In-Season Tournament: Yes or No?
I read today on MLBTR that there have been some discussions about having an in-season baseball tournament. I see no need for this myself. Isn’t that what the post-season is all about? The best in baseball playing each other? Besides, they already have the WBC once every three…
I read today on MLBTR that there have been some discussions about having an in-season baseball tournament. I see no need for this myself. Isn’t that what the post-season is all about? The best in baseball playing each other?
Besides, they already have the WBC once every three years. Baseball does not need to become more like the NBA. There is talk of expansion to 32 teams, which I see as a need to balance both leagues. They could then split into four-team divisions regionally.
But playing a tournament during the season? Unneeded in my opinion. As long as there are large market teams with virtually unlimited resources, there will not be total parity in the league. Teams like the Dodgers and Yankees, Cubs and Red Sox, will always be able to fill holes better than some others in free agency, and player development.
And they will continue to pay penalties to the rest of the league for doing business that way. Teams in the lower tier of the league, will have to find creative ways to compete. Remember though that the Brewers, who play in Milwaukee, not exactly a huge market, had the best record in the MAJORs last year during the regular season.
Not sure what the future holds, but one thing I do know is that an in-season tournament for MLB teams is not something that I would look forward to. It makes no sense to me at all, especially since it makes the post-season longer. We have the WBC every three years. We don’t need an NBA type game.
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Discussion (82)
Disagree, not disagreeable
There are many, many pitchers who, like Bobby Miller, have demonstrated their talent and then went south for some reason…. and then found their mojo again. Miller is a classic change-of-scenery candidate. He wss a Dodgers first-rounder who, as a rookie, looked like a future all-star. Plenty of teams would want a chance to fix him at an affordable price.
Or count him out….
Interesting! Good company. He also transformed into a solid centerfielder.
right now, the lineup is well-balanced. Shohei DH left Mookie SS right Freddie 1B left Smith C right Max 3B left Pages CF right Teo RF right Call/Ward LF right/left Kim /Edman left/switch Rushing (left), Rojas (right), Ibanez (left) Who is the PTBNL?
right now, the lineup is well-balanced. Shohei DH left Mookie SS right Freddie 1B left Smith C right Max 3B left Pages CF right Teo RF right Call/Ward LF right/left Kim /Edman left/switch Rushing (left), Rojas (right), Ibanez (left) Who is the PTBNL?
Just don’t see Teo in right field again. Either Tucker or Bichette will end up in LA. Don’t see AF letting both get away. If it’s Tucker, then Edman and Kim split second base. If it’s Bichette, then Call and Edman split time in the outfield. Rojas probably splits with Max, and Kim spells Mookie and Bichette. But the Dodgers will get one of the 2!
Moving Teo out of RF is a fine goal, but he’s still there in the current thinking. Tucker or Bader or a trade could fix that. Or Edman, if his ankle fully heals. We fans may feel more urgency than the front office. If Siani makes the roster, he can provide elite defense in CF but won’t hit much.
If the Dodgers are high on Shaw, would it make sense to offer Rushing? They are similar in that both are young and their performances so far have fallen short of expectations. A separate deal with the Reds could bring back Rortvedt.
Here’s some interesting info not related to the Dodgers: 5-Star Recruits: Indiana Hoosiers – 0 Oregon Ducks – 55 Average Age: Indiana Hoosiers – 23 Oregon Ducks – 20 The Green Bay Packers’ average age is 25. Make of it what you will.
Matt Shaw came on in the second half and put up a .839 OPS in that time frame. He had nearly 450 ABs. Rushing never got the chance.
Bichette is meeting with the Phillies today. Some pundits have speculated that the Red Sox might pursue Nolan Arenado since losing out on Bregman. No firm date for the return of Edman, Gomes said he might miss a significant portion of the early season. Opens the door for Kim, Freeland and Rojas. Kike might miss the first two months and not be available until June. Still a free agent.
Like I said earlier, Mark, I’m an ACC guy who can’t stand in Miami! I would love to see Indiana beat them 55 to 3! I guess even Miami deserves to score 3 points in the national championship game!
“The most prominent major donor to the Indiana football program is billionaire alumnus Mark Cuban. Key Donors Mark Cuban: The Indiana University graduate and former Dallas Mavericks owner has made significant, successive donations to the athletic department, specifically to boost the football program’s Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) efforts in the transfer portal. Cuban had not previously donated to the athletic department until late 2024, inspired by the success of head coach Curt Cignetti’s team. Merchants Bank: The program secured a $50 million stadium naming rights deal with Merchants Bank. Other long-time donors: While Cuban is the most public and recent major donor to the football-specific efforts, other families like the Simons (Simon Property Group) and the Cooks (Cook Medical) have been long-time, significant donors to the university, with their names appearing on various academic buildings and facilities. Cuban’s donations, combined with a strong fundraising push, have enabled the Hoosiers to become aggressive in acquiring high-profile talent through the transfer portal, contributing to their recent on-field success”.
And people complain about the Dodgers!!! If the ncaa doesn’t get their sh*t together and fix this nil and portal they will lose the great games called college basketball and football! Or at least the fans!
You are delusional, he has been a GREAT commisioner. In addition to overseeing the expansion of the world baseball classic he also ushered in the pitch clock which has arguably been the best rule change in the history of MLB.
It’s the Golden Rule. He who has the Gold makes the Rules!
I’m with you. I hate the ghost runner. I hate the expanded playoffs. Throwing over to first only twice with a pitch clock is just handing bases to guys. Frankly, I can’t stand interleague play. Manfred can’t leave fast enough for me. It’s been rewarding bad fundamentals and mediocrity.
The SEC can no longer dominate college football under the transfer portal. That’s why Nick Saban left Alabama.
It is related to the Dodgers Guigenhiem money, Cuban money. Without the NIL Indiana probably wouldn’t make the playoffs. I do enjoy the break up of the lock the SWC had in college football but if they limited the NIL to in-state athletes with a cap it would be more inductive to stay home for their partial college education giving fans few local guys to cheer for. Not sure that is a great cure but it would keep it ba college game
New Dodger substack, new potential Dodger prospect, Ezequiel Melbourne https://open.substack.com/pub/dodgersafterduty/p/the-dodgers-next-international-gem?r=bg1q&utm_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=overlay
So would you offer Rushing in a deal for Shaw or not?
As in they may “potentially” sign him…. but haven’t yet!
I was thinking this morning,why don’t they give Alex Freeland a shot to play the outfield. He has a strong arm, some speed and power and hit well against right handed pitching rather than left handed pitching in the the minors. He could platoon with Call if they don’t sign an outfielder this off season. They have Kim and Ibanez as utility men to play the infield.
Would somebody do something!!! Cubs sign former aaaassssstro. Bregman . Good for them! So who’s next? Yankees want somebody,anybody, just give them somebody to love! Jays want Tucker. Why hasn’t he signed? Money? Length of contract? Location? Wants to be a Dodger? Phillies look like a sure bet for Bichette. Hate it! Bellinger? A dark horse team may emerge in the Cody sweepstakes. The pirates? Although they seem like a possibility for Eugenio Suarez. 35+ homers for the pirates? They aren’t sitting still this offseason. No matter what happens , I believe the Dodgers need to upgrade their offense. Bichette, Tucker, Hoerner, Donovan, any of them help. The youngsters are not ready just yet. And, there’s no guarantee they will be what we expect them to be when they get here. Maybe 2 of the bunch become Very good MLB players. Maybe more! We can’t predict how it turns out. But they can upgrade instantly with Bichette, Tucker , or someone else! I keep hearing they are all in on Bellinger. I secretly believe they are afraid of him. Especially a long term deal. 3, and I believe they are all in. Just don’t believe they believe in Cody for more than 3 years. Somebody do something!!!
Well, there is Giants news, and I was wrong again! Per Passan: The San Francisco Giants are aggressively pursuing a second baseman and have been engaged with Chicago on Nico Hoerner and St. Louis on Brendan Donovan, sources tell ESPN. An infield of Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, Donovan or Hoerner and Rafael Devers would be among MLB’s best.