MLB Imposes 60 Game Season, Spring Training 2.0 Starts in 7 Days

[Cubswin11]

 

 

[Andy]

Very shrewd of the owners to implement the 60 and not go lower. That will likely keep them from losing the grievance.

 

Also, because there was no agreement, regular playoffs (not 16), no ads on uniforms, presumably no runner on 2nd in extra innings. (I assume no universal DH either but not sure of that.) Those things are net positives.

[David]

Very shrewd of the owners to implement the 60 and not go lower. That will likely keep them from losing the grievance.

 

Also, because there was no agreement, regular playoffs (not 16), no ads on uniforms, presumably no runner on 2nd in extra innings. (I assume no universal DH either but not sure of that.) Those things are net positives.

 

don't care about ads, don't care about trying to keep long games from happening in this weirdo season, on the fence on expanded playoffs, and hate not having the universal DH for 2021 (but do still have it this year at least)

 

easy net negative for me

[Cubswin11]

Very shrewd of the owners to implement the 60 and not go lower. That will likely keep them from losing the grievance.

 

Also, because there was no agreement, regular playoffs (not 16), no ads on uniforms, presumably no runner on 2nd in extra innings. (I assume no universal DH either but not sure of that.) Those things are net positives.

Yeah I think this keeps them in the clear on losing any grievance. Also can be spun as the players being the bad guys with voting no on this and if they delay things further with the safety stuff (which you’d think everyone is on the same page there). There’s a universal DH in 2020 but not 2021 from the tweets I’ve seen.

[UMFan83]

I really wanted the expanded playoffs for this year because it would have reduced some of the unexpected outcomes from a very short season. Now 1-2 injuries (or COVID cases) can dramatically alter the season, whereas with a longer season teams can overcome a 2 month injury to a key player. Oh well, just give me baseball.

[17 Seconds]

I really wanted the expanded playoffs for this year because it would have reduced some of the unexpected outcomes from a very short season. Now 1-2 injuries (or COVID cases) can dramatically alter the season, whereas with a longer season teams can overcome a 2 month injury to a key player. Oh well, just give me baseball.

 

we all know the brewers are winning 40 games with a +4 differential

[Cubswin11]

I really wanted the expanded playoffs for this year because it would have reduced some of the unexpected outcomes from a very short season. Now 1-2 injuries (or COVID cases) can dramatically alter the season, whereas with a longer season teams can overcome a 2 month injury to a key player. Oh well, just give me baseball.

 

we all know the brewers are winning 40 games with a +4 differential

Right now I think I’m rooting for the Padres, D’backs or Rockies to catch a heater and horsefeathers over the Dodgers more than anything.

[Bertz]

I wanted the DH, and for just this shortened season wanted the expanded playoffs, but I'm more than happy to give those up for the owners getting pantsed like this. I don't like Craig Edwards but this puts it pretty succinctly:

 

[Cubswin11]

I wanted the DH, and for just this shortened season wanted the expanded playoffs, but I'm more than happy to give those up for the owners getting pantsed like this. I don't like Craig Edwards but this puts it pretty succinctly:

 

Yeah, this also doesn’t make coming to any sort of agreement on 2022 any easier and puts that season at risk even more.

[Brian707]

Yeah they could have went to 66 games, that number worked out perfectly and had the expanded playoffs. Talk about throwing nickels around like they are manhole covers.

 

Question though, why wouldn't the players want a universal DH in 2021? More jobs for them are good

[jersey cubs fan]

Yeah they could have went to 66 games, that number worked out perfectly and had the expanded playoffs. Talk about throwing nickels around like they are manhole covers.

 

Question though, why wouldn't the players want a universal DH in 2021? More jobs for them are good

A DH in't an extra job unless it comes with an extra roster spot.

The only thing it does from a jobs standpoint is allow for a couple all stick no glove guys to stay in the league. But there are relatively few exclusive DHs in the league and that number isn't likely to grow exponentially with universal DH.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

A DH over a full season is adding about 300 PAs worth of playing time that didn't really exist, in the sense that those PA were inaccessible to position players. That's mostly 'more jobs' in the marginal sense that it adds up to a small benefit spread across a bunch of teams and players.

[Clem Fandango]

I would love a temporary DH so we can let Schwarber do what he does best while our core is still intact during that time frame then it can go away along with him and anyone else we don't need during what I can only imagine will be another rebuild because the Ricketts are cheap cowards.

[Cubswin11]

I would love a temporary DH so we can let Schwarber do what he does best while our core is still intact during that time frame then it can go away along with him and anyone else we don't need during what I can only imagine will be another rebuild because the Ricketts are cheap cowards.

Schwarber isn’t really a DH only anymore and it’s a pretty lazy narrative, imo. I’d rather we use the DH to keep Bryant/Rizzo/Javy/Willy fresh and just optimize lineups for best matchups. There’s also Kipnis/Souza who are more DH candidates than Schwarber with their age/recent injuries. Schwarber just shouldn’t be the default DH for 70-80% of the games or whatever.

[Clem Fandango]

I realize Schwarber is a perfectly cromulent LF'er, and yes using the DH will help rest our other guys, but putting your weakest defensive link at DH is best and Schwarber is the weakest defensive link we have. Start him in LF twice a week to rest whomever, for sure, but DH is his destiny regardless of how average he is at LF.

[Sammy Sofa]

Bring back Aramis to DH, you horsefeathering cowards.

[Cubswin11]

I realize Schwarber is a perfectly cromulent LF'er, and yes using the DH will help rest our other guys, but putting your weakest defensive link at DH is best and Schwarber is the weakest defensive link we have. Start him in LF twice a week to rest whomever, for sure, but DH is his destiny regardless of how average he is at LF.

That’s fair, I’m fine having him DH here and there. I just hope he isn’t the default guy most of the time because I think there’s better ways to use it to optimize the lineup. As long as framing/human ump is a thing Willy is probably our weakest defender, imo, especially with Vic who’s a fringe starter and overqualified backup at the least. Also Almora, but he just shouldn’t ever play.

Edited June 23, 2020 by Cubswin11

[javy knows my name]

I realize Schwarber is a perfectly cromulent LF'er, and yes using the DH will help rest our other guys, but putting your weakest defensive link at DH is best and Schwarber is the weakest defensive link we have. Start him in LF twice a week to rest whomever, for sure, but DH is his destiny regardless of how average he is at LF.

That’s fair, I’m fine having him DH here and there. I just hope he isn’t the default guy most of the time because I think there’s better ways to use it to optimize the lineup. As long as framing/human ump is a thing Willy is probably our weakest defender, imo. Also Almora, but he just shouldn’t ever play.

 

This is my problem with that. If it means more playing time for almora, it's a negative. And it almost certainly means that

[Bertz]

I would expect that the DH doesn't affect Schwarber much this year. I think it would take both Souza and Heyward being really good to make Schwarber the primary guy.

 

Happ and Caratini are the guys I think this most likely does something for. My expectation for Happ is that he can really hit, but isn't really a CF. In that case I'd guess he moves around a bit, but gets the majority of his time at DH. If Happ's solid on both sides, I think Caratini And Willson split catcher close to 50/50, and Willson grabs ~25 starts at DH to become a nearly every day player.

[Cubswin11]

I realize Schwarber is a perfectly cromulent LF'er, and yes using the DH will help rest our other guys, but putting your weakest defensive link at DH is best and Schwarber is the weakest defensive link we have. Start him in LF twice a week to rest whomever, for sure, but DH is his destiny regardless of how average he is at LF.

That’s fair, I’m fine having him DH here and there. I just hope he isn’t the default guy most of the time because I think there’s better ways to use it to optimize the lineup. As long as framing/human ump is a thing Willy is probably our weakest defender, imo. Also Almora, but he just shouldn’t ever play.

 

This is my problem with that. If it means more playing time for almora, it's a negative. And it almost certainly means that

I fear that too. But hopefully it’s Happ/Nico in CF mostly with some Heyward. Then KB/Rizzo/Javy/Schwarbs/Willy/Bote/Kipnis/Souza/Nico/Vic are rotating between DH/LF/3B/SS/2B/1B/C

[David]

i really don't have much concern that ross or this FO (as much as Theo likes Almora) will sabotage this season by allowing almora or some other trash hitters wreck the top of our order (or use it to "get guys out of slumps")

 

theo likes albert's makeup and, yes, talked up his swing changes but he's not an idiot

[Cubswin11]

i really don't have much concern that ross or this FO (as much as Theo likes Almora) will sabotage this season by allowing almora or some other trash hitters wreck the top of our order (or use it to "get guys out of slumps")

 

theo likes albert's makeup and, yes, talked up his swing changes but he's not an idiot

I don’t fear he’s going to be leading off or hitting top ~5 in the lineup, I think that was almost entirely a Joe thing. When he’s in the lineup I think Ross/Theo are much more on the same page there and he will be hitting 7-9. I do fear he’s going to snake his way in the lineup more than he should though and they’ll talk themselves in to he’s somehow good vs LHP and a great fielder. There’s just a ton of better lineup configurations vs LHP and RHP that doesn’t include him at all and he probably shouldn’t get more than 10 starts in the 60 games assuming health by the rest of the team.

Edited June 23, 2020 by Cubswin11

[Sammy Sofa]

i really don't have much concern that ross or this FO (as much as Theo likes Almora) will sabotage this season by allowing almora or some other trash hitters wreck the top of our order (or use it to "get guys out of slumps")

 

theo likes albert's makeup and, yes, talked up his swing changes but he's not an idiot

 

The Theo/Almora Saga - A Dramatic Recreation:

 

[OleMissCub]

are the games going to be played in the actual stadiums or all in AZ or FL like the NBA is doing?

[Cubswin11]

are the games going to be played in the actual stadiums or all in AZ or FL like the NBA is doing?

Actual stadiums and that’s where ST 2.0 is too.