2025 MLB Thread

[chasfh]

On 1/22/2026 at 8:50 PM, gehringer_2 said:

To be clear, I have nothing against a dive to make a play, but some that you see in the majors today  would be unnecessary if the fielder had better -- or at least alternate, techniques in his toolbox.

As a still-active outfielder myself, can I just tell you how annoying I find it with a player runs to catch a ball, makes the play while still clearly on his feet, then makes the dive and gets the cheers of the fans and the incredulous announcer treatment? 

[Tiger337]

19 minutes ago, chasfh said:

But Jack Morris does have big games, and rings attributed mainly to him, so despite his lackluster overall numbers he’s in, even though he is far more suited more for the Hall of Famous than the Hall of Fame.

I have softened my stance on Morris's Hall of Fame credientials is recent years.  I don't consider him a big-game pitcher (not after watching 1987), he didn't "pitch to the score" and I don't care about "most wins in the 80s", but he was the most durable pitcher of his era and was the last of the complete game pitchers.  Looking at 1980 forward, he had 165 CG.  The closest one to him is Roger Clemems with 118.  Even if you go back to 1975, he is still #1. although not by as much: Morris 175 Blyleven 165 Ryan 137 Tanana 129 Niekro 127 Carlton 123.  

https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/player-pitching-season-finder.cgi?request=1&match=player_season_combined&order_by=p_cg&year_min=1980

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Tiger337

[chasfh]

29 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I think casual tuned out during most of that period.  Losing 100 games a year will do that.  If anything, they got pissed off about losing three stars that were actually still great - Verlander, Scherzer and Martinez - for practically nothing.  

It would have cost the team revenue had they sat Miggy for ineffectiveness in his final seasons.

[chasfh]

10 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I have softened my stance on Morris's Hall of Fame credientials is recent years.  I don't consider him a big-game pitcher (not after watching 1987), he didn't "pitch to the score" and I don't care about "most wins in the 80s", but he was the most durable pitcher of his era and was the last of the complete game pitchers.  Looking at 1980 forward, he had 165 CG.  The closest one to him is Roger Clemems with 118.  Even if you go back to 1975, he is still #1. although not by as much: Morris 175 Blyleven 165 Ryan 137 Tanana 129 Niekro 127 Carlton 123.  

https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/player-pitching-season-finder.cgi?request=1&match=player_season_combined&order_by=p_cg&year_min=1980

 

Jack Morris has among the softest career numbers among Hall of Fame pitchers. He is in because he won back to back rings with different teams, “proving” his impact on winning, and because of Game 7 in 1991.

[Edman85]

19 hours ago, casimir said:

I understand what you’re saying about extra seasons tacking on WAR.  JAWS is a measure of the best 7 seasons of a players WAR, so by that measure it ignores the “hanging on” effect.  Whitaker is at 56 and Kent is at 46.

And I don’t mean to be critical of a guy playing an extra season.  If a guy can do it, by all means do it.  Ichiro Suzuki couldn’t pull himself way from the game.  He ended up as a 5th OF with the Marlins.  So what?  He’s still a hall of fame player.  One of my favorite players to watch in his prime.

JAWS combines best 7 and total, FYI.

[Tiger337]

43 minutes ago, chasfh said:

It would have cost the team revenue had they sat Miggy for ineffectiveness in his final seasons.

I can't imagine it would have been much.  How many fans want to watch an old washed up player playing for a 100 loss team?  Attendance was way down during his final years.  

[Tiger337]

46 minutes ago, chasfh said:

Jack Morris has among the softest career numbers among Hall of Fame pitchers. He is in because he won back to back rings with different teams, “proving” his impact on winning, and because of Game 7 in 1991.

I am fully aware of the weakness of his rate numbers.  I am just pointing out one area where he was superior to every pitcher in that period.  I am not saying he belongs in the Hall of Fame.  I have rallied against him for years.  However, his numbers may not be as bad as many of us have been saying.  I would bet that his rate numbers would have been significantly better had he not pitched so many complete games compared to his peers.  

[oblong]

58 minutes ago, chasfh said:

Jack Morris has among the softest career numbers among Hall of Fame pitchers. He is in because he won back to back rings with different teams, “proving” his impact on winning, and because of Game 7 in 1991.

Yep. The “back to back”  He was **** in 1992 and didn’t pitch in ‘93. 

[Tenacious D]

1 hour ago, chasfh said:

It would have cost the team revenue had they sat Miggy for ineffectiveness in his final seasons.

The Miggy decline years definitely saddled Avila and the Tiger managers of that era. They were in a no-win situation.

I think Harris, if he had been in control, would have cut him prior to 500 HR and 3K hits. He doesn’t strike me as anyone who cares about tradition or nostalgia.

[Tiger337]

41 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

The Miggy decline years definitely saddled Avila and the Tiger managers of that era. They were in a no-win situation.

I think Harris, if he had been in control, would have cut him prior to 500 HR and 3K hits. He doesn’t strike me as anyone who cares about tradition or nostalgia.

He would have wanted to.  I just don't know if it would have been his call.  

[casimir]

1 hour ago, Edman85 said:

JAWS combines best 7 and total, FYI.

E - casimir