2023 MLB Season Thread

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

They didn’t sneak in? They made it by half a game. Mariners almost took them out, just needed one more win in the last series of the year.

I'd suggest they stumbled in, the held the division lead for 95% of the season.

To me snuck in would mean they went on a run or a team above them in the standings pooped the bed.

To me, the Astros snuck in (I don't mean that as disrespect to the Astros, they had a great season, just that but for the Rangers playing poorly down the stretch they wouldn't have been close to the division title).

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

I'd suggest they stumbled in, the held the division lead for 95% of the season.

To me snuck in would mean they went on a run or a team above them in the standings pooped the bed.

To me, the Astros snuck in (I don't mean that as disrespect to the Astros, they had a great season, just that but for the Rangers playing poorly down the stretch they wouldn't have been close to the division title).

Both teams barely made it. It was 3 teams fighting for 2 spots until the last weekend. And Rangers ended up as the 6 seed.

Weird season, Astros took the division lead in August and I was shocked they gave it back. They just couldn’t finish this year.

And Rangers kept coming back from the dead.

[Inferno]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1720829510373830712

[bluejays]

I wouldn't mind Votto joining the Jays staff or being a bench player. Not sure his "leadership" capabilities, but he's been around for awhile and has adjusted his approach with last year being an outlier. Definitely someone to teach a thing or two.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I wouldn't mind Votto joining the Jays staff or being a bench player. Not sure his "leadership" capabilities, but he's been around for awhile and has adjusted his approach with last year being an outlier. Definitely someone to teach a thing or two.

He's Canadian from Toronto as well, so there's probably an attachment to the area.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

He's Canadian from Toronto as well, so there's probably an attachment to the area.

It's possible. The Jays are always looking for rebound players. Traditionally his numbers have been better so there's an argument to be made that he could bounce back. The past couple seasons he's dropped dramatically but he is cerebral in adjusting despite his age. Not good enough to be a starter, but bench? Sure.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

The rustiness makes for ugly games and quick exits for teams that won 100+ games in the regular season. Giving them a 1-0 lead doesn't do anything to rectify the problem IMO.

The do-or-die 1 game playoff for the wildcard round makes for an exciting night of baseball. You didn't get a top-2 seed in your league, so here's a one game playoff for a chance to get into the final 8. I like it.

Btw, as I've mentioned the Japanese league tries to ensure that the best teams get in, and rustiness doesn't seem to be a problem. In fact, they have even more rest days to account for ties and replays. In the final, the Hanshin Tigers beat the Orix Buffaloes in 7 games. The battle of Osaka.

In Korea, 5 plays 4, winner plays 3, winner plays 2 winner plays 1. 2 was off 2 weeks and just knocked off 4. The Korean Series starts on Tuesday. The pennant winners LG Twins last played on Oct 14. Casey Kelly! (former Red Sox first rounder) will start Game 1 on something like 28 days rest!

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Btw, as I've mentioned the Japanese league tries to ensure that the best teams get in, and rustiness doesn't seem to be a problem. In fact, they have even more rest days to account for ties and replays. In the final, the Hanshin Tigers beat the Orix Buffaloes in 7 games. The battle of Osaka.

In Korea, 5 plays 4, winner plays 3, winner plays 2 winner plays 1. 2 was off 2 weeks and just knocked off 4. The Korean Series starts on Tuesday. The pennant winners LG Twins last played on Oct 14. Casey Kelly! (former Red Sox first rounder) will start Game 1 on something like 28 days rest!

Something about extra days off being beneficial doesn't seem to translate to baseball at the highest level. Or maybe this was just two weird postseasons in a row by dumb luck and things go back to normal next year. Time will tell.

[KelVarnsen]

A's are officially off to Vegas
https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article...-to-las-vegas/

But their stadium won't be ready until 2028.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Btw, as I've mentioned the Japanese league tries to ensure that the best teams get in, and rustiness doesn't seem to be a problem. In fact, they have even more rest days to account for ties and replays. In the final, the Hanshin Tigers beat the Orix Buffaloes in 7 games. The battle of Osaka.

In Korea, 5 plays 4, winner plays 3, winner plays 2 winner plays 1. 2 was off 2 weeks and just knocked off 4. The Korean Series starts on Tuesday. The pennant winners LG Twins last played on Oct 14. Casey Kelly! (former Red Sox first rounder) will start Game 1 on something like 28 days rest!

So LG lost the first game (making 4 errors) but then won the next 4 to win the series.

[Gemnoble]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

A's are officially off to Vegas
https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article...-to-las-vegas/

But their stadium won't be ready until 2028.

Probably playing in a College Stadium in Nevada, unless they literally want to play in an empty stadium or have a season of away games.



Moment of Silence for Oakland Sports Fans.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Gemnoble

Probably playing in a College Stadium in Nevada, unless they literally want to play in an empty stadium or have a season of away games.



Moment of Silence for Oakland Sports Fans.

College baseball stadiums are usually pretty tiny, like less than 5000 and often have artificial turf infields. I can't see that being an option. Maybe a AAA stadium or stay in Oakland longer.

[Senator Clay Davis]

They won't be able to move to Vegas until the stadium is built, unless they intend on being on three month road trips until the stadium is built. Playing outside in 105 degrees during the peak of summer is not going to work.

[Gemnoble]

Nm

[Gemnoble]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

College baseball stadiums are usually pretty tiny, like less than 5000 and often have artificial turf infields. I can't see that being an option. Maybe a AAA stadium or stay in Oakland longer.

Didn't stop the Coyotes from playing in a college arena.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_Ballpark

Although the A's triple A affiliates are already in Vegas. So this seems the path forward.

[Inferno]

I read they may share Oracle Park with the Giants and then play in Las Vegas' AAA stadium.

They would probably need to build a new clubhouse though because I doubt the Giants would want to share theirs.

[GirlySports]

The fact that the Angels have 5 MVP winners and 0 playoff wins in the last 10 years might be the weirdest stat ever.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

The fact that the Angels have 5 MVP winners and 0 playoff wins in the last 10 years might be the weirdest stat ever.

Yeah, if you were starting an expansion team and you had Ohtani and Trout you'd feel like you were off to a pretty good start. They've never been able to put it together.

[transplant99]

Just shows how much of a team game baseball is.

One or two guys simply cannot carry a baseball team to any sustained success.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Just shows how much of a team game baseball is.

One or two guys simply cannot carry a baseball team to any sustained success.

But the Rangers bought a World Series by signing Seager and Semien.