Why is baseball the best sport on the planet? Discuss. (12 Viewers)

[BigJackJones]

My shocked face

 

[TomC727]

That's a lot of money to still get eliminated in the Division Series.

 

[chippitydoodah]

 

[chippitydoodah]

 

[chippitydoodah]

 

[chippitydoodah]

 

[BigJackJones]

View attachment 1244880

 

[RocAFella1]

By far the least excited I’ve been for opening day

 

[kimbless]

That's a lot of money to still get eliminated in the Division Series.

Regular season CHAMPS.

Go Dodgers!

 

[upNdown]

By far the least excited I’ve been for opening day

I’ve ignored MLB for like ten years and the rules of the game are so different now, I wonder if I’ll ever go back.

 

[RocAFella1]

I’ve ignored MLB for like ten years and the rules of the game are so different now, I wonder if I’ll ever go back.

A few of the changes have been good but they’ve also made some things worse. They’ll never do it but they need a salary floor at this point.

 

[RudysNYC]

Seems like an appropriate forum to give my Ohtani thoughts since I see people discussing it lol

That Manfred didn’t immediately suspend him indefinitely pending investigation is a black mark on the sport and Manfred’s already garbage legacy. Historically, there were two things that were always grounds for being banned from baseball: betting on baseball in any capacity, and associating with illegal gamblers. The idea was always to maintain integrity of the game, both by preventing players from betting themselves and by preventing the seedy underworld influence from permeating the game (see 1919 Black Sox, allegedly).

Up until Ohtani’s team realized that admitting he wired 500k (twice) to a man he knew was an illegal bookie was a violation of federal law, they conceded that Ohtani made/was present for the making of the payments. Then—and only then—did they come out with “theft” (while Ippei was confirming the prior story to ESPN).

The payments in question were made in September/Oct, around playoff time. By nature of Ippei’s position, he got every piece of information meant for Ohtani—presumably through contract negotiations too. The idea that Ohtani knew the team employee closest to him was millions in debt to an illegal bookie and kept him around in a super meaningful way (f’n dugout access!) is, to me, an instant ban if proven. Manfred cannot let this be swept under the rug, but I fear it will be. In the modern era of legal gambling and MLB/sportbook partnerships, I think there should be a Gambling Gestapo established by the MLB. It will only get worse.

 

[upNdown]

Seems like an appropriate forum to give my Ohtani thoughts since I see people discussing it lol

That Manfred didn’t immediately suspend him indefinitely pending investigation is a black mark on the sport and Manfred’s already garbage legacy. Historically, there were two things that were always grounds for being banned from baseball: betting on baseball in any capacity, and associating with illegal gamblers. The idea was always to maintain integrity of the game, both by preventing players from betting themselves and by preventing the seedy underworld influence from permeating the game (see 1919 Black Sox, allegedly).

Up until Ohtani’s team realized that admitting he wired 500k (twice) to a man he knew was an illegal bookie was a violation of federal law, they conceded that Ohtani made/was present for the making of the payments. Then—and only then—did they come out with “theft” (while Ippei was confirming the prior story to ESPN).

The payments in question were made in September/Oct, around playoff time. By nature of Ippei’s position, he got every piece of information meant for Ohtani—presumably through contract negotiations too. The idea that Ohtani knew the team employee closest to him was millions in debt to an illegal bookie and kept him around in a super meaningful way (f’n dugout access!) is, to me, an instant ban if proven. Manfred cannot let this be swept under the rug, but I fear it will be. In the modern era of legal gambling and MLB/sportbook partnerships, I think there should be a Gambling Gestapo established by the MLB. It will only get worse.

I hate being so cynical, but it will never happen. Ohtani = dollars for MLB. These days that’s all that matters. This isn’t 1920. And why should it be. There’s already a measurable chunk of the population who believes sports are scripted (bunch of whackos) so why should MLB bight off its nose to spite its face?
Sigh. Check please!

 

[TheRealTeddyKGB]

By far the least excited I’ve been for opening day

Agreed. AL Baseball with a clock SUCKS!!!

(Still wearing my Barry Bonds AWAY jersey though)

 

[TheRealTeddyKGB]

Seems like an appropriate forum to give my Ohtani thoughts since I see people discussing it lol

That Manfred didn’t immediately suspend him indefinitely pending investigation is a black mark on the sport and Manfred’s already garbage legacy. Historically, there were two things that were always grounds for being banned from baseball: betting on baseball in any capacity, and associating with illegal gamblers. The idea was always to maintain integrity of the game, both by preventing players from betting themselves and by preventing the seedy underworld influence from permeating the game (see 1919 Black Sox, allegedly).

Up until Ohtani’s team realized that admitting he wired 500k (twice) to a man he knew was an illegal bookie was a violation of federal law, they conceded that Ohtani made/was present for the making of the payments. Then—and only then—did they come out with “theft” (while Ippei was confirming the prior story to ESPN).

The payments in question were made in September/Oct, around playoff time. By nature of Ippei’s position, he got every piece of information meant for Ohtani—presumably through contract negotiations too. The idea that Ohtani knew the team employee closest to him was millions in debt to an illegal bookie and kept him around in a super meaningful way (f’n dugout access!) is, to me, an instant ban if proven. Manfred cannot let this be swept under the rug, but I fear it will be. In the modern era of legal gambling and MLB/sportbook partnerships, I think there should be a Gambling Gestapo established by the MLB. It will only get worse.

Free Pete Rose

 

[RudysNYC]

hate being so cynical, but it will never happen. Ohtani = dollars for MLB. These days that’s all that matters. This isn’t 1920.

You have no idea how badly I want Ohtani pinched on a wire act charge, for this very reason. Let Manfred ignore a federal indictment!

 

[upNdown]

Free Pete Rose

And Bonds and Clemens.

 

[Saoliver]

By far the least excited I’ve been for opening day

Same.

 

[kimbless]

Free Pete Rose

Guy asked to be put on the permanently ineligible list, lol. I'd put juicers in the hall before Pete.

 

[ThinkingFold]

My only issue with baseball is that being a Pirate fan, the best I have to look forward to each season is the hope they are not eliminated from playoff contention before the all star break.

Well, here we are again. A new baseball season and once more of me hoping the Pirates can at least not be eliminated by the All-Star game.

#LetGoBucs

 

[upNdown]

Guy asked to be put on the permanently ineligible list, lol. I'd put juicers in the hall before Pete.

I don't remember that. He's been begging to get into the hall of fame for as long as I can remember. Regardless, Curt Schilling asked to be taken off the ballot. Doesn't mean he doesn't belong. He's just the victim of his own big mouth and politics.

 

[kimbless]

I don't remember that. He's been begging to get into the hall of fame for as long as I can remember. Regardless, Curt Schilling asked to be taken off the ballot. Doesn't mean he doesn't belong. He's just the victim of his own big mouth and politics.

What I read is that he volunteered to be put on the ineligible list when he saw the evidence against him. Instead of all the stuff coming out about him, he decided to take the punishment so they wouldn't release their findings.

 

[Chippy McChiperson]

 

[upNdown]

While we're talking baseball, why do I never hear much talk about Wade Boggs? I saw a facebook thread the other day where they were proclaiming Ichiro one of the greatest hitters ever. And there was plenty of debate about it, but when people were saying this guy was better or that guy was better, nobody ever mentioned Boggs, which seemed odd to me. I think Boggs was the best singles hitter I ever saw, for whatever that's worth. I wouldn't argue if you said Gwynn. But his names comes up in a lot of discussions. Boggs rarely does (except for some of his legendary beer drinking exploits.) I wonder why.

 

[krafticus]

 

[bergs]

CONN looks almost impossible to beat. Shooting like shit and up 9 on a good SDST team.

 

[BigJackJones]

While we're talking baseball, why do I never hear much talk about Wade Boggs? I saw a facebook thread the other day where they were proclaiming Ichiro one of the greatest hitters ever. And there was plenty of debate about it, but when people were saying this guy was better or that guy was better, nobody ever mentioned Boggs, which seemed odd to me. I think Boggs was the best singles hitter I ever saw, for whatever that's worth. I wouldn't argue if you said Gwynn. But his names comes up in a lot of discussions. Boggs rarely does (except for some of his legendary beer drinking exploits.) I wonder why.

Wade's numbers were not as stat sexy as some of his contemporaries. Spending half of his time (or more) in the leadoff position did not afford him as many RBI opportunities.

With over 3000 hits and a career batting average over .300, he should always be mentioned in that conversation.

FTR: I'm not a Red Sox or Yankees fan. Spent most of my life hating them.

 

[RocAFella1]

CONN looks almost impossible to beat. Shooting like shit and up 9 on a good SDST team.

Wrong thread?

 

[krafticus]

While we're talking baseball, why do I never hear much talk about Wade Boggs? I saw a facebook thread the other day where they were proclaiming Ichiro one of the greatest hitters ever. And there was plenty of debate about it, but when people were saying this guy was better or that guy was better, nobody ever mentioned Boggs, which seemed odd to me. I think Boggs was the best singles hitter I ever saw, for whatever that's worth. I wouldn't argue if you said Gwynn. But his names comes up in a lot of discussions. Boggs rarely does (except for some of his legendary beer drinking exploits.) I wonder why.

IMHO… Tony Gwynn was the greatest hitter of our generation. Boggs was great, Gwynn was another level. …. And I’m a Red Sox fan

 

[upNdown]

FTR: I'm not a Red Sox or Yankees fan. Spent most of my life hating them.

I wonder if that works against him. I know some red sox fans don't like him, saying he's a traitor for going to the yankees. I imagine some Yankee fans think of him as a Red Sox guy who just showed up to win a ring. So maybe that works against his legacy.