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Re: The MLB Thread
Nothing has major happened. Greinke and Hamilton still haven't signed
Greinke signed for 147 million over 6 years. The Dodgers have a 200 million dollar payroll. Guess they didn't learn from the Red Sox or Phillies of the past few years.
Rays bent over the Royals tonight in a trade. Rays acquire a top hitting prospect Wil Myers, minor league P Jake Odrozzi, and minor league P Mike Montgomery and low minors 3b Patrick Leonard for RHP James Shields, pitcher Wade Davis and a PTBNL.
Myers is supposed to be a top 5 hitting prospect in all of baseball and will be cheap. Odrozzi adds another starting pitching prospect to the Rays. The other two guys are lotto ticket type prospects. Shields is a good pitcher but he isn't Halladay (or insert whichever top pitcher you want) and he's going to be expensive going forward. And the Rays have enough depth at both the major and minor leagues to absorb the loss.
I'd hate to be a Royals fan right now.
The hot rumor for a day last week was that the Phillies may have had an interest in Ellsbury and Cliff Lee's name was floated around. I'd be on cloud 9 if that deal went down. Don't see it making much sense though from the Phillies perspective. Yes Lee is owed 75 million for the remaining 3 years of his contract, but I would think you could still get more for him than a player who only has one year left on his deal and will demand a large sum of money.
To be honest, I have no idea what the Phillies are doing. After they traded for Young they talked about maybe making another big move. With their payroll, I would expect them to stick with this group one last time. I think they said they weren't interested in moving Lee at this time.
Another guy the Red Sox can trade is Saltalamachia. He doesn't make that much and now is expendalble with Lawarrnay and Ross on the roster. I heard the White Sox might be interested.
Re: The MLB Thread
It's that time of year again. I've got decisions to make on who to keep for my fantasy baseball team. I can keep 2 hitters and 3 pitchers, however the players are in different tiers so I can't necessarily pick the top players all around. So here's the decisions I have to make.
I've had Hanley Ramirez as my main keeper for YEARS and unfortunately he's really gone downhill of late. The other choice I have instead of him is Jacoby Ellsbury. Ellsbury is in a contract year, so usually that means good things. I do think he's more of an injury risk, but Hanley hasn't played to his potential the last few campaigns. Another thing to keep in mind. Hanley qualifies for both 3B and SS. You have to start LF, CF, and RF in this league, not 3 random OF's. So Ellsbury's stock is a little higher as a CF than just an overall OF.
My other hitter spot is between Bret Lawrie and Jason Kipnis. Both young guys who didn't do quite as well as I had hoped last season, but both show promise. Both of their respective teams and lineups should be improved, so that should help. 2B is much shallower than 3B, so Kipnis may have the edge based on that. Freddie Freeman is also an option at 1B. Good power, but not much else that Kipnis and Lawrie can't provide.
Pitchers - I need to keep one RP, and the pickings are slim. Pretty much between Axford and Bentancourt. Not pretty, but Axford gets more K's so I guess he gets the nod.
As for SP's, I have Mat Latos and Madison Bumgarner. I also have Ian Kennedy, but I think Bumgarner is the better option.
If you can't tell, my team has missed the playoffs the last 2 years. I need to make good on some decisions before, during, and after the draft.
Re: The MLB Thread
It's that time of year again. I've got decisions to make on who to keep for my fantasy baseball team. I can keep 2 hitters and 3 pitchers, however the players are in different tiers so I can't necessarily pick the top players all around. So here's the decisions I have to make.
I've had Hanley Ramirez as my main keeper for YEARS and unfortunately he's really gone downhill of late. The other choice I have instead of him is Jacoby Ellsbury. Ellsbury is in a contract year, so usually that means good things. I do think he's more of an injury risk, but Hanley hasn't played to his potential the last few campaigns. Another thing to keep in mind. Hanley qualifies for both 3B and SS. You have to start LF, CF, and RF in this league, not 3 random OF's. So Ellsbury's stock is a little higher as a CF than just an overall OF.
My other hitter spot is between Bret Lawrie and Jason Kipnis. Both young guys who didn't do quite as well as I had hoped last season, but both show promise. Both of their respective teams and lineups should be improved, so that should help. 2B is much shallower than 3B, so Kipnis may have the edge based on that. Freddie Freeman is also an option at 1B. Good power, but not much else that Kipnis and Lawrie can't provide.
Pitchers - I need to keep one RP, and the pickings are slim. Pretty much between Axford and Bentancourt. Not pretty, but Axford gets more K's so I guess he gets the nod.
As for SP's, I have Mat Latos and Madison Bumgarner. I also have Ian Kennedy, but I think Bumgarner is the better option.
If you can't tell, my team has missed the playoffs the last 2 years. I need to make good on some decisions before, during, and after the draft.
Ramirez vs Ellsbury--I'd go with Ellsbury for the pure fact that he plays in Fenway and Hanley plays in the HR sapping Dodger stadium.
Lawrie vs Kipnis--No real data or anything just kind of a gut pick that Lawrie (and the Blue Jays for that matter) will have a better year.
Axford vs Betantcourt--Didn't know that Betantcourt was 37 years old. He also plays in Coors. I'd go with Axford too.
Latos and Bumgartner seem to be the right picks, although Latos plays for Dusty Baker and in the homer haven known as the Great American Ballpark.
Re: The MLB Thread
Thanks for the input. A little more data to consider.
Kipnis - 152/591 H/AB, 86 R, 4 3B, 14 HR, 76 RBI, 31 SB, .257 BA, .714 OPS
Lawrie - 135/494 H/AB, 73 R, 3 3B, 11 HR, 48 RBI, 13 SB, .273 BA, .729 OPS
Latos - 209.1 IP, 14 W, 2 CG, 185 K, 3.48 ERA, 1.16 WHIP
Kennedy - 208.1 IP, 15 W, 1 CG, 187 K, 4.02 ERA, 1.30 WHIP
Re: The MLB Thread
Jeffrey Loria writes a letter to who, exactly?
by Rob Neyer / SB Nation
There are a lot of reasons to hate the Internet. Cat videos. YouTube comments. I can't think of any others right now, but existence is full of ambiguity so there must be some. There are also lots of reasons to love the Internet. I like that video where the dog teaches the puppy how to go down stairs, for instance. That's about it, though. Oh, and I also like it when somebody takes out a full-page ad in the paper, and they put it online so everyone can enjoy it. Case in point: Yesterday, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria took out a full-page ad in the Miami newspapers ...
It's no secret that last season was not our best -- actually it was one of our worst. In large part, our performance on the field stunk and something needed to be done.
So far, so good. It really was one of your worst seasons. Actually, it wasn't one of your worst seasons; it was the worst. You purchased the Marlins before the 2002 season. The 2012 Marlins, purely in terms of on-the-field performance, lost more games with a worse run differential than any of your previous teams. So yes it stunk and something did need doing. But don't let me interrupt, please continue!
As a result of some bold moves, many grabbed hold of our tough yet necessary decision only to unleash a vicious cycle of negativity.
Translation: People are really, really mad at me.
As the owner of the ballclub, the buck stops with me and I take my share of the blame where it's due.
In the old days, when a person said "I'm to blame" or "I take full responsibility," it was often followed by "and so I tender this resignation." Now when someone takes full responsibility, nothing happens. But I digress. Can you list exactly the mistakes you've made, and what you've learned from them? How much of a share do you have coming? Is it less than twenty percent, like the Marlins' contribution to the financing of Marlins Park?
However, many of the things being said about us are simply not true. I've sat by quietly and allowed this to continue. Now it's time for me to respond to our most important constituents, the fans who love the game of baseball.
Wait. Confused. Why are you responding to the fans who love the game of baseball? Isn't it the "many" who unleashed the vicious cycle of negativity you should be responding to? What did those poor baseball-loving constituents do that merits a response? Have they also been negative? But they love baseball!
The controversial trade we made with the Toronto Blue Jays was approved by Commissioner Bud Selig and has been almost universally celebrated by baseball experts outside of Miami for its value.
Hold the phone ... the trade was approved by Commissioner Bud Selig? Well what the hell are people complaining about? But there's something I can't figure out ... If it wasn't the baseball-lovers who unleashed the vicious cycle of negativity and it wasn't the baseball experts outside of Miami who unleashed the vicious cycle, who was it? Because I'm concerned that they might not read the Miami newspapers, in which case you'll have to do this all over again soon.
In fact, objective experts have credited us with going from the 28th ranked Minor League system in baseball to the 5th best during this period. Of the Top 100 Minor Leaguers rated by MLB Network, we have six -- tied for the most of any team in the league.
That's a good point about the farm system. A year ago, it wasn't real good. Now Baseball America says it's the fifth-best in the game. Baseball America concurs about the prospects, too, placing six Marlins in their Top 100 list. You're on really solid ground here, talking about all the young talent and how wonderful the team might be in three or four years. Well done. Now's the time for a quick, graceful exi--wait, there's more? A lot more?
The very same naysayers who are currently skeptical once attacked us for bringing Pudge Rodriguez to the Marlins in 2003. More than any other, that move contributed to our World Series Championship.
You know that was 10 years ago, right? Still, Pudge was really good that season. I might argue that hiring Jack McKeon in May to manage the club made an even bigger difference than signing Pudge. But the naysayers were probably skeptical about that one, too. Now you're going to say goodbye, right? Before you say anything that might actually get you in troub-- Oh, no.
The ballpark issue has been repeatedly reported incorrectly and there are some very negative accustations [sic] being thrown around. It ain't true, folks. Those who have attacked us are entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts. The majority of public funding came from hotel taxes, the burden of which is incurred by tourists who are visiting our city, NOT the resident taxpayers.
A lot of people probably figure a New York art dealer is above saying ain't. Now we know better. You're a real man of the people. About those hotel taxes, though ... Yes, the direct burden is borne by the tourists and the convention-goers. And hell yeah, soak those non-resident taxpayers for all they're worth. You've heard of opportunity cost, though, right? Those hotel taxes might have been spent on just about anything else; coincidentally, "just about anything else" would probably have created more permanent jobs and tangible benefits for the residents than a new baseball stadium.
The Marlins organization also agreed to contribute $161.2 million toward the ballpark, plus the cost of the garage complex. In addition, the Marlins receive no operating subsidy from local government funding. The ballpark required that all debt service is paid by existing revenue.
I don't know what that means. But I did read this and it looks bad. Real bad. Probably the best thing is to avoid the words "debt service" until you sell the franchise, at which point your prospective buyers will be thrilled with the news that the Marlins won't be servicing any stadium debt, nossir.
Furthermore, many are attacking the County's method of financing for its contribution, but the Marlins had nothing at all to do with that.
Translation: It was those other guys who stole the money. We just asked for it, and they gave it to us, and we spent it.
The fact is, with your help, we built Marlins Park, a crown jewel in our beautiful Miami skyline, which has won over twenty design and architecture awards and will help make us a premiere ballclub moving forward.
Well, that's why we play the games, to win design awards. - Everyone
The simple fact is that we don't have unlimited funds, nor does any baseball team or business. Fans didn't turn out last season as much as we'd like, even with the high-profile players the columnists decry us having traded. The main ingredient to a successful ball club is putting together a winning team, including a necessary core of young talent. Are we fiscally capable and responsible enough to fill the roster with talented players, invest in the daily demands of running a world-class organization and bring a World Series back to Miami? Absolutely! Is it sound business sense to witness an expensive roster with a terrible record and sit idly by doing nothing? No. I can and will invest in building a winner, but last season wasn't sustainable and we needed to start from scratch quickly to build this team from the ground up.
Huh. Seems like a strange strategy. So if the Marlins didn't win last season, the plan all along was to start from scratch immediately? Did you mention this to anyone with the city or the county before asking for the $500 million (plus debt service)? Also, did you commission any studies about what would happen to attendance if you signed a bunch of high-profile players? It seems like that's something you might want to do, before signing a bunch of high-profile players. You're right, though: It's not sound business sense to lose with an expensive roster. Is it sound business (or baseball) sense to sign a bunch of past-their-prime veterans and think you're going to win 20 more games than the year before? Absolutely not!
An organization is only as good as its connection with the community. We know we can do a better job communicating with our fans. That starts now. From this point forward we can ensure fans and the entire community that we will keep you abreast of our plan, rationale and motivations.
Sounds good. Say, a full-page update in the all the newspapers, on the first day of each month from now until the next time you're in the World Series? Because the naysayers objective experts can really use the material.
Amidst the current news coverage, it an be easy to forget how far we went together not so long ago. In 2003, I helped bring a second World Series Title to South Florida.
Actually, that does seem like sort of long ago. I think that was before e-mail. Instagram for sure.
We know how to build a winning team, and have every intention of doing so again.
Depends on your definitions of "know" and "winning team", I guess. One thing we "know" is that in the nine seasons since winning the World Series, the Marlins have lost more games (750) than they've won (707) and been outscored by 293 runs (give or take zero runs). Considering that you haven't come within four wins of a postseason berth since 2003, it's not completely apparent that you do, indeed, "know" how to "build" a "winning" "team".
We're in this together and I humbly ask that we start fresh, watch us mature quickly as a ball club, and root for the home team in 2013.
Hey, we'll be there at the ballpark in 2013. Right there with the other 43 people in Miami who, after all those winning teams you've built, still love baseball
Re: The MLB Thread
Score 3 pts on the board for Rob Neyer. I couldn't have said it better myself.
I don't know how many people have paid attention this off-season to the absolute dismantling that has been going on in Miami, but before I thought Loria was a scum-sucking dog, and now? I think he's about one-tier lower than "child molestor".
Loria is a piece of shit. First he DESTROYED baseball in Montreal, with the help of "Bud". Selig didn't want the Expos around anymore, despite there being an obvious fanbase and support from the city of Montreal, but because they didn't hit some number Bud wanted, Loria was brought it to intentionally bury the Expos, with the promise of another team for pennies on the dollar = the 2002 Florida Marlins. There's a whole, legendary J.R. Ewing-esque story behind the death of the Expos I won't get into here, but Loria was a piece of shit.
Fast forward to the "Miami" Marlins. Not only does he fuck over the taxpayers in Miami by HIDING team revenue and downplaying, not to mention reap the rewards of tourist tax dollars. But he fucks over the fans in South Florida, a whole whopping smash of "three people" who showed up to buy season tickets on the day of them going on sale, but with revenue sharing, he can spend very little, drive value way up, and get just as much money and then sell the team, all the while burying another franchise -- the Marlins -- and destroying baseball in another city.
THEN, when his fat ass is called out on it, and he is slammed as human scum in Miami, this narcissistic pig goes and writes an Axl "open letter to whom it may concern" basically instead of taking the blame, talks about how great he is, what he's done for the city, and has the unmitigated gall to go "have we forgotton that I brought South Florida it's second championship 10 YEARS AGO?"
Like they should be grateful that he bestowed his money to BRING them a championship, all the way stealing the money out of their pockets with failed promises. I'd go so far to say this guy is the most hated man in Miami right now, and fends off the haters with the most narcissistic, blame shifting, whiney, woe is me, Republican-entitlement fueled "fuck off" letter that i've ever seen.
This man is a pig. I hate his fucking guts, and i'm a Cubs fan. I have boycotted the "Miami" Marlins. I haven't seen the new stadium, the new suck ass team, nor do I want to. Fuck him, fuck his franchise, and his fuckin' black alternate jersey's.
When your hispanic community doesn't even want to support you down there in that obviously South American-themed park... that is a HUGE statement.
I hope Selig runs this guy out of baseball (he won't because BUD put him there to begin with, he's his boy). Loria is an embarassment to the game. This fat pig had the nerve to tell Jose Reyes to "buy a home, settle down here in Miami", then traded him to the Jays two days later. That's the kind of narcissistic, sociopathic, lying pig this guy is.
I hope he's ran out of baseball, and someone with some pride and true love of baseball can save the Fish before any legacy they have and any South Florida baseball fans completely swim away.
Re: The MLB Thread
Sometimes I wonder how the American sport system came to be. The worst teams get the best new players and you can't be relegated? Salary regulations? That wouldn't surprise me in the Soviet Union or some other socialist dictatorship, but in America? I just don't get how the free market principle can reign in everything else but when it comes to sports there's this hardcore socialist philosophy.
Re: The MLB Thread
Bwhahahahahahahaha
Thank you Poll. THANK YOU!
I got booed and chastized out of a classroom of baseball players for suggesting that awhile back. Amazing how the most American sport in America is the most successful example of pure socialism.
Major League Baseball
"Cause Lenin Was Right"
Re: The MLB Thread
I think I remember reading something a few months ago about how Loria fucked over the Expos in their dying years. The only strike against Montreal was that their stadium was a poor baseball facility. But you can't force cities to build new ones if they don't want to (or don't have the cash). This is one of my pet peeves in sports: how rich millionaires force cities to build stadiums. It's absurd how some of these clubs use the threat of relocation to basically force these cities to pony up.
The state of Florida chose the wrong team to build a stadium for, the Rays are far more deserving than the Marlins. And they have been for some time.
Re: The MLB Thread
Oh and btw, the Rays are NOT getting a stadium anytime soon... thanks to the Marlins.
The Rays have basically been told, without being told by Hillsbourough County, that they won't be duped like Miami-Dade County was.
How absurd, and bullshit. The Rays are being punished for Loria being a con-artist asshole and the Fauxrida Marlins. I think the Rays will eventually have to move somewhere where they are wanted. Maybe Las Vegas, or a new Canadian team.
