Official MLB thread 2007

gman0526 · 03-14-2007, 09:29 AM

We were having a friendly baseball discussion in the BB forum on Mike's thread so I thought it would be a good idea to start our very own baseball thread.

Spring training is upon us and seems like some teams might do better than last year, some look like they'll be doing worse. Will the champs repeat? Who do you like? Play Ball!!!

PD. Against all thread of rational thought and previous heatbreaks...
Go Yankees!!!

theplatypus · 03-14-2007, 09:49 AM

BAHHH! forget the Yankees
There needs to be a salary cap in MLB!

My only prediction for the 2007 season is that my beloved Orioles will suck yet once again. Although Bedard and Markakis are a couple of bright spots . If Cabrera can figure out how to keep that 6'9" body of his under control he would be amazing. Until that happens he'll just show flashes of brilliance marred by an over abundance of walks. Adam Loewen could be special as well, but he still has a lot to learn.

salt-rookie · 03-14-2007, 10:00 AM

Been a Cardinal Fan all of my life! They will REPEAT! Go Redbirds!!

gman0526 · 03-14-2007, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theplatypus

BAHHH! forget the Yankees
There needs to be a salary cap in MLB!

I couldn't agree more, a salary cap is the only thing that will ever save baseball, not that they're not making enough $$$ just that it is a path to self destruction as we have it now. Anybody see the contract that Javier Vazquez got as a relief pitcher, not even close to .500?

Mike O'Brien · 03-14-2007, 01:22 PM

Well the Sox are right there with the Yanks now. Look at the money they spent on Matsuzaka. That will make anybody sick.

Still we have about the best rivalry in baseball. I blow lots of money every year to see these games. Last year I was at Damons first return to Fenway. I got to tell "John" that he sucked personally. LOL

Rick O · 03-14-2007, 03:09 PM

Go Braves.

Jflip2002 · 03-14-2007, 03:13 PM

Go Tigers, as far as Im concerned spring training doesnt matter. We have the best young arms in the league, if we can only field ground balls, and successfully throw to first, we'll be back in the world series.
And as they say....
Make the world a better place, punch a yankees fan in the face lol

frankandmaura · 03-14-2007, 03:35 PM

A Salary Cap is not going to save baseball...there is actually pretty good parity in the league. Look at Detroit, Minnesota, Florida, San Diego, etc..., they do not have huge team salaries and they seem to get it done, especially Minnesota.

Besides the Yankees are a perfect example of why All-Star teams are no better than any other team...they still can't get it done. To me it is a waste of money to go out and get older, tired players and pay them lots and lots of money. They are better off building in their Farm Systems and keeping guys like Pettite, Jeter, Posada, Cano, etc...that is actually the problem with a cap, it would be impossible for teams to keep guys like those guys if there were a cap. Should a team be punished for breeding quality players? Over time, if there was a cap they could not keep all the good players they have brought up through their system.

Oh...did I mention, I am a Yankee fan...lol

Jflip2002 · 03-14-2007, 03:42 PM

So to set things straight. There IS a salary cap in baseball. Its just a softcap, rather than a hard cap, like the NFL. To be technical here. And Lets see, a salary cap has nothing to do with teams being able to keep their talent, as most teams get the "home town discount". It prevents teams like the Yankees, Sox, Knicks, Mavericks, Former Redwings teams, etc to signing all the big free agents, like in years past. The Tigers and twins are under this salary cap, and they have mainly minor league, farm raised talent. Besides Pudge, Sheff and Kenny Rogers really. The same with Chokeland really. And Salary caps are for the cheap owners, so they dont have to shell out more money than they have to. Thats the BIG part of a cap.

This salary cap they enforce is to aid the smaller market teams like the Twins, Devil Rays, Brewers, etc, and send the luxury tax dollars higher spending teams are penalized over to these teams. In effort to keep the smaller market teams first and foremost up and running, second, to give them a boost in the free agency market.

And who cares about turn over? Good organizations dont just get lucky anr raise this talent in one fluke moment. Look at the A's pitching staff... Zito, Hudson, Mulder, Harden, Bonderman, LIdle (I believe) and I wanna say Zumaya (not sure on Zumaya) were all A's. And that transfers to football as well. The eagles RARELY resign players. They just have quality evaluations, get quality value draft picks, and sign their Huge franchise plays (McNabb, Westbrook, Shawn Andrew, Bdawks, etc) to long term deals. Most players are replaceable, and a lot in most instances, football and baseball, just fit the program. ITs all about getting the right players in the right situation.

But yes, theres a salary cap in baseball.

ScruffyRubicon · 03-14-2007, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salt-rookie

Been a Cardinal Fan all of my life! They will REPEAT! Go Redbirds!!

It was great that they opened the new stadium with a World Series win. Wish they could have pulled it off the year before to close out the old stadium. I miss the old stadium but the new one sure is nice.

Go Cards!

frankandmaura · 03-14-2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jflip2002

So to set things straight. There IS a salary cap in baseball. Its just a softcap, rather than a hard cap, like the NFL. To be technical here. And Lets see, a salary cap has nothing to do with teams being able to keep their talent, as most teams get the "home town discount". It prevents teams like the Yankees, Sox, Knicks, Mavericks, Former Redwings teams, etc to signing all the big free agents, like in years past. The Tigers and twins are under this salary cap, and they have mainly minor league, farm raised talent. Besides Pudge, Sheff and Kenny Rogers really. The same with Chokeland really. And Salary caps are for the cheap owners, so they dont have to shell out more money than they have to. Thats the BIG part of a cap.

This salary cap they enforce is to aid the smaller market teams like the Twins, Devil Rays, Brewers, etc, and send the luxury tax dollars higher spending teams are penalized over to these teams. In effort to keep the smaller market teams first and foremost up and running, second, to give them a boost in the free agency market.

And who cares about turn over? Good organizations dont just get lucky anr raise this talent in one fluke moment. Look at the A's pitching staff... Zito, Hudson, Mulder, Harden, Bonderman, LIdle (I believe) and I wanna say Zumaya (not sure on Zumaya) were all A's. And that transfers to football as well. The eagles RARELY resign players. They just have quality evaluations, get quality value draft picks, and sign their Huge franchise plays (McNabb, Westbrook, Shawn Andrew, Bdawks, etc) to long term deals. Most players are replaceable, and a lot in most instances, football and baseball, just fit the program. ITs all about getting the right players in the right situation.

But yes, theres a salary cap in baseball.

What I meant by not being able to keep their talent was; as they (the players) get better and better and can demand more and more money...if there was a cap, most teams would lose their good, home grown talent to teams with a lower payroll because they would have the cap room to sign those players, especially if they had 4 or 5 studs. And, no, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are not replacable...

If there was a cap, the Yanks would not have been able to keep Jeter, Posada, Bernie Williams, Cano, or Mariano Rivera all on their team for 10 years.

salt-rookie · 03-14-2007, 04:01 PM

Eric, I caught a game the first season in Busch...MANY years ago...one in the LAST season in Busch, and even saw a Series game in the new staduim. I'm hoping that McGwire make the HOF this year in the second ballot! If HE doesn't make it, how can anyone justify Bonds being there????

Go Cards!

Jflip2002 · 03-14-2007, 04:24 PM

Jeter isnt replaceable. And thats it. And thats why you sign those players to the long term deals. Bernie and Cano are good players that are replaceable.

Thats what makes things great, a HARD salary cap (again, there is a cap in baseball). I love the turn over in football. I love how you really have to manage talent, decide who to keep, who to cut loose, who to pick up. You actually have to budget, unlike baseball. If there were a salary cap, Gil Meche wouldnt make $16m a year, thats for sure.

There are alot of bargain players who make less than $5m a year, who arent necessarily rookies. Its still about budgeting, and getting value in a player. Alex Rodriguez, probably the best 3B in the league, offensively. But for $25m a year, hes not the value say a david wright is for less than $10m a year. Same with Jeter, he makes around $20m a year, and Jose Reyes makes about $5m (before the contract extension). So whos a better bargain?

If teams dont pay these players huge amounts of money, then there wont be this huge, disgusting demand for huge payrolls and salaries.

theplatypus · 03-14-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salt-rookie

Eric, I caught a game the first season in Busch...MANY years ago...one in the LAST season in Busch, and even saw a Series game in the new staduim. I'm hoping that McGwire make the HOF this year in the second ballot! If HE doesn't make it, how can anyone justify Bonds being there????

Go Cards!

First I hate Barry Bonds. With that being said, Bonds was a better player than McGwuire. Long before the steroids thing he was hitting 30-40 hr's and stealing 30-40 bases a year. Unfortunately he and he alone has completely tarnished an amazing career. I hate him, but he was a hell of a baseball player.

Jflip2002 · 03-14-2007, 04:30 PM

Salt-rookie lets break this down. WHY would Mark McGwire be in the HOF? Because he hits Home runs... and thats the ONLY reason. So without steroids I think those stats decrease by 33%. Barry Bonds goes into the hall of fame for more than just his home runs. Bonds has 7, yes count em, 7 MVPs (Shoulda been 9 if it werent for Terry Pendleton and JEff Kent stealing them), 8 time gold glove winner, and hes the sole member of the 500 steals 500 homers club, 13 All star appearances, Led the NL in batting average 2 times, numerous times with On base percentage.

So unlike McGwire, he was a hall of famer without the home runs.