[2024] MLB Season Discussion Thread

[The Eye in the Sky!]

They play at the D-Backs in early September, but I have no desire to visit Arizona and that stadium is low on my list.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Randy Arozarena has been traded to the Mariners. He's not having a great season, but maybe a change of scenery will help him.

 

[BigDaddy]

Randy Arozarena has been traded to the Mariners. He's not having a great season, but maybe a change of scenery will help him.

He instantly becomes the best hitter in their lineup with Julio Rodriguez currently on the shelf with an ankle sprain. Victor Robles has hit .365 in 28 games since the Mariners signed him off the scrapheap, so maybe Arozarena can take off too.

I'm hoping the Royals can add another impact bat and arm by the deadline, though I'm not sure they have much in the way of value to give up.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Boston is snagging James Paxton from the Dodgers who recently DFA'd him for some reason despite being the only pitcher who has managed to remain healthy and has a 0.4 WAR.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Finally dumped Youtube TV for Fubo just so I can watch baseball. Might swap to SlingTV in a month. They have the RedZone and MLB Network. Neither seem to have MLB Extra Innings like Youtube TV did. Sling has a LOT less channels than both Fubo and YT, but it's cheaper even with the best package.

 

[turkey]

They play at the D-Backs in early September, but I have no desire to visit Arizona and that stadium is low on my list.

Bummer, I love Chase.

September is still hot though. I’ll probably make it to one of those then.

 

[rktaker]

this is why the Mets booth is the best in baseball

 

[Fool's Requiem]

So, thoughts on your teams' moves before the trade deadline? Cleveland definitely upgraded in the outfield. Cobb at SP is a toss up. He's had a decent career, but hasn't pitched this season.

 

[turkey]

So, thoughts on your teams' moves before the trade deadline? Cleveland definitely upgraded in the outfield. Cobb at SP is a toss up. He's had a decent career, but hasn't pitched this season.

I liked that the dbacks got AJ Puk, needed a lefty and he’s looked solid.

Glad we got Josh bell last second after Walker went down. Even if it’s short term we can use the depth.

Wish we got a new closer.

 

[rktaker]

I like that the Mets got Winker and bullpen help both those things they badly needed. Blackburn I feel meh about I wish they got another Starter like Flaherty

 

[BigDaddy]

Now that August is here. And he's not wrong.

 

[rktaker]

and the Mets are metting once again......I can't with this team anymore it's the same thing every single year

 

[MC74]

So, there was a heated debate between the executive and Yanks management over the status of Jasson Dominguez, per Jon Heyman.

Aaron Boone’s and Brian Cashman’s surprising faith in Alex Verdugo led to Yankees’ divisive Jasson Dominguez decision

Jasson Dominguez should be up. But in the meantime, a .650 OPS hitter needs to run out grounders.

nypost.com

If Alex Verdugo isn't running out routine grounders because he's "beat up," as Aaron Boone says, that's yet another reason to call up top outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez.

The decision to keep the uber-talented Dominguez at Triple-A beyond the Sept. 1 roster expansion date confounds many (including some Yankees people). And for most, word that it was made because GM Brian Cashman and Boone continue to have faith in Verdugo doesn't make it very much better.

Boone mentioned a pre-September "conversation" among Yankees higher-ups about whether to promote Dominguez, and insiders say it was a very spirited dialogue, with multiple executives strongly arguing for promotion, obviously unsuccessfully.

It isn't that Cashman and Boone aren't huge fans of Dominguez, who's hitting .310 with an .870 OPS in the minors. They are. The Martian was held out of trade talks for Blake Snell and even for Juan Soto.

The issue is Cashman and Boone seem to have surprising, outsized confidence in Verdugo. Recall that Boone advocated for Verdugo for more than a year before he was acquired for reliever Greg Weissert and two minor leaguers. I wrote June 15 that the Yankees got the better of this deal, but with 85% of his contracted tenure played now, I'll admit I was quick to judge.

Though Verdugo has played an excellent left field, he has far underperformed expectations offensively — and nearly everyone in MLB lately — with a .547 OPS since June 15 (third worst among players with 200 plate appearances) and .655 overall. He recently told Randy Miller of the Newark Star-Ledger that an allergy to his batting gloves may have been hindering him, and maybe this is all part of the "Verdugo experience" we've heard about.

The slugger Dominguez carries the potential to make a scary lineup even scarier. The return of Giancarlo Stanton and prescient deadline pickup of Jazz Chisholm Jr. lengthened what at times degenerated into a two-superstar lineup, but Dominguez makes it a potential Murderer's Row.

Dominguez should be up. But in the meantime, a .650 OPS hitter needs to run out grounders.

The response: Management has chosen to stand firm with the struggling Verdugo.

 

[Jon]

The Yankees are the LAST organization I'd expect to excuse a player not running out grounders.

 

[MC74]

The Yankees are the LAST organization I'd expect to excuse a player not running out grounders.

Aaron Boone claims that Verdugo was struggling cause he's beat up, but if that's the case, then why is he still in the lineup? The insistence that a struggling Verdugo gives them the best chance of winning games reminds me of Babcock being as stubborn as a mule when he coached the Leafs.

But hey, I won't complain. The drama that's been going on in Yanksville makes for some great entertainment while at work.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Yankees are probably trying to maximize team control of the Dominguez guy.

 

[MC74]

Most likely the case, keeping him down would ensure they get an extra year of team control.

 

[Jon]

Yankees are probably trying to maximize team control of the Dominguez guy.

Yep, this is the a-typical reason. Service time manipulation in baseball is still rampant and still anti-player.

Verdugo has been a trash player since he was drafted. And @MC74 is 100% right, if he's too hurt to run out grounders, he's too hurt to play.

Fuck right off with the lying garbage.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Most likely the case, keeping him down would ensure they get an extra year of team control.

Yep, this is the a-typical reason. Service time manipulation in baseball is still rampant and still anti-player.

Verdugo has been a trash player since he was drafted. And @MC74 is 100% right, if he's too hurt to run out grounders, he's too hurt to play.

Fuck right off with the lying garbage.

As a Cleveland baseball fan, I know service time manipulation when I see it. Lindor was a big one. I expect Bazana to be the same when it's his turn.

 

[Jon]

As a Cleveland baseball fan, I know service time manipulation when I see it. Lindor was a big one. I expect Bazana to be the same when it's his turn.

To be fair, EVERY team does it. But you can already hold these guys for 8 years. And if they are good, they will win big numbers in arbitration anyway.

Unless your team is stacked, there is little REAL and tangible reason to do this to a player.

Especially when the best way to develop these guys that are ready is by putting them in real games and ones that matter.

 

[MC74]

Yep, this is the a-typical reason. Service time manipulation in baseball is still rampant and still anti-player.

Verdugo has been a trash player since he was drafted. And @MC74 is 100% right, if he's too hurt to run out grounders, he's too hurt to play.

Fuck right off with the lying garbage.

Dominguez has already proven that he's more than capable of playing at the major league level. Sure, keeping him down will ensure one more year of service time, but at the cost of sabotaging your own team's chances and pissing off the fanbase in the process. But again, if this is what they're intent on doing, then they're more than welcome to have their cake & eat it, lol.

 

[Jon]

Dominguez has already proven that he's more than capable of playing at the major league level. Sure, keeping him down will ensure one more year of service time, but at the cost of sabotaging your own team's chances and pissing off the fanbase in the process. But again, if this is what they're intent on doing, then they're more than welcome to have their cake & eat it, lol.

That's my point, exactly. You stunt his growth. Hurt your team. Piss off your fans.

All for what? One extra arbitration eligible year? Especially coming form the Yankees, this is just silly. You print your own money for heaven's sake!

I understand this from smaller market or bad teams, honestly. They don't make as much money (except from teams like the Yankees and Dodgers whose luxury tax payments to them are probably more than they invest in their own teams). Having a player who is a possible superstar stick around for that one extra year may be more worth it for those organizations long term.

But the Yankees? This just doesn't make sense.

 

[MC74]

That's my point, exactly. You stunt his growth. Hurt your team. Piss off your fans.

All for what? One extra arbitration eligible year? Especially coming form the Yankees, this is just silly. You print your own money for heaven's sake!

I understand this from smaller market or bad teams, honestly. They don't make as much money (except from teams like the Yankees and Dodgers whose luxury tax payments to them are probably more than they invest in their own teams). Having a player who is a possible superstar stick around for that one extra year may be more worth it for those organizations long term.

But the Yankees? This just doesn't make sense.

Yep, the smaller market teams who don't have the same stroke that bigger market teams have need that extra year. But the Yankees? Pfft, it doesn't make one bit of a difference when they've got the financial muscle to back it up. They should be less concerned about service time and more concerned about the help they're gonna need in the playoffs.

It's time to shit or get off the pot, and from the looks of it, the Yankees got off the pot and then proceeded to shit themselves.

 

[MC74]

Mets secured another win, making it 9 in a row. But with that comes bad news, unfortunately, as Jeff McNeil is officially out for the season.

 

[MC74]

Saw that the Yankees finally called up Jasson Dominguez yesterday. If I were a Yanks fan, I'd say about damn time, but rather, I'm disappointed because it means less drama from them, lol.

 

[MC74]

And I might have spoke too soon. It appears the Yanks are content running with Jazz Chisholm at 3B and Gleyber Torres at 2B for the foreseeable future.

 

[Quagmire]

Absolutely beautiful, nature is healing itself

 

[rktaker]

i disagree on that in fact making Judge homerless streak longer would have been hilarious. really any reason to laugh at Yankees or their fans are great

 

[Quagmire]

i disagree on that in fact making Judge homerless streak longer would have been hilarious. really any reason to laugh at Yankees or their fans are great

At least we arent Red Sox fans!

 

[shortkut]

At least we arent Red Sox fans!

But we can all agree that the trashtros suck

 

[Jon]

Absolutely beautiful, nature is healing itself

2004 called and said hi!

I'm not even a Red Sox fan anymore. I don't know why I care lol.

But... Fuck the Asstrolls

 

[rktaker]

these last two weeks are gonna be such a dog fight in the NL Wild Card with the Padres, D-Backs, Braves, and Mets all gunning for the 3 spots neither the Mets or Braves can get a comfortable lead in that last spot, not to mention that both the first and second wild card spots are still open so it's possible that one of the D-backs or PAdres drop out and the Mets and Braves get those spots instead. It's gonna be an interesting couple of weeks for sure. also the MEts and Braves face each other the last week of the season and the results of that series could determine the wild card

 

[MC74]

Shohei Ohtani hit 3 home runs yesterday, and with that, he's become the first person in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.

I'm so happy for my guy, but I simply can't root for the Dodgers. Ugh, this stings.

 

[Jon]

Shohei Ohtani hit 3 home runs yesterday, and with that, he's become the first person in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.

I'm so happy for my guy, but I simply can't root for the Dodgers. Ugh, this stings.

That guy is crazy good and I'm glad to be alive to see it.

 

[MC74]

That guy is crazy good and I'm glad to be alive to see it.

Makes me even more happy I got his jersey back in 2019. Been a fan of his since day one.

 

[Fire Queen]

the fact that there's only two other players in the ENTIRE history of major league baseball that have managed to hit 50 HRs and 50 SBs in separate seasons is crazy. ohtani is one of one and i'm excited to see him get back to pitching next year

 

[VashTheStampede]

That guy is crazy good and I'm glad to be alive to see it.

Not me, I'm building a time machine to fix this

 

[VashTheStampede]

 

[MC74]

the fact that there's only two other players in the ENTIRE history of major league baseball that have managed to hit 50 HRs and 50 SBs in separate seasons is crazy. ohtani is one of one and i'm excited to see him get back to pitching next year

He is a once in a generation talent. To hear it is one thing, but to witness history being made yourself is another.

But for as jaw-dropping as it is to see it, holy fuck, you can't help but to feel for Angels fans. They had not one, but 2 generational talents, and never even managed to build around them, and now one of them have moved on, and with their rival counterpart might I add.

 

[rktaker]

so couple of things First of all, Mets take 3 out of 4 vs the Phillies in their final home series of the season so now the MEts just need to win 2 out of 3 vs the Braves to clinch a playoff berth. just amazing considering where this team was in May

second thing. the White Sox with their loss today has tied the record has tied the record for most losses in MLB's modern era with 120 tying the 1962 Mets. one more loss and the White Sox will break that record

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Detroit has clinched a playoff spot. At one point, they had a 0.2% chance of getting in. They went 31-11 over the last 42 games.

 

[MC74]

And with Detroit winning, the Chicago White Sox broke the Mets' record for the most losses in a single season.

 

[shortkut]

And with Detroit winning, the Chicago White Sox broke the Mets' record for the most losses in a single season.

Congratulations to Mets fans

 

[MC74]

Congratulations to Mets fans

Now they just need to follow this up with getting into the playoffs.

But judging by how shite they've been recently, it would appear like clockwork, they've turned into a pumpkin when all the chips are down. It's going to come down to the final two games against Atlanta, isn't it? -___-

 

[BigDaddy]

The Royals also clinched a spot last night after losing 100+ games last year. Let's go!

 

[Jon]

The Royals also clinched a spot last night after losing 100+ games last year. Let's go!

Why do I feel like we're in the early 90s again reading that?

 

[MC74]

Well, more bad news for the Mets, because after leaving the game last night, Francisco Alvarez has suffered a back injury.

 

[BigDaddy]

Why do I feel like we're in the early 90s again reading that?

Haha well they didn't really go into the toilet until after the '94 strike, and the 00s were when they started losing 100 games.

My kitchen sink has a mirror behind it, and I can see the tv in the living space in the mirror when I'm washing dishes. It's interesting watching baseball this way because all the right handed batters and pitchers appear left handed and vice versa, like some weird alternate reality. Tonight I got to see bizarro left handed Salvador Perez bat against bizarro left handed Raisel Iglesias.

 

[MC74]

Mets lose 6-0. This had to come down to the wire against Atlanta, didn't it?

 

[rktaker]

so here's the NL WC scenarios for Mets, Braves and D-backs for the final day of the regular season I am so nervous for this. It's gonna come down to the double header vs the Braves isn't it...........