MLB 2022 Season: Houston Warship: Go Phuck Yourselves

[Timby]

The apocalypse is behind us, and MLB's owner-imposed lockout is over!

... and the MLBPA got fuckin' rolled with the new collective bargaining agreement. They made up almost no ground in any of the things they were looking for, including an end to service time manipulation, reducing the age at which players earn free agency, the qualifying offer (MLB has said that the QO goes away if the league and union come to agreement on terms of an international draft by July, otherwise the system remains as-is), the commissioner's office's right to unilaterally institute rule changes--such as the pitch clock and the zombie runner in extra innings--league-minimum salary and more.

Notably, all of these concessions happened once MLBPA executive director Tony Clark re-entered negotiations, as opposed to Bruce Meyer, who had been leading the labor talks for the union.

But baseball is back, my brothers and sisters!

Your Opening Day matchups:

Reminder that T-Mobile customers are eligible for a free year of MLB.tv.

Edit: One new wrinkle this year is that MLB has agreed to the use of PitchCom.

MLB informed clubs in a memo today that it is moving forward with regular-season use of PitchCom -- a wearable device that transmits signals from catcher to pitcher -- in 2022. The technology, which will be optional, was approved by the MLB Players Association after receiving generally positive feedback in experimental usage at the Single-A level last year and in big league camps during Spring Training this year.

Aimed at both improving pace of play and preventing opponent sign-stealing, PitchCom eliminates the need for a catcher’s traditional finger signals. Rather, the catcher wears a forearm sleeve -- resembling a remote control -- with nine buttons for calling the pitch and location. The pitcher has a receiver in his cap, the catcher has one in his helmet and receivers can also be worn by up to three other fielders (typically, the two middle infielders and the center fielder) to adjust fielder positioning.


An encrypted channel can be used in multiple languages, and teams can also program in code words to replace pitch names such as “fastball” or “curveball.”

I guarantee you that teams are already attempting to hack this.

Play ball!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

While it was totally obvious that Bobby Witt Jr. was gonna get called up to the Royals, I'm still mildly annoyed at it, 'cause it means my dad and I won't be able to see him play down here anymore. He's my dad's favorite player.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I guarantee you that teams are already attempting to hack this.

Yuuuuup! The moment I read that description (I hadn't even heard about the proposal until now), I knew that this isn't the failsafe solution they're trying to sell it as.

 

[1001001]

Sweet!

Go Angels!

(Yeah, yeah. I know).

 

[Aragorn]

Albert Pujols files for divorce a few days after his wife had brain surgery. A statement released by his agent reads:

“I've been asked a lot of questions over the past few days regarding what's been going on at home and sadly, after 22 years of marriage, I have made the decision to file for divorce from my wife, Deidre. I realize this is not the most opportune time with Opening Day approaching and other family events that have recently taken place. These situations are never easy and isn't something that just happened overnight. As a devout Christian, this is an outcome that I never wanted to see happen. For many long days and nights, I prayed, asking the Lord for His guidance. I am thankful for the five beautiful children that we brought into this world and remain committed to raising them in a loving and safe environment. I ask that you please respect our privacy and the privacy of our five children during this time.”

 

[Timby]

Pujols pulling a Newt Gingrich, there.

 

[fireproof78]

I guarantee you that teams are already attempting to hack this.

Naturally.

 

[Aragorn]

Pujols pulling a Newt Gingrich, there.

But he acknowledges the timing is bad.... because of Opening Day.

 

[BillJ]

Play ball!

I’m finding it hard to care this year.

 

[Aragorn]

Red Sox-Yankees, Twins-Mariners already postponed.

 

[BillJ]

Red Sox-Yankees, Twins-Mariners already postponed.

Weather or COVID?

EDIT: Weather is the culprit. You had me confused because you have the Mariners listed as the home team.

 

[Aragorn]

Pending a physical, Ke'Bryan Hayes gets an eight-year, $70 million deal with the Pirates, with a club option for a ninth season. It's the biggest contract in Pirates history.

 

[Timby]

Pending a physical, Ke'Bryan Hayes gets an eight-year, $70 million deal with the Pirates, with a club option for a ninth season. It's the biggest contract in Pirates history.

It's telling just how unbelievably cheap the Pirates are that 8 / 70 is the largest contract they've ever handed out. And they still had five more years of control on Hayes; this was all about buying out his arbitration years in the name of cost certainty. If Hayes lives up to his potential (translation: doesn't have constantly recurring injury issues with the wrist he hurt last year), that contract is going to be a tremendous underpay.

 

[BillJ]

Pending a physical, Ke'Bryan Hayes gets an eight-year, $70 million deal with the Pirates, with a club option for a ninth season. It's the biggest contract in Pirates history.

He will be dealt within a couple of years.

 

[Timby]

He will be dealt within a couple of years.

To put that in context, the previous biggest contract the Pirates had ever handed out was $60 million to Jason Kendall.

They did that 22 years ago.

And, yes, much like Correa, Hayes will be moving within a few years.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I went to my first Savannah Bananas game this evening (going again tomorrow with a friend). It's not a normal game of baseball but much more like the Harlem Globetrotters. Plenty of real baseball play but also with a lot of rule changes to make the game go faster and more crazy. No bunting, no mound visits, no stepping out of the batter's box, no walks (instead the fielders have to throw to each other as fast as possible while the runner goes as far as they can). Between the looser play and the sidebar wild antics of the players and nonplayers on the field, it's just a few steps away from Blernsball itself.

Oh, and retired Red Sox reliever Bill "Spaceman" Lee pitched an inning for the Bananas. HIs first pitch? First (and only) homer of the game.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ You mean BILL Lee?

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Yes, I do. I don't why I brainfarted that.

 

[Aragorn]

Some guy at the Diamondbacks game keeps yelling, "Pitcher's got a big butt." Is that what counts for ballpark wit these days?

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Some guy at the Diamondbacks game keeps yelling, "Pitcher's got a big butt." Is that what counts for ballpark wit these days?

Must be a fan of Rookie of the Year.