MLB Season Discussion Thread: 2022

[QUOTE=Patrick Chewing;14722006]Then that goes to my point of this voting being a farce. This is a popularity contest with no standards at all. So Sheffield and Kent were *****, but the Hall of Fame isn't about your personality, it's about your statistics.[/QUOTE]

Well Sheffield was linked to steroids, as I've said. They're been pretty consistent with that one.

Your personality contributes to how effective you are as a teammate and baseball player. It's [I]absolutely[/I] a factor. If everything else is equal, the team with the leader will be more successful.

There are plenty of people with better numbers than Dansby Swanson that won't see the type of contract he got.

[QUOTE=ShawkFactory;14722032]Well Sheffield was linked to steroids, as I've said. They're been pretty consistent with that one.

Your personality contributes to how effective you are as a teammate and baseball player. It's [I]absolutely[/I] a factor. If everything else is equal, the team with the leader will be more successful.

There are plenty of people with better numbers than Dansby Swanson that won't see the type of contract he got.[/QUOTE]

I see what you're trying to say, but there are so many players who are poor clubhouse guys that have great numbers. And there are so many players who are great clubhouse guys who absolutely have no idea how to make contact. To disqualify those problematic players from the Hall is petty. I think you can agree that a standard should be created for the Hall. Across all sports too. To leave it to biased writers seems rather counterproductive.

[QUOTE=Patrick Chewing;14722051]I see what you're trying to say, [B]but there are so many players who are poor clubhouse guys that have great numbers. And there are so many players who are great clubhouse guys who absolutely have no idea how to make contact[/B]. To disqualify those problematic players from the Hall is petty. I think you can agree that a standard should be created for the Hall. Across all sports too. To leave it to biased writers seems rather counterproductive.[/QUOTE]

I definitely agree with this, which is why I think you have to consider the whole package. In the early to mid 2000s if you were to poll 100 coaches, players, and fans who they'd rather have it'd be Rolen overwhelmingly I'd bet. Kent's offensive production wasn't drastic enough to make up for everything else IMO.

The Houston Astros have named Dana Brown as their new general manager Thursday. This after parting ways with former GM James Click.

[QUOTE=Street Hunger;14722618]The Houston Astros have named Dana Brown as their new general manager Thursday. This after parting ways with former GM James Click.[/QUOTE]

Big loss for Braves.

[video=youtube;Svnby66Uick]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svnby66Uick[/video]

Who will get him in 2025?

Anyone here interested in World Baseball Classic?

2023 Team USA:

[QUOTE]C J.T. Realmuto, [URL="https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/phillies"]Philadelphia Phillies[/URL]
C Will Smith, [URL="https://www.nbclosangeles.com/tag/los-angeles-dodgers"]Los Angeles Dodgers[/URL]
Kyle Higashioka, [URL="https://www.nbcnewyork.com/tag/new-york-yankees/"]New York Yankees[/URL]
1B Pete Alonso, [URL="https://nbcnewyork.com/tag/new-york-mets"]New York Mets[/URL]
1B Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals
2B Jeff McNeil, New York Mets
3B Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
3B Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
SS Tim Anderson, [URL="https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/white-sox"]Chicago White Sox[/URL]
SS Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies
OF Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
OF Cedric Mullins, Baltimore Orioles
OF Mike Trout, [URL="https://www.nbclosangeles.com/tag/los-angeles-angels/"]Los Angeles Angels[/URL]
OF Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros
OF Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies
RP Jason Adam, Tampa Bay Rays
RP Daniel Bard, Colorado Rockies
RP David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates
RP Kendall Graveman, Chicago White Sox
RP Ryan Pressly, Houston Astros
RP Devin Williams, Milwaukee Brewers
RP Adam Ottavino, New York Mets
RP Brooks Raley, New York Mets
SP Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals
SP Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
SP Lance Lynn, Chicago White Sox
SP Brady Singer, Kansas City Royals
SP Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks
SP Nick Martinez, San Diego Padres
SP Miles Mikolas, St. Louis Cardinals

[/QUOTE]

The batting rotation looks nasty. The pitching team looks meh. It supposed to have Clayton Kershaw but he pulled out.

Team Dominican Republic will have Soto, Machado, Devers, Julio Rodriguez, etc. Even Robinson Cano is in the team. No Vlad Jr. NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara is in the team too.

Team Japan will have Shohei, Yu Darvish and mentioned-above Murakami along with a bunch of NPB players.

DR are the favorites, with the US 2nd best odds and Japan at third.

Japan easily beats China in Tokyo Dome.

First big match is coming tomorrow, Japan vs South Korea.

A lot more interesting matchups will be on Saturday including first matches of USA and DR.

I thought Mexico had a nice team but didn't expect them to beat the loaded US team, rather easily too.

[QUOTE=TheMan;14744351]I thought Mexico had a nice team but didn't expect them to beat the loaded US team, rather easily too.[/QUOTE]

Pitching is such a big factor in this tournament since many are neither in their best shape yet nor just lower-tier pitchers. As we have seen in Canada vs UK that ended in 18-8 mercy rule win for Team Canada, runs can come in large amount even from worse teams.

1st inning so far, USA 9-0 Canada :ohwell:

Canada starter is a 19-years-old Single-A pitcher.

1/3 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, [B]162 ERA[/B]

Israel just got thumped by the DR, 10-0 mercy rule. It has the same the same pattern to USA vs Canada yesterday; Sending a 19-years-old pitcher to face some of the best baseball players in the world.

All teams in Group A has 2-2 records, but Cuba and Italy have 1st and 2nd fewest runs allowed per defensive out so they are into the next round.

Taiwan, one of bigger baseball countries, is the last place and will have to qualify for the next WBC. :ohwell:

Umpires instructed for more thorough searches for illegal substances.


[url]https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35873428/mlb-intensify-search-illegal-substances-sources-say[/url]

Mets closer out for the season after getting injured celebrating the team's victory at WBC


[url]https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/edwin-diaz-injury-update-mets-closer-to-undergo-imaging-on-right-knee-after-getting-hurt-in-wbc-celebration/[/url]

[QUOTE=Hey Yo;14745414]Mets closer out for the season after getting injured celebrating the team's victory at WBC


[url]https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/edwin-diaz-injury-update-mets-closer-to-undergo-imaging-on-right-knee-after-getting-hurt-in-wbc-celebration/[/url][/QUOTE]
:roll:

[QUOTE=TheMan;14745434]:roll:[/QUOTE]

That contract :lol

I'd genuinely feel bad for the guy if it wasn't for that.

[QUOTE=ShawkFactory;14745438]That contract :lol

I'd genuinely feel bad for the guy if it wasn't for that.[/QUOTE]

On one hand, it was a freak accident that happened to be right in the middle of one of greatest upsets in professional baseball.

On another, Mets organization and its fans are now rightfully pissed because of their pricey player is now out of the season playing in the tournament he isn't paid to be in.

Do we really have losers on here laughing at an injury? Nice. Stay classy

[QUOTE=imdaman99;14745833]Do we really have losers on here laughing at an injury? Nice. Stay classy[/QUOTE]

Not making fun of him but at the Mets shitty luck...

Japan vs Mexico gonna be fun...Cuba and the US too. Venezuela is no slouch but that US team is loaded, I see them advancing tomorrow night.

anyone watching the world baseball tourney ???

Saturday night Turner Philly's SS hit a grand slam to win it.

Pretty good game.

[QUOTE=TheMan;14745836]Not making fun of him but at the Mets shitty luck...

Japan vs Mexico gonna be fun...Cuba and the US too. Venezuela is no slouch but that US team is loaded, I see them advancing tomorrow night.[/QUOTE]

Sasaki is gonna ace Mexico. Best in the world.

USA vs Japan should be amazing.

[QUOTE=AlternativeAcc.;14746416][b]Sasaki is gonna ace Mexico. [/b]Best in the world.

USA vs Japan should be amazing.[/QUOTE]

Urias ain't impressed

Holy shit, what a finish.

Welp, Gallegos choked hard...

[QUOTE=Wally450;14746801]Holy shit, what a finish.[/QUOTE]

Yep, heartbreaker for MX, had the lead all game long until the 9th :( Hope the USA curbstomps them.

[QUOTE=BurningHammer;14723131][video=youtube;Svnby66Uick]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svnby66Uick[/video]

Who will get him in 2025?[/QUOTE]

Well.... Pig God's stock has risen even further.

USA/Japan will be the highest rated baseball game of all time.

[QUOTE=ShawkFactory;14746886]USA/Japan will be the highest rated baseball game of all time.[/QUOTE]

I believe 2/3 of Japanese people are watching this game right now.

Americans are much hyped for this tournament than ever as well.

So yes, it will be.

Otani will be the closer in the 9th after Darvish let 1 run in. 3-2 Japan. Too close to call.

Ohanti vs Trout for the WBC title. True classic.

[QUOTE=ShawkFactory;14747124]Ohanti vs Trout for the WBC title. True classic.[/QUOTE]

And Otani wins! 3rd WBC for Team Japan!! :rockon:

Congrats to Japan but can't shake off that bad feeling that MX could've won this tournament:(

[QUOTE=TheMan;14747132]Congrats to Japan but can't shake off that bad feeling that MX could've won this tournament:([/QUOTE]

They actually did better than The DR. And they beat USA. That's something worth being proud of.

[QUOTE=BurningHammer;14747134]They actually did better than The DR. And they beat USA. That's something worth being proud of.[/QUOTE]

Almost beat Japan too, should've beaten them in fact but yeah, they did better than a lot of people expected.

Yoshida is the tournament's MVP for overall performance. Shohei obviously the shining star tonight but I would still pick Yoshida over him. Red Sox is lucky to have him.

Trea Turner is great as well and he would be the MVP if Team USA won.

MLB to tweak pitch clock rules etc...


[url]https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35916318/mlb-making-small-changes-pitch-clock-rules-memo-says[/url]