The Arizona Diamondbacks had no answer--once again--for the relentless Texas Rangers who won their 11th road game to take the World Series title. Bruce Bochy joins Joe McCarthy, Casey Stengel, Connie Mack, Walter Alston, and Joe Torre as managers with at least four rings. It was a close series until it wasn't. Even a six-inning no-hit effort from Zac Gallen couldn't help the D-Backs win a game at home.
Things can happen now. Things like signing free agents and stuff. I've no idea what to expect from the Giants. My shopping list is: Shohei Ohtani. Other than that, I'm open to lots of new players. Bring 'em on board! I'm sure the new manager has some ideas about the roster, we'll see how that plays out.
It's November already! I think the baseball season should finish by Hallowe'en, don't you?
--M.C.
10 comments:
MLBTR has a calendar of important off-season dates.
Nov 7-9 is GM meetings in Scottsdale.
Ohtani, will not be able to pitch next year. It seems that SF would be an attractive destination for a pitcher like Ohtani, but not as attractive as a hitter. Being he will most likely only play on the offense side of the field next year, it would seem as if Oracle is less attractive a place to play. Hopefully this year we can land a few helpful free agents to at least get the giants into the post season. Congrats to Bochy.
Ohtani is the ONE PLAYER EVERYONE WANTS so I don't expect him to wind up in SF! But I might as well aim high.
There's talk Ohtani may not pitch again, ever. That would take away a lot, but he's a massively great hitter regardless so he'll be worth whatever hundreds of millions he is bound to get.
Supposedly the Giants are interested in Yoshinobu Yamamoto who is only 24 and has put up ridiculous numbers for the Orix Buffaloes for the last four seasons.
Here's the B-R link: https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=yamamo004yos
I read one story about Bob Melvin (I can't remember where) that says he has strong links with Japanese players and that might help the Giants sign some NPB talent. Hey, whatever works!
Other issues with signing Japanese players is that the Mets already have a Japanese star pitcher and he is supposedly actively trying to entice Yamamoto to join him in N.Y. Also as far as managers are concerned, although I am not sure, I think Dave Roberts speaks Japanese so that should give him a certain advantage as well.
I see that Logan Webb is a "finalist" along with Blake Snell and Zac Gallen for the NL CYA.
Webb is certainly a stud and certainly deserving of notice. But this is so weird! How can Spencer Strider and Zack Wheeler NOT be on the list? Also, why have NL and AL awards? Players now play against every other team. You can't separate AL vs NL performances any more.
I agree about the N.L. - A.L. situation, and that is just another reason why I don't like it. Why even have two leagues. Let the best 8 teams into the playoffs. I do however prefer two leagues, and in a little more of traditional sense than 2023. I did not like it when playoff contending teams, were playing a weak team in the other league in middle and late September. I thought is was kind of sucky.
“I think the baseball season should finish by Hallowe'en, don't you?”
Yes! Baseball should not be played in November. Keep the World Series in October. But you can’t have game 7 on Halloween. Halloween is for kids. I’m not missing trick or treating with my kids. Even if you don’t care about Halloween and you are the go to the movies on Halloween type, you don’t want the door bell to keep ringing during game 7. So game 7 has to be on October 30th. Work backwards from there, last day of the season, opening day, spring training, etc. Never mind opening days getting rescheduled due to snow….
I like the expanded playoffs. (I could quibble with the set-up and schedule, however.) Ultimately more teams in the mix is better overall for the game. But the season is too long, for sure. And good point about Hallowe'en and Game Seven.
April 1st to October 30th would be my ideal.
The Union probably would not allow the season to be any long. For me the off season is too long. I would be happy if baseball had a 192 game season. But clearly the shortened season was way too short. If the game is on the West coast, by the time it airs on the east coast, the kids have already stopped coming to the door by game time on Halloween. Plus if the game is on Halloween, a lot of people will be wearing SF Giants colors.
Indeed, it's an orange-and-black festival!
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