Can_of_corn

Only headcase would make political comments when his job was to throw a baseball. Be bland and collect your paycheck.

I wouldn't be surprised to find that an Ump's strike zone grows after the pitcher gives up back to back walks. Just like it does when the count goes 3-0.

When you have an owner that won't spend and a GM that is extremely reluctant to trade prospects you aren't going to get much in return.

I Don't think the owner has been a good faith partner in the process.

The average baseball player isn't an erudite individual to begin with and aren't in a field of endeavor in which they need to master the art of public speaking. Being characters is all they got.

In his defense, he was probably drunk when he said this.

No wonder he's out of the league.

Not Monica Seles?

TLDR: Catchers used to get an advantage in called strikes when batting but no longer do. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/catchers-cant-catch-a-break-anymore/ Also this tidbit for folks that say Umpires are getting worse:

I just checked, Johnson's BA is pretty low but he's getting on base at a nice clip. 240/ /420 /442 for the season A/A+

You are mistaken. You are thinking of Termarr Johnson.

Yea, only really made a difference for one day a year but yea. Take him off the 60 day DL, put him back on the 60 day DL. I don't recall it ever having any real consequences for the team.

Guess that means he's doomed.

Folks are still bitter about Mussina twenty years later. Some of the fanbase will absoultly blame Henderson if he walks.

Yankees under Hal won't spend for him.

Like what Dan did with Mountcastle.

I can't blame him for trying to lessen the economic impact, but you hammer out all of those details before he announces his retirement.

Just wait till you see how bad it gets when he plays for the Dodgers.

Westburg and Henderson are exactly as fast as McKenna. I'm not sure an 80 speed guy is something that is a need.

You are clearly demonstrating a mastery of social decorum.

So you admit it isn't "always". So why say it? How is it a shock to you that when a team does significantly better than anyone suggested that the projection system Fangraphs uses would have the same issue?

You can think that, but it isn't biased.

Do they? Were they wrong in 2019?, 2020?, 2017? I don't know, but if you say "always" you should probably fact check the statement. Or it's just not perfect. It's not presented as something that's going to be 100% accurate. Your expectations are not the same as theirs.

I don't think the evidence points to anything close to that. They did underestimate the O's during those seasons but to suggest that the reason why is based on a bias that you can't explain instead of a failure in their projection system seems like a dubious claim. They overestimated the 2018 team.

Why would Fangraphs be biased against the Orioles? No one has ever explained to me why they would purposely dismiss the team.