2020 Around the MLB Thread

[Derek]

Well playing for a team it is kind of like being in a fox hole Derek.

You work to get your fox hole dug and prepared to do battle. And all the guys that are going to be in that fox hole help. And when the bullets start to fly, you expect to turn around and see everyone of those guys that were getting ready for the fight. When you turn around and one isn't there, and your Sargent tells you that he opted out, doesn't sit real well with the guys in the fox hole that have one less guy to cover their backs.

If you aren't going to be in the fox hole, don't pretend like you are. Own up to it so they can get someone who will be there when the baseballs start to fly.

And on the GM front => don't kid yourself, GM's ask themselves all the time if a player is going to quit on them. Because quitting on a baseball field doesn't mean you walk away. You can just not give a shit, and that is an absolute cancer in a clubhouse. And those guys in a clubhouse can sniff out guys like that. Remember they live together for almost 8 months, no one pulls the wool over everybody's eyes for that long.

That was the rap on Danny Salazar at least 2 years before injuries sidelined him completely. He was widely despised by a bulk of the clubhouse, because they felt like he quit on them. Not unlike the guy digging the fox hole above and then not showing up

You act like I’ve never been a part of a team. I’ve played and coached team sports my entire life.

The “fox hole” thing is a bit much. It’s a game, not war. The guy has at-risk family and did what was best for them during a pandemic. Honestly, if there’s a single teammate or FO guy that would hold that against Stroman, then fuck ‘em.

 

[sportscoach]

@jup

Honestly what Stroman did, isn't 100% the best thing for the team in a sense, but he did what he thought was best for himself. I know this is a team sport, but its also a business and he has to make that decision for himself and he felt getting free agency was the best decision so he did that.

Honestly i don't think any of his current team mates are bothered by his actions, if anything most agree with his actions. Why would they disagree with an at risk player/has at risk family members player, working to get to free agency?

 

[Urban]

You act like I’ve never been a part of a team. I’ve played and coached team sports my entire life.

The “fox hole” thing is a bit much. It’s a game, not war. The guy has at-risk family and did what was best for them during a pandemic. Honestly, if there’s a single teammate or FO guy that would hold that against Stroman, then fuck ‘em.

Furthermore, he made the best financial decision for him and his family. It would've been extremely stupid on his part to opt out early and delay his own free agency by a full year. He is currently on the right side of 30, doesn't have overpowering stuff, and hasn't been the healthiest player in his career. Go get your money.

Personally a player I'd want my team to stay far away from- not that the Indians will be involved- but it has nothing to do with the decision he made yesterday.

 

[Derek]

Furthermore, he made the best financial decision for him and his family. It would've been extremely stupid on his part to opt out early and delay his own free agency by a full year. He is currently on the right side of 30, doesn't have overpowering stuff, and hasn't been the healthiest player in his career.

Personally a player I'd want my team to stay far away from- not that the Indians will be involved- but it has nothing to do with the decision he made yesterday.

He's also forfeiting about 80% of his salary this year in opting out. It's not like he's not making a sacrifice here.

 

[jup]

You act like I’ve never been a part of a team. I’ve played and coached team sports my entire life.

The “fox hole” thing is a bit much. It’s a game, not war. The guy has at-risk family and did what was best for them during a pandemic. Honestly, if there’s a single teammate or FO guy that would hold that against Stroman, then fuck ‘em.

Hmmmmm, didn't language things the right way for this board once again.

Don't know you personally and don't know your life story Derek. Good for you that you have played and coached your entire life. Didn't intend to tread on your lawn but clearly I did.

Twice already, once when I didn't respond in a verbose way and once when I did. Once for trying to answer you comment once when I simply said I wouldn't.

 

[Derek]

Hmmmmm, didn't language things the right way for this board once again.

Don't know you personally and don't know your life story Derek. Good for you that you have played and coached your entire life. Didn't intend to tread on your lawn but clearly I did.

No "get off my lawn" sentiment here. I'm just not seeing where you're coming from on this. It happens.

I'm big on player rights and allowing guys to get paid their money, especially when the system is set up to suppress their earnings for nearly a decade after getting drafted. I believe each of his teammates would have acted similarly given the circumstances, and I doubt we see any backlash on Stroman from anybody that matters (to him).

Let's go talk pitching

 

[Otsego Mar]

Hmmmmm, didn't language things the right way for this board once again.

Don't know you personally and don't know your life story Derek. Good for you that you have played and coached your entire life. Didn't intend to tread on your lawn but clearly I did.

Twice already, once when I didn't respond in a verbose way and once when I did. Once for trying to answer you comment once when I simply said I wouldn't.

Tough crowd jup. Sometimes it's better off to leave well enough alone.

 

[Gson]

So.. why are the Tigers doing so well?..

...simply stated.. they are hitting the ball.. regularly well.. top third of MLB in OPS.. Their pitching is atrociously consistent, but, their defense has allowed only two unearned runs.. In short, they're not being themselves by beating themselves..

You can just feel their fade coming..

 

[macbdog]

I thought players were guaranteed their salary and service time even if they opted out? As for Stroman- did he even play? I honestly don't care if he opted out or whatever, to each their own, it's a bizarre season. Had he been playing and pitching well, I could get it if his teammates felt let down... But the only field he appeared to be playing was Twitter. Hopefully he gets healthy, happy before next year bc he seems like an entertaining guy (to me anyway).

Their pitching is atrociously consistent

If there was a season where a team could outplay their talent level long enough to do something crazy, this is it. I don't Detroit is a given to fade, even with the wishy washy pitching. As we see, all it takes is a yearning for road beef to eliminate 2/5ths of a quality pitching staff, there is a glimmer of hope for the Kitties.

 

[ncinthenext3]

I thought players were guaranteed their salary and service time even if they opted out? As for Stroman- did he even play? I honestly don't care if he opted out or whatever, to each their own, it's a bizarre season. Had he been playing and pitching well, I could get it if his teammates felt let down... But the only field he appeared to be playing was Twitter. Hopefully he gets healthy, happy before next year bc he seems like an entertaining guy (to me anyway).

If there was a season where a team could outplay their talent level long enough to do something crazy, this is it. I don't Detroit is a given to fade, even with the wishy washy pitching. As we see, all it takes is a yearning for road beef to eliminate 2/5ths of a quality pitching staff, there is a glimmer of hope for the Kitties.

LOL @ Road Beef!!!

 

[CATS44]

Next question in re Bauer.

He consistently says that he wants to pitch every fourth day, but he is being given seven days off after a stellar performance last Friday. He isn't scheduled until Saturday.

Whats up with that?

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Bauer's line:

19.1 innings, 7 hits, 2 ER's (both on solo HRs), 4 walks, 32 K's.

Insane. Shows what he can do when he's healthy. He had a bad ankle last year.

He's making himself a lot of money. A 29 yo starter who puts up numbers like that and never misses a turn. It took him years of experimentation but it looks like he's got this pitching thing figured out.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

So.. why are the Tigers doing so well?..

...simply stated.. they are hitting the ball.. regularly well.. top third of MLB in OPS.. Their pitching is atrociously consistent, but, their defense has allowed only two unearned runs.. In short, they're not being themselves by beating themselves..

You can just feel their fade coming..

Tigers are 9-6, Orioles 8-7. A couple of bad teams off to a good start. However, the only teams the Tigers have played are Cincinnati, KC, Pittsburgh, and two games against the White Sox that they split. They still have 10 games each against the Indians and Twins, 8 against the White Sox, and three against the Cubs. Their team ERA is 5.00.

 

[Derek]

Next question in re Bauer.

He consistently says that he wants to pitch every fourth day, but he is being given seven days off after a stellar performance last Friday. He isn't scheduled until Saturday.

Whats up with that?

Two off days and Wade Miley's return from the IL are the likely factors I can see.

 

[kidduck]

If Bauer keeps $$ as his priority in free agency, it's easy to see him signing with the Yankees. They could
easily make him the highest paid per year player in the game and live with a short term deal that Bauer
has advocated.

And it would be highly entertaining to watch his interactions with the fans and media during
the inevitable rough stretches. Could he toss a ball toward the bleachers and dent one of
the monuments?