2025 MLB Thread

[GalagaGuy]

 

[1776]

Ryne Sandberg died today. Terrible news. 

[buddha]

RIP Ryno

[papalawrence]

Just saw that. Very sad. Should have been in the WS vs the Tigers. RIP 

[Tenacious D]

There had been speculation for the last few weeks—a lot of his former teammates were showing up places wearing his number.  RIP, Ryno 

[IdahoBert]

I saw that it made me sad. When I lived in Tucson before Tucson had cable TV - I don’t know why it took so long I guess somebody had to be paid off - I’d go to a bar and watch Cubs games on satellite and that’s when Ryne was playing.

[Motor City Sonics]

Wow,  that's shocking man.    

[IdahoBert]

This feels personal he was eight years younger than me. 

[oblong]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMqXVv6SvES/?igsh=dWdhMHlhc2lmOThr

 According to that, when  Clase comes into the game in the 9th, his first pitch “waste pitch” percentage (ball way out of the zone) is 17.5%.   Every other pitch is 5%. 

[Tiger337]

Rest in Peace Ryne Sandberg, one of my favorite non-Tigers during my favorite period as a fan.  I remember him having the original "career year" in 1984.  It was the first time I heard that term.  The next few years, Peter Gammons would refer to a great year as a "Ryne Sandberg career year". 

[IdahoBert]

1 hour ago, oblong said:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMqXVv6SvES/?igsh=dWdhMHlhc2lmOThr

 According to that, when  Clase comes into the game in the 9th, his first pitch “waste pitch” percentage (ball way out of the zone) is 17.5%.   Every other pitch is 5%. 

If there is a significant correlation of betting activity exceeding usual activity in relation to his first pitch “waste pitch” percentage, what is the baseline that determines this as an actionable offense?

How is it decided that a certain percent exceeds random variation and is intentional?

And does a machine make this determination or a person? Having a mute non-conscious calculating device making a decision of this gravity troubles me.

And if there is a significant correlation, is actionable culpability directed at betting operations which incite activity of this sort? Can they be charged with anything?

I’m also wondering how independent of gambling interests this oversight entity is. I have no idea how this actually works.

Is the wolf guarding the hen house? Is Dracula overseeing the blood bank?

 

 

[chasfh]

7 hours ago, IdahoBert said:

If there is a significant correlation of betting activity exceeding usual activity in relation to his first pitch “waste pitch” percentage, what is the baseline that determines this as an actionable offense?

How is it decided that a certain percent exceeds random variation and is intentional?

And does a machine make this determination or a person? Having a mute non-conscious calculating device making a decision of this gravity troubles me.

And if there is a significant correlation, is actionable culpability directed at betting operations which incite activity of this sort? Can they be charged with anything?

I’m also wondering how independent of gambling interests this oversight entity is. I have no idea how this actually works.

Is the wolf guarding the hen house? Is Dracula overseeing the blood bank?

 

 

My guess is that they audited his communications and found some smoking gun already.

I also find it interesting that Baseball has gotten so far out so far in front of this story, over a month before its reolution. Seems to me that were Clase a relatively isolated incident, they would go through the investigation of him on background and out of public view. Instead, the situation is not even resolved and already we know. That probably means either the Clase situation is already very well known and liable to come out through some other source, or that the gambling rot among players is so deep that Baseball is trying to get control of the situation before it completely blows up in their faces and jeopardizes their billions in gambling partnership money.

[oblong]

9 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

Rest in Peace Ryne Sandberg, one of my favorite non-Tigers during my favorite period as a fan.  I remember him having the original "career year" in 1984.  It was the first time I heard that term.  The next few years, Peter Gammons would refer to a great year as a "Ryne Sandberg career year". 

WGN played a big part obviously but for me specifically given my age it was huge that they didn't play night games at Wrigley.  I was born in '73 so by the time I got to the age where I was too old to "go out and play" during the day, I'd sleep in until 10 or 11, lounge around all day, and watch the Cubs on WGN until going out in the evening or to work.  From about 87-89 during the week I was watching them play during the day.  I probably watched them more than the Tigers to be honest.  That Cubs era has a special place for me. 

[Tiger337]

1 minute ago, oblong said:

WGN played a big part obviously but for me specifically given my age it was huge that they didn't play night games at Wrigley.  I was born in '73 so by the time I got to the age where I was too old to "go out and play" during the day, I'd sleep in until 10 or 11, lounge around all day, and watch the Cubs on WGN until going out in the evening or to work.  From about 87-89 during the week I was watching them play during the day.  I probably watched them more than the Tigers to be honest.  That Cubs era has a special place for me. 

Harry Caray was the best.  

[Tigeraholic1]

5 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

Harry Caray was the best.  

I can't read Ryan Sandberg without hearing Harry Caray say it in my head. 

[oblong]

I read a book on the Busch family, of Budweiser fame.  It's fantastic.  Very typical of family business dramas you'd see on TV and in movies.  Caray was getting too popualr in St. Louis and was running around with either a Busch daughter or the wife of a Busch son.  Also Busch beer was created because of the baseball stadium. The league wouldn't let him name the stadium after his beer so he named it after the family, then created the beer.  

[theroundsquare]

34 minutes ago, oblong said:

WGN played a big part obviously but for me specifically given my age it was huge that they didn't play night games at Wrigley.  I was born in '73 so by the time I got to the age where I was too old to "go out and play" during the day, I'd sleep in until 10 or 11, lounge around all day, and watch the Cubs on WGN until going out in the evening or to work.  From about 87-89 during the week I was watching them play during the day.  I probably watched them more than the Tigers to be honest.  That Cubs era has a special place for me. 

Ditto for me, a hair younger.  I remember being so excited when Keith Moreland was coming to the Tigers.  Alas it was already too late

[lordstanley]

Not only were the Cubs and Braves bonus baseball beyond the WDIV Tigers for me in the '80s, they were National League baseball, so a chance to see a whole bunch of ballparks and teams more regularly that I wasn't used to seeing.

Edited Tuesday at 01:57 PM by lordstanley

[Sports_Freak]

RIP Ryne Sandberg.

My Sandberg story goes like this; My new daughter-in-law (she was my sons g- friend at the time) got a job with the Cubs Charity. Her first day, she got on the elevator and there was a "guy" already on it. She went to push the button for the floor and saw it was already lit. She said something like "oh, you work for the Cubs Charity?" The guy said "Yes, I'm Ryne Sandberg" She introduced herself and asked him how long he's worker for the Cubs. He explained he's been with the Cubs for years, played for them and was in the Hall of Fame. Now, my DIL knew absolutely nothing about baseball at this he time so she replied "that's nice." When she got home and told my son about meeting an ex-player, he freaked out in amazement. Pulled up the Sandberg page on the internet and quickly educated her on how great of a player he was.

I bet Chicago is in mourning. He was very much loved.

[Klondike]

2 hours ago, oblong said:

WGN played a big part obviously but for me specifically given my age it was huge that they didn't play night games at Wrigley.  I was born in '73 so by the time I got to the age where I was too old to "go out and play" during the day, I'd sleep in until 10 or 11, lounge around all day, and watch the Cubs on WGN until going out in the evening or to work.  From about 87-89 during the week I was watching them play during the day.  I probably watched them more than the Tigers to be honest.  That Cubs era has a special place for me. 

Jody Davis, Leon Durham, Bill Buckner, Andre Dawson and Ryan Sanberg etc. That crew I grew up watching on WGN. First thing to do after getting home from school is turn on a cubs game and listen to Steve Stone and Harry Carey.

Sandberg had a few more HoF seasons than Lou Whitaker. Otherwise their defense was a wash as both great. But Lou played a little longer and developed power a little later than Sanberg. Otherwise, they both belong and both with their respective leagues where #1 at their positions. 

Edited Tuesday at 03:21 PM by Klondike

[chasfh]

2 hours ago, oblong said:

WGN played a big part obviously but for me specifically given my age it was huge that they didn't play night games at Wrigley.  I was born in '73 so by the time I got to the age where I was too old to "go out and play" during the day, I'd sleep in until 10 or 11, lounge around all day, and watch the Cubs on WGN until going out in the evening or to work.  From about 87-89 during the week I was watching them play during the day.  I probably watched them more than the Tigers to be honest.  That Cubs era has a special place for me. 

I grew up in Warren, we got Comcast cable in 1981, and we got jobbed because they gave us WOR from New York and not WGN from Chicago.

[Edman85]

Here to say if PASS was nationally syndicated instead of WGN, Lou Whitaker would be in the Hall of Fame instead of Ryne Sandberg.

[Tigermojo]

"From Tuesday through Thursday, out-of-market fans can watch every game for free during MLB.TV's Trade Deadline Free Preview. No credit card is required (blackout and other restrictions apply). All you need is an MLB.com account."

https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/mlb-tv-trade-deadline-2025-free-preview

[romad1]

13 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

Here to say if PASS was nationally syndicated instead of WGN, Lou Whitaker would be in the Hall of Fame instead of Ryne Sandberg.

If Lou Whitaker had been "nicer" to the journalists he'd be in.  Something weird was up with his relationship with the press.  

[Tiger337]

12 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

Here to say if PASS was nationally syndicated instead of WGN, Lou Whitaker would be in the Hall of Fame instead of Ryne Sandberg.

It wouldn't have hurt him, but Whitaker and Sandberg had very different careers.  Sandberg was a high peak performer whereas Whitaker never had an MVP type year.  Whitaker had a longer career and had more good years than pretty much any middle infielder ever, but never had a great year.  The voters appear to favor peak years (and it doesn't have to be a lot of them) over career.  On the other hand, Whitaker was a private person who didn't get a lot of publicity, so he might have benefitted from more national exposure, but I think his unusual career arc hurt him him more than anything.  Calendar years are arbitrary cutoffs, but it's what people look at.