Blue Jays Discussion: Off-Season III: Ray/Semien out, Gausman in. Jays linked to everyone. Labor strife happening.

[dredeye]

merry christmas all

 

[Cloned]

I think it's somewhat ironic that the league with the most (recent) acrimony between the owners and the PA (the NHL) got motivated by the pandemic to get together and hammer out a CBA extension for extended labour peace, whereas the league with the most recent extended period of labour peace (MLB) went the opposite direction.

Even more ironic because Fehr is now in charge of the NHLPA.

 

[phillipmike]

 

[weems]

MLB futures odds to win 2022 world series (Bet365)

Dodgers +600
Toronto +850
Houston +850
Yankees +1000
WhiteSox +1100
Padres +1100
Mets +1100
Rays +1300
Braves +1400
Giants +1600
Brewers +1600
RedSox +1700

Very exciting to see how bullish the international betting market is on our chances to win the world series next season.

 

[dredeye]

That sucks

 

[Suntouchable13]

Do you guys think there will be a completely new playoff format once we emerge from this lockout? I think there definitely should be a new format. The current format is total trash, and that's not only because the Jays missed the playoffs last season with 91 wins. It's been trash for quite some time. It has to change.

 

[Anthrax442]

Do you guys think there will be a completely new playoff format once we emerge from this lockout? I think there definitely should be a new format. The current format is total trash, and that's not only because the Jays missed the playoffs last season with 91 wins. It's been trash for quite some time. It has to change.

Something need to change. Including reducing the schedule. There is absolutely no need for 162 games. But theres definitely a demand for more playoffs games.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Something need to change. Including reducing the schedule. There is absolutely no need for 162 games. But theres definitely a demand for more playoffs games.

I think MLB is becoming less and less popular and something needs to change. It starts with the playoff format.

 

[dredeye]

I think MLB is becoming less and less popular and something needs to change. It starts with the playoff format.

It kind of feels like a dying game if I can be overly dramatic. They can certainly shorten the season and load up the playoffs. Even if they just took like 12 games off. Added a round to the playoffs and it’ll help. Fans don’t want to keep watching the yanks, Red Sox, Dodgers in the playoffs the the exception teams of the year. They need a cap floor and extended playoffs

 

[BigBlu]

I'm for 162. No to playoff expansion as well. Baseball has always been unique. Hockey already lets all the teams in the playoffs. Baseball rewards a long season. That's satisfying to me.

Baseball is America's pastime. It's less about winning the last game of the year than enjoying warm summer nights with a hotdog in your hand at the ballpark or having a cold beer in the backyard with the radio on.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

It kind of feels like a dying game if I can be overly dramatic. They can certainly shorten the season and load up the playoffs. Even if they just took like 12 games off. Added a round to the playoffs and it’ll help. Fans don’t want to keep watching the yanks, Red Sox, Dodgers in the playoffs the the exception teams of the year. They need a cap floor and extended playoffs

I wouldn't load up the playoffs that much. Maybe just add another team and make it a 2 out of 3 first round.

Division #3 vs. WC #3
WC #1 vs. WC #2.

A lot of the time, Division #3 is closer to the WC's than the other division leaders and I don't think you should get a free pass just because you were the best team in your division. This year, the Braves had 88 wins and won their division (and eventually the entire thing). The Dodgers had 106 wins and were a WC team. Even under this format, the Braves would still only play an 83-win Reds team to move on while the Dodgers would still need to beat the 90-win Cardinals. But at least the Braves would have to work for it and can't just rely upon being in a terrible division to get places.

If you make it too big, you are consistently adding teams that did not even win more than they lost.

 

[Discoverer]

They should add two teams and make each league two 8-team divisions. Division winners go through to the division series, next four best records play a 3-game Wild Card round.

I love the long season and don't really want it to change

 

[Woodman19]

I believe the last proposal from the owners before the lockout was: 7 Teams make the playoffs. Top team in the league gets a first round Bye, the 2 remaining division winners pick their opponents and the two unselected teams face each other which essentially is 3 division winners followed by the 4 top records.

 

[dredeye]

I believe the last proposal from the owners before the lockout was: 7 Teams make the playoffs. Top team in the league gets a first round Bye, the 2 remaining division winners pick their opponents and the two unselected teams face each other which essentially is 3 division winners followed by the 4 top records.

That kind of works for me but I hate the by for anyone. Sets an even bigger advantage to the already top teams.

 

[Epictetus]

Criticizing the Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers, etc for refusing to do a demolition rebuild, continually trying to win, and having owners that want to spend money continues to be such a ridiculous take.

I get that this a hockey board, so the ideal of parity is king, but I can't imagine how much worse the game would be financially without these organizations doing what they do.

 

[The Nemesis]

I believe the last proposal from the owners before the lockout was: 7 Teams make the playoffs. Top team in the league gets a first round Bye, the 2 remaining division winners pick their opponents and the two unselected teams face each other which essentially is 3 division winners followed by the 4 top records.

I don't like this whole "pick the team you want to face" gimmick.

Just sort the matchups by record and tiebreakers like normal.

And I don't love the bye, but you can somewhat mitigate that by making the first round a best of 3 or 5 series instead of best of 7.

 

[Anthrax442]

People arent willing to sit there or a 4.5 hours game anymore

 

[Hoverhand]

It kind of feels like a dying game if I can be overly dramatic. They can certainly shorten the season and load up the playoffs. Even if they just took like 12 games off. Added a round to the playoffs and it’ll help. Fans don’t want to keep watching the yanks, Red Sox, Dodgers in the playoffs the the exception teams of the year. They need a cap floor and extended playoffs

I don't think they're going to be able to get a cap floor without atleast putting in a more strict soft cap at the top, which the players won't ever go for because it'll just hinder the teams that actually spend money. The cap floor would have to be pretty high for that to be worth it because KCR and Oakland will still cry poor and just barely meet the requirements.

This is why I think expansion talks are almost definitely going to be berthed out of this lockout, it's the one thing that makes both sides piles of money. It'll also help make concessions on both sides easier to swallow. The players aren't going to get the deal they should but it'll help them put ink on the dotted line if they know 52 new jobs are coming soon.

 

[dredeye]

Criticizing the Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers, etc for refusing to do a demolition rebuild, continually trying to win, and having owners that want to spend money continues to be such a ridiculous take.

I get that this a hockey board, so the ideal of parity is king, but I can't imagine how much worse the game would be financially without these organizations doing what they do.

Where exactly did I say that? I said it would be nice to have more teams in instead of primarily the monster spenders. I'm not sure how you took that to them not doing a demolition rebuild. I'm saying to find a way to discourage teams from doing that. Especially huge portions of the league. I then said there should be a floor so you don't have teams spending less than some players are making. I'd like to see more teams in to encourage more teams to try and compete annually. I think that would improve the game.

 

[dredeye]

I don't like this whole "pick the team you want to face" gimmick.

Just sort the matchups by record and tiebreakers like normal.

And I don't love the bye, but you can somewhat mitigate that by making the first round a best of 3 or 5 series instead of best of 7.

Agreed, anything that comes across gimmicky tends to be bad for the game. Don't like the bye at all. Just add one more team on each side and that's who they face.

 

[dredeye]

I don't think they're going to be able to get a cap floor without atleast putting in a more strict soft cap at the top, which the players won't ever go for because it'll just hinder the teams that actually spend money. The cap floor would have to be pretty high for that to be worth it because KCR and Oakland will still cry poor and just barely meet the requirements.

This is why I think expansion talks are almost definitely going to be berthed out of this lockout, it's the one thing that makes both sides piles of money. It'll also help make concessions on both sides easier to swallow. The players aren't going to get the deal they should but it'll help them put ink on the dotted line if they know 52 new jobs are coming soon.

Yea I don't know how you bring up the bottom without addressing the top but spending shouldn't be the issue. Refusing to spend should be. I think we'll see some expansion possibly but where is there left to go? Montreal and Vegas maybe. I think there may just be a desire to put a team back in montreal with the Rays talk of splitting seasons. Maybe it's a test to see how viable that market is for another team. Vegas I don't think is a good market for baseball. Way too hot.

 

[phillipmike]

Live Chat With MLB Catcher Caleb Joseph

JotCast | Live Chat With MLB Catcher Caleb Joseph | 12/28/2021

Former Jay Caleb Joseph is doing a live chat right now if any of you want to ask a question.

jaysfan
3:12
In your short time with Toronto, what were your impressions of Vlad, Bo and the rest of the young Blue Jays?

Caleb Joseph
3:13
Thanks for the question- Those two you mentioned are very special players. Even better people. They're work ethic is second to none and both of them have excellent heads on their shoulders. They will be elite players in the big leagues for a very long time. I really enjoyed my time with them!

Stormy
3:15
Who had the best change up of the pitchers you have caught?

Caleb Joseph
3:16
Ubaldo had a nasty split. Gausman's split was very good, Rafael Dolis has a forkball basically that has a mind of its own. Hirano with Arizona back in '19 had an excellent changeup and my favorite was probably Jeremy Hellickson's. Looked just like a fastball, yet was 15mph slower!

Matt
3:18
Caleb outside of Camden Yards what was your favorite AL East Park to play in and why?

Caleb Joseph
3:19
Tampa, its where I made my debut and it's indoors. A catcher's best friend, 72 degrees everyday!

Rob E
3:26
How was your time with the Blue Jays? What would you say to a FA who was on the fence about signing in Toronto because of it being in Canada? Thanks!

Caleb Joseph
3:27
Loved it there. Was sad it was only one year. Playing in front of an entire country is amazing. I remember playing there in 2016 in the WC game. The place was nuts, electric. I really love Toronto and all that it brings... the team is SOLID also. I have encouraged friends to go there.

Guest
3:40
Caleb, if you had to spend one week with a former teammate from each of your former teams, who would you pick?

Caleb Joseph
3:41
Trumbo (Bal), Ray (AZ), 100 Miles Giles (TOR), Taijuan Walker (NYM), Chargois (SEA)

Funny how Ray and Walker played for or will play for Arizona, Seattle and the Jays.

Giles played for the Jays and Mariners. Trumbo played for Seattle and Arizona.

Jello452
3:45
What percent of players use MLBTR?

Caleb Joseph
3:45
99.9

J.D.
3:52
What was it like playing in the AL East all those years?

Caleb Joseph
3:52
A never-ending War. Every opponent was tough as nails, zero days or series off, every play mattered.

Swaz
4:00
when you were on the road, what city had the best food?

Caleb Joseph
4:01
They're all good! I ordered 2 steaks in Toronto on Tommy Hunter and Darren O'Days tab once. That was memorable!

Craig
4:02
Who's your best bud in the bigs

Caleb Joseph
4:02
Tumbo, Wieters, Adam Jones, Robbie Ray, Chargois, I've been fortunate to have some AWESOME teammates!

Megan
4:38
What was your favorite city to visit on roadtrips?

Caleb Joseph
4:39
Seattle was always a favorite to visit, loved going to TOR also. They're all awesome Megan, I mean they really are.

Jays Fan
4:39
What was playing in Buffalo like?

Caleb Joseph
4:40
The city of Buffalo and the Jays did an amazing job getting the field and atmosphere as best as they could. I talked to guys and none of them complained. Credit to both organization that did a great job in the middle of impossible situations!

 

[TGB]

Let's hope the labour dispute doesn't go well into the season.

 

[Discoverer]

Who sits through 4 hours of game anymore? Doesn't anyone utilize their PVR and fast forward functions?

I watch games live. I suspect the vast majority of people do.

 

[Anthrax442]

Best thing i discovered is Jays in 30