Non-Phillies 2023 Major League Season Discussion

[bkox]

we are still a while from robot umps. They still cant decide on a zone. As Matt Winkelman tweeted a few days ago.. this is the zone currently in FSL. Notice its a bit wider than the actual plate.

[jimbomill]

Notice its a bit wider than the actual plate.

I thought the definition of a strike includes "if any part of the ball touches any part of the plate ...." which in effect makes the strike zone almost a full ball-width (diameter) larger on either side of the physical plate.

[bkox]

official definition from MLB:

The official strike zone is the area over home plate from the midpoint between a batter's shoulders and the top of the uniform pants -- when the batter is in his stance and prepared to swing at a pitched ball -- and a point just below the kneecap. In order to get a strike call, part of the ball must cross over part of home plate while in the aforementioned area.

First.. that strikezone above is lower than the official defition.

But the problem with the boxes we see is that it is 2D. Is the red dot where the catcher caught it? Did it cross over the plate at any point?

If they really wanted to get high tech they would put some kinda radar around the perimeter of the plate and the plate lights up if the ball pierces that perimeter. Then umps would just need to judge hi and low

[LoneStarPhan]

If the system detected the ball breaking the zone above the plate, then any check swing would also break that zone and many check swings not now called would become strikes.

[bkox]

Shohei Ohtani’s locker is cleared out, but Angels won’t provide update until...

[bkeich]

Not trading him will set that franchise back years. They could have gotten 3 of some teams top 5 prospects I would guess, instead they are going to get a draft pick.

Between that and not trading "dare we say CF who is perpetually hurt" they have really messed up. They could have been setup for a decade of dominance I suspect, instead they will continue to be the worst high salary franchise.

[bkox]

They could have been setup for a decade of dominance I suspect

I just dunno... the way that franchise is run.. They have had Trout for over a decade with nothing.. Im not sure they know how to develop hitting prospects. Marsh has done better since being here. Adell was a top 10 prospect and has failed thus far. They just keep trying to buy their way to prosperity and it hasnt worked

[bkeich]

You are completely correct (not sure the Phillies have been a ton better sadly), but getting say 6 blue chip prospects for those two guys, I think they should have tried. Put money into the coaching. I know, if they could do that they would, but this path is laughaubly bad (eventually getting 2 1st round sandwich picks) and pretty much guaranteeing another 5-8 years of futility.

Should we have traded Rollins and Utley earlier? Of course. The Angels will get multiples of what we could have gotten. They are going to be left with nothing but "salary cap" space because they consistently don't cash in their assets, now they are worth maybe 20% of what they were.

Ohtani is probably now a 4-5 WAR guy instead of maybe 10. Trout is not even that because there is no chance he will play more than 1/2 a season, and zero chance he will be available for a playoff series.

[BostonRoss]

Everybody eventually gets broken when they join the Angels. Joe Maddon, Albert Pujols, Anthony Rendon, Jo Adell, Zack Cozart, Lucas Giolito, and now Trout and Ohtani. Maybe even Mickey Moniak (he's on the DL now).

[bkox]

Trout is not even that because there is no chance he will play more than 1/2 a season, and zero chance he will be available for a playoff series.

Well that may be a little harsh. Over the last two seasons, Harper has only played 10 more games than Trout.

[zambonir]

Yeah the Angels probably would have found a way to mess it up either way.

[bkeich]

And the season before that Trout played 36 games.

So he has been available for between 40-50% of the games over 3 seasons for 3 (or more) injuries. I think my point is still valid, he is very unlikely to play a season or be around at the end of the year going forward.

[bkox]

Im confused as to how this is going to change anything for the Rays. New Ballpark in almost the same location.. Will it really bring more fans? I mean the vet was a dump, but when the Phillies played well there were 50K+ there. Rays are a great team year after year and still barely draw.

Rays to Announce Deal for New St. Petersburg Ballpark

[Philsmania]

Rays to Announce Deal for New St. Petersburg Ballpark

I can't help but wonder if staying St. Pete away from the region's population center is the definition of insanity.

It might also be somewhat Phillies related since the resolution of the Athletics' and Rays' ballpark situations may free the expansion logjam and that might lead to Dombrowski leaving to go back to the Nashville group.

[andyb]

It is not an awful site. It is really only another 5-10 minutes beyond Tampa on the highway. Tampa sites might be too crowded for the development they want also. It is not the worst thing to have the franchises spread out from St. Pete to Tampa to Orlando. Lots of competition too for the entertainment dollar in Orlando so can understand not shading towards that side of the combined market.

It does seem a shame to not have a retractable dome. If the stadium is nice though people will come. The old stadium was just an awful place to watch a game.

[zambonir]

Yeah that place makes the Vet look like Wrigley Field. And really the team should be in St. Pete, since the other two are not.

The bigger question is whether Florida is or ever was a good MLB market. Between the weather and the large # of transplants who stay loyal to - and have easy access to - their old teams it has always been a challenge. New ballpark certainly didn't fix the Marlins.

I don't think Dombrowski has a job (or ownership offer) to go back to in Nashville, he's been replaced by Dave Stewart. But either way it's probably moot, he'll be retired or a consultant by the time that door truly opens.

[LoneStarPhan]

So my list of major league ballparks where I have seen games will now be moving another park from the current to the former list. The former list is already bigger than the currently in use list.

[zambonir]

I have only seen a basketball game there.

[andyb]

Arizona beats the Cubs in 13 to get a half game lead on the 2nd wild card position which would be the Phillies' playoff opponent if things stay where they are. Cubs and Reds tied for 3rd spot and Marlins a half game behind that. It will be quite the fight for the final wild card spots in the NL.

[bkox]