The Swamp

This Oakland win streak is so funny! How in the hell does a team that was 12–50 go on a six game win streak, all wins against teams over .500, two of them in first place in their divisions?

sancarlos wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2023 11:21 am This Oakland win streak is so funny! How in the hell does a team that was 12–50 go on a six game win streak, all wins against teams over .500, two of them in first place in their divisions?

Baseball is gonna baseball.

Did they play Wild Thing as a introduction song for Mitch Williams? Or was that just an unofficial nickname?

Edit: That's the first nickname that shows up for him on Baseball Reference.

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2023 12:47 pm

sancarlos wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2023 11:21 am This Oakland win streak is so funny! How in the hell does a team that was 12–50 go on a six game win streak, all wins against teams over .500, two of them in first place in their divisions?

Baseball is gonna baseball.

Did they play Wild Thing as a introduction song for Mitch Williams? Or was that just an unofficial nickname?

Edit: That's the first nickname that shows up for him on Baseball Reference.

Just had to know for sure, huh?

After his career and nickname were established, and things were going well for him, they did play that song for him.

But, I saw him live in Arlington when he was young, playing for the Rangers, and the nickname was more derisive in nature, and they didn’t play it back then.

A_B wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:46 pm

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2023 12:47 pm

sancarlos wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2023 11:21 am This Oakland win streak is so funny! How in the hell does a team that was 12–50 go on a six game win streak, all wins against teams over .500, two of them in first place in their divisions?

Baseball is gonna baseball.

Did they play Wild Thing as a introduction song for Mitch Williams? Or was that just an unofficial nickname?

Edit: That's the first nickname that shows up for him on Baseball Reference.

Just had to know for sure, huh?

Lol.

What's y'all's take on Matt Mervis?

His results have been very very bad, but apparently he has a high barrel percentage and below-average-but-not-terrible expected stats from Baseball Savant. His xWOBA is .314.

The barrel rate is solid but the issue w/ barrel % and LD % and similar stats is that the denominator is balls in play. A 9% barrel rate is better than 11% if you're striking out half as much. Although he's house money if it works and its probably early enough to just focus on the good stuff (like barrels when he does put it in play); if he adjusts to major league pitching and gets the SO% down, could be a nice find?

Nuke Laloosh back to AAA with a story to tell…

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2023 3:07 pm The barrel rate is solid but the issue w/ barrel % and LD % and similar stats is that the denominator is balls in play. A 9% barrel rate is better than 11% if you're striking out half as much. Although he's house money if it works and its probably early enough to just focus on the good stuff (like barrels when he does put it in play); if he adjusts to major league pitching and gets the SO% down, could be a nice find?

Good point. Thanks.

His K rate was 16% at AAA and 20% at AA - any idea how they compare to league averages?

Btw, Gunnar Henderson hit a grand slam tonight. The O's BP sorta crapped the bed in the 8th and 9th, but they held on to win, 11-6.

The A's have sold a crap ton of tickets to fans who are wearing the A's green with the word SELL imprinted on the chest.

The A's are tied with the Rays at 1 headed to the bottom of the 8th.

The chants have gone between

SELL - THE - TEAM

to

STAY - IN - OAKLAND

I mean, fuck John Fisher, and fuck Las Vegas.

Purely anecdotal based on my memory, but Miguel Cabrera pulled a fastball for a home run today for what felt like the first time in about three years. Tigers got three homers off Spencer Strider their first time through the lineup, but normalcy has been restored (they're losing).

Giff wrote: ↑Tue Jan 24, 2023 7:39 pm Funny how Trevor Bauer and Mike Clevinger were two of the biggest loudmouths about the Astros. I guess I'll hold judgment until I hear Bregman didn't spit used chewing tobacco on his 10-month-old.

So one is 5,000 miles away and the other looks like his season just ended on the mound : (

EnochRoot wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2023 10:42 pm The chants have gone between

SELL - THE - TEAM

to

STAY - IN - OAKLAND

I mean, fuck John Fisher, and fuck Las Vegas.

For whatever it’s worth we don’t fuckin’ want em either.

But it’s done. The bill will be signed by Nevada’s Governor as soon as tomorrow.

brian wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 10:59 pm

EnochRoot wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2023 10:42 pm The chants have gone between

SELL - THE - TEAM

to

STAY - IN - OAKLAND

I mean, fuck John Fisher, and fuck Las Vegas.

For whatever it’s worth we don’t fuckin’ want em either.

But it’s done. The bill will be signed by Nevada’s Governor as soon as tomorrow.

On the other hand, I’ll no longer be living more than 500 miles from the nearest MLB team.

1. holy hell that came in hot
2. hard head
3. i apparently have never seen him and had no idea what Sterling looked like before this minute - and thought he was maybe decades younger. ?!?

sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 3:12 pm

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 11:44 pm

brian wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 10:59 pm

EnochRoot wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2023 10:42 pm The chants have gone between

SELL - THE - TEAM

to

STAY - IN - OAKLAND

I mean, fuck John Fisher, and fuck Las Vegas.

For whatever it’s worth we don’t fuckin’ want em either.

But it’s done. The bill will be signed by Nevada’s Governor as soon as tomorrow.

On the other hand, I’ll no longer be living more than 500 miles from the nearest MLB team.

Either I have no idea how large the states are in the west, or Steve doesn’t consider the Rockies a real team. Possibly both.

L-Jam3 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 7:54 am

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 11:44 pm

brian wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 10:59 pm

EnochRoot wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2023 10:42 pm The chants have gone between

SELL - THE - TEAM

to

STAY - IN - OAKLAND

I mean, fuck John Fisher, and fuck Las Vegas.

For whatever it’s worth we don’t fuckin’ want em either.

But it’s done. The bill will be signed by Nevada’s Governor as soon as tomorrow.

On the other hand, I’ll no longer be living more than 500 miles from the nearest MLB team.

Either I have no idea how large the states are in the west, or Steve doesn’t consider the Rockies a real team. Possibly both.

It's the first one. Coors Field is more than 500 miles from me.

Las Vegas is a whopping 90 miles closer.

(I've been in on the Rockies since Day One. Literally - their games used to be on the radio here during their first couple of seasons.)

As the crow flies or by car?

Crows are notoriously bad drivers. They never caw for directions.

I got curious after seeing that. Current is 30, which is the longest since growing up (~75), closest was less than 4. I have to imagine like 1/3 of the league is currently within 500 miles of me.



(BOS, NYY, NYM, PHI, BAL, WAS, PIT, CLE, TOR)

Just drew a circle in Google Earth. From what I can tell I am within 500 miles of these teams:

Reds, Indians, Pirates, Orioles, Nats, Cubs, White Sox, Cardinals, Brewers, Tigers, Blue Jays, Braves


Phillies miss the cut by mere miles. Royals probably just a bit further out than that.

Edit: Have to agree that it's hard to believe Denver is 500 miles from salt lake city, but then again I am not 100% sure Steve lives in SLC proper or whatnot. Phoenix is also within a 500 mile radius

A_B wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 9:21 am Crows are notoriously bad drivers. They never caw for directions.

I love you.

1/15th over here.

I think Sabo might have everyone beat. From my list he loses just the Braves, but gains Mets, Yankees, and Phillies. Boston just out of range.

Lose the Braves and Orioles, but add Royals and Twins. Orioles just a stone's throw out of the radius.

Driving distances from my house, which is pretty close to downtown SLC - there's two practical ways to get to Coors Field, one is 514 miles and the other is 527.

There is a long and windy way that goes 497 miles. And in the summer, when I'm living at the cabin, it's only 498 going through Wyoming.

The next two closest are Chase Field at 663 miles and Dodger Stadium at 690.

It's somewhat ironic (in an Alannis way I guess) that baseball is still my favorite sport but I live farther from MLB than 98-99 percent of the US population. I don't know if the A's moving to Vegas will change that.

Edit: On the bright side, MLB's blackout rules are rarely a problem for me.

I’m told some people are crazy for teams on other continents

hm looks like i'm within 500 miles of at least 14:

TOR, NYY, BOS, BAL
CLE, CWS, DET
MIL, PIT, CIN, CHC
PHI, NYM, WAS
throw in Montreal for the past/future

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 10:13 am
Edit: On the bright side, MLB's blackout rules are rarely a problem for me.

This is pretty much the only good thing about this deal, as currently SIX teams are blacked out in Vegas. I can only assume with a local team those all go away.

And guaranteed the Tigers will play at least three times a year in Vegas I guess. They might even be competitive by 2028 but not holding my breath.

A_B wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 9:21 am Crows are notoriously bad drivers. They never caw for directions.

yeah. i laughed.

brian wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 11:28 am

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 10:13 am
Edit: On the bright side, MLB's blackout rules are rarely a problem for me.

This is pretty much the only good thing about this deal, as currently SIX teams are blacked out in Vegas. I can only assume with a local team those all go away.

And guaranteed the Tigers will play at least three times a year in Vegas I guess. They might even be competitive by 2028 but not holding my breath.

I'm not saying the blackouts won't be lifted (nor am I attempting to apply legitimacy or logic to the idiocy of it all), but the Orioles are still blacked out as far as NC (inc VA and DC) even after the Nationals were placed in Washington 18 or so years ago. Of course, the climate's since changed a bit.

That just seems impossible, like Joey Votto's no pop up streak.

So the other day Manfred floated a biscuit about curbing spending on technology, R&D, health, etc. Looking for ways to curtail spending or even cap it.

Now...who might want that type of structure implemented?

Smaller market teams who struggle to keep up with the big markets, or rather the big market teams who would prefer to outspend their own mistakes and simultaneously kneecap the analytically advanced, small market teams?

Just curious.

Bill signed but still question of how Fisher is going to pony up $1.15B.

EnochRoot wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 9:51 pm So the other day Manfred floated a biscuit about curbing spending on technology, R&D, health, etc. Looking for ways to curtail spending or even cap it.

Now...who might want that type of structure implemented?

Smaller market teams who struggle to keep up with the big markets, or rather the big market teams who would prefer to outspend their own mistakes and simultaneously kneecap the analytically advanced, small market teams?

Just curious.

I think your options assume that the owners are all looking for competitive advantages. They're probably looking for financial advantages. I'm guessing a whole lot of owners don't want to spend on those things and don't want others to do it either.

brian wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 12:16 am Bill signed but still question of how Fisher is going to pony up $1.15B.

He’s worth twice that so I’m sure he can get some banks to loan him the cash. But, has he said where he plans to play while they build his new stadium? Some existing old place around LV, I suppose?

sancarlos wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 10:40 am

brian wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 12:16 am Bill signed but still question of how Fisher is going to pony up $1.15B.

He’s worth twice that so I’m sure he can get some banks to loan him the cash. But, has he said where he plans to play while they build his new stadium? Some existing old place around LV, I suppose?

I think their plan is to do what the Raiders did and seek year to year extensions with Alameda County but seems like they’d be better off drawing 15,000 a night in Vegas at the Triple A stadium for three or four years than 7,500 a night in Oakland.