BMX Bandit said:

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I dont think a grievance will delay games being played

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Maybe not, but if we end up at 48 games, we're taking an August start, no? Any other sport that hasn't already started by then won't be far behind

At this point each team will play one three game series. If you sweep 3-0 youre in the second round of the playoffs, if you win 2-1, youre in the wild card. Everyone else is eliminated

You raised him well!

Boy loves him some baseball.




I dont like this 48 game idea. For me a legit season needs to be at least 81 games. But I guess 48 is better than 0.

Deluxe said:

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BMX Bandit said:

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Tiger factor is still strong

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Definitely stronger than any baseball factor rn

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Agreed....Except for Game 7. The Game 7 factor is still magical (thankfully); unfortunately, it can't be counted on every year. Much like golf, which is at least trying to raise the profile of other superstars since they can't count on Tiger every week, either.

agsalaska said:

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Boy loves him some baseball.




I dont like this 48 game idea. For me a legit season needs to be at least 81 games. But I guess 48 is better than 0.

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Itl be like a spring training season. The record doesn't matter because there's too few games, it's more the ability to get some baseball back to watch, regardless of outcome. At least that's how I see it.

This is the season for all the underdogs to actually accomplish something, and a bad stretch (even just a week or two) by all the big dogs means small market teams can be contenders, regardless of how good they actually are. ****, even the giants (who were horrible) had one of the best months of all teams in MLB last year (I think it was July). Put that scenario into this season and one of the worst teams in baseball wins the World Series. Could actually be an entertaining season as a result, as long as the results aren't actually taken too seriously.

Good perspective

AG 05 said:

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I think there is about a 0.0% chance there is a season this year. I think there is less than a 50% chance of a season next year.....And then the CBA is up. I would put 2022 at the same percentage as 2021.

By the time they get around to splitting up what used to be a 10B a year pie, they won't have to worry about COVID keeping the fans away. There just won't be any fans.

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Which is precisely why those predictions are incorrect.

so Manfred is backtracking now on a 2020 season.

too much uncertainty for the owners

W said:

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so Manfred is backtracking now on a 2020 season.

too much uncertainty for the owners

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Solid strategy since it would likely coincide with too much uncertainty surrounding my level of interest in baseball if they go a full season without playing games and then derail the start of the next one with a contentious labor fight.

I may be done with baseball. I mean they can't come together in a time like this when they could have brought in a ton of new fans. Im on the verge of saying screw em.

It helps that the Rangers suck balls. Otherwise I'd be more pissed than I am. Wasn't looking forward to the new fake grass indoor games anyway.

2020 and 2021 are likely the last years the Astros have with this core group of players .... so I'm pissed we lose a year of that.

Corporal Punishment said:

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It helps that the Rangers suck balls. Otherwise I'd be more pissed than I am. Wasn't looking forward to the new fake grass indoor games anyway.

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Fake grass? Really??

Yeah, with the vertical structure of the enclosure + plans to use it for many purposes, they went the fake route vs having grass in crappy shape. Now it's a brand new variety with a new filler that apparently plays and feels very realistic (including easy on the body). Rangers players early on criticized the idea and weren't buying the "but this is different" stuff they'd been told, but after they worked out on it this spring, the same players changed their tune. But plastic is plastic so that sucks

tjholley16 said:

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2020 and 2021 are likely the last years the Astros have with this core group of players .... so I'm pissed we lose a year of that.

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one positive for the Astros going forward...while there will be a lot of personnel changes after the 2021 season...the team is not in payroll prison.

that's what usually kneecaps franchises or ends title runs.

in fact according to Sportstrac...the Astros and Rangers have essentially the same amount of committed active payroll for the 2022 season. Approx $41 MM

wangus12 said:

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I'll say it again. Bring in the minor league players and have a season. Hell the intrigue of that would be a decent draw imo.

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The problem is the backlash they would get....I have a friend who was a college ref and then reffed the NFL during the ref strike. He hasnt worked anywhere since....college or pro

DeangeloVickers said:

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wangus12 said:

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I'll say it again. Bring in the minor league players and have a season. Hell the intrigue of that would be a decent draw imo.

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The problem is the backlash they would get....I have a friend who was a college ref and then reffed the NFL during the ref strike. He hasnt worked anywhere since....college or pro

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Exactly. These guys want a long-term career. Cross the line as a scab and I can't even imagine what kind of nightmare they'd have to put up with in the clubhouse for years if they ever really make it.

_lefraud_ said:

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Yea but those trashcans have SEVERAL seasons of life in them...

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User name checks out

wangus12 said:

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I'll say it again. Bring in the minor league players and have a season. Hell the intrigue of that would be a decent draw imo.

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Tim Tebow a Met.

Bingo Bango Bongo said:

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DeangeloVickers said:

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wangus12 said:

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I'll say it again. Bring in the minor league players and have a season. Hell the intrigue of that would be a decent draw imo.

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The problem is the backlash they would get....I have a friend who was a college ref and then reffed the NFL during the ref strike. He hasnt worked anywhere since....college or pro

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Exactly. These guys want a long-term career. Cross the line as a scab and I can't even imagine what kind of nightmare they'd have to put up with in the clubhouse for years if they ever really make it.

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I had a conversation about this Saturday night with a current AA/AAA level pitcher in Nats organization.

His comment in regards to the player's union and crossing the proverbial line: "F em, they don't give a damn about us, why should we care about them".

My take away was that you could have 30 rosters filled in an afternoon with minor league players.

Quote:

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His comment in regards to the player's union and crossing the proverbial line: "F em, they don't give a damn about us, why should we care about them".

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The owners probably give less of a **** about minor league players.

I have no doubt the owners will consider giving it a try, and I have no doubt minor league players will line up in droves to get that check. But I bet they won't get a fair deal and I bet there'll be no lasting gratitude or improvement on what is a totally broken relationship between MLB and MiLB.

The owners have a use for them in the future. The current players seem them as a risk to their job.

The owners and MLB are also trying to gut the minors and have suck every ounce of leverage they have vis a vis minor leaguers. They don't care. Its just a large body of largely expendable guys from which owners hope from which a tiny fraction will rise up and prove useful.

I edited my above post to say no doubt there could be a relationship of convenience formed in the short term. Although, for the long term health of the sport, I'm not sure that'd be a helpful or unhelpful development.

Absolutely fair point. The short sighted nature of the leadership across all of baseball is sad.

I check all the top baseball Twitter follows a couple times a day to see if theres any updates on a deal. I can't understand why it seems to take them multiple days to a week with every iteration of a counter or plan. Just stop wasting time.

agsalaska said:

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Corporal Punishment said:

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It helps that the Rangers suck balls. Otherwise I'd be more pissed than I am. Wasn't looking forward to the new fake grass indoor games anyway.

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Fake grass? Really??

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I was already lukewarm on the stadium, with the way they bilked the city. Then when I learned about the fake grass I was really turned off.

I'm sure I'll make it out and enjoy the AC at some point. But I am getting a small bit of pleasure knowing that it's just sitting there vacant currently.