MLB 2018 Season

[wadesworld]

My daughter, also not named chico's, helped me out.  She asked a great question, how will they know this isn't a bat pulled off the internet?  Therefore I laid my Wrigley bat next to a few Marquette tees. 

Thanks.  I'm a believer.  Chicago sports fan that isn't chicos that will fight until his death that LeBron James is, without a question, better than Michael Jordan.

Checks out.

[MerrittsMustache]

My kids were very excited about the HR Derby so we watched it together. It was the first time I've watched it in 10+ years. I have to say that it was much more enjoyable that I was anticipating (in part due to my kids' enthusiasm). I mean, it's still too long but the clock actually keeps things moving as opposed to when some hitters would take pitch after pitch after pitch before getting to 10 swings. It also helped that we started it late and through the magic of DVR got to fast-forward through some of the filler.

Oh, and Bryce Harper and his dad "bending the rules" in a hitting exhibition has to be the Bryce Harper-ish thing imaginable!

[Vander Blue Man Group]

My kids were very excited about the HR Derby so we watched it together. It was the first time I've watched it in 10+ years. I have to say that it was much more enjoyable that I was anticipating (in part due to my kids' enthusiasm). I mean, it's still too long but the clock actually keeps things moving as opposed to when some hitters would take pitch after pitch after pitch before getting to 10 swings. It also helped that we started it late and through the magic of DVR got to fast-forward through some of the filler.

Oh, and Bryce Harper and his dad "bending the rules" in a hitting exhibition has to be the Bryce Harper-ish thing imaginable!

Yes, there was a bit of funny business and home cooking going on in the last round. 

[MerrittsMustache]

Yes, there was a bit of funny business and home cooking going on in the last round.

For the record (and before wades, buckchucker, etc go off), I'm fine with it. Harper was the hometown player so there's no harm in affording him some leeway. Hitting 9 HRs in 47 seconds is impressive no matter how you get it done. It made for good entertainment, which is what the HR Derby should be about.

[TallTitan34]

As far as last night, this Derby format is lame.  The head-to-head bracket and timer are dumb.  Weird field with only one AL player.  Bring back the three rounds with highest overall totals advancing and 10 outs.  Baseball has no clock.

Disagree.  The new format creates way more excitement and speeds up an event which can drag.

[TallTitan34]

For the record (and before wades, buckchucker, etc go off), I'm fine with it. Harper was the hometown player so there's no harm in affording him some leeway. Hitting 9 HRs in 47 seconds is impressive no matter how you get it done. It made for good entertainment, which is what the HR Derby should be about.

I think they should get rid of the rule about not throwing until the previous ball drops.  It penalizes guys who hit long majestic homeruns, plus it was awesome seeing Harper go rapid fire when need be.

[GGGG]

The Japanese had some ways to liven up their HR derby.

https://deadspin.com/watch-this-weird-old-japanese-home-run-derby-featuring-1827638741

[buckchuckler]

The O's are apparently working through medicals on a Machado deal.  That is no small thing with them though.

[wadesworld]

The O's are apparently working through medicals on a Machado deal.  That is no small thing with them though.

Sounds like the Dodgers.  I'm guessing warriordad is piiiiisssssed.

Wait, no, nevermind.  He's a Cubs fan.

[drewm88]

Disagree.  The new format creates way more excitement and speeds up an event which can drag.

Yeah, I'm with TT on this. The new format is the best thing to happen to the derby, even better than Berman retiring.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Yeah, I'm with TT on this. The new format is the best thing to happen to the derby, even better than Berman retiring.

Had to watch it on mute when Berman was on. 

[buckchuckler]

Sounds like the Dodgers.  I'm guessing warriordad is piiiiisssssed.

Wait, no, nevermind.  He's a Cubs fan.

Manny to the Dodgers will impact the Cubs as much as (or more than) it will impact any other team.

[TallTitan34]

Interesting breakdown of WAR by position by team.  A Cubs fan made it so that's why their logo is highlighted.

Shout out to Tommy LaStella.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Interesting breakdown of WAR by position by team.  A Cubs fan made it so that's why their logo is highlighted.

Shout out to Tommy LaStella.

That is a cool graphic. Do they have it with all the logos highlighted? I was trying to pick out the other teams and couldn't make it out.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Manny to the Dodgers will impact the Cubs as much as (or more than) it will impact any other team.

I still think I'd rather him go to LA than Milwaukee. 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Interesting breakdown of WAR by position by team.  A Cubs fan made it so that's why their logo is highlighted.

Shout out to Tommy LaStella.

What's amazing is some of the lowest values are Rizzo's and Bryant's positions due to injury and under-performance.  You could say the same about the rotation. 

[MUBurrow]

I still think I'd rather him go to LA than Milwaukee.

Now this is something both Cubs and Brewers fans can agree on

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Now this is something both Cubs and Brewers fans can agree on

So Brewers fans don't want Machado or they don't want to pay the potential price it might take to acquire him?

[TallTitan34]

That is a cool graphic. Do they have it with all the logos highlighted? I was trying to pick out the other teams and couldn't make it out.

Unfortunately this is the only one.

https://twitter.com/ScottLindholm/status/1019037510729691137

[jsglow]

I think they should get rid of the rule about not throwing until the previous ball drops.  It penalizes guys who hit long majestic homeruns, plus it was awesome seeing Harper go rapid fire when need be.

I didn't watch it but my son told me that Agui had a bomb that carried for an estimated 8 full seconds.  Crazy.  It must have almost achieved orbit.

[jsglow]

So Brewers fans don't want Machado or they don't want to pay the potential price it might take to acquire him?

I'll say the latter.  The Crew isn't on the cusp of winning the WS or probably even a pennant.  Every price I was hearing for a 60+ game rental was too much in my eyes.  It's too early in the process for Stearns to really know who his 'in house' potential stars are yet.  And for the most part, the small market Crew must grow its own talent.

[MUBurrow]

So Brewers fans don't want Machado or they don't want to pay the potential price it might take to acquire him?

I can only speak for myself, but while Machado is a stud, I don't want the Brewers to pay the iron price for a couple of months of him.  The whole point of the Cain and Yelich signings were to keep the competitive window open for about 3 years (assuming some decline from Cain), and I think the trade capital is better spent on opportunities for controllable talent - even if the talent isn't quite up to Machado's level. 

Even if Machado killed it for the Crew over the final 64 games, its tough to see them being Vegas favorites to win more than a game or maaaybe two per series vs the Phillies, Nats, Cubs, Dodgers, or Diamondbacks. To me, if they're going to go for broke with a rental, its got to be the kind of rental (probably a SP) that significantly shifts your win probability in a short series. This is why I think all the CC comps are inapplicable to a Machado deal. I just don't think Machado moves the needle in that way, and the opportunity cost is astronomical.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I can only speak for myself, but while Machado is a stud, I don't want the Brewers to pay the iron price for a couple of months of him.  The whole point of the Cain and Yelich signings were to keep the competitive window open for about 3 years (assuming some decline from Cain), and I think the trade capital is better spent on opportunities for controllable talent - even if the talent isn't quite up to Machado's level. 

Even if Machado killed it for the Crew over the final 64 games, its tough to see them being Vegas favorites to win more than a game or maaaybe two per series vs the Phillies, Nats, Cubs, Dodgers, or Diamondbacks. To me, if they're going to go for broke with a rental, its got to be the kind of rental (probably a SP) that significantly shifts your win probability in a short series. This is why I think all the CC comps are inapplicable to a Machado deal. I just don't think Machado moves the needle in that way, and the opportunity cost is astronomical.

Makes sense.  I also don't see that quality of starter being available in the next couple of weeks but maybe that changes this offseason. 

[jsglow]

I can only speak for myself, but while Machado is a stud, I don't want the Brewers to pay the iron price for a couple of months of him.  The whole point of the Cain and Yelich signings were to keep the competitive window open for about 3 years (assuming some decline from Cain), and I think the trade capital is better spent on opportunities for controllable talent - even if the talent isn't quite up to Machado's level. 

Even if Machado killed it for the Crew over the final 64 games, its tough to see them being Vegas favorites to win more than a game or maaaybe two per series vs the Phillies, Nats, Cubs, Dodgers, or Diamondbacks. To me, if they're going to go for broke with a rental, its got to be the kind of rental (probably a SP) that significantly shifts your win probability in a short series. This is why I think all the CC comps are inapplicable to a Machado deal. I just don't think Machado moves the needle in that way, and the opportunity cost is astronomical.

Exactly how I see it too.  Plus back in the day, the Crew hadn't been to the playoffs in decades.  That's not the case now.  Build for the long haul.

[MUEng92]

So Brewers fans don't want Machado or they don't want to pay the potential price it might take to acquire him?

My survey size is exactly one Brewer fan.  The one Brewer fan who has brought up baseball to me (Cubs fan) this week at work.  I told him I read the Orioles had a deal in place but no body knew who it was.  His response was "god, I hope it isn't the Brewers".  His reasoning was strictly money.