MLB: 2019-2020 Hot Stove League

[JBDuke]

Here's the thread for MLB discussions during the "off-season". We'll kick off a new thread when Spring Training starts.

[DU82]

The Wilpons are in discussions to sell their controlling majority share to a hedge fund manager, Steve Cohen.

only in New York, with James Dolan, are the Wilpons not the worst team owners in the city.

[duke74]

The Wilpons are in discussions to sell their controlling majority share to a hedge fund manager, Steve Cohen.

only in New York, with James Dolan, are the Wilpons not the worst team owners in the city.

As a Mets fan from the Polo Grounds days (first years), I am now convinced that there IS a God.

[Blue in the Face]

Speaking of the Mets, Zack Wheeler to the Phils for 5yrs / $118MM.

Hamels to the Braves for 1 year / $18MM. (I think this is a really nice pickup).

[DUKIECB]

Hamels to the Braves for 1 year / $18MM. (I think this is a really nice pickup).

I hope you are right. My initial thought on this was I was hoping they would use any remaining money to make an attempt to resign Donaldson but maybe this is an indication the Braves knew he was be asking for more than they are willing to pay.

[DU82]

According to the Hall website, Marvin Miller and Ted Simmons have been selected by the Modern Era committee.

(I think somebody put the names up before any announcements.)

[Blue in the Face]

According to the Hall website, Marvin Miller and Ted Simmons have been selected by the Modern Era committee.

(I think somebody put the names up before any announcements.)

Miller obviously belongs in. I really can't understand how Lou Whitaker keeps coming up short - more deserving than his teammates this committee previously selected, and the most deserving of the players on this ballot, and he wasn't even near the top of the voting. I just don't get it.

[weezie]

Miller obviously belongs in. I really can't understand how Lou Whitaker keeps coming up short - more deserving than his teammates this committee previously selected, and the most deserving of the players on this ballot, and he wasn't even near the top of the voting. I just don't get it.

I'm sad about this. Sweet Lou Whitaker deserves better, heck, he deserves the best. That would be an induction I would consider attending. Sighhhh...

[CrazyNotCrazie]

According to the Hall website, Marvin Miller and Ted Simmons have been selected by the Modern Era committee.

(I think somebody put the names up before any announcements.)

Miller should be in. But otherwise these "Modern Era Committees" do not make sense to me. Simmons had plenty of chances to get elected, but it didn't happen. What has changed, other than perhaps the softening of the criteria, which is a huge slippery slope.

[DU82]

Miller should be in. But otherwise these "Modern Era Committees" do not make sense to me. Simmons had plenty of chances to get elected, but it didn't happen. What has changed, other than perhaps the softening of the criteria, which is a huge slippery slope.

A better understanding of offense and defense. A good/great hitter isn’t based on things like RBIs, which are very situational. On-base percentage is more important than batting average. It’s why, for instance, Dwight Evans, in many eyes, is now considered a better player than His teammate Jim Rice. Wasn’t as flashy or have the counting stats that Rice did, but he did more to help his team win.

That, and the writers don’t know everything, and make mistakes.

I could make an argument for each one of the nominees although I wouldn’t have voted for all of them. Each one was a better player than others already in. That’s not a specific reason to vote someone in, but it’s a starting criteria. Simmons doesn’t lower the general standards. (He isn’t well outside those standards as Harold Baines was last year.)

[rasputin]

Miller should be in. But otherwise these "Modern Era Committees" do not make sense to me. Simmons had plenty of chances to get elected, but it didn't happen. What has changed, other than perhaps the softening of the criteria, which is a huge slippery slope.

Simmons played most of his career for crappy teams in a ballpark that suppressed offense. I understand that Johnny Bench's comment about Simmons getting in was, it's about time. Simmons is deserving.

[Blue in the Face]

As a Mets fan from the Polo Grounds days (first years), I am now convinced that there IS a God.

So uh, this is not a Yankee fan trying to rub anything in, I swear (seriously, I think baseball in NY is better when there's excitement about both teams, and as a Dolan hater, I know all too well the pain of bad ownership), but you might want to pump the breaks on getting religion.

Hedge fund titan Steve Cohen has ended negotiations to buy the New York Mets, sources familiar with the situation said.

Cohen, CEO of Point72 Asset Management, and Mets’ owners, the Wilpons, would not confirm directly, citing NDAs, but numerous sources close to the process and Cohen tell CNBC that he is walking.

Supposedly the Wilpons wanted changes to what Cohen had thought was a done deal, which sounds an awful lot like what happened when they were negotiating to sell part of the team to David Einhorn last year. I'm starting to think they're a bit frustrating to do business with.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/04/hedg...urces-say.html

[duke74]

So uh, this is not a Yankee fan trying to rub anything in, I swear (seriously, I think baseball in NY is better when there's excitement about both teams, and as a Dolan hater, I know all too well the pain of bad ownership), but you might want to pump the breaks on getting religion.



Supposedly the Wilpons wanted changes to what Cohen had thought was a done deal, which sounds an awful lot like what happened when they were negotiating to sell part of the team to David Einhorn last year. I'm starting to think they're a bit frustrating to do business with.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/04/hedg...urces-say.html

Saw this. My faith in the existence of the deity is again shaken.

[budwom]

So uh, this is not a Yankee fan trying to rub anything in, I swear (seriously, I think baseball in NY is better when there's excitement about both teams, and as a Dolan hater, I know all too well the pain of bad ownership), but you might want to pump the breaks on getting religion.



Supposedly the Wilpons wanted changes to what Cohen had thought was a done deal, which sounds an awful lot like what happened when they were negotiating to sell part of the team to David Einhorn last year. I'm starting to think they're a bit frustrating to do business with.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/04/hedg...urces-say.html

The NY Post noted that while the Wilpons want to sell to Cohen, Jeff Wilpon still wants to exert operational control after the sale goes through, including a five year transition period, and even beyond that.
I'm not sure the young Wilpon fully understands what the implications of the word "sale" are... kind of like telling someone I'll sell you my house but will remain living in it.

https://nypost.com/2020/02/06/jeff-w...o-steve-cohen/

[duke74]

The NY Post noted that while the Wilpons want to sell to Cohen, Jeff Wilpon still wants to exert operational control after the sale goes through, including a five year transition period, and even beyond that.
I'm not sure the young Wilpon fully understands what the implications of the word "sale" are... kind of like telling someone I'll sell you my house but will remain living in it.

https://nypost.com/2020/02/06/jeff-w...o-steve-cohen/

A sale-leaseback?

[MChambers]

Supposedly the Wilpons wanted changes to what Cohen had thought was a done deal, which sounds an awful lot like what happened when they were negotiating to sell part of the team to David Einhorn last year. I'm starting to think they're a bit frustrating to do business with.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/04/hedg...urces-say.html

Bernie Madoff enjoyed doing business with the Wilpons.

[wilson]

...Supposedly the Wilpons wanted changes to what Cohen had thought was a done deal, which sounds an awful lot like what happened when they were negotiating to sell part of the team to David Einhorn last year. I'm starting to think they're a bit frustrating to do business with...

It's almost as if they're narcissistic, predatory late-stage capitalists.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Potential changes to the baseball playoffs - my head is hurting reading it - basically 7 teams per league, top team gets a bye, other two division winners get to choose which of the four wild card teams they want to play in a best of three series. The higher seed hosts all three games in the opening round.

I am not a fan of this plan.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...umber-teams-14

[wilson]

Potential changes to the baseball playoffs - my head is hurting reading it - basically 7 teams per league, top team gets a bye, other two division winners get to choose which of the four wild card teams they want to play in a best of three series. The higher seed hosts all three games in the opening round.

I am not a fan of this plan.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...umber-teams-14

What an embarrassment for baseball. Sounds like a bunch of gray-hairs sitting in Manhattan and wondering..."Hey, don't the youths love that reality TV these days? That seems like a great way to jazz up our postseason!"
Nevermind that it cheapens both the regular season and postseason.
Am pointing and laughing at MLB in its entirety today.

[DUKIECB]

Strasburg back to the Nats for 7 years and $245 million. That is not a typo. He is 31 years old and has been prone to injury at times. I think they way overpayed, especially when you consider they effectively ended any chance of resigning Rendon with this move.