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MLB Off-season Thread 2015-2016 IOTI Back to the Future was a lie

X

XiaNaphryz

LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
Fangraphs Community Vote - Team Ownership Ratings

Sure are a lot of Toronto fans who voted.

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B

BaltimoreLarry

Member
Roch KubatkoVerified account
‏@masnRoch
Per industry source, #orioles have made offer to Cespedes. Seem to prefer him over Upton at the moment. Nothing new on Chris Davis.
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I'm just happy to hear the O's are doing more than waiting on Davis.
 
Z

Zee-Row

Banned
The Rays are now allowed to look at Stadium sites outside of St. Pete , hopefully they get it put in Tampa.



ST. PETERSBURG — The St. Petersburg City Council voted 5-3 to approve Mayor Rick Kriseman's deal with the Tampa Bay Rays to let the club look elsewhere for a new stadium.

Council chair Amy Foster and members Charlie Gerdes, Karl Nurse, Darden Rice and Lisa Wheeler-Brown voted for the deal. Council members Jim Kennedy, Steve Kornell and Ed Montanari voted against it.

It was the council's third attempt to approve a deal that Kriseman had proposed for the team, whose lease expires at Tropicana Field in 2027. Spurned by persistent low attendance, Rays officials have asked city officials since 2010 to amend its Trop agreement and let it look for a site in Hillsborough.

In Dec. 2014, the council voted down a tentative deal struck by Kriseman and the Rays by a 5-3 vote. Council members said they were concerned about the city not getting a good enough deal on development rights to the 85 acres at Tropicana Field.

In May 2015, in a non-binding vote at a council workshop, a slightly tweaked plan failed again, but council member Amy Foster, who had voted against the plan in December, switched her vote, saying she wanted to move the city forward.

In October, a plan by longtime opponent to a deal, Jim Kennedy, passed the council by a 5-3 vote. But the Rays immediately rejected the deal, which would have required the team to pay up to $33 million for the right to look.

The momentum for a deal gathered strength in November when Lisa Wheeler-Brown, a supporter of Kriseman's efforts to reach a deal, fought a tough race to win a council seat occupied by term-limited Wengay Newton.

Newton had consistently opposed efforts to resolve the stalemate.

With Wheeler-Brown's election, Kriseman had five likely votes for a deal. Council members Darden Rice, Charlie Gerdes and Karl Nurse had consistently supported the mayor.

The omens for a deal on Thursday looked good.

Minutes before the meeting began, Rays owner Stuart Sternberg, team president Brian Auld and Melanie Lenz, the team executive in charge of finding a new stadium site and constructing a new home for the team, chatted with Kriseman and Rice.

In contrast to 2014, Kriseman and Auld met with each council member individually last week to explain the new deal.

And even Rays owner Stu Sternberg made a cameo during Thursday's meeting to make a humble appeal.

Sternberg thanked council members for their support. He said the team wants to stay in Tampa Bay for generations. He apologized for the drawn out stalemate between the team and city.

"I do feel badly that all the rhetoric that has gone on over the years," Sternberg said. "Everything has been done with good intentions. Baseball shouldn't bring any angst other than losing a baseball game."

Sternberg spoke for about 10 minutes. He emphasized the team's community service and how baseball binds families together across generations.

The soft touch seems to be working.

Several council members who said they felt Kriseman tried to force the previous deal through in his first year in office, say now that he showed political maturity in gauging the council's reaction to the new deal before bringing it to a vote.

The major differences with previous versions are a joint interest-bearing account in which the Rays and city would share any development revenues from what is seen as a lucrative redevelopment opportunity at the Trop. If the Rays leave, they have to forfeit their share.

If they stay, they get 50 percent of proceeds.

Kriseman says this creates a financial incentive for the team to remain in St. Petersburg and, perhaps, use revenue generated by hotels, retail, condos and other amenities for its share of a stadium. A private developer who wanted to develop the whole site could also be required to kick in money for a stadium.

The Rays would have three years to make a decision or forfeit the development money.

Kriseman's appeal to council members was brief. He spoke for about six minutes, once again outlining the deal. He highlighted the deal's provisions to allow the city and team to share in development revenue.

"Your support today will give the city of St. Petersburg its best chance to be the forever home of the Tampa Bay Rays," Kriseman told council members.

If the current version is approved today, the Rays will be cleared to begin a three-year search in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Tampa seems the most likely destination.

This week, Mayor Bob Buckhorn said he's looking forward to a resolution.

"It's a win-win for the city of St. Pete and for the Rays. I think (there's) the recognition, finally, that if we're going to keep the Rays as a regional asset, that they have to have the ability to look around the region and make what is, in their eyes, the best decision for their future here," Buckhorn said. "Once that occurs when that decision is arrived at and that site is determined, then whether it's Pinellas or Hillsborough, I think as a region we've got to rally behind it."

Kriseman has said he thinks the Rays will end up choosing to build a new stadium at its current Tropicana Field location, surrounding it with retail, office space, condos and other revenue-generating development.
 
D

Dre3001

Member
Zee-Row said:
The Rays are now allowed to look at Stadium sites outside of St. Pete , hopefully they get it put in Tampa.
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The best part about the deal is that it basically maintains the status of the Rays in the Tampa Bay region through 2027, but gives them options to look at sites that will keep them in the Tampa Bay area in the future. If this deal failed to pass today it would have doomed the Rays in the region.

Despite the "cheap" label that Sternberg has been given, he actually is committed to the Tampa region and genuinely wants to try and make the team succeed.
 
R

RBH

Member
Found this interesting:


Meanwhile, at Tropicana Field, the Rays averaged only 14,297 fans per game Monday through Thursday. This was the lowest average weekday attendance in Major League Baseball. On the weekends, however, the Rays averaged 21,692 fans per game. While still the lowest weekend average in Major League Baseball, the Rays saw a 51.7% average increase in attendance on the weekends.

There are many reasons why the Rays struggle with attendance. Many fans and residents point to the condition of the stadium, the demographics, and lack of mass transit as reason for not going. But one of the biggest and least-discussed reasons is that few people actually live near Tropicana Field. According to Maury Brown’s 2011 research on population, the Rays are dead last in population with a 30-mile radius of their ballpark.

A definite correlation exists between the population living within 30 minutes of a ballpark and the difference between weekend and weekday attendance. With only a few exceptions, teams with a 30-minute radius larger than 2 million have smaller weekend/weekday attendance differences. Teams that play in a population radius of less than 2 million, on the other hand, tend to have higher weekend/weekday differences.
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http://www.fangraphs.com/community/...0-minute-population-radius-on-mlb-attendance/
 
Z

Zee-Row

Banned
A Ballpark between Downtown Tampa and Ybor City would be the best and would have a huge population to draw from. Urban area ballparks are the best.
 
Z

zulux21

Member
Beckx said:
wat

no

Vin called the most exciting home run hit during my lifetime and he called it great

https://youtu.be/U157X0jy5iw

the other great thing about vin is he knows when not to say a thing and just let the moment speak for itself
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I will grant you that over 25 years ago he had a lot more emotion and life to his voice (and that was actually interesting to listen to). he doesn't have those aspects anymore though. he is old and tired and sounds like it.
 
Z

zulux21

Member
jello44 said:
OH PLEASE DO

So the Astros don't sign him and give a pick to the Rangers.
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I haven't been following closely but do the astros have more starting pitching then they ended last season on?
as
yXIJRKJ.png
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doesn't look very impressive beyond the first 2.5 (the second one has a bloated win loss compared to numbers the third has pretty good numbers so I will count them as .75 each)

another decent pitcher wouldn't hurt, and draft picks aren't that important for a team with a crap ton of young talent that needs to put it together sooner rather than later as they can't afford to keep all that talent.
 
J

jello44

Chie is the worst waifu
zulux21 said:
I haven't been following closely but do the astros have more starting pitching then they ended last season on?
as

doesn't look very impressive beyond the first 2.5 (the second one has a bloated win loss compared to numbers the third has pretty good numbers so I will count them as .75 each)

another decent pitcher wouldn't hurt, and draft picks aren't that important for a team with a crap ton of young talent that needs to put it together sooner rather than later as they can't afford to keep all that talent.
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This is true, but what I meant is, I don't want to help the Rangers in any way. ;p

And why is Obie still there? He was in the trade for Giles. VV is there too. If anything, they lost a couple 4/5 starters. (With VV having way more upside than Obie)
 
Z

zulux21

Member
jello44 said:
This is true, but what I meant is, I don't want to help the Rangers in any way. ;p

And why is Obie still there? He was in the trade for Giles. VV is there too. If anything, they lost a couple 4/5 starters. (With VV having way more upside than Obie)
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it just covers people who started for your team over last season :p

and really a draft pick might help in a few years, but it won't have any immediate effect.
 
D

darkside31337

Tomodachi wa Mahou
Nice. Rays resigned Forsythe to a 2 year extension. One of the bright spots to last season. Could be a total steal with no real downside - Rays finally made a move this offseason yay.
 
F

Frozenprince

Banned
JDeluis said:
Watching Kenta Maeda 2015 pitching video and I just love the crowd atmosphere, music and chanting.

https://youtu.be/RlrWT292gpo

But the way a lot of "fans" get just seeing players bat flip, this type of atmosphere would never be allowed in MLB.
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Going to a game in Japan >>>>>>>>>

Nothing the MLB does even gets 1/5th as close. The atmosphere of that stuff is so long gone in the name of preserving "tradition" that never existed.
 
D

Dmncnby2k9

Banned
Even games in the DR are completely different in atmosphere than MLB. its a big party, and people are just enjoying themselves. look at the WBC, man I cant wait for 2017.
 
Z

Zee-Row

Banned
Chris R said:
Looking at a map of Tampa... is there literally nothing but empty lots next to the Hockey arena? Why not build it there?
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They're building a $1 billion dollar entertainment complex around the arena similar to L.A. Live. Should be complete by 2019.

Vinik-plan1-121714_edited-1.jpg


A4S_vinik121814b_14388500_8col.jpg
 
X

XiaNaphryz

LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
LOL:

A Modest Proposal: Making Second Base Optional

Look, I don’t want you to think me unserious. I very well could be, quite possibly I am, but I don’t want you to think it. So you should know I debated with myself over writing this article. And I won that debate. So here I am. Here we are. Because it’s January. And we ain’t got nothing to do.

I asked myself this question a while ago: how do you improve the structure of baseball? We’ve been so focused on fixing small bits here and there, forcing a pitcher to do this little thing, or the batter to keep his foot there, but how do you take the general rules of the game and make it more interesting? Do you make pitchers throw with their opposite hands. No. Do you add little spikes to the ball? No. Do you put each base at the top of a small flight of stairs? Well… I’ll get back to you on that one. Otherwise, though, all of the above are ridiculous suggestions. They might be funny (or not), but you couldn’t implement them because they’re too silly and too painful.

However, there is one way you could change the game and create, at the same time, grounds for more strategy — as opposed to more injuries. The answer is, you eliminate one of the bases. Think about it. There are four bases. There could be two, or three, but for some reason, there are four. I’ll blame Old Hoss Radbourn. It’s odd to think about, but it takes forever to get around the bases and baseball, as baseball itself acknowledges, takes too long. What baseball needs is an HOV lane, an express lane, and a way to add some choice. Let’s give players options and watch them make mistakes!

You can’t get rid of home plate. That’s right out. The game is centered on it, and also, what would umpires wipe off with those cute little brushes? You can’t get rid of first base, either — not without restructuring the entire right side of the field. Also, once the ball is in play, the game centers on first base. Also also, removing first base would be plain old mean to larger batters who need a quick respite after the stress of hitting. For the same reasons you can’t get rid of third base, either. Well, you could, but again you’d reshape the baseball field and that’s too radical. There’s only one base left and it’s the only base you could reasonably lose: second base. So let’s lose second base!

Well, not lose it entirely. I propose leaving it there. Removing it entirely would be unpleasing to the eye. Instead, we should make second base optional. Let runners make the decision for themselves after reaching first. They can travel the 90 feet from first base to second base, or they can live a little, take a chance for once in their lives, and go straight across. The distance from first base to third base is 127 feet. That’s an additional 37 feet — or, if you prefer percentages, 141% of the regular 90-foot distance between bases. Also, there’s the pitcher’s mound to negotiate, a lump of dirt that could throw off the fastest base runner, a bit like adding a Tal’s Hill to the baseline. (Note to self: add a Tal’s Hill to the baseline!)

Let’s play this out. The batter smacks one into the gap and takes off towards first. The center fielder takes a long angle and manages to cut the ball off, but he’s known to have a weak arm. The way the game is currently structured, our runner has two choices: he can stay at first or he can go to second. And really, there is only one choice here, unless the batter-runner is dealing with chronic leg injuries. He has to go to second base. Most of the time this is the case. Mostly, we see the ball off the bat and know immediately where the batter will end up. There isn’t much suspense. Sometimes there’s a close play at second, but it’s rare. If it looks like it’ll be a close play, mostly the batter will play it safe and remain at first.

But let’s play it out again, only this time with the new rule allowing the runner to skip second base if he wants to. The batter smacks one into the gap. The center fielder takes a deep angle and cuts it off. Now, before the batter reaches first base, he has to consider his options. He can stop there, he can continue going from first to second, or he can take a much sharper turn and head for third! Now we’ve got some excitement on our hands.

The batter has to break down the options quickly. Second is further from home plate than third base, but closer to first base, so the chances of making it safely are increased, but the payoff for the effort is lessened. Alternatively, the runner can go from first directly to third base. That will take longer and so there’s an increased risk of being thrown out, but the payout is much higher, or at least higher depending on the players coming up and the game state.

What is the point of all this? It creates excitement, opportunity, and risk in an area of the game where, beforehand, it was mostly rote. It allows the game to play up for speed by giving fast runners a chance to make a bigger impact. It turns the repetitive nature of outfield defense into a thinking man’s game (“Do I throw to second and take the chance of giving up third, or do I throw to third and take the chance of giving up second?”).

Perhaps the biggest drawback to baseball as a sport is that its rigidity doesn’t cultivate as many quick decisions. Baseball doesn’t possess the flow of hockey or basketball, and it never will. It’s not that kind of sport. But the sport should encourage instances where that kind of athleticism is encouraged and rewarded. There are some, but they don’t come around too often. Making second base optional forces both the runners and the fielders to be aware of and prepared for both options and then to think on their feet in the course of a play, reacting to what the other will do instead of doing what everyone in the ballpark knows they have to do.

Wouldn’t you love to see Billy Hamilton shoot across the diamond, or Mike Trout turn what would have been a stand-up double into a sliding triple? I would. So make second base optional!

Or maybe give the players jetpacks? Eh, let me get back to you on that one.
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I'd imagine dealing with the mound in the way will increase injury risk right there. ;P
 
T

TheBryanJZX90

Member
Frozenprince said:
Going to a game in Japan >>>>>>>>>

Nothing the MLB does even gets 1/5th as close. The atmosphere of that stuff is so long gone in the name of preserving "tradition" that never existed.
Click to expand...

Games in Japan are so damn fun. It's like sitting in the student section of a college football game. And instead of chubby middle aged dudes wandering around selling tall boys of bud light you've got 20 year old girls with mini-kegs of asahi strapped to their backs.
 
J

jello44

Chie is the worst waifu
Chris R said:
Looks nice, no plans to include a Baseball stadium in there though I guess right?
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They can probably set up in the parking lot, I'm sure it'll be better than playing at The Trop.

Astros/Keuchel agree to a 7.25 million dollar contract.
 
B

Beckx

Member
‏@Pirates
#Pirates have agreed to terms & avoid arbitration with:
Francisco Cervelli
Jared Hughes
Jeff Locke
Jordy Mercer
Mark Melancon
Tony Watson
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That's 6 of the 7 that filed. Missing from the list: Chris Stewart.
 
C

CygnusXS

will gain confidence one day
Jeff Passan
‏@JeffPassan

Sources: Jake Arrieta filed at $13M and the Cubs at $7.5M. By far the biggest gap this offseason.


I think that's going to an arbitrator.
 
M

Malo

Banned
CygnusXS said:
Jeff Passan
‏@JeffPassan

Sources: Jake Arrieta filed at $13M and the Cubs at $7.5M. By far the biggest gap this offseason.


I think that's going to an arbitrator.
Click to expand...
Damn, that's a big gap. It's definitely going to an arbitrator.

Yankees reached settlements with Pineda ($4.9 million) and Ackley ($3.2 million).
 
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