2025 MLB Season

[tower912]

As a center fielder. Apparently, his back and hip were that bad and he tried to play anyway.  The surgery allowed him to move normally again.


I think when Meadows and Vierling return, Baez moves to third.

His willingness to switch positions at this point in his career, coming back and remaining positive, being a good teammate despite 3 disappointing seasons and injuries requiring surgery, to me are the most impressive things.

[TallTitan34]

IIRC from his time as a Cub, Javy wanted to try center since that was his position as a kid.

I also believe he was the Cubs emergency catcher before Schwarber stopped catching.

[tower912]

Baez said the same thing this season.  He was a CF before he was A SS.  And he has offered to catch.  I am of the opinion that is hip and back were worse than he let on for a while, but his pride would not allow him to admit that.

Again, when Meadows and Vierling return, I see Baez at 3b.

[JWags85]

His willingness to switch positions at this point in his career, coming back and remaining positive, being a good teammate despite 3 disappointing seasons and injuries requiring surgery, to me are the most impressive things.

Javy the Cub was my favorite baseball player in a long time, so I'll always be biased, but that being said, I think the only true knock on him as a teammate was his selfishness and incorrigibility at the plate when it came to patience, discipline, etc...  Unlike someone like Devers, he was always willing to play anywhere on the field and have fun doing it.  He has always been a fun, upbeat, likable teammate and locker room presence.

Of course, none of that is super important when you're hitting near the Mendoza line, swinging and missing a ton, and striking out constantly, in addition to no longer fielding like a GG level player.  So I'm super happy to see him hitting again and letting the rest of that shine as a result.

[tower912]

All true.  His chase rate is down this season.   The swings that hurt your eyes and your soul.  He is playing like an older, wiser version of the Cubs Javy.  One that appreciates being healthy and playing freely.   Always going to be the occasional dumb swing.  And I imagine there will be a regression.   However, .280, 15 HRs and 75 rbi's while batting 9th and playing stellar defense is just fine.

Surprising and fun to watch.

[wadesworld]

The most exciting player baseball has ever seen.  Have you ever seen the guy slide into a base?

[MU82]

The most exciting player baseball has ever seen.  Have you ever seen the guy slide into a base?

Best tagger ever, too, though that figures to come into play less often at his new position. What a waste of tagging talent!

[MU82]

Re: Rose HoF ... Here's how The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal says the process will work:

Rose, along with the other reinstated players, will be considered by the Historical Overview Committee, which would decide if any of them warrant a hearing. If so, the Eras Committee will vote on election to the Hall. Rose and others would need to earn 12 of 16 votes to win. If all this happens, the earliest possible election for Rose is winter 2027.

[The Sultan]

This entire episode feels like MLB taking itself too seriously again. Now we have a fresh batch of "should Pete Rose be in the Hall of Fame" takes that aren't covering any new ground that hasn't been covered over the last 30 years. I don't know if this is because a lot of media is still based out east, and there they treat baseball with more sanctity than anyone else, but I just don't know why they do this.

[dgies9156]

The Cardinals are coming, tra la tra la.

10 of their last 11. I know they can't keep this up but geez, they're finally playing the Cardinal way!

[Uncle Rico]

The Cardinals are coming, tra la tra la.

10 of their last 11. I know they can't keep this up but geez, they're finally playing the Cardinal way!

With an all-white lineup?

[MU82]

This entire episode feels like MLB taking itself too seriously again. Now we have a fresh batch of "should Pete Rose be in the Hall of Fame" takes that aren't covering any new ground that hasn't been covered over the last 30 years. I don't know if this is because a lot of media is still based out east, and there they treat baseball with more sanctity than anyone else, but I just don't know why they do this.

I agree that the media goes overboard on most everything, in part because there's just so much media, but this story did just get a pretty significant refresh, didn't it?

Related: The Athletic did a reader poll about whether or not Rose should get in the Hall. I was quite surprised to see that, among more than 17K respondents, 53% said no. I just assumed that the average sports fan would think he should get in, but I was wrong.

[dgies9156]

With an all-white lineup?

Only when they're home and all the team wears their home whites!

[Vander Blue Man Group]

PCA with two more extra base hits today - a truly ridiculous start to his season. 

Cubs with a nice start to a very soft spot in their schedule. 

[cheebs09]

The Brewers strategy of losing the first two games and winning the last to avoid the sweep doesn't seem like a great one.

[HutchwasClutch]

The Brewers strategy of losing the first two games and winning the last to avoid the sweep doesn't seem like a great one.

And getting shut out while losing the first two. 

[BM1090]

Think they may have found something today with the home run robbery to save the game. They finally have a weaker schedule the next 10 days. Let's see if they can rip off 6 or 7 out of 9.

[WhiteTrash]

Related: The Athletic did a reader poll about whether or not Rose should get in the Hall. I was quite surprised to see that, among more than 17K respondents, 53% said no. I just assumed that the average sports fan would think he should get in, but I was wrong.

I am also surprised. I know there is a logical conclusion that the prevalence of sports gambling would result in a more tolerant view of betting on sports, but maybe the opposite has happened. Maybe more people who wager have a serious issue with the real, or perceived, validity of outcomes if the participants are also wagering. Just a thought.

[Shaka Shart]

I am also surprised. I know there is a logical conclusion that the prevalence of sports gambling would result in a more tolerant view of betting on sports, but maybe the opposite has happened. Maybe more people who wager have a serious issue with the real, or perceived, validity of outcomes if the participants are also wagering. Just a thought.

It's probably more likely about the statutory rape allegations

[The Sultan]

I am also surprised. I know there is a logical conclusion that the prevalence of sports gambling would result in a more tolerant view of betting on sports, but maybe the opposite has happened. Maybe more people who wager have a serious issue with the real, or perceived, validity of outcomes if the participants are also wagering. Just a thought.

I think that's exactly it. I don't think most people mind that he was gambling, but gambling on games in which you are participating is where the line is drawn.

[MUBurrow]

I think pure fatigue with the question/issue plays a role too. My reaction to the "breaking news" about MLB changing their position on this was just "JFC who cares, just leave it and stop insisting I should care about it." And I think for folks who feel similarly, that weighs on the side of not letting Rose in the HoF.

[MU82]

I think that's exactly it. I don't think most people mind that he was gambling, but gambling on games in which you are participating is where the line is drawn.

There actually are some dopes who think it's OK that he bet on the Reds, including one powerful dope who recently lobbied Manfred on Rose's behalf.

[The Sultan]

I think pure fatigue with the question/issue plays a role too. My reaction to the "breaking news" about MLB changing their position on this was just "JFC who cares, just leave it and stop insisting I should care about it." And I think for folks who feel similarly, that weighs on the side of not letting Rose in the HoF.

This too. I'm 57 years old, and while I saw him play, his peak was when I was a wee lad. Most baseball fans at best have fleeting memories of him and/or never saw him as anything more than an old crank.

[Billy Hoyle]

There actually are some dopes who think it's OK that he bet on the Reds, including one powerful dope who recently lobbied Manfred on Rose's behalf.

the excuse is because he bet on his team to win. Not that doing so would change his strategy in those games or impact the following games.

[CTWarrior]

I am also surprised. I know there is a logical conclusion that the prevalence of sports gambling would result in a more tolerant view of betting on sports, but maybe the opposite has happened. Maybe more people who wager have a serious issue with the real, or perceived, validity of outcomes if the participants are also wagering. Just a thought.

I don't think MLB being tolerant of gambling by fans on their sport has ANYTHING to do with Rose.  Players and managers gambling cannot be allowed because it risks the integrity of the game.  MLB cannot tolerate anything that may entice players to not give their best.

In Rose's case, he bet on his team while managing, which to me is a disqualifier.

Bonds, Clemens, etc. are just examples of baseball's long tradition of cheating to get a competitive advantage.  (Electronically stealing signs, corking bats, doctoring the baseball, amphetamines/greenies, etc.)  They just found something that worked too well.

If the steroids guys got in, I wouldn't like it, but I'd be OK with it.  There are definitely steroid users in the HOF, probably double figures.

Joe Jackson is the one guy who absolutely, positively, should not be elected to HOF.  There is no dispute that he took money to lose World Series games on purpose.  There should be no getting around that.