MLB 2025 Off season

tempo_n_groove said:

tbergs said:

mrussel1 said:

tbergs said:

I agree with the punishments given out at the administrative level, but they need to dig in further and shove this back on the players as well. If they need to interview more people and determine who were the key people driving this, then do it and suspend based on involvement. They came down hard without doing all the heavy lifting needed to hand out the proper justice all around. Maybe they thought this would satiate the naysayers in to ignoring punishment to the players or stripping the title, but I think they could easily push this down to individual players if they wanted.

Also strip the title and suspend the team from the playoffs for the upcoming year at least. Make these assholes start over with nothing. Sucks for anyone that just signed on to them, but I would wager they don't want to be associated with a cheating organization.

Few things...
1. According to ESPN, the players were given immunity in exchange for testimony.
2. MLBPA would be a real hurdle to the type of suspension people are discussing.
3. Suspending the teams from the playoffs would destroy the season and essentially destroy ticket sales and ad revenue for the year.  I don't see how that is any good.  Plus there are plenty of players on each team that were not on the team during the events in question.  

I do think the titles should be stripped.  Take down those pennants, remove the records, etc.  I'm sure the negative to it is the gaping holes in WS records that will remind everyone of this issue 50 years from now.  You will freeze the event in infamy, which I'm sure the league doesn't want.  

Good points. I know it is a shit storm if they take those actions and pretty much destroys the team for the year, but with the current penalties, it's just a bit embarrassing and they may be slightly ridiculed, but it's nothing that makes that WS go away or the chance to get another one this year. Does MLB really want the Astros to win the 2020 WS? What a fucking joke that would be. Hey everybody, we kind of got punished, but still were allowed to contend in the playoffs, not have any players get suspended and win a title. Trust us, we did it all on our own this year. I mean, what Penn State did was way worse, but they still got a 4 year post season ban. There needs to be a little more organizational pain inflicted here. So far people have been punished, but the team remains the same.

Raping little boys should never be or try to be, in the same realm as anything but that.  Comparing it, though you said it does not compare, is  ridiculous...

If the Astros win next year it would be because of who they drafted, Correa, Bregman, Altuve, Springer, etc.

Something that everyone forgets is that the owners wrote the rules and the penalties being handed out are from them so that 5 mill is pocket change.  The Stros owner did do the right thing in firing the coach and the GM though.

Going after players and penalizing them is going to be a tough hoop to jump through.  They have immunity now so that is moot but, if they did then they would have to have enough evidence to convict them and I am not sure that would have been possible?

To put it in perspective, I thought, and still think, Penn State should have received a longer ban. There's really no penalty severe enough for what happened there. That's why I suggest a year. It's ultimately nothing in the long run and maybe makes them break even from all the revenue they made off their WS.

But yeah, money always wins out, so in the end MLB knows crippling 1 team for a year impacts the whole sport and creates a long lasting black eye on the league. This way they stand alone at the top for the sanctions they did take when compared to other major sports leagues and get to continue to make close to the same revenues this coming year. Another bonus is that people have short memories and opening day is a long ways off with the lead up to the Superb Owl set to bury this story in 5 days.

This was a well timed and expertly executed resolution between MLB and the Houston organization. Win-win for both sides.

Looks like the Red Sox are next up...

mcgruff10 said:

tbergs said:

Looks like the Red Sox are next up...

Alex Cora, Red Sox part ways in wake of investigations https://es.pn/384yvNc

via @ESPN App http://espn.com/app

I couldn’t stand Cora, good riddance.  

Seems like an all around sleazy guy between Houston and Boston. 

Rumor is that Donaldson is gong to sign with the Twins for 4 years at $92 million. Pitching remains mediocre at best for MN, but they've gone all in on big sticks. I think most of them reached career plateaus last year though. 

When does Beltran get to "part ways" w the Mets?

Jearlpam0925 said:

Would never go to 4 years for Donaldson, but credit to Minny for going for it. Moving Sano over to 1st is such a huge boost for that team.

Not thrilled about picking up another aging power hitter, but it does fill a gap in the infield; however, with that pitching staff they're going to need to average about 6 or 7 runs a game to win the division. Most of the pitchers will be sitting on mid-4 to mid 5 ERAs. They'll need to be aggressive at the trade deadline this year and try not to trade away the future of the team for a long shot at a title.

tbergs said:

Jearlpam0925 said:

Would never go to 4 years for Donaldson, but credit to Minny for going for it. Moving Sano over to 1st is such a huge boost for that team.

Not thrilled about picking up another aging power hitter, but it does fill a gap in the infield; however, with that pitching staff they're going to need to average about 6 or 7 runs a game to win the division. Most of the pitchers will be sitting on mid-4 to mid 5 ERAs. They'll need to be aggressive at the trade deadline this year and try not to trade away the future of the team for a long shot at a title.

@tbergs Have you been to the new stadium the Twins play in?  If so what are your thoughts?  Looks awesome on tv.  My buddy and I are contemplating a trip out there to see a game.

It's gorgeous.....imo.   But all the new parks are.  We got in and out by that Uber area down the first base line, so I didn’t notice any seediness.

Such a shit head. 

mcgruff10 said:

Wobbie said:

mcgruff10 said:

tbergs said:

Jearlpam0925 said:

Would never go to 4 years for Donaldson, but credit to Minny for going for it. Moving Sano over to 1st is such a huge boost for that team.

Not thrilled about picking up another aging power hitter, but it does fill a gap in the infield; however, with that pitching staff they're going to need to average about 6 or 7 runs a game to win the division. Most of the pitchers will be sitting on mid-4 to mid 5 ERAs. They'll need to be aggressive at the trade deadline this year and try not to trade away the future of the team for a long shot at a title.

@tbergs Have you been to the new stadium the Twins play in?  If so what are your thoughts?  Looks awesome on tv.  My buddy and I are contemplating a trip out there to see a game.

I’ve been there....wouldn’t call it “awesome” but it’s 1000x better than the metrodome....the area around it is surprisingly seedy.

Oh I thought it was in downtown.  Didn’t realize that it was in a sketchy area.  I ve been to 16 mlb ballparks and Camden yards is still my favorite.  

@mcgruff10 It's a great venue for baseball and just wandering around. You won't regret going to a game. Hard to believe it's been 10 years already. The open design allows you to pretty much see the game from anywhere if you want to get up and wander around in between innings. Lots of great food and beer options. If you just want to stand and chill on a nice summer evening, there's the Budweiser roof deck which offers great views at a cheap price. I've gotten a couple of tours of the entire facility when some work conferences have been hosted there and it's nice. Our son has even been to a few birthday parties there where they include the tours and a chance to hit in the batting cage they have by the player's clubhouse. Both of my boys are signed up for a Twins camp this summer, which they are pumped for. 

I love that place. I try to catch at least a game every year and I've pretty much sat in every section and loved it. My favorite was probably the 3rd baseline about 16 rows up, great view. Transportation is easy with the light rail system running right up to the field and a large parking ramp near the Target Center connected via skyways just a few blocks away.

As for the area, it is not seedy at all. They are some old warehouses across the way beyond centerfield, but it's in a good area and walking distance to all the bars and restaurants in the area.

I don't miss the Metrodome (or the big inflatable toilet as it was referred to) at all.