Quote from MrPadre19 on August 15, 2020, 1:21 pm

Rhys Hoskins has averaged 70 XBH the last 2 seasons....he has 3 so far this year with “zero” homeruns.

Yikes.

Maybe we should start a list of guys really struggling so far this season.....there are plenty.

I’m talking good consistent productive hitters...not guys like our two Catchers.

😉

Quote from fenn68 on August 15, 2020, 1:59 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on August 15, 2020, 1:21 pm

Rhys Hoskins has averaged 70 XBH the last 2 seasons....he has 3 so far this year with “zero” homeruns.

Yikes.

Maybe we should start a list of guys really struggling so far this season.....there are plenty.

I’m talking good consistent productive hitters...not guys like our two Catchers.

Here is one view based on OPS (my call on productive hitter who are not ... should all be above .750 OPS):

.686 ... Hoskins

.666 ... Kris Bryant

.654 .... Lindor (225/279/375)

.639 ... Baez

.634 ... Grandal

.613 .... Pham

.619 .... Gleyber Torres

.585 ... Bellinger

.562 .... Altuve

.549 ... Devers

.548 ... Bell

.494 ... Dahl

.463 ... McCutcheon

.405 ... Upton

All have enough PA to be "qualified" ... there are a lot of other noted names inter mixed into that list.

Bad for them and their teams to have their slumps at the start of a "short season" ... about 1/3 complete.

 

Quote from Brian Connelly on August 16, 2020, 11:22 am

I've felt since they announced the format, that "home field" advantage in a 3-game series where the visitor only travels once to a stadium with no fans is really not that big of an advantage, and COULD even be an advantage to the visitors secluded in their hotel vs the home team players dealing with family & friends.

I just don't think with THIS format it matters THAT much whether you're 1 (more pressure!) or 8 (nothing to lose).  That would be even more true if they decide to go with centralized "bubble" environments; you don't even get home field advantage!

Normally you would want to be, say a 5 seed vs being the 8 seed.  But say LAD are #1.  We have a much better chance of beating them in a 3 game series as the 8 seed, than a 5 game series in the next round as the 5 seed...   the exact format & circumstances this year really change the dynamics of the entire playoffs.  Weird, but ANYTHING is better than a 1 game Wild Card following a 162 game season... so insanely stupid.

Quote from fenn68 on August 16, 2020, 12:08 pm

I am thinking the owners will love this new playoff format (think money) with all 16 teams playing a 3 game set in the first round and will "negotiate" that with the Union going forward. If the idea of 16 teams in the playoff hits a roadblock (not sure why except for some old school fans / media) ... could go to a first round giving the #1 seed a bye and have the other two Division leaders play the two wild cards in a 3 game set (then "only" 5 teams make the playoffs per league).

I would go with the current format ... once MLB expanded (from 2 leagues / 8 teams each) .... added Divisions but continued inter Division play ... added any form of playoffs ... added inter league play ... the sanctity of a team's regular season record was already lost. Well past anyone remembering the team with the best regular season record and revere the playoff winner ... sometimes know as Word Series Champion.

Quote from fenn68 on August 16, 2020, 12:25 pm

Watching the Cleveland - Detroit national game.

A fair amount of commentary on the Plesac / Clevinger situation ... not very favorable towards them by anyone on the broadcast plus a video of one of Cleveland's player (Plutko, I think) clearly displeased with them (use "lied" in his comments) and comments from Manager Francona saying Cleveland is a better TEAM without them around.

More than just the risk they created for the players ... older coaches ... player / coach families ... some real animosity generated by the risk to the potential to creating a scenario that could lead to cancelling the season after seeing what happened in MIA and STL. They "knew" all that and did not care, then lied. No one is happy.

I guess in this situation their individual talents (very good) are not bailing them out of this. Apparently the "apology" did not seem all that sincere (as most are not and usually a productive of their agents).

It will be interesting they stay "optioned" or given the overall attitude / situation ... could they just be left off for the season

Quote from Brian Connelly on August 16, 2020, 1:28 pm

I agree there's no way owners (& players) are going to go "back" to a 10 teams in playoffs with just 1 wildcard game (stupid) format.  But there are 2 major drawbacks with the 16 team playoffs:   1)  Teams with losing records almost guaranteed to get in,   2) Playing best of 3 games even with home field (in "normal" seasons) to high seeds gives too big an opportunity for inferior teams to knock off elite ones.

I'd compromise with:  7 team playoff field:  #1 seed gets a bye (this can be a challenge/disadvantage in baseball... see below).   #2 - #7 play best of 3.  The other divison winners automatically get #2 & #3 seeds, and get some big advantage such as home field the whole series over # 6 & #7.  Could have 2nd place in each division get in, but the "next best record" last team in could be as high as #5  (i.e. if 3rd best in a division was > record than 2nd best in other 2).  #4 would always be the 2nd place team in a division with best record, and could get a "normal" two home games to one for #5 home field advantage.   Then next round, the  #1 would get lowest remaining seed; so could get #7.  OR "choice" of opponent?  If #5 seed was a powerhouse compared to one of the other division winners?

Owners would have to have an open mind to adopt next idea; but stay with me.  Keep 162 game schedule.  BUT all playoff seedings set after game #160, which would always land on a Thursday.  Friday would be an off day for all 30 teams.  It could be used for a 1 game play-in at pre-determined neutral site/s if there was a tie by record for the #7 playoff spot.  Would have to use tiebreakers for #1-#6 spots.  Then Sat & Sunday begin "Wild Card Weekend".  BUT the 16 teams NOT in the playoffs and the two #1 seeds also play their final 2 game series.  It's almost 100% certain some of these pre-scheduled series will be disrupted.  Scramble around & match teams up that lost their opponent due to playoffs.  Would create imbalances in home/away games, etc, but would be insane & kind of fun!

COULD have the last 2 games (including the first 2 wild card games) still count towards full season records both for World Series Home field advantage and draft order.   The main purpose of the convoluted approach is simply to keep the #1 seeds playing at the same time they get their playoff bye.  They would be able to set their rotations, give guys extra days off, etc, but could also keep position players sharp by playing at least 2-3 AB/game.

All kinds of possibilities for those last 2 games.  Maybe have 40-man roster guys start practicing/travelling with MLB club after their Minors season ends (like this year's "taxi squad").  Then have unlimited callups for the last 2 games.  Helps the #1 seeds, rewards guys with MLB tastes, etc.  Play most of the games @ alternate sites like Buffalo, Nashville, etc?  INTERNATIONAL (not the #1 seeds) ; obviously Mexico, Canada, but maybe Cuba? Dominican Republic?  Think what a big freaking deal that would be.

The silver lining with Covid for baseball was just trying tons of new things.  The sport needs to do that more.

Quote from WindsorUK on August 17, 2020, 2:59 pm

Quote from WindsorUK on August 11, 2020, 11:06 am

Anyone else see this story?

https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-clevinger-violates-indians-club-protocol

I've got just one question.....how DUMB are these guys??????

Clevinger KNEW exactly what happened to Plesac, was with him(https://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/story/_/id/29635888/indians-mike-clevinger-miss-start-violating-protocol) and yet he had the temerity to get on the plane with his teammates( didn't Francona already have the virus????).

Should anyone else on that team get sick, the Indians season is over! A lot of guys will lose LOADS of money....I can't imagine they'll appreciate his stupidity when it impacts their livelihood.

Some of these guys just aren't getting how serious this thing is.  When they lose the rest of their salary, maybe it'll hit home.

Glad to hear the Indian players have stood up to their teammates and voiced their displeasure.

Let this be a warning to ANY player in any sport - NO ONE player is more important than the team( or in this case ,2 players).

We're in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, gotta be smart.

Quote from WindsorUK on August 20, 2020, 6:32 am

https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/thom-brennaman-dropped-a-homophobic-slur.html

I guess the Reds will be looking for a new play by play guy.

 

Quote from WindsorUK on August 20, 2020, 1:58 pm

https://baseball.realgm.com/wiretap/52013/Albert-Pujols-Ties-A-Rod-For-Second-On-Career-RBI-List

The Great Pujols continues to climb the ladder!