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Early 22 GM Thread! (Trade Ideas here)

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a couple more articles/references. Depending on the variables you choose to use, you can manipulate this data like most statistics

article:
www.cleveland.com

Comparing Cleveland Indians June attendance dates 2019 vs. 2021

Covid restrictions were lifted at the beginning of June. So did fans flock to the ballpark?
www.cleveland.com www.cleveland.com

and baseball ref.
www.baseball-reference.com

Cleveland Guardians Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors | Baseball-Reference.com

Cleveland Guardians Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors
www.baseball-reference.com www.baseball-reference.com

Simple take away - the more you win the fuller the stadium. Interpret as you see fit.
 
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Pittsburgh is the 3rd best road draw in MLB, drawing better than Twice their home attendance. Interesting.
They have been similarly ranked (3rd to 6th overall with 2 exceptions) for the last decade.

Maybe we should replace the "Ohio Cup" with the "Rust-Belt Cup"?
 
Benway said:
Pittsburgh is the 3rd best road draw in MLB, drawing better than Twice their home attendance. Interesting.
They have been similarly ranked (3rd to 6th overall with 2 exceptions) for the last decade.

Maybe we should replace the "Ohio Cup" with the "Rust-Belt Cup"?
Click to expand...
I assume the Yanks are #1? Mind sharing your resource so I can nerd out on it?
 
Benway said:
It's currently the Dodgers, but everything is there in the link @DCTribefan posted:

2024 MLB Attendance - Major League Baseball - ESPN

Check out this 2024 report of MLB attendance sortable by both baseball stadium and team.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
Click to expand...
That is a weird list.. Wondering if there is something I am missing here..

9 out of top 10 are NL teams including Colorado at #5? Arizona at 12, all the NL west teams in the top 14.. Maybe the variable here is folks show up to watch their team to win/beat up a doormat. But that doesn't explain Baltimore/Texas who are at the bottom. Or Tampa - who is 2nd from the bottom despite years of success and being a "juggernaut" this season

The bottom 9 teams are from the AL (including all of the AL Central teams) and the lowest NL team is Atlanta.

In my limited exposure, there has been no doubt where the games I have attended where the Yanks are the visitors the stadium is always noticeably more full, same with the Cubs (#2) and the BoSox (#13).

Is there an overall discrepancy between the NL vs. AL where the NL naturally draws (much) larger crowds? That might make sense, but would think it would be a more obvious/talked about point.

Anyway off I go and thank you..
 
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@Criznit

Part of Tampa's problem is the location of the Stadium... It's South of Tampa (in St. Pete) and with it's high population and only one major highway, it's a very hard stadium to get to. Distance wise, it's not fair from the city miles wise, but with what 5 million people in the area, trying to get to it during rush hour is nearly impossible. It always used to be free parking if you carpooled there (like 4 people or more). Also there is nothing else near the stadium, so it's secluded unlike Cleveland's where you can go hit the bar and whatnot before and after.
 
As the GM, I continue to analyze as I watch the rest of the season play out.

I do a little math and I see that this team is going to give about 101 more runs than we have averaged since we hired Tito. I also see that this team is on pace to score about 38 runs less than we have averaged in that time. Its easy to see that the biggest problem for this team has been run suppression, mostly due to our rotation. But I also see that the defense has been sub par. I also see that we need help from the left side in the pen.

So, first things first.

As I look at our rotation options, I dont see a problem in either quality or quantity. I see the need to stay healthy and I am addressing that by being...maybe overly...cautious with Bieber, Civale, and TMac.

I have addressed the defense by bringing in Straw. I look at our young MIFs that are here and in Chicago and see plus defenders to man second base or shortstop. I see two very good late inning defensive options in the outfield in Zimmer and Mercado. Hedges is elite, and so is a healthy Perez, who I have to make a decision on...and that decision rests solely on cost. If he is affordable, I want him back.

I like the core of the bullpen. And, like the rotation, I see both quality and quantity, but I dont see a lot of experience. I like Hentges as a lefty out of the pen, but I need a Plan B that doesn't cost much. I want to keep Wittgren, but I need another vet. I'd like to resign Shaw, but it will depend upon the cost.

My biggest question is what to do with Logan, who I think will be a quality lefty SP...which I'd love to have...but doesn't look like a good bullpen option. As much as anybody, he's the guy I want to watch over the next few weeks.

Run suppression should not be a problem...and fixes are within my budget.

Obviously scoring is a concern, but not as big as the fans think. I dont need as much improvement as I do from the run suppression side, but I have more assets for acquisition.

The addition of Straw helps. I'm gonna roll with Bradley. This season and in 2019, he had no problem hitting lefties, so that is not a huge concern. His defense is vastly improved to the point that he is an asset in the field. If he works as hard this off season on his hitting approach as he did on his defense, he should be an asset. I'm gonna bet on the man as much as on the player.

I see a solid first five batters in the lineup in Straw, Amed, Jose, Franmil, and Bradley...although I'd like to move Bradley down. Run suppression trumps scoring, so I like Hedges/Berto as RH batters down in the lineup. They should provide about 20 home runs.

The addition of Straw and Bradley over a full season, and a whole season from Franmil makes up the 40 run deficit we have from our average scoring. Nobody else is playing above expectations or trends/track records...so I dont see any expected regression.

I have the resources to make at least one, and hopefully two, significant upgrades to the offense.

Going into the off season, I see a present roster that should put up a run differential of +120. My job is to push that up to about +160.
 
sportscoach said:
@Criznit

Part of Tampa's problem is the location of the Stadium... It's South of Tampa (in St. Pete) and with it's high population and only one major highway, it's a very hard stadium to get to. Distance wise, it's not fair from the city miles wise, but with what 5 million people in the area, trying to get to it during rush hour is nearly impossible. It always used to be free parking if you carpooled there (like 4 people or more). Also there is nothing else near the stadium, so it's secluded unlike Cleveland's where you can go hit the bar and whatnot before and after.
Click to expand...

My suggestion for anybody that wants to see a game at Tropicana is to get out of Tampa and into St Petes early...
and find a freaking parking spot. There are a lot of garages downtown within walking distance, along with parking at the stadium.

The most convenient place to eat/drink is Ferg's, which is the biggest sports bar I've ever seen. They claim they can put 10,000 in it (thats not a typo), but thats shoulder to shoulder in the parking lot for a concert. But it can easily hold a crowd for a Rays game. Fergs is probably two blocks away and has its own tunnel to the Trop, and its own bus stop, if you want to park further away and bus in.

There are several eating and drinking spots within walking distance, but its not like Cleveland, where there is a bar on every corner.

There are four breweries within a twelve minute walk. 3 Daughters is the farthest away at 12 minutes, but you can park in that area for free. But, unless there is a food truck, which is usually only weekends, they don't have food. But they have good beer (Beach Blonde Ale is gooood), and they have entertainment.

Not that I know anything about St Petes and beer....
 
CATS44 said:
As the GM, I continue to analyze as I watch the rest of the season play out.

I do a little math and I see that this team is going to give about 101 more runs than we have averaged since we hired Tito. I also see that this team is on pace to score about 38 runs less than we have averaged in that time. Its easy to see that the biggest problem for this team has been run suppression, mostly due to our rotation. But I also see that the defense has been sub par. I also see that we need help from the left side in the pen.

So, first things first.

As I look at our rotation options, I dont see a problem in either quality or quantity. I see the need to stay healthy and I am addressing that by being...maybe overly...cautious with Bieber, Civale, and TMac.

I have addressed the defense by bringing in Straw. I look at our young MIFs that are here and in Chicago and see plus defenders to man second base or shortstop. I see two very good late inning defensive options in the outfield in Zimmer and Mercado. Hedges is elite, and so is a healthy Perez, who I have to make a decision on...and that decision rests solely on cost. If he is affordable, I want him back.

I like the core of the bullpen. And, like the rotation, I see both quality and quantity, but I dont see a lot of experience. I like Hentges as a lefty out of the pen, but I need a Plan B that doesn't cost much. I want to keep Wittgren, but I need another vet. I'd like to resign Shaw, but it will depend upon the cost.

My biggest question is what to do with Logan, who I think will be a quality lefty SP...which I'd love to have...but doesn't look like a good bullpen option. As much as anybody, he's the guy I want to watch over the next few weeks.

Run suppression should not be a problem...and fixes are within my budget.

Obviously scoring is a concern, but not as big as the fans think. I dont need as much improvement as I do from the run suppression side, but I have more assets for acquisition.

The addition of Straw helps. I'm gonna roll with Bradley. This season and in 2019, he had no problem hitting lefties, so that is not a huge concern. His defense is vastly improved to the point that he is an asset in the field. If he works as hard this off season on his hitting approach as he did on his defense, he should be an asset. I'm gonna bet on the man as much as on the player.

I see a solid first five batters in the lineup in Straw, Amed, Jose, Franmil, and Bradley...although I'd like to move Bradley down. Run suppression trumps scoring, so I like Hedges/Berto as RH batters down in the lineup. They should provide about 20 home runs.

The addition of Straw and Bradley over a full season, and a whole season from Franmil makes up the 40 run deficit we have from our average scoring. Nobody else is playing above expectations or trends/track records...so I dont see any expected regression.

I have the resources to make at least one, and hopefully two, significant upgrades to the offense.

Going into the off season, I see a present roster that should put up a run differential of +120. My job is to push that up to about +160.
Click to expand...
I know, a shocker, but I disagree with you on the bullpen. There really is no need to bring back Witgren or Shaw, especially since that will require in excess of $1.75 million each I expect. I expect more dumpster diving in the off-season and perhaps one NRI will catch on. I also would seek out an established reliever in the $3 million range . Assuming Hedges stays, there’s no reason to keep Perez no matter what the price—we need some hitting from that position.
 
Benway said:
Pittsburgh is the 3rd best road draw in MLB, drawing better than Twice their home attendance. Interesting.
They have been similarly ranked (3rd to 6th overall with 2 exceptions) for the last decade.

Maybe we should replace the "Ohio Cup" with the "Rust-Belt Cup"?
Click to expand...
Maybe fans anticipate an offensive explosion by the home team when the Pirates are in town?
 
DCTribefan said:
I know, a shocker, but I disagree with you on the bullpen. There really is no need to bring back Witgren or Shaw, especially since that will require in excess of $1.75 million each I expect. I expect more dumpster diving in the off-season and perhaps one NRI will catch on. I also would seek out an established reliever in the $3 million range . Assuming Hedges stays, there’s no reason to keep Perez no matter what the price—we need some hitting from that position.
Click to expand...
For me, I'm fine with bringing one of Shaw/Wittgren back, or both back, or neither back. There are enough young, up and coming arms in the system that the BP should be a strength. If they would like to bring in a proven LHRP then that wouldn't upset me in the slightest, but I won't give up on their chances if they don't sign/trade for one either.

First and foremost, get the pitching staff healthy. A healthy Sandlin is a benefit to the BP. Not having our top 3 SP go down with injury would also go a long way toward being in contention. Has Mejia's and Hentges' experience this season made them better BP pitchers? The talent is certainly there.

Secondly, bolster the lineup. I don't give a shit how, just do it. If you want to put 5 Myles Straws in the lineup or 5 Franmil Reyes, I don't care as long as the offense improves. It doesn't have to be the best offense in the league with this pitching staff, but it needs to be better than it currently is.
 
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CDAV45 said:
For me, I'm fine with bringing one of Shaw/Wittgren back, or both back, or neither back. There are enough young, up and coming arms in the system that the BP should be a strength. If they would like to bring in a proven LHRP then that wouldn't upset me in the slightest, but I won't give up on their chances if they don't sign/trade for one either.

First and foremost, get the pitching staff healthy. A healthy Sandlin is a benefit to the BP. Not having our top 3 SP go down with injury would also go a long way toward being in contention. Has Mejia's and Hentges' experience this season make them better BP pitchers? The talent is certainly there.

Secondly, bolster the lineup. I don't give a shit how, just do it. If you want to put 5 Myles Straws in the lineup or 5 Franmil Reyes, I don't care as long as the offense improves. It doesn't have to be the best offense in the league with this pitching staff, but it needs to be better than it currently is.
Click to expand...
Agree on the importance of a healthy Sandlin, which could have a domino effect on the bullpen.
 
sportscoach said:
@Criznit

Part of Tampa's problem is the location of the Stadium... It's South of Tampa (in St. Pete) and with it's high population and only one major highway, it's a very hard stadium to get to. Distance wise, it's not fair from the city miles wise, but with what 5 million people in the area, trying to get to it during rush hour is nearly impossible. It always used to be free parking if you carpooled there (like 4 people or more). Also there is nothing else near the stadium, so it's secluded unlike Cleveland's where you can go hit the bar and whatnot before and after.
Click to expand...
I was riffing on Benway's post. These are road (away) game attendance numbers. When Tampa or anyone from the AL central comes to town.. No one cares/goes.
 
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