2024 Divisional Rivals Thread

[kestrel79]

3 hours ago, rickh150 said:

Would hate to see that….but would love to win that too.

Wow I never thought about that...that could either be amazing. Or terrifying. 

[Underachiever]

Pittsburgh is in a rough stretch. Dropped like a rock to the bottom of the division in a week. Just look at their post-ASB schedule. Philly, StL, AZ for 6, SD for 6, Houston and the Dodgers. I know the quality of competition is tough with those teams, but the Pirates have a lot of pieces, including a starting rotation that is envy of a lot of teams. 

 

[Underachiever]

What a weird flex. I think he was trying to hit back at the fans who think they don't spend enough. "See fans, we are spending money! We may be battling for last place, but we aren't cheap!" The problem is, it makes Hoyer seem really bad at his job.

And their 40-million dollar manager doesn't even count in that number.

[82brewcrew82]

 A good Cubs meltdown is a fun way to kick off the evening.

[gregmag]

Which team should we all be rooting against in the Cardinals-Dodgers series?

Last night I was reflexively rooting against the Cardinals because of the division. Then it dawned on me that we’re a lot closer to a bye than we are to losing the division lead. But relaxing about the division feels like an affront to the baseball gods.

I’m struggling here.

[sveumrules]

3 minutes ago, gregmag said:

Which team should we all be rooting against in the Cardinals-Dodgers series?

Last night I was reflexively rooting against the Cardinals because of the division. Then it dawned on me that we’re a lot closer to a bye than we are to losing the division lead. But relaxing about the division feels like an affront to the baseball gods.

I’m struggling here.

Had the same thought sequence last night when I was flipping to LAD/STL on commercials. Like, what kind of world are we living in where I’m hoping the Cardinals win a game in mid-August?

FanGraphs has our chances of losing the division at 3.2% but out chances of securing the bye at 20.9% so for the next two days it’s Go Cards, I guess.

[AKCheesehead]

[SeaBass]

Easy, root for the Cards to beat the Dodgers and the Brewers to win.

[HarryDoyle]

Hunter Greene placed on the 15 day IL. Looks like we'll avoid him at the end of the month.

[markedman5]

For those wondering 

 

[HarryDoyle]

 

[sveumrules]

38 minutes ago, HarryDoyle said:

 

The hyperbole was so over the top.

My favorite was Heyman at the NY Post…

Mets Landing Craig Counsell As Next Manager An Absolute Necessity

[SeaBass]

CC certainly won pre-season manager of the year. If only they didn't have to play the games...

[Fear The Chorizo]

Rest of the division "rivals" this morning...

"Maybe 2025 is our year"

[sveumrules]

Hey, whaddya know, Brewers 17 W - 10 L record so far in the second half is tied for the 3rd best in all of MLB.

In the 2nd half of 2018 they went 41 W - 24 L
In the 2nd half of 2019 they went 42 W - 29 L
In the 2nd half of 2021 they went 42 W - 28 L
In the 2nd half of 2022 they went 36 W - 33 L
In the 2nd half of 2023 they went 43 W - 28 L

Guess it really shouldn't be that much of a surprise anymore.

In the first half Brewers batters put up a 106 wRC+ (9th) | 4.80 R/G (8th) and 17.4 WAR (5th)
so far in the second half they are at a 107 wRC+ (12th) | 4.74 R/G (9th) and 4.8 WAR (8th).

In the first half Brewers SP posted a 101 ERA- (14th) and 6.5 rWAR (15th)
so far in the second half they are at an 82 ERA- (5th) and 2.6 rWAR (9th).

In the first half Brewers RP posted an 81 ERA- (4th) and +7.76 WPA (2nd)
so far in the second half they are at a 67 ERA- (3rd) and +2.75 WPA (3rd).

[wibadgers23]

On this date a year ago, we were 3 games up on the Reds and Cubs so obviously this 11 game lead feels nice and comfy.

[formerlybis]

It's like the Sopranos. It's over. Find a new show

[Jopal78]

On 8/16/2024 at 3:40 PM, Underachiever said:

What a weird flex. I think he was trying to hit back at the fans who think they don't spend enough. "See fans, we are spending money! We may be battling for last place, but we aren't cheap!" The problem is, it makes Hoyer seem really bad at his job.

And their 40-million dollar manager doesn't even count in that number.

It could also be softening up the fans for when they place a bunch of players on waivers to try to get under the threshold: Wisdom, Bote, maybe even Bellinger

[HarryDoyle]

Hector Neris DFAed by Cubs.

[Fear The Chorizo]

1 hour ago, Jopal78 said:

It could also be softening up the fans for when they place a bunch of players on waivers to try to get under the threshold: Wisdom, Bote, maybe even Bellinger

I think the 2024 regular season as a whole has done more than enough to soften the fans up.  And I'd doubt waivers is going to be enough to save them from that luxury tax unless they put other more desirable players on them for teams to claim.

Hoyer should honestly be fired, and this weird comment is probably him trying to save his own job in some way to sell the fact they spent money this year to contend, while also trying to hide the fact the players they have for this payroll aren't nearly good enough to do so.

 

[Thurston Fluff]

2 hours ago, Jopal78 said:

It could also be softening up the fans for when they place a bunch of players on waivers to try to get under the threshold: Wisdom, Bote, maybe even Bellinger

Somebody would have to claim them off waivers to save the money. Why would anyone do that if they can wait and get them for league minimum?

[LouisEly]

16 minutes ago, Thurston Fluff said:

Somebody would have to claim them off waivers to save the money. Why would anyone do that if they can wait and get them for league minimum?

If they're in contention for a playoff spot, they may not want to risk a team chasing them for that spot claiming them or signing them. 

At this point in the season it's less than 20% of their salary remaining, so it isn't a big cost.

[Jopal78]

4 hours ago, HarryDoyle said:

Hector Neris DFAed by Cubs.

They actually passed him through waivers hoping someone would claim the remainder of his 9 million dollar salary. Today after having gone unclaimed they flat out released him 

[Jopal78]

4 hours ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

I think the 2024 regular season as a whole has done more than enough to soften the fans up.  And I'd doubt waivers is going to be enough to save them from that luxury tax unless they put other more desirable players on them for teams to claim.

Hoyer should honestly be fired, and this weird comment is probably him trying to save his own job in some way to sell the fact they spent money this year to contend, while also trying to hide the fact the players they have for this payroll aren't nearly good enough to do so.

 

Yeah, people crucified Boras for not getting more for Bellinger (and others), but as usual Boras has the last laugh. It is Hoyer who has the egg on his face being into the luxury tax and  owing Bellinger (.275/.333/.426) 58 million dollars for the next 2 seasons  
 

 

[Thurston Fluff]

3 hours ago, LouisEly said:

If they're in contention for a playoff spot, they may not want to risk a team chasing them for that spot claiming them or signing them. 

At this point in the season it's less than 20% of their salary remaining, so it isn't a big cost.

If it isn't a big cost then it's also not much luxury tax relief.