General MLB Discussion, Winter 2023-24

[andyb]

All the pundit click bait articles that suggest the Phillies are just going to get Snell instead of Nola really discount the value of the draft pick compensation. Probably worth $20-$30 million in present value.

This likely takes Hader off the board for us which is good. Don't need that incentive to overpay.

[zambonir]

Yeah keep in mind those articles were all just based on a single line in a Bob Nightengale story, even if he was allegedly "quoting" unnamed GMs. GMs who may have their own agenda, too!

[bkox]

DIdnt see this one coming

Angels Hire Ron Washington As Manager

[zambonir]

He was a compelling candidate, rebuilt his value with the Braves. Astros would have made more sense (better team, their GM was previously in Atlanta). I'm afraid this job just means he gets the prestige and paycheck of a manager for a couple of more years before it all goes bad. It does presumably mean the Angels aren't going to stop going for it; Wash is not the guy you hire for a rebuild/development.

[Callison]

Nobody is listening to Oakland and the A's fan base, who have a righteous case against the A's owner, Fisher. The guy is a complete villain and should never have been permitted to own a ML franchise. There is a fortune to be made in relocating a new stadium on the water and the development around it, and Fisher would be a big part of it. Oakland has done just about everything it can to accomodate him, but it's never enough.

But MLB seems poised to reward villainy and just stomp on Oakland and the A's fans and permit this mofo to move the team to Vegas. Like Vegas needs more entertainment. If you've ever wondered what injustice looks like, look no further. I think it was Pogo who said, "If you're ever looking for justice, that's exactly what you'll find - just us."

[Chris23]

One, in particular, I found rather puzzling was the prediction that the Phillies will sign Matt Chapman, if I remember correctly, to a 6-year/$120 million deal.

I'm curious to know the author's thoughts on that one.

[zambonir]

Just referenced this in response to your other post. MLBTR's thinking is here:

Offseason Outlook: Philadelphia Phillies

Obviously, trading Bohm would be a lot simpler for the Phils from a salary perspective. The former third overall pick is just entering his arbitration years and is controlled through 2026, while Castellanos’ contract entitles him to $60MM over that same timeframe. Barring taking on another team’s undesirable contract, the Phillies would have to either eat money in a Castellanos trade or include some significant prospect capital to sweeten the pot, whereas a rival club might think Bohm could fully break out with a change of scenery.

Moving Castellanos would further help the Phillies’ defensive issues, as either Harper could just return to right field and a new first baseman (or a re-signed Hoskins) could join the fold, or Philadelphia could obtain a new corner outfielder altogether. Likewise, trading Bohm could open up third base for a better defensive option and a more proven hitter.

[zambonir]

So, Corbin Carroll and Gunnar Henderson are both unanimous rookies of the year.

Henderson was taken 42nd - the first pick in the second round - in 2019, the same year the O's got Rutschmann. Carroll was taken 16th that same year, two slots behind Stott. Of course the Phillies didn't have a second round pick that year.

Dbacks and O's both get a comp pick at the end of the first round this year, and the players each get $750,000 bonuses, which is pretty incredible compared to how it used to be.

It is too bad Stott gave the Phillies no real shot at the incentives last year even though he did make the team initially. Obviously he still wound up playing well enough - and was needed due to injury - that you wouldn't have wanted to keep him in the minors all of last year either.

[Chris23]

Jeff Passan reports that MLB has proposed reducing the pitch clock from 20 seconds to 18 with runners on base.

Somewhere, Nola just felt the earth move.

[andyb]

I don't think 2 seconds with runners on base is at all part of the problem. How about cutting 30 seconds from all the commercial breaks?

[julio]

I don't think 2 seconds with runners on base is at all part of the problem. How about cutting 30 seconds from all the commercial breaks?

I would, of course, love this…but as I know you know, MLB will never give up the revenue that shortened breaks between innings (and due to pitching changes) eliminate.

[bkox]

Maybe its just time to reduce games from 9 innings to 7 innings, Would solve the time problem and the too many relief pitchers problem

[andyb]

2.5 hours with 40 minutes of commercials. Not a time problem there. I am sure MLB is concerned with the "flow of the game" with that 18 second rule. I am concerned by 4 minute innings sandwiched on each side by 135 seconds of commercials. I am guessing the share of commercials in an MLB telecast is MUCH greater than the share on an NFL, NBA, or NHL telecast where the commercials are more like 12-15 minutes an hour rather than 18-20.

[julio]

2.5 hours with 40 minutes of commercials. Not a time problem there. I am sure MLB is concerned with the "flow of the game" with that 18 second rule. I am concerned by 4 minute innings sandwiched on each side by 135 seconds of commercials. I am guessing the share of commercials in an MLB telecast is MUCH greater than the share on an NFL, NBA, or NHL telecast where the commercials are more like 12-15 minutes an hour rather than 18-20.

I don't disagree, andyb - my solution is to basically avoid watching telecasts, at least live. The radio in the background (or an audio stream, depending on where I am), with other things being done. Or follow on the game thread. Or (gasp) leave the house to go to a meeting, or a rehearsal, or out with the spouse, etc., and check on the score later.

I don't put up with being bombarded by advertising in general. I watch certain programs/films on Netflix and such streaming sites; I don't watch, or pay for, mainstream cable because I find the idea of paying corporations to bombard me with advertising to be silly. I read books. I spend time on internet sites. I cook.

I don't sit in front of the TV for three hours a day - any day. a couple of hours on Sunday evening with my wife (The Great British Baking Show!). I don't need mindless entertainment, smothered with tacky advertising. Life's too short.

[allentown]

DVR the games. Start watching half an hour after game starts. Fast Forward through commercials and pitching changes. Works great for Eagles games also. For Phillies games, especially those that end late at night, the game threads on this forum are an excellent alternative.

[andyb]

That is what I do most of the time before the playoffs. I would do it less if the pace of commercials were less. This is one of the things that killed broadcast TV. 8-10 minutes of commercials per hour when we grew up became 15-20 in the last couple of decades. It is fascinating to watch all the streaming services like Netflix and Disney start their ad plans with less than 5 minutes of commercials per hour and then see that amount creep up to 6-10 per hour on some services. I am sure they make more money this way. But it makes all their products less popular.

[julio]

And youtube, too. It's becoming close to unusable, with ad breaks randomly inserted - in the middle of a sentence of dialogue? The alternative would be to pay a ridiculous amount of money for "premium." I just won't use it, or at least radically limit my use.

I have a memory of being on an organized tour in the Scottish Highlands. Get off the train, get on a van to cross over to Skye. On the road in Skye... scenery. Not billboards. Scenery.

Here? Oy. Even if it's out in the rural sticks, there are signs advertising...you name it. It's constant. Buy this. Buy that. And now, they're electronic. They flash at you; they change; they're ridiculously bright at night (borderline hazards). And we just accept this?

[bkox]

And youtube, too. It's becoming close to unusable, with ad breaks randomly inserted

Im a youtube livestreamer and content creator. YT is constantly bombarding me with "suggestions" on how to insert more ads. I refuse to do it. I let an ad roll before my stream or videos and thats it. And because of that, even with a 3 hour livestream, I make less than $1 a day from youtube. Its getting worse and worse.

[bkox]

Yankees' Gerrit Cole unanimously wins AL Cy Young Award; Blake Snell of Padres...

[Philsmania]

MLB unanimously approves the Athletics' relocation to Las Vegas.