2017 MLB Season Thread

[Rambo]



Mike Matheny is going to be the new Cardinals manager. Local reaction I've heard so far is not very positive.

I like it. He's been with the organization for years, they don't have to pay him a ton, the team is young and he's popular, so what's not to like? Experience is overrated.

 

[L'Incandescent]



I like it. He's been with the organization for years, they don't have to pay him a ton, the team is young and he's popular, so what's not to like? Experience is overrated.

I agree. There are a lot of people locally who wanted Jose Oquendo, who's also been with the organization a long time.

In other news, the Orioles are going back to the cartoon bird hats with the white front panel for next year. (No white front panel for the road hats.) I am very happy about that--it's the way the Orioles are supposed to look. Blue Jays are also going back to their classic look. And the Mets will announce tomorrow that they're getting rid of that ridiculous drop shadow that's been marring their design for years. Baseball is going to look a lot better next year! Now if only players would start wearing stirrups again!

 

[Slopho]

MORE teams in the playoffs?? Really? The WS won't get started until Christmas at this rate.

 

[Rambo]

Does anybody else think that two Texas teams in the AL West is idiotic?

 

[L'Incandescent]



MORE teams in the playoffs?? Really? The WS won't get started until Christmas at this rate.

Looks like a one-game playoff that's being added, right? That shouldn't mess up the schedule too much. That said, having 1/3 of MLB make the playoffs seems excessive.

If they're going to add playoff spots, they should give one wild card position per league to the non-division winning team with the best uniform. That way, the Royals would get in every year and the playoffs would at least look better.

 

[LawrenceMD]



Does anybody else think that two Texas teams in the AL West is idiotic?

nah dog... those games will be drunken interstate rivalry hatefests involving 40,000-50,000 people for at least 18games... plus now the AL west is better.

 

[munchausen]



Does anybody else think that two Texas teams in the AL West is idiotic?

How so? There's already two California teams. Two Cali teams in the NL west too. It only seems logical for teams that are geographically proximate to be in a division together.

 

[ConcernedParent]



How so? There's already two California teams. Two Cali teams in the NL west too. It only seems logical for teams that are geographically proximate to be in a division together.

There are only 2 teams in Texas, 5 teams in California (Angels, A's, Giants, Doyers, Padres).

 

[Rambo]



There are only 2 teams in Texas, 5 teams in California (Angels, A's, Giants, Doyers, Padres).

Correct. And LA and San Diego could not be more opposite. It just seems weird to me. But hey, I'm a purist.

 

[munchausen]



There are only 2 teams in Texas, 5 teams in California (Angels, A's, Giants, Doyers, Padres).

I'm not entirely sure how this is relevant.

 

[Rambo]

In the vain of rivalries, its not. The point was that there were SO many teams in CA that having 2 in a division is bound to happen. Forcing it in TX is a bit weird.

Enough on that, how about the awards so far? Everyone winning has been a lock IMO.

 

[Slopho]

I didn't realize they haven't even named the MVP yet. Damn this is taking a while.

 

[bdeuce22]

^^ MLBs way of extending the season. pretty soon catchers and pitchers report. pretty stupid. Glove Glove one week. Silver Slugger the next. AL Cy Young after. NL Cy Young a little later. so on and so forth.

excited for the AL MVP. doubt it will be JV, but i hope so.

 

[L'Incandescent]

With the hiring of Dale Sveum, you've got to consider the Cubs as favorites in the NL Central. This is the guy who masterminded the Brewers' Wild Card Championship run of 2008.

 

[ConcernedParent]



I'm not entirely sure how this is relevant.

How is it not? If you are suggesting that geographical proximity is the basis for divisions then moving Houston to the AL West makes no sense. The majority of teams there are on the west coast, in a different time zone. If that was the criteria, a wholesale division revamp would be much better (including the 5 Cali teams together), but then there is this annoying thing called tradition and history. It's clear the decision was based on even-ing out the conferences and the divisions (15 teams each conference, 5 teams each division).