quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

You have got to be kidding me.

They're actually considering making the shift illegal?

I recently asked a veteran major league hitting coach what can be done to inject more offense back in the game. His first response was to address the new defensive positioning.

“The shifts,” he said. “Get rid of them. You need to come up with a definition of illegal defense. I know you’ll say, ‘Well, you’re a hitting coach. Of course you would [say that].’ But it’s something that has really changed the game.”

Support of an “illegal defense” rule – or at least the consideration of it – is gaining some traction in baseball. Such a rule might stipulate, for instance, that you cannot have three infielders on one side of second base. A shortstop would be able to shift as far as directly behind second base on a lefthanded hitter, but no farther.

http://www.si.com/mlb/2014/07/22/shifts-rule-change-lefthanded-batters-david-ortiz

Geez. I was kidding yesterday, guys. I swear!

That's just nuts.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dave E

Tighten up the baseball. Steroid testing alone does not explain the insance drop off in homers over the last 15 years.

quote:

ORIGINAL: MDK


How about addressing a real issue with the game.....the length of time it takes for a game to be played.

Force pitchers and hitters to get going.

The length of games has become crazy.

Watch a game from the 60's vs. a Yanks/Sox game of today.

Baseball really needs to focus on bringing youngsters into the game as fans as well.

quote:

ORIGINAL: MDK

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dave E

Tighten up the baseball. Steroid testing alone does not explain the insance drop off in homers over the last 15 years.

How about addressing a real issue with the game.....the length of time it takes for a game to be played.

Force pitchers and hitters to get going.

The length of games has become crazy.

Watch a game from the 60's vs. a Yanks/Sox game of today.

Baseball really needs to focus on bringing youngsters into the game as fans as well.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

As his struggles worsen, the Phillies have had internal discussions about releasing one-time star first baseman Ryan Howard after the season, reports Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. Howard is owed the rest of his $25MM salary this season and comes with $60MM in future guarantees.

It does not appear that the club has reached any finality in regards to Howard’s future. The possibility of a trade has been explored, but Philadelphia has not found another club interested in taking on any substantial part of Howard’s contract. That is not surprising, of course, given that the 34-year-old is slashing a career-low .224/.305/.377 through 417 plate appearances on the year.

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ORIGINAL: djskillz

Everyone (but the Phillies) knew from the beginning that was the worst contract in baseball. Just like the ones for Miggy and Prince will be.

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ORIGINAL: djskillz

As a fan, I love the long season. Ditto for NBA. But I don't think it's good for the casual fan. And it's almost certainly not good for the players.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

As his struggles worsen, the Phillies have had internal discussions about releasing one-time star first baseman Ryan Howard after the season, reports Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. Howard is owed the rest of his $25MM salary this season and comes with $60MM in future guarantees.

It does not appear that the club has reached any finality in regards to Howard’s future. The possibility of a trade has been explored, but Philadelphia has not found another club interested in taking on any substantial part of Howard’s contract. That is not surprising, of course, given that the 34-year-old is slashing a career-low .224/.305/.377 through 417 plate appearances on the year.

quote:

ORIGINAL: CPAMAN

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

As his struggles worsen, the Phillies have had internal discussions about releasing one-time star first baseman Ryan Howard after the season, reports Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. Howard is owed the rest of his $25MM salary this season and comes with $60MM in future guarantees.

It does not appear that the club has reached any finality in regards to Howard’s future. The possibility of a trade has been explored, but Philadelphia has not found another club interested in taking on any substantial part of Howard’s contract. That is not surprising, of course, given that the 34-year-old is slashing a career-low .224/.305/.377 through 417 plate appearances on the year.

Long-term contracts should become illegal in baseball. It is ruining the sport. If they are not going to implement a salary cap, the least they can do is limit FA contracts to 4-5 years.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

quote:

ORIGINAL: CPAMAN

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

As his struggles worsen, the Phillies have had internal discussions about releasing one-time star first baseman Ryan Howard after the season, reports Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. Howard is owed the rest of his $25MM salary this season and comes with $60MM in future guarantees.

It does not appear that the club has reached any finality in regards to Howard’s future. The possibility of a trade has been explored, but Philadelphia has not found another club interested in taking on any substantial part of Howard’s contract. That is not surprising, of course, given that the 34-year-old is slashing a career-low .224/.305/.377 through 417 plate appearances on the year.

Long-term contracts should become illegal in baseball. It is ruining the sport. If they are not going to implement a salary cap, the least they can do is limit FA contracts to 4-5 years.

If I were GM, My standards for a FA would be

1. If we go longer than 3 years then every additional year will be team option only.
2. No trade clauses are not an option, Unless player is willing to lop 10% off of their final dollar value of their contract. If you are going to get paid this much, you will assume the risk of being traded.
3. Buyouts for team option years will not exceed 500K.
4. Contracts will have a low base salary with performance bonuses, no guaranteed money, you get paid when you succeed.
5. Every contract for my team will include team wins bonuses for more than 88 wins, then 95.

quote:

ORIGINAL: twinsfan

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

quote:

ORIGINAL: CPAMAN

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

As his struggles worsen, the Phillies have had internal discussions about releasing one-time star first baseman Ryan Howard after the season, reports Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. Howard is owed the rest of his $25MM salary this season and comes with $60MM in future guarantees.

It does not appear that the club has reached any finality in regards to Howard’s future. The possibility of a trade has been explored, but Philadelphia has not found another club interested in taking on any substantial part of Howard’s contract. That is not surprising, of course, given that the 34-year-old is slashing a career-low .224/.305/.377 through 417 plate appearances on the year.

Long-term contracts should become illegal in baseball. It is ruining the sport. If they are not going to implement a salary cap, the least they can do is limit FA contracts to 4-5 years.

If I were GM, My standards for a FA would be

1. If we go longer than 3 years then every additional year will be team option only.
2. No trade clauses are not an option, Unless player is willing to lop 10% off of their final dollar value of their contract. If you are going to get paid this much, you will assume the risk of being traded.
3. Buyouts for team option years will not exceed 500K.
4. Contracts will have a low base salary with performance bonuses, no guaranteed money, you get paid when you succeed.
5. Every contract for my team will include team wins bonuses for more than 88 wins, then 95.

Nobody of note would agree to sign with your team and you'd lose 130 games every season.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

quote:

ORIGINAL: twinsfan

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

quote:

ORIGINAL: CPAMAN

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

As his struggles worsen, the Phillies have had internal discussions about releasing one-time star first baseman Ryan Howard after the season, reports Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. Howard is owed the rest of his $25MM salary this season and comes with $60MM in future guarantees.

It does not appear that the club has reached any finality in regards to Howard’s future. The possibility of a trade has been explored, but Philadelphia has not found another club interested in taking on any substantial part of Howard’s contract. That is not surprising, of course, given that the 34-year-old is slashing a career-low .224/.305/.377 through 417 plate appearances on the year.

Long-term contracts should become illegal in baseball. It is ruining the sport. If they are not going to implement a salary cap, the least they can do is limit FA contracts to 4-5 years.

If I were GM, My standards for a FA would be

1. If we go longer than 3 years then every additional year will be team option only.
2. No trade clauses are not an option, Unless player is willing to lop 10% off of their final dollar value of their contract. If you are going to get paid this much, you will assume the risk of being traded.
3. Buyouts for team option years will not exceed 500K.
4. Contracts will have a low base salary with performance bonuses, no guaranteed money, you get paid when you succeed.
5. Every contract for my team will include team wins bonuses for more than 88 wins, then 95.

Nobody of note would agree to sign with your team and you'd lose 130 games every season.

No, I would get coaches very good at developement of young players, Draft well, develope from within and we would win that way. I would never give a marginal player a long ass term contract and let them hang around with a no trade clause.

There would be no $23mil a year for 8 years guaranteed with a no trade clause for a washed up singles hitting walk drawing oft injured powerless 1B and former catcher. There'd be no longterm deals for Vernon Wells, or Barry Zito.

There would be no 4 year contracts for Nick Blackburn,
No longterm extensions with starting player play for utility guys like Nick Punto.

Almost none of those longterm deals end up working well for organizations.

Why the Twins don't sign big name FAs is because they wont sign any one or two year wonders to gargantuan contracts. If you signe all the best FAs to those monster contracts you end up with the Yankees of 2014...OLD OLD OLD team breaking down and under contract for a few more years.

You might start out for a few years with bad records, but then you draft well with the good draft picks you get. develope them and bring them up and when they all mature together you have success, like in 1987. and in the early 2000s as well (if Gardy weren't here we would have gone farther imho).

I really don't have a problem with this aspect of how the Twins run things, my problem is with their talent evaluation. and the fact that they can't see their coaching staff is hindering success.

quote:

ORIGINAL: CPAMAN

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

As his struggles worsen, the Phillies have had internal discussions about releasing one-time star first baseman Ryan Howard after the season, reports Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. Howard is owed the rest of his $25MM salary this season and comes with $60MM in future guarantees.

It does not appear that the club has reached any finality in regards to Howard’s future. The possibility of a trade has been explored, but Philadelphia has not found another club interested in taking on any substantial part of Howard’s contract. That is not surprising, of course, given that the 34-year-old is slashing a career-low .224/.305/.377 through 417 plate appearances on the year.

Long-term contracts should become illegal in baseball. It is ruining the sport. If they are not going to implement a salary cap, the least they can do is limit FA contracts to 4-5 years.

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

You actually win by locking up your young elite guys very early to longterm team-friendly deals when you have ALL the leverage for their first 6 years when they're getting severely underpaid. That's what the A's/Rays do. It works. You're taking minimal risk in the grand scheme of things and the player is also still getting some security.