The Swamp

brian wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2018 2:07 pm I don't want them to have to limit pitching changes I just think visits to the mound are unnecessary.

Like I said if you want to get the gang together for a minute, then you get one timeout a game and you can get together on the mound for 45 seconds or whatever, but that's it. If you want to make any pitching changes after that it has to be done immediately after an AB and done from the dugout.

I have no objection to that, but I don't think it will do much to shorten games.

Anyway, here's a link to that article. It's an important article, of course, and not just because I was at that 1984 game they talk about.

https://www.sbnation.com/a/mlb-2017-sea ... ame-length

I don't know. If they set a TV timeout clock on pitching changes, then the amount of time a pitching change takes is locked in and doesn't involve the manager taking 30 seconds to trot out to the mound. If you figure an average (at least) of four pitching changes a game, then that's two minutes right there without even doing anything to mess with rules like putting a damn runner on second automatically.

I think they need to go after the easy low-hanging fruit and then go from there. I don't think pace of play is as huge an issue as the media makes it out to be, but there's no reason not to shave where you can what you can.

There will always be mound visits because baseball is a game intent on protecting its players from feeling embarrassed and a manager just yelling "hey, get off the mound" would be super embarrassing.

mister d wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2018 4:39 pm There will always be mound visits because baseball is a game intent on protecting its players from feeling embarrassed and a manager just yelling "hey, get off the mound" would be super embarrassing.

I get the argument, but if they are serious about reducing the times of the games without gimmicks and stupid shit like putting people on base automatically these are the kinds of things they're going to have to think about. Pitchers might just have to suck it up like every other pro athlete who is replaced in a game.

Totally agree, its a complete time waste, as is the reliever getting 9(?) throws on the new mound instead of like 3. As is every pitcher throwing the same between each inning during the commercials.

mister d wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2018 4:47 pm Totally agree, its a complete time waste, as is the reliever getting 9(?) throws on the new mound instead of like 3. As is every pitcher throwing the same between each inning during the commercials.

I think the magic number is 8.

the idea of this is giving me the giggles. i want this so bad.

mister d wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2018 4:39 pm ...a manager just yelling "hey, get off the mound" would be super embarrassing.

Anything that increases the use of hand signals earns points in my book.

MaxWebster wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:34 pm the idea of this is giving me the giggles. i want this so bad.

mister d wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2018 4:39 pm ...a manager just yelling "hey, get off the mound" would be super embarrassing.

This would be way better than
1.) Soccer players having a board held up and having to wait for the guy to come over to the sideline before going in (with the requisite handshake/hug)
2.) Injured player having to ask to come back on even though he was not subbed in soccer
3.) And my favorite, Tall 7 footer sitting on the floor at the middle of the court after "checking in" in basketball. How has there not been a major career ending injury involving some big man and either on court players or a referee.

MaxWebster wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:34 pm the idea of this is giving me the giggles. i want this so bad.

mister d wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2018 4:39 pm ...a manager just yelling "hey, get off the mound" would be super embarrassing.

For the road team, the PA system could get in on the act, and the fans too.

Just saw some videos of Miguel Cabrera and if they're current he looks like he's in pretty great shape. If he stays healthy will be interesting to see how he fares in a lineup full of chumps. He might draw 160 walks this year if he wants to.

Looks ready to start catching up to fastballs again for the next six years?

mister d wrote: ↑Mon Feb 05, 2018 10:42 am Looks ready to start catching up to fastballs again for the next six years?

Maybe? I presume that's something that being 30 pounds lighter might help with.

Sure, unless its just slowing down with age and now he'll be losing some power too ; )

I'm sure he's lost/losing some power - it's natural at his age without using PEDs, but I still think he can be an elite hitter. The scary thing last year was the dip in BA. I don't think there's any reason he can't be around .400 in OBP for quite some time with occasional power. And even though he apparently is fighting it I think moving to DH will probably help in both regards as well.

He was never going to outperform his contract if that's the point, but if he was still at a Triple Crown level he wouldn't be either. God knows it doesn't hurt the Tigers to have a first-ballot HoFer on the team since it's not like the rest of the lineup is going to sell any tickets or get anyone excited.

Not a good few months for the top two in voting for the 2003 AL Cy Young award.

Internal voice: "Wait, who finished first in the 2003 AL Cy... Damn, Brian."

Yu!

For those of you unversed in the metric system, 20 kilos equals about 44 pounds.

Rich “Goose” Gossage sucks

Ryan wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2018 4:30 pm Rich “Goose” Gossage sucks

Yeah, I'm not sure he's going to have a single Yankee fan rushing to defend him in light of Cashman's remodeling of the Yankees for the foreseeable future. Last year was going to be a "huh, let's see what we got" kind of year, where knowledgeable Yankee fans were thinking that 80-83 wins was a real possibility, and that'd be OK. Instead, they came within a game of the World Series.

STFU, Goose.

20 kilos makes you a drug mule, not a kingpin.

This isn't Loaiza's first rodeo with drug cartels. His wife died in a mysterious plane accident in Mexico. She allegedly refused to payoff a cartel at a venue she performed at, then her plane crashed a few hours later.

O's have 35 pitchers in camp. Take away Bundy and Gausman and only 7 have ever started a major league game.

Wow, Loaiza was the first ballplayer I interviewed in my brief sportswriting career. I had a few conversations with him after that (since he was just sitting around the Yankee clubhouse not pitching.) Talk about not the type of guy you would expect, seemed very straight-laced. (Can't believe that was 13 years ago.)

Keg wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2018 5:40 pm 20 kilos makes you a drug mule, not a kingpin.

That would explain a bit. And when I met him it was long before this second wife Keg describes.

goddammit I'm conflicted over Hosmer

Baseball salaries reach top mark

Link

brian wrote: ↑Fri Mar 16, 2018 4:02 pm I like Altuve, but I don't see how this deal is going to age well.

Five years? Why not - they’re loaded with talent and he only has to hit 300 and set the table with that dynamic glove until he’s 34. If he were 6’6” with a mammoth K zone maybe, but his size? He’s got a postage stamp-sized zone to command...

EnochRoot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 16, 2018 4:35 pm

brian wrote: ↑Fri Mar 16, 2018 4:02 pm I like Altuve, but I don't see how this deal is going to age well.

Five years? Why not - they’re loaded with talent and he only has to hit 300 and set the table with that dynamic glove until he’s 34. If he were 6’6” with a mammoth K zone maybe, but his size? He’s got a postage stamp-sized zone to command...

yeah, only through 34 at that rate is a pretty good deal. I can see his power decreasing, but a .380 OBP should be achievable every season throughout his Astros tenure

Brontoburglar wrote: ↑Fri Mar 16, 2018 6:19 pm

EnochRoot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 16, 2018 4:35 pm

brian wrote: ↑Fri Mar 16, 2018 4:02 pm I like Altuve, but I don't see how this deal is going to age well.

Five years? Why not - they’re loaded with talent and he only has to hit 300 and set the table with that dynamic glove until he’s 34. If he were 6’6” with a mammoth K zone maybe, but his size? He’s got a postage stamp-sized zone to command...

yeah, only through 34 at that rate is a pretty good deal. I can see his power decreasing, but a .380 OBP should be achievable every season throughout his Astros tenure

There’s at least a decent shot he’s not had his best season yet. Correa’s growth plays into that, btw. This was an example of a smart team making a brilliant move, IMO.

Better version of Pedroia and Pedroia, when on the field, is still a useful player heading into his age 34 season.

mister d wrote: ↑Fri Mar 16, 2018 6:53 pm Better version of Pedroia and Pedroia, when on the field, is still a useful player heading into his age 34 season.

By 'better' you mean, a shit fuck-ton better, right?

They’re totally going to read one negative review on the signing and fail his physical. Book it.

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Mar 20, 2018 7:18 pm They’re totally going to read one negative review on the signing and fail his physical. Book it.

I thought that was the Ravens’ move now.

Got tickets for O's v. Phillies on Sunday in Clearwater.

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Mar 20, 2018 7:18 pm They’re totally going to read one negative review on the signing and fail his physical. Book it.

He's going to show up in the Cubs camp tomorrow.