MLB 2021: Offseason chat

[El Guapo]

Could we just invite Trump to throw out a first pitch at a Nationals game, and while he's distracted swap in Sean Doolittle as president? Trump could stay on as a Nationals pitcher.

I've read many tweets and interviews with Doolittle remarking on various social issues and I think a swap would be great! And we'd be willing to even give Trump to the Red Sox to help your bullpen out...

Sure! We're effectively tanking anyway, might as well go all in.

[LawBeefaroni]

MLB to begin to strictly enforce protocols.

"Major League Baseball is cracking down on coronavirus safety protocols, mandating that players and staff wear face coverings at all times, including in the dugouts and bullpens, except for players on the field of play." They could be hit with suspensions or bans if they don't.

That's really the least they can do. The problem isn't the dugout or bullpen. The problem is the casinos, strip clubs, hotel bars, airplanes, airport busses...*

If they bubbled like the NBA or NHL, they could kiss on the dugout steps if they wanted to. The MLB is doing it entirely backwards.

Seal off the outside world and let them play. Instead the MLB is isolating them in the dugout but no where else. Doesn't matter if they are protected from each other for 9 innings when they spend the rest of the day out and about in COVID town.



*Yes, I'm aware that the casino thing is unproven but they are for sure going out to eat, have a few beers, etc. No way they are masked on team flights or busses.

[ImLawBoy]

Just saw on Twitter that tonight's Cubs-Cards game has been postponed due to positive COVID tests. Didn't say whether they were positive tests on the Cubs or the Cards, but my assumption is Cards just because they already have some.

[Lorini]

Just saw on Twitter that tonight's Cubs-Cards game has been postponed due to positive COVID tests. Didn't say whether they were positive tests on the Cubs or the Cards, but my assumption is Cards just because they already have some.

Uh what happened to Cubs pitching last night? Maybe it's good the team isn't playing....

[ImLawBoy]

Now seeing at least one positive test on Cardinals.

Just saw on Twitter that tonight's Cubs-Cards game has been postponed due to positive COVID tests. Didn't say whether they were positive tests on the Cubs or the Cards, but my assumption is Cards just because they already have some.

Uh what happened to Cubs pitching last night? Maybe it's good the team isn't playing....

Given how good the starting rotation has been, I think they wanted to lower expectations so they told the team to give up a lot of runs.

Yeah, that's the ticket.

[pr0ner]

Just saw on Twitter that tonight's Cubs-Cards game has been postponed due to positive COVID tests. Didn't say whether they were positive tests on the Cubs or the Cards, but my assumption is Cards just because they already have some.

It's another player on the Cardinals testing positive.

[pr0ner]

Now seeing at least one positive test on Cardinals.

Just saw on Twitter that tonight's Cubs-Cards game has been postponed due to positive COVID tests. Didn't say whether they were positive tests on the Cubs or the Cards, but my assumption is Cards just because they already have some.

Uh what happened to Cubs pitching last night? Maybe it's good the team isn't playing....

Given how good the starting rotation has been, I think they wanted to lower expectations so they told the team to give up a lot of runs.

Yeah, that's the ticket.

I don't think anyone expected Chatwood to be dominant every start. Certainly not me!

[LawBeefaroni]

Just saw on Twitter that tonight's Cubs-Cards game has been postponed due to positive COVID tests. Didn't say whether they were positive tests on the Cubs or the Cards, but my assumption is Cards just because they already have some.

From what I understand, the Chicago teams have taken COVID seriously and have generally well behaved. Even heading into the season odds makers were taking their approach into account.

[ImLawBoy]

Just saw on Twitter that tonight's Cubs-Cards game has been postponed due to positive COVID tests. Didn't say whether they were positive tests on the Cubs or the Cards, but my assumption is Cards just because they already have some.

From what I understand, the Chicago teams have taken COVID seriously and have generally well behaved. Even heading into the season odds makers were taking their approach into account.

Cubs have two high profile, high risk cancer survivors and team leaders in Lester and Rizzo, so I'm not surprised that the team is being careful. I think they're the only team that hasn't had a positive test yet.

[Lorini]

So in Friday night's game, I saw something I've never seen before. Dodger Kike Hernandez was told to go to first base because he'd been hit by a pitch. He said he hadn't been hit by a pitch and wanted to stay at home plate. There was a challenge, it was inconclusive, he was sent to first base.

Some folks just don't like unearned gifts I guess, it was totally weird.

[naednek]

So in Friday night's game, I saw something I've never seen before. Dodger Kike Hernandez was told to go to first base because he'd been hit by a pitch. He said he hadn't been hit by a pitch and wanted to stay at home plate. There was a challenge, it was inconclusive, he was sent to first base.

Some folks just don't like unearned gifts I guess, it was totally weird.

I may have altered tonight's game...

[pr0ner]

The Cardinals keep having positive tests and their next series with the Pirates appears to be in jeopardy. I don't see how they get to 60 games now.

[Lorini]

naednek why y’all have such a loser manager?

[naednek]

naednek why y’all have such a loser manager?

Because we have a dodger mole of a GM

[naednek]

At least we had fun with Kershaw. Thats always fun.

[pr0ner]

The Cardinals keep having positive tests and their next series with the Pirates appears to be in jeopardy. I don't see how they get to 60 games now.

To add to this, the Cardinals have played FIVE games so far this season. Teams that haven't had games postponed due to Covid have played 16 or 17. Even the Marlins have played 10.

There's a hope the Cards can play a double header at Detroit on Thursday, but that remains to be seen.

[El Guapo]

The Cardinals keep having positive tests and their next series with the Pirates appears to be in jeopardy. I don't see how they get to 60 games now.

To add to this, the Cardinals have played FIVE games so far this season. Teams that haven't had games postponed due to Covid have played 16 or 17. Even the Marlins have played 10.

There's a hope the Cards can play a double header at Detroit on Thursday, but that remains to be seen.

At some point are they going to need to either push back the playoffs or disqualify teams like the Cards that haven't played enough games?

[pr0ner]

The Cardinals keep having positive tests and their next series with the Pirates appears to be in jeopardy. I don't see how they get to 60 games now.

To add to this, the Cardinals have played FIVE games so far this season. Teams that haven't had games postponed due to Covid have played 16 or 17. Even the Marlins have played 10.

There's a hope the Cards can play a double header at Detroit on Thursday, but that remains to be seen.

At some point are they going to need to either push back the playoffs or disqualify teams like the Cards that haven't played enough games?

I wonder if MLB has thought through the implications if the Cardinals can really only play 50 games or so, and their winning percentage is enough to get them in (aka I don't have an answer to your question!).

[Lorini]

Has it been verified that they in fact violated the protocols? If so, no playoffs for them, since it's not MLB's fault they had to miss all these games. If not, then accommodations should be made for them. At the end of the day, the team and its management is responsible for players following the rules. The Cubs and the Dodgers for example have had no positive tests. That's not by accident, that's because those teams are all in. And yesterday the Indians sent a player home in a car service because he went out with friends after the baseball game. That's how it should be, policy of zero tolerance. As far as I'm concerned they should be suspended without pay as well.

[LordMortis]

There's a hope the Cards can play a double header at Detroit on Thursday, but that remains to be seen.

There's hope they stay the hell out of Detroit but that remains to be seen.

[pr0ner]

Has it been verified that they in fact violated the protocols? If so, no playoffs for them, since it's not MLB's fault they had to miss all these games. If not, then accommodations should be made for them. At the end of the day, the team and its management is responsible for players following the rules. The Cubs and the Dodgers for example have had no positive tests. That's not by accident, that's because those teams are all in. And yesterday the Indians sent a player home in a car service because he went out with friends after the baseball game. That's how it should be, policy of zero tolerance. As far as I'm concerned they should be suspended without pay as well.

It hasn't. The big rumor that a couple of Cardinals players contracted Covid from a casino visit can't be proven, so there's no way to directly show where the first Cardinals positive tests came from. No one really knows, even though MLB did tighten its protocols even further after the Cards' outbreak.

[El Guapo]

Has it been verified that they in fact violated the protocols? If so, no playoffs for them, since it's not MLB's fault they had to miss all these games. If not, then accommodations should be made for them. At the end of the day, the team and its management is responsible for players following the rules. The Cubs and the Dodgers for example have had no positive tests. That's not by accident, that's because those teams are all in. And yesterday the Indians sent a player home in a car service because he went out with friends after the baseball game. That's how it should be, policy of zero tolerance. As far as I'm concerned they should be suspended without pay as well.

But like, what if the Cardinals haven't broken any rules / protocols, but because of the team being a coronavirus hot spot, they wind up playing 20% fewer games than everyone else by the time the regular season is slated to close. Is it fair to let them into the playoffs over a team with a slightly lower winning percentage over more games?

[ImLawBoy]

The Cardinals keep having positive tests and their next series with the Pirates appears to be in jeopardy. I don't see how they get to 60 games now.

To add to this, the Cardinals have played FIVE games so far this season. Teams that haven't had games postponed due to Covid have played 16 or 17. Even the Marlins have played 10.

There's a hope the Cards can play a double header at Detroit on Thursday, but that remains to be seen.

There's been some talk about having them play at least one double-header against the Cubs and White Sox on the same day to try to make up for the missed series.

[LawBeefaroni]

The season is already a joke. Agonizing over an equitable solution to a completely broken situation is not worth the time or effort. Let the MLB try to figure it out, botch it, and give use more ridiculousness to talk about.

[El Guapo]

I will give Red Sox ownership credit for this - 2020 as it turns out was an excellent year to tank.

[Lorini]

I will give Red Sox ownership credit for this - 2020 as it turns out was an excellent year to tank.

Betts is doing well for us, I'm glad you got something out of the trade

[Octavious]

Marcus Stroman Opts Out Of 2020 Season. I have a hard time getting upset about anything that happens this season. It's just silly.

[pr0ner]

The Cardinals keep having positive tests and their next series with the Pirates appears to be in jeopardy. I don't see how they get to 60 games now.

To add to this, the Cardinals have played FIVE games so far this season. Teams that haven't had games postponed due to Covid have played 16 or 17. Even the Marlins have played 10.

There's a hope the Cards can play a double header at Detroit on Thursday, but that remains to be seen.

There's been some talk about having them play at least one double-header against the Cubs and White Sox on the same day to try to make up for the missed series.

In fairness, they should have to play the Sox first in such a situation.

[pr0ner]

There's a hope the Cards can play a double header at Detroit on Thursday, but that remains to be seen.

There's hope they stay the hell out of Detroit but that remains to be seen.

Cards are staying away for now - DH postponed.

[LawBeefaroni]

Have I said "fuck the Astros" lately? No? Fuck the Astros.

Following the exchange of words, Cintron, as shown on replays, stepped out of the first-base dugout and motioned for Laureano to come at him. Laureano ran toward Cintron, who stayed behind Astros players as Laureano was tackled and the benches for both teams emptied.

Regardless of what was said, unacceptable for a coach. What a rotten organization.

[pr0ner]

Have I said "fuck the Astros" lately? No? Fuck the Astros.

Following the exchange of words, Cintron, as shown on replays, stepped out of the first-base dugout and motioned for Laureano to come at him. Laureano ran toward Cintron, who stayed behind Astros players as Laureano was tackled and the benches for both teams emptied.

Regardless of what was said, unacceptable for a coach. What a rotten organization.

Laureano gets a six game suspension. Cintron gets TWENTY.

[Lorini]

Cintron is a coach, so no player's union appeal for him! He can of course appeal himself but doubt that's going anywhere. He was an idiot anyway.

[Jaymann]

Tuned in just in time to see a Dodgers meltdown in the third. A quarter of the season in and tied with the upstart Padres.

[pr0ner]

Tomorrow's Cardinals/White Sox game apparently has been postponed after a Cardinals coach may have tested positive.

[pr0ner]

In better news, the Cubs are 12-3 and already have a "5 game" lead in the NL Central (over the Cardinals; it's 5.5 games over everyone actually playing games).

[Lorini]

In other news, the Dodgers won a friggin game against the Padres "at home". The only two players who can hit at the moment are Turner and Seager and Seager is on the mend, while Betts is also coming along nicely. Our power hitters are under .200, Muncy, Bellinger, and Joc Pederson. Pitching is so so, with Kershaw giving up who knows how many home runs and Stripling giving up a grand slam to Machado. I dunno, I'm not sure I'd bet on them winning the west myself. I think they'll have a winning record and make the playoffs, but the Padres really look good so either we're terrible or the Padres are really a thing now. Also will Blackmon of the Rockies be able to continue his hitting?? Who knows but the season is moving along at a brisk pace so we got to get to gettin' if we want to be there at the end. Personally I think it was a huge mistake to let Ryu walk, he'd be a perfect fit right now.

[pr0ner]

In other news, the Dodgers won a friggin game against the Padres "at home". The only two players who can hit at the moment are Turner and Seager and Seager is on the mend, while Betts is also coming along nicely. Our power hitters are under .200, Muncy, Bellinger, and Joc Pederson. Pitching is so so, with Kershaw giving up who knows how many home runs and Stripling giving up a grand slam to Machado. I dunno, I'm not sure I'd bet on them winning the west myself. I think they'll have a winning record and make the playoffs, but the Padres really look good so either we're terrible or the Padres are really a thing now. Also will Blackmon of the Rockies be able to continue his hitting?? Who knows but the season is moving along at a brisk pace so we got to get to gettin' if we want to be there at the end. Personally I think it was a huge mistake to let Ryu walk, he'd be a perfect fit right now.

You might get a kick out of this:

[Lorini]

That's pretty funny, thanks!!!! Probably a little of both!

[El Guapo]

It's "sdassy"

[pr0ner]

It's "sdassy"