2023 MLB Thread

[PGsHeroes32]

Timmy gets 6 games.

Jose only 3


The tough breaks keep coming for TA.

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

Helps the tank

[MU82]

The Orioles suspended one of their announcers ... for having the temerity to mention something that the team's PR staff had put in that day's press notes!

From The Athletic:

Baltimore Orioles announcer Kevin Brown was removed from the team’s broadcasts over a comment he made on July 23 during the Orioles’ series against the Tampa Bay Rays, multiple sources briefed on the decision confirmed to The Athletic on Monday. Awful Announcing first reported the news.

He is expected to return to the broadcast booth Friday, sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic.

Brown pointed out during the on-air broadcast on MASN that the Orioles had won more games at Tampa Bay’s Tropicana Field in 2023 than the last three years combined. The comment was backed up in the July 23 game notes, which are put together by the team’s public relations staff. “The Orioles have won three of the first five games at The Trop this season after winning three of the 21 games played in St. Petersburg from 2020-22,” the game notes said.

Despite it being in the game notes, ownership took exception to Brown pointing it out, sources said, believing it made them sound cheap. Baltimore ranks 29th in Major League Baseball in payroll.

Brown, who started as a radio broadcaster for Baltimore in 2019, has been a popular fixture on Orioles telecasts for the past two seasons.

Idiocy.

[rocket surgeon]

has it been discussed here and/or did anyone realize the brewers were looking for a new home/relocation because their 22 year old place needs $450 mil in renovations??

   wow!  what is it these stadiums need today?  indoor water parks?  casinos?


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/mlb/article-12398899/Milwaukee-Brewers-said-begin-exploring-relocation-seeks-448m-stadium-renovations.html

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

I think a lot of this is being targeted to fund deferred maintenance that the stadium district is required to fund as part of their lease.

Anyway, I am sure they'll get a deal done.

[cheebs09]

Yea, I think this is just a lot of negotiation. Especially trying to take advantage of the A’s being in the news about moving to Vegas.

Similar to the Bucks.

[rocket surgeon]

there are quite a few "hungry" cities out there that are probably driving this.  nashville, charlotte, raleigh durham, austin,

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Nashville is funny, since that is the brewers' AAA team.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

there are quite a few "hungry" cities out there that are probably driving this.  nashville, charlotte, raleigh durham, austin,

But are they really hungry? The As have been a relocation candidate for years and its not as though these cities are stepping up to build them something. 

[MU82]

But are they really hungry? The As have been a relocation candidate for years and its not as though these cities are stepping up to build them something.

Exactly. There is small but vocal contingent in Charlotte that is pushing hard for an MLB team, but the overall feeling here is that we'd have trouble supporting one.

Our Triple-A ballpark is as nice as any in the minors but it's very small and the footprint is too small to expand it to MLB size. So a whole new ballpark would have to be built, too. I have trouble believing that Charlotte is a serious candidate for either expansion or relocation.

[JWags85]

Exactly. There is small but vocal contingent in Charlotte that is pushing hard for an MLB team, but the overall feeling here is that we'd have trouble supporting one.

Our Triple-A ballpark is as nice as any in the minors but it's very small and the footprint is too small to expand it to MLB size. So a whole new ballpark would have to be built, too. I have trouble believing that Charlotte is a serious candidate for either expansion or relocation.

Not doubting your informed local opinion, but what do you think thats based on?  Charlotte is bigger than any of the other metros being discussed for relocation.  The Knights have one of the best attendances in MiLB and you have a lot of transplants from baseball loving areas in the North.

[MU82]

Not doubting your informed local opinion, but what do you think thats based on?  Charlotte is bigger than any of the other metros being discussed for relocation.  The Knights have one of the best attendances in MiLB and you have a lot of transplants from baseball loving areas in the North.

For one thing, there seems to be no political will to make it happen. There are brawls every time any funding for the Panthers' or Hornets' facilities need upgrades ... and now there would be another mouth to feed? Judging from comments in news reports about MLB's potential here, there doesn't appear to be an appetite to throw $1B or more taxpayer money at whatever billionaire(s) might want to bring a team here.

The Knights' stadium was delayed because a lawsuit was brought against building a minor-league park - the plaintiffs said Charlotte should be thinking bigger and building an MLB park. The lawsuit failed, and numerous community leaders said they didn't think we could support a big-league team.

Also, like a lot of not-really-established markets, we have mostly fair-weather fans here. Unless the Panthers are winning big, they don't come close to filling the stadium for even 8-9 home dates - and that's the NFL.

[Lennys Tap]

For one thing, there seems to be no political will to make it happen. There are brawls every time any funding for the Panthers' or Hornets' facilities need upgrades ... and now there would be another mouth to feed? Judging from comments in news reports about MLB's potential here, there doesn't appear to be an appetite to throw $1B or more taxpayer money at whatever billionaire(s) might want to bring a team here.

The Knights' stadium was delayed because a lawsuit was brought against building a minor-league park - the plaintiffs said Charlotte should be thinking bigger and building an MLB park. The lawsuit failed, and numerous community leaders said they didn't think we could support a big-league team.

Also, like a lot of not-really-established markets, we have mostly fair-weather fans here. Unless the Panthers are winning big, they don't come close to filling the stadium for even 8-9 home dates - and that's the NFL.

Sounds like MLB should avoid Charlotte at all costs.

[PGsHeroes32]

Twins and Guardians both go 3-4 this week. Life in the Central.

[withoutbias]

Baseball has always had a hard time attracting black athletes. There has been more of a push to build up youth leagues in America over the last decade, but given that black athletes dominate the NBA and a lot of skill positions in the NFL, and those are a lot of the athletes throwing out first pitches, many of them probably never played baseball, even as a child.

[PGsHeroes32]

Yanks with quite the collapse today.

Not sure with their lineup there was much hope anyways but pretty content saying they are officially done.

Its not just about catching the Blue Jays in their own division. Mariners are on a tear and have to be caught as well.

One of those two take the WC.

[Lennys Tap]

Baseball has always had a hard time attracting black athletes.

Untrue. In 1981 19% of the MLB players were African Americans and many more were black Latin players and the Negro Leagues thrived before Jackie broke the color barrier.

The last 40 years have seen a consistent reductions in their number, though. City kids in general don’t have the opportunity to play baseball that suburban/country kids do.

[shoothoops]

Nashville has long had perhaps the most organized group at Music City Baseball. They are proposing a largely privatelty funded stadium and other mixed use complex in North Nashville, near Tennessee State University.

Speaking of Charlotte, there will be a decision soon whether or not the Cincy professional tennis tourney, moves there or stays in Cincy. Ben Navarro is the billionaire father or Emma Navarro, who won the National singles title at Virgina, and who is a top 50 level player at age 22. He bought the Charleston clay court event 5 years ago, and renovated it. He owns other facilities in South Carolina. He even tried to buy the Carolina Panthers. The Cincy event is a top.10 or so level.event on tour.

https://www.daytondailynews.com/community/charlotte-approves-65m-toward-new-tennis-facility-in-bid-for-western-southern-open/VPIOANJBG5BRLB2W6GHQUTI7AU/#:~:text=If%20the%20public%20funding%20is,play%20in%20Charlotte%20in%202026.&text=The%20Western%20%26%20Southern%20Open%20began,played%20in%20its%20original%20city.

[PGsHeroes32]

Watching AL Central baseball this year is probably more torturous than watching the Mark Wahlberg movie the Happening. And also might cause the same epidemic as depicted in that movie.


However...

Twins vs Tigers games have potential to be really fun soon.

Lots of really talented youth on display. Injuries and horrendous veterans all that stand in the way.

[tower912]

Cubs fans, I watched your first round pick, Matt Shaw, tonight.   Two years.   He is skilled.

[dgies9156]

Brother Shoot:

My dad was part of efforts to bring baseball back to Nashville way back in 1977. The Vols had left Nashville in 1963 and former Vanderbilt head baseball coach Larry Schmittou (sp) organized an effort to re-baseball Nashville. With the country music stars of the day, they were wildly successful and the Nashville Sounds were a good draw for a long time.

I have my doubts about Nashville as an MLB city. First, their stadium at the old Sulphur Dell is inadequate for major league baseball. And I doubt seriously the stadium can be expanded to a level that would even remotely support a major league baseball team. So we're talking a new Stadium, just when Nashville is committing itself to a new stadium for the Titans. That's a couple billion dollars of stadium and at least five years. Unless Sumner, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson and Cheatham Counties kicked in the way the six-counties around Milwaukee did, it ain't happening.

And I don't see the Tennessee legislature taxing the surrounding counties for baseball. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

Second, while Nashville has grown exponentially since I lived there, I question whether the market  can support 81 baseball games a year at prices that will make ownership put a competitive team on the field. I know HCA, Nissan and Bridgestone have domestic or world headquarters in Nashville, but is there enough support for the skyboxes, advertising, naming rights and season tickets to carry a team profitability through 81 games? I don't know but I am skeptical.

Third, if an earlier poster is right and they want to build in North Nashville near TSU, their dooming the team to failure. I'm guessing they want to build on the old TSU football stadium site (TSU now plays at Nissan Stadium). The TSU site is way, way far away from the surrounding counties and the transportation infrastructure there is suspect. If there is to be an MLB stadium in Nashville, I'd think the only logical place for it is between the Victory Memorial Bridge (Main Street/James Robertson Parkway) and the Jefferson Street Bridge on the east bank. That's right next to Interstate 24, the Ellington Parkway and would have excellent access to downtown and every suburban county.

If it were me and I was looking for a future MLB market, I'd sure as hell be looking at Charlotte.

[MU82]

From the Music City Baseball website:

Music City Baseball, LLC (“MCB”) is an organization of Nashville business, sports, music and community leaders. MCB is committed to bringing a Major League Baseball franchise to the City of Nashville as a central piece of a mixed-use, multi-themed family, sports, and entertainment district.

Our focus is to secure Major League Baseball approval of an expansion franchise in Nashville, although relocation and rebranding of an existing franchise would also be considered. Our goal is to complete construction of a new baseball stadium by early 2027 and commence competition in the Spring of 2027.

I believe they are pushing for a retractable-roof ballpark that would be mostly privately funded. That, combined with a big expansion fee, would require some deep pockets. I have no earthly idea if they can pull it off.

As for Charlotte ...

No person or group has expressed the willingness to pony up the couple billion necessary to secure a team and build a ballpark here. I love baseball and would love having a local MLB team, but right now at least, it's a pipe dream.

Dave Tepper, the multibillionaire owner of the Panthers and MLS team, is getting ready to launch a major "give me the money, taxpayers!" campaign for a new stadium. I find it very difficult to believe that public money will be found for a group of baseball-owner billionaires, too.

If some rich people want to pay the entire freight, or if MLB wants to kick in so they can have a team in the nation's 15th largest city ... that's what it would take, based on everything I've read and heard.

[dgies9156]

From the Music City Baseball website:

Music City Baseball, LLC (“MCB”) is an organization of Nashville business, sports, music and community leaders. MCB is committed to bringing a Major League Baseball franchise to the City of Nashville as a central piece of a mixed-use, multi-themed family, sports, and entertainment district.

Our focus is to secure Major League Baseball approval of an expansion franchise in Nashville, although relocation and rebranding of an existing franchise would also be considered. Our goal is to complete construction of a new baseball stadium by early 2027 and commence competition in the Spring of 2027.

I believe they are pushing for a retractable-roof ballpark that would be mostly privately funded. That, combined with a big expansion fee, would require some deep pockets. I have no earthly idea if they can pull it off.

I'd be curious too. NFL football efforts started like this in the early 1980s. It was the late Joe M. Rodgers who made that group formidable. Not sure anyone of Mr. Rodgers' stature is on thsi committee.

Also, four years is ambitious. Way too ambitious.

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

Portland wants to knock the the all but abandoned mall that Tonya Harding practiced skating at to build a stadium. Would be good use for that property. I think there’s maybe still a GameStop there?!

[dgies9156]

Portland wants to knock the the all but abandoned mall that Tonya Harding practiced skating at to build a stadium. Would be good use for that property. I think there’s maybe still a GameStop there?!

At least five years to build a stadium, more if public funds are involved.

The Portland Beavers haven't existed in more than 20 years. Their stadium was retrofitted for soccer in a way that prohibited baseball from ever be played there. I'd be leery of going to Portland with no recent history of minor league baseball.