MLB Thread

[Jane Tuesday]

I can't stand the guy, but it's also worth noting that if he pitches 140 innings this year, it automatically adds another year for $18M to his contract for 2026. He won't get close to that in the bullpen. 

[DMK]

7 hours ago, ProudMary said:

He may not technically be late, but the other pitchers were all in camp already, so not a good look. Considering how poorly he pitched the second half of last season, he shouldn't be mouthing off about when he gets to pitch. 

I personally don’t care about Stroman one way or the other but it’s not like he waited til the last possible day. He came in two days later. That’s a drop in the bucket.

 

Edited February 15 by DMK

[Carey]

9 hours ago, Lantern7 said:

I knew that the Mets have never had an MVP, but I wasn't aware the only other teams like that came from the 1998 expansion. That's a little depressing.

That is depressing.  Not a shocker though.  At least the team has only been around for over six decades, thanks to the Dodgers coast-to-coast move.  Still a little surprising (if you don't think about it) that when you combine both in terms of the MVP count, it still isn't tops in the league or all of baseball, given how long the Dodgers existed

[DMK]

Huh.

 

[baldryanr]

55 minutes ago, Carey said:

That is depressing.  Not a shocker though.  At least the team has only been around for over six decades, thanks to the Dodgers coast-to-coast move.  Still a little surprising (if you don't think about it) that when you combine both in terms of the MVP count, it still isn't tops in the league or all of baseball, given how long the Dodgers existed

I'm sure Dodgers fans would be happy to say it's anti-west coast bias from east coast writers who go to bed right around the time their home games start.

[ProudMary]

4 hours ago, baldryanr said:

Want to start?  Pitch better.

^^^This.

First off, one of the anticipated starters usually gets injured to some degree and they'll probably need another starter before the season starts, so keep your mouth shut until everything plays out. Don't start this crap on your first day.

But, if Stroman wants only to start, then show them from day one that you're deserving of a spot in the rotation. 

 

[Jane Tuesday]

Nolan has arrived at camp. Says he's not expanding his "list". Hopefully the talking heads (and social media) can shut up about him now for five minutes. 

 

[mojoween]

WHY is a baseball game going to be played at a racetrack?

[DMK]

Eyeballs.

[mojoween]

I hate them, because if it’s a standalone, I’ll watch even if I don’t care about whoever is playing (they told me during the Daytona 500, and I’ve already forgotten).

[Lantern7]

MLB put this on their YouTube on Sunday:

 

[jennifer6973]

15 hours ago, mojoween said:

I hate them, because if it’s a standalone, I’ll watch even if I don’t care about whoever is playing (they told me during the Daytona 500, and I’ve already forgotten).

Reds are one team, I think the Braves are the other

Edited Monday at 05:32 PM by jennifer6973

[Jane Tuesday]

Trout says he's moving to right field. 

Devers says he *won't* be moving to DH.

 

RE: Devers, I have immense respect for guys who do interviews in English when it's their second language. I know they're trying to connect to fans. But in situations like this, where the topic is clearly emotionally-charged, I really think the interpreter and/or the team PR person has an obligation to jump in and try to get them to switch to their native language. (Also see Jorge Lopez and the glove toss interview last season.)

[rcc]

Devers is the worst third baseman in MLB. If he cared about the team he would move to DH, a highly overpaid one at that.

 

[DMK]

Yeah, it makes no sense. Hire the reigning AL gold glove 3B and keep Devers at 3B. Great idea.

Also, I’ve long been a proponent of moving Trout out of center but it really should be left field. He has a noodle arm, you need a strong arm in right field.

Edited Monday at 08:32 PM by DMK

[Jane Tuesday]

I don't disagree that he should move off 3B (early reporting that Bregman would play 2B made no sense to me) but I do think that interview gives a false impression. 

Here's a tweet series with a deeper translation, if anyone is interested. 

Either way, between this and Cora's comment about Chaim Bloom, sounds like a mess in Boston. 

[rcc]

This reminds me of another Red Sox player, Manny Ramirez. Great hitter, poor fielder, and selfish as hell.

[Jane Tuesday]

The plot, it thickens...

 

Seriously, whoever is doing PR training for the Red Sox should be fired! 

[mojoween]

Alternatively, this is hilarious and hopefully it continues.

[DMK]

Bregman is the only one smart enough to just say, “I'll play wherever is best for the team.”

If there’s one thing (former) Astros players are good at by now, it’s handling PR.

[mojoween]

Holy cannoli.

 

[Lantern7]

In lighter news, Juan Soto gave Brett Baty a SUV for his uniform number.

[smittykins]

Holy cannoli 2.0:

Yankees amend facial-hair policy to allow well-groomed beards

[mojoween]

1 minute ago, smittykins said:

Holy cannoli 2.0:

Yankees amend facial-hair policy to allow well-groomed beards

Noooooooooooooooooooooo

[DMK]

Haha. I knew they’d finally cave.

[ProudMary]

I'm pleased with this decision by the Yankees, however, "well-groomed" need to be well defined.

[shoregirl]

I figured this was happening as soon as Devin Williams photo came out and he still had facial hair.   I love a well groomed beard ....I also love a not well groomed beard on the right player .

 

[DMK]

28 minutes ago, shoregirl said:

I also love a not well groomed beard on the right player .

 

Ehhh… no. Brandon Marsh looks like Rip Van Winkle. I feel like he’s got lost car keys caught in that beard.

Long can look good if it’s well-groomed. Dallas Keuchel comes to mind.

[shoregirl]

1 hour ago, DMK said:

Ehhh… no. Brandon Marsh looks like Rip Van Winkle. I feel like he’s got lost car keys caught in that beard.

 

I will fight you. It just fits him it be weird to see him without it....his vibes would be off.  

Edited 15 hours ago by shoregirl

[Salacious Kitty]

3 hours ago, ProudMary said:

I'm pleased with this decision by the Yankees, however, "well-groomed" need to be well defined.

They said they didn't want the players to look like Duck Dynasty. 😂

Edited 13 hours ago by Salacious Kitty

[ProudMary]

I'm watching the NY v. TB spring training game live. Michael Kay, Jack Curry and Meredith Marakovits have been discussing the facial hair rule change. In addition to showing a clip (see below) from Hal Steinbrenner's presser regarding the change, they added a few other comments they picked up from the clubhouse. 

Hal specifically spoke with Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton about the long-held (48 years!) policy. He also had conversations with CC Sabathia, Willie Randolph and Ron Guidry. Hal was also concerned that the policy as it stood could impact the decisions of players of interest to the Yankees who might not want to shave their existing beards to come to the Bronx.

While Hal mentions that there will be parameters, the only thing that Meredith mentioned was that hair length must still be above the collar.

Personally, I like a neatly trimmed beard. I think that management should be very clear on the parameters because there's always going to be someone who pushes the limits and I don't want to be looking at 2004 Johnny Damon!

Back to the actual baseball side of things, we just had the first ball/strike challenge, which was lost by the Rays. Each team gets two per game. If the calll goes in the challenging team's favor, they retain that challenge. 

I'm SO glad to be talking baseball again!

 

[DMK]

43 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

Hal was also concerned that the policy as it stood could impact the decisions of players of interest to the Yankees who might not want to shave their existing beards to come to the Bronx.

I guarantee you that’s what prompted the revamp of the facial hair policy. Look at the top players hitting free agency next year: Kyle Tucker, Vlad Jr. off the top of my head. Both bearded, both can cherry pick wherever they want to go, and the Yankees are trying not to potentially lose players over something so penny-ante.

[ProudMary]

I agree completely. I think they signed Goldschmidt because he accepted a one year deal. I'd bet that Rizzo (and others) were looking for 2-3 years and the Yankees wanted to go after Vladdy in the '25-'26 offseason.

[DMK]

4 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

I agree completely. I think they signed Goldschmidt because he accepted a one year deal. I'd bet that Rizzo (and others) were looking for 2-3 years and the Yankees wanted to go after Vladdy in the '25-'26 offseason.

Heh, I’m pretty sure Rizzo would’ve taken a 1yr deal, based on the fact that he’s still unsigned. Yankees passed on him because he’s cooked. But yeah, I agree that Goldy’s 1yr deal is to keep their Vladdy options open.

[Carey]

The bottom line, as mentioned, is that it's more important to obtain the biggest wins (annually) over stressing over a hair stipulation.  So as much as I like tradition, this is a good thing; a great medium really

[Jane Tuesday]

I respected the rule, and honestly I think most players did, too. But beardless Paul Goldschmidt was freaking me the fuck out.

I don't mind beards at all, but I hate the long, scraggly, scissors-never-touch-it look. Brandon Marsh looks straight up *nasty*.

I wonder if they'll relax the hair length rule?

[shoregirl]

I love it but  the 93 Phillies were the first time that I remember the Phillies being good so none of that bothers me.  I find Brandon Marsh endearing. He was traded mid season and then fit right in to the team.  

 

Edited 11 hours ago by shoregirl

[mojoween]

I haaaaaaate that Hal capitulated for whatever reason he did, but this, while creepy, still got a laugh out of me.

@Jane Tuesday no, hair length still has to be above the collar.  A way to tell Justin Turner he won’t make his ninety-eleventh stop in the Bronx without actually saying it to his face.