tmwiese55

Sorry, that's just not correct. Baseball is the ultimate one where the underdog can win. If you're in any 7 game series as a .500 or better team you have at least a 33% chance of winning the series no matter who you're playing.

In general the fact that baseball is more susceptible to upsets is what makes me on the side of valuing and rewarding the teams that earned it through the year. Basically, I proved over 162 games I'm better than this team, why do they now get to have a near coinflip game to knock me out. Also, why I don't like the CBB tourney as a way of crowning a champion (all the while greatly entertaining). However, being we're the smallest market at a constant disadvantage I now put a lot of value in what Bill said as a way to even the playing field a bit. If I was an outside observer with no interest, big market team, or if the financials were equal then I'd be on the side of valuing the regular season for sure.

Good post Bill. I didn't really think about it that way. Essentially, if they refuse to put in a cap this seems like it could be a good way to help the small market teams at least have a chance. If you put in a cap (like they should just get done) then I'd still prefer to reward the regular season by keeping it more difficult. I'd say my take at this point is gut reaction is against it as too much, too drastic, allowing too many teams in, essentially the same as everyone has said. But the whole time I wasn't too fired up about because when they went to the 5th WC I was against it as dumb but have since massively come around on it. So, admitting I was wrong there I thought I could be wrong here too, even though it still seems too much. Then factor in Bill's point there and I'm even more in the open minded side of things. not too fired up either way and will wait and see. My biggest opinion on anything is they just need to get a financial systems in place like the other sports, enough is enough, get it done.

I'm still annoyed they did opening day on Thursday instead of Friday. There is no need to schedule that off day in there when you have a dome. I'll probably just go Saturday instead because of this.

Yea LeBron is still LeBron and all AD has to do is draw contact and pop his head back and they call a foul. Combine that with the Kobe storyline and you have a bad recipe. Clips I know just look off right now. But they actually have the better team than LAL and potential to put together a ridiculous D vs the Bucks. They're not fully clicking now but that series would be 4 months away, a lot can change. This isn't going to be a cakewalk. It's very real that after round 1 they'll have to go Philly, Bos/Tor, then an LA team. That is not going to be easy and they'll have earned this title if they get it.

If I had to I'd go below. Reds roughly 90 and the next 3 lumped between 78-86, really in any order but I'll say this way for now. Reds Cards Brewers Cubs Pirates

Vegas Win totals below. Keep in mind there would be slight variation site to site or casino to casino. I saw this in Iowa a week or two back and I want to say STL/CHC/CIN were all essentially the same(lumped even closer than the 3 game difference here). They did not have division odds up at the time, only AL NL WS. STL 88 Cubs 86 Reds 85 MKE 83

Correct, and even him being shut down like that was commanding so much attention from the D that everyone else should have things much easier. Basically open 3s should have been easy to come by. If they make 1 or 2 more in Game 3 they're currently NBA champs.

For sure, I'm frankly shocked it's gone on this long with everything such as Netflix, etc. It's been a running joke for years how everyone uses each others logins and they've done very little to counter it. It's only a matter of time.

IDK, I have multiple friends that use my Fox Sports login to watch Brewers/Bucks. One tries my charter stuff on everything where you need to show that you have cable and it works. The funniest part is that I actually got rid of Charter in November and the logins still work. I have internet another way now and am still able to login to the Charter app and watch everything for free. I'm going to keep riding it for free as long as I can just to spite them, even though I hate not just having normal cable. 3 months so far. My dad has Spectrum and when I try to use it, what I described happens. I can watch Hallmark Channel but it will not allow me to connect to Spectrum live without being on their network, i.e., in their house. You wouldn't be able to use the Spectrum TV app but you should be able to use 3rd party apps like Fox Sports Go, ESPN, TBS/TNT, etc. Many networks offer their own app. As long as those channels are part of the original cable package you should be able to log into those using Spectrum credentials. For context, I believe the Spectrum TV app is a way to access your cable subscription without needing to use one of their cable boxes. Say you have 4 or 5 TVs in your household, having a box for each of them would get pricey, so you could use the app instead to cut down on the box fees. It's only intended for use at a customer's home. ------- Yes that is what Spectrum TV app is. It's designed as a way for you pay for it on one TV but then have access to all your other TVs(so you don't have to pay 15/month for each box). As I said though, I currently watch the Spectrum TV on my smart TV using other internet and it works fine and has been for 3 months since cancelling. Chances are this is just due to not logging out and wouldn't work if say I just gave you the details now and you tried it on your TV. And as you said, using your Charter login to access FS Go, ESPN etc worked for several other people off mine for years with no issue. No one ever tried the Spectrum App so IDK. I know for one of them it has since stopped working once I cancelled but I'd guess he logged out and couldn't get back in. Others it's still chugging along. If you lived wherever and had a friend paying for cable here I'd be really surprised if you couldn't log into FSGO using his login. I do have a friend's info as a backup if/when mine stops working, I got it because I thought I would get cut off, so I guess I'll know more if/when I ever have to try it. But that reminds me, I gave that login to the other friend who's stopped working from mine and it worked for him no problem.

Gotcha, well I think the best case scenario for Bender would be to still be here next year. Improve enough to be a rotation player, such as taking Robin's minutes. Which gives them enough confidence to keep him around after 2021 on a still cheap deal to take on a much larger role as Ersan is likely done and Brook is aging and getting closer to the end of his deal. Will that happen, obviously a long shot. Just saying that scenario is out there and this team is going to be cap strapped so they need to nail some cheap guys like this

Well, next year he could get some mins if RoLopez doesn't come back. Even if he does come back, if and when any of Ersan or the Lopez's get hurt he's the next one up. Frankly Robin hasn't been playing all that well and really doesn't fit on O. If Bender can keep on improving he could easily take those minutes next year and Robin just becomes the end of bench insurance. Ersan likely gone after next year as well. I don't recall the contract we have with Bender though. Also, Bucks should get Indy's pick this year.

The hole that could still be filled is another shooter, preferable in the SG/SF type areas. But, there just doesn't seem to be anything feasible out there at what the Bucks could pay DJ/Brown/picks. A guy like Burks who went to Phil could've made sense. Not a lot out there that make sense imo. But we'll see, I'd still guess some small move happens on the end of the bench. If anything, I wouldn't be surprised if they just trade DJ to get his contract off the books for next year.

Yea, the Dodgers management is top notch. They have all the benefits of the mega market and know exactly how to use it. Somehow putting out one of the best teams on paper for about the last 10ish years while also having the best farm. And seemingly continuing to exactly nail which prospects to keep and which they can trade. Continue to nail their high draft picks as well. I really won't be mad if they get a WS or two, they deserve it and its crazy they haven't won yet. I also don't hate them since they basically haven't won in my life. Unlike NYY and Bos that we're all just sick of.

Well, staffer could be anyone, not necessarily coaches. Chances of it being one of the coaches is next to 0. Keep in mind 2/4 are also black and the other two have been around for a very long time with nothing of this nature. It's also something a guy can easily just say to get the waiver and no one can question it or prove it. I really doubt there is going to come out that an egregious thing is said. I'd guess whatever it is is a context type of issue, think of the Cavs Beilein thing recently. something in that type of vein.

IDK, I have multiple friends that use my Fox Sports login to watch Brewers/Bucks. One tries my charter stuff on everything where you need to show that you have cable and it works. The funniest part is that I actually got rid of Charter in November and the logins still work. I have internet another way now and am still able to login to the Charter app and watch everything for free. I'm going to keep riding it for free as long as I can just to spite them, even though I hate not just having normal cable. 3 months so far.

Think that's what cost the GM his job. Everyone could see the Sale arm problem started the year before yet they handed him a big deal. Evaldi had a few good games late and you gave a 4 year deal as a reward. One would think this get under the tax directive was already in place and yet he did those things. The Evaldi being the worst, Sale at least was a legit superstar. I guess the owner has to sign off on it, so you'd think they'd have had this discussion last offseason and they'd have never gotten to this point.

I said I get it all. And the kicker or final straw might just be that they've determined he's not resigning with them, or at least is unlikely to, so don't think it's worth the risk of getting nothing. As I said, can't blame them for that if that's the case. It's just surprising if it is and this isn't just about them saving money. My take is that taking all that into consideration I still keep the guy (again, unless they just think he's gone, then do what you gotta do). They would've basically only been about 30 mil over the tax. They weren't that far off from getting there and that amount clears next year just with the guys I listed. Again, that Evaldi one is a killer, 15 mil there gone and then pay a chunk of Price's deal to someone and you're there. Then start figuring things out for the future. Even not knowing this was in the works for them I remember thinking how dumb of a contract that was for basically a reward for a couple good playoff games. My boss who's a Sox fan said the same thing at the time. ETA: to fix typo. And say that I generally agree to the following post. Things are tough for them regardless. I'd just rather have the prime age MVP while figuring it out, and several other stars like you said. So it's not like they're going to be awful. Just tough to fix pitching (assuming Sale is never the same) when cash strapped for a few years. But do Brewers style signings and maybe you can cobble something together that clicks.

I think the implication is that it's a 2020 recruit, not a transfer, but you could be right. Nothing ever really came of this big rumor and no talk really. Wonder if the kid ended up picking elsewhere.

I am not a blame management type and am almost always on the MKE side on the screaming here, but I am on the side that simply a team of Boston's level should not let a 27 year old MVP leave. Sure if they have behind the scenes info that he just wants out and doesn't wanna be there, of course. And I don't blame them if right now they have a legit mega offer on the table and gave him the choice to take that or we have to trade if you are determined to hit FA and we have no leg up in the race (risk to lose for nothing type thing). From what I can tell though, none of that has happened. Other than that, the mega market should just pay prime age MVPs and figure the rest out around it. If they're 33 like Pujols, yea they should be smart about it. They about clear the cost of Betts off just next year in the Cuban, Pedroia, the remainder of Hanley/Panda. They won't be that far off from getting under the cap. That Evaldi one is the real kicker, take that out and it could've really helped get closer. They won the WS two years ago with this team, won mid 80s last year with a lot going wrong (Sale especially), it is not at all outside the possibility for them to make the playoffs again this year, especially if Sale rebounds. MEanwhile, keep being frugal on other contracts, don't go nuts at the deadlines blowing whatever young players you do have, within 2-3 years you'd be under the tax as these guys fall off and/or getting close to the end so it's much easier to trade. That's my take and it has nothing to do with them spending 500 mil. But, the points that have been made certainly opened my eyes that what they're doing here isn't crazy and there is a logic to all of it. I still lean the other way though.

Didn't Price transition to the bullpen one season or at least postseason and do well for Boston? I don't think that would be a move for the regular season as for that money you want to try and start him. But come playoffs when you have Kershaw, Buehler already and if someone like May steps up more. Maybe they can have Price be a late game guy. I'd be shocked if they don't get a top pen arm at the deadline though, whoever that may be. With how loaded they are on O and with the plan to sign Mookie. I'd assume they don't plan on paying Seager, so I'd be using him as trade bait for someone like Hader. Not sure any other eliever would be worth that price though.

Supposedly they still ate half of Price's deal. Not sure how accurate that is. Basically I'd have just kept him and been frugal the next few years while trying to offload those guys as you go. Eventually you'd have gotten under. They had a bunch fall off this season and more falls off every year. I suppose if you think playing that route angers more fans than letting a 27 year old MVP go as one of the top 3 richest teams that's yours or their call, but I think this is much worse. ETA: Evaldi signing was just a huge mistake if you had this tax plan in mind down the line

I wouldn't be. I'd be resting on my 4 world series championships in 16 years and trust in the team to make good choices. If the Red Sox want to do a 1 year rebuild this is the perfect way for them to do it. They may be down a bit in 2020 but the team will be better in 2021+ for it. Sure of course big pic their titles are in the bank so can't be too mad. But, if I was their fans I would be mad that not paying a 27 year old MVP is not the way to reset and get under the tax. Seems they wouldn't have been able to do it this year, but have it as a goal over the next few years. Do things like try to dump Price, Evaldi on someone, wait for Pedrois money to drop off, I think they have like 10 mil on the books from a Cuban that flopped, I think one of Hanley/Panda might still be on the books. Do Brewers style bargain shopping to fill out your roster. You should have been able to get under in the coming years. Maybe work out the extension with him to be backloaded and early years be lower.

I've generally been thinking if they're out of contention in 2021 at the deadline you do it then for maximum return since the team would for sure have 1.5 years (two playoff runs). If you are in contention that year then you play it out and trade in the offseason. Also, they should get a much better return than Boston since they won't be attaching a bad contract to him. But, he'll also be older than Mookie so some tradeoff.

D'antoni resigns today. I'm guessing it was all planned. GEt your 4.3 mil and resign. They don't have to 'fire' him and owe the rest of the contract, he doesn't have to deal with PR of being fired. Probably seems like a good compromise overall. Probably would've made sense to wait until after signing day, but maybe they're not in on anybody left so it doesn't matter.