Arena The Major League Baseball Thread

It's already been said in far better detail, but WAR is just a benchmark stat. Looking at a guy with 8.3 WAR and saying he's better than the guy with 8.1 WAR is no more meaningful than saying the guy who hit .317 is better than the guy who hit .313. It's just one stat, albeit a bit more involved.

But if you think WAR is too complicated, have you ever tried breaking down batting average to its components? Sure, hits divided by at bats is simple. What's a hit? A batted ball in which the hitter reaches base. Unless the fielder misplays and and in some random guy's judgement its a hit. And unless a lead runner is tagged or forced out. What's an at bat? Plate appearances minus walks, HBP, and sacrifices. What's a sacrifice? We can keep going. But just like WAR, hits, at bats, and batting average are all calculated for you. And we can do the same thing with RBI, earned runs, baseball is full of stats that are needlessly complex, they're just second nature to everyone at this point.

Amazing.

 

Just a sample of what's already on sale in Northern VA:

 

Not just in northern Va, I know my local Kroger's here in Virginia Beach is selling Nat's championship T-shirts.

 

It's just kinda sad it was marked up so much that less than 3 weeks later it's already 25% off. Also they have lots and lots of merchandise. It really feels like the Caps championship was celebrated longer than the Nationals championship. Most of this stuff should sell for Christmas though, after that whatever's left should be a bargain

 

Tunes - feels like we are in for a third straight off-season where a top player from Cleveland is heavily linked to a trade to the Dodgers and ends up not being traded there.

To be honest, I'm on board with trading Lindor this off-season and maximizing value. I think Bieber/Clevinger/Plesac/Plutko extends the window of contention for a few years and with pitching like that you can do real damage in the playoffs. If we can get a good ROI for Lindor now, and get that value to extend beyond the years he'd be here (because he's not getting a long-term extension from the Dolans), I'm on board to do so.

I just don't see the right fit with what the Dodgers would trade, unless it becomes a three-team deal.

 

The Brewers’ new uniforms look pretty great . . . but the really important takeaway is that the best logo in sports is back full-time!

 

Ugh I think it's time I get new glasses. I can't see the Yankees logo anywhere on those uniforms.

 

Exactly!

 

Seager would be the one to go, which is risky, but for Lindor? I take that risk.

 

because when I think of baseball meccas where the fans and general population have shown they can't enough baseball, I think ... Florida.

 

They should just move the Rays to Disney World.

 

Baseball absolutely needs to expand, but Orlando isn't it. They should move the Rays and expand to some combination of Nashville, Charlotte, Montreal, and Vancouver.

Amazing.

 

I want to make an argument for a team in Puerto Rico. But I can't do it

 

Yeah, I think Puerto Rico and Mexico are popular options from a "grow the sport globally" perspective, but I don't think either are particularly viable.

Amazing.

 

I like Puerto Rico from the "Damn, that crowd was awesome" when Cleveland and Minnesota played there perspective.

 

Unfortunately that is weighed against the "oh crap why are the Expos here" crowd.

But I'm sure the Marlins will bring out the crowds this year.

Amazing.

 

Most of baseball's been asking the "oh crap, why are the Rays here" question for a couple of decades. Unlike Miami, Tampa Bay has fielded some pretty good teams; and yet they draw anemic crowds at the Trop. I think the last time they had back to back sellouts at the Trop was when they played against Philadelphia in the '08 WS. They struggle to get 20K in any given game; including when the Yankees and Sox come to town.

 

And people got on Bautista for the bat - flip.

 

Meanwhile, Japan remains thoroughly on brand.

Amazing.

 

Funny thing is both pitchers in the running (Yumaguci and Arihara) won more games than deGrom did this past season; but if they're focused on IP when looking at ERA then it doesn't matter.

 

Orlando is a good market you got a lot of people moving there everyday to be near Disney and you got millions of tourists these are potential buts in seats so to speak at said new ballpark! I live in Punta Gorda Florida a little less then 2 hours southwest from Disney if this happens my family will plan Disney trips around Yankees and Mets games in Orlando! my mom sister and nephew are in Disney now they left tonight! although I could see Mexico as a good place to grow the sport with expansion as well! may be London if we have more games like this past Red Sox Yankees series, may be Japan. In the states I like Vegas and in Canada Vancouver...

in other news the Yankees hired MLB baseballs first ever Woman hitting coach for the minor leagues, Rachel Balkovec!

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/22/sports/baseball/yankees-woman-coach-hitting.html

 

Meanwhile Hal Steinbrenner says that the issue with the Yankees' losing to Houston in October was not because of the starting pitching. I guess that means he's going after some more sluggers to fill up the lineup (probably right-handed like last offseason).