The Hey its 2021 now guys MLB thread

[GB Warrior]

Only about 3000 more days on Yelich's contract!

[buckchuckler]

That's pathetic.  Terrible message to our youth.

No to mention the rest of the league.

[Warriors4ever]

I really wanted a White Sox-Brewers World Series, so I am bummed they were both eliminated the same day.
I was at the Sox game today. At times it seemed like the crowd had more energy than the team. I wondered yesterday if having the rainout after their win Sunday would hurt their momentum.
Pitchers kept getting two strikes and then serving the ball up, it seemed.

[Dish]

Only about 3000 more days on Yelich's contract!

I kept trying to come up with a Brewers/Sox trade that involved Eloy/Peralta/Yelich/Keuchel, but forgot how bad that Yelich contract is, and has deferrals through 2042. That Yelich contract is very no bueno.

[rocky_warrior]

I kept trying to come up with a Brewers/Sox trade that involved Eloy/Peralta/Yelich/Keuchel, but forgot how bad that Yelich contract is, and has deferrals through 2042. That Yelich contract is very no bueno.

Hah, as a Cubs fan, makes the Heyward contract seem reasonable.  There are very few cases where contracts longer than 4 years make any sense for a baseball team. 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

He's totally lost. Pedal his heine, hey?

He's untrade-able. Enjoy that contract for the next 7 years.

[#UnleashSean]

That's pathetic.  Terrible message to our youth.

Well it's not the ncaa. They aren't going to give a team the death penalty. Because that would be stupid for the league, stupid for baseball, and stupid for the Astros.

"The sanctions against the Astros were the most severe that MLB has ever issued against a member club,[3] and are among the most severe sanctions for in-game misconduct in baseball history"

They fined the maximum allowable, suspended 2 Astros and 1 red sox coach. Couldn't touch the players. What else should they do?

[PGsHeroes32]

There was no other way to settle this series than a game 5

The two clear best teams should be playing 7. But game 5 will be great.

[The Sultan]

That's pathetic.  Terrible message to our youth.

Good thing our youth don't watch baseball.

Well it's not the ncaa. They aren't going to give a team the death penalty. Because that would be stupid for the league, stupid for baseball, and stupid for the Astros.

"The sanctions against the Astros were the most severe that MLB has ever issued against a member club,[3] and are among the most severe sanctions for in-game misconduct in baseball history"

They fined the maximum allowable, suspended 2 Astros and 1 red sox coach. Couldn't touch the players. What else should they do?

Yep.

[MuggsyB]

Well it's not the ncaa. They aren't going to give a team the death penalty. Because that would be stupid for the league, stupid for baseball, and stupid for the Astros.

"The sanctions against the Astros were the most severe that MLB has ever issued against a member club,[3] and are among the most severe sanctions for in-game misconduct in baseball history"

They fined the maximum allowable, suspended 2 Astros and 1 red sox coach. Couldn't touch the players. What else should they do?

Couldn't they be given a much harsher penalty?  LIke postseason bans or two year suspensions for players?  I dunno.  Seems ridiculous you can get away with  with blatant cheating. 

[tower912]

No professional league bans teams from postseason play.

[The Sultan]

No professional league bans teams from postseason play.

And you can't punish players outside the rules agreed upon in the CBA.

[Lennys Tap]

I really wanted a White Sox-Brewers World Series, so I am bummed they were both eliminated the same day.

Likewise. Nobody left to root for.

[tower912]

No different than most years.

[Uncle Rico]

Likewise. Nobody left to root for.

Yeah, it's going to be a gross final 4.  I could probably root for SF but won't like it

[MuggsyB]

I lost respect for Altuve.  He was one of my favorite players. 

[Lennys Tap]

If you say so? But his ERA, WHIP, and K/bb were all better the 2nd half of this year than they were last year.  He threw more innings in the 2nd half this year 74.2 compared to 72.1(just noting to show the statistical comparison is pretty fair), and had fewer walks, (19 this year, 28 last year).  You could make the argument he was basically the same, I don't see how he was worse in any way. 

The pitching in the playoffs was terrible.  They all crapped down their legs.

Buck

You're right, I should have said last full year (2019). Even with that said, I was amazed that his 2021 WAR was as good (4.3) as it was. Down from 5.8 in 2019 but still solid. He just didn't seem that good to my (bad, I guess) "eye test". I thought he was on the verge of stardom after 2019. This year felt like a step back.

[The Sultan]

I can probably count the number of games I will even partially watch from here on out on one hand.

[tower912]

Because of your height sensitivity, Muggsy?   Or because of him having the throwing yips last year?   

Stealing signs have been part of baseball forever.   Same thing in football, which is why you have three guys signaling in plays.   And radio receivers.   Remember the Patriots getting fined a few years ago?

Houston went high tech.  Eventually, they got busted.   They were punished within the  established rules.  And they were held in contempt by players and fans alike.   There isn't a crap-ton else that can be done.

And honestly, the best story line remaining is Houston coming back from their collective sins.   

[MU82]

Can't remember ...

Was there this much angst about Yelich's contract when he signed it?

Yes, it could end up being a Mauer-ish type situation, which hurts teams in markets like Minneapolis and Milwaukee. But those teams really have little choice. They almost have to pay big bucks to the home-grown superstar or it sends a really bad message.

Or they could go the Rays' way: Let guys leave when they become great and have such an incredible farm system that it doesn't matter.

[Pakuni]

And you can't punish players outside the rules agreed upon in the CBA.

It was less about the CBA than it was Manfred giving the players immunity. The MLBPA specifically denied that they stood in the way of player discipline.

[The Sultan]

Can't remember ...

Was there this much angst about Yelich's contract when he signed it?

No it was pretty much universally praised, but it was announced in March 2020 just as everything was shutting down.

It's still way too early to call it a bad contract.

[The Sultan]

It was less about the CBA than it was Manfred giving the players immunity. The MLBPA specifically denied that they stood in the way of player discipline.

That's right.  Thank you.

[wadesworld]

No it was pretty much universally praised, but it was announced in March 2020 just as everything was shutting down.

It's still way too early to call it a bad contract.

Exactly.

[cheebs09]

No it was pretty much universally praised, but it was announced in March 2020 just as everything was shutting down.

It's still way too early to call it a bad contract.

I'm really hoping that back injury really limited him this year. He did look like he was just guessing up there. Maybe he needs the off-season to rehab.

I wonder if he wasn't able to get around as quick as usual and was just in protect the plate mode. Anecdotally, it looked like he had a ton of check swings when I watched. He started to hit better towards the end, just no power.