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

Z

zroid

Banned
Silver Arrows said:
It isn't going to stop all of it, but it certainly will help. And sure, the fact that the Canadian dollar is currently in the tank and will be for an extended period of time, alongside the general volatility of it, is probably the main concern most people have.
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I think relative to the cost of putting in grass (which is massive), the club has a lot of other things to worry about. One of the things Shapiro mentioned as a priority was fixing their spring training facilities. Dunedin is a fucking dump. That might be another thing which is a bigger deterrent than turf in the dome -- players expect modern facilities nowadays.
 
S

Silver Arrows

Banned
zroid said:
I think relative to the cost of putting in grass (which is massive), the club has a lot of other things to worry about. One of the things Shapiro mentioned as a priority was fixing their spring training facilities. Dunedin is a fucking dump. That might be another thing which is a bigger deterrent than turf in the dome -- players expect modern facilities nowadays.
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That makes sense, definitely.
 
C

CosmicQueso

Member
zroid said:
The idea that free agents wouldn't sign because of the turf always seemed like an excuse to me. It may have played some small role, but let's be honest, the real reasons free agents wouldn't sign are (a) fielding a non-competitive team, and (b) not paying competitive rates. Hell, players not wanting to play in Canada because of "customs" (remember that Buehrle quote?) is probably higher up on the list of reasons than artificial turf. If you think putting grass in the dome will be a miracle cure to attract free agents, that's pretty naive imo.
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While you may be on to something with competitive rates, playing on turf does increase likelihood of joint injuries and can cut careers shorter. Sure, the new turf is way better than the stuff they used in the 70s, but turf is turf. Putting in natural field will help.
 
S

Silver Arrows

Banned
CosmicQueso said:
While you may be on to something with competitive rates, playing on turf does increase likelihood of joint injuries and can cut careers shorter. Sure, the new turf is way better than the stuff they used in the 70s, but turf is turf. Putting in natural field will help.
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...which is what I am talking about. Couple that with a weak Canadian dollar for the foreseeable future, it means the Jays can't compete on the free agent market. Though an all grass field would certainly make it a location people actually think about, instead of throwing into the bin instantly.
 
Z

zroid

Banned
In an ideal world we simply get a new building altogether, built with natural grass in mind. The concrete toilet bowl that is Rogers Centre isn't exactly a compelling venue. It's been nearly 30 years, certainly a new stadium shouldn't be out of the question. But that doesn't seem realistic to me given how the team has been run over the years.
 
Z

zroid

Banned
User33 said:
I don't want them to move the Rogers Centre because it's in literally the perfect location. Right downtown and easily accessible. Where would you put the new stadium? Guaranteed it would be in a worse location.
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I agree. That's one of the reasons it won't happen.
 
H

HerbertFish

Member
zulux21 said:
"U.S. Cellular Field is (finally) getting a new video board."
that should be nice. it was sometimes hard to make out smaller stats from the other side of the park :p
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They're getting 3 new big ones for the record. Should be great. The pinwheels are going away for digitized ones too.
 
gaming_noob

gaming_noob

Member
zroid said:
In an ideal world we simply get a new building altogether, built with natural grass in mind. The concrete toilet bowl that is Rogers Centre isn't exactly a compelling venue. It's been nearly 30 years, certainly a new stadium shouldn't be out of the question. But that doesn't seem realistic to me given how the team has been run over the years.
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Move it next to Woodbine Racetrack. The casino is getting an expansion and it's right by the airport for easy travel for the players.

They need to tear down Woodbine mall and rebuild though.
 
N

Ninja Scooter

Member
Dominican Power said:
wtf is taking so long for things to happen?
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The big spenders (NYY, LAD, BOS) are all set in the outfield, and the rest of the teams are understandably balking at giving 30 year old outfielders 6 and 7 year contracts. Not that shocking the market is stalling. I think Anaheim will kick if off by giving either Cespedes or Gordon a crazy contract. Like 6years/$140 million or something.
 
N

Ninja Scooter

Member
Dominican Power said:
Anaheim would be dumb to do that.
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Los-Angeles-Angels-Albert-Pujols-Josh-Hamilton.jpg


Spoiler: Anaheim are dumb.
 
R

RBH

Member
The Braves are looking to trade at least one of Michael Bourn or Nick Swisher before Opening Day and they’re willing to “to eat a significant portion of the salary” owed to either player to facilitate a deal, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports.

Given how aggressive Atlanta has already been on the trade market this winter, it’s no surprise that the rebuilding club is exploring getting at least some of the money owed to those two veterans off the team’s books. Swisher is owed $15MM in 2016 and he has a $14MM vesting option for 2017 that will be guaranteed if he makes 550 plate appearances next season and passes an end-of-year physical. Bourn is owed $14MM in 2016 with a $12MM vesting option for 2017 that also becomes guaranteed at the 550-PA plateau. Of the $29MM owed to the duo in 2016, however, $10MM will be covered by the Indians as part of the trade that brought both men to Atlanta in exchange for Chris Johnson last August.

Neither of those options seem particularly likely to vest while the two players are on Atlanta’s roster given how Freddie Freeman is locked in at first base and the starting outfield is slated to consist of Hector Olivera, Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis. Emilio Bonifacio is also on hand as a low-cost backup center fielder, so Bowman thinks Bourn could be more expendable than Swisher, who can theoretically provide more value as a backup at first and both corner slots.

The big question about Swisher, however, is whether he’d be productive (or even able to play) over a full season given his surgically-repaired knees, even on a part-time basis. It’s worth noting that Bourn has also had his share of injury problems, as hamstring issues have undoubtedly played a role in his declining defense and stolen-base statistics over the last two seasons.

Between the injuries and struggles at the plate, Bourn (0.4 fWAR in 2014-15) and Swisher (-2.3 fWAR) are far from sterling trade candidates. It’s not completely out of the question, however, that the Braves could find a trade partner since they’re willing to eat some money. If the Braves are willing to pay as much as half of either player’s salary, and assuming Cleveland’s $10MM contribution is being split equally, Swisher and Bourn now cost in the neighborhood of $5MM and $4.5MM, respectively, for 2016. Those could be palatable prices for clubs looking for experienced veterans in backup roles, especially if there’s a team that believes Bourn or Swisher could rebound in a new environment.
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http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/...-least-one-of-michael-bourn-nick-swisher.html
 
B

bonesmccoy

Banned
Jays are looking at Fernando Rodney? Can't wait for the cranked hat, blown saves.

edit: I'd love it for the Jays to blow wide open their payroll on Yoenis after say NOPE to every decent FA starter.
 
S

Silver Arrows

Banned
bonesmccoy said:
Jays are looking at Fernando Rodney? Can't wait for the cranked hat, blown saves.

edit: I'd love it for the Jays to blow wide open their payroll on Yoenis after say NOPE to every decent FA starter.
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I mean, I will be the only person on Earth to bust a nut that my favorite player is on my favorite team, but it goes to show how utterly fucked the management is
 
B

bonesmccoy

Banned
Fucked? You mean enlightened!!! Edwing is going to break himself again soon. Bautista is old. Davis and Cespedes are the 2 most obvious replacements.
 
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