Tampa Bay Rays Undefeated?!?!?

yes but not for long😮 - our fans down there, also TB front office, will be glad for this early-season visit -

Sox fans show up, often in force, at TB games

but overall it’s starting out more of the same-old down there -

Rays drew a ‘robust’ (ya right) 25G for their opener

then their attendance dwindled back to the norm w/11G by the end of the series -

As Rays Charged Outta The Gate Up The Standings Undefeated

xpct 15-20G or so for Sox

that’s what the hockey team down there regularly draws - sellouts, at 19,000-plus - but no bball fans & the team is always going - weird

MLB needs to merge TB & Oakland franchises - it’s worse in Oakland - Warriors left town, A’s must follow suit to survive -

merge w/Rays, build a state of the art field to do justice to the glitz of the strip - & call em the Vegas Varmints, or Vagrants or Vultures or Gamblers - or the Studs of the Strip for something different 

would doubt Montreal, too remote, too cold in April & September

Bringing up the new-age, age-old ?

how can teams meet their payrolls playing to empty stadiums

@stephen 

Tampa and Oakland make  profit despite low attendance as they have the #28 ($62M) and #30 ($46M) payrolls in baseball.

They get revenue sharing and a cut of the luxury tax money so they actually make money despite low attendance.

https://www.si.com/mlb/athletics/news/oakland-athletics-made-over-60-million-in-2023

Maybe not enough to afford high priced free agents though so they have to be creative Making up their rosters.

If any team should relocate it is Tampa. Think of how good they would be if they could spend a little more just keeping home grown talent instead of having to trade players when they get too expensive.

At $40m salary this year Aaron Judge will make almost as much as Oaklands entire 26 player team salary. The Mets will pay more in luxury tax this year, $100m, than 9 teams total salaries,

Baseball really needs a hard cap.

I think I agree with you both. To a point. Not sure about the comments regarding the front office. I would argue that their front office is great. How do they put a quality team out there annually on a shoestring budget? They always compete. Even with big spenders like Boston and NY in the same division. Ever have to put a budget together when your bosses won't allow it? Sucks. 

Part of how they can do that is revenue sharing as Bill said. There is a big todo about TV networks at the moment. Not sure how that will shake out. My cable sports is kind of fluid in that respect.

Attendance in Florida for baseball is bad. Both teams. But they are getting a cut of MLB revenue so I suppose they can stay afloat. I went to a Tampa game two years ago. Been to a lot of stadiums and that was hands down the worst. Even minor league fields. The neighborhood isn't that good. No idea if that matters or not.

As far as basically being a minor league team to send players to other teams look at Pittsburgh. Ever since the mid 90s they have gotten rid of everything that wasn't tied down. Still built a nice new stadium though. Hmm on that. The Expos were another one. How many players did they jettison? Randy Johnson, Cromartie, Dawson, Gary Carter, Vlad, Raines. Probably others that I can't think of.

Agree that they need a hard cap. 

Merging franchises makes no sense (although they could mash up them as the rA's).

Yes, the Rays need to leave Tampa - it's still a Yankee town and the city refuses to give them a decent stadium. The pop-up tent they play in is a joke. Summer sports in Florida just don't draw fans, the Marlins have enough trouble.

But MLB has 30 teams and plenty of cities that would pay for an MLB franchise (Nashville makes the most sense for the Rays, LV for the A's). The league is not going to contract when it's trying to grow its fan base. They especially won't mess with an historic franchise like the A's.

MLB definitely needs a cap. The Pirates gave up trying to field a decent team long ago, they just try to turn a profit with a $29M payroll. The league has a problem if the Rays can field a competitive team and can't fill seats while the Pirates don't even try.

When no one comes to the season opener, that’s when you know it’s time - past time - to relocate - 

& reports were that the 3G at Oakland’s opener was a stretch

don’t see why a merger makes no sense, the idea would be to have one good popular team that would draw well, instead of two that don’t -

front office mention was in reference to TB Rays front office money people appreciating the heftier bottom financial line Sox visits generate w/the increased attendance 

good posts, yes attendance/concessions etc no longer figure-important into franchise finances -

heck it likely costs a team more merely to host a visit, than what gate receipts could cover at most stadiums…..ie parking attendants, security, utility bills, overall costs of running the stadium ….

2020, the covid year of closed stadiums/no fans/no peanuts or crackerjack, hot dogs nor beer - proved beyond doubt the obsolete notion of fans, concession hawkers etc - their absence had no impact at all on the billion$$$ in MLB

Posted by: @stephen

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don’t see why a merger makes no sense, the idea would be to have one good popular team that would draw well, instead of two that don’t -

Because MLB doesn't want less baseball and the teams are in different divisions. MLB finally got the 3 5-team divisions in each league, they're not going merge ownership and dilute the value of its own product. They can make more money with 2 teams in 2 cities, they just need to find the right city.

Posted by: @lee

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You mentioned the dollars to advertisers. Another is dollars to the teams. Say a game is 45 minutes shorter. Less time for people to pay for overpriced beer and hot dogs...

good call indeed Lee, yep just read the article saying some teams are feeling the pinch b/c of the shorter games & are stretching beer sales into the 8th inning

thats a great logo & nickname - the Rocket City Trash Pandas - that’s as good as the Long Beach Dirtbags🤙 -

Astro’s’ triple-A team is the Space Cowboys - you know they blast that Steve Miller song, also Ghost Riders in the Sky etc, Plenty-loud over the PA😁🎶

Posted by: @lee

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You mentioned the dollars to advertisers. Another is dollars to the teams. Say a game is 45 minutes shorter. Less time for people to pay for overpriced beer and hot dogs...

The Brewers are on it!

https://www.si.com/mlb/2023/04/10/brewers-beer-sales-rule-change-shorter-mlb-games

According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, American Family Field is extending the deadline for beer sales to the end of the eighth inning. Traditionally, Milwaukee’s last call for alcohol has come in the seventh inning, but with pace of play increasing and the length of games decreasing significantly, the stadium is making its own changes.

Posted by: @porkchopbob

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Posted by: @stephen

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don’t see why a merger makes no sense, the idea would be to have one good popular team that would draw well, instead of two that don’t -

Because MLB doesn't want less baseball and the teams are in different divisions. MLB finally got the 3 5-team divisions in each league, they're not going merge ownership and dilute the value of its own product. They can make more money with 2 teams in 2 cities, they just need to find the right city.

 

Salt Lake City is making a big push for an MLB franchise - for its survival, TB has to be listening

Raidiz seem to have made a go of it on the Strip

Seeing that, A’s need to follow-suit pronto - Oakland, that formerly-bustling sports city, would become a ghost town - sign o’ the times - heck even the NHL California Golden Seals called Oakland home from 1967-76

MLB has (more than) enough teams imo & as a whole would be better off if rA’s vacated TB/Oak & relocated to one city, not two imfo (friendly)

good one PCBob, the rA’s😁🤙 - merge those two franchises to one locale where the fan base/fat-cat luxury boxes/season ticket sales etc, would be established & in place Ahead Of Construction Of A New Stadium 

just not in Oakland or Tampa - try as they might, rA’s are unable to establish a fan base - it’s been that way for years, it’d be brainless to build a new stadium where there are no fans - as you said Fla can’t support 2 teams, Miami is not much better off than TB

they’ve had good runs in Oakland & Tampa Bay - Sox will bring TB back to earth tonite (it’s underway)

When I saw how much shorter the games are this year one of the first things I thought about was owners complaining about lost concession revenue. Well:

Thanks, pitch clock: Some MLB teams are extending beer sales to combat shorter game times (yahoo.com)

Leave it to Milwaukee to strike first!  

Wow, The Red Sux are 8 games out of first place already!

Remarkable twin xtra-inning comeback 7-6 wins today for Tygiz & ChiSox

same BoSox, 3 in bottom of 9th

looks like the clock has caused big-time offense, it’s all over the league

Posted by: @porkchopbob

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MLB definitely needs a cap. The Pirates gave up trying to field a decent team long ago, they just try to turn a profit with a $29M payroll. The league has a problem if the Rays can field a competitive team and can't fill seats while the Pirates don't even try.

their approach has paid off however & even w/out promising rookie Oneil Cruz - the Bucs, the NL team I’ve always followed -

they’re in 1st place w/a W7 & one has to think they’ll pack PNC w/LA in town - altho wknd attendance was still light - that’s hard to understand

Camden Yahds will be as busy as Hahvid Yahd - like Pirates, O’s are W6 & we can get right back into it by winning the series -

as usual everyone is good in AL East - we finished last in 2022, the only team under .500 in the div -

starting tonight w/Chris in Baltimore, Sox gotta ignite & leave .500 behind - so far so good for Chris thru 4 starts/18 injury-free (knock on wood) IP - let’s go Sox

Posted by: @stephen

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🤙all good b - der & zer are the last 3 letters of the last names of NYM’s new pitching tandem, Verlander & Scherzer - shorter that way 

Formerly w/Tygiz - “der & zer & 4 days of slum-ber”

the ink had barely dried on der’s 2 year $86M Mets contract, when the familiar MLB refrain - “low grade teres major strain - no timetable on Justin’s return”

zer (Max Scherzer) 2-1, 19 safe IP so far, will be back when suspension is up

it won’t take long for their fans to get a-shea-med if they flop - they’re at/near the end of their careers & are being paid huge money to deliver wins & draw crowds

Same thing - playing like the devil, Rays win record 14th straight at home, & over the WS champs to boot

w/no one there

& those who were, wishing they could be at the hockey game

TB is weird - everyone all-in for Lightning, no one for Rays, rampaging or not - it’s not even indifferent fan support, it’s absent

however, the Lightning **** the bed against Leafs blowing that 4-1 3rd-period lead in TB

then the Celts, same thing - at home, unable to close out the series, inexcusably blowing a big lead in the 4th qtr

same thing Pirates, they cough up a 7-1 lead & their 7 game streak ends - few fans there, has to be deflating for franchise & players 

The rhubarb in that HS game was caused by a jerk of a coach - sticking the other team’s face in it by saying “we just swept your sorry second-rate asses - now shut up & shake our hands” when one of his players brought a broom to home plate for the postgame handshake

what self-respecting team is going to take that - being called pussies - well that’s what the other team was doing

just another in the long line of grownups behaving like idiots at youth/HS sports events 

only this was worse, this was a coach condoning rotten sportsmanship - punishment is deserved

it was Norwalk vs Mirada 

Surprised by the Rays. Media was saying that while they do have a great record, they haven't played anyone. Well, they seem to be doing just fine so far. Let's see when they have to play the Yanks, Toronto and Orioles. 

KC Athletics taking another royal beating today & whether it, KC Royals, Oakland Athletics or all of the above ….. unsightly - 12-45 combined

next stop for A’s, the Strip, & they darn-sure won’t change the name - Philadelphia, Kansas City, Oakland….it’s been Athletics for 125 years 

now to be LVA in ‘25 or so - they’ve bought the land, looks like a done deal

wattaway for ChiSox to snap that L10 - losing 9-5, they score 7 runs bottom of the 9th at an empty Comiskey after everyone had left

⚾️you’ll be surprised (distressed?😆) by  BoSox Lee, they’ll be right there when TB comes back to earth -

ChiSox did that just in time today - if ChiSox go places this season under their new manager they’ll for sure point to this game as the spark 

no last place this year for BoSox 

Posted by: @lee

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Surprised by the Rays. Let's see when they have to play the Yanks, Toronto and Orioles. 

that’s their schedule over the next two weeks - but Bucs first - good interleaguer to kick off May - won’t be a surprise if Pirates win series, will be if anyone attends

There it is - zer & der & let’s see what hap-penser as Tandem216, 78, makes its debut where it all began, Detroit

they can’t top last night - 2 rookies, same last name, born one day apart, took double no hitters into the 6th inning

the A’s pitcher got the hook w/his no-no still going 

can’t emphasize enough how unthinkable this would’ve been back in the day

…..the stadium shook - not from the fans, there weren’t any

but from Chas. O. Finley rolling in his grave

$216M is what it cost to put The Tandem in a Mets uniform

shut down for 1st month, now Tandem216 claims to be ready - what an irony, in Detroit of all places - 

guessing a few safe starts, say 36-44 tandem IP

up to the pivotal July 4 wknd - then

IF UNINJURED……that’s when T216 will kick in full-bore for impatient NYCiti fans -

who will then be chanting “der & zer & now we’re der-zert” etc

would guess some 200 IP in 2023 for T2 - (short reference, it’s the second pairing)

mayb Miggy will greet his ex-teammates w/a moonshot across America for his Comerica fans

Damaged Goods

usually ya get a refund

but Carlos Rodon, 6 years $162M

Jacob deGrom, 5 years $185M

Carlos has a bad back that he says is a chronic condition

Jacoby’s injury will sideline him longer than they thought - growing concern in TX

With all that

i’d ratha be in Philadelphia,

Ya in this Outdoors green-up time of year

Indoors, same, tonite - All Green

& again - outdoors, the same thing - we’ll leave their Phans Green w/envy - Ya Sox Let’s Go, Boston-Phila, court/diamond wattapissah

BLACK & GOLD FOREVER

Look at the Tiggers winning four straight! Whoda thunk it? They're still sheety. But not as bad as the White Sux. They are fortunate to be in the worst division in baseball.

Cardinals? Wow! I read an article about potential replacement managers already and it is barely May. Heck the Phillies did it last year and went to The World Series so who knows?

The Padres and Mets need to start playing better, simple as that. Someone has to be able to justify all that $$$$ spent.

Going to Wrigley today. Should be a beautiful day for baseball! It's Bobblehead Day so I imagine I will need to get there early. I have two extra tix, anyone want to go?  

Cubbies 3 runs bottom 8 for the W - you saw a good game - Bucs have come back to earth, they & Mil both L6, so Cubs back in it w/slumping St.L next - shoot NL Central is as dismal as AL Central

Boston@Phila - in brief, twin wins necessary for court/field sweeps down there

it’d make it 3-1🏀

that was the score of our hockey series🏒🥅 - we never thought it was a done deal

hockey being played w/no Broonz is anticlimactic - it was our first L3 of the year, so what - Boston Bruins are top dogs in this league, everyone knows that - respect to the remaining contenders

But yes, Tygiz are going, Fenway/Wrigley are lighting up, let’s go Sawx⚾️

RIP, Vida Blue - few if any first-year pitchers made the splash Vida did - Rookie of the Year & Cy Young winner, 1971

Posted by: @stephen

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Posted by: @lee

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You mentioned the dollars to advertisers. Another is dollars to the teams. Say a game is 45 minutes shorter. Less time for people to pay for overpriced beer and hot dogs...

good call indeed Lee, yep just read the article saying some teams are feeling the pinch b/c of the shorter games & are stretching beer sales into the 8th inning

 

they tried it, now are reverting back to the 7th inning for last call - quaff em

that line drive back thru the box & off that KC pitcher’s face was awful - shades of Herb Score - he has “head fractures” - get well soon bro

Uh oh - rumblings in Gotham

yep he’s back - ready to pass Judge-ment on opposing pitching as only Aaran-can, & beginning tonite, say the experts, NYY will be charging outta the cellah -

so we gotta fend em off by taking Atlanta > gaining 2nd place > pressing TB

Judge & Giancarlo were supposed to be all the stuff - “the New-Millenium Ruth-Gehrig” so the talk went in the Bronx - but they’ve been outta the lineup A Lot - currently, no timetable on Stanton’s return

Envision KC outta cellah after winning ChiSox series - same Tribe overtaking Tygiz….

yeah that was an Akil Baddoo Ballbuster alright - that may have never happened b4  

Posted by: @stephen

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They couldn’t sign Judge or Correa

so SF signed Michael Conforto instead - 2 years, $36M, so $18M per - a huge raise, esp given that he sat out 2022 & is a career .255 hitter

Yes Giants fans, Michael will lead you to the promised land🤮 

Conforto & Correa aren’t just below the Mendoza line, they’re off it altogether 

…..after all that offseason BS, they’re 0-fer the season so far, basically

it’s every time - grotesquely bloated contracts - followed by flops on the field, every injury in the book & then some

one exception, Xander playing well for SD - JBJ is w/KC now, he’s hitting .193, he belongs in Boston

good to see that Twins player back from that HBP - don’t know how I missed that one - thankfully it wasn’t another TonyC - tough facial injuries tho

lets go Sox

There’s nothing he hasn’t seen b4 on the field

including playing for a bad team

it’s why, when we see all 6-7 of that St Louis righty, Adam Wainwright, 41, toe the rubber tmrw nite - we’ll be nervous

he should saunter out to a round of applause, the greats deserve that - 19th year w/Cahds - 195-117, 3.39 ERA

It’s just AW’s 2nd start this season, was roughed up in his debut last week

meanwhile our guy, James Paxton - 1st start since 2020, & yes, only 20 IP then (in 2020) -

….that’s beaucoups of rust, but whether 20/20 hindsight or vision, James will need runs - providing them won’t be easy -

….St.L will rebound at some point, not this wknd tho

Just to clarify about the der/zer confusion

think the old saying “Spahn & Sain & 2 days of rain” - Mil fans said that b/c after Spahnie & Johnny, there was nobody, so they hoped for rainouts when they weren’t pitching

….>then onto “zer & der & s**t is a blur” or, to show the modern game, “der & zer & 4 days of slumber….”

of course I refer to the Mets’ Scherzer & Verlander - thought NY had other pitching to avoid just that scenario of nobody after T216 (Max & Justin), but unsure

again, T216 as in Tandem price tag, $216M - the 78 referred to their combined ages, der 40, zer 38

Watched a lot of baseball yesterday. The Yanks/Rays game was good. Can't believe the Rays are still beating everyone although the Yanks needed that game. As good as they are playing they are still only three up on Baltimore. Orioles are a fun team.

I love the MLB network. They were flipping between games all afternoon as something got interesting.

The White Sux finally won a game. What a mess they are. I almost feel bad for their fans. 😉 

I have a few games on my schedule so far, one at Comiskey and three at Wrigley.

Remind me to keep my wallet at home!