2016 MLB Spring Training Thread

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 8:23 am

Because.

Also, fantasy baseball drafts.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 9:49 am

We all must do our part to make sure this is longer than the auto racing thread.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 9:59 am

Looking forward to seeing if the Reds can lose 105. Although probably not in spring training - that would be a record or something.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 12:38 pm

There was a deal involving Jay Bruce to the Jays that fell through.

Also Bautista has given the Jays an ultimatum 5 years 150mill. Take it or leave it.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 12:53 pm

I'm hoping by the end of Spring training, I too, can be in Sandovalian shape.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 1:30 pm

Sandoval "Deflator" trolling Boston and its media would be second Christmas.

Post by **brian** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 2:07 pm

Might be our only Central Michigan alum in MLB, but also the smartest.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 9:21 am

howard · Post by **howard** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 1:24 pm

Isn't the Cubs signing Dexter Fowler kinda weird, with all those outfielders? Or did they decide having people out there who can actually catch the ball is a good idea.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 4:48 pm

howard wrote:Isn't the Cubs signing Dexter Fowler kinda weird, with all those outfielders? Or did they decide having people out there who can actually catch the ball is a good idea.

It seems like this is setting them up to trade Soler, or else play Schwarber more behind the plate.

bfj · Post by **bfj** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 8:56 pm

howard wrote:Isn't the Cubs signing Dexter Fowler kinda weird, with all those outfielders? Or did they decide having people out there who can actually catch the ball is a good idea.

Fuck him in his lying reneging ass. I hope he blows out every ligament in both knees and goes impotent at the same time.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 9:30 pm

bfj wrote:I hope he blows ... an... impotent ... me.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Fri Feb 26, 2016 8:05 am

bfj wrote:
howard wrote:Isn't the Cubs signing Dexter Fowler kinda weird, with all those outfielders? Or did they decide having people out there who can actually catch the ball is a good idea.
Fuck him in his lying reneging ass. I hope he blows out every ligament in both knees and goes impotent at the same time.

He doesn't think he was the one lying.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Feb 26, 2016 8:13 am

Steve of phpBB wrote:
howard wrote:Isn't the Cubs signing Dexter Fowler kinda weird, with all those outfielders? Or did they decide having people out there who can actually catch the ball is a good idea.
It seems like this is setting them up to trade Soler, or else play Schwarber more behind the plate.

I know he's a disaster in the outfield, but playing him at catcher doesn't sound like a good long term proposition either.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Fri Feb 26, 2016 8:46 am

Smooth move by Fowler's agent to pass up $15.7 million by turning down the qualifying offer to take $8 million and still be a 4th OFer.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Feb 26, 2016 10:20 am

I'm guessing there's a no-arb clause on this one and he's expecting to make it back. Which, if you're Casey Close, is a fine risk. If you're Fowler ... ehhh ...

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Fri Feb 26, 2016 11:25 am

mister d wrote:I'm guessing there's a no-arb clause on this one and he's expecting to make it back. Which, if you're Casey Close, is a fine risk. If you're Fowler ... ehhh ...

Yeah. Really not great risk management from the agent on this one.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 3:03 pm

Really, guys? Page two?

I just had my first At Bat notification pop up on my screen - "CHC vs MIL about to start".

I haven't been this excited for spring games to begin since 1985. (And that worked out so well.)

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Mar 08, 2016 10:51 am

Felix Hernandez is starting his 12th season this year. He is 29 years old.

Post by **Sabo** » Wed Mar 09, 2016 10:56 am

Just because.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Mar 09, 2016 4:40 pm

Fashions by Omar the Tentmaker.

(apologies to the bigger swampers.)

howard · Post by **howard** » Wed Mar 09, 2016 5:08 pm

Good thing pinstripes are slimming

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Thu Mar 10, 2016 9:36 am

I'm reading this every morning for the rest of my life.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Thu Mar 10, 2016 12:52 pm

what does Jonathan Papelbon think?

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Thu Mar 10, 2016 3:50 pm

Goose Gossage wants you off his lawn.

“I’ll tell you what has happened, these guys played Rotisserie baseball at Harvard or wherever the fuck they went, and they thought they figured the fucking game out. They don’t know shit.”

He also believes the game has become less tough. Last month, MLB and the players’ union banned block slides after Chase Utley broke Ruben Tejada’s leg during the 2015 playoffs. “A bunch of fucking nerds running the game,” said Gossage. “You can’t slide into second base. You can’t take out the fucking catcher because [Buster] Posey was in the wrong position and they are going to change all the rules. You can’t pitch inside anymore. I’d like to knock some of these fuckers on their ass and see how they would do against pitchers in the old days.”

Gossage, who found fame as a reliever, showed his contempt for the shorter stints his modern day counterparts pitch. “They have been created from the top, from their computers,” Gossage said. “They are protecting these kids. The first thing a pitcher does when he comes off the mound is asked, ‘How many pitches do I have?’ If I had asked that fucking question, they would have said, ‘Son, get your ass out there on that mound. If you get tired, we’ll come and get you.’”

Bautista was the next in the firing line. He famously flipped his bat after hitting a three-run homer in last year’s playoffs and Gossage was, well, unimpressed. “Bautista is a fucking disgrace to the game,” Gossage said. “He’s embarrassing to all the Latin players, whoever played before him. Throwing his bat and acting like a fool, like all those guys in Toronto. [Yoenis] Cespedes, same thing.”

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Mar 10, 2016 3:58 pm

The guy too shitty and soft to even start baseball games. Go figure.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu Mar 10, 2016 6:45 pm

I hate it when old guys get up from their rocking chairs to gripe about modern players, or claim that their era was somehow better (such as Oscar Robertson re Steph Curry and the Warriors). Guys like Gossage seem to just hate becoming irrelevant.

howard · Post by **howard** » Thu Mar 10, 2016 9:38 pm

Fuck Goose Gossage. And fuck Bryce Harper. A pox on them both, young and old.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu Mar 10, 2016 9:57 pm

So you're a Papelbon guy?

I like Harper.

bfj · Post by **bfj** » Thu Mar 10, 2016 10:06 pm

Woohoo! The Orioles didn't lose today! Our Korean player broke his 0-21 streak also!

howard · Post by **howard** » Thu Mar 10, 2016 10:37 pm

I like Harper. I like watching him, and I don't mind him celebrating or jumping around. I don't like him mouthing off stupidity about what is wrong with baseball or the way other people behave.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Mar 10, 2016 10:38 pm

"How's that glass of wine?"

"Actually, it's fruit juice, I've been sober over a decade. Last drink I had in San Francisco I was at my friend (semi-celebrity)'s party with (bigger celebrity) and ..."

[Harper bangs HR]

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Mar 11, 2016 7:55 am

mister d wrote:"How's that glass of wine?"

"Actually, it's fruit juice, I've been sober over a decade. Last drink I had in San Francisco I was at my friend (semi-celebrity)'s party with (bigger celebrity) and ..."

[Harper bangs HR]

I love this.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Fri Mar 11, 2016 9:59 am

mister d wrote:"How's that glass of wine?"

"Actually, it's fruit juice, I've been sober over a decade. Last drink I had in San Francisco I was at my friend (semi-celebrity)'s party with (bigger celebrity) and ..."

[Harper bangs HR]

So good.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Fri Mar 11, 2016 11:24 am

Brontoburglar wrote:what does Jonathan Papelbon think?

You over-wrote this question by one word.

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 1:58 pm

Post by **brian** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 2:10 pm

tennbengal wrote:
mister d wrote:"How's that glass of wine?"

"Actually, it's fruit juice, I've been sober over a decade. Last drink I had in San Francisco I was at my friend (semi-celebrity)'s party with (bigger celebrity) and ..."

[Harper bangs HR]
So good.

Took me a few days to get it, but I got there.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Thu Mar 17, 2016 9:27 am

So...Adam Laroche...

howard · Post by **howard** » Thu Mar 17, 2016 9:56 am

Ray Ratto nailed it.

But in case there is any question in the minds of either of my children whether I would keep a $13 million job and make them stay at home every now and then, or give up the job and keep them nearby at all times . . . well, you can always get other kids.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Mar 17, 2016 12:16 pm

I want him and Bob McKenzie to be my uncles.