MLB Hot Stove 2019-20

[MU82]

Baseball Hall of Fame reopens on Friday.

Maybe they'll have a new exhibit on how the owners and players managed to screw up these negotiations.

[cheebs09]

Baseball Hall of Fame reopens on Friday.

Maybe they'll have a new exhibit on how the owners and players managed to screw up these negotiations.

They will probably need to leave room for the upcoming CBA negotiations.

[buckchuckler]

What are you losing with it though? Expanded rosters, your bullpen horses are going to go more innings and pitch more often than ever before. The Cubs to me are the perfect team to try it, they are a veteran team, their staff is all seasoned vets. Their window is coming up against contract commitments, you might as well go for it. If you try it for the first 16 games, and it's not working, or you're out of it, then scrap it.

I think you're going to see way more experiments this year than ever before.

I agree with Pakuni's thoughts on this.  These guys aren't conditioned to go on 3 days rest.  And looking at the Cubs guys:


Lester only has 2 career starts on 3 days.
Quintana has 1 career start on 3 days rest.
Darvish has never pitched on 3 days rest.
Hendricks has never pitched on 3 days rest. 

Asking those guys to do that for 2 straight months seems like a recipe for disaster.  Even though at least 3 of them are clearly workhorses.

But I do think you're right that there will be a lot of experimentation.  I'd just be surprised if 4 man rotations were part of it. 

I'm interested to see what the Sox do, as they have 7 starters that will likely be ready at the start of the season.  I wonder if they will use 5 starters, (Giolito, Keuchel,Gonzalez, Cease, Lopez) and use the other 2 guys (Kopech and Rodon) as like super relievers, or maybe just use them as tandems with Cease and Lopez?  I'm just guessing they will protect Kopech and Rodon a bit as they are coming off injuries.  But with the workloads already having an innings limit, maybe not?

Personally, I would love to see Rodon close for the Sox.  And if history is any guide, as soon as transactions are allowed on Friday, the Sox will probably trade Gio Gonzalez.

[GB Warrior]

They will probably need to leave room for the upcoming CBA negotiations.

Construction will be an essential service during the 2nd wave, so they'll be able to finish the new wing

[Dish]

I agree with Pakuni's thoughts on this.  These guys aren't conditioned to go on 3 days rest.  And looking at the Cubs guys:


Lester only has 2 career starts on 3 days.
Quintana has 1 career start on 3 days rest.
Darvish has never pitched on 3 days rest.
Hendricks has never pitched on 3 days rest. 

Asking those guys to do that for 2 straight months seems like a recipe for disaster.  Even though at least 3 of them are clearly workhorses.

But I do think you're right that there will be a lot of experimentation.  I'd just be surprised if 4 man rotations were part of it. 

I'm interested to see what the Sox do, as they have 7 starters that will likely be ready at the start of the season.  I wonder if they will use 5 starters, (Giolito, Keuchel,Gonzalez, Cease, Lopez) and use the other 2 guys (Kopech and Rodon) as like super relievers, or maybe just use them as tandems with Cease and Lopez?  I'm just guessing they will protect Kopech and Rodon a bit as they are coming off injuries.  But with the workloads already having an innings limit, maybe not?

Personally, I would love to see Rodon close for the Sox.  And if history is any guide, as soon as transactions are allowed on Friday, the Sox will probably trade Gio Gonzalez.

I'm a Sox fan, so some bias here, but I think they will be fascinating to watch. Is it worth having either Rodon or Kopech on the roster? I legit don't know, one could argue keep those guys off the mound for a 60 game season, or to your point, it's only 60 games, you have expanded rosters, you can break glass in case of emergency on either guy.

I think the first twenty games are so important. That's what I was advocating on the 4 man rotation, you can at least see where you are at after three weeks, and then adjust from there.

Be real interesting to see what kind of shape some of these guys are in too. I'd expect a lot of pulled hamstrings in the first couple weeks.

[buckchuckler]

I'm a Sox fan, so some bias here, but I think they will be fascinating to watch. Is it worth having either Rodon or Kopech on the roster? I legit don't know, one could argue keep those guys off the mound for a 60 game season, or to your point, it's only 60 games, you have expanded rosters, you can break glass in case of emergency on either guy.

I think the first twenty games are so important. That's what I was advocating on the 4 man rotation, you can at least see where you are at after three weeks, and then adjust from there.

Be real interesting to see what kind of shape some of these guys are in too. I'd expect a lot of pulled hamstrings in the first couple weeks.

I can't think of any reason not to have Rodon on the roster, what am I missing?

With Kopech, I get it with service time stuff, but also with no minor league season, I'd guess they'll just have him on the roster.

And as to the second point, yeah, we will know who spent quarantine eating chips and playing PS4.

[shoothoops]

Your baseball owners:

https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2020-06-26/roster-mlb-billionaire-team-owners-who-rule-baseball

[Dish]

Sox have signed Jarred Kelley (and previously Crochet).

[Dish]

No idea how Tanaka is alive.

https://twitter.com/jeffpassan/status/1279509076007927810?s=21

[Jockey]

MLB already failing to live up to the agreement.

[cheebs09]

MLB already failing to live up to the agreement.

Based on testing? Manfred already admitted to the press he never had any intention of going above 60 games. That may bite him.

[Jockey]

Based on testing? Manfred already admitted to the press he never had any intention of going above 60 games. That may bite him.

On testing? MLB has violated agreement on how often tests will be given.

On 60 games? Even a dummy like me knew (and stated on Scoop) that MLB was never going to agree to more games. I predicted 48, but 60 is in the same ballpark. MLB made all their bogus offers to the union just to stall the process as long as they needed so they didn't have to play more than 60.

[cheebs09]

On testing? MLB has violated agreement on how often tests will be given.

On 60 games? Even a dummy like me knew (and stated on Scoop) that MLB was never going to agree to more games. I predicted 48, but 60 is in the same ballpark. MLB made all their bogus offers to the union just to stall the process as long as they needed so they didn't have to play more than 60.

Got it. Definitely not disagreeing with you. Just wondering if MLB did something dumb on top of those issues.

[shoothoops]

Dave Dombrowski, Tony LaRussa, Dave Stewart have joined Music City LLC in the efforts to bring an MLB team to Nashville. Here is the updated group:

https://www.mlbmusiccity.com/leadership-roster/

[Jockey]

Got it. Definitely not disagreeing with you. Just wondering if MLB did something dumb on top of those issues.

I didn't think you were arguing -I just wanted to clarify what I said.

Listened to a Kris Bryant interview where he was upset with the testing. MLB said it would be every day. He said it's been more like 10 days.

[wadesworld]

Are there different types of tests now?  From what I've heard, the covid tests suck.  All I've heard is they stick a swab so far up your nose it feels like they're sticking it straight into your brain.  I wouldn't be thrilled about having that done to me every day.  Is there a different version of the test these athletes are getting tested with?

[🏀]

Are there different types of tests now?  From what I've heard, the covid tests suck.  All I've heard is they stick a swab so far up your nose it feels like they're sticking it straight into your brain.  I wouldn't be thrilled about having that done to me every day.  Is there a different version of the test these athletes are getting tested with?

Golfers all get the nose test, at least once a week.

They all say it's not that bad.

[JWags85]

Are there different types of tests now?  From what I've heard, the covid tests suck.  All I've heard is they stick a swab so far up your nose it feels like they're sticking it straight into your brain.  I wouldn't be thrilled about having that done to me every day.  Is there a different version of the test these athletes are getting tested with?

My GF just had a test done on Friday. There is a second type of test that doesn't insert nearly as far. It's a bit ticklish and slightly uncomfortable, but it doesn't make you gag. I'm sure these guys experience worse on a regular basis.

[Pakuni]

Imagine that, Joe West is a coronavirus truther.

[#UnleashSean]

Golfers all get the nose test, at least once a week.

They all say it's not that bad.

I've had the test 4 times. It's really not bad. It's uncomfortable but not painful.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I see a story that Cleveland Indians are evaluating a name change.

[Lennys Tap]

I see a story that Cleveland Indians are evaluating a name change.

Hearing Lake Erie Indians and Mistake on the Lake Indians are the current favorites.

[🏀]

Hearing Lake Erie Indians and Mistake on the Lake Indians are the current favorites.

Just move em to Nashville.

[The Sultan]

Imagine that, Joe West is a coronavirus truther.

[Jockey]

Kopech to sit out 2020.