MLB Offseason: February 15 isn't THAT far away...

[Timby]

It's actually November and the World Series is over. Lots of hot stove action coming at you.

Important Dates
Five days after WS -- Free agency begins
Nov. 9-12 -- GM meetings, Boca Raton, Fla.

Awards
Nov. 9, 2015
Players Choice Awards, MLB Network, 8 p.m. ET

Nov. 10, 2015
BBWAA finalists announced, MLB Network, 6 p.m. ET
Rawlings Gold Gloves, ESPN, 7 p.m. ET

Nov. 11, 2015
Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards, MLB Network, 6 p.m. ET

Nov. 12, 2015
Louisville Silver Slugger Awards, MLB Network, 6 p.m. ET

Nov. 16, 2015
BBWAA Rookies of the Year, MLB Network, 6 p.m. ET

Nov. 17, 2015
BBWAA Managers of the Year, MLB Network, 6 p.m. ET

Nov. 18, 2015
BBWAA AL and NL Cy Awards, MLB Network, 6 p.m. ET

Nov. 19, 2015
BBWAA AL and NL MVPs, MLB Network, 6 p.m. ET

Nov. 20, 2015
Esurance MLB Awards, MLB Network, 8 p.m. ET

 

[Corran Horn]

Yeah but then he threw at somebody's head and really showed them who's boss!

Changed the course of the series, too! (for one game)

 

[Finn]

Am I the only one who noticed how nifty Royals won the world series when Marty McFly first set off from 1985, and the real 2015?

 

[Tom Hendricks]

The Nationals have named Dusty Baker as manager. Yeah, this will be fun.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

The Nationals have named Dusty Baker as manager. Yeah, this will be fun.

Well, the Mets have less to worry about if they don't backslide.

 

[Kronos]

Dusty following the Bob Boone plan back into managing, let them low ball the first guy then hop in.

 

[Trekker4747]

Population of Kansas City proper: Roughly 450,000 people.

Population of Kansas City Metro Area (neighboring counties, smaller cities, suburbs): 2.4 Million.

Number of people at a rally/parade being held downtown? Early estimates were that around 500,000 people would show up, the size of the rally is now being expected to flirt with or surpass 1 million. People from all over the Midwest seem to me coming to this event. Schools, businesses all around the metro area closed for the day for this event. It's really utterly incredible.

And, during all of it, no riots or major crime problems or incidents. Some minor issues, some medical emergencies (I think a couple of women going into labor from what I've heard.) But overall, so far, things have been nice and civil.

It's really just amazing to see.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I could do without the first Mets series of 2016 being IN Kansas City. That's gonna be a bit awkward.

 

[Timby]

The Nationals have named Dusty Baker as manager. Yeah, this will be fun.

RIP Strasburg's arm. Out of nowhere, Scherzer is feeling pain in his elbow.

 

[Trekker4747]

I could do without the first Mets series of 2016 being IN Kansas City. That's gonna be a bit awkward.

Nah, it's going to be utterly awesome.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

I could do without the first Mets series of 2016 being IN Kansas City. That's gonna be a bit awkward.

Nah, it's going to be utterly awesome.

Lets see what the teams look like at the start of the season. Both teams might be unrecognizable by then.

Mets give Terry Collins a two year extension. See what loosing in five games nets you.

 

[Trekker4747]

As long as "Thor" is there, it'll be all that matters. Smug, arrogant, bastard.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ And Yordano Ventura isn't?

 

[Trekker4747]

^ And Yordano Ventura isn't?

Not nearly on the level Mr. "I wanted to teach him a lesson/I don't think he wanted to swing at that one/If they have a problem they can meet me 60' 6" away/Hey let me lob a ball going nearly 100 miles an hour towards your head at you" does.

Ventura's balls aimed at other players was more for retaliation over the Royals being one of the most HBP teams during the beginning of the regular season and, it seems, it's expected retaliation for your pitcher to stand-up for players hit by wild pitches. I've not the information available to me because I don't really recall, but I'm sure Ventura's retaliation didn't involve balls traveling on the upper threshold of his pitching speed going towards people's heads.

Yeah, Thor's ball the other night was high and wouldn't have hit the head, but he can't have that much control over it especially given the field conditions that night (high winds) one variable changes and it potentially ends a career.

It's one thing to do it out of retaliation with lower-speed balls towards the body, it's something else entirely to do it towards someone's HEAD at the upper arc of your throwing speed and doing because, "Uhhhh... He swings at the first pitch! Which you're not supposed to do... for some reason and I didn't like it. Huh. He didn't like it did he? Well, he can meet me on the pitcher's mound."

Hey, Thor! We were there Sunday night, where were you at?

 

[Timby]

^ And Yordano Ventura isn't?

Not nearly on the level Mr. "I wanted to teach him a lesson/I don't think he wanted to swing at that one/If they have a problem they can meet me 60' 6" away/Hey let me lob a ball going nearly 100 miles an hour towards your head at you" does.

Ventura was ejected from something like three of his first five starts last season and nearly started a brawl with Trout in the other one.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

Mike Maddux named pitching coach of the Washington Nationals. That will be a very interesting dynamic, Maddux and Baker.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Story after story links the Cubs and David Price (7 years/over $200M), and I like this possibility.

There are also rumors of a Cubs/Jeff Samardzija reunion. Can the Cubs and Chris Bosio "fix" Samardzija well enough to make him into a good 4th or 5th starter?

If so, then Jason Hammel can go to the bullpen ala Travis Wood and hopefully work out his problems there.

 

[Danny99]

I'm really okay with Price going to the Cubs. Of course I'd love him back with the Jays, but if he is going to go somewhere, why not my second favourite team? The young Cubs could learn how to be a pro from him.

I am also liking the rumours I am hearing about the Jays looking at Chris Davis:

http://www.tsn.ca/report-price-interested-in-cubs-jays-covet-davis-1.389379

He would fit in well with Donaldson, Martin and others and hopefully open the door to moving out a Bautista. Unfortunately, could he play in the outfield still and if not, what to do about the logjam at first?

I've been ruined by the NHL free agent kick-off. I keep checking back to see what moves have been done and nothing has happened!

 

[Timby]

We aren't going to see any free agent moves shake out until the fall GM meetings, which start tomorrow.

Price to the Cubs would be great but there's still the issue of the dumpster fire of a bullpen -- and for all his strengths at player evaluation, Epstein has never really built a rock-solid pen in his career.

As for Chris Davis, I'd be wary of him. He's only had two really good seasons, one of which just happened in his contract year. If he gets his TUE for Adderall again, okay, but he's a guy who could very easily become an albatross in a year or two.

 

[Timby]

The Twins won the bidding on noted awesome bat-flipper Park Byung-ho, which is odd since they already have a logjam at first.

In other news, the White Sox have hired Rick Renteria to be their bench coach (and replacement for Ventura when he inevitably gets fired), and this year's BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot is out.