2025 Major League Baseball Thread

[ChadFL]

My LCS picks:

New York over Texas 4 games to 1
Philadelphia over San Francisco 4 games to 1

And just to be clear I cannot stand either NY or Philly. I'm just being realistic here. I just don't think think either Texas or SF mathes up well in either series. Cliff Lee will probably give the Rangers 1 win, but that's all I'm seeing. I'm REALLY hoping I'm wrong on both picks.

[Hi-Def Steve]

Sadly I agree with you Chad. I don't think Texas has any shot, but I've seen crazier things happen in baseball. We'll see how these young SF pitchers hold up in that crazy Philly stadium environment.

[SteelPen]

Originally Posted by Hi-Def Steve

Hopefully they will be moved to a city that appreciates baseball.

You're just like ESPN, you people just don't know! The economy sucks here...12% are unemployed, nationwide is about 9%!

Also, did you know...only about 616,000 people live 30 minutes from the Trop, lowest in MLB!

[Hi-Def Steve]

Originally Posted by Redliner17k

You're just like ESPN, you people just don't know! The economy sucks here...12% are unemployed, nationwide is about 9%!

Also, did you know...only about 616,000 people live 30 minutes from the Trop, lowest in MLB!

Oh come on the economy sucks everywhere, regardless of the 3% if thats true. And seriously I doubt seats in that stadium are breaking anyones bank. They're giving away tickets for crying out loud. If the players themselves are complaining maybe something needs to be done.

[Dexter Morgan]

Classy move by the Rangers. Apparently they celebrated their ALDS victory with ginger ale instead of champagne and beer, so all players (alcoholic Josh Hamilton, straight-edge C.J. Wilson) could participate.

[fatediesel]

It's being reported the Braves have hired Fredi Gonzalez as their new manager. This has been assumed since the day he was fired in Florida. He turned down the opportunity to interview with the Cubs last month, making most assume he had already agreed to a deal with Atlanta. Gonzalez was the Braves third-base coach from 2003-2006.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5679565

I'm really curious to see the market for Cliff Lee this winter. The Rangers really want to keep him but it's questionable if they will be willing to pay like the Yankees likely will. It's possible Lee would consider a discount for the Rangers since Texas has no state income tax and New York City's tax on millionaires is among the highest (if not the highest) in the country. I've read that Lee will likely be getting a 5-year deal, since he is already 32, likely for around $125 million. If Lee has a dominant start or 2 against the Yankees that will only increase his price and make them want him more.

[Hi-Def Steve]

The FA starting pitching market is going to be pretty horrible this offseason. Someone like Ted Lilly is going to be one of the better names out there, so you can imagine what Cliff Lee is going to go for.

[Hi-Def Steve]

Originally Posted by Dexter Morgan

Classy move by the Rangers. Apparently they celebrated their ALDS victory with ginger ale instead of champagne and beer, so all players (alcoholic Josh Hamilton, straight-edge C.J. Wilson) could participate.

Yeah I heard about that, very cool on their part. You can tell that team has so much chemistry.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Hi-Def Steve

The FA starting pitching market is going to be pretty horrible this offseason. Someone like Ted Lilly is going to be one of the better names out there, so you can imagine what Cliff Lee is going to go for.

We could sure use Cliff Lee, hope the idiot Gardenhire can convince our owner to get him to improve our inconsistent rotation.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

We could sure use Cliff Lee, hope the idiot Gardenhire can convince our owner to get him to improve our inconsistent rotation.

You're dreaming if you think the Twins would make a run at Lee. After the contract they gave to Mauer (and to a lesser extent Morneau) they won't be going after any big money guys. I would expect another offseason similar to last year where they sign a lot of guys to one-year deals and hope for success. This worked with last year's team but you can't expect to get seasons like Thome and Orlando Hudson had very often.

[Lacit170]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

We could sure use Cliff Lee, hope the idiot Gardenhire can convince our owner to get him to improve our inconsistent rotation.

do they not have a general manager?

[Hi-Def Steve]

It wouldn't surprise me if the Rangers go after Lee pretty hard. Apparently they signed a mega tv deal with Fox so they're might be able to afford it.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by Hi-Def Steve

It wouldn't surprise me if the Rangers go after Lee pretty hard. Apparently they signed a mega tv deal with Fox so they're might be able to afford it.

And with new ownership they might want to try to prove to their fans that they are willing to spend money on their top free agents.

[Hi-Def Steve]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

And with new ownership they might want to try to prove to their fans that they are willing to spend money on their top free agents.

It's pretty amazing a team goes from bankruptcy to the way they are right now. Not to mention they have freaking Nolan Ryan, a competitive ballplayer running things now. I'd be pretty happy right now if I were a Ranger fan.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

You're dreaming if you think the Twins would make a run at Lee. After the contract they gave to Mauer (and to a lesser extent Morneau) they won't be going after any big money guys. I would expect another offseason similar to last year where they sign a lot of guys to one-year deals and hope for success. This worked with last year's team but you can't expect to get seasons like Thome and Orlando Hudson had very often.

Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau sure helped us win in the post-season against New York...oh wait...pansy Morneau!

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau sure helped us win in the post-season against New York...oh wait...pansy Morneau!

From everything I've read Morneau wanted to return but the doctors advised against it and the team didn't want to risk him having serious long-term problems just to play in the playoffs where he probably wouldn't play well anyway after missing most of the season. Regardless, the Twins have a lot of long-term money tied up in Morneau (another $42 million over 3 years) and they chose to be careful with his recovery.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

You're dreaming if you think the Twins would make a run at Lee. After the contract they gave to Mauer (and to a lesser extent Morneau) they won't be going after any big money guys. I would expect another offseason similar to last year where they sign a lot of guys to one-year deals and hope for success. This worked with last year's team but you can't expect to get seasons like Thome and Orlando Hudson had very often.

No way then can afford to go after Lee. But I'll bet the Twins do start spending more than they used to. Minnesota attendance soared this year to 40K per game, 6th in MLB thanks to the new stadium.

[cajmoyper]

Yeah, man I love our chances of landing Lee. I don't know too well our player-by-player contract sitches but I think they could go after Lee and another "big" FA. And make another run out of the AL West next year again.

[supersix4]

What I want for the O's (who by the way only offered 20 million less for Tex, and can spend on Lee )

1. Cliff Lee - ace of staff
2. Victor Martinez - 1B
3. Adrian Beltre
4. Carl Crawford

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by supersix4

What I want for the O's (who by the way only offered 20 million less for Tex, and can spend on Lee )

1. Cliff Lee - ace of staff
2. Victor Martinez - 1B
3. Adrian Beltre
4. Carl Crawford

I guess you have to have high hopes, should be a pretty new team though with a new manager in place for next year.