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2021 MLB Thread

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by Unlucky 13, Jan 2, 2021.

  1. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Self explanatory!

    How excited are you guys about the next season? Will there be 162 games? Will there be fans at the ballparks?
     
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  2. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    I live two and a half hours from Truist Park and I'm so excited for this season I might buy a small season ticket package if they let fans come back. I hope we can get Ozuna back in Atlanta, but regardless I think this is going to be a great season. I'm a big fan of bringing in Smyly and Morton to shore up the young guns that are going to anchor our rotation for the next few years. Soroka, Fried, and Anderson are going to be a tough draw for the rest of the league.

    I think they should be able to pull off 162 games. They have a blueprint in place for navigating COVID. It's just a matter of when they'll be able to fill up ballparks again. I suppose there might end up being a financial aspect to it that prevents a full season from happening. The owners again wanting to go for a shorter pro-rated pay season knowing they'll lose attendance revenue. We'll see. I'm excited for whatever we end up getting.
     
  3. AGuyNamedAlex

    AGuyNamedAlex Well-Known Member

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    I doubt the Marlins can make the playoffs again so feeling meh about this year lol
     
  4. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    They are Kryptonite to my Cubs, who are going to start the slide into crap again.
     
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  5. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Optimistic about my Mets. First time in about 30 years I had any real faith in ownership. With Cohen and Sandy Alderson there’s clear leadership and a willingness to spend. And Cohens Twitter is worth a follow even if you don’t like Twitter (I hate the format).

    Get me Springer and a SP (Bauer preferred) and Hendricks!!! LFGM

    As for 162...football got their whole season in. Hockey and basketball got their postseason in with minimal interruption. I know 2 of those had a bubble but football didn’t.
     
  6. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Welcome to NY Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco!!!

    Sucks to lose Andres Gimenez. Probably won’t ever be as good as Lindor but he’s a smart player who just gives the vibe of a winner. Not upset to lose Rosario as much. Wolf could be a very good SP. Isaiah Greene has some upside too.
     
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  7. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    That's a big move. Do you think that the Mets will be able to extend him?
     
  8. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    Reports are the Mets are/were also looking into Kris Bryant. The question now becomes - was he a fallback option in case the Lindor deal fell apart, or is he still someone they will pursue and look to turn themselves into a contender.

    The Mets could be good this year if their pitching stays healthy and in form. Glad to see another team willing to spend. Meanwhile, the Cubs are dumping salary and lying about it. I get that Hoyer has to be crafty because the owner doesn't want to be thrown under the bus, but man that Darvish press conference was tone deaf and sad.

    I suspect the Mets will extend Lindor on a similar deal that Betts got last year after the trade to LA.
     
  9. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    As for fans, heck yeah. Though I think if MLB is smart, they would push the season start back a month or two to allow for more vaccination. Not to get political, but hopefully the Biden administration can get things back on track.

    Smart teams will do a few days dedicated to people who worked during the pandemic - Doctor/Nurse/Hospital staff night, Teachers night, first responder night, etc and make it free to those folks.
     
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  10. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Cohen is the richest owner in baseball, one of the richest in North American sports, and has stated he wants a WS within 5 years. I’d be stunned if they didn’t.
     
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  11. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Hopefully y’all can see this! https://fb.watch/2TtlE682oc/


    So some fun stats...

    Lindor ranks 1st or 2nd in every major statistical category among shortstops since 2015, including WAR (1st).

    Since 2017 he’s 1st in all of baseball in WAR. More then Trout, Betts and everyone else.

    As much as I love Gimenez (and Wolf may be a Buehler Lite)....we stole Lindor.
     
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  12. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I’m not sure I want Bryant. He’s a better defensive player then JD Davis but the bat isn’t better but I’m not sure he hasn’t peaked or is on the decline. And as Lucky and I discussed a few weeks ago in the old thread, Bryant is a FA...and he’s no Lindor imo.

    I do like that we supposedly are offering 5/150 to Springer (probably a bit high on the AAV) but we haven’t had a good defensive CF since Beltran. He’s 31 so 5 years isnt terrible but with Toronto supposedly at 5/115 I don’t really want to go higher.

    And they’re in on Brad Hand and Liam Hendricks as well (rather have Hand).
     
  13. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    If healthy, I feel very confidant that Bryant can rebound to become the player he was in 2016/17 again. He was on track for parts of 2019 before suffering another unrelated injury. However, he is pretty clearly injury prone now, and is older than a lot of people perceive him to be, recently turning 29.

    Most Cubs fans thought that 2016 was the tip of the iceberg and we'd see a decade of 40+ HRs, a 290 average and a ton of walks and doubles forever from him, but he likely isn't going to be that guy now. Best case, he probably has 30 HR power now, and is able to cut down on the strikeouts by not focusing so much on launch angle. My guess is that whether or not the Cubs trade him this year, he enters free agency in the Winter, takes forever so sign with someone due to Boras, and ends up with a one year deal to try and rebound and hit the market again in 2023.
     
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  14. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    He's a beast, and getting Carrasco along with him for that rotation? Honestly puts you into contention. However, the Dodgers and Padres are both really dang good. The NL is loaded.

    Will be interesting to see if the Yankees sit back and do diddly of if their crosstown rivals' aggressiveness spurs them to do more than lowball LeMaheiu.
     
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  15. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    I dunno man, I feel like he's regressed pretty much every year since that MVP campaign when it looked like he would be among the top 3-4 players in the NL for a decade. It's bizarre how many Cubs have regressed and underperformed after that Series win.

    And with the vibes coming from ownership in the last few offseasons now, who knows anymore.
     
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  16. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Agree on LA and SD. Mets need to get Springer and Hand and resign Conforto Thor and Lindor. Gonna be a fun and interesting year.
     
  17. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    They put all of their eggs in one basket with their hitters, and it backfired horribly. In 2016, and to a lesser extent 2017, they had veteran guys like Dexter Fowler and Ben Zobrist who could get on base via the base hit, and knock in runs via the single and double. But every single young player that they've developed has either always been, or developed into a high power/high strikeout guy who sucks at putting the ball in play, and its gotten worse each year. You can work with a couple of those, but when the whole lineup is that way, its just too much.

    The team has been absolutely terrible at knocking in runners from scoring position with singles and doubles for a decade also. Every year, no matter which players it is, its been the same story. Always maddening. For his career, Bryant bats .285 with a man on first, but only .238 with men on 1st and 2nd, and .236 with men on 2nd and 3rd. With no one out and 2 on, he bats .240 for his career, and with two out and men in scoring position, hits under .200.

    They're also patient to a fault. On his career, Bryant has swung at a 3-0 pitch just seven times! He and most of the rest just go up looking for a walk or a mistake every time, and when they don't get it, good things don't happen nearly enough. I'm honestly in favor of a hard reset now. The problem, as you said, is that the Ricketts are changing their tune from doing everything possible to make the team good, to being horribly in debt and needing to cut costs.....and there doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel. At the moment, the payroll looks to be down about 75m from what it would have been in a full season last year, and it very well could shrink again the following year.
     
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  18. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    I'm not high on Kris Bryant. As a Braves fan the idea of him going to the Mets doesn't concern me much at all. Mets are making some nice moves and it will only make the East better as a division. Lindor is a great pickup. I don't think it propels them past Atlanta, but it's a big step for them to get their team back into contention and get their fans interested again. Their previous offenses have been pretty bad outside of what Alonso did his rookie year. McNeil is a nice player too, but they didn't have much to scare you outside of that. Good offseason moves so far. This should put them comfortably ahead of Washington and Miami in the division.
     
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  19. MediocrityLivesOn

    MediocrityLivesOn Member

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    LOL watch the Marlins take the NL East.
     
  20. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Agree with this take. Anderson and Soroka more then offset a return from Syndergaard in June or thereabouts. Getting Carrasco in the deal and getting a full year from Stroman will certainly help stabilize the staff. Having a competent GM and VP who has been around the block a few times gives me some definite confidence we can patch up our holes. Matz can’t possibly be worse and Peterson flashed last year so there’s that as well.
     
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  21. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    The Mets rotation should be pretty good, certainly the top three will be. Agreed on Matz LOL. Some of these Braves/Mets matchups are going to be must sees. I really hope they let fans back into the ballpark. I saw DeGrom pitch in person in 2019. Wouldn't mind doing it again. I hope we get Soroka back by the second half of the season. I'm excited to see what Bryse Wilson does this year. He really showed something in his NLCS start against LA.

    Unrelated to the lineup, I do wonder where Ozuna is going to land. Should be a big price tag so Atlanta may not be the spot despite the mutual interest. He is just not a good outfielder, and that seems to be playing into too with NL teams.
     
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  22. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    Love what they're doing. They got rid of Urena which is a great step in breaking this annoying habit they have of hitting Ronald Acuna Jr. with pitches..... LOL
     
  23. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    Read a bit on him that suggested NL teams are waiting to see if the DH is continued or not before putting a value and offer out there. It's weird that the league hasn't hammered this out yet.
     
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  24. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Mets bullpen could use a Hand, so we signed Brad for the years. Hopefully he regains his form as an elite closer.
     
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  25. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    He was excellent with the Padres. I haven't watched him pitch with Cleveland, but his stats look good and I know he was an All Star with them too.

    This will already be his 11th season in the bigs even though he's only 30. He actually broke in with the Florida Marlins before they changed to Miami. Its interesting to see how much he improved after moving from the Marlins to the Padres. Coaching and enviornment matter.
     
  26. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    That and I think he was a starter with the Marlins. Apparently Rosenthal was premature with the news tho so it’s not official. It just looks likely.
     
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  27. King Felix

    King Felix Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Two mariners prospects in the top 5 of the top 100 must be a record. Color me excited!


    Not to mention a lot of nice pitching prospects.
     
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  28. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Enjoy Kelenic...glad he’s at least out of the NL so I can root for him. Kid is going to be a star. And Julio is a beast also. Been since Reyes and Wright that the Mets had 2 prospects of that caliber at the same time. Logan Gilbert should be a good one. Sheffield and Dunn probably more mid tier SP.
     
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  29. King Felix

    King Felix Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I was a big fan of Diaz so I wasn’t happy to trade him but that’s what it took to get rid of Cano. It’s just a cherry on top to get a top 5 prospect too lol.

    both Julio and Noelvi Marte (SS, I think he made the top 100) both said George Kirby is the hardest pitcher they’ve faced in the organization and he didn’t even make the top 100!

    It’s an exciting time to be a Mariner fan!
     
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  30. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Thanks for that gift (Cano) :001_rolleyes:
     
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  31. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Springer to the Jays at 6/150. Sucks to lose out but that’s a lot more then I’d have wanted the Mets to go. I think the Mets high bid was 6/120-125 depending where you look and that was pushing how high I’d want to go. It also would have made it virtually impossible to stay under the luxury tax next year for NYM when Cano is back on the books.

    Jays also signed Kirby Yates.

    Brantley back to Houston.

    3 team trade the other day was good for the Mets imo getting Luchessi for cheap
     
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  32. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    I guess the Jays can afford to pay him that kind of money when literally every infielder on their 40 man roster has yet to reach arbitration. Nine guys in total, according to Sportrac.
     
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  33. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Agree. Tho the last 2 years on that deal could be ugly. Also if I’m the Jays I’d have used that money on Bauer. They have offense. They need pitching
     
  34. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Well, pitchers and catchers report in a month, and my Cubs have at my count 17 men on their roster with a legit chance to make the MLB club. And zero minor league prospects ready to make the jump. So....I guess we'll see if the free agent market heats up any, lol.

    Right now we could field a starting 8-man lineup, a 4 man rotation and part of a bullpen. No bench. The guys better not get tired!
     
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  35. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    The baseball world lost a true legend and titan of the game today. Rest in peace to the Home Run King, greatest Brave of them all, and one of the greatest hitters of all time, Hank Aaron.
     
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  36. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    He retired the year before I was born, so he's been the home run king my entire life. But also an astounding all around weapon in his youth, and a great ambassador for the game in the years since his retirement.
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2021
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  37. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    The interviews he sometimes came in and did during Braves home game broadcasts were always a treat. It was clear what he meant to everyone in the organization. This is a huge loss for baseball, and especially Braves fans. He was our Babe Ruth. This one hits hard.
     
  38. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    He played before I was born but what I do know is he did it with class in the face of adversity others didn’t have to deal with. God bless him.
     
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  39. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    I knew about Pittsburgh, but I didn't realize that it had been quite that long for the Reds, given that they won the WS in 1990. But looking back, I guess they only won 91 games that year. And 81, when they had the best record, they were only 66-42 due to the strike. It looks like the last time they had the best record in a full season was 1976.

    And I feel bad for Padres fans. 52 seasons and never once with the best record in the NL.

     
  40. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    The Cardinals are getting Nolan Arenado from the Rockies, and Colorado is sending them 50m in cash for the privelage. Just shoot me. The only good news (as a Cubs fan, and an opponent of the NL's evil empire) is that he can opt out after both the 2021 and 2022 seasons and become a free agent.
     

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