buckweaver

I think that's too simplistic. Every player on an affiliated minor league team is a terrific baseball player who's been the best of the best in high school and/or college. They deserve a livable full-time wage, decent living conditions and good nutrition. Also remember that many of these guys are very young...some kind of life coaching/mentoring would be money so very well spent. I don't argue with the owners thoughts about reducing the number of minor league teams...from a pure financial perspective, if only one of four makes it the the majors, it makes sense to reduce the total numbers. But I do argue with the poor overall treatment of minor league players re. pay and conditions. To say poor treatment is incentive to move through faster isn't grounded in reality. I've long wished the MLBPA would take in affiliated minor league players, but they aren't able to take care of even the lowest paid major leaguers, so I don't see it happening. There has been some discussion of a minor league players union. I hope it happens.

Since it took so long for them to come to the table, why not agree to a set, scheduled 10-month negotiation period (with a mediator kicking in at, say, the 6-month mark) and playing the 2022 season under the old agreement, with the new negotiated agreement beginning on 1/1/2023? Knowing nothing about how this works...any chance for such an agreement happening?

I like this post, Tex. A couple points on this whole issue that I haven't seen yet. 1. Where are all the former star players lining up to be part of MLB ownership groups? Derek Jeter is the only one I can think of. But if being an owner was such a wonderful financial boon, I'd guess some of these other very rich men would want part of that action. 2. I believe the players would have a lot more people on their side if they advocated for their minor league brethren (I understand they are not currently part of the union, but that could be changed...no one is taking up that mantel) and/or made a push for a significantly higher MLB player minimum salary (last year's was $570,500; make it $2 million to guarantee those guys who make it to the show actually have significant earnings). Overall, I agree more with the players this time around. Like all of us, I hope it settles without disruption to the season.

God, I love Tennessee. Go Vols!

If we trade Vaughn one-up, I'd like Whit Merrifield, please.

I'd like us to sign Marcus, then two of his siblings. Put all three in the lineup and get on base. Then hear Jason or Steve say, "The sacks are packed with Semiens."

Devil's advocate. In the spirit of this thread, I'd say 2b. Here's why. I think a top-tier 2b (Merrifield/Semien/Story) with a platoon of Sheets/Engel/Vaughn in RF will give better production than Conforto/Castellanos and Leury/Hernandez/etc. Just my two cents.

Why doesn't Tony play Engel more than Goodwin/Leury?

We improve simply by picking up one of the upcoming Dodgers' DFAs.

Just saw David Robertson is on the Olympics roster. Any thoughts on adding him post-Olympics? I think he's only been away from MLB for about a year.

I didn't realize it's no longer allowed. To me, it all comes down to the home plate ump giving the safe sign during the play...as many here have detailed. Right or wrong, it ended the play for Moncada...no way of knowing if he would have gone back to touch the plate. And how do you call him out if he was never tagged? (Admittedly, I don't recall whether he was tagged or not...but someone here said he wasn't, so I'm going with that). No matter, though...the safe call ended the play.

I'm surprised the Sox didn't protest this game.

Normally, I'd agree. Two things make this different. One is the 20 second rule. The second is that the home plate ump gave the safe sign. Moncada saw that and assumed that meant he touched the plate. If the runner doesn't touch the plate on a play, the ump makes no sign--safe or out. This umpire's error, I believe, overrides what's seen on the replay. Benetti was perfect on his announcing of this play.

Appears Eaton's been released. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/07/white-sox-release-adam-eaton.html

From one who almost never posts...be accurate. Tested positive for COVID antibodies, meaning he had COVID (Jan.), was asymptomatic, and now needs to go through testing protocols. But to say he currently has COVID is not correct.

Any thoughts on Puig or the Cespedes who has actually already played in the majors?

Let's hope, Sonofa...and nice add, RayRay!

Doesn't mean anything that Wheeler's brothers are retweeting. We brought Jon Jay and Yonder Alonzo to lure Machado...so until it's official...

When you're as old as Jerry, you can be a "new" Jerry.

If I'm Jerry...and I'm nearly old enough to be...that tweet alone pushes me to spend another $5 MM to get him signed.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 22, 2018 -> 11:58 AM) https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/name-th...a-budding-star/ [/b] Lou Bob?

QUOTE (Tony @ Feb 20, 2018 -> 01:46 PM) I agree on the comp pick, for the length and as much time as Moose would see for the Sox, that doesn’t bother me. But by all reports he plays a slightly above average 3B, doesn’t really get on base and hits HRs (at least in 2017). Unless it’s a VERY good deal, I just don’t like it. I give you...Matt Davidson!

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 21, 2017 -> 05:56 PM) JR being cheap as hell again Jesus! In May, 81-year-old Jerry Reinsdorf spent $52 million to sign 19-year-old Louis Robert. Can we stop typing crap like, "JR being cheap as hell again"? There's no reason to be overspending on anyone who won't be at their peak performance level 2-3-4-5 years from now. Give the owner a break already.

QUOTE (flavum @ Feb 15, 2017 -> 04:28 PM) MLB Network's Top 100 Players Right Now starts tonight. Quintana has never been on this list before. I think he'll be in the first show tonight (81-100). (Q was 77) So teams are balking at trading a couple top prospects for the 77th best player in the game who's also wrapped up with an affordable contract and is a left-handed starting pitcher? Makes no sense. Especially because his classic delivery (lefty Tom Seaver-esque) likely affords him greater durability than Chris Scissorhands, anyway.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Dec 27, 2016 -> 11:37 AM) I actually have the bottom of that 9th inning and Harry's postgame show in my library. It's the WSNS Channel 44 coverage of the game. Shows you what hustling on every play can lead to because you just never know. Mark Is there a link to that, Mark? I'd love to watch it. I was a little kid...went with my brother and grandfather.