Kolek planning to go pro
The World Series trophy is just "a piece of metal" ... wow, did Manfred ever spit the bit on the Astros' cheating.He came out of it looking weak and clueless, lacking both oversight and vision.
Ross came out and just said Bryant is going to lead off. It's not such a shock on Rossy's end because they've refused to address the spot in free agency again. It's more of a kudos to Bryant who is supposedly totally on board with it, because it certainly won't help his RBI numbers going into potential free agency and his one big payday in a couple of years.
Do RBIs factor into contract negotiations anymore?
Everything means something in these negotiations. Guys who drive in runs make more than those who score them.
That’s how it used to be. Of course it used to be that a Nellie Fox was the ideal second hitter. Now most teams put their best hitter in the second slot - or the first. Will Carlos Santana or Jose Ramirez make more money than Lindor?Was JD Martinez making more than Betts? How about Springer and Bregman at the top of Houston’s order? Acuña leading off for Atlanta? RBIs are an “old” stat- don’t mean much anymore.
Pretty sure Nellie Fox is would still be an ideal 2 hitter. Or 8 hitter. Or lead off hitter. The guy was a great hitter. From 1949- 1960 he averaged .300-.360-.378. Sure not a lot of pop, but still a pretty ideal guy to have hitting at the top of an order. And the power numbers between then and now are hardly comparable.
Fox was one of my favorites growing up (Minnie Minoso was my absolute favorite). Not putting him down, but “didn’t have a lot of pop”? C’mon - 35 lifetime HRs, career .363 slugging %, etc - so almost no pop. He “used to be” the ideal #2 hitter. Could take strikes and still make contact deep in the count (helping Aparicio steal bases), great bunter (for hits or sacrifices), etc. Now, nobody bunts or cares about strikeouts and most teams put their best hitter in the 2 hole.
Don't disagree but sort of moot re the 59 Sox. Who was a better hitter than Fox? (59 champs) Al Smith? Jim Landis? Earl Torgeson? Jim McAnany? Sherm Lollar?
Fox was one of my favorites growing up (Minnie Minoso was my absolute favorite). Not putting him down, but %u201Cdidn%u2019t have a lot of pop%u201D? C%u2019mon - 35 lifetime HRs, career .363 slugging %, etc - so almost no pop. He %u201Cused to be%u201D the ideal #2 hitter. Could take strikes and still make contact deep in the count (helping Aparicio steal bases), great bunter (for hits or sacrifices), etc. Now, nobody bunts or cares about strikeouts and most teams put their best hitter in the 2 hole.
Correlation is not causation.
The “Go Go Sox” of 1959 didn’t have much in the way of hitting. Aparicio stole bases, Fox hit singles, Smith and Lollar provided occasional power. (Minoso was in Cleveland that year but returned the following year) They picked up Ted Klusewski (sp?) late and he hit some bombs. Mostly it was pitching and defense up the middle. Bob Shaw was 18-6 that year and I think Early Wynn won 22 or 23. Billy Pierce was past his prime but decent and Dick Donovan rounded out an excellent rotation. Gerry Staley and Turk Lown anchored a solid bullpen. They won a ton of low scoring one run games.
Josh Hader lost his arbitration case because of his saves number. HRs and RBIs were strikes against Realmuto. Those numbers still matter for compensation, at least in arbitration.
Don't forget Buba Phillips and jim Rivera. And John "Honey" Romano.
I would take the Rick SLU program right now.
Probably a long shot to find anyone here, but....Starting a new $350 MLB Keeper League on Yahoo. This will be the inaugural season. 12 team H2H 7x7 stat categories. 100% payout (payouts below). I currently have 11 managers, but only about half of those are paid so plenty of spots left. Looking to try to fill this league within the next couple days, so if you have any interest, shoot me a PM and I will get you more info or whatever else you need. Keepers will be pretty straight forward - get to keep 4 players. All players drafted in top 3 rounds not allowed as keepers. You get the keep the player the following season in the round in which you drafted them in current season (ie: draft Vlad Guerrero Jr in 5th round this spring, you get to keep him in 5th round next year, etc.) Payouts as follows:1st Place Regular Season: $10002nd Place Regular Season:$6003rd Place Regular Season: $3501st place Playoffs: $1,5002nd Place Playoffs: $750Draft is Tuesday March 24th at 8pm CT. Thanks!