2026 MLB Thread

[MU82]

...and DeLauter homers in his first AB in game two. That 3 HR in his first 6 MLB (regular season) ABs. Nice start, kid. 

Glad to get DeLauter out of town. What an opening series the kid had!

[Jay Bee]

Was entertaining the idea of going to the Twins' opener on Friday afternoon. Issue is that the forecast is a high of 38. Massive snowstorms coming Thursday and Saturday as well.

Sometimes I miss the Dome.

[MU82]

Was entertaining the idea of going to the Twins' opener on Friday afternoon. Issue is that the forecast is a high of 38. Massive snowstorms coming Thursday and Saturday as well.

Sometimes I miss the Dome.

I hear ya. The Metrodome was a dump ... but you knew that if a game was scheduled, the game would be played. And you didn't have to wear a parka, ski hat and gloves to watch it.

[WhiteTrash]

I hear ya. The Metrodome was a dump ... but you knew that if a game was scheduled, the game would be played. And you didn't have to wear a parka, ski hat and gloves to watch it.

Minnesotans are marshmallow soft. Green Bay fans would be there in tee shirts and shorts.

[ChuckyChip]

Brewers are reportedly close to signing prospect Cooper Pratt to an eight-year extension worth around $50M, with two additional years of club options.  Interesting move for someone who is starting his first season in AAA.

[GB Warrior]

Brewers are reportedly close to signing prospect Cooper Pratt to an eight-year extension worth around $50M, with two additional years of club options.  Interesting move for someone who is starting his first season in AAA.

The most amazing part of this story is that it was reported by Bob Nightengale and he didn't f it up

[cheebs09]

Brewers sweep looking a touch more impressive now.

[WhiteTrash]

Brewers sweep looking a touch more impressive now.

The Sox and Rockies have put MLB on notice!

[StillAWarrior]

Glad to get DeLauter out of town. What an opening series the kid had!

Starting your career with the AL Player of the Week recognition must be a rush. Hope the kid can keep it up. The Guardians could use another live bat in the lineup.

[cheebs09]

Kind of hoping the Ashby usage slows down a bit. It seemed he was overused at the end of last year.

[MU82]

Last night, the Yankees challenged five ball/strike calls by Mike Estabrook ... and won all five challenges. But they still lost the game.

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/breaking-news/article/yankees-correctly-challenge-5-straight-missed-calls-in-loss-to-mariners-aaron-boone-and-umpire-mike-estabrook-exchange-words-042950906.html?

[TallTitan34]

Last night, the Yankees challenged five ball/strike calls by Mike Estabrook ... and won all five challenges. But they still lost the game.

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/breaking-news/article/yankees-correctly-challenge-5-straight-missed-calls-in-loss-to-mariners-aaron-boone-and-umpire-mike-estabrook-exchange-words-042950906.html?

I'm convinced this year is to embarrass the umps and go full ABS next year.

[cheebs09]

I'm convinced this year is to embarrass the umps and go full ABS next year.

I'm here for all the CB Bucknor highlights.

[JWags85]

I'm convinced this year is to embarrass the umps and go full ABS next year.

I find it hard to get into/care about early season baseball. Opening Day is fun, but between March Madness, NBA home stretch, end of the EPL/CL, and NHL playoffs, I don't do much more than keep track of the Cubs record/trends/stats.  As such, I usually scroll right by the majority of MLB highlights or posts on X or other social media for the next few months.

HOWEVA, ABS has changed that social media piece in a big way.  It's absolutely ELECTRIC.  The crowd pops are like a WWE event. And that's just for mid game challenges.  The reaction when it finally comes to a big game/big moment decisive challenge is gonna be tremendous.

But at this point, I don't know how it's not coming ASAP.  Home plate umps get the ball/strike call in their ear and call it that way, only out there to make judgment calls on base running/put outs/foul balls and relay the ABS.  It's inevitable cause by mid summer we're gonna have so much real time interactions of how bad a lot of umps are.

I'm only sad that this happened 2 years after Angel Hernandez retired or we would have seen him absolutely try to fist fight people after a 10th successful ABS challenge

[The Sultan]

This was incredible.

https://x.com/cyrthogg/status/2039151216068809154?s=46&t=ppua9BCUAa7dWM9-SthPmg

[MU82]

In the 6th inning of tonight's Cubs-Angels game, PCA misplayed a line drive into a double, and then Bregman couldn't handle a hot shot hit right at him. Angels scored twice.

[GB Warrior]

This was incredible.

https://x.com/cyrthogg/status/2039151216068809154?s=46&t=ppua9BCUAa7dWM9-SthPmg

CB making the NFL refs a lot of money tonight

[WhiteTrash]

This was incredible.

https://x.com/cyrthogg/status/2039151216068809154?s=46&t=ppua9BCUAa7dWM9-SthPmg

Who says you can't drink and still do your job?

[MU82]

From The Athletic:

Less than two weeks after missing out on a spot on the Seattle Mariners' Opening Day roster, infielder Colt Emerson on Tuesday signed an extension with the M's that is the largest in history for any prospect yet to make his MLB debut.

The 20-year-old prospect's deal, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal confirmed, is for eight years and $95 million — $13 million more than the Milwaukee Brewers signed MLB top prospect Jackson Chourio for in 2023. Chourio's eight-year, $82 million extension was the most lucrative contract offered to a player yet to debut in the majors at the time. Chourio was 19 and had barely played beyond Double A, where he totaled 128 games.

Wow. High risk, hopefully high reward.

[cheebs09]

Brewers just did the same thing with Cooper Pratt.

[Uncle Rico]

Brewers just did the same thing with Cooper Pratt.

There is some belief owners are going to use service time as a carrot towards a salary cap, in that they'll cut service time and the arbitration years if players agree to a salary cap.  Theory being players can test the open market earlier and get a payday sooner than later.

Whether the players go for it, who knows?  But I'm willing to bet we'll see a few more deals like this through the course of the year.  The Brewers are allegedly pursuing this with a number of minor leaguers.

[MU82]

The problem with the strategy, of course, is if - as often happens - these prospects don't achieve MLB success.

I remember when Corey Patterson was an absolute can't-miss prospect; I'm guessing the Cubs are glad they didn't hand him $100M when he was in the minors.

The Brewers, Mariners and the many other non-Dodgers/Yankees/Mets franchises can't afford to just throw $100M away on multiple prospects.

I understand why they're doing it, and I hope they are right on all of these guys. But as I said, it's a big risk for what they hope will be a big reward.

[Uncle Rico]

The problem with the strategy, of course, is if - as often happens - these prospects don't achieve MLB success.

I remember when Corey Patterson was an absolute can't-miss prospect; I'm guessing the Cubs are glad they didn't hand him $100M when he was in the minors.

The Brewers, Mariners and the many other non-Dodgers/Yankees/Mets franchises can't afford to just throw $100M away on multiple prospects.

I understand why they're doing it, and I hope they are right on all of these guys. But as I said, it's a big risk for what they hope will be a big reward.

Of course, that's a risky proposition but Pratt's value per dollar would equate to an average player.  If he's a 2-3 war player, it's a massive value.

His case is interesting because he's a Boras client.  While Boras and the Brewers have a good history, it's still a bit jarring he let a client sign this deal.  Maybe that's a bad sign!

[MU82]

Who says you can't drink and still do your job?

He's scheduled to be behind the plate at today's Brewers-Rays game. Should be fun!

[cheebs09]

He's scheduled to be behind the plate at today's Brewers-Rays game. Should be fun!

Miz pitching too.