MLB (Non-Phils) News and Notes 2016

Philsmania 2016-07-09 14:58:06 UTC #361

Red Sox not waiting for deadline with three deals today.

bkeich 2016-07-09 15:06:28 UTC #362

Ziegler is a nice pickup for them because he plays to Fenway exceptionally well. He is an extreme ground ball pitcher and basically reduces the green monster from the game.

rkeden 2016-07-09 15:15:12 UTC #363

None of the trades yet completed by the Red Sox solve their starting pitching woes. I would imagine that they will still want to pick up an innings-eating, reliable starter. However, the last trade did deplete their farm system a bit and that may hinder their aggressiveness with and around the Hellickson or other trades! Not that we want or need a low-A kid at this point anyway. The good news for us is that they are far more anxious to get a starter than we are to lose one! Advantage, Phils!

Austinfan 2016-07-09 15:33:10 UTC #364

Actually, a low A kid is exactly what we want, it's the weakest spot in the farm system.
You want to stagger prospects so you're not constantly up against 40 man roster limits.

andyb 2016-07-10 10:09:33 UTC #365

Rosenthal on questioning why Cory Stanley keeps testing positive for PEDs:
foxsports.com/mlb/story/cody ... hal-070916

Same substance that Stumpf and Asher tested positive for. Seems like a new test and Stanley's situation where he tested positive multiple times while banned really makes one question whether the test itself is generating false positives.

zambonir 2016-07-10 20:29:21 UTC #366

That's a good read that just shows, for me, that MLB players put so much stuff in their bodies (including at the behest of doctors) that the distinction between legal and illegal, and enhanced and "unenhanced" performance, remains practically meaningless. That there might be false positives in a player who was still taking approved supplements and was on three prescription drugs seems unsurprising. However, his positive test was not for the drug, but for the metabolite produced by the drug. Does that mean his performance was "enhanced" in same way as if he'd taken the illegal drug, even if he didn't? If it was an unexpected interaction or tainted supplement it's moot, their only hope is somehow determining that the test is showing the presence of the metabolite when it's not actually there.

Philsmania 2016-07-11 19:54:32 UTC #367

Padres really went wild with international signings this year.

mlbtraderumors.com/2016/07/padres-sign-adrian-morejon-11-million.html

Austinfan 2016-07-11 21:50:20 UTC #368

Like I've said, make the overpays cumulative, that is, you can't sign people until you've exhausted your overpay out of your allocation.
Though the Padres system is pretty barren.

Lawman 2016-07-12 13:25:25 UTC #369

Was watching the HR contest last night w/ my kids. It was a blast....yeah, I know it's meaningless, but spending time with the kids and having fun....that's awesome. I had to leave mid-way through first round. I came back at 10 pm and my one of my sons was up in bed, listening to it on his radio. I let him come down and watch the last of it w/ me.

A few thoughts:

1) Those brown and yellow jerseys are hideous. I know it's a nod to the old SD Padres uniforms. But, not all old-time jerseys need to be redone. Hideous.

2) Stanton is on something.

3) Petco Park is pretty cool, and I love the warehouse as the LF bleachers.

4) Baseball is awesome

Patchmk88 2016-07-12 13:50:48 UTC #370

I was rooting for Duval since he went to my alma mater and favorite college team. Wish he would have gotten past Fraizer.

donaldorc 2016-07-12 13:55:36 UTC #371

1) Agreed on the ugliness of those brown and yellow jerseys.
2) Stanton was awesome. Did he ever reach the scoreboard in the finals?
3) Agreed on Petco Park. Would love to attend a game there.
4) Agreed on baseball. I tried my best to inculcate it's beauty into my son, but as an adult he is more interested in the recent soccer wars than the game of his heritage.

bkeich 2016-07-12 17:45:36 UTC #372

I remember as a kid in the 70s of looking forward to the All Star Game. Maybe it was because the Phillies were so well represented, but honestly I think it was more than that. Maybe it was that there was no ESPN and this was really the only chance to see many of the players that I did not get to see.

That said, this to me is the worst part of the baseball season now. The All-Star game is nothing to me now. It is just 3 days with no baseball at all, I understand the players love and probably need a mid season break, but as a fan this is just annoying.

Maybe I am the only one and I am not suggesting getting rid of the all star game or the break for the players, but it isnt enjoyable as a fan in any way. Maybe if they came up with some different activities (fastest runner, throwing contests, etc.) but I recognize those also carry an injury risk.

Lawman 2016-07-12 18:07:07 UTC #373

bkeich:

I remember as a kid in the 70s of looking forward to the All Star Game. Maybe it was because the Phillies were so well represented, but honestly I think it was more than that. Maybe it was that there was no ESPN and this was really the only chance to see many of the players that I did not get to see.

That said, this to me is the worst part of the baseball season now. The All-Star game is nothing to me now. It is just 3 days with no baseball at all, I understand the players love and probably need a mid season break, but as a fan this is just annoying.

Maybe I am the only one and I am not suggesting getting rid of the all star game or the break for the players, but it isnt enjoyable as a fan in any way. Maybe if they came up with some different activities (fastest runner, throwing contests, etc.) but I recognize those also carry an injury risk.

Really? I love the All-Star Game. There's always a nice mix of established stars, kids having break-out (or flash-in-the-pan) good/great seasons. I find it enjoyable and actually look forward to it.

Philsmania 2016-07-12 18:20:28 UTC #374

I like the All-Star Game, too. It's cool to see a gathering of talent. I wouldn't mind seeing fan balloting not determine the starting lineups. Rather, I think fan balloting should be weighted equally against player/manager and media voting.

I actually liked the Padres old brown uniforms. They were unique. Besides, Franciscan friars wear brown robes so it made sense for the Padres to wear brown.

Interesting how the All-Star Game series has been a series of runs. Initially dominated by the AL, then by the NL, then a brief period of parity, then a long 25 year run of NL dominance from '63 to '87 (22-3 in favor of the NL) followed by the current run of AL dominance since then which probably shows no sign of changing anytime soon (21-6-1 in favor of the AL, only broken by a couple of 3 year NL winning streaks from '94-'96 and '10-'12).

I despise this awarding of WS home field advantage to the winning league. It's a totally random BS gimmick. Unfortunately, MLB seems stubbornly wedded to it instead of just basing WS home field advantage on regular season record like all other leagues do (aside from the NFL with its neutral sites for the Super Bowl).

BostonRoss 2016-07-12 19:16:26 UTC #375

I personally love the All-Star Game and always have. The first ASG I saw all the way through was the 1968 game, where Willie Mays scored the only funk a double play grounder in the first inning. That game was the only time I ever saw Mickey Mantle play.

But the ASG has lost some of its luster. I can see any player I want anytime. The World Series home field advantage is ridiculous. There is too much emphasis on getting everyone in the game and not enough on winning.

IMHO, the all time me greats should always. be there. This year that would include Ichiro and Pujols. Who cares what they are doing this year? Mickey Mantle stunk in 1968, but I got to see him when I was 9. I don't care that he whiffed.

Philsmania 2016-07-12 19:37:38 UTC #376

I have yet to meet a single fan who likes the WS home field advantage policy. Yet, MLB obtusely refuses to even consider getting rid of it.

donaldorc 2016-07-12 20:08:41 UTC #377

I used to love the ASG. Couldn't wait to see which Philly would be chosen to go. Remember so well Johnny Callison's walk-off 3-run home run in 1964. Heck, I had just seen him walk right past me, up close and personal, in the bowels of Connie Mack Stadium where the players walked from the clubhouse to the dugout.

But recently it has lost its luster for me. Too much hype, too many ads, too much controversy over who goes and who doesn't.

scorcher 2016-07-12 20:27:25 UTC #378

On top of the home field advantage to the winner, they should make the All Star game a money game to get more interest from the players. 250k for each player of the winning squad and nada to the losing team.

LoneStarPhan 2016-07-12 21:31:17 UTC #379

Loved the all star game as a kid in the 50s but my interest faded as I got older. Since the make the game count tie to the WS was put in place, I am actively ticked off at the all star game. This tie to home field advantage in the WS cheapens the game and IMO makes MLB look foolish.

California_Dreamin 2016-07-12 21:36:19 UTC #380

My favorite AS game ever...the first I can recall. 1964. Johnny Callison wins it with a home run in the 9th against the monster reliever, Dick Radatz. I was convinced it was the Phillies year. Short and Bunning also pitched in that game.

One of my favorite photos of all time is Callison being mobbed at the plate after the home run. He is surrounded by about 10 players, 7-8 of the who are now in the Hall of Fame.