I feel a great disturbance in the force. As if thousands of Nats fan cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced.
"Nothing comes easier than madness in the world today
Mass paranoia is a mode not a malady"
Bad Religion - The Defense
Quote: (10-13-2016 09:41 PM)NilNisiOptimum Wrote:
I feel a great disturbance in the force. As if thousands of Nats fan cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced.
Quote: (10-13-2016 09:41 PM)NilNisiOptimum Wrote:
I feel a great disturbance in the force. As if thousands of Nats fan cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced.
Quote: (10-15-2016 10:38 PM)RoastBeefCurtains4Me Wrote:
Dodgers had just tied up the game in the top of the 8th. Cubs come up at the bottom of the 8th. First batter gets a double. Then two outs, plus two walks. Pinch hitter comes up and hits a home run! My first grand slam locking in a winning score for the Cubbies in post season!
The next Cubs batter got another homer just for good measure!
Quote: (10-16-2016 09:59 AM)RoastBeefCurtains4Me Wrote:
I just looked it up, and a grand slam is hit on average every 18 games. I'm surprised at this. I only started watching baseball a 5-6 years ago, and I often don't have time to watch, or only watch part of a game. Still, I've probably watched 100 games on TV, and have been to the ballpark to see a game 10-12 times. I must have previously watched games where a grand slam occurred, but either I wasn't specifically paying attention at the time the hit occurred, or only saw part of the game. In fact, I remember tuning in and finding out that one had already happened before.
I've been actively hoping to see one live for a little over a year. I actually mentioned to somebody last night earlier in the game that I'd like to see one.
Quote: (10-16-2016 12:25 PM)Rob Banks Wrote:
Also, the amount of Hispanics in the Majors, many of whom do not even speak English, has always pissed me off. There were always Hispanic players, but it has been increasing every year. Now, close to 30% of players are Hispanic, and they are certainly not American-born Hispanics. The vast majority of them are fresh off the boat from Dominican Republic.
Quote: (10-16-2016 01:44 PM)MdWanderer Wrote:
Quote: (10-16-2016 12:25 PM)Rob Banks Wrote:
Also, the amount of Hispanics in the Majors, many of whom do not even speak English, has always pissed me off. There were always Hispanic players, but it has been increasing every year. Now, close to 30% of players are Hispanic, and they are certainly not American-born Hispanics. The vast majority of them are fresh off the boat from Dominican Republic.
The only thing keeping the NFL from this is that it has little to no appeal beyond the United States and some parts of Canada, or else it would be just as cucked if not more in that regard. Goodell is DYING to spread the sport to other countries, which is good for the bottom line I guess, but like with feminism and all-male spaces, the NFL is one of the last true American pastimes not affected by globalism. Our beer, cars, phones, clothes, NBA, and MLB players are increasingly foreign made, and a lot of things that used to be uniquely American are having too much foreign influence.
But to get back on topic, that number is going to increase and I wouldn't be surprised if it's 50% in the not so distant future. A lot of American kids, especially Black Americans, are losing interest in playing baseball, although that number could reverse somewhat due to parents taking their kids out of football due to the concussion issue.
Quote: (10-16-2016 12:25 PM)Rob Banks Wrote:
Aside from the one-game playoff (which in itself was enough to get me to stop watching baseball), the rest of the 2012 collective bargaining agreement was also shit. I am no lawyer and I don't know the details, but I do know that prior to 2012, the Yankees were always a great team because they had the money to buy the best players. Free market competition, just like they have in European soccer leagues. No salary cap or any of that bullshit. And then as soon as the new CBA was passed in 2012, there were immediately reports of "the Yankees will be cutting some of their highest-paid players before next season, in order to avoid paying a penalty for having too big a payroll." And since then, the Yankees have gotten successively worse each year, while small-market teams who never used to be relevant are now winning the world series each year. That might work in football, but baseball was never like that. Maybe I'm being biased because I'm a Yankees fan, but it's depressing to know that the Yankees will never be great again, and will always be mediocre just like every other team. Every team needs to have their "turn" to win the world series. Otherwise, it's "unfaaaaaiir."
Also, the amount of Hispanics in the Majors, many of whom do not even speak English, has always pissed me off. There were always Hispanic players, but it has been increasing every year. Now, close to 30% of players are Hispanic, and they are certainly not American-born Hispanics. The vast majority of them are fresh off the boat from Dominican Republic.
Quote: (10-16-2016 11:18 PM)Chunnel Wrote:
Quote: (10-16-2016 12:25 PM)Rob Banks Wrote:
Aside from the one-game playoff (which in itself was enough to get me to stop watching baseball), the rest of the 2012 collective bargaining agreement was also shit. I am no lawyer and I don't know the details, but I do know that prior to 2012, the Yankees were always a great team because they had the money to buy the best players. Free market competition, just like they have in European soccer leagues. No salary cap or any of that bullshit. And then as soon as the new CBA was passed in 2012, there were immediately reports of "the Yankees will be cutting some of their highest-paid players before next season, in order to avoid paying a penalty for having too big a payroll." And since then, the Yankees have gotten successively worse each year, while small-market teams who never used to be relevant are now winning the world series each year. That might work in football, but baseball was never like that. Maybe I'm being biased because I'm a Yankees fan, but it's depressing to know that the Yankees will never be great again, and will always be mediocre just like every other team. Every team needs to have their "turn" to win the world series. Otherwise, it's "unfaaaaaiir."
Also, the amount of Hispanics in the Majors, many of whom do not even speak English, has always pissed me off. There were always Hispanic players, but it has been increasing every year. Now, close to 30% of players are Hispanic, and they are certainly not American-born Hispanics. The vast majority of them are fresh off the boat from Dominican Republic.
Your CBA analysis is severely misguided and off the mark. The luxury tax is nearly a moot point, as baseball has changed significantly in the past years, shaving costs not for tax purposes but to increase their efficiencies. So many terrible free agent contracts have been signed in the past years (Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury, Josh Hamilton, etc.) [Pujols, Cano, and Cabrera will suck in 3-5 years too] that teams are wising up to the fact that spending as much as possible is not a recipe for winning. Player's peak seasons are coming earlier and earlier, making it much more important for teams to draft and develop players effectively, so you can maximize player value while they are still signed under friendly contracts during their first 6 years of service time.
I don't think the Rays ever complained to anyone about how unfair lopsided budgets are. Instead they found efficiencies that exceeded their deficiencies. Look at the pitchers they've developed and then traded away for new prospects to develop: Scott Kazmir, James Shields, David Price, Matt Garza, Matt Moore, Wade Davis, Jeremy Hellickson. They know how to retool, and are smart enough to not offer bloated back heavy contracts to aging super stars, except for their one face of the franchise, Evan Longoria who has had an exceptionally long peak and career.
Even the Yankees and Red Sox have learned. The Yankees future is incredibly bright with Gary Sanchez, Clint Frazier, Gleybar Torres, Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, etc. all from tactical decisions that had nothing to do with free agent signings (except as bargaining chips with regards to Torres and Frazier being traded for Chapman and Miller respectively.)
The Red Sox future is already hear with the killer B's, Travis Shaw, Ed-Rod, and Yoan Moncada. Front office and player development tactics now are so much more interesting than they were even 5 years ago. Baseball is a business, and teams are finally learning how to run it in a lean and nimble manner.
And what the fuck with the cheap shot at the Latin ballplayers
The game is so much better with the likes of Robinson Cano, Felix Hernandez, Adrian Beltre, etc. Plus I can't wait for the young superstars like Lindor, Correa, de Leon, and Urias to take the reigns.
Its a shame you're bitter about baseball. The game has positively evolved from the steroid era, and there's excitement for all types of fans if their willing to take off their blinders. Tonight's game was fantastic, a nailbiter down to the end, that either team could have won until the last out was recorded.
Quote: (10-17-2016 12:34 AM)kosko Wrote:
I think lots of teams just playing cheap to blow big time money on big money players like Harper and Machado.
You will the the Red Sox and Yankess go back to their spending ways, it is all they know how to do well. Look at how the Red Sox will fleece the Blue Jays for Enacarcion this off season. They will pay him whatever he wants to be the bat to replace Big Papi.
Quote: (10-16-2016 11:18 PM)Chunnel Wrote:I was not referring to the so-called "luxury tax." That has been around since 1997, and did not prevent big-market teams from spending as much as they wanted. Teams like the Yankees and other big-market teams would just pay the luxury tax every year in order to continue spending big.
Your CBA analysis is severely misguided and off the mark. The luxury tax is nearly a moot point
Quote: (10-16-2016 11:18 PM)Chunnel Wrote:Largely due to the new CBA.
baseball has changed significantly in the past years
Quote: (10-16-2016 11:18 PM)Chunnel Wrote:BS. Up until the 2011 season, teams like the Yankees and Red Sox were spending as much as possible and doing quite well. In fact, in 2011 (the last season before the new CBA) the Yankees, Phillies and Red Sox had the three highest payrolls in the leage. The Phillies and Yankees finished with the two best records in the league, and the Red Sox would have had one of the best records had it not been for a late-season collapse.
teams are wising up to the fact that spending as much as possible is not a recipe for winning.
Quote: (10-16-2016 11:18 PM)Chunnel Wrote:You're absolutely right. The Rays, however, got good before the new CBA went into effect. They made the playoffs in 2010 and 2011.
I don't think the Rays ever complained to anyone about how unfair lopsided budgets are.
Quote: (10-16-2016 11:18 PM)Chunnel Wrote:And if it was just those three, I wouldn't have a problem. In fact, if 10% of the league was Hispanic, I probably wouldn't care. But it's 30%. And I wouldn't be surprised if it surpassed 50% within the next 10 years.
And what the fuck with the cheap shot at the Latin ballplayers
The game is so much better with the likes of Robinson Cano, Felix Hernandez, Adrian Beltre, etc.
Quote: (10-15-2016 09:09 PM)hoops330 Wrote:
Andrew Miller is the best reliever in baseball. His slider is untouchable and even the best bats in the league can't touch it when they're sitting on it.
Quote: (10-16-2016 09:59 AM)RoastBeefCurtains4Me Wrote:
I just looked it up, and a grand slam is hit on average every 18 games. I'm surprised at this. I only started watching baseball a 5-6 years ago, and I often don't have time to watch, or only watch part of a game. Still, I've probably watched 100 games on TV, and have been to the ballpark to see a game 10-12 times. I must have previously watched games where a grand slam occurred, but either I wasn't specifically paying attention at the time the hit occurred, or only saw part of the game. In fact, I remember tuning in and finding out that one had already happened before.
I've been actively hoping to see one live for a little over a year. I actually mentioned to somebody last night earlier in the game that I'd like to see one.