Adon I think was non-tendered and he must have passed through waivers. No one else took a chance on him.
Llovera was an amateur free agent and was in the Phillies system until they cut him loose. Giants signed him to a one-year deal. He was a free agent again but apparently the Giants are the only ones interested.
We hear about guys getting DFAd but we don't often hear the follow-up. Very often they re-sign with the same club.
He calls Slater "the best role player in baseball." It seems that a lot of Giants fans don't like the platooning, pinch-hitting, and large-scale substitutions that characterize the Kapler Giants. I'm of the opposite opinion. I love all the changes because that means we get to see ALL of the players! I know it is not the game I watched years ago where we'd see the same 8 guys every day and a platoon was a weird circumstance not a normal practice. The guys on the bench only played during double-headers and getaway games (or because of an injury). I like seeing an entire roster deployed. Get the best match-ups you can! There are only a handful of Mookie Betts- or Manny Machado-types who can play every day and perform at a very high level. Most players are like Slater. Kudos to the Giants for maximizing what he brings to the game rather than fretting over his limitations.
I agree. So they may not get enough AB's to be HOFers, but if they are platoon guys, most would not be HOFers if they played everyday. Some guys just have great splits.
I saw today where MLB has made the runner on second base to start extra innings permanent. I thought that was a temporary fix during covid. Not that covid is really over. But permanent? My wife who is only a mediocre baseball fan, said to me, "That is crazy" "wasn't that temporary" Not only live or die baseball fans like me, find it disturbing, but less intense fans like my wife find it disturbing. I do not like playing 9 innings by one rule, and then playing extra-innings by another. For me, there are way too many rule changes this year. Enough already.
It was a bad idea for baseball when it was deemed necessary due to the potential lack of players, it's a bad idea now. It's time to start putting multiple caveats in the record books. That is already needed for stats like "most hits, or wins, or whatever, in the postseason" now it is going to have to affect seasonal stats, like RBI, runs scored (how about legitimate vs non-legitimate?). MLB is clearly trying to cater to ADHD-addled youth and ruining the sporting endeavor in the process.
The extras rule is very popular with teams and players because there are fewer impacts to the schedule and travel arrangements. TV likes it too because the games end quicker and the end time is more predictable. GMs and managers like it because there is less wear and tear on players and less roster juggling. (I think they should have permanent taxi squads for extra-inning games, double-headers, rainouts, etc.)
It's too gimmicky for me as I would prefer to simply have a tie after 12 innings. I think having a "draw" is the best solution. You could implement a tie-breaker if that would be preferable. Like the team with the most baserunners or hits or some combo of hits+walks-DP or somesuch. They want to encourage more balls in play so that could create an incentive.
But I don't really have a problem with the rule. It's not MY solution, but it will work. We'll get used to it. I think the pace-of-play rules are going to be a good thing, too. The game is much too slow. Implementation will be ugly in the early going, but they'll figure it out.
As far as record books go, they are just record books. They tell what happened. They aren't scripture. They can be modified, updated, corrected, etc. as needed. Baseball-Reference has, for example, added Negro Leagues players and records to their MLB database. And fans can always pick which records are most meaningful to them as in the people this year who declared that Judge's 62 is the "real" record because it isn't tainted by steroids. Hey, whatever works for ya!
Kids these days are more likely to watch soccer or NBA or weird shit like MMA or competitive river-rafting. I think MLB is trying to resuscitate their TV product which is still hampered by RSNs and broadcast rights and blackout rules and all that nonsense. Every other sport in the world tweaks the rules to improve the play on the field. Baseball needs upgrading. I think we'll all get used to it pretty quickly. Amateur players and minor-leaguers are already doing this stuff--it will be second nature to them when they are called to the bigs.
Not sure what they are trying to recussitate. Baseball is making more money than ever, and the stadiums are packed when covid is not a problem, except of course teams like Miami, who for years refused to field a competitive team. Quicker games, less commercials, and less revenue from commercials. But the odd part is, some folks like me, who love the game, actually like the pace of the game. I hate waiting inbetween plays in football. In basketball the last 2 minutes can take a half hour, with all the fouls, time outs etc. They also have replay revue. Football also has penalties, time outs etc, all of which slow the game down. I do not prefer to watch the game as if I have ADHD. Baseball video games are for those folks. I suspect the players may like some of the changes, but some probably do not. Like the DH will probably allow some good hit no field guys stay in the league a lot longer. But for me, I preferred national league baseball without the DH. I also do not like that a pitcher coming in during an inning has to face 3 batters before he can be replaced. If injured and replaced, then the replacement has as long as he wants to warm-up. To me, the pace of baseball has been part of which makes it great. I do not need more adrenaline rushes during a game than I already get. Baseball is among the most cerebral of the athletic games, and I am not looking to make it more impulsive and less cerebral. I know a lot of people disagree with me about they way they see it, but I am sure I am not alone.
I think we've all noticed an increase in the so-called Three True Outcomes or TTOs: walks, homers, and strikeouts. The game has changed. There are fewer balls in play. Fielders have less work to do. I think MLB should try to tweak the game to improve that. I can think of an easy fix: bonuses to players who lead their league/division/team in hits! Not batting average but a raw hit total. Automatic league-wide bonuses as incentives for players to put more balls into play and improve the action. MLB banned the shift instead, but at least they are addressing the issue. A TTO-dominated game is not as interesting as a game with more balls in play.
We all remember Nomar Garciaparra and his obsessive and annoying re-adjusting of his batting glove velcro wrist straps after each and every pitch. It has taken much too long but MLB is FINALLY addressing that--in my mind--serious pace of play problem. We all like pitchers who work quickly. Time to get the laggards going. I would have preferred a non-clock solution but if it takes a clock I'm all for it. Pace of play problems lie elsewhere, of course. The TV people are really to blame for much of the slowdown, but the players have been allowed to get sloppy and the game is not as briskly played as it once was. MLB can work on the field level, but bucking the TV industry takes a longer view and there's less chance of success.
The thing that baseball will always have over other sports is that you are guaranteed your final three outs. We saw in the last Stupid Bowl how an exciting game was given a dud finish by the clock management tactics. In baseball you always get your last ups. There's no 4-corner stall or taking a knee. The extras rules don't change that.
Finally, I think the extras rules will save on players. Cut down those injury chances. Keep bullpen arms healthy. I think those are good outcomes even if the method is a little cheesy.
There are benefits to the changes, but their are risks also. A league bonus for hits, could go against a particular teams philosphy promoting the long ball and being ok with more K's. one risk is taking life long fans and changing the game. Many things change in life, and small incremental changes in the game seem reasonable. A whole bunch of changes all at once seem distracting. With all these changes may as well put in electronic ball and strike calling. Poor calling of balls and strikes is a major complaint of fans, and some players alike. There are a lot of changes this year. Large bases, time clocks, number of pick off throws etc. Seems as with covid we had enough changes over the last few years. Would be nice if baseball remained steady in their rules. Maybe the next commissioner will come in and make more wholesale changes. Before you know it by 2030 you will be watching a very different game. With all the new technology may as well allow aluminum bats, and allow pitchers to wear armor.
"Quicker games, less commercials, and less revenue from commercials."
MLB does not want quicker games, they want a faster pace of play. If that were to shorten the game, they could then add more commercials. Don't think they won't! I have to agree that Garciaparra's and, for that matter, Pablo Sandoval's incessant glove fiddling were boring. The solution, however, is much more simple than they've come up with - don't grant time for clothing adjustments, unless there is a brushback, a knockdown, foul ball, something of that nature. If MLB hasn't overreached already, they will soon enough.
That, I think, was my point. MLB had a lot of possible ways to address the pace-of-play issues and they picked a "shot-clock" solution. It's the one that leaves the least discretion to the umpires. I would have preferred to give the home plate ump the authority to say "move along, boys, or I'll call a pitch" but that's not going to fly. No one wants to see their heroes get jobbed by what will appear to be selective enforcement. The clock makes is clear to everyone what is happening.
MLB does want quicker games. Game times average about 3 hours and Manfred has said he thinks 2-1/2 hours is the "sweet spot."
Historically games were almost always under three hours. I think it is a legitimate thing to work on.
Historically there were a lot less pitching changes. In one season between Marichal and Perry alone, how many complete games were thrown with no pitching changes. They were good enough to not often have to be subjected to the grind of long innings. Even though MLB has somewhat limited the number of Felipe Alou type pitching changes, compared to the era of Marichal, Gibson, Koufax, Drysdale, Perry, there are a lot of pitching changes. The quirks that batters have in the batters box, were always things that young fans loved to immitate. As a youngster we would mimic Rocky Colavito, Minnie Minoso, Vic Wertz, and others who had some crazy in the batters box routines. It was part of the fun of the game. It seems as if the pace of the game is quicker, the games will be shorter, and unless they spend the inbetween inning time for more commercials, commercial time will be limited. On my way home last night I saw at the local high school field a game going on. Of course it is Florida, and baseball season starts earlier. I played in N.J. back in the day, and we did not start high school practice until March 1. Although I guess the southern states are known to be SEC states and football is very popular. Baseball also seems to be quite popular. I hope it all works out, and that baseball is making the right moves. Of course they can and will continue to tweak the game. But I am skeptical.
14 comments:
I thought we lost Adon, and Llovera. I guess I must live in an alternative universe at times. Not often though.
Adon I think was non-tendered and he must have passed through waivers. No one else took a chance on him.
Llovera was an amateur free agent and was in the Phillies system until they cut him loose. Giants signed him to a one-year deal. He was a free agent again but apparently the Giants are the only ones interested.
We hear about guys getting DFAd but we don't often hear the follow-up. Very often they re-sign with the same club.
Really nice piece on FanGraphs from Kyle Kishimoto about Austin Slater.
He calls Slater "the best role player in baseball." It seems that a lot of Giants fans don't like the platooning, pinch-hitting, and large-scale substitutions that characterize the Kapler Giants. I'm of the opposite opinion. I love all the changes because that means we get to see ALL of the players! I know it is not the game I watched years ago where we'd see the same 8 guys every day and a platoon was a weird circumstance not a normal practice. The guys on the bench only played during double-headers and getaway games (or because of an injury). I like seeing an entire roster deployed. Get the best match-ups you can! There are only a handful of Mookie Betts- or Manny Machado-types who can play every day and perform at a very high level. Most players are like Slater. Kudos to the Giants for maximizing what he brings to the game rather than fretting over his limitations.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/austin-slater-the-best-role-player-in-baseball/
I agree. So they may not get enough AB's to be HOFers, but if they are platoon guys, most would not be HOFers if they played everyday. Some guys just have great splits.
I saw today where MLB has made the runner on second base to start extra innings permanent. I thought that was a temporary fix during covid. Not that covid is really over. But permanent? My wife who is only a mediocre baseball fan, said to me, "That is crazy" "wasn't that temporary" Not only live or die baseball fans like me, find it disturbing, but less intense fans like my wife find it disturbing. I do not like playing 9 innings by one rule, and then playing extra-innings by another. For me, there are way too many rule changes this year. Enough already.
It was a bad idea for baseball when it was deemed necessary due to the potential lack of players, it's a bad idea now. It's time to start putting multiple caveats in the record books. That is already needed for stats like "most hits, or wins, or whatever, in the postseason" now it is going to have to affect seasonal stats, like RBI, runs scored (how about legitimate vs non-legitimate?). MLB is clearly trying to cater to ADHD-addled youth and ruining the sporting endeavor in the process.
The extras rule is very popular with teams and players because there are fewer impacts to the schedule and travel arrangements. TV likes it too because the games end quicker and the end time is more predictable. GMs and managers like it because there is less wear and tear on players and less roster juggling. (I think they should have permanent taxi squads for extra-inning games, double-headers, rainouts, etc.)
It's too gimmicky for me as I would prefer to simply have a tie after 12 innings. I think having a "draw" is the best solution. You could implement a tie-breaker if that would be preferable. Like the team with the most baserunners or hits or some combo of hits+walks-DP or somesuch. They want to encourage more balls in play so that could create an incentive.
But I don't really have a problem with the rule. It's not MY solution, but it will work. We'll get used to it. I think the pace-of-play rules are going to be a good thing, too. The game is much too slow. Implementation will be ugly in the early going, but they'll figure it out.
As far as record books go, they are just record books. They tell what happened. They aren't scripture. They can be modified, updated, corrected, etc. as needed. Baseball-Reference has, for example, added Negro Leagues players and records to their MLB database. And fans can always pick which records are most meaningful to them as in the people this year who declared that Judge's 62 is the "real" record because it isn't tainted by steroids. Hey, whatever works for ya!
Kids these days are more likely to watch soccer or NBA or weird shit like MMA or competitive river-rafting. I think MLB is trying to resuscitate their TV product which is still hampered by RSNs and broadcast rights and blackout rules and all that nonsense. Every other sport in the world tweaks the rules to improve the play on the field. Baseball needs upgrading. I think we'll all get used to it pretty quickly. Amateur players and minor-leaguers are already doing this stuff--it will be second nature to them when they are called to the bigs.
David Laurila talks to Will Bednar about his slider.
Not sure what they are trying to recussitate. Baseball is making more money than ever, and the stadiums are packed when covid is not a problem, except of course teams like Miami, who for years refused to field a competitive team. Quicker games, less commercials, and less revenue from commercials. But the odd part is, some folks like me, who love the game, actually like the pace of the game. I hate waiting inbetween plays in football. In basketball the last 2 minutes can take a half hour, with all the fouls, time outs etc. They also have replay revue. Football also has penalties, time outs etc, all of which slow the game down. I do not prefer to watch the game as if I have ADHD. Baseball video games are for those folks. I suspect the players may like some of the changes, but some probably do not. Like the DH will probably allow some good hit no field guys stay in the league a lot longer. But for me, I preferred national league baseball without the DH. I also do not like that a pitcher coming in during an inning has to face 3 batters before he can be replaced. If injured and replaced, then the replacement has as long as he wants to warm-up. To me, the pace of baseball has been part of which makes it great. I do not need more adrenaline rushes during a game than I already get. Baseball is among the most cerebral of the athletic games, and I am not looking to make it more impulsive and less cerebral. I know a lot of people disagree with me about they way they see it, but I am sure I am not alone.
I think we've all noticed an increase in the so-called Three True Outcomes or TTOs: walks, homers, and strikeouts. The game has changed. There are fewer balls in play. Fielders have less work to do. I think MLB should try to tweak the game to improve that. I can think of an easy fix: bonuses to players who lead their league/division/team in hits! Not batting average but a raw hit total. Automatic league-wide bonuses as incentives for players to put more balls into play and improve the action. MLB banned the shift instead, but at least they are addressing the issue. A TTO-dominated game is not as interesting as a game with more balls in play.
We all remember Nomar Garciaparra and his obsessive and annoying re-adjusting of his batting glove velcro wrist straps after each and every pitch. It has taken much too long but MLB is FINALLY addressing that--in my mind--serious pace of play problem. We all like pitchers who work quickly. Time to get the laggards going. I would have preferred a non-clock solution but if it takes a clock I'm all for it. Pace of play problems lie elsewhere, of course. The TV people are really to blame for much of the slowdown, but the players have been allowed to get sloppy and the game is not as briskly played as it once was. MLB can work on the field level, but bucking the TV industry takes a longer view and there's less chance of success.
The thing that baseball will always have over other sports is that you are guaranteed your final three outs. We saw in the last Stupid Bowl how an exciting game was given a dud finish by the clock management tactics. In baseball you always get your last ups. There's no 4-corner stall or taking a knee. The extras rules don't change that.
Finally, I think the extras rules will save on players. Cut down those injury chances. Keep bullpen arms healthy. I think those are good outcomes even if the method is a little cheesy.
There are benefits to the changes, but their are risks also. A league bonus for hits, could go against a particular teams philosphy promoting the long ball and being ok with more K's. one risk is taking life long fans and changing the game. Many things change in life, and small incremental changes in the game seem reasonable. A whole bunch of changes all at once seem distracting. With all these changes may as well put in electronic ball and strike calling. Poor calling of balls and strikes is a major complaint of fans, and some players alike. There are a lot of changes this year. Large bases, time clocks, number of pick off throws etc. Seems as with covid we had enough changes over the last few years. Would be nice if baseball remained steady in their rules. Maybe the next commissioner will come in and make more wholesale changes. Before you know it by 2030 you will be watching a very different game. With all the new technology may as well allow aluminum bats, and allow pitchers to wear armor.
"Quicker games, less commercials, and less revenue from commercials."
MLB does not want quicker games, they want a faster pace of play. If that were to shorten the game, they could then add more commercials. Don't think they won't! I have to agree that Garciaparra's and, for that matter, Pablo Sandoval's incessant glove fiddling were boring. The solution, however, is much more simple than they've come up with - don't grant time for clothing adjustments, unless there is a brushback, a knockdown, foul ball, something of that nature. If MLB hasn't overreached already, they will soon enough.
That, I think, was my point. MLB had a lot of possible ways to address the pace-of-play issues and they picked a "shot-clock" solution. It's the one that leaves the least discretion to the umpires. I would have preferred to give the home plate ump the authority to say "move along, boys, or I'll call a pitch" but that's not going to fly. No one wants to see their heroes get jobbed by what will appear to be selective enforcement. The clock makes is clear to everyone what is happening.
MLB does want quicker games. Game times average about 3 hours and Manfred has said he thinks 2-1/2 hours is the "sweet spot."
Historically games were almost always under three hours. I think it is a legitimate thing to work on.
Historically there were a lot less pitching changes. In one season between Marichal and Perry alone, how many complete games were thrown with no pitching changes. They were good enough to not often have to be subjected to the grind of long innings. Even though MLB has somewhat limited the number of Felipe Alou type pitching changes, compared to the era of Marichal, Gibson, Koufax, Drysdale, Perry, there are a lot of pitching changes. The quirks that batters have in the batters box, were always things that young fans loved to immitate. As a youngster we would mimic Rocky Colavito, Minnie Minoso, Vic Wertz, and others who had some crazy in the batters box routines. It was part of the fun of the game. It seems as if the pace of the game is quicker, the games will be shorter, and unless they spend the inbetween inning time for more commercials, commercial time will be limited. On my way home last night I saw at the local high school field a game going on. Of course it is Florida, and baseball season starts earlier. I played in N.J. back in the day, and we did not start high school practice until March 1. Although I guess the southern states are known to be SEC states and football is very popular. Baseball also seems to be quite popular. I hope it all works out, and that baseball is making the right moves. Of course they can and will continue to tweak the game. But I am skeptical.
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