[2024] MLB Season Discussion Thread

[rktaker]

big signing late last night with Corbin signing with the diamondbacks also probably the biggest surprise that he went to Arizona I guess they didn’t learn from signing Jordan Montgomery last year . apparently the Blue Jays and Giants offered him more money but there is a bigger tax difference in Arizona. be also lives in Phoenix so being able to stay home during spring training and the regular season appealed to him more

 

[rktaker]

everyone knew how devastated he sounded after the Brewers got eliminated from the playoffs this sucks

 

[Jon]

everyone knew how devastated he sounded after the Brewers got eliminated from the playoffs this sucks

Man was still the best part of the Major League movies.

 

[A Baby Maker]

Man was still the best part of the Major League movies.

The movie without Bob Uecker

The movie with Bob Uecker

 

[rktaker]

there's a lot of discourse over in Mets fandom right now since reports have come out that Mets are looking to move on from Pete Alonso since they can't come up with a deal. Mets offered him 3 years/68-70 mil and Boras, Alonso's agent countered with 3 years/95 mil with opt outs which the Mets have seemed to reject. so now Mets fans are debating whether the mets should keep on trying to sign Pete or not with some people feel it would be a waste if he's not signed since the Mets got Soto.

I should remind everyone that 4 months ago Mets fans wanted Pete GONE. now all of the sudden the Mets are punting the season if they don't sign Pete. like what's gonna happen if the Mets sign Pete and he strikes out 225 times and hits 20 homers those same people gonna turn on him again?

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Alonso is why I dislike WAR and people's overrelance on a single stat.

Dude has a 2.6 WAR, which suggests he is a useful player. The only thing he does is hit homeruns, but he's a slugger who failed to slug 500 or better. The man doesn't get doubles. He had 146 hits, and only 65 were extra base hits. That's 44.5%.

Stanton, who had just a miserable season, had 97 hits and 47 were extra base hits. Good for 48.4%. Stanton had a better mash rate than Alonso.

Alonso also, doesn't steal bases, strikes out a ton, and doesn't walk enough for a slugger type hitter. He's also useless on defense. He has a nice -1.1 dWAR.

Alonso's stats were almost all career worst. You don't pay a man coming off a career worst season like that 31 million a year. Boras can fuck right off.

 

[MC74]

Roki Sasaki down to "two" teams. Dodgers & Toronto are the final two teams.

In other words, the Dodgers got him.

 

[Jon]

Roki Sasaki down to "two" teams. Dodgers & Toronto are the final two teams.

In other words, the Dodgers got him.

I'm so tired of the same 3-4 teams always getting players. So over it.

 

[rktaker]

I'm so tired of the same 3-4 teams always getting players. So over it.

if it makes you feel better if the Mets do in fact move on from Alonso he won't be going to NY, or LA. also you know what will solve the problem of the same 3-4 teams getting players? more owners spending money

 

[rktaker]

also in the case of Roki it's different because in international free agency you only have a certain amount of money you can spend to get someone

 

[Jon]

if it makes you feel better if the Mets do in fact move on from Alonso he won't be going to NY, or LA. also you know what will solve the problem of the same 3-4 teams getting players? more owners spending money

It's the luxury tax. Small market teams have zero incentive to spend when the big market teams spending pays them.

Look at the red sox. They are a big market team, spending like a small market team and making out for it. They have no incentive to spend, even if they "try" to.

 

[rktaker]

It's the luxury tax. Small market teams have zero incentive to spend when the big market teams spending pays them.

Look at the red sox. They are a big market team, spending like a small market team and making out for it. They have no incentive to spend, even if they "try" to.

well then that’s on the small market owners then. not on the owners that are actually spend spending money. hell Cohen is pretty much paying for the Athletics entire team and they’re doing nothing with it

 

[Jon]

well then that’s on the small market owners then. not on the owners that are actually spend spending money. hell Cohen is pretty much paying for the Athletics entire team and they’re doing nothing with it

It's still on the big market teams too. Without a hard cap, those guys can spend whatever they want (and can). Small market teams can't compete and the rosters show that. MLB has essentially become 5-6 teams and every other team is merely a minor league team for them.

Baseball HAS to have slipped under both football and basketball in the major 4 sports at this point. And I'd argue hockey has always been more entertaining. But its things like this that are why. If not for the TV deals signed many years ago, baseball would be in trouble.

 

[rktaker]

It's still on the big market teams too. Without a hard cap, those guys can spend whatever they want (and can). Small market teams can't compete and the rosters show that. MLB has essentially become 5-6 teams and every other team is merely a minor league team for them.

Baseball HAS to have slipped under both football and basketball in the major 4 sports at this point. And I'd argue hockey has always been more entertaining. But its things like this that are why. If not for the TV deals signed many years ago, baseball would be in trouble.

you say that but the world series two years ago was between Arizona and Texas they're not exactly big market powerhouses. also while Baseball isn't as popular as Football or Basketball anymore Viewership is growing again and they just had their most watched world series in a long time. ( which I admit is good for the sport even if I hate the two teams that were in it)

MLB Finishes 2024 Season With Highest Attendance in Seven Years

NATIONAL VIEWERSHIP INCREASES ACROSS MLB TV PARTNERS Double Digit Growth in 18-34 Audience Achieved by ESPN, FS1 and MLB Network MLB.TV SETS NEW RECORD FOR STREAMING MINUTES WATCHED 28 Most-Watched Games on MLB.TV Have Occurred Since New Rules Were Instituted Mets Postseason Clincher Ranks as...

www.mlb.com

 

[shortkut]

you say that but the world series two years ago was between Arizona and Texas they're not exactly big market powerhouses. also while Baseball isn't as popular as Football or Basketball anymore Viewership is growing again and they just had their most watched world series in a long time. ( which I admit is good for the sport even if I hate the two teams that were in it)

MLB Finishes 2024 Season With Highest Attendance in Seven Years

NATIONAL VIEWERSHIP INCREASES ACROSS MLB TV PARTNERS Double Digit Growth in 18-34 Audience Achieved by ESPN, FS1 and MLB Network MLB.TV SETS NEW RECORD FOR STREAMING MINUTES WATCHED 28 Most-Watched Games on MLB.TV Have Occurred Since New Rules Were Instituted Mets Postseason Clincher Ranks as...

www.mlb.com

Baseball is a regional sport

 

[rktaker]

Baseball is a regional sport

ok doesn't change that audience for it is growing regardless

 

[rktaker]

well it’s official Roki is going to the Dodgers on a minor league contract so making league minimum for the next 3 years

 

[MC74]

Expected for a while now given Sasaki has hinted it himself, but disappointing nonetheless.

 

[rktaker]

so the Dodgers signed Tanner Scott to a 4 year $72 mil contract......well then

 

[Jon]

I guess we're just handing the Dodgers the pennant now, right?

 

[rktaker]

I'm hoping this blows up in their face. here's the thing the Dodgers started spending money what 10 years ago? and they have 2 championships in those 10 years and it took 6 years for them to win their first one in a shortened season. Baseball is a random sport at times just look at the teams that tried to copy the 2009 Yankees and failed. the 2012 Marlins, 2013 Blue Jays, 2015? or whatever year Preller went nuts Padres. spending money doesn't automatically equal success. the Dodgers last year didn't even start off the season great sure they eventually turned things around but there's always a chance this can fail

 

[Jon]

The issue in baseball is spending doesn't equivalate to winning it all. Mainly because pitching is an inconsistent position.

So they could spend 3 times more than anyone else and still lose.

But baseball is a game of failures. Failing 70% of the time makes you and elite hitter.

Even the Yankees and their evil empire days, they spent more than anyone else and only won what? 3-4 times in 20+ years (I'm completely guessing here, I am too lazy to fact check these numbers). But regardless, they lost more than won. But they were there almost every year, and that appeased their fanbase and drew all the good players. Now it's the Dodgers.

It's just no fun from a fan perspective to watch all the superstars end up in one place. Most teams can't build through the draft repeatedly like the Rays and A's can where they field good teams, with bad budgets and it's mostly home grown talent.

It's why Trout staying with the Angels was such a big deal. He purposely shunned the big markets.

 

[rktaker]

The issue in baseball is spending doesn't equivalate to winning it all. Mainly because pitching is an inconsistent position.

So they could spend 3 times more than anyone else and still lose.

But baseball is a game of failures. Failing 70% of the time makes you and elite hitter.

Even the Yankees and their evil empire days, they spent more than anyone else and only won what? 3-4 times in 20+ years (I'm completely guessing here, I am too lazy to fact check these numbers). But regardless, they lost more than won. But they were there almost every year, and that appeased their fanbase and drew all the good players. Now it's the Dodgers.

It's just no fun from a fan perspective to watch all the superstars end up in one place. Most teams can't build through the draft repeatedly like the Rays and A's can where they field good teams, with bad budgets and it's mostly home grown talent.

It's why Trout staying with the Angels was such a big deal. He purposely shunned the big markets.

yeah i agree seeing everyone going to the Dodgers isn't fun and I say this as a Mets fan who just had their biggest free agent signing ever. but anyway your first point is what I was saying sure the Dodgers are getting everyone but that doesn't mean they will win the world series. like sure seeing them get Tanner Scott is discouraging but Pitching especially relievers can be so fickle that he might not even be good on the Dodgers and he could fall apart. just look at Edwin on the Mets. had his best year in 2018, comes to the Mets and is very bad, then he goes back to being good, gets hurt, comes back and is mediocre. maybe I'm just trying to be an optimist idk but I wouldn't award the Dodgers the Pennant yet

 

[Jon]

yeah i agree seeing everyone going to the Dodgers isn't fun and I say this as a Mets fan who just had their biggest free agent signing ever. but anyway your first point is what I was saying sure the Dodgers are getting everyone but that doesn't mean they will win the world series. like sure seeing them get Tanner Scott is discouraging but Pitching especially relievers can be so fickle that he might not even be good on the Dodgers and he could fall apart. just look at Edwin on the Mets. had his best year in 2018, comes to the Mets and is very bad, then he goes back to being good, gets hurt, comes back and is mediocre. maybe I'm just trying to be an optimist idk but I wouldn't award the Dodgers the Pennant yet

I hear you. They've "won" the offseason though. And that's frustrating enough from the outside. Partly why I've stopped watching baseball. Deep down I still love it. I would play if I was physically capable, but I always wanted to be a coach/manager. Now I can't even watch the game.

 

[MC74]

I hear you. They've "won" the offseason though. And that's frustrating enough from the outside. Partly why I've stopped watching baseball. Deep down I still love it. I would play if I was physically capable, but I always wanted to be a coach/manager. Now I can't even watch the game.

Even more so considering they won the World Series handily, and not even at full strength with all the setbacks they had.

 

[rktaker]

what a joke stuff like this is why we get lockouts

 

[rktaker]

we got another free agent signing, and it's not to the Dodgers, Mets, or Yankees

 

[Jon]

Isn't Santander a mid player at best though?

 

[rktaker]

yeah it definitely an overpay by the Blue Jays

 

[rktaker]

Isn't Santander a mid player at best though?

actually I say he's mediocre but the thing is that he's a power hitter, so Power hitters always have a low average but he hit 44 home runs last year. also that kind of contract is the same kind of contract that Pete Alonso is looking for and he's also a power hitter

 

[rktaker]

Dodgers are just spending money like drunken sailors now like Bob also tweeted that they were looking for bullpen depth since Michael Kopech is expected to miss the first month of the season. but here's the thing why did they sign Tanner Scott for then? also their payroll is over $380 mil. BUT the thing is with their payroll this high I'd imagine at some point they're gonna want to get back below the luxury tax threshold so they're gonna have to shed payroll at some point

 

[Jon]

BUT the thing is with their payroll this high I'd imagine at some point they're gonna want to get back below the luxury tax threshold so they're gonna have to shed payroll at some point

They are already at the max penalty. There's no reason to go back at this point. They'd legit have to cut 20 players to get under threshold. This is why without a hard cap, there will never be equality in baseball.

 

[rktaker]

They are already at the max penalty. There's no reason to go back at this point. They'd legit have to cut 20 players to get under threshold. This is why without a hard cap, there will never be equality in baseball.

well that's why i said in the future obviously it's not gonna happen like tomorrow was gonna say they're screwed if they have to rebuild but like the Yankees they probably will never rebuild so much for that idea i guess. it's funny because when Steve Cohen became owner of the Mets the other owners were afraid that he'd spend like a drunken sailor yet it's the Dodgers that are the ones that are doing it.

in other news that is not free agency related



don't know what a kid from LA is gonna do with Pirates tickets

 

[Jon]

Pirates really can't sell their tickets, huh?

 

[rktaker]

nope they sure can't I thought that I would take that deal at first if it was like the Mets but then I thought about it and Auctioning the card is definitely the better option

 

[Jon]

nope they sure can't I thought that I would take that deal at first if it was like the Mets but then I thought about it and Auctioning the card is definitely the better option

Oh yeah, I'll take millions over that trash lol

 

[rktaker]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id...uzuki-cc-sabathia-billy-wagner-carlos-beltran

MLB Hall of Fame inductees for 2025 were announced last night Ichiro, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner all getting inducted with Carlos Beltran just missing out also Ichiro missed being an unanimous entry by one vote which is a joke also the fact that Chase Utley got more votes than David Wright is a joke too but that's more of a personal bias thing for me

 

[Jon]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id...uzuki-cc-sabathia-billy-wagner-carlos-beltran

MLB Hall of Fame inductees for 2025 were announced last night Ichiro, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner all getting inducted with Carlos Beltran just missing out also Ichiro missed being an unanimous entry by one vote which is a joke also the fact that Chase Utley got more votes than David Wright is a joke too but that's more of a personal bias thing for me

Maybe it's me, but I'm not sure I agree with the Sabathia induction. He was... fine... but he never did anything better than anyone else, imo.

I hope this isn't something ONLY because he's black, which is what I've heard.

Ichiro was a first ballot, imo. Beltran... he was a good power/speed guy, but again, I'm not sure hall worthy. He wasn't first ballot, so I'm more ok with that.

 

[rktaker]

deal is official now even though its' been known for awhile which makes the beginning of my rant a little nonsensical but whatever I'm keeping it
sure let's just let the Dodgers spend money like drunken sailors and just sign everyone sure why the fuck not. look I know I've been posting a lot about the Dodgers signing people and I know it's no fun to hear they signed another player, I Know but II guess that just shows the true issue with this. I see people all the time defend the Dodgers saying don't blame them blame the cheap owners of the other teams and blah blah blah. but here's the thing and this is probably my personal bias but whatever I need to rant and I'm gonna rant

when Steve Cohen first bought the Mets the other mlb owners were afraid that he would spend money like a drunken sailor and just sign everybody even though he didn't need them and basically spend billions of dollars and that;'s why he has luxury tax threshold named after him cause the other Owners were afraid he was just gonna spend, and spend and spend however that hasn't really happened. instead what has happened is the Dodgers are the ones that are spending like drunken sailors and are just spending, and spending, and spending and signing players they don't need.

I realize me being a fan of the team with the richest owner in baseball and just signed Juan Soto to $765 mil criticizing the Dodgers is hypocritical but there's a difference here the Mets signed Juan Soto because they NEEDED an outfielder. the Mets are going after Pete Alonso because they NEED a first baseman, what do the Dodgers need 30 relief pitchers for? and if you say injuries, that's what your minor league system is for, or you make a trade, or you pick someone up off of waivers, or hear me out you can even sign somebody during the season they're probably not gonna be on your roster for long anyway

 

[Jon]

At this point I'm glad I'm not tied to any team. This would anger me more than it does. Now I just say "I guess I won't be trying to watch baseball in 2025."

 

[rktaker]

Baseball is my favorite sport so I’m gonna watch anyway at this point but it is annoying. really the only thing that would get me to not watch is if all baseball games was exclusive to a streaming service, like what the MLS did and unfortunately i can see that happening in a few years

 

[rktaker]

it has happened somebody picked Toronto over other teams, plan the parade

 

[Jon]

it has happened somebody picked Toronto over other teams, plan the parade

He has two different color eyes. Maybe he saw the wrong shade of blue and thought he was signing with the Dodgers.

Yes, I'm fully aware that is not how heterochromia works.

 

[rktaker]

interesting move here with Flaherty going back to Detroit after being traded to Los Angeles last year from Detroit. then Detroit made the playoffs so it would be funny if Detroit ends up trading him again

 

[Jon]

SO BREGMAN TO THE RED SOX THEN RIGHT? Right?

 

[The Eye in the Sky!]

SO BREGMAN TO THE RED SOX THEN RIGHT? Right?

BLOL, not unless someone else pays his contract!

 

[Jon]

BLOL, not unless someone else pays his contract!

lol, I had read that Detroit was the biggest competition at the moment for the Sox signing Bregman, so there was a chance this meant Detroit was out.

I don't honestly care at this point. The Red Sox are a garbage run franchise lol

 

[Fool's Requiem]

The Red Sox did something!

Red Sox, Alex Bregman Agree To Three-Year Deal

The Red Sox are signing Alex Bregman to a short-term contract. Find out more at MLB Trade Rumors.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

Also:

Detroit Tigers strike out as Alex Bregman signs with Boston Red Sox

Alex Bregman, who turns 31 in late March, hit .260 with 26 home runs, 44 walks and 86 strikeouts across 145 games for the Houston Astros in 2024.

www.freep.com

 

[Jon]

The Red Sox did something!

Red Sox, Alex Bregman Agree To Three-Year Deal

The Red Sox are signing Alex Bregman to a short-term contract. Find out more at MLB Trade Rumors.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

Also:

Detroit Tigers strike out as Alex Bregman signs with Boston Red Sox

Alex Bregman, who turns 31 in late March, hit .260 with 26 home runs, 44 walks and 86 strikeouts across 145 games for the Houston Astros in 2024.

www.freep.com

Well I'll be damned.......

They're still going to finish last, but I'll be damned.

 

[shortkut]