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Post by HMARK Center on Mar 7, 2023 10:11:13 GMT -5
No way in hell do you change the A's name; they've been the Athletics since they started in Philly in 1901. Really don't want them to move, either; I said it before, but given the history of baseball in Oakland it'd just be a crime for MLB not to be there anymore, especially since it'd mostly be due to MLB allowing shitty owners to run the team into the ground. The A's moved a couple of times before getting to Oakland, but since arriving there in '68 (right at the start of the expansion era) some of the literal best teams of all time have come out Oakland, some of the best moments, some of the best players, etc. Again: there is no excuse why MLB should be allowing teams with such incredible legacies to languish under awful, penny-pinching owners, since Oakland, Cincinnati, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh should all be friggin' meccas for baseball given their respective teams' and/or cities' histories (e.g. Kansas City today being the home of the Negro Leagues museum). So this is what the shift will look like this year:  I love it. Fxxx banning the shift. Batters should learn to bunt and break the shift themselves. I'm torn on this one: on the one hand I'd rather say "screw 'em, let the hitters figure it out", but I also think they know there's no reason to hit the other way. Other teams will gladly let you do it, since they'll take giving up a single to giving up a homer or double every time. I've always dug advanced stats, but let's face it, the numbers have shown teams that there's really no reason not to shift, and shown hitters there's no reason to do anything but sell out for power or take a walk, and it might take these kinds of rules to break that. That said, if this is what teams are gonna do, it's clear this particular rule change wasn't very thought out, and yeah, there's a case to be made that the rise of "three true outcomes" really isn't the fault of the shift as it is a whole host of bigger motivators. |
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Post by Confused Mark Wahlberg on Mar 7, 2023 10:26:42 GMT -5
So this is what the shift will look like this year: ~Chris Davis still sweating profusely~ |
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BRV
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
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Post by BRV on Mar 7, 2023 19:19:29 GMT -5
I'm torn on this one: on the one hand I'd rather say "screw 'em, let the hitters figure it out", but I also think they know there's no reason to hit the other way. Other teams will gladly let you do it, since they'll take giving up a single to giving up a homer or double every time. I've always dug advanced stats, but let's face it, the numbers have shown teams that there's really no reason not to shift, and shown hitters there's no reason to do anything but sell out for power or take a walk, and it might take these kinds of rules to break that. That said, if this is what teams are gonna do, it's clear this particular rule change wasn't very thought out, and yeah, there's a case to be made that the rise of "three true outcomes" really isn't the fault of the shift as it is a whole host of bigger motivators. As I've said in the past, it's like free throws in basketball. If a player in the NBA isn't good enough to get two free points when he gets hacked, then the league shouldn't cater to him, he should change his game or become a relic. It's the same with baseball and the shift. If an extra fielder to the right of second base is enough to give someone like Joey Gallo the flop sweats every time he comes to the plate, then maybe Joey Gallo doesn't belong on a big-league roster anymore. |
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Post by sfvega on Mar 7, 2023 21:34:59 GMT -5
I'm still torn on it. On one hand, it is nice to see a game as old as baseball still evolve. On the other hand, it just took one guy looking at spray charts and now the whole league does it and the whole league's average is down and the game is more boring. It would be one thing if it was a skill gap or a new pitch. They just threw more players at it. To beat it, you have to be a complete hitter (which there are not many league-wide, much less per team), but to use it you don't need to be a complete fielder.
Someone like Julio is a balanced hitter and considered a phenom and he had 5 HRs, 1 triple, and 3 doubles to opposite field, the rest was right center. 15 hits total and he was up all year. And since the extra fielder is over there, they're going to be pitch you inside. Guys throw harder every year; they mix their pitches well. Pitchers get injured the same reason why basketball players are injured all the time. In the NBA, the athleticism has reached a tipping point. In the MLB, the insane stuff (spin rate, break, deception) comes with eventual Tommy John surgery. But until they're on the operating table, they're filthy. Just check Twitter overlays. Here's a great one of Manoah.
"Just take him opposite field. Look at all that room over there." Sure, show them how you'd do it first. This isn't a free throw that anyone can shoot decently granny-style which has been proven before. The average person can't take these guys opposite field if you moved the mound back 40 feet. And it's not like averages were out of control before. No one was knocking at the door to hit .400. Averages went from not great to abysmal.
Still, I'd like to see it modified. Like just label any iteration of the shift the same and don't outlaw it but limit the number of times you can use it. Then at least there's some strategy to it. Do you use it only against their best hitters or do you use it situationally? Do you use it in a tight spot or do you save it for later in the game? But it's 10x easier for a batter to take a bad matchup reliever throwing gas to the same field as his handedness than it is to take someone throwing from either side of the mound to opposite field. I miss the chess match that was reliever usage/pinch hitters before the 3-batter minimum, but the time it took definitely was bad for the game and ESPECIALLY a channel-changer for casuals. This is kinda the same. In baseball's fight for younger than senior citizen fans, they know that being boring as shit isn't the best play.
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Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]
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Post by Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] on Mar 8, 2023 3:19:27 GMT -5
Would the As rename for Vegas, or would they keep the name? Because honestly, calling them the Las Vegas Bandits just feels right. I assume they keep the name but they could always go full rebrand like OKC did with Supersonics That'd be such ass, that's a brand that's been around since 1901, you really shouldn't mess with something like that. |
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Mar 8, 2023 8:29:59 GMT -5
I'm torn on this one: on the one hand I'd rather say "screw 'em, let the hitters figure it out", but I also think they know there's no reason to hit the other way. Other teams will gladly let you do it, since they'll take giving up a single to giving up a homer or double every time. I've always dug advanced stats, but let's face it, the numbers have shown teams that there's really no reason not to shift, and shown hitters there's no reason to do anything but sell out for power or take a walk, and it might take these kinds of rules to break that. That said, if this is what teams are gonna do, it's clear this particular rule change wasn't very thought out, and yeah, there's a case to be made that the rise of "three true outcomes" really isn't the fault of the shift as it is a whole host of bigger motivators. As I've said in the past, it's like free throws in basketball. If a player in the NBA isn't good enough to get two free points when he gets hacked, then the league shouldn't cater to him, he should change his game or become a relic. It's the same with baseball and the shift. If an extra fielder to the right of second base is enough to give someone like Joey Gallo the flop sweats every time he comes to the plate, then maybe Joey Gallo doesn't belong on a big-league roster anymore. The Hack A (insert name) has had rules put in place to not take advantage of that tho in the nba |
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ghost
Don Corleone
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Post by ghost on Mar 9, 2023 7:29:50 GMT -5
Would the As rename for Vegas, or would they keep the name? Because honestly, calling them the Las Vegas Bandits just feels right. Most recent city change had Montreal go to Washington and they rebranded, although technically it was two different countries so they might have done it for that reason. I would assume it would be the Las Vegas A’s but depends on how they want to market it. The A’s brand isn’t what it was in the 80s/90s and during the Moneyball days. |
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BRV
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
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Posts: 17,441
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Post by BRV on Mar 9, 2023 11:08:35 GMT -5
Would the As rename for Vegas, or would they keep the name? Because honestly, calling them the Las Vegas Bandits just feels right. Las Vegas (or whatever city gets them) can take the Athletics name and history. It was different when Oklahoma City left the Sonics lore in Seattle or Baltimore left the Browns history in Cleveland. There was an understanding that when those leagues expanded, their cities would be the first cities at the table for a new franchise, and they would get to keep their respective franchises' heritage. The minute the A's leave, Oakland will never again be considered a pro sports city. They will have lost three major pro sports franchises (Warriors, Raiders, A's) in a decade. They won't even be one of those cities that could be used as a threat for relocation, because nobody would buy that bluff. |
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Post by hashtagdaley/JudasDay on Mar 9, 2023 12:26:28 GMT -5
Shocker, Rodon’s hurt. That’s why I wasn’t too crushed about not extending him. Forearm strain.
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Post by horsemen4ever on Mar 9, 2023 14:01:36 GMT -5
Can Cashman just retire, if Hal just doesn't want to embarrass him, can we just what the Giants recently did with their GM and just have him "retire".
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Vampiro138
Hank Scorpio
the greatest vampire in the HISTORY of our sport
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Post by Vampiro138 on Mar 9, 2023 21:26:25 GMT -5
Cody Bellinger will be hitting balls into Lake Michigan this year at the federal landmark!!
...or hes going to wind up hitting .117 with 8 home runs...but so far this Spring dude is looking like his old self!
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Post by S-Chrome on Mar 10, 2023 0:40:13 GMT -5
It gets even better (or worse) in regards to Cashman’s pickups.
Almost every player that he’s either signed this previous off-season or traded for at least year’s deadline are injured.
Effross: Out for a long time
Montas: Injured before he was traded. Sucked while he did pitch.
Bader: Injured before he was traded . Now has an oblique issue
Trivino: Might be out long-term.
Rodon: The Yankee ‘Brain Trust’ still had him pitch even while he was feeling discomfort.
Kahnle: 13 ML innings in the last 3 years. Give him a 2-year contract!
The Bader injury particularly sucks, not only because of the whole Jordan Montgomery thing. (Totally healthy, btw), but if he’s out for an extended period, it could mean Aaron Hicks is the starting CFer again.
At least Dominguez looks like he’s set to go in ‘24, stupid Cashman trades aside.
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Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]
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Post by Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] on Mar 11, 2023 0:17:44 GMT -5
Phillies fans begged for a Rodon trade and then a Rodon FA signing
I think it's safe to say currently they've won by going elsewhere and not over-trading for the loan or spending for the guy for their rotation, I had a bad feeling about his age too
Yankees are definitely snakebit to start the year with pitchers.
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Post by Denny Zen is Cooking™ on Mar 11, 2023 0:30:33 GMT -5
Cody Bellinger will be hitting balls into Lake Michigan this year at the federal landmark!! ...or hes going to wind up hitting .117 with 8 home runs...but so far this Spring dude is looking like his old self! Nah, he’ll hit like .202 with 15-20 HR. Better than what the Cubbies had been trotting out there, though, I guess. |
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Mar 11, 2023 0:33:18 GMT -5
I am not going to go crazy and judge the Rodon signing before it is even ever started
Injury isn't ideal but the Yanks in general are going into the season injured
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Post by sfvega on Mar 11, 2023 20:12:21 GMT -5
Corbin Carroll just signed 8 yrs/111 mil. Not a bad deal. There's loads of upside for the D-backs, but some downside as well as Carroll only hit .260 in his cup of coffee in the majors. Maybe he becomes another Jo Adell. For Carroll, it's zero risk. You got 100 mil and didn't even play a full month of ABs in the majors. I would much rather trade a few years of open market eligibility for the financial security.
That Acuna contract continues to age like milk.
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Mar 11, 2023 21:05:49 GMT -5
Corbin Carroll just signed 8 yrs/111 mil. Not a bad deal. There's loads of upside for the D-backs, but some downside as well as Carroll only hit .260 in his cup of coffee in the majors. Maybe he becomes another Jo Adell. For Carroll, it's zero risk. You got 100 mil and didn't even play a full month of ABs in the majors. I would much rather trade a few years of open market eligibility for the financial security. That Acuna contract continues to age like milk. I don't blame Carroll for taking that, it is a good contract, he is only 22 so he can still get another big deal later if he out plays this one But yeah, that Acuna contract is still outrageous and one I don't know how Acuna representation even agreed to |
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Post by RI Richmark on Mar 11, 2023 22:06:15 GMT -5
Off topic since I'm talking about the World Baseball Classic but I'm watching and wondering how little time did the uniforms designers spend on Great Britain's unis:  |
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Post by jm on Mar 11, 2023 22:21:09 GMT -5
Team USA needs to get these runners in scoring position across the plate to score. 7 LOB already through 3 innings, two innings ended bases loaded.
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Post by jm on Mar 11, 2023 22:43:46 GMT -5
Kyle Schwarber: *up to bat*
Also Kyle Schwarber:
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So this is what the shift will look like this year:
![Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] Avatar](http://storage.proboards.com/3411247/avatar/SAmefOpXbCxSOR0DUtvP.jpg)
