Non-Phillies 2023 Major League Season Discussion

[zambonir]

Maybe they should have done that first (though you can't really argue either last year or this year's prospect buying isn't working).

[allentown]

This cant be good for the game

And this is the problem with the Phillies. We have seen for years that most teams care not a whit for 'the good of the game'. There are actual rules in baseball, which teams like the Braves and Dodgers have flouted, then there is 'the good of the game' -- those things which people wish were the rules. Or even ways of sticking it to the players, which the more reactionary owners wish they could get enough support to get adopted as rules. I wish the Phillies would stretch the rules as far as permissible to help the team win and never again think 'for the good of baseball', that execrable phrase which led to both Giles being given the nod to assemble a new ownership team by Ruly and the Drew and other debacles under the Giles watch. You either manage to win or you don't. We see what the Mets are doing. We've seen what other teams have done. Phillies?

[bkox]

A NO-NO FOR FRAMBER!

9 innings, 0 hits and 7 strikeouts in a dominant 93-pitch performance pic.twitter.com/nHO2MPHu9H

— MLB Network ( @MLBNetwork ) August 2, 2023

[bkox]

Saturday marked the third time in two decades that each all 15 MLB games drew more than 30,000 fans (13 games were actually over 35,000)

— Jon Heyman ( @JonHeyman ) August 6, 2023

[zambonir]

Pretty amazing on both counts

The Pulse: Messi stuns again

The Cubs are the hottest team in baseball right now, winners of five of their last six and owners of a 16-7 record in the second half. I found Sahadev Sharma’s piece from yesterday instructive about the Cubs’ rise. Two takeaways:

Once middling, the Cubs’ offense has turned prolific, specifically thanks to Cody Bellinger, Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ. Those three have combined for 20 homers since the break. The team has scored 10-plus runs six times in that stretch.

Moreover, the Cubs’ plate discipline has been heroic. Their hitters see an average of 4.05 pitches per plate appearance, best in baseball. They’re pushing starters out of the game faster and grinding into opposing bullpens.

They’re just 1 1/2 games behind the Brewers in the NL Central, but have a staggering +75 run differential … while Milwaukee’s sits at -8. Who had three NL Central teams possibly making the playoffs, and none of them being the Cardinals? If you say yes, you’re lying.

Also: You know who’s not hot? The Angels, who have lost every single game since the trade deadline … when they went all in to make the playoffs, hoping to keep Shohei Ohtani. The proverbial horse is very much dead here, but it’s wild this just keeps happening.

The Angels are 10 1/2 games back in the division and seven games out of a playoff spot. Time runs short. Maybe we should start wondering about Ohtani’s free agency destination again.

[Sabin]

Who had three NL Central teams possibly making the playoffs, and none of them being the Cardinals? If you say yes, you’re lying.

Maybe, but why would I answer yes to that?

[zambonir]

Plus it doesn't even seem that likely.

[Sabin]

Yeah, the Cubs are surging, but the Reds are fading. The Brewers seem to hang in until the end, but often lack a punch that locks up a spot.

[andyb]

And it is not as if having teams 4 games over .500 in a weak division (the schedule is more balanced but not completely balanced) is that impressive.

[zambonir]

Also depends on the West teams of course. I remember our broadcast team predicting SF wouldn't finish the other night, they have a tougher schedule (and more road games) I think. We still gotta play them though.

The Reds never seemed real to me but that's probably because I sort of follow the Reds. De La Cruz hit the wall as well.

[zambonir]

Incredibly weak franchise

Exclusive: Orioles announcer Kevin Brown removed from booth for comments on lack...

The Athletic’s Brittany Ghiroli confirmed AA’s reporting that Brown was taken off the air over his comments ahead of that final Rays’ game, and added that he was only on radio on the Phillies’ series thanks to another issue. “Multiple sources briefed on the decision say ownership has enacted a new policy mandating that their broadcasters wear only team gear when on-air, which has rankled some. That snafu lead to Brown filling in on radio after his comment in the Rays series because another broadcaster got in trouble. Broadcasters have also been reprimanded previously for mentioning past Orioles players who are no longer with the team.”

Orioles suspend announcer over comment about Rays-O's series

Brown pointed out during the on-air broadcast on MASN that the Orioles had won more games at Tampa Bay’s Tropicana Field in 2023 than the last three years combined. The comment was backed up in the July 23 game notes, which are put together by the team’s public relations staff. “The Orioles have won three of the first five games at The Trop this season after winning three of the 21 games played in St. Petersburg from 2020-22,” the game notes said.

[schillingfan]

Only speak the truth if it makes your team look good?

[HopeSpringsEternal]

Incredibly weak franchise

I think Peter Angelos is still the owner, but I believe that others are overseeing the day to day operations due to his age. They are going to have to backtrack on this based on all the bad press they’re receiving. I’m watching the Mets game tonight, and they (Gary Cohen) called out Orioles management on this during their broadcast.

[xogfog]

If the report is accurate and he was suspended for stating a fact then the Orioles are the worst organization in baseball.

[zambonir]

it's his kids I think

[Philsmania]

I've long considered the Orioles to be one of the "not good" organizations in baseball--along with the Royals, Marlins, Rockies and Reds. Bad ownership culture, bad front office culture and bad organizational culture. They got a good thing going now but with the draft pick position they had after the depths of their tanking, it was pretty hard to screw that up. Let's see how long they can find success with this group or whether they find a way to run it all into the ground like they did with the Machado-era team which was really good but not for really long.

[zambonir]

no question. but it's a bummer for those of us who liked them - or even considered them the region's AL team - in the '70s (if not in '83). plus the jewel of a ballpark and Cal and all that for a while.

[bkeich]

The O's were truly one of the best franchises in the league for a couple decades, from the 60s until mid 80s. I think this upswing is just a matter of so many high draft picks that a few of them had to hit.

They are badly underfunded, one of the poorest revenue teams since they lost half their home base to Washington. Unfortunately that really isn't fixable unless one of them moves. Luckily, as the Nationals are my least favorite team it works both ways and the O's presence really hurts Washington.

[andyb]

The O's finally hired smart people to run the club, but they had 2 decades of mismanagement (with occasional contending luck like the early Machado years) that soured everyone. The Orioles should be a team that can consistently sustain a mid-level salary. Their TV market is good even if their city is small. They spent almost nothing internationally until a few years ago for instance because ownership wanted to prop up the major league payroll without spending internationally (where the returns were all for the future).

Needless fights with the Nationals over MASN have been annoying. They cut corners at every point, dropping pre and post game shows, pushing popular announcers out, etc. Ownership is hated like the Phillies in the Giles era where they made bad baseball decisions to save money.

[Philsmania]

no question. but it's a bummer for those of us who liked them - or even considered them the region's AL team - in the '70s (if not in '83). plus the jewel of a ballpark and Cal and all that for a while.

Camden Yards is still nice inside the ballpark. Unfortunately, the Inner Harbor is not the jewel that it once was and is starting to look more and more dingy. Beyond the Inner Harbor and Fells Point, you're basically in Camden, not Camden Yards. Plus, unlke other ballparks, including others in city centers, game attendees have to run a gauntlet of panhandlers before getting to the gate.