You can’t spell ‘no big contracts’ without RSN: 2024 regular MLB season thread!

We are about two weeks out from the most magical words of the preseason: pitchers and catchers report.

Tepid stove thread

2024 regular season threads for teams that I am personally aware of:

Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
Seattle Mariners
Toronto Blue Jays

I wonder who the Cleveland Guardians of ILB are: longest drought without a dedicated regular-season thread? A bunch of teams haven't had one for a while. And are there any Rockies-type teams who've never had their own thread?

(Rockies have had 7 seasonal threads)

Even the Expos have 4!

https://i.postimg.cc/N0kw0Vwv/IMG-5005.jpg

Incredible promo.

There is an inferior promo at one of the games I’m attending in April.

Miller Lite Happy Hour
Enjoy happy hour pregame at the Miller Lite Landing Bar and other locations for drink specials, games and more from the time gates open until first pitch!

that is beautiful

Happy Valentine’s Day! Most pitchers and catchers report today.

Catcher Keeps Signaling 'I Love You' https://t.co/LNIKAF2m3t pic.twitter.com/Z2SH3KDJ7p

— The Onion (@TheOnion) May 21, 2022

i'm going to be in NYC at the very end of march with my 13-year-old son who is totally uninterested in sports. i'm going to try to convince him that we should go to a mets game (probably not the home opener, more likely their second game).

What is he interested in?

oh you know, art/music/"geek culture" stuff, generally the same things i was into at his age. he'll probably be fine with going to a game if i buy enough snacks

You should tell him basically all the players are gamers and Lindor is probably the most stylish player in the whole leagues if he’s into drip at all

Padres manager Mike Shildt just announced that Xander Bogaerts will move to second base to clear the way for Gold Glover HSK to play short.

“My admiration for Xander went through the roof,” he said.

— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) February 16, 2024

you know, rendon isn't *wrong* -- playing baseball is a difficult job that only becomes harder when your body starts to fall apart. i imagine most people in any line of work would say that family and faith were higher priorities than their work

but baseball players are entertainers, and part of the job is at least trying to make the fans happy. and the fans do not want to hear complaints from dudes who made $103 million while playing 148 games (badly!) over the last three seasons. you just sound like an asshole -- and people are going to treat you accordingly. there are no points for honesty in this; just mouth some platitudes a la jeter and go about your day

It’s a bad look when there are journeymen taking 12 hour bus journeys in the minor leagues who dream of making league minimum. It’s a hard game, it’s a grind, but both those things are easier with the big club’s accoutrements and all that money.

Come on, man

“It’s never been a top priority for me,” Rendon said regarding the game. “This is a job. I do this to make a living. My faith, my family come first before this job.”
…

But, he also recognizes he has a certain perception among the fanbase for his lack of on-field production combined with his public comments. Last season, for example, he injured his shin in July, declined interviews for two months, then claimed the Angels doctors misdiagnosed a fractured tibia as only a bruise. That came months after getting suspended for grabbing an Oakland A’s fan in the stands following the first game of the season.

it's fair for Rendon to feel however he wants about baseball, Larry Walker iirc for example was not really Ernie Banks when it came to love of the game, though he did have fun with it and most crucially was a guy who played hard and was putting up excellent numbers til the day he retired. But Rendon has been paid like a Trout-level superstar while delivering the numbers of a decline phase Jeff Blauser.

Rendon probably doesn't even like SpongeBob

You know who does though

“I feel like SpongeBob going into work” - Dugie pic.twitter.com/J21Rk50gaY

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) February 19, 2024

queuing this one up for gyac:

The catcher hits for .318 and catches every day
The pitcher puts religion first and rests on holidays
He goes into cathedrals and lies prostrate on the floor
He knows the drink affects his speed, he's praying for a doorway
Back into the life he wants and the confession of the bench
Life outside the diamond is a wrench

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXiRbf-4RXc

(Did you know that Stuart Murdoch married a SF bay area gal after spending quite a bit of time here and he became a SF Giants fan whether by proxy or choice?

The first time I saw him live he was wearing a Barry Bonds jersey)

Thank you! I had been linked this song before and I didn’t know that about them.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3oBxgMSxtB/?igsh=dmN0bXEyeXY2dWhz

Teoscar is bringing some of the best vibes you can possible ask for to this team. Contagious smile

Spring training starts tomorrow people. Baseball is just about back!

Buenos días, fanáticos!

We are going to the Dodger-Angels game Saturday. My nephew wants to see Shohei.

Thanks, I hate this

Kodai Senga has a mild strain of his posterior capsule in his shoulder.

He will be shut down until symptoms subside and is expected to begin the season on the IL. pic.twitter.com/N9Ok7eVstW

— SNY (@SNYtv) February 22, 2024

Mets are so fucked

Speaking of, Sheehan has this to say about Pete Alonso

Hitters are losing value earlier and earlier in their careers, as power pitching and designer breaking balls put a premium on eyesight, reflexes, and hand-eye coordination. Lose even a tiny bit of that at 31, at 32, and you get run out of the league. Shortstops, center fielders, even catchers can make up for that with baserunning and defense. First basemen cannot.

Is he saying Alonso is already not ageing well? He’s projected to hit over 40 next year. Or is he suggesting this is why they haven’t extended him?

i'd be slightly wary about extending him, just due to the fact that while he's a good guy to have, i think he's not as good as the counting stats might indicate. he's more a Schwarber than a Judge. ftr i like Pete, but maybe not at whatever he'll eventually get paid.

he hit .217/.318/.504 with 3 war in his age 28 season. the homers are lovely, but yeah that's edging into schwarber territory. i'd pay him a fair bit of money on a four-year deal, but i'm sure he'll want 8+

not to be all 'wahh, boras' but boras' clients almost never sign extensions before hitting the market. and considering the deals he's gotten bogaerts and kris bryant and eric hosmer, that seems pretty effective! it only takes one sucker

if being a met means that much to alonso, i'm sure they can get a deal done -- boras works for him, after all. but they're all just posturing now

I was looking at this looking for parks that are friendly to right handed pull hitters who might be looking for a first baseman whose main skill is hitting it out, and I didn’t realise Citi field is actually so unfriendly to Alonso!

Also, now I understand why Alex Cora is always trying to get his left handed hitters to go oppo. Had no idea Fenway was that difficult for lefties.

yeah it’s a vast prairie out there in right for the most part

Unless you’ve got like 70 or 80 power or are lucky enough to reach the pole, I guess? I was surprised that Ted Williams claims he only had four oppo homers there.

Anyway, Alonso could do well in St Louis maybe? Goldy is still good but he’s a free agent at the end of 2024 at the age of 37, and they’d be able to pay Alonso if they want to.

so are they going to fix the uniforms?

word on the street is that of universal concern is the pant

word on the street is that of universal concern is the pant

there is spring training baseball on tv!

New statement on the pants from an MLB official: “The uniform pants have the same material and thickness as the uniform pants used last season. There were changes to the fabric of the jersey, not the pants.”

i.e. design and sizing changed but not the material, per the league. https://t.co/1km20Q3U3E

— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) February 23, 2024

They’re going to be laughing on the other side of their faces when there’s a rainy game at Citi or Fenway and having to see Kenley or Pete Alonso exposed to the eyes of children. Otoh maybe players will finally start wearing cups again?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqEFzxpGQx0

Baseball.
On at Australian prime time.
Only 10 hours away?

We are so back

First AB of the 2024 MLB season ends with a pitch clock violated walk. Didn't have that on my bingo card

atmosphere sucks

Facts

Omg I love Ohtani

Look at his happy mother! Wholesome 🥰

Oof this padres catcher. Not quite the cannon arm is it?

I feel like Manny Machado's ears get even more elvish as the years go on

commentators keep going on about the passion of the fans in korea but all we see on tv are bored millionaires in half-empty leather seats looking at their phones

Tbf, that's the case behind homeplate for most games

i’m just listening to the radio but doesn’t sound like diaz has broken 97 today. must be tired from yesterday

Everyone stay loose

That’s got to be one of the worst saves I’ve ever seen in my life

Lindor is a fucking stud

PUT IT IN THE BOOKS!

Congratulations Mets fans

not a save — he gets the win!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GYwAHJ2bsAAd3-d?format=jpg&name=900x900

diaz pitched himself out of the first wc game and maybe game 2? a little bit pyrrhic

kinda bummed the mets don't get to play a hangover game but whatever on to the next!

I think I died and was reborn like 8 times in the last hour or so. One of the best games in Mets history.

xp lol he’s credited with both the blown save (in the 8th??? How does that work?) and the W

quietly rooting for Serpientes to sneak in and defend the pennant.

Forgot to laugh at how funny this was

Speaking of Robinson Cano, here's Edwin Diaz vs. Jarred Kelenic with the playoffs on the line

— Mariner Muse (@MarinerMuse) September 30, 2024

I was a bit behind as I had to take a work call in the middle of Diaz' meltdown. That felt like a swingy early 00s playoff game.

I’m gonna pass out

— Christian Scott (@chscott8) September 30, 2024

For real. I’m still such a mess of emotions right now. The joy and despair all at once.

Sale running to the pen to warm up
https://img1.picmix.com/output/stamp/normal/3/2/8/9/2299823_b43ac.gif

uh

Hasn't pitched since Sep 19 and they have been playing coy about why he hasn't been starting must-win games for a week. https://t.co/cqn4AxBa0h

— Red Sox Stats (@redsoxstats) September 30, 2024

good luck braves

eek that’s quite a wrinkle

I mean the Mets are going to roll out a punt lineup right

also imagine they're only gonna be pitching mop-up men, feel bad for all the DBacks fans who have to watch this

winner of this game gets the padres

In that case the Mets want to lose as they don't want to play the Padres right now.

just heard on 880 that joey luchessi (???) is going to start game 2 of the wild card series

Lucchesi grew up a fan of the Oakland Athletics.

oh sorry game 2 of the doubleheader

damn, i had to stop watching just before all the craziness happened! congrats mets fans

just can't get enough Brazoban today

Looks like the Braves are going to make it.

Dbacks go from being in the World Series to missing the playoffs the next year. Happens a lot.

xp - do you know what happened in the 8th and 9th innings of game 1? What the fuck.

Will be curious what happens in July if miraculously Sale's still healthy and Atlanta is in the hunt.

― Mrs. Ippei (Steve Shasta), Thursday, May 2, 2024 11:36 AM (four months ago)

off by a few months but still notable!

I saw some people point out - including one Braves reporter? - that his velo took a dip in his most recent start and they were waiting to see how he’d recover. It would be…something…if he was out out.

I do but the stakes are different now.

Xxpost

Congratulations Braves fans.

wow - genuinely surprised jimenez and iglesias made appearances in the second game.

i like all the dback fans ragging on nimmo for grounding out into a double play in the 9th yesterday where he jogged to 1st slower than he does when he gets walked. and that the replay showed he was safe but the mets didn't challenge.

The finger pointing has begun:
In the aftermath of missing the postseason, Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick blasts the signing of starter Jordan Montgomery to a two-year, $47.5 million contract, blaming himself for making the recommendation to the front office late in…

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 1, 2024

hey at least JoMo earned 0.6 fWAR for that $24M, not nearly as painful as the Giants $23M for Robbie Ray (0.0 fWAR).

also dbacks GM still has a job.

Robbie Ray was a bad contract swap no? Anyway the Giants are (in theory) a big market team, Arizona isn’t. However, you don’t say that even if it’s true. Rare sympathy for Monty honestly

As per spotrac, the Giants are on the hook:

https://i.imgur.com/zPnZ5jh.png

https://i.imgur.com/zPnZ5jh.png

The Robbie Ray signing was all about 25 and 26, they didn't expect much of him for this year. Plus they traded away Mitch Haniger and Anthony DeSclafani in the deal, how is that not a win?

classless by the d-backs owner

Yeah he was fairly clearly a bad Haniger contract swap. Anyway Charles Johnson spending money on Robbie Ray means less money for Trump ads.

Lol, always a good thing.

Just saw a poll that has Steve Garvey running 17 points behind in his Senate race.

The Yokohama BayStars just snapped their 30 year championship drought.

i managed to go two NPB games over the summer and baystars was one of them (they lost)

wishing i had picked up more baystars merch now :>