MLB Thread

[Lantern7]

6 minutes ago, Silver Raven said:

Jennifer Lopez, A-Rod, and NFL stars Travis Kelce, Brian Urlacher, and DeMarco Murray have joined a group to buy the Mets.

You know, I'd probably be a lot better with this if A-Rod wasn't involved.

In other news, you can get yourself a seat at Citi Field! Sort of. I'm actually tempted to do this.

ETA: Another possible nickname for Atlanta's baseball team: Thrashers. Once again, I'm going to the "NHL teams that didn't stick around" well. Given that the other teams are the Hawks and Falcons, bird theme still works.

Edited July 14, 2020 by Lantern7

[cleo]

OMG it's nice to watch baseball again. I don't care if it's a 5 inning intrasquad game. 

[xaxat]

1 hour ago, Silver Raven said:

Jennifer Lopez, A-Rod, and NFL stars Travis Kelce, Brian Urlacher, and DeMarco Murray have joined a group to buy the Mets.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/07/13/nfl-stars-team-up-with-jennifer-lopez-and-alex-rodriguez-in-bid-to-buy-mets/#35078fdc61f4

This is like a celebrity Kickstarter now.

Does anyone know who's the real money behind the bid? Because these people are rich but not tech mogul or hedge fund manager rich. Like the article mentioned one of the other bids is from Steven Cohen, who is worth billions. (That he made in part because insider trading was part of his company's business model.)

Edited July 15, 2020 by xaxat

[bosawks]

My favorite part of watching this Phillies intrasquad game is the pitcher with no name or number on the back of the jersey.

Looks like he bought it outside the stadium along with a water and a bag of three soft pretzels.

[shoregirl]

32 minutes ago, bosawks said:

My favorite part of watching this Phillies intrasquad game is the pitcher with no name or number on the back of the jersey.

Looks like he bought it outside the stadium along with a water and a bag of three soft pretzels.

Now when I wear my Jersey with no name it will be for him. 😂

I know they are just playing each other but it was good to see the Phillies on my tv again.

[Moose135]

Sheldon Adelson is mystery bidder who could shake up Mets sale

Quote

A mystery bidder for the Mets has been revealed, but it’s not a new group, it’s merely huge new players.

According to multiple sources, billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and private equity giant Silver Lake Partners are joining with the group led by Josh Harris and David Blitzer in their pursuit of the Amazins.

Considering that the 86-year-old Adelson is worth an estimated $30 billion and that Silver Lake is a $43 billion fund long-rumored to have an interest in a professional sports team, their massive combined wealth would present the first real threat to Steve Cohen’s status as frontrunner for the team.

Adelson is a sometimes divisive figure who comes out of the gambling world and could possibly have a difficult time getting through the approval process by MLB owners. Being a limited partner would give him stake in a team without the headache of approval.

 

My father took me to my first Met game in 1969. I've rooted for them for 50 years. I bleed blue and orange. If this happens, I may never be able to watch another game...

Edited July 15, 2020 by Moose135

[Lantern7]

1 hour ago, Moose135 said:

Sheldon Adelson is mystery bidder who could shake up Mets sale

 

My father took me to my first Met game in 1969. I've rooted for them for 50 years. I bleed blue and orange. If this happens, I may never be able to watch another game...

Really? I am not doubting your fandom for a second, but I’m looking at that span, and I see a lot of depressing shit: Tom Seaver getting run out of town, the De Roulet sisters, the Mets getting Seaver back only to lose him one year later (and he winds up winning his 300th game at Yankee Stadium while wearing a glorified softball uni), Doc Gooden testing positive for cocaine, blowing a possible 3-1 lead on the Dodgers in 1988 (in their defense, Orel and the others are on a mission from God that year), Darryl Strawberry and his shit the early-Nineties collapse, “The Worst Team Money Could Buy,” the fall of Generation K, Kenny Rodgers not finding the fucking strike zone to force a Game 7 in Atlanta, the Yankees getting the city for keeps, Doc Gooden pitching a no-hitter in pinstripes, a David Cone pitching a motherfucking perfect game in pinstripes, losing in 5 to the Yankees in the World Series, Beltran looking at strike three to kill the 2006 season, back-to-back epic collapses, losing the last game at Shea in the worst way to kill postseason chances, anything involving the word “Madoff,” Matt Harvey getting run out of town, and so many other shitty things that I can’t remember . . . and this guy is basically The Line for you?

Looking at the brief description, it does sound like Team A-Rod would be the better choice, but I can see MLB punishing him for cheating and besmirching the (somewhat already besmirched) game.

Once again, I’m not criticizing. I’m just thinking Mets history is already riddled with questionable people as it stands.

Edited July 15, 2020 by Lantern7

[Moose135]

Yes, I've followed them through some horrible times, and I kept coming back for more. Adelson is a special kind of evil - I won't say more or the Politics Police will smack me again. Honestly, I'd rather the Wilpons keep the team before seeing Adelson get his slimy little hands on it.

Edited July 15, 2020 by Moose135

[bosawks]

I sympathize, as a Red Sox fan I know all about owners who are shit people.

Yawkey Way can kiss my ass!

I’m sure everyone realizes what a sacrifice that is to sympathize with a Mets fan.

You’d think 4 World Series victories would eliminate my bitterness over 1986.

You’d be wrong.

[ebk57]

1 hour ago, bosawks said:

I sympathize, as a Red Sox fan I know all about owners who are shit people.

Yawkey Way can kiss my ass!

I’m sure everyone realizes what a sacrifice that is to sympathize with a Mets fan.

You’d think 4 World Series victories would eliminate my bitterness over 1986.

You’d be wrong.

I absolutely get the owner - onfield team performance conundrum.  And I, too, would sympathize with Mets fans if this happens.  

I'll still always hate the Mets because of 1969, since there's nothing as satisfying as a life-long sports grudge (I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again). 

 

So there. 

Edited July 16, 2020 by ebk57
clarity (I hope) - I don't write so good...

[smittykins]

I didn’t know Didi has a chronic kidney disease.  I wonder if he’ll eventually need a transplant.

[cleo]

That's too bad, CKD is serious. I once got an inside tour of a hospital dialysis ward, including seeing how they purify the water they use in the dialysis (we also tasted it lol- apparently purest H20 there is). It's an awful disease- dialysis is awful. Some patients basically choose not to continue, which essentially means death eventually.

But they did say it can be managed before it gets to that stage of needing dialysis.

Edited July 16, 2020 by cleo

[DXD526]

Even though bad Met moments have been plentiful over the team's history, one that really sticks out to me was "K-Rod" WALKING Mariano Rivera in the '09 season. It was only the third at-bat of Rivera's major league career, and it was with the bases loaded! Rodriguez was known to me as BB-Rod ever after. 

I think it was in that game that Rivera got his 500th save. A lovely night all-around for Mets fans. 

[xaxat]

A couple of weeks ago on twitter, there was one of those "describe x in the most boring way possible" challenges with most exciting sports memory. My favorite was "William Wilson hits a weak grounder to first."

[Moose135]

APNewsBreak: Blue Jays not allowed to play games in Canada

TORONTO (AP) — The Blue Jays have been denied approval by the Canadian government to play in Toronto amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced in a statement Saturday the federal government had denied the request, confirming what an official familiar with the matter had told The Associated Press earlier. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak ahead of the announcement.

The team had been given clearance by city and provincial governments to play regular-season games at Rogers Centre and was awaiting approval from Canada’s federal government.

“Unlike preseason training, regular season games would require repeated cross-border travel of Blue Jays players and staff, as well as opponent teams into and out of Canada. Of particular concern, the Toronto Blue Jays would be required to play in locations where the risk of virus transmission remains high,” Mendicino said.

“Based on the best-available public health advice, we have concluded the cross-border travel required for MLB regular season play would not adequately protect Canadians’ health and safety. As a result, Canada will not be issuing a National Interest Exemption for the MLB’s regular season at this time.”

[cleo]

 

I'm really having a hard time getting into this season.

Edited July 18, 2020 by cleo

[ebk57]

Hey, there's live baseball on the TV!  Yay!!!

[Mittengirl]

Today’s paper had an article that outlined some of the new rules for teams social distancing behaviors.  
 

“No members of the travel party may eat in any restaurants in or outside the hotel.”

”Buffet spreads are prohibited and communal dining is discouraged.”

So, I guess dining alone in one’s room at the hotel and properly distanced picnics in the outfield are the only options?

 

I knew a sixty game schedule was short, but seeing it broken down to only 10 games against each division rival makes it sound really short, to me.  
 

Have to confess, I really want to see the new extra-inning thing.  But there should be a limit, say 12 innings.  If you can’t score one more run, with a runner on second, after that many innings, maybe a home run derby is in order?

[mojoween]

I don’t know if they are going to continue to not do it, but the Yankees not having fan cutouts is so Yankees.

The crowd noise is done well; I have to say the Yankees sounds more like a crowd than the Mets did.  And the Yankees are using the strikeout whistle!

[catlover79]

On 7/18/2020 at 7:38 PM, ebk57 said:

Hey, there's live baseball on the TV!  Yay!!!

My feelings exactly, especially since I got my new 40" flatscreen TV just a couple of days before. 😎

[ebk57]

52 minutes ago, mojoween said:

I don’t know if they are going to continue to not do it, but the Yankees not having fan cutouts is so Yankees.

The crowd noise is done well; I have to say the Yankees sounds more like a crowd than the Mets did.  And the Yankees are using the strikeout whistle!

When I turned on the game last night, I thought it was supposed to be live, but I saw people in the stands and figured I was wrong ... until I remembered that I'd read about the cardboard people.  I kinda love the cardboard people.

Fortunately, tonight I was watching Perry Mason, so I missed the strikeout whistle.  I hate the strikeout whistle 🙂  (I'm loving Perry Mason, though)

[Silver Raven]

So apparently the Blue Jays will be playing in Pittsburgh, but there are seven dates where they can't play there, so they're going to play in Manchester, New Hampshire.

 

[cleo]

I feel bad for them. Their plan for Toronto was sound. I wanted them to play here.

Edited July 20, 2020 by cleo

[JTMacc99]

On 7/18/2020 at 4:40 PM, cleo said:

 

I'm really having a hard time getting into this season.

The ridiculous animosity between players and owners contributed mightily to my feelings about it. They could have been playing real games for a month now.

[xaxat]

 

[Lantern7]

6 minutes ago, xaxat said:

 

*slow clap of appreciation*

Mentioning the World Series . . . are we agreeing that whichever team wins gets an asterisk? I mean, anything can happen in sixty games. The Marlins could win a third title. As a Mets fan, that might hurt worse than the Yankees winning #28.

[catlover79]

3 hours ago, JTMacc99 said:

The ridiculous animosity between players and owners contributed mightily to my feelings about it. They could have been playing real games for a month now.

I couldn't agree more. With that, the virus and in Cleveland, the name controversy, I'm just not as pumped about MLB starting as I would usually be. It looks like the NFL might be facing some of the same issues with their players and owners.

22 minutes ago, xaxat said:

 

He deserves it. I've seen him wearing his Nats mask in several photos. 😎

[JTMacc99]

Just now, catlover79 said:

I couldn't agree more. With that, the virus and in Cleveland, the name controversy, I'm just not as pumped about MLB starting as I would usually be. It looks like the NFL might be facing some of the same issues with their players and owners.

I actually spoke to a former NFL front office executive this morning (don't be impressed, we're cousins), and he said that what we see now is just the players and the owners jockeying for money. The relationship between the sides is bound by the revenue sharing agreement they have in place, so both sides are invested in playing and generating as much revenue as possible.

[smittykins]

Joe Girardi and Didi look weird in red.

[mojoween]

5 minutes ago, smittykins said:

Joe Girardi and Didi look weird in red.

Was just going to say the exact same thing.  0/10, do not like.

[mojoween]

I saw Derek Jeter play since his career started.

There is a player named Jeter Downs who was named after Derek Jeter.  A player named after Jeter who is now old enough to be a major leaguer. THAT DOES NOT MAKE ME FEEL OLD, NO SIR.

[catlover79]

44 minutes ago, mojoween said:

I saw Derek Jeter play since his career started.

Same here!! The Yankees played the first series of the 1996 season against the Indians right here in Cleveland. Opening Day was snowed out. Of course, the date was April 1, 1996. 😂

[shoregirl]

2 hours ago, smittykins said:

Joe Girardi and Didi look weird in red.

 

2 hours ago, mojoween said:

Was just going to say the exact same thing.  0/10, do not like.

10/10. Love it 😋. I really like Didi . when he signed in Philly I started following him on Instagram. He's a very good photographer and seems like a interesting man.

[mojoween]

This weekend in one game the Yankees batted in the bottom of the ninth when they were leading 5-0 and in another Aaron Judge hit a home run when there were three outs, and the home run counted in the score.

Both of those things are better than starting with a runner on second if the game goes extra innings.

[Lantern7]

Dumb idea: if a game goes past 11 innings, the managers choose how many men are on base in each subsequent inning. For example . . . 12th inning, visiting manager would put runners on first and third. At the bottom of the inning, the home team does the same. If the game is still tied, home manager picks the runners. The two teams would alternate until there is a winner. Once a choice is used, it can’t be done again unless all eight options (bases empty; runner on first, second or third; runners on 1st/2nd, 1st/3rd or 2nd/3rd; bases loaded) are exhausted.

I would suggest this thing start in inning #13-14, but after the eleventh would justify it.

Edited July 24, 2020 by Lantern7

[xaxat]

It's almost certainly not going to happen, but I really want some Pittsburgh Blue Jays merch.

[Moose135]

2 hours ago, mojoween said:

This weekend in one game the Yankees batted in the bottom of the ninth when they were leading 5-0 and in another Aaron Judge hit a home run when there were three outs, and the home run counted in the score.

It's a world gone mad. It's like I don't even know this game anymore. I blame Rob Manfred, since Clueless Bud Selig isn't around to blame anymore.

[Lantern7]

10 hours ago, xaxat said:

It's almost certainly not going to happen, but I really want some Pittsburgh Blue Jays merch.

Cartoon blue bird wearing a cap with a flat top? And maybe with maple leafs instead of stars?

ETA: Article from ESPN.com on the Cleveland nickname change. My idea: “Greens.” I’m lazy . . . basically, it’s the opposite of “Reds.” 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

Edited July 22, 2020 by Lantern7

[xaxat]

 

[Carey]

Looks like the Blue Jays are Burgh-bound!

[xaxat]

7 hours ago, Carey said:

Looks like the Blue Jays are Burgh-bound!

The Pirates' new GM came over from the Blue Jay organization last year, so he knows their management team well. 

This is like the ultimate, "Hey bro, I just got kicked out of the house, can I bunk at your place?"

[Lamb18]

I think Cleveland Spiders is cool but may ne difficult from a branding/marketing point of view. Maybe not. I was thinking of something Dog to tie them more to the Browns like Chicago has Cubs and Bears. Maybe Bulldogs. Or Poodles ( jk).

[Lantern7]

14 hours ago, Carey said:

Looks like the Blue Jays are Burgh-bound!

Bring on the unauthorized Golden Jays merch! How ‘bout Bill Mazerowski and Joe Carter shaking hands in a manly manner? Or acknowledging each other in a manly manner!

[cleo]

Media here is reporting Pittsburgh is falling apart. I have to say I can't blame other places for not wanting to take on extra risk, when Toronto won't do it for their own team.

They should have just been allowed to stay here and stick with the bubble plan.

ETA not completely dead yet but state officials are opposed.

Edited July 22, 2020 by cleo

[cleo]

Aaaand officially dead.

[AimingforYoko]

Dodgers sign Mookie Betts to 13yr, $380m extension.

[Carey]

It was the state officials, mainly Dr. Rachel Levine.  Not so much Travis Williams and Bob Nutting.  Classy response from Williams about it, however.

 

It does feel similar to that failed CP3 trade to the Lakers, where something is or seems like a done deal but then right after it's made public it gets wiped away like a dream.  It would've been better had the news that Toronto was Burgh bound peaked as a possibility pending the Health Department's approval as opposed to "It's happening!", and then the Health Department says no.  I think that's what makes people more upset than a plan or idea that comes around before said plan or idea is simply shot down or rejected

[xaxat]

15 minutes ago, Carey said:

It does feel similar to that failed CP3 trade to the Lakers, where something is or seems like a done deal but then right after it's made public it gets wiped away like a dream. 

Like that time A Rod got traded to the Red Sox?

[Carey]

46 minutes ago, xaxat said:

Like that time A Rod got traded to the Red Sox?

While I think the CP3 thing was worse due to the lack of a reason for it, the aftermath (albeit a very, very brief aftermath) was probably worse between Boston and New York.  Obviously Boston did okay since then but many in New York would have had their say as it relates to everything.  Or mainly just February 3rd, 2008

Not sure the MLB has the power for the following, but say the Phillies are good enough to win the pennant.  I wonder what the response would be if MLB said that the American League Championship Series Winner will be hosting each of the games for the Fall Classic as it's not safe to operate in Pennsylvania.  They might actually win a close battle with that argument.  PA residents might get upset but it would be fair enough during these tough times

 

[catlover79]

So will the Jays have to play at their AAA park in Buffalo or their spring training complex in Florida? All things considered, Buffalo seems the safer choice.