AZRon

I thought about that (but the compensation for my efforts is so "spare"?). OK -- I'll do it later. Later has arrived -- See opening post

Why not? MLB uses the size of metropolitan area (regardless of the number of teams in that area) as one of the criteria for eligibility for a competitive balance draft pick.

The number of posts relating to MLB team attendance on my ODP Payroll post See opening ODP post caused me to cogitate on perspectives as to relative and relevant attendance numbers. So, I assembled this chart: Team Metropolitan Area 2018 Estimated Population1 2019 Attendance2 Attendance Per Capita % of Capacity Mileage to Nearest Different MLB Stadium3 New York (NYY) 19.98 M 3.30 M 0.17 75.2% 9 New York (NYM) 19.98 M 2.44 M 0.12 71.9% 9 Los Angeles (LAA) 13.29 M 3.02 M 0.23 82.7% 31 Los Angeles (LAD) 13.29 M 3.97 M 0.30 87.6% 31 Chicago (CWS) 9.50 M 1.65 M 0.17 50.1% 10 Chicago (CHC) 9.50 M 3.09 M 0.33 91.7% 10 Texas (TEX) 7.54 M 2.13 M 0.28 54.7% 257 Houston (HOU) 7.00 M 2.86 M 0.41 86.0% 257 Washington (WSH) 6.25 M 2.26 M 0.36 67.4% 38 Miami (MIA) 6.20 M .81 M 0.13 27.3% 266 Philadelphia (PHI) 6.10 M 2.73 M 0.45 77.1% 100 Toronto (TOR) 6.08 M 1.75 M 0.29 43.8% 230 Atlanta (ATL) 5.95 M 2.66 M 0.45 79.7% 449 Boston (BOS) 4.88 M 2.92 M 0.60 95.1% 204 Arizona (ARI) 4.86 M 2.14 M 0.44 54.2% 356 San Francisco (SF) 4.73 M 2.71 M 0.57 79.8% 17 Oakland (OAK) 4.73 M 1.66 M 0.35 43.5% 17 Detroit (DET) 4.33 M 1.50 M 0.35 44.5% 168 Seattle (SEA) 3.94 M 1.79 M 0.45 46.6% 807 Minnesota (MIN) 3.63 M 2.29 M 0.63 73.3% 334 San Diego (SD) 3.34 M 2.40 M 0.72 69.6% 95 Tampa Bay (TB) 3.14 M 1.18 M 0.38 58.2% 266 Colorado (COL) 2.93 M 2.99 M 1.02 74.7% 609 St. Louis (STL) 2.81 M 3.48 M 1.24 91.7% 242 Baltimore (BAL) 2.80 M 1.31 M 0.47 35.1% 38 Pittsburgh (PIT) 2.32 M 1.49 M 0.64 48.0% 134 Cincinnati (CIN) 2.19 M 1.81 M 0.83 52.8% 250 Kansas City (KC) 2.14 M 1.48 M 0.69 48.2% 242 Cleveland (CLE) 2.06 M 1.74 M 0.85 61.3% 134 Milwaukee (MIL) 1.58 M 2.92 M 1.85 86.1% 91 1 https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2019/metro-county-pop-estimates.html https://www.macrotrends.net/cities/20402/toronto/population 2 https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2019-misc.shtml 3 https://bitbucket.org/trhdata/mlb-stadiums/downloads/ Here are some of my takeaways as to the O's attendance in 2019: Baltimore's Metropolitan area size ranked 25th, just a hair behind St. Louis. The 10 lowest-revenue clubs and the clubs from the 10 smallest markets are eligible to receive a Competitive Balance pick (fewer than 20 clubs are in the mix each year, as some clubs qualify under both criteria). O's ranked 28th in total attendance, ahead of Tampa Bay and Miami. O's ranked 12th in per capita attendance, a bit ahead of the Mariners, the Phillies and the Braves. P.S. 3 teams' season attendance exceeded their metropolitan area population - Brewers, Cardinals, and Rockies. In per capita attendance, Yankees ranked 28th and Mets ranked last.

Updated the roster projection to reflect the José Iglesias signing. See opening post Projected 2020 Opening Day Payroll (ODP) is at $63.76M. Last year's ODP was $82.12M. Reminder -- my rule for the ODP for the 26 Man Roster -- only players on the 40 Man Roster. The 40 Man is full. Davis accounts for 36% of the current ODP, Cobb 22%.

Though Stewart's is a "split-contract", it is still a MLB contract and as such is governed by the MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The CBA contains minimum salary requirements for players on the 40 Man Roster. I've excerpted the relevant provisions below. Of course, Stewart may have successfully negotiated a minor league salary greater than the minimum. ========================================================================== Here's the provision pertinent to Stewart: "....(2) For all Players (a) signing a second Major League contract (not covering the same season as any such Player’s initial Major League contract) or a subsequent Major League contract, or (b) who have at least one day of Major League service, the minimum salary shall be as follows: (i) for Major League service—at a rate not less than the Major League minimum salary; (ii) for Minor League service—at a rate not less than the following: 2019—at the rate per season of $90,400; 2020—at the 2019 rate per season plus a cost of living adjustment, rounded to the nearest $100, provided that the cost of living adjustment shall not reduce the minimum salary below $90,400...." ========================================================================== FYI --: "....(3) For all Players signing a first Major League contract, the minimum salary for Minor League service shall be as follows: 2019—at the rate per season of $45,300; 2020—at the 2019 rate per season plus a cost of living adjustment, rounded to the nearest $100, provided that the cost of living adjustment shall not reduce the minimum salary below $45,300...."

Here are the minor league roster limitation rules for all Major League Baseball-affiliated minor league teams: Triple-A and Double-A teams are limited to 25-man rosters. Class A-Advanced and Class A teams are limited to 35 players under control with additional limitations in regard to prior minor league experience. Teams at lower levels have 35-man active rosters with limitations on minor league service time. =========================================================================== Given these roster size limitations, players were left unprotected for the Minor League portion of the Rule 5 draft.

This projection does not reflect the projected pre-arbitration players on the 26 Man Roster. My current ODP is $61.09M See opening post

Updated the roster projection to reflect the Rule 5 draftees. See opening post Projected 2020 Opening Day Payroll (ODP) is at $61.09M. Last year's ODP was $82.12M. Reminder -- my rule for the ODP for the 26 Man Roster -- only players on the 40 Man Roster. The 40 Man is now full. Davis accounts for 37.6% of the current ODP, Cobb 22.9%.

Updated the ODP projection for the 2020 MLB minimum salary of $563,500. See opening post Projected 2020 Opening Day Payroll (ODP) is now $61.09M. Last year's ODP was $82.12.

Davis accounts for 37.8% of the current ODP, Cobb 23%. The O's would have to dispose of Mancini and/or Givens, maybe both if they sign any players to major league contracts, in order for Davis to account for 40% or more.

Updated the roster projection for all transactions through 12/4/2019. See opening post Projected 2020 Opening Day Payroll (ODP) is now $60.88M. Last year's ODP was $82.12. Reminder -- my rule for ODP -- only players on the 40 Man roster. The 40 Man now contains 37 players; so, room for both Rule 5 draftee(s) and major league signing(s).

OK, but Williams is not currently on the 40 Man and, if he replaces an IL'ed Stewart, that would affect the total payroll figure. Thanks for your thoughts.

Updated the roster projection for all transactions through 12/2/2020. See opening post Projected 2020 Opening Day Payroll (ODP) is now $66M. Last year's ODP was $82.12. As to 2019 full season player compensation, according to the linked source below, the Orioles at 80.8M, ranked 27th ahead of the Pirates, Marlins and Rays; and had, by far, the largest percentage reduction in year over year compensation at -45.6%. https://legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/index.php?cyear=2019&team=&pos=

from MLBTR Chat With Mark Polishuk https://www.jotcast.com/chat/mlbtr-chat-with-mark-polishuk-6509.html Frederick freeman 5:19 I’m so confused about the lack of interest in johnathon villar. Ultimately shouldn’t the orioles hold him and pay the $10 mil and trade him during the season when another teams needs change and the money owed is less? Mark P 5:20 Or, if you absolutely have to release him, do it in the last week of Spring Training so you only have to pay him a fraction of his salary (arbitration salaries aren't guaranteed until Opening Day). At least then you can maybe find a trade partner if a team has its second baseman go down to injury in spring. ====================================================================== Arbitration contracts are not guaranteed, as a club can release a player on or before the 16th day of Spring Training and be responsible for only 30 days worth of pay. Players cut between the 17th and the final day of Spring Training must be compensated for 45 days worth of pay (at the prorated version of their arbitration salary). But if a player that agreed to an arbitration salary breaks camp with the club, his contract is fully guaranteed. =========================================================

How about a "letter", signed by all participants here, directed to the appropriate executive in the O's organization (with copies to Mike Elias and any other relevant high-level decision-maker) detailing the rationale for the Orioles organization recognition and support of the Orioles Hangout? I'm confident that there is sufficient talent among the readers and posters of OH to formulate a successful appeal.

Check this out https://www.mlb.com/news/how-3-batter-minimum-will-change-baseball

Here's some diverse opinions (and some pertinent data) from several professional commentators/journalists: https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2019/03/14/why-three-batter-minimum-for-relief-pitchers-is-a-good-thing/ https://www.mlb.com/news/how-3-batter-minimum-will-change-baseball https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/gabe-lacques/2019/03/14/mlb-rule-changes-3-batter-minimum/3161240002/ https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/03/14/mlb-rule-changes-three-batter-minimum-home-run-derby https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/the-three-batter-minimum-is-coming-to-mlb-in-2020-and-some-relievers-are-opposed-to-the-rule-change/ =========================================================================== My originally posted opinion remains unchanged: If MLB sticks with it, I think I'm going to like this rule. Initially, the downside is the likelihood of a modest increase in blow-out innings. On the plus side (at least, for me) I foresee the Increased value, development and use of pitchers who: consistently perform with better than average command and control are "rubber-armed" (can throw more pitches per appearance and require less rest between appearances) are versatile -- starters who can effectively relieve and relievers who can effectively start have very effective "trick pitches" -- ex: knuckleball

If MLB sticks with it, I think I'm going to like this rule. Initially, the downside is the likelihood of an increase in blow-out innings. On the plus side (at least, for me) I foresee the following: Increased value, development and use of pitchers who: consistently perform with better than average command and control are "rubber-armed" (can throw more pitches per appearance and require less rest between appearances) are versatile -- starters who can effectively relieve and relievers who can effectively start have very effective "trick pitches" -- ex: knuckleball

Here's a list of free agents (includes as yet unsigned players who were on a MLB 40 man roster in 2019): https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/08/2019-20-mlb-free-agents.html

OK --- That's much better -- thanks.

The Splendid Splinter missed all but 43 games of his age 33 - 34 seasons while he served in the Korean Conflict.

After adding Valaika and disposing of the outrighted players the O's 40-Man roster now stands at 38 (including Cobb and excluding Trumbo).

The same automated ball/strike system (ABS) was tested this year in the Atlantic League and the AFL and is a 3D system. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/robot-umpires-how-it-works-and-its-effect-on-players-and-managers-in-the-atlantic-league-plus-whats-to-come/ "TrackMan, or "robot ump," sits up above home plate (at all eight Atlantic League ballparks), and looks like a black box from afar. In reality, the box is a 3-D Doppler radar dish that analyzes each pitch thrown. Using a three-dimensional strike zone, TrackMan is able to calibrate each batters' size and stance, adjusting the strike zone accordingly. So, the system works so that it doesn't allow a 6-foot-7 player to have the same strike zone as a 5-foot-7 player." https://www.mlb.com/news/major-league-baseball-tests-robot-umpires-arizona-fall-league "The system has also been used in the independent Atlantic League this season as part of a partnership with Major League Baseball."

Wow !! -- that's deep -- not sure if it is deep thought or deep state? Perhaps, the cabal at MLB is pushing teams to develop more player versions of the 1918-1919 Babe Ruth?

Hopefully, with team player payroll parity.