MLB News & Notes (other than Cubs or Sox)

[Butcher]

The Dodgers are basically playing in Commissioner Mode right now.

[1060Ivy]

lol knew Ivy would have to throw in a shout out to his favorite team.

Not my favorite team but probably my favorite ownership group. Surprised that Yankees haven’t been even more active

[rok]

So are you a big fan of Mark Walter/Guggenheim? He's a pretty shitty human being.

[1060Ivy]

So are you a big fan of Mark Walter/Guggenheim? He's a pretty shitty human being.

Compared to Ricketts. Yeah, I am preferring shitty human beings willing to continually spend on a team vs other billionaires spending on xenophobic, anti-democratic causes while claiming poverty and cutting team resources

[rok]

Well that didn't take long. Theo is going public.



https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/sports-s...2021-02-05

[Butcher]

I'll buy a few shares.

[1060Ivy]

Given the lack of trust between owners and players, Im surprised that they were able to agree to anything this offseason regardless of benefits.



Believe that fans, players, and owners are accepting the 7 inning double headers and base runners on second for extra inning games. Would like to know more about other health protocols which are mentioned in passing.



https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/3086...ond-extras



The Athletic acquired copy of the protocols and has reviewed them:



https://theathletic.com/2377100/2021/02/...lb-season/



Was surprised that the notes didnt include protocols for vaccinations as many expect that players and staff will by vaccinated over summer

[MrSheps]

The 7 inning double headers only make sense to me in the context of a season in which large numbers of games are suspended due to COVID issues.  Otherwise, it really doesn't feel right to alter the game that significantly, simply because teams are built around 9 inning games.

 

On the flip side, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm ready for the DH in the NL. I'm fine not to have it too, I like the layer of strategy that pitchers hitting brings, but I can't lie, I enjoyed the DH last year because the outcome of a pitcher hitting is just too predictable.  

 

The one I feel most strongly about though is the man on second in extras rule.  I have friends who hate it, but I absolutely love it for the regular season. When extra innings roll around I'm not usually more excited because my assumption is often that nothing is likely to happen anytime soon. But put a man on second to start the inning and I'm watching. There are some exciting tied-after-9 ballgames for sure, but often they're 2-2 affairs that have literally been tied for hours at a time. Flipping the script after 3 hours of baseball by putting a man on second in extras, and the strategy and urgency that brings...I dig it.  (But the reluctant purist in me would still leave it out of the postseason.)     

[Butcher]

Pretty sure I agree with all of that.

[rok]

At this point, and given all the problems that baseball faces with the younger generations having lost all interest in playing or watching, I don't really care about the purist arguments for preserving some old-timey version of the game. Experiment away. See what works.

[funkster]

I'm not thrilled that the DH isn't coming back this year.  Fuck the nuance, I dont care to see Zach Davies hit.

[rok]

It's so stupid that the DH is being used as a bargaining chip for expanded playoffs. Pitchers should be using it as health and safety leverage in negotiations.

[Butcher]

At this point, and given all the problems that baseball faces with the younger generations having lost all interest in playing or watching, I don't really care about the purist arguments for preserving some old-timey version of the game. Experiment away. See what works.

 

I know this is the tiniest sample size imaginable, but baseball is huge on the north shore with the kids. I imagine some of it has to do with the Cubs' recent success, but I've had the head of Wilmette Baseball, New Trier Feeder, Winnetka Baseball, and the New Trier high school coach all tell me that the last 4-5 years they've had way more kids trying out and playing than normal. And the classes behind my son are huge, too.

 

Obviously this is like saying global warming isn't a thing because it's 15 degrees in Chicago right now. But baseball can definitely thrive with the youth. I don't know how to achieve that on a nationwide scale, though.

[Butcher]

All of that said, I agree. They need to make some changes. I was against the DH before, now I'm all in. I'd also say lower the mound and ban the defensive shift. More balls need to be put in play. There needs to be more web gems, and more of a running game. It needs to get more athletic. Walks, strikeouts, and homers are boring to watch over and over and over.

[rok]

I hope you're right about the youth interest, Butch. I just don't see it with the kids of my close friends and family and on social media especially. Kids are into esports, soccer and basketball, which seem to be much better at marketing inferior products with big personalities. Baseball just isn't part of the zeitgeist anymore. It isn't romanticized like it was for Gen X, boomers and prior generations. I don't know what will save it, but the current product isn't going to do. I hope I'm wrong, otherwise baseball will become a niche interest like golf, only attracting wealthy, old white dudes.