tmwiese55

Someone had like one line that mentioned a good point. Most large businesses negotiate concessions from local governments to reside in certain states. I mean you just saw this with big headlines with the Foxconn thing, but most of the time this stuff flies under the radar because they don't have publicity and name recognition of the pro sports teams. Well, and because it's usually smaller dollar amounts. There was one in Madison a few years ago for a pharma type company to build a place downtown that the city was paying something like 50 mil to make it happen, it ended up falling through for unrelated reasons if I remember correctly. Mercury Marine in FDL had a big negotiation like this around 15 years ago to keep them there instead of move to someplace like Oklahoma. So, it happens all the time, not just for sports. Still, no way i'm advocating for public to fund this stuff. Just saying this isn't out of the ordinary. Essentially it seems to me a mixed setup similar to the Bucks arena is a reasonable middle ground so everyone is kind of chipping, maybe a standard of owner/private fund at least 50% type thing would make sense. To what somewhere in time just said, what the studies have shown is that the citizens or folks there in Chicago would basically spend the same or at least close to the same amount of money in some other form of entertainment/dining, etc. They wouldn't just sit on the money and not spend it. What would go away though is the taxes from the players and team though which is largely funded by TV revenues and other national streams ( not just local tix, concessions, etc). And yes maybe those specific bars in the Wrigleyville area would lose out or go under, but someone else somewhere else in Chicago would benefit from people's disposable income being freed up.

Side note, good bounceback from Barnes last night after his last two games. Got 1 1/3 done fine, they asked extra from him going into the 30s in pitches. he would've gotten out of it without the Shaw error for 2 1/3 performance at a time it was really needed.

The positive right now is that going to MP now it still feels perfectly fine and not outdated. I don't see any reason they should have an issue anytime soon, see no reason it can't go another 15 years at least. Just keep small updates and don't let things fall into crappy condition that make parks look outdated. Things like bathrooms, lights, little stuff like that

Maybe saving Woodruff as the extra man for the double header? That's what I was going to say too. Also, if you haven't looked at the post ASG schedule they have their work cut out for them. LAD, WAS, SF, LAD, Col with no off days until Aug 6. Kind of a make or break stretch there, can't have a repeat of last year. 3-2 or 4-1 to finish here would be nice leading into that

If the cost is drastically less I'm fine with Escobar. Of course the pedigree is more there for Machado to keep this or something close to it up and he's just a better hitter. But there is also a good chance of some regression from Machado in the 2nd half as he's never hit anything close to this before in his career. Scanning their relievers for someone to package with Escobar and Zach Duke is staring me in the face as well.

Another difference between this year and last IMO would be that the Dodgers and Nats are not sitting there as dominant forces come playoff time like they were last year. Cubs of course are still there, but last year you had all 3 instead of one. Basically, things seem much more wide open come playoff time than they did last year. Plus, our team is just better with the additions of Cain, Yelich, and Jesus going up like 3 levels.

[sarcasm]So if we lose tonight are we in sell mode?[/sarcasm] Based on reading some of the last posts last night we might be.

Regardless if they miss out on Machado, a move of some kind will happen on account of the 40 man Rule 5 protection issues. So at least that's some excitement/action no matter what to look forward to. And this year I expect it to be higher profile than Walker/Swarzak/Miller type things.

I know he's been great for us so far and it's not like I want to trade him. But here me out a bit on a skeptics view on Peralta, he's a small guy who really only throws low 90s and basically only has 2 pitches so you might be skeptical on how sustainable this is. I know the deceptive delivery is what makes him great, but I could see how we might value him less for the reasons I said.

Some major writer had a tweet about us talking with MN about Dozier and Escobar. So it seems they're looking at cheaper backup options as well. Both FAs this year. I'm not too familiar with Escobar and his positional flex, I'd guess he'd play 2B.

It would be interesting if they continue to play poorly until the deadline, say they hover at .500 and are like 10 games out and behind two teams. A team that loaded can't give up now, Strasburg should be back after the break. Before the deadline they have 8 games vs MIA/NYM to try and make up ground. Plus 3 vs ATL straight up. If you're 10 out from division and WC I think they kind of have to look at it, take what you can get as it doesn't seem like he's coming back. You can still try to resign him in the offseason though.

I'd say there is a difference between "watching" and just having it on in the background. If they're just head down watching it for several mins on end (clearly not paying attention/working) then it's a problem. If it's just on so you can keep updated every once in a while and see if something major happens then no big deal. For example, in my office we have TVs on the wall and generally sports on when something's going on. Just don't be the idiot with your back to the computer watching for 20 mins. That said during the WC we've had to deal with a guy doing exactly that, along with putting headphones on and watching crap on his phone over and over. One thing I try to remember is that in a way this is just more blatant or obvious than what I do of reading online and posting on a board like this, this type of thing just isn't as clear that you're not working and since I'm looking at my computer I can do two things and immediately see anything that comes up on email. And we all know that everyone wastes time on random stuff through the day and watching something like WC isn't much different. Biggest thing I try to remember dealing with this type of topic is smoking, as in if joe schmo watches WC for 10 mins is that really any different than people who go stand outside for 20 mins at time multiple times per day, really it's better since the person isn't killing himself.

I don't think this makes all that much sense for the Yankees really. I mean they have to call and check since they're the Yankees, but clearly their offense is already loaded and they can just try to sign in the offseason. Although if I'm them I'd rather go for Harper since their other two big boppers are righty and because of the RF porch in Yankee Stadium. Pretty sure Gardner is a FA this year to free up an OF spot. If I'm the Yankees though don't you just put Andujar in the trade since you can resign Machado? Then you shouldn't have to give up a Sheffield type as the Yanks are desperate for pitching and likely have a terrible farm for pitchers. I suppose it's a bit risky since there is a chance you don't sign him though.

Yes the way you guys are describing taxes is generally how it works for the players. A couple states, pretty sure TN is one, even put in a kind of shady tax law to get even more from them. So pro athletes, musicians, etc get taxed drastically higher % on this type of income. Of course non income tax states like TX and FL are different though.

Think about it this way--they could spend $500 million in public dollars on literally anything they want. They could build new schools, libraries, highways, parks, bridges, whatever. They could build a giant pyramid. Or a sports stadium. All of those generate construction companies and jobs. The only net income to the local area in the long run would be if dollars from out of state are coming in. Otherwise you are just redistributing money from the local economy. Bowling alleys pay taxes too. Do bowling alley's have hundreds of millions of income/revenue they're paying taxes on and employees paying employees 100 mil who are paying taxes? The revenue doesn't only come from the spending of local citizens on tix/food (which in theory people would spend on other entertainment), it's the TV rights etc that is the big payer and that isn't coming for bowling allyes and libraries. That's a big difference. Income tax from the players alone would be 10s of millions of dollars each year. The construction point you make is valid though if it's all public money then you can spend that on anything. In the current climate no way it should 100% be public money, you should at least be getting something from private investment that could make it profitable to the area (similar to the MKE mixed funding setup). Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating that public should pay for stadiums or that this extra money would justify 100% paying for it. I actually wish there was a way to make it all private, some kind of joint law or rule by the leagues agreed upon. But if that's not the case there is a balance that can work and it is true that they do make money for the state/area. Just not in the way they like to hype as if hotels, restaurants, local business all of a sudden get drastically better. Something like what happend for the Bucks seems like a reasonable middle type ground.

Personally I did think his hitting last year was smoke and mirrors. Of course, no way I thought he'd fall off this hard but it didn't pass the eye test to me. Still with his D if he settled in at .245 10 HRs and OPS above 700 is good enough. That's kind of what I thought, I slight correction down from last year. I still think he could get there but it sure looked bad this year. So it comes down to what management thinks, is he lost cause and do they think Dubon is just as good of a bet as him? If so, then his name would make sense to use in lots of talks. We don't know what they think though. I guess if using him saves a top starting P prospect I see the logic. You can scrap heap guys like Saladino to give good D fill in until Dubon or someone else is ready at SS. Keep in mind our number 1 pick this year was a SS. Of course a high schooler so a long way out but the hype around him was potential number 1 pick before some things came up, I don't recall the reason maybe just that everyone thought he was a hard commit to LSU

But they do generate a bunch in taxes. Yes the local economy impact theory that it creats a bunch of extra revenue for business in the area seems to be discredited. But the team paying taxes and the players paying taxes adds up to quite a lot of money each year. Plus of course the stadium project itself would inject a bunch of money into local construction related companies and jobs.

Portland would be such an easy and logical move for Oakland since they can't get a stadium built. No needing to shuffle around division like if Tampa moved way west.

I'm sure those names have been discussed, including Arcia. But I can't or at least hope I don't see us having two top guys like that involved. As in if Arcia is on it (if we're down on him and think the SS who got hurt is the future instead) then Burnes won't be. And vice versa. I would just guess we really really value the controlled pitchers.

I don't see anyone saying those other guys are better. There's only one person on this site who had Peralta rated as a higher prospect than I coming into this season. I'll try putting this another way... If the Brewers starting options are healthy at the same time. Davies comes back, Suter comes back, Miley comes back. A high end starter could be added via trade as well. You add in Peralta's jump in innings and what's the easy solution to the dilemma of too guys for too few spots? They very well might send Peralta back down at the next hiccup and limit his innings piggybacking in AAA. I hate the idea of Peralta being dropped in favor or any of those guys but you have to face the possibility it might happen. We're on the same page. Semantics issue I think. When I said "they think others are better" I was referring to the Brewars, not any poster saying it. Yea I agree they're likely to shuffle to manage innings and injuries. I dont' recall seeing stuff like this before where a team is frequently shuffling guys and kind of using like a 35 man team. Really creative way for a small market to get things done

Right on the support in Vegas for the Knights. I was there twice during hte playoffs. However, have to keep in mind how much of an anomaly it was due to them winning big in the first year. How will it maintain, etc. Besides that though it's just the financial aspects of it, like is there enough money and disposable income left in a not that big city population wise. It's also new in the sense to have teams in such a prime vacation destination on how traveling fans will help support teams financially there, as in how much does attendance get a fluff due to people for the road teams travelin in that weekend because of their team playing there. I just mean they might want to gain some more data info after adding two franchises basically at the same time. And like I said I know they'd prioritize NBA over MLB so if they felt like they can handle one they might hold out for NBA. On the otherhand, chances are folks in Vegas will have the mentality of go big or go home and just try to do it all and sort it out later. Then throw in the financial aspects of funding another billion dollar stadium too, though in Vegas huge expenditures like that aren't rare. Also, San Diego denied the NFL stadium for the Chargers and let them move. I agree the tide is turning. For the Rays name, I think at this point TB is also using more along the sun/heat as opposed to the Devil Ray fish like it started. So really it would be the same theme as now

Vegas is a great city, I go a few times a year. Might be a little over extended already with NHL and NFL so it might not be a bad idea to wait and see how things play out with them on whether they can support another franchise too. Plus, Vegas is perfect for NBA so if/when expansion comes they're ready to go with an NBA arena build on the strip already so that's likely their priority. Keep in mind baseball is a summer sport and Vegas summers are ridiculously hot so almost all games would be indoors. Also, their WNBA team is called the Aces already so that isn't gonna happen. I'd guess if the Rays moved they'd just keep the name as it also applies to the sun/heat in Vegas.

I doubt they'd want him given their situation, but maybe they'd take a chance on Villar as the 3rd piece? Spitballing here of course but maybe give him regular PT at SS and see if he can rebound with them. If he does they can flip him next year or just let him fill the gap for a while for them. They're going to need someone to fill in once Machado is gone. And of course I don't know what they have in AAA for SS to bring up. For us it would be free a 40 man spot and you'd still have Miller, Perez, Saladino to play 2B. Hurts your depth a bit but that still three versatile backups you have for the infield. Basically he seems a bit expendable if you have Machado now and plan on Huera being up next year.

I was thinking the other day he might get optioned after this start for another BP arm (or I guess for Miley to start Thursday). Just out of roster management type things, similar to what they did with Davies a few years ago. Still, my best guess is that yes once Davies, Suter, Mileys are back that he might start getting optioned down here and there to give breaks and limit innings. Not out of some the tone said in posts above that they necessarily think the other guys are better, but just out of innings limitation and managing the roster. If those guys are back they can handle a few while he takes a break and waits for someone else to get hurt. That type of thing. My best guess on Burnes would be a plan to use him similar to Hader last year and this year. I suppose if some injuries occur to starters he coudl step in but you still have Woodruff for that too assuming he's not traded.

Yea that's where I'm at too John. Or if Woodruff instead of Ortiz is enough to get it done I probably cave eventually, don't want to but I probably do. I don't know which each side prefers of course.