The Las Vegas A's, Scherzer gets the boot, MadBum gets the Red Ass, Manfred does Manfred things, NBC's union-busting, and I write too few words about Rickey and a LOT of words about Twitter
First of all, A’s ownership can sit on a chocolate doughnut in their expensive suits.
Second, all those WS rings did a lot of image whitewash for MadBum. Away from all that winning, it is easier to notice things. By things, I mean the racism.
If Scherzer is suspended, the Mets can't replace him. Which seems like an unnecessary punishment on top of something that already feels unnecessary. I just don't know what got MLB so worked up about "illegal substances" in the first place. Anyway, going to guess that Scherzer will be suspended, and will appeal, and will win the appeal.
Beyond that, the Mets still managed to win. They are now 5-1 on the west coast swing, have taken all but one series in April, and are doing with a roster than can't hit, a broken rotation, and a patched together bullpen. If just one guy besides Nimmo and Alonso catches fire, if they can hold on till Verlander is back, they might actually be good.
Oakland once had pro teams in all four major sports. The hockey team died long ago so we can ignore it, but it's still sad that all its teams will be gone. I applaud the government of Oakland for not giving into blackmail, but that doesn't make it any easier for the fans who live there. Though the departure that seems the worst is the Warriors moving across the bay. The owners of that team paid for the Chase Center themselves. They could have easily done that in Oakland, and chose to leave anyway. I think because they is more money to be made in affluent and white San Francisco. It's all shameful.
Last night’s loss was the 400th regular-season loss for Davey Martinez. He’s now 326-400, which - even with a miraculous championship run in 2019 - means that he’s a 73-89 manager over his Nats career. Woof.
PS My fun fact: “Manic Monday” by the Bangles was actually written by Prince. If you listen it totally makes sense. (I refuse to look at my Twitter stats.)
PPS Setting aside (and in no way minimizing) the massive injustice for Oakland - is Vegas even capable of supporting a team for 81 games a year? Also, I am irritated that I will have to travel to Vegas in order to keep my collection of MLB stadiums intact.
Because most of the PCL is Coors with AAA pitchers, Tatis put up a ridiculous .515/.590/1.212 slash line. I'm guessing there will be a bit of a Coors-like hangover when pitches actually break on him.
NIMMO doing NIMMO things. He’s having an incredible series.
This doesn’t feel like the Mets of last year yet but they’re finding ways to win. The method of winning though is definitely going to kill a few of Mets twitter off so I’m all in.
The rotation’s age was a fear of mine all through spring training. I thought they should have gone with a six man rotation to lighten the load for the pensioners. The way it’s going, Buck is going to be picking 5 fans from the stands to form his rotation.
If we can split 2 with San Francisco Mets it’ll be a good road trip. If we can steal 3 that would be mega.
Excellent newsletter today. I feel like I needed more than 1 cup of coffee to get through it all!
I'm sure this stadium will be paid for like everything else in Vegas, with an added hotel room tax. Won't be taking any money out of locals pockets while nickel and diming every tourist who visits.
Max was watched by an MLB OFFICIAL when he cleaned his hands off. He was also watched by an MLB OFFICIAL when he reapplied the rosin. Neither time did the MLB OFFICIAL say ‘wash them more’ or ‘that’s too much rosin’ or ‘the rosin is not where it should be’. Additionally, the ump who tossed Max is the only ump in MLB to have thrown out anyone for this (3 times). Seems this ump wants to have his name know, perhaps the new Angel Hernandez?
I feel for all of those A's fans, many of who have been dicked around by the Raiders and watched the Warriors cross the bridge to SF. I know a large handful of diehard A's fans. They talk like someone in an abusive relationship who is always hoping things will magically change. And of course Vegas will do great at the gate, like the Golden Knights, because of all of the out of town fans who travel to see their team and spend a couple of days gambling. Sigh. Capitalism.
Get rid of the competitive balance tax and contract length may come down. But then again may not. Avoiding the soft cap is nice. So too is cash flow and future discounts on present value. MLB owners are many things; economically illiterate not included.
When I was an undergrad at The Ohio State University, Hocking Hills State Park was one of my favorite getaways. Loved walking out the flat forest path to discover you were on the edge of a cliff!
COMPLETELY OFF-TOPIC QUESTION: There is a commercial in heavy rotation on MLB Network for a business credit card featuring a woman who makes modernized kitchen gadgets and uses the cash back to grow her company ... at one point another woman at a white board turns around and says "like a smart coffee grinder" - and I KNOW she once had a part on a sitcom playing someone's snotty friend/rival/mother-in-law/boss, but I CANNOT place her and it's bothering me (plus I feel bad that she's doing commercial work and such a bit part besides). Can anyone help me?
Las Vegas Athletics: Something I’ve never understood about the old, old days, is why the perpetually impoverished franchises among the Original Eight in each league were perpetually impoverished: Athletics, Braves, Senators, Browns, to name the first that come to mind. These were not particularly small-market teams in the first half of the last century, yet just about the first thing you learn about any of these franchises is how precarious they always were financially.
You would think, in the abstract, that with the reserve clause, baseball’s greater popularity, and almost no competition from other professional sports (NFL was not a big deal in those days), any franchise would have been a license to print money, but, no. Probably none of these teams, in their original cities, ever really shook off the effects of the Depression followed by WWII, which maybe explains the Thirties and Forties, but the Roaring Twenties?
First of all, A’s ownership can sit on a chocolate doughnut in their expensive suits.
Second, all those WS rings did a lot of image whitewash for MadBum. Away from all that winning, it is easier to notice things. By things, I mean the racism.
If Scherzer is suspended, the Mets can't replace him. Which seems like an unnecessary punishment on top of something that already feels unnecessary. I just don't know what got MLB so worked up about "illegal substances" in the first place. Anyway, going to guess that Scherzer will be suspended, and will appeal, and will win the appeal.
Beyond that, the Mets still managed to win. They are now 5-1 on the west coast swing, have taken all but one series in April, and are doing with a roster than can't hit, a broken rotation, and a patched together bullpen. If just one guy besides Nimmo and Alonso catches fire, if they can hold on till Verlander is back, they might actually be good.
Oakland once had pro teams in all four major sports. The hockey team died long ago so we can ignore it, but it's still sad that all its teams will be gone. I applaud the government of Oakland for not giving into blackmail, but that doesn't make it any easier for the fans who live there. Though the departure that seems the worst is the Warriors moving across the bay. The owners of that team paid for the Chase Center themselves. They could have easily done that in Oakland, and chose to leave anyway. I think because they is more money to be made in affluent and white San Francisco. It's all shameful.
Last night’s loss was the 400th regular-season loss for Davey Martinez. He’s now 326-400, which - even with a miraculous championship run in 2019 - means that he’s a 73-89 manager over his Nats career. Woof.
PS My fun fact: “Manic Monday” by the Bangles was actually written by Prince. If you listen it totally makes sense. (I refuse to look at my Twitter stats.)
PPS Setting aside (and in no way minimizing) the massive injustice for Oakland - is Vegas even capable of supporting a team for 81 games a year? Also, I am irritated that I will have to travel to Vegas in order to keep my collection of MLB stadiums intact.
Because most of the PCL is Coors with AAA pitchers, Tatis put up a ridiculous .515/.590/1.212 slash line. I'm guessing there will be a bit of a Coors-like hangover when pitches actually break on him.
NIMMO doing NIMMO things. He’s having an incredible series.
This doesn’t feel like the Mets of last year yet but they’re finding ways to win. The method of winning though is definitely going to kill a few of Mets twitter off so I’m all in.
The rotation’s age was a fear of mine all through spring training. I thought they should have gone with a six man rotation to lighten the load for the pensioners. The way it’s going, Buck is going to be picking 5 fans from the stands to form his rotation.
If we can split 2 with San Francisco Mets it’ll be a good road trip. If we can steal 3 that would be mega.
Excellent newsletter today. I feel like I needed more than 1 cup of coffee to get through it all!
I'm sure this stadium will be paid for like everything else in Vegas, with an added hotel room tax. Won't be taking any money out of locals pockets while nickel and diming every tourist who visits.
Max was watched by an MLB OFFICIAL when he cleaned his hands off. He was also watched by an MLB OFFICIAL when he reapplied the rosin. Neither time did the MLB OFFICIAL say ‘wash them more’ or ‘that’s too much rosin’ or ‘the rosin is not where it should be’. Additionally, the ump who tossed Max is the only ump in MLB to have thrown out anyone for this (3 times). Seems this ump wants to have his name know, perhaps the new Angel Hernandez?
Phil Cuzzi sucks. https://www.usatoday.com/videos/sports/mlb/2012/10/14/1633511/
I feel for all of those A's fans, many of who have been dicked around by the Raiders and watched the Warriors cross the bridge to SF. I know a large handful of diehard A's fans. They talk like someone in an abusive relationship who is always hoping things will magically change. And of course Vegas will do great at the gate, like the Golden Knights, because of all of the out of town fans who travel to see their team and spend a couple of days gambling. Sigh. Capitalism.
Get rid of the competitive balance tax and contract length may come down. But then again may not. Avoiding the soft cap is nice. So too is cash flow and future discounts on present value. MLB owners are many things; economically illiterate not included.
When I was an undergrad at The Ohio State University, Hocking Hills State Park was one of my favorite getaways. Loved walking out the flat forest path to discover you were on the edge of a cliff!
Is Lefty Grove better than Cy Young?
COMPLETELY OFF-TOPIC QUESTION: There is a commercial in heavy rotation on MLB Network for a business credit card featuring a woman who makes modernized kitchen gadgets and uses the cash back to grow her company ... at one point another woman at a white board turns around and says "like a smart coffee grinder" - and I KNOW she once had a part on a sitcom playing someone's snotty friend/rival/mother-in-law/boss, but I CANNOT place her and it's bothering me (plus I feel bad that she's doing commercial work and such a bit part besides). Can anyone help me?
Las Vegas Athletics: Something I’ve never understood about the old, old days, is why the perpetually impoverished franchises among the Original Eight in each league were perpetually impoverished: Athletics, Braves, Senators, Browns, to name the first that come to mind. These were not particularly small-market teams in the first half of the last century, yet just about the first thing you learn about any of these franchises is how precarious they always were financially.
You would think, in the abstract, that with the reserve clause, baseball’s greater popularity, and almost no competition from other professional sports (NFL was not a big deal in those days), any franchise would have been a license to print money, but, no. Probably none of these teams, in their original cities, ever really shook off the effects of the Depression followed by WWII, which maybe explains the Thirties and Forties, but the Roaring Twenties?