).

However, at the same time he wants to contend now AND in the coming years ... not wanting to deconstruct the roster. Hard to see both ideas working together ... especially since they don't have a deep farm system to support the coming years as their FA depart.

What may work ... but not necessary that easy to achieve ... is dealing the soon to be FA (maybe with 1-2 years control) for ML (ML ready) quality players with those return pieces keeping them in contention without lag time.

Doubt that strategy will work and expect (especially if an AL Central team gets competitive) that we see the Indians go to "rebuild" mode in a couple of years highlighted by "big" trade of Lindor. Would expect they push hard to move Bauer (at a premium return) next winter with one year control. Kluber the following winter unless "blown away" by an offer of ML (ML ready) talent.

Not holding my breath on the Padres adding either's salary AND giving up the ML talent the Indians would demand. Thinking NYY or LAD making the push once their SP proves wanting during 2019.

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 29, 2019, 4:39 pm

When is a strike not a strike?

Well,in the Astros/Rays game a strike is not a strike when the pitch is “right down the middle belt high” but the Catcher gets crossed up because the signs changed with a runner on 2nd.

This has always bugged me.

I mean.....the pitch was “right down the middle belt high”.

But the Catcher missed the 94 mph fastball because he was expecting a curve.

But isn’t it still a strike if it is “right down the middle belt high”?

 

Quote from fenn68 on March 29, 2019, 4:52 pm

Quote from David Nevin on March 29, 2019, 4:39 pm

When is a strike not a strike?

Well,in the Astros/Rays game a strike is not a strike when the pitch is “right down the middle belt high” but the Catcher gets crossed up because the signs changed with a runner on 2nd.

This has always bugged me.

I mean.....the pitch was “right down the middle belt high”.

But the Catcher missed the 94 mph fastball because he was expecting a curve.

But isn’t it still a strike if it is “right down the middle belt high”?

 

Yep. A lot of missed strikes in yesterday's opener (against both teams) if you believe in the TV "box" and even if you don't fully some clearly in.

Getting tired of games being decided by variability in the calls by umpires ... and the stats guys have data how a bad call can change the outcome of an AB ... changing the game ... changing the results. Always been that way ... but that does not make it good or right. Get the Robot Umpire in ASAP. Give the game back to the the players ... the guys we pay to see and perform.

Even more I am getting even more tired with every announcer / analysts feeling compelled to make commentary on calls being wrong as a standard banter then blast the umpire. Maybe me but think a less forced negative in the commentary is more entertaining. There is enough in most games based on the players efforts to give them the opportunity to be critical.

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 29, 2019, 4:59 pm

It’s one thing to call a strike a ball that’s borderline......it’s another to call a ball right down the middle belt high a ball because the Catcher was confused on what pitch it was.

If they get crossed up and it’s a close pitch....I can understand.

But this wasn’t close.