bird watcher

AMEN! I was specifically referring to expansion talk though.

Maybe so. Though I don't hear people complaining about a lack of quality hitters as much a lack of quality pitchers.

I agree that more would need to be done but more offense wouldn't hurt. You mention homers and strikeouts; worse pitchers would mean less strikeouts.

European Soccer has a system by which the lowest couple teams in the league are relegated to the lower division for the following season. Likewise the top couple teams in the lower division are moved up to the Top premier league. It makes the last place teams' final games more interesting for sure! In MLB's case there is no lower division so there would have to be a restructuring of the minor leagues into more independent teams.

I said it more in jest because it would take enormous changes. A salary cap would do the trick I believe. I know, I know; never happen.

I would also live to see the minor league teams separated from the MLB teams and start implementing relegation. This would stop fans from cheering for their team to lose like many of us are now. Pipe dream and will never happen; I know.

Baseball has problem with younger generations. It is boring. Expanding and therefore diluting the pitching pool would actually be good because it would likely lead to slightly more runs scored. Although with only 2 teams the impact would probably not be significant. 32 teams would allow a balanced schedule. Get rid of the divisions and expand the wildcard.

No doubt that he hasn’t done what I thought he would when I started this thread. That said, I’ll double down on my prediction if he is given an opportunity at regular AB’s next year.

Loving the Floyd in this thread. I am here feeling upside down. I root against KC by rooting for them, feeling Schadenfreude when they win, and I root for the O’s by rooting for bullpen failures. http://www.deezer.com/us/track/81556746

I believe he us seeking residency in the DR too so that might preclude him from AFL participation. I understand the DR Winter league is highly competitive too though. I hope we get him. We deserve something to be excited about.

I wasn’t sure when the AFL got started and if VVM would be approved by then. Dominican Winter league maybe. Either way better to get his pro career going sooner than later. He is 22 not 17

I would think signing now would also give him the possibility of playing in the Arizona Fall League and if he does great get a spring training invite. The sooner he gets in the Milb pipeline the sooner he can likely get to the majors which gets his clock started. The big payouts come in the big leagues. Why wait for an extra 500k when the millions you’ll get now is enough until the bigger payout?

I think someone will give Jones more due to name recognition and thinking he will be better at a corner spot but can fill in as a CF. To be honest, I hadn't looked at Markakis' stats when I voted. He really is having a better year. I could see Jones getting a lift moving to a new team though and maybe a GM feels the same.

I think it depends on what they can get for him. If the return gives multiple players who will be more cost controlled and ready to contribute in 2-3 years then I do it. That lessens payroll then which allows the flexibility to sign another pitcher if needed. Who wven knows what our needs will be then? Why pay that salary now just to have him in 3 years when we might be competitive? The dark part of me looks at what he did last time out and hopes he doesn’t win enough to let KC leapfrog us.