MLB 2015 Season

[N-E-B]

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/s...iplinary-issue

Sounds like Hamilton has relapsed again. Meeting with MLB officials for disciplinary reasons. When asked if issued was related to PED's an unknown official said it was worse than that. Nothing is confirmed but it's not looking good.

Can't wait to see him gone. His tenure has been nothing short of a disaster. That said, I really like the guy as a person and wish him well in his recovery if it is in fact a relapse.

[bluejays]

Yeah, same. Despite his really rough past, he has always come across as a sincere individual trying to help out someone or the other. It's a shame he's had such a party boy past, but he's done so much to help others since, that I hope he can pull out from this.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

I'm a huge Josh Hamilton fan.

I can't say that I'm surprised that things aren't working out in Los Angeles. I don't think it's my bias speaking here, but I honestly thought the Rangers were the best spot for him. Given his history of drug & substance abuse, and having demonstrated that he can stay (for the most part) clean, perform at a high level, and contribute to both the team and community I thought that he should remain there. Give the Rangers the right of first refusal to match any offer due to knowing that he can live in Dallas (as opposed to Tampa for example).

The temptations of LA seemed very high to me, if anything that would be one of the markets he should have avoided, no matter what they payday.

I really hope that he can recover, I have such respect for him.

[Sammymydog1]

Off to Phoenix this afternoon to get my fill of sunshine & baseball. Have four games lined up next week!!

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Sammymydog1

Off to Phoenix this afternoon to get my fill of sunshine & baseball. Have four games lined up next week!!

I debated that. Going to be in Vegas next month and looked into what it would take to get to Phoenix for a pre-season game. Only option was to fly down for St. Patty's Day.

Alas I'll be spending St. Patty's Day on the Strip. Ballpark at Arlington is still on the bucket list though. If only it was feasible to swing a couple ball games and Wrestlemania on a teacher's schedule.

[troutman]

2015 Team Values
http://www.forbes.com/mlb-valuations/list/

Amazingly, the Giants doubled in value in one year to $2B.

The Giants have sold out every game at AT&T Park since the end of the 2010 season and attendance ranked fourth in baseball last year with 3.37 million fans. The team posted the fifth biggest average TV audience in baseball with 103,000 people for its games on CSN Bay Area.

Jays lost $18M.

The Blue Jays have the longest postseason drought in North American sports at 21 years. Fans are getting fed up with attendance fell 6% last season. Despite these two facts, the Jays raised ticket prices almost across the board for the 2015 season with 500-level tickets at the Rogers Centre up 50%.

[Antithesis]

David Ortiz on steroids in baseball. Great article:

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/dav...on-the-record/

But back in the early 2000s, you’d go into GNC and the guy working there would say, “Hey, take this stuff. It’s great. It builds muscle, helps with soreness, burns fat, whatever.”


Okay, sure, I’ll take that. I’m buying an over-the-f***ing-counter supplement in the United States of America. I’m buying this stuff in line next to doctors and lawyers. Now all of a sudden MLB comes out and says there’s some ingredient in GNC pills that have a form of steroid in them. I don’t know anything about it.


If you think I’m full of it, go to your kitchen cabinet right now and read the back of a supplement bottle and honestly tell me you know what all of that stuff is. I’m not driving across the border to Mexico buying some shady pills from a drug dealer. I’m in a strip mall across from the Dunkin’ Donuts, bro.

[bluejays]

Good article until the last few paragraphs with the kid asking his dad about using. C'mon, can it get any more cliché?

[Antithesis]

Yeah, it got a little sappy at the end there - but the rest was outstanding.

[Resolute 14]

Surprised no chatter in here about this: The Cubs demote Kris Bryant to take advantage of a CBA loophole, and the players' association loses its mind:

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story...s-chicago-cubs

Funny how union and agents work to take advantage of every loophole they can find, but spoil their diapers when a team does the same.

[bluejays]

^ I agree. It's taking advantage of a loophole. Agents work hard to do so, and Boras should be the last one talking. The club understandably wants the best for itself, and I have no problem with them doing what they are doing. I actually hope there is no comment and the players and their union continue to just talk themselves into looking childish.

[troutman]

SI Rankings:

http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/03/23/201...s-all-30-teams

WAS #1, but they pick CLE to win the WS.

http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/03/27/si-...s-world-series

[troutman]

Most Popular teams:


http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/stor...ook-map-040115

[Muffins]

Originally Posted by troutman

SI Rankings:

http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/03/23/201...s-all-30-teams

WAS #1, but they pick CLE to win the WS.

http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/03/27/si-...s-world-series

Yes please!

[flames_fan_down_under]

Ervin Santana suspended 80 games for steroids.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-bi...205302969.html

[RedHot25]

Yuck Ervin.

And no discipline for Josh Hamilton. Angels seem none-to-happy about it either...

[bluejays]

Maybe I'm missing something, but why would the Angels not be happy about it? It's not you, but I just don't understand where they'd be coming from. He's a human being who has major problems, which they knew about when they signed him and the risks that came with him. He's a guy who likely just needs a helping hand rather than punishment. There has to be a money angle for them to be upset, and if it is, screw them and their selfishness.

[Harry Lime]

Yes it's absolutely money. Here's a good article about it by Grant Brisbee. He asks a lot of questions, but it really is obvious that the Angels wanted to save money through insurance, and through lesser penalties under the salary cap. They may have even made moves based on the assumption that they would be cleared of the bulk of this years salary by the MLB.

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/4/3/834...rug-suspension

As for Kris Bryant, years of control may be the most valuable commodity in baseball, so waiting is the best move for their team. Next year they will do the same thing to Addison Russell, and there will be more agent rumbling.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

Yes it's absolutely money. Here's a good article about it by Grant Brisbee. He asks a lot of questions, but it really is obvious that the Angels wanted to save money through insurance, and through lesser penalties under the salary cap. They may have even made moves based on the assumption that they would be cleared of the bulk of this years salary by the MLB.

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/4/3/834...rug-suspension
.

Yup, exactly

http://deadspin.com/the-angels-dont-...ack-1695524055

This was inevitable, and inevitably awkward, for a team suffering buyer’s remorse with $83 million still left to spend. It’s the totally logical outcome of a nominal health policy that can be twisted to serve the financial interests of the clubs, which is why we saw more or less the same thing when the Yankees did everything in their power to support MLB throwing the book at Alex Rodriguez—collectively bargained due process be damned when there’s potential amnesty at stake. It’s just business, of course.

[DropIt]

How is it that MLB opening day and the game is only on TSN 3,4 and 5