Killeverything's (New)NeverEndingBaseballThread

[killeverything]

Japan won the WBC 5-3 in 10. What a great game! Extra innings, an Ichiro go ahead double, everything.

I'm still on the fence about the WBC, but the last few series were good. Japan and Korea take that shit way seriously and it was cool seeing the crowd in the stands.

As for the Fish. Does this mean their owner is going to quit having fire sales every season, and give the fans some hope? With the young pitching they have coming up, all they need is a little bit of defense and it could be like 2003 all over again soon.

As for Ian Kennedy. I would hold onto him. He has the potential to be a lot like Wakefield IMO. Can be a serviceable back end of the rotation guy, that could give you a heart attack one day with 6 runs in 1.2 innings. Then elation the next with a 7 inning shutout against the great Randy Johnson. He's nowhere near what Hughes could be, but he'll have value someday with the pitching shortage.

[JakeYonkel]

Japan won the WBC 5-3 in 10. What a great game! Extra innings, an Ichiro go ahead double, everything.

I'm still on the fence about the WBC, but the last few series were good. Japan and Korea take that shit way seriously and it was cool seeing the crowd in the stands.

You noticed that the best teams seem to be the ones who've had months to train and prepare for this thing, right? Something needs to be done to level the playing field, so to speak.

I really had no interest in watching an all-Asian series finale. I was pulling for the Puerto Ricans and Americans, and after that I would have taken the Dominican or Mexico or something. But to have two Asian countries playing in the US... bleh.

[Machado]

I was watching ESPN the other night and the topic discussed were players on the USA team that did not play much at all.
For example: some pitcher for the o's, guthrie only threw 7 innings for the team. I guess he is the #1 starter and now has a lot of catching up to do in order to be ready for the upcoming season. tough break huh?

[killeverything]

Something seriously needs to be done about the preparation for the damn thing. I think it fucks MLB players for the start of the season.

I kind of ended up liking it though. There were some good games. The Japanese team reminded me of a Torre/Scocissia style. Runners always moving, small ball, etc. It was pretty fast paced.

The timing sucks certainly, but I don't know how to fix that. If there's one thing Selig won't do it's compromise or admit he's made a mistake. So short of watching him be consumed to death by fire. I don't know how to fix the problem.

[Machado]

Something seriously needs to be done about the preparation for the damn thing. I think it fucks MLB players for the start of the season.

I kind of ended up liking it though. There were some good games. The Japanese team reminded me of a Torre/Scocissia style. Runners always moving, small ball, etc. It was pretty fast paced.

The timing sucks certainly, but I don't know how to fix that. If there's one thing Selig won't do it's compromise or admit he's made a mistake. So short of watching him be consumed to death by fire. I don't know how to fix the problem.

Buster Olney on ESPN said he had a solution.
Play the first 2 rounds during spring training
Play the final games during the all-star break

Not sure that is a good idea because we are talking about 4 months between the games beginning and concluding.

Something needs to be done. Like you said, Selig will never admit a mistake or that the current process needs to be fixed.

MLB will never shorten the regular season. That is a given.

Should players be asked to report to the WBC team about 3 weeks before
ST?
Again, that is asking a HUGE committment from the players.

Bottom line-I'm happy the WBC is over and the regular season is that much closer to beginning.

[TawnyVonJagger]

As for the Fish. Does this mean their owner is going to quit having fire sales every season, and give the fans some hope? With the young pitching they have coming up, all they need is a little bit of defense and it could be like 2003 all over again soon.

Well yeah, the new ballpark=revenue=signing players long term. And even if they lose some players, we are stacked down on the farm, and the FO always puts out a competitive team out on the field. But I do think they'll start signing players to long term contracts.
I've seen drawings of the new park...absolutely beautiful. And no more rain delays! I hope they'll keep the dome on until shortly before game time, then it should be nice and comfy. And they'll be changing their name to the Miami Marlins...eh, maybe it'll grow on me.

[killeverything]

As for the Fish. Does this mean their owner is going to quit having fire sales every season, and give the fans some hope? With the young pitching they have coming up, all they need is a little bit of defense and it could be like 2003 all over again soon.

Well yeah, the new ballpark=revenue=signing players long term. And even if they lose some players, we are stacked down on the farm, and the FO always puts out a competitive team out on the field. But I do think they'll start signing players to long term contracts.
I've seen drawings of the new park...absolutely beautiful. And no more rain delays! I hope they'll keep the dome on until shortly before game time, then it should be nice and comfy. And they'll be changing their name to the Miami Marlins...eh, maybe it'll grow on me.

Are they going to have a retractable roof like Safeco in Seattle? Out of all the parks I've been to, that one is the most incredible. Anywhere in the stadium you go, you can see out on the field. Want another beer? Go get one, stand in line and look over your shoulder, there's the game. That place is amazing. They have the best hotdogs too.

[TawnyVonJagger]

As for the Fish. Does this mean their owner is going to quit having fire sales every season, and give the fans some hope? With the young pitching they have coming up, all they need is a little bit of defense and it could be like 2003 all over again soon.

Well yeah, the new ballpark=revenue=signing players long term. And even if they lose some players, we are stacked down on the farm, and the FO always puts out a competitive team out on the field. But I do think they'll start signing players to long term contracts.
I've seen drawings of the new park...absolutely beautiful. And no more rain delays! I hope they'll keep the dome on until shortly before game time, then it should be nice and comfy. And they'll be changing their name to the Miami Marlins...eh, maybe it'll grow on me.

Are they going to have a retractable roof like Safeco in Seattle? Out of all the parks I've been to, that one is the most incredible. Anywhere in the stadium you go, you can see out on the field. Want another beer? Go get one, stand in line and look over your shoulder, there's the game. That place is amazing. They have the best hotdogs too.

Yep. We'll be going to the groundbreaking ceremony, whenever that will be! Can't wait, it'll be amazing.

[WhiteHouseSubsAC]

Yep. We'll be going to the groundbreaking ceremony, whenever that will be! Can't wait, it'll be amazing.

Are they going to give you a bag and have you help pick up the old cans and tires too?

[TawnyVonJagger]

Yep. We'll be going to the groundbreaking ceremony, whenever that will be! Can't wait, it'll be amazing.

Are they going to give you a bag and have you help pick up the old cans and tires too?

Dick.
The only thing I don't like about the whole deal is that it's THERE. Ghetto central. I was hoping for Hialeah.

[Machado]

As a Yankee fan, even I have to admit the prices are absurd. How are people going to afford to pay these very high prices for 81 games?
I understand the new stadium was expensive to build, but seeing the actual figures in print is very upsetting. I can't imagine what the casual fan in the tri-state is feeling.


The Yankees put individual game tickets on sale for the first season of their new ballpark and said they had sold 170,000 by midday Tuesday.

Yankees chief operating Lonn Trost said the sale began with full-season equivalents at just under 36,000 for the 52,000-capacity ballpark. He said January’s announcement that full-season equivalents had reached 39,393 resulted from an internal team miscommunication and the higher figure referred to the final season at old Yankee Stadium, which held about 57,000 seats.

According to the Yankees’ Web site, as of early evening tickets remained at $2,625 for the April 16 home opener against Cleveland, each with a $59.70 convenience charge.

Tickets are priced at $525, $625, $900, $1,050, $1,300 and $2,625 for the Legends seats ringing the infield, which include food and soft drinks. Other field level seats are $90, $125, $225, $250, $300 and $375.

Main level tickets go for $60, $80, $95 and $150, while terrace is $50, $75 and $85, grandstand $23 and $30 and bleachers $14.

Tickets for the Delta Sky 360 Suite sell for $375-$800 and the Jim Beam Suite goes for $120-$150 a seat.

[JakeYonkel]

Seriously, the Yankees' organization can go fuck themselves over this shit.

I was a season ticket holder in 2005 and 2006 before I moved to Florida. About a week ago I got a call from somebody at the Yankee ticket office looking to sell me a package at the last second. I practically laughed him off the phone. Mind you, nobody called in '07 or '08. They'll never admit it, but this is probably hurting them a bit.

The town where I grew up has participated in Camp Day at the stadium for years. Basically on a day game in July against a shitty opponent they bring in busloads of kids from recreation summer programs and shit. They give group discounts. The guy from my town that runs the program said he called the Yankees a few times and they have been giving him the runaround. Basically they really thought they were going to be selling out literally every home game and they were discontinuing that promo. How fucked up is that?

I've already got tickets for Fenway Park in July. I am going to be in New Jersey for 2 weeks and both the Yankees and Mets will be in town. I hate to say this, but it's looking more and more like I'm probably going to be hitting Citi Field and skipping the new Yankee Stadium. Can't afford it.

[killeverything]

Seriously, the Yankees' organization can go fuck themselves over this shit.

I was a season ticket holder in 2005 and 2006 before I moved to Florida. About a week ago I got a call from somebody at the Yankee ticket office looking to sell me a package at the last second. I practically laughed him off the phone. Mind you, nobody called in '07 or '08. They'll never admit it, but this is probably hurting them a bit.

The town where I grew up has participated in Camp Day at the stadium for years. Basically on a day game in July against a shitty opponent they bring in busloads of kids from recreation summer programs and shit. They give group discounts. The guy from my town that runs the program said he called the Yankees a few times and they have been giving him the runaround. Basically they really thought they were going to be selling out literally every home game and they were discontinuing that promo. How fucked up is that?

I've already got tickets for Fenway Park in July. I am going to be in New Jersey for 2 weeks and both the Yankees and Mets will be in town. I hate to say this, but it's looking more and more like I'm probably going to be hitting Citi Field and skipping the new Yankee Stadium. Can't afford it.

Financially there seems to be a huge fallout, from the new stadium. They need more tax payer dollars, yet can spend 400m on free-agents. Then the new stadium is out of the price range for the modern American family. I've heard lot of commercial time on YES has pulled out since it's more expensive now to finance the stadium.

Hate the Yankees all you want, but that's history right there. What the fuck is wrong with this world if a dad can't take his kid to the game? The Fens is getting just as bad.

At least minor league games are still 5-15 a ticket. And the attendance doubles every year.

[tin00can]

I'm really glad this thread exists, because without it I have no idea where I'd go to get my Yankees and Red Sox news.

[JakeYonkel]

I'm really glad this thread exists, because without it I have no idea where I'd go to get my Yankees and Red Sox news.

[killeverything]

I'm really glad this thread exists, because without it I have no idea where I'd go to get my Yankees and Red Sox news.

Then contribute something for another team. Talk about the Angels, even though they did nothing to improve their club this winter, so there's not really any other news out there.

Here's something.

Bill Plunkett, of The Orange County Register, reports Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim SP Kelvim Escobar (shoulder) will throw 45 pitches in a minor league game Saturday, March 28, and will continue to increase his pitch count by 15 pitches in each outing after that. Manager Mike Scioscia said Escobar could be ready to enter the team's rotation by the third week of April.

[JakeYonkel]

Hey, Gary Matthews Jr. is crying for playing time. Man, he stinks. I bet both LA teams wish they could have a mulligan on the contracts for him and Juan Pierre. Just awful.

[WhiteHouseSubsAC]

Is Pierre going to be a starter this year in LA? He leads the league so far in preseason SB. Guy still has the wheels.

[killeverything]

It seems everyone's favorite darkhorse is the A's. With the arrival of Halladay and Giambi and the Angels getting older and losing Tex and K-Rod, they they think its time for them to win the division. I don't know. Its too fucking sunny there for me to think about it.

But I do hope its true because the Yankees kill the A's and get destroyed by the Angels.

I also think the Mets are going to suck and I hope they do because their fans are losers.

I also think Detroit will bounce back. The Tigers, not the auto industry.

Everyone sees the A's as the darkhorse, because in the West they're the only ones who bettered their team. Seattle has it in place to rebuild, but Oakland is going to make a run at it.

I don't think they'll win the Division this year though. They'll probably have a nice win streak, maybe even play above .500 all season. I still think it's Anaheim's though. Even though they're argueably worse than last season. And last season was one where they're numbers were inflated.

[killeverything]

I have no confidence in Seattle, ever. They make bad decisions ie Beltre and Sexton, and they're always underperforming. I don't think Ichiro helps anyone win. They had Griffey/A-Rod/Johnson, then they won all those games and couldn't win. I think the organization is a bunch of losers or something.

It was just revealed that Guerrero is older than he said, and I think he's going to fade fast. He's a free agent after next year too. I don't think the A's have the pitching, but hopefully they'll make it interesting.

I feel ya about Seattle. If there was ever a time to try to rebuild from the farm, now is it. They have 4 top picks in the upcoming draft, and hired Tom Tango for Baseball Ops. We'll see I guess. Griffey was a "feel good" story for the fans after the 100 loss season.

I think they A's will make a run, but they're not good enough. Since Holliday is only on a one year. Look for Beane to move him at the deadline, if they're within' striking distance.

[killeverything]

How many times does the draft actually work in baseball anyways with regard to building a team? It doesn't seem to correspond like football or basketball. I guess Josh Hamilton was one until he started smoking crack instead of taking steroids.

You don't hear of prospects that way. I think the key is to have a strong Latin America scouting system. They play baseball all year long. That's where the great players are coming from. Seattle seems to tied to the Far East.

Since Moneyball, the interwebz, etc. We've heard more about the draft and picks than ever before. There's been some good stories out of it as of late. Hamilton, the Rays becoming a competitive organization, Joba, Epstein's 100 million dollar player development system, etc.

The draft isn't a surefire way to rebuild a franchise of course. It seems though with the right people at the helm. It's a smartmove. I'm not sure of the failure/success rate. I should look into it, I'm sure there's studies done about it. For every Lincecum there's a Todd Van Poppel.

With the enormous contracts dished out to players in the Boras age, teams don't have any other options. I'm really curious about the success rate now. There has been more attention to it lately. 26 Championships. What's said the NY successes, is they always had superior scouting and drafting. 26 Championships kinda speaks for itself.

[Machado]

How many times does the draft actually work in baseball anyways with regard to building a team? It doesn't seem to correspond like football or basketball. I guess Josh Hamilton was one until he started smoking crack instead of taking steroids.

You don't hear of prospects that way. I think the key is to have a strong Latin America scouting system. They play baseball all year long. That's where the great players are coming from. Seattle seems to tied to the Far East.

Since Moneyball, the interwebz, etc. We've heard more about the draft and picks than ever before. There's been some good stories out of it as of late. Hamilton, the Rays becoming a competitive organization, Joba, Epstein's 100 million dollar player development system, etc.

The draft isn't a surefire way to rebuild a franchise of course. It seems though with the right people at the helm. It's a smartmove. I'm not sure of the failure/success rate. I should look into it, I'm sure there's studies done about it. For every Lincecum there's a Todd Van Poppel.

With the enormous contracts dished out to players in the Boras age, teams don't have any other options. I'm really curious about the success rate now. There has been more attention to it lately. 26 Championships. What's said the NY successes, is they always had superior scouting and drafting. 26 Championships kinda speaks for itself.

Speaking of the draft, how about the pitcher from SD state that is also
represented by boras. I imagine the kid is going to be asking for so much money, whomever has the 1st pick won't be able to afford him.

The system is not fair. A kid that has yet to throw a single pitch in pro ball asks for an absurd amount of money. The kind of money that major league players should be getting, not a kid out of college.

[killeverything]

How many times does the draft actually work in baseball anyways with regard to building a team? It doesn't seem to correspond like football or basketball. I guess Josh Hamilton was one until he started smoking crack instead of taking steroids.

You don't hear of prospects that way. I think the key is to have a strong Latin America scouting system. They play baseball all year long. That's where the great players are coming from. Seattle seems to tied to the Far East.

Since Moneyball, the interwebz, etc. We've heard more about the draft and picks than ever before. There's been some good stories out of it as of late. Hamilton, the Rays becoming a competitive organization, Joba, Epstein's 100 million dollar player development system, etc.

The draft isn't a surefire way to rebuild a franchise of course. It seems though with the right people at the helm. It's a smartmove. I'm not sure of the failure/success rate. I should look into it, I'm sure there's studies done about it. For every Lincecum there's a Todd Van Poppel.

With the enormous contracts dished out to players in the Boras age, teams don't have any other options. I'm really curious about the success rate now. There has been more attention to it lately. 26 Championships. What's said the NY successes, is they always had superior scouting and drafting. 26 Championships kinda speaks for itself.

Speaking of the draft, how about the pitcher from SD state that is also
represented by boras. I imagine the kid is going to be asking for so much money, whomever has the 1st pick won't be able to afford him.

The system is not fair. A kid that has yet to throw a single pitch in pro ball asks for an absurd amount of money. The kind of money that major league players should be getting, not a kid out of college.

Yeah, kind of like the 4 million that Hansen got from Theo out of St. Johns.

[tin00can]

For the record, I was joking. I think Jake got it.

As for the As - as has been the case of late, they are a question mark. Yes, they improved their offense. Halladay and Giambi are upgrades to be sure. Nomar...please. The roid shine is off his apple. However, their pitching staff is a HUGE question mark and I think it will be their downfall.

I'm more worried about Texas than Oakland. Texas is always one or two good pitchers away from being scary. Their ballpark does them no favors in that regard, especially in the dog days of summer.

Seattle is improving, but they'd have to after last year. They're still a year or two away from being dangerous again.

As for my halos - remember, they had Tex for less than half the season. His impact wasn't really that great. I'm pencilling Morales in for 20 HR in his place. Figgins should be better than last year, as should Aybar, likely the starting SS. If he chokes, we may see Brandon Wood. This kid is gonna mash once he gets regular playing time.

Escobar should be good when he returns, but I said the same thing last year. He's a huge injury risk. Right now I see him as insurance in case (when) Fuentes fails. If Santana is out for an extended period, the starting rotation will suffer. I think Moseley is ready to be a decent back-end starter this year. In two months the Angels rotation could be:
Lackey
Santana
Saunders
Escobar
Weaver
That would be nails.

[WhiteHouseSubsAC]

THERE'S NO JOKING IN BASEBALL!

[tin00can]

THERE'S NO JOKING IN BASEBALL!

[UtahRatt]

Is Pierre going to be a starter this year in LA? He leads the league so far in preseason SB. Guy still has the wheels.

Doubtful, the Dodger outfield looks like Pamla Andersons twat, packed full of dicks.
His OBP% sucks and he's only hit a dozen HR's in his career.

I'm really glad this thread exists, because without it I have no idea where I'd go to get my Yankees and Red Sox news.

I've already told them to change the title to, "Killeverything's (New)NeverEndingALEastBaseballThread" but they don't listen.

[tin00can]

Well, how about we all make our predictions for the surprise team of the year? Every year there is at least one team that succeeds beyond all reasonable expectations. I'm looking at the AL Central, which like always is wide open - any team in it has a legitimate chance to win the division. I'm gonna go with Kansas City. They've mostly been building from within for the last few years and have steadily improved in small amounts. I'm picking them to take the division.

[bighairdiscs]

I thought Joba was taken deep in the draft? THat they kind of lucked out with him. Hughes was the highly touted guy.

THe thing about scouting is this, you still have to pay the guy. You still have to be able to afford to pay a Brien Taylor a one million dollar advance to throw his life away in a barrom brawl. You still have to pay Alfonso Soriano the bonus to come here and be Bobby Bonds. Its not like some of these guys were unknown. Its still that the Yankees had the resources.

Joba had some injury issues, and he dropped to the Yankees at the 41st overall pick (a supplemental first round pick) - so, he was a late first round pick... not exactly a "late" pick.

[killeverything]

How many times does the draft actually work in baseball anyways with regard to building a team? It doesn't seem to correspond like football or basketball. I guess Josh Hamilton was one until he started smoking crack instead of taking steroids.

You don't hear of prospects that way. I think the key is to have a strong Latin America scouting system. They play baseball all year long. That's where the great players are coming from. Seattle seems to tied to the Far East.

Since Moneyball, the interwebz, etc. We've heard more about the draft and picks than ever before. There's been some good stories out of it as of late. Hamilton, the Rays becoming a competitive organization, Joba, Epstein's 100 million dollar player development system, etc.

The draft isn't a surefire way to rebuild a franchise of course. It seems though with the right people at the helm. It's a smartmove. I'm not sure of the failure/success rate. I should look into it, I'm sure there's studies done about it. For every Lincecum there's a Todd Van Poppel.

With the enormous contracts dished out to players in the Boras age, teams don't have any other options. I'm really curious about the success rate now. There has been more attention to it lately. 26 Championships. What's said the NY successes, is they always had superior scouting and drafting. 26 Championships kinda speaks for itself.

I thought Joba was taken deep in the draft? THat they kind of lucked out with him. Hughes was the highly touted guy.

THe thing about scouting is this, you still have to pay the guy. You still have to be able to afford to pay a Brien Taylor a one million dollar advance to throw his life away in a barrom brawl. You still have to pay Alfonso Soriano the bonus to come here and be Bobby Bonds. Its not like some of these guys were unknown. Its still that the Yankees had the resources.

Joba was a first round pick, but a supplemental meaning he went in like the 16th. He kind of flew under everyone's radar. A lot of people have speculated that his knee questions when he was in Nebraska, steered teams away. Both Shapiro and Epstein said "no one saw him coming" when questioned about it.

As for the team's still need the money to sign a guy. That's more of a modern problem. Case in point Varitek/Boras with Minnesota, and then Seattle. Throughout history though it wasn't an issue, especially with a team ( in the Ruppert/McCarthy days ) that never met a penny they couldn't pinch.