MLB's impending RSN disaster, Jacob deGrom is back on schedule, the Yankees are already down a starter, the impending balk-a-thon, NYT's anti-trans bias, Les Wexner, gun nuts, and Raquel Welch
You are aware that NYT is a huge corporate entity owned by a right winger, and over the years has carried more water for Trump other than Fox Newsmax etc., right? This should not be a shock.
I believe I have told this story before, but Mary saw Strasburg in spring 2021 at INOVA Hospital when she was there for a follow up appointment. He was standing on the curb, clearly waiting for a ride – and she said “he really looked like he needed a hug.“ I bet he still does today, no matter how much he’s getting paid.
I have no idea what the logistics are, but I would be much happier as a Nats fan if we could just admit he’s not coming back. It’s the (nonexistent) hope that kills you.
Balk a Day Bob Davidson 2: Revenge of the Lawyerly Interpretation.
...
Balks and news of shoulder surgery? Have we returned to 1980s and rotator cuff injuries?
...
Clevinger: yep, the exclusive right to discipline (with exceptions not relevant here) under the Joint Agreement lies with the Commissioner and not the team. And I would note that the more heinous the allegations, the more I want the discipline to follow concepts of due process. Trial by press reports is not the way to go.
Manfred’s ‘we will terminate the contract’ re RSNs is overly simplistic. Those contracts are assets of the bankruptcy estate. Perhaps some of the most valuable assets. The BK judge, not the team or league, will have the power to terminate or possibly reform the language.
On the one hand Arts & Leisure & the Book Review, on the other hand the lady's emails, trans coverage from homophobes (it's really a broadening of the white guy in the Iowa diner has ideas *journalism* going viral) the rest of their noted failings (hey, he's a fascist but he's a senator with an op-ed, let's run it!). We love the Sunday arrival of the paper but also about 10 sections go straight to the recycle bin.
Hi all. So I logged out of the conversation yesterday unaware that there were a fair number of replies to my posts, and only got notifications late in the day. So I apologize for not responding and continuing the conversation.
Still frustrated by Clevinger and Lee's presence at spring training. In Lee's case, it's not like he was likely to make the team.
My only guess as to why the collapse of the RSNs isn't bigger news yet is that the chaos at Disney, Netflix, and WBD is bigger news. It's all connected, the endlessly shifting landscape of cord cutters and overextended streaming services and media outlets all slitting each other's throats, all worried than in 20 years Gen Z and Gen Alpha will only be watching TikTok and Twitch. (I work in public media, and hear stuff about this all the time, even though we are off to one side.) The doom of the Bally networks will make the front page, but first comes bigger companies, ones that not long ago were raking it in.
My strongest memory of Raquel Welch is her and Miss Piggy on The Muppet Show (a performance that was filmed for 60 Minutes, so we got to see it from two different angles). RIP
RIP "Lovely Raquel" and the hope she inspired to many, especially to Andy Dufresne while tunneling underneath her.
In less than a week we get live Spring Training games on the teevee! W00t! I'm sad about Strasburg - the promise of when he first came up was so huge - what an event his early starts were - just another guy who long term couldn't hold it together health wise, but glad he at least got a ring and a little success. Nobody can take that away from him.
We are entering into the very rare "hockey only" part of the calendar when the NBA goes on all-star break - a good chance to check out your closest/favorite NHL team or, if that's not your bag, check out some great college hockey. My college is dominating division III so I'm looking forward to the tourney time coming up :)
The Ant Man/Quadrophenia reviews are rolling in and while it doesn't look spec-tac-ularrrr, at least it's not Morbius, so I along with Craig and the other Marvel Marks out there will be rolling in to spend our $$ on large screen shows at the local AMC or Regal or what have you. Happy popcorning.
The New Albany press release was missing one last sentence taken to it's logical conclusion; "Once the gunman, whom we are observing, shoots one or more children, be assured we will act".
Boy, lots of stuff to comment on today...but I'll stick to RSN. What if the financial underpinnings of MLB, based on regional TV revenue, is in fact a house of cards? There is no doubt that live sporting events draw the biggest ad revenue for many reasons. But, at the same time, we all are witness to dwindling TV ratings for MLB. What if team revenues and always ballooning player salaries are buoyed by a financial foundation that really isn't there - what if this is a major correction and revenues are going to crash across the board? Anyone more of an expert on this than I am?
You are aware that NYT is a huge corporate entity owned by a right winger, and over the years has carried more water for Trump other than Fox Newsmax etc., right? This should not be a shock.
I'm guessing Montas injury wasn't caught till now bc he understands the significance of walk years and convinced himself he could play through it.
I believe I have told this story before, but Mary saw Strasburg in spring 2021 at INOVA Hospital when she was there for a follow up appointment. He was standing on the curb, clearly waiting for a ride – and she said “he really looked like he needed a hug.“ I bet he still does today, no matter how much he’s getting paid.
I have no idea what the logistics are, but I would be much happier as a Nats fan if we could just admit he’s not coming back. It’s the (nonexistent) hope that kills you.
Eat at Arby’s. (Now I need a hug.)
Balk a Day Bob Davidson 2: Revenge of the Lawyerly Interpretation.
...
Balks and news of shoulder surgery? Have we returned to 1980s and rotator cuff injuries?
...
Clevinger: yep, the exclusive right to discipline (with exceptions not relevant here) under the Joint Agreement lies with the Commissioner and not the team. And I would note that the more heinous the allegations, the more I want the discipline to follow concepts of due process. Trial by press reports is not the way to go.
"At some point you just can’t assume that he’s fine as the baseline. Rather, you wait to be pleasantly surprised if he can actually go."
Sounds like me on most days.
Manfred’s ‘we will terminate the contract’ re RSNs is overly simplistic. Those contracts are assets of the bankruptcy estate. Perhaps some of the most valuable assets. The BK judge, not the team or league, will have the power to terminate or possibly reform the language.
NYT sub is a daily debate here.
On the one hand Arts & Leisure & the Book Review, on the other hand the lady's emails, trans coverage from homophobes (it's really a broadening of the white guy in the Iowa diner has ideas *journalism* going viral) the rest of their noted failings (hey, he's a fascist but he's a senator with an op-ed, let's run it!). We love the Sunday arrival of the paper but also about 10 sections go straight to the recycle bin.
It's a quandary.
Feeling extremely sad about deGrom and also extremely guilty about how relieved I feel that he's no longer on my team.
Baseball feelings are complicated!
Hi all. So I logged out of the conversation yesterday unaware that there were a fair number of replies to my posts, and only got notifications late in the day. So I apologize for not responding and continuing the conversation.
Still frustrated by Clevinger and Lee's presence at spring training. In Lee's case, it's not like he was likely to make the team.
My only guess as to why the collapse of the RSNs isn't bigger news yet is that the chaos at Disney, Netflix, and WBD is bigger news. It's all connected, the endlessly shifting landscape of cord cutters and overextended streaming services and media outlets all slitting each other's throats, all worried than in 20 years Gen Z and Gen Alpha will only be watching TikTok and Twitch. (I work in public media, and hear stuff about this all the time, even though we are off to one side.) The doom of the Bally networks will make the front page, but first comes bigger companies, ones that not long ago were raking it in.
My strongest memory of Raquel Welch is her and Miss Piggy on The Muppet Show (a performance that was filmed for 60 Minutes, so we got to see it from two different angles). RIP
another thorough take on the NY Times and trans issues: https://open.substack.com/pub/lisaselindavis/p/an-open-letter-to-glaad-about-their?r=7nevg&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
RIP "Lovely Raquel" and the hope she inspired to many, especially to Andy Dufresne while tunneling underneath her.
In less than a week we get live Spring Training games on the teevee! W00t! I'm sad about Strasburg - the promise of when he first came up was so huge - what an event his early starts were - just another guy who long term couldn't hold it together health wise, but glad he at least got a ring and a little success. Nobody can take that away from him.
We are entering into the very rare "hockey only" part of the calendar when the NBA goes on all-star break - a good chance to check out your closest/favorite NHL team or, if that's not your bag, check out some great college hockey. My college is dominating division III so I'm looking forward to the tourney time coming up :)
The Ant Man/Quadrophenia reviews are rolling in and while it doesn't look spec-tac-ularrrr, at least it's not Morbius, so I along with Craig and the other Marvel Marks out there will be rolling in to spend our $$ on large screen shows at the local AMC or Regal or what have you. Happy popcorning.
Unfortunately, judging by their statement (https://twitter.com/laurahazardowen/status/1625983931810971649?s=20) and by the fact that they published this garbage the very next day (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/opinion/jk-rowling-transphobia.html), I think the Times is only going to double down on their overly credulous brand of transphobia.
So, Craig, I think what you’re really telling Frankie Montas is:
“Relax, don’t do it,
When you wanna pitch through it.
Relax, don’t do it,
When you wanna throw.”
The New Albany press release was missing one last sentence taken to it's logical conclusion; "Once the gunman, whom we are observing, shoots one or more children, be assured we will act".
Boy, lots of stuff to comment on today...but I'll stick to RSN. What if the financial underpinnings of MLB, based on regional TV revenue, is in fact a house of cards? There is no doubt that live sporting events draw the biggest ad revenue for many reasons. But, at the same time, we all are witness to dwindling TV ratings for MLB. What if team revenues and always ballooning player salaries are buoyed by a financial foundation that really isn't there - what if this is a major correction and revenues are going to crash across the board? Anyone more of an expert on this than I am?