OFFICIAL 2023 MLB THREAD!!!!

[ex-powderbroker]

first ballot hof list is out. can’t really see supporting anyone other than beltre and mauer, maybe utley gets some votes?

[Brock Landers]

I’m not even sold on Mauer. Wouldn’t be the worst inclusion. Helton Beltran Utley Jones Rollins all in that next tier, to me.

Give me Bonds ARod Clemens Manny

[mcski]

And Rose

[ex-powderbroker]

new two way star in japan -
9ip 5h 9k

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...t?platform=amp

[SkiBall]

https://x.com/MLBcathedrals/status/1...552894272?s=20

How many can you name? I got 15 I am pretty sure of, and about 4 good guesses on others.

[alias_rice]

https://x.com/MLBcathedrals/status/1...552894272?s=20

How many can you name? I got 15 I am pretty sure of, and about 4 good guesses on others.

I got 22. But I just finished reading The Baseball 100, which helped me get a few of the old timers.

[skiJ]

21.

only three pre-1950 players I could only guess.

are the four background figures significant ? ??


interesting.
Thank you.

skiJ

[alias_rice]

21.

only three pre-1950 players I could only guess.

are the four background figures significant ? ??


interesting.
Thank you.

skiJ

One of them is Pete Rose. Not sure who the rest are.

[skiJ]

from the link -
the two sitting in the stands in-convrrsation are the artist and the "collector" who commissioned the painting, and

the man descending the steps in the stands is a historic photographer who might have taken the photographs of such a scene...

my editorial comment might be, I hope Junior stands the test of History /
I don't remember the Mariners playing in The Series, and for all the sports I have followed over the last fifty years, ( ya gotta) win to be With the all-time Greats
( No argument he was a great player, But. ... )

skiJ

[SkiBall]

from the link -
the two sitting in the stands in-convrrsation are the artist and the "collector" who commissioned the painting, and

the man descending the steps in the stands is a historic photographer who might have taken the photographs of such a scene...

my editorial comment might be, I hope Junior stands the test of History /
I don't remember the Mariners playing in The Series, and for all the sports I have followed over the last fifty years, ( ya gotta) win to be With the all-time Greats
( No argument he was a great player, But. ... )

skiJ

Every sport has their unlucky greats I would imagine. Rod Carew came to mind, and Ernie Banks is in that convo. Hopefully the future holds onto the past. Sometimes I wonder if they will even care.

https://www.mlb.com/news/best-player...ies-c207206184



Ernie Banks may be the best known of the immortals for missing out on that singular experience. It became as much a part of his persona as his famous "Let's play two" catchphrase. When he retired, nobody had played more games -- 2,528 -- without a chance to showcase his skills on baseball's biggest stage.
Mr. Cub and Junior are hardly alone, though. Nineteen players who entered the Hall of Fame since 1903 never got a chance to play in the World Series. Rod Carew. Frank Thomas. Ryne Sandberg. Gaylord Perry. Billy Williams. Ron Santo. Andre Dawson. Ferguson Jenkins. And that doesn't include Negro League stars like Josh Gibson and Cool Papa Bell.

[alias_rice]

from the link -
the two sitting in the stands in-convrrsation are the artist and the "collector" who commissioned the painting, and

the man descending the steps in the stands is a historic photographer who might have taken the photographs of such a scene...

my editorial comment might be, I hope Junior stands the test of History /
I don't remember the Mariners playing in The Series, and for all the sports I have followed over the last fifty years, ( ya gotta) win to be With the all-time Greats
( No argument he was a great player, But. ... )

skiJ

Fear not for Junior. My 12 year old son and his buddies all rock a lot of Griffey gear. In fact, when the Orioles were in the playoffs this year, he recognized the warehouse from when he smoked it in the hr derby. In the baseball world he is still a God. That’s what happens when he is the favorite player of all the kids’ dads.

[skiJ]

Good point, well taken -

I believe the players care. not all of them, but most of them ( care) -

Mr. Cub - I Maybe was barely aware at the end of his career...
( it is interesting how many of the players you named spent time on the Cubs )

I don't know the 1950s and 1960s, but there were some teams that were tough to get past
( HenryAaron, EddieMatthews, WarrenSpahn's Braves; Koufax and Drysdale; Willie and Willie and Juan Marachial ( who maybe didn't go anywhere themselves ( see Koufax /Drysdale ) ; Bob Gibson. )

"Unlucky greats" is a good term --


thanks - skiJ

[SkiBall]

So much less mobility back then. You kinda rode with the same team, for better or for worse. So, good luck kid. I could name the starting line up, or at least most of about every team there for a stretch in my youth. Thanks sports page and baseball cards. Today, I’d be curious to know the average turnover rate year to year. Imagine it to be significant. Get good, get to good team. Progress(?) I suppose.

[skiJ]

whether or not it is progress is debatable -
it Has changed.

more Business, less Baseball /
fantasy leagues and gambling promote following individual players regardless of What Team they are on...

while I believe a player's Right to move is a good thing,
that there is not more incentive to keep players detracts from The game ( every sport ) for me -

but I am from the '70s and this is the Business today. !


( skiJ )

[BmillsSkier]

Winter Meetings and Reds are making moves. Rumor is they've reached out to Cleveland to discuss trading for Beiber as well.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...al-sources-say

[Supermoon]

Of course Kissinger was a Yankees fan.

[Danno]

Severino to the Mets. I await ex-powderbroker's head exploding when he bounces back to ace form.

[alias_rice]

Severino to the Mets. I await ex-powderbroker's head exploding when he bounces back to ace form.

Has anyone ever bounced back when coming to the Mets?

[ex-powderbroker]

When Severino was healthy he was one of the best pitchers in baseball and so fun to watch. It’d be great to see him recapture his form because he’s a likeable and talented dude. I’ll always root for him, and hope he has a long career. If anything, him being in NY just provides more opportunities to watch him so nbd. I’d feel the same way btw if the Mets got Shohei, it’d be awesome, except for maybe the WS wins.

Has anyone ever bounced back when coming to the Mets?

Olerud picked it up on the Mets but he wasn’t below average before. Really tough to think of anyone!

[ex-powderbroker]

When Severino was healthy he was one of the best pitchers in baseball and so fun to watch. It’d be great to see him recapture his form because he’s a likeable and talented dude. I’ll always root for him, and hope he has a long career. If anything, him being in NY just provides more opportunities to watch him so nbd. I’d feel the same way btw if the Mets got Shohei, it’d be awesome, except for maybe the WS wins.

Has anyone ever bounced back when coming to the Mets?

Olerud picked it up on the Mets but he wasn’t below average before. Really tough to think of anyone!

[Danno]

Has anyone ever bounced back when coming to the Mets?

Not sure, but Carlos Beltran -- already an all-star before coming over -- had his best season as a Met.

RA Dickey was a journeyman who turned into a CYA winner on the Mets.

Johan Santana was great when he came over, but his last year with the Twins he had a 5 WAR season, and had a 7.1 season his first year with the Mets.

Yoenis Cespedes had his best season as a Met after being a good player elsewhere.

It can happen.

[Brock Landers]

Not sure, but Carlos Beltran -- already an all-star before coming over -- had his best season as a Met.

RA Dickey was a journeyman who turned into a CYA winner on the Mets.

Johan Santana was great when he came over, but his last year with the Twins he had a 5 WAR season, and had a 7.1 season his first year with the Mets.

Yoenis Cespedes had his best season as a Met after being a good player elsewhere.

It can happen.

Al Leiter. Todd Zeile

[half-fast]

Carlos Delgado had 3 good years with the Mets

[Supermoon]

Red Sox traded Verdugo to the Yankees?!?!? What the fuck.

[ex-powderbroker]

https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/....php?p=6979603