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Otto von Ballpark

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Everything posted by Otto von Ballpark

  1. Otto von Ballpark
    On a practical level, you figure that the union would go to bat for veterans like Nelson Cruz and oppose such a proposal. Although if it permanently expands the DH to the NL, and comes with an extra bench spot... maybe there is a point where they go along with it? I’m not even quite clear on what new rules need union approval. But both players and owners probably have enough conflict right now without introducing any more! (I would still like to see a meaningful pitch clock though, even though I know that is just another aesthetic fantasy )
  2. Otto von Ballpark
    Jack McKeon took over for the 2011 Marlins at age 80. Of course, that was midseason, with the expectation that he was just an interim manager. Only other manager older than 76 was Connie Mack. Stengel lasted until 75, Felipe Alou 71. McKeon was originally hired by the Marlins in 2003 midseason at age 72. Baker was hired last winter at age 70. I wouldn’t exactly be pleased if I were a Sox fan, but it should be interesting either way!
  3. Otto von Ballpark
    Just curious: do you like the current pace of action? Meaning, high levels of strikeouts, and low levels of balls in play? If you don’t think there is any meaningful level of disease, then of course any kind of cure is going to be unnecessary. I’m not prepared to quit the sport over it or anything, but I would like to see some efforts to address those issues. This seemed like a nudge in that direction, less extreme than other proposals, and it seemed like it complemented recent changes like roster expansion, limit on rostered pitchers, and even the 3 batter minimum and maybe even the attempt to get the DH permanently accepted in the NL. Plus the apparent reluctance to reduce time of game — what can we do to improve pace / increase action within that time of game?
  4. Otto von Ballpark
    There is no official proposal or anything. It’s just an idea. The idea in the tweet seemed to be as you described, but as I mention in my first post, it is considered in the tweet replies that the DH in general wouldn’t have to be lost, just that specific DH.
  5. Otto von Ballpark
    I actually didn't say anything about moving the DH to the field. This is just a discussion, so if you see an opportunity to add or clarify anything, feel free! This rule could replace the old DH rule so you wouldn't necessarily be bound by any of it. I guess as I phrased it above, the current DH would be removed from the game when you make a pitching change, so there wouldn't be an opportunity to shift him into the field. But I'm open to suggestions and brainstorming!
  6. Otto von Ballpark
    You wouldn't need 3-4 DH's a game unless you're not letting any of your pitchers go past 2-3 innings. If the starter can go 6, you probably don't need more than 2. And you could change pitchers a few times, but you wouldn't need to change DH until the pitcher's spot in the order comes up again.
  7. Otto von Ballpark
    Rosters have already expanded to 26 (and they were 28 for 2020). There's also still a 13 pitcher max rule that hasn't been enforced yet, so the general trend of these roster rules seems to point to a longer bench.
  8. Otto von Ballpark
    No, it's not a time of game issue. Feel free to ask for clarification before rebutting points not made! I actually don't mind bullpen games in general -- sometimes they are legitimately your best option, and can be quite interesting strategically. But when we start seeing a lot of bullpen games, especially in the postseason, it seems less about an interesting strategic decision for that particular game, and more about pushing the overall short-outings-are-better philosophy across all games. (Hence why I brought them up alongside shorter starting pitcher outings.) Admittedly, this becomes an aesthetic thing, but the shorter-outings-are-better philosophy definitely seems to contribute to the big rise in strikeouts and the drop in balls in play we've seen in recent years. You could call it part of the pace problem -- fewer balls in play as game times increase seems to drag the pace of the action. Don't get me wrong -- I enjoy seeing the game naturally evolve in different ways, and the batter-pitcher battle can be interesting, but to me, it feels like we've drifted a little too far in that direction. Hence why I was intrigued by this idea, which could gently nudge things back toward the other direction without being anything too drastic.
  9. Otto von Ballpark
    What makes a new rule "too cute"? Was the 3-batter minimum "too cute"? I'm open to critiques and ideas, but at the same time, I don't want to automatically assume the current rule is the best rule, just because it's the current rule. Set aside my point about the two leagues compromising, if you want. I read the NL is dropping the DH for 2021 so I thought there might be an opportunity there, but I don't know all the politics of it (why the NL would be resistant to the universal DH).
  10. Otto von Ballpark
    What makes strategy "unnecessary"? Does the current rule that you can't move a DH into the field represent "unnecessary strategy"? If not, what makes it necessary? Did the 3-batter minimum for pitchers inject too much "unnecessary strategy", as compared to pre-2020 rules?
  11. Otto von Ballpark
    This is a discussion more than a proposal, so you can contribute ideas and clarifying language if you want. I certainly didn't mean to propose that the pitcher and DH would be joined at the hip. So maybe a better way to phrase the idea: If you remove a pitcher from the game, the next pitcher will take the current DH's spot in the batting order. That pitcher would also be eligible to be replaced by another DH for as long as they are in the game. You can still freely substitute for the DH at any time with no effect on the pitcher.
  12. Otto von Ballpark
    Wow. Crazy rumor comes true. Should be fun to watch!
  13. Otto von Ballpark
    Also feels like a bit of a compromise between the DH and no-DH leagues, if the goal is to standardize rules across them. You'd still have a DH most of the time, but there would be strategic implications around the position.
  14. Otto von Ballpark
    It discourages bullpen games and starting pitchers being pulled aggressively early, both of which were on display this postseason.
  15. Otto von Ballpark
    It wouldn't necessarily have to disincentive openers, if the DH could be attached to subsequent pitchers. So you could put the opener in the lineup as batting for himself, but before he comes to bat, you replace him with a primary pitcher with a DH attached.
  16. Otto von Ballpark
    I just read this potential rule change on Twitter and I am intrigued: https://twitter.com/sean_forman/status/1321455174091739136?s=20 For those who may be unable to see embedded tweets: This would discourage pulling your starting pitchers so early. It was also suggested in the replies that each new pitcher could require a new DH, which would discourage frequent cycling through relievers too. So the DH would basically be a permanent PH for that pitcher -- but once that pitcher is out of the game, you'd need to pick another DH or let the pitcher bat. What do you all think? I don't hate relief pitching but it would be nice to incentivize leaving a guy like Snell in the game longer.
  17. Otto von Ballpark
    Are we sure Thorpe won't be eligible for a 4th option year? If a player uses all 3 options before they've played 5 "full seasons" as a pro, they are typically eligible for a 4th option. It may depend on how they handle the 2020 season, since traditionally they've defined a "full season" as 90 days on the active roster, but the 2020 season was less than 90 days long. Here's further elaboration on the rule: https://www.thecubreporter.com/book/export/html/3521 By my count, Thorpe may have only had 4 "full seasons" by this criteria, entering 2020: 2014 2017 2018 2019 He played in 2013 but had less than 90 days active (he was in rookie league ball, whose seasons are generally less than 90 days long). Then in March 2015, he had Tommy John surgery and missed the 2015 and 2016 seasons completely, so they don't count as full seasons either (zero days active). If 2020 counts as a "full season" despite being less than 90 days, then Thorpe would have 5 "full seasons" as a pro and would indeed be out of options in 2021. But if 2020 doesn't count as a "full season", Thorpe should be eligible for a 4th option in 2021.
  18. Otto von Ballpark
    It will be said that Cash had comparable hooks this postseason. This is true, although in the two most comparable (WC game 1, ALCS game 7), there were 2 outs in the 6th inning, which meant it was an easier job for the reliever -- very important with the 3 batter minimum. Also, WC game 1, Snell got to face the leadoff batter a 3rd time too, to get that second out, and finished at 82 pitches (as compared to 73 last night). Additionally, Nick Anderson had not been sharp recently. Before last night, since the beginning of the ALCS, he was his line: 5 G, 7 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 4 BB, 3 Ks, 2 HR, 2 of 6 inherited runners scored That's only 3 K's in 33 PA, a dismal 9% rate in that span. The Rays next "relief ace" Diego Castillo had been a bit better, but not great. I'm not sure I want to commit to either of them getting 2 outs with a 3-batter minimum in that situation. In summation, I think the best move was to continue letting Snell go batter-to-batter -- at least through Betts and likely through the LHB Seager
  19. Otto von Ballpark
    I don't mind the Dodgers, but I was hoping for a game 7, and I blame the lack of game 7 on Kevin Cash. Yes, the Rays may have lost anyway if they only scored 1 run (although I wonder if Urias would have come into the game if the Dodgers were still trailing). But given how uniquely dominating Snell had been, and how iffy Anderson had been lately, I don't think there was much justification for swapping them at that exact moment. Not that Snell had to stay in the game forever like Jack Morris, but I think he warranted another batter or two, at least.
  20. Otto von Ballpark
    1. Hennepin County is pretty big! 2. Downtown Minneapolis has been a retail ghost town for awhile already, relative to the rest of the county. No doubt that downtown bars and restaurants are acutely feeling the effects of the pandemic, with empty office buildings and a lack of concerts and sporting events. But retail is concentrated elsewhere in the county -- including most bars and restaurants -- and the effects there haven't been quite so severe. 3. Since 2018 or so, virtually all online retailers are collecting and remitting state and local sales taxes for Minnesota customers.
  21. Otto von Ballpark
    Tuesday Oct. 27 Potentially the last day of baseball for 2020. Go Rays! 7:08 pm CDT World Series Game 6 Tampa Bay Rays at Los Angeles Dodgers (Dodgers lead series 3-2) Blake Snell vs Tony Gonsolin TV: FOX
  22. Otto von Ballpark
    Kershaw vs Glasnow rematch, starting shortly tonight in game 5.
  23. Otto von Ballpark
    I saw him break for third in that replay, and thought it was rather pointless. He was probably just reacting based off instinct at that point, since everything happened so fast. But the better replay captures the moment at 16:15 in that video. Here's a still frame from when the catcher is attempting his swipe tag: You can see here Phillips is just starting to break away from second. Arozarena is already too far gone to simply retreat to third -- he's a dead duck hung up in a rundown, if the catcher has the ball. I'm not sure Phillips is really thinking about taking third or just offering some potential distraction for the defenders in the event of that rundown -- Phillips wasn't anywhere close to third, was watching the play in front of him, and would have had plenty of time to retreat to second himself if the ball got away and Arozarena was able to escape the rundown and retreat all the way to third. Pointless, probably adrenaline fueled, but I don't think he was in any particular danger of a blunder.
  24. Otto von Ballpark
    Crazy comeback for the underdog, with highlights that weren’t just HR and K’s, featuring the two players who recently had a post-game dance battle? Definitely one of the best games in recent memory!
  25. Otto von Ballpark
    Not the pitcher’s duel that I hoped for...
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