Official MLB 2019 Thread

[elsongs]

Harper to the Phillies.

My co worker Philly fans aren't so happy with the contract. 13 years with no opt out clause. Wonder how good Harper is going to be at 39. :idk

 

13 years ago, Bryce Harper was...13 years old.

 

These long-term contracts never work out as planned. See Pujols, Albert.

[timwat]

It would be nice to make $25 million every year for the next 13 years.

 

That might even support a career in jazz.

[MAJUSCULE]

No opt-out is truly wild. Sign the cheque. Amazing. Congrats to Harper and Boras.

[Synthaholic]

Harper to the Phillies.

My co worker Philly fans aren't so happy with the contract. 13 years with no opt out clause. Wonder how good Harper is going to be at 39. :idk

 

$300M for 10 years vs. $330M for 13 years? He was better off in D.C.

 

Plus, now he has to deal with the worst fans in MLB - fans that booed Mike Schmidt. MIKE SCHMIDT!!!

 

Facepalm indeed.

[Synthaholic]

And what a bad move by the Phillies. I predict a lot of time on the disabled list for Bryce Harper, with diminished output when hes healthy.

[Adan]

A long term contract like Harper's is based on the assumption that salary escalation will continue, meaning that in 13 years the best players in the game will be making, what, $40-45M? It's mind-boggling, but it makes sense in a relative way. Harper won't be worth what he is today when he's 39, but he also won't be paid as the best player in baseball.

 

I say this without knowing how the contract is structured. Payment probably is not the same every year.

 

I've loved the sport of baseball all my life. It's the only sport I played, it's the only professional sport I've attended. But along the way I've also developed what I would call a social conscience. I don't go to games anymore or pay for cable channels. I can't actively support an arrangement in which atheletes make hundreds of times more money than teachers and scientists.

 

But I can still post about it on a keyboard forum!

[Dave Ferris]

I agree. I passionately followed the Cardinals in the '60s growing up. One of my first remembrances of attending a game was in 1963 when my father took me to Stan Musial's last game at old Busch stadium.

 

Now, I really could give a sh*t. I think a large part of that started years ago when Albert bolted and went to the Angels. That was devastating. They would have erected a statue within a month of retirement, outside Busch, if he had stayed. Even if he had averaged .250 for the remainder of his career, that's how much he was loved there in STL. Now he's just another mercenary.

 

A neighbor has box seat season tickets and preferred parking 200 feet from the Dodger stadium entrance. In the past he was always calling me to go but after I kept passing on his invitation, he never asks anymore. I simply don't care enough anymore to spend a night down there when I could be practicing, or doing anything else that's productive.

 

We still get cable because that's all my wife watches and I watch the cable news. But I wish there was a way to drop all the sports channels because I would do it in a NY minute.

 

Basically these days, I root for the small market teams.....even over my Cardinals.

[Dave Ferris]

It would be nice to make $25 million every year for the next 13 years.

 

That might even support a career in jazz.

 

The running joke among musicians in town has always been -- so now that you won 200 mill in the lottery, what are you going to do the rest of your life ?

 

Play Jazz gigs till the money runs out......

[Bobadohshe]

Basically these days, I root for the small market teams.....even over my Cardinals.

 

We're small market down here, root for us.

 

I simply don't care enough anymore to spend a night down there when I could be practicing, or doing anything else that's productive.

 

Fortunately I am in the somewhat unique position of being able to do both at the same time.

[Adan]

 

I simply don't care enough anymore to spend a night down there when I could be practicing, or doing anything else that's productive.

 

Fortunately I am in the somewhat unique position of being able to do both at the same time.

 

Ha! Bobadohshe for the win.

[Dave Ferris]

Basically these days, I root for the small market teams.....even over my Cardinals.

 

We're small market down here, root for us.

 

I simply don't care enough anymore to spend a night down there when I could be practicing, or doing anything else that's productive.

 

Fortunately I am in the somewhat unique position of being able to do both at the same time.

 

Ah, but I highly doubt that your "practicing on the gig" consists of any Debussy Etudes or looping tricky sections of Moment's Notice or Dolphin Dance.

[MAJUSCULE]

There are mercenaries in hockey, but seemingly not quite on the same level as the Ball sports.

 

Not sure how many of you know who John Tavares is, but Long Island fans let him have it last night in his first game back since bolting to Toronto this summer. Burning jerseys, throwing snakes, dressing up as babies, chanting "We don't need you!", etc. And yes, the Islanders won the game 6-1 and are doing better this year without him than when he was on the roster.

[Synthaholic]

I agree. I think a large part of that started years ago when Albert bolted and went to the Angels. That was devastating. They would have erected a statue within a month of retirement, outside Busch, if he had stayed. Even if he had averaged .250 for the remainder of his career, that's how much he was loved there in STL. Now he's just another mercenary.

I remember the analysis done after he signed his Angels contract. It was determined that with the increase in California taxes over Missouri, and the general higher cost of living Albert was much better off financially in St. Louis.

 

We still get cable because that's all my wife watches and I watch the cable news. But I wish there was a way to drop all the sports channels because I would do it in a NY minute

 

I dropped cable in favor of Sling Blue. I think its $25 per month and has no ESPN, which adds around $8 per month to the cable/satellite bill. I dont miss ESPN one bit. Its always about football, no matter the season. I get a few sports channels, FS1 and FS2, plus the Marlins and Rays games, but not my Braves. Its tailored for regional sports so you might get Angel and Padre games, or Oakland or Giants. I would guess that the Dodgers wouldnt participate.

 

Another thing I like about Sling is no FoxNews. They have CNN, BBC, France24, and others. I buy the $5 extra package to get MSNBC and some others.

[Dave Ferris]

I agree. I think a large part of that started years ago when Albert bolted and went to the Angels. That was devastating. They would have erected a statue within a month of retirement, outside Busch, if he had stayed. Even if he had averaged .250 for the remainder of his career, that's how much he was loved there in STL. Now he's just another mercenary.

 

I remember the analysis done after he signed his Angels contract. It was determined that with the increase in California taxes over Missouri, and the general higher cost of living Albert was much better off financially in St. Louis.

 

I wouldn't doubt that in the least considering how high taxes are in Ca. , not to mention the obvious discrepancy in real estate.

 

I, like most, believe it was the ability to prolong his career with the DH ...although he vehemently denies that. And witness his stubbornness in wanting to play in the field everyday. So who knows about that. The other factor, and I posted this on Bobby's FB page with regard to Machado - these guys that spend time back East and the Midwest, then come out here and experience our glorious, temperate, non-humidity So/NoCal summers. That has to play into the thinking of -- man wouldn't it be nice to play 81 games in that climate ! And in Manny's case, being in the NL West, he has extra away games within the division with LA, SF and Arizona. No brutal humidity for a very large percentage of the year. Not to mention the bone chilling cold the first 5 weeks of the season in certain areas too.

 

Then again, it can be all about the dough and the ego. Don't kid yourself, these guys think of themselves as rock/movie/pop culture stars in that sense. Largely gone are the days of the Cal Ripkens, Henry Aarons, etc. etc.

 

I dropped cable in favor of Sling Blue.....

Another thing I like about Sling is no FoxNews.

 

Where do I sign ? !!

 

Sorry, too low hanging fruit, I couldn't resist. Feel free to delete.

 

Seriously, I've never heard of that service, I'll look into it, thanks.

 

 

[Bobadohshe]

Basically these days, I root for the small market teams.....even over my Cardinals.

 

We're small market down here, root for us.

 

I simply don't care enough anymore to spend a night down there when I could be practicing, or doing anything else that's productive.

 

Fortunately I am in the somewhat unique position of being able to do both at the same time.

 

Ah, but I highly doubt that your "practicing on the gig" consists of any Debussy Etudes or looping tricky sections of Moment's Notice or Dolphin Dance.

 

I have played Dolphin Dance at Petco. In fact I did it my very first season. Though I didn't loop and shed any part of it at the time. As far as Debussy goes --- not yet. Though I was actually practicing Dr Gradus Ad Parnassum this AM.

[Dave Ferris]

Ah, Children's Corner. The first piece I worked on with Terry Trotter in'79. Dr. Gradus is a great study for five fingers and connecting right and left hand phrases.

 

All of the six pieces within that Suite are mini - Masterpieces.

[Doerfler]

He (Harper) will put fans in the seats, and so from that perspective it might be an understandable business decision to give him that money.

 

This is undisputable. Any of the 32 teams signing him will have an attendance boost.

 

Wish I had put money on this, as I knew I was on to something.

Phillies sold 100,000 tickets in less than 24 hours after signing Bryce Harper

 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/phillies-sold-100000-tickets-in-less-than-24-hours-after-signing-bryce-harper-195043717.html

 

[Geoff Grace]

I dropped cable in favor of Sling Blue.

I've got YouTube TV, myself. No PBS, unfortunately though, with the cord cutter options; but I guess that PBS.org will do in a pinch.

 

Best,

 

Geoff

[Bobadohshe]

Ah, Children's Corner. The first piece I worked on with Terry Trotter in'79. Dr. Gradus is a great study for five fingers and connecting right and left hand phrases.

 

All of the six pieces within that Suite are mini - Masterpieces.

 

Agreed! The Snow Is Dancing -- to me is one of the easiest ways to explain impressionistic music. It sounds exactly like the title.

[MAJUSCULE]

Well, I guess the Angels heard Harper's recruiting threats.

[cedar]

As a Mets fan, I am looking forward to watching the Philly fan base inevitably turn on Harper sometime in the next 4 years. He might have an MVP year before then, but that contract is going to turn into a huge albatross down the road and make Harper into a favorite punching bag.

[Sven Golly]

What, nobody's yet posted about Mike Trout landing a whopper of a contract? (see what I did there? )

 

Trout and Angels and $430 Million deal

[MAJUSCULE]

What, nobody's yet posted about Mike Trout landing a whopper of a contract? (see what I did there? )

 

Trout and Angels and $430 Million deal

 

I did, but I guess I was a little too cryptic.

[Sven Golly]

What, nobody's yet posted about Mike Trout landing a whopper of a contract? (see what I did there? )

 

Trout and Angels and $430 Million deal

 

I did, but I guess I was a little too cryptic.

 

Yeah, saw that but it didn't click as I was scanning the thread... sorry!

[Doerfler]

What, nobody's yet posted about Mike Trout landing a whopper of a contract? (see what I did there? )

 

Trout and Angels and $430 Million deal

I didn't post about it because it's still not official, not yet finalized. Seems like it's going to happen, though.

[Adan]

Below the headlines shocker, Gio Gonzalez signs with the Yanks for $3M. $3M! (plus incentives) You can barely get a backup infielder for that. Granted Gio might be beginning the downside of his career, but he's a quality starting pitcher. Who's ever heard of a "I wanna play for the Yankees" discount!

[Adan]

What I don't get about the Trout deal is why he wants to play his whole career for the Angels, a mediocre team that shows few signs of turning itself around much less winning a pennant, a team that plays in strictly-drive-through (except for Disneyland) Anaheim, a team with virtually no historical legacy, a team across the country from his NJ home. He could have set the professional contract record with any number of big market teams. Now, he's a future HOF'er who might never playin a world series. Perhaps he's driven in part by the old fashioned desire to wear one uniform for an entire career. If so, that's admirable. But everyone wants to see Mike Trout playing postseason baseball.

[Doerfler]

well, it's official

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-trout-angels-deal

[Doerfler]

Gio Gonzalez signs with the Yanks for $3M. $3M! (plus incentives)

 

Gio has a career record of 127-97, not a whole heck of a lot better than 50-50. I watched him pitch for the Nationals the last 6 seasons. You never knew which Gio would show up on the mound. It's very easy for the opposing team to get in his head, and if they do, the game is lost.

[Adan]

Gio Gonzalez signs with the Yanks for $3M. $3M! (plus incentives)

 

Gio has a career record of 127-97, not a whole heck of a lot better than 50-50. I watched him pitch for the Nationals the last 6 seasons. You never knew which Gio would show up on the mound. It's very easy for the opposing team to get in his head, and if they do, the game is lost.

 

A 56% winning percentage is usually considered pretty good. Consider that Jeff Samardzija is 69-92. The year after he lead the league in home runs allowed, the Giants signed him for $18M/yr. That's why $3M for Gio is suprising. Maybe it's not a fair comparison, as throwing money at over-the-hill veteran players is what the Giants do best.