MLB Pseudo-Season 2020: Roger, Dodgers

[Ar-Pharazon]

Kenesaw Mountain Landis' name is being removed from the MVP award by the BBWAA (in a rare example of the BBWAA not having its collective head up its ass).

Somewhere, suddenly, a whole bunch of racist jackwagons who only just now learned his name was on the award are furious about the "destruction of history" going on here.

"wait, what??? He was one of us? Now we're angry!" TBH, I didn't know/remember his name was on the thing until it was brought up.


It's been a bad month for Cardinals fans. First Lou Brock, then Bob Gibson and getting sent home by the Padres.

Also, RIP Cubs, it was a good run. I fully expect Kris Bryant to have a new home next season, along with potentially Contreras, and I expect the team to try and offer a below-market contract to Rizzo instead of exercising his $16 million option. Baez will likely be shopped, too, and potentially Schwarber. Tom Ricketts has made it abundantly clear he's never spending above the luxury tax threshold again, so I can't wait for another century of futility. Thank God we'll all be dead in 15 years.

As for the Cubs, what a disappointment. How TF we stayed in 1st place after the 13-3 start is a cosmic mystery. Just shows how mediocre the whole NLC was I guess.

Lester's contract is up, thank fuck. He helped up win the WS for sure, but has been declining that last 3 years to the point of being a liability. He seemed to be the most stubborn ass as far as refusing to adjust his game after the loss of velocity (like Darvish did really well). I really hope you're wrong and the Cubs don't cry poor yet again and go after Bauer, even for a 1 year contract. Lester should not re re-signed unless he agrees to go the bullpen and stay there.

What trade value do any of the Cubs have after a year where almost the entire lineup was around the Mendoza Line? I don't mind his sketchy defense in LF, but if the NL keeps the DH, they could fatten Schwarber back up and put him at DH 90% of the time...if he can figure out how to baseball again.

Send Baez to Chili Davis' house so he can remember how not to swing at every goddamn thing that comes within 10 feet of him, since 2018 was the only year Javy made a difference there.

And I keep saying this, fire Iapoce and Hottovy. Nobody listens to them. But with a yes-manager in Ross, it might not matter who the coaches are at this point.

 

[Timby]

Lester's contract is up, thank fuck. He helped up win the WS for sure, but has been declining that last 3 years to the point of being a liability. He seemed to be the most stubborn ass as far as refusing to adjust his game after the loss of velocity (like Darvish did really well). I really hope you're wrong and the Cubs don't cry poor yet again and go after Bauer, even for a 1 year contract. Lester should not re re-signed unless he agrees to go the bullpen and stay there.

I don't want the Cubs to have any part of Bauer, because he is an utter piece of human shit. Fuck that guy, I don't care how good he is at throwing a baseball.

Lester has a $10 million buyout and I fully expect the Cubs to take that and offer him a low-risk / high-reward "prove it" deal, something with vesting options based on performance over three or four years. I think of all the pitchers, Lester was the one most clearly affected by the lockdown and not having a normal spring training and warm-up phase. It's not that he refuses to adjust his game due to velocity issues (his fastball has had roughly the same speed since 2017), it's that he has lost a lot of movement. I don't think he needs to go to the bullpen, but he's very clearly a #3 starter at this point. And there's nothing wrong with that, he's had a hell of a career and will wind up in the Hall of Very Good.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I don't want the Cubs to have any part of Bauer, because he is an utter piece of human shit. Fuck that guy, I don't care how good he is at throwing a baseball.

Lester has a $10 million buyout and I fully expect the Cubs to take that and offer him a low-risk / high-reward "prove it" deal, something with vesting options based on performance over three or four years. I think of all the pitchers, Lester was the one most clearly affected by the lockdown and not having a normal spring training and warm-up phase. It's not that he refuses to adjust his game due to velocity issues (his fastball has had roughly the same speed since 2017), it's that he has lost a lot of movement. I don't think he needs to go to the bullpen, but he's very clearly a #3 starter at this point. And there's nothing wrong with that, he's had a hell of a career and will wind up in the Hall of Very Good.

How about locking Lester in with Darvish so he can rediscover that movement? Otherwise I'm not sure about Lester at this point. He's down to 1 good game : 2 or 3 bad games for a pattern.

As it is we have Darvish and Hendricks as starters. Add Mills, Alzolay and Quintana as possibles.

What specifically don't you like about Bauer? The general big mouth or something I'm not aware of? If he's after 1 year contratcs like is rumored, I'm not sure I see a downside there. I could see the Mets going hard after him what with the new ownership all but approved.

 

[Timby]

What specifically don't you like about Bauer? The general big mouth or something I'm not aware of?

He has a history of harassing women on Twitter and then later gave the bullshit "I'm sorry if people were offended" half-ass apology that jackwagons tend to do when they're called out.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

He has a history of harassing women on Twitter and then later gave the bullshit "I'm sorry if people were offended" half-ass apology that jackwagons tend to do when they're called out.

OK. I haven't been paying enough attention apparently. Still, some team will sign him if Cincy doesn't.

 

[Aragorn]

Former White Sox, Padres and Dodgers pitcher Charles Haeger is being sought by Arizona police on suspicion of murder and aggravated assault of his ex-girlfriend.

 

[Worf factor9]

OK. I haven't been paying enough attention apparently. Still, some team will sign him if Cincy doesn't.

 

[Aragorn]

And it appears Charles Haeger took his own life.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Is there any particular reason why the 2020 playoffs are using National League parks for the ALDS and American League parks for the NLDS?

Also, given the obvious air quality issues (due to the wildfires), why use California parks at all? Wouldn't it be easier - and safer - to use retractable roof stadiums for ALL playoff games?

 

[Jim Klag]

Is there any particular reason why the 2020 playoffs are using National League parks for the ALDS and American League parks for the NLDS?

Also, given the obvious air quality issues, why use California parks at all? Wouldn't it be easier (and safer) to use retractable roof stadiums for ALL playoff games?

Yes. They could easily do everything in Houston and Dallas. Four series could be managed nicely in two stadiums. Nice thing about enclosed stadiums - no wind, no sun field, perpetual daylight.

 

[Timby]

Is there any particular reason why the 2020 playoffs are using National League parks for the ALDS and American League parks for the NLDS?

This was asked earlier in this very thread and I'll give the same answer I did back then:

I'm presuming it's so that no playoff teams have an intrinsic home-field advantage during the expanded chaosball playoffs.

Also:

Also, given the obvious air quality issues (due to the wildfires), why use California parks at all? Wouldn't it be easier - and safer - to use retractable roof stadiums for ALL playoff games?

Well, they're playing the NLCS (and the World Series) at the gigantic Home Depot warehouse also known as Globe Life Field, so there's that...

 

[Jim Klag]

McCullers would probably be pitching a little better if he didn't have that ugly orange glove.

 

[Jim Klag]

This was asked earlier in this very thread and I'll give the same answer I did back then:



Also:



Well, they're playing the NLCS (and the World Series) at the gigantic Home Depot warehouse also known as Globe Life Field, so there's that...

For such a barnish warehouse look on the outside, from what I've seen on TV, the inside looks great.

 

[Jim Klag]

If the Braves had a little more pitching I might pick them to win it all. Looks like no matter who is the opposing pitcher, they're going to score runs.

 

[Aragorn]

The below-.500 Astros are going to beat the A's and then win the ALCS and return to the World Series, aren't they?

 

[Spider]

The below-.500 Astros are going to beat the A's and then win the ALCS and return to the World Series, aren't they?

Oh, you have no idea of how much misery I will inflect upon this thread if they do. Go Stros! LOLOL

But I don't think they will. They've been off their game this year, hot and cold, so I don't suspect they'll make it all the way. Of course I would love it if they did, but I don't see it.

 

[Aragorn]

I wish the A's or Rays would win the AL, but that isn't going to happen.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

If the Braves had a little more pitching I might pick them to win it all. Looks like no matter who is the opposing pitcher, they're going to score runs.

Either way, I'm rooting for them all the way. I've suffered the indignities of '91. I can handle this.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Not one of mine, though I do make some silly ones based off typos in MLB chat.

 

[Timby]

Either way, I'm rooting for them all the way. I've suffered the indignities of '91. I can handle this.

I really don't have a dog in the playoffs anymore, which I suppose is fine since I can't watch any of the games until the World Series anyway. Fuck the cheating Astros, fuck the Yankees. Fuck the Marlins because of Jeter, who can never be forgiven for trading Yelich to the NL Central for pennies on the dollar (to say nothing of the mortal sin that was the removal of the Dinger Machine). The Rays, Dodgers, Braves and A's are just boring. I suppose I'd be fine with the Padres, because Manny Machado is a deity of a minor pantheon.