Back to baseball... I see the Braves sent Christian Pache down before the stoppage this spring. I hope he'll be up some time during the season, as he's supposed to be a fine outfielder for us in the near future. I guess when Markakis is towards being done--but he's been a better signing for us these past few years than many originally thought. We also have drew Waters as well. So, Braves outfield future looking brighter.

And King Felix in a three-way battle for two starting spots with Kyle Wright and Sean Newcombe, who have all 3 had pretty good springs so far. Nice to see, and I like the young kids, but I'd really like to see the King get a chance to show some good stuff with the Braves in the NL this season.

(03-13-2020 01:54 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  I'm don't believe I'm "relying" on others to not get me or mine sick--I think perhaps you might be, though. I assume I and my loved ones will get sick from various things from time to time--even this. Eventually they will die of something or another--perhaps this or something else. I don't wish it, I'm not gunning for it, but I'm just not so afraid of it like your post above seems to suggest, and so many others out there are and being ginned up to be right now. That's the part that is just plain ridiculous to me. The overreaction to this is the actual yelling at clouds. Again, that thing about courage is fear that has said it's prayers. I'm not the greatest at that, but I do practice it.

They call it panic, but peace doesn't mean freedom from the storm, it means freedom within the storm. I guess not a lot of folks know that kind of stuff any more. Shame.

Top notch passive-aggression but much more annoying than persuasive.

(03-13-2020 03:25 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(03-13-2020 01:54 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  I'm don't believe I'm "relying" on others to not get me or mine sick--I think perhaps you might be, though. I assume I and my loved ones will get sick from various things from time to time--even this. Eventually they will die of something or another--perhaps this or something else. I don't wish it, I'm not gunning for it, but I'm just not so afraid of it like your post above seems to suggest, and so many others out there are and being ginned up to be right now. That's the part that is just plain ridiculous to me. The overreaction to this is the actual yelling at clouds. Again, that thing about courage is fear that has said it's prayers. I'm not the greatest at that, but I do practice it.

They call it panic, but peace doesn't mean freedom from the storm, it means freedom within the storm. I guess not a lot of folks know that kind of stuff any more. Shame.

Top notch passive-aggression but much more annoying than persuasive.

That's a shame.

Wow. Something to actually praise the Yankees for?! Good for them!

Yankees vote to stay at spring training during coronavirus shutdown, continue workouts

(03-13-2020 08:12 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(03-13-2020 03:25 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(03-13-2020 01:54 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  I'm don't believe I'm "relying" on others to not get me or mine sick--I think perhaps you might be, though. I assume I and my loved ones will get sick from various things from time to time--even this. Eventually they will die of something or another--perhaps this or something else. I don't wish it, I'm not gunning for it, but I'm just not so afraid of it like your post above seems to suggest, and so many others out there are and being ginned up to be right now. That's the part that is just plain ridiculous to me. The overreaction to this is the actual yelling at clouds. Again, that thing about courage is fear that has said it's prayers. I'm not the greatest at that, but I do practice it.

They call it panic, but peace doesn't mean freedom from the storm, it means freedom within the storm. I guess not a lot of folks know that kind of stuff any more. Shame.

Top notch passive-aggression but much more annoying than persuasive.

That's a shame.

It's a shame that I don't appreciate insults and condescension? That you've badly misinterpreted what I've posted? That you changed your argument from "I'm gonna be fine so what" to "old people die so what"? Damn, man. Do you read what you write?

Look, I'm gonna be fine and so is my family. I'm not hoarding anything. The only behavior I've changed is I wash my hands a little more often than I probably need to. And I'm completely irritated that our local school district, which has NO cases in an area that doesn't appear to have any clusters, just closed for 3 weeks.

For the last time: it's math. Highly contagious illness (which this APPEARS to be) and lots of scared people (doesn't matter WHY they're scared or whether they should be - they ARE), potentially flood health care providers. Health care providers then struggle to get care to those who need it most, whether covid-19 patients or not. Do you not see how this could cause a problem?

Gee, did I miss anything?

I understand them cancelling stuff.. This is scary ****. I'd rather them take this route than the opposite, and have it turn into a complete disaster.

Back to the baseball side of it, how much of an appetite would there be for the baseball season to be extended? Could we see the World Series played in November or even December? Obviously we don't know how long we'll have to ride this out, but a lot of other events (sports or otherwise) scheduled for April have been moved to the summer or fall.

(03-15-2020 07:44 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  Back to the baseball side of it, how much of an appetite would there be for the baseball season to be extended? Could we see the World Series played in November or even December? Obviously we don't know how long we'll have to ride this out, but a lot of other events (sports or otherwise) scheduled for April have been moved to the summer or fall.

Just a guess here: MLB regular season begins around May 15, playing only the games on the original schedule from May 15 on, no makeup for games scheduled to be played before May 15, postseason played in October as originally scheduled.

Edit: If this is accurate, then May 15 might be too optimistic...

Just from baseball perspective- who does this favor? Who does this disadvantage?

I'll say one group this really favors is pitchers coming back from injuries or young pitchers. innings limits won't be needed this year. A guy like Ohtani for instance.

Think Yanks benefit.

(03-13-2020 08:49 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(03-13-2020 08:12 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(03-13-2020 03:25 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(03-13-2020 01:54 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  I'm don't believe I'm "relying" on others to not get me or mine sick--I think perhaps you might be, though. I assume I and my loved ones will get sick from various things from time to time--even this. Eventually they will die of something or another--perhaps this or something else. I don't wish it, I'm not gunning for it, but I'm just not so afraid of it like your post above seems to suggest, and so many others out there are and being ginned up to be right now. That's the part that is just plain ridiculous to me. The overreaction to this is the actual yelling at clouds. Again, that thing about courage is fear that has said it's prayers. I'm not the greatest at that, but I do practice it.

They call it panic, but peace doesn't mean freedom from the storm, it means freedom within the storm. I guess not a lot of folks know that kind of stuff any more. Shame.

Top notch passive-aggression but much more annoying than persuasive.

That's a shame.

It's a shame that I don't appreciate insults and condescension? That you've badly misinterpreted what I've posted? That you changed your argument from "I'm gonna be fine so what" to "old people die so what"? Damn, man. Do you read what you write?

Look, I'm gonna be fine and so is my family. I'm not hoarding anything. The only behavior I've changed is I wash my hands a little more often than I probably need to. And I'm completely irritated that our local school district, which has NO cases in an area that doesn't appear to have any clusters, just closed for 3 weeks.

For the last time: it's math. Highly contagious illness (which this APPEARS to be) and lots of scared people (doesn't matter WHY they're scared or whether they should be - they ARE), potentially flood health care providers. Health care providers then struggle to get care to those who need it most, whether covid-19 patients or not. Do you not see how this could cause a problem?

For the last time: it's common sense, which I will grant yopu this situation illustates that too many pople don;t have it in thier daily lives: Washing your hands regularly and thoroughly, esp in public areas like bathrooms and retaurants by common sense should be automatic, but in reality it is not. Those folks like me who have been doing this themselves their whole lives, and teach their kids to do so, even if they argue about it, find this behavior ridiculous.

Common sense: you just don't run to the doctor's office or the hospital or the ER for every little bug bite, sniffle or boo-boo. Again this situation points how too many people unneccesasarily overutilize the health system and its resources becuase they don't know and perhaps never were taught how to take care of things themselves. That's a fault of parenting, to be sure, shows why all the single parent celebrations and no-marriages have greatly hurt and cost our society in ways most people tend tio ignore.

In days gone by, barbaric from your above point of view, apparently, fresponsible families regularly and forcefully threw all their kids into the same room/bed whenever one got the mumps, measles, chickenpox or rhubella so they all could go ahead and get through nit together, buiold upm their bodies' antibodies and be stronger, all while doing this at hoem without ruunning into a panic or going to the doctor's ohffice or hospitals. Yes, it is certainly true a small percentage of those got very ill and were scarred by this,and many even died. I do not celebrate that, but the fact is the counrty learned not to shut down during these things. Evne polio did not shut down the economy, but people forget that we all got through it, though some died (and I had a relative who had polio, so I can understand what happened then.)

Now, some choose to beta-ize society, overreacting and panicing and crying when something relatively small compared to what we've been through comes along, something that has not to this point, and may not even apprioach the 17,000 who died during the Swine Flu outbreak during the previous administration. Interesting that none in the media are faulting that flawed approach, and no one crying about all those deaths--I guess those people's lives just didn't matter? But the handful ogf deaths, many of which were in nursing homes from people who are and would have been susceptible to any virus besides thios one as well, that is cause to end sports, tank the economy and try to get people's attention to do what they should have and could have been doing all along as responsible citizens?

I say: play ball, and if someone gets sick, that one person can isolate, not the other way around. No need to flood health crae providers because people with common sense don't go running there for minor things. Look at the cries in the media about testing, when the tiop public health official on this just this afternoon said: even if we had No tests, people should not flood hospitals and doctor's offices with this, they should stay home and take care of themselves if need be. But people just don't know how to do that, I guess. Sad.

(03-15-2020 05:36 PM)stever20 Wrote:  Just from baseball perspective- who does this favor? Who does this disadvantage?

I'll say one group this really favors is pitchers coming back from injuries or young pitchers. innings limits won't be needed this year. A guy like Ohtani for instance.

Think Yanks benefit.

This will be a weird season regardless. But it will be fun when they start throwin' the ball around again, and I think attendance will do very well this year when that finally happens.

The ones who benefit most are injured players who needed more time to recover and players who will get a break from excess wear and tear on their bodies and arms and get more rest than usual. Could eventually see a few more no-hitters than usual methinks.

(03-17-2020 01:44 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  But people just don't know how to do that, I guess. Sad.

As usual you write 1,000 words when a dozen will do. What's sad is that you recognize the dilemma but you'd rather go to a ballgame than deal with a viable solution. Common sense is not a solution, and it can't be because not enough people use it. AND YOU KNOW THIS. Ranting and complaining about what people SHOULD do is silly when you know with certainty what they WILL do. Is the solution overkill? Maybe. But if the health system is overloaded with COVID-19 patients a lot of folks who need treatment aren't going to get it, or get it soon enough. This goes way beyond the virus.

(03-17-2020 02:51 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(03-17-2020 01:44 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  But people just don't know how to do that, I guess. Sad.

As usual you write 1,000 words when a dozen will do. What's sad is that you recognize the dilemma but you'd rather go to a ballgame than deal with a viable solution. Common sense is not a solution, and it can't be because not enough people use it. AND YOU KNOW THIS. Ranting and complaining about what people SHOULD do is silly when you know with certainty what they WILL do. Is the solution overkill? Maybe. But if the health system is overloaded with COVID-19 patients a lot of folks who need treatment aren't going to get it, or get it soon enough. This goes way beyond the virus.

Sorry, I don't believe twitter and USADooday soundbites will ever substitute for the depth of books and newspapers, but that's personal preference. Children and many adults today it seems don't understand depth, and that's been a big problem for a few decades that hurts us all.

I'll agree that heretofore, many people do not exhibit common sense, that we can agree on. nevertheless, it's high time and a sadly opportune moment for people to examine their behaviors and to choose to change them for the better; of themselves, their families (if they have them anymore) and the country as a whole. Our country used to rally at times of great distress like this. No more. Look at the markets telling the leaders of both parties that their current courses of action are not the solution, at least not near the whole of it. Whether you like it or not, eventually people will be forced to go back to work, restaurants reopen, businesses and churches as well, and people will have to face the reality of the situation.

Quarantining for 2 weeks or two months doesn't stop the virus, it may or may not slow it. It doesn't stop the weak from dying, it may postpone some of it. Without individuals building up immunities which their own bodies can and will eventually do for something as relatively mild as this coronabug, the same sequence likely repeats itself, only with a broken economy, massive unemployment, debt and joblessness.

We have to pick our poison here, there is no solution where some do not get hurt. The only thing is, we have to recognize what this bug is and is not. Were this Anthrax, then the kind of things we are doing might be more warranted. It is clearly not that, according to every health official and scientist. Instead, it is for most a mild to middling nuisance, and for a few will be their end--which they would face from a number of other things no one cares about or changes their behavior to stop. No one wants anyone to die, in war or in life, but acceptance that life is not eternal, which many have lost, is part of understanding how to make these kinds of decisions where several things compete directly against eachother. The Constitution establishes the government to promote the COMMON Welfare, not universal guarantee of all from any harm. Many died to fight and win our freedom in the Revolution, yet we cower from that now. We'd never have a country without willingness to face things directly and with national courage. We need to set examples here--play ball, while taking prudent measures to keep people healthy, and any sick players can sit out for a few weeks individually.

There is no good reason we can't have fans filling the stands who are mostly under 60 or 50. None. So protect old people and the sick by allowing them to stay home and isolate for a few weeks or months, that is common sense. The rest of America needs to stay in the game and support our economy and eachother. That is wise and prudent, and staying in the game is the American thing to do and the American way of life.

If you want nationalism, govt support payments and govt control of your lives in the streets, you can find that in China, Cuba, Russia, Venezuela, and a number of other backwards countries that do not work for their people or for the common good. There's another thousand words. Too bad you state your attention span and consideration are not much above a 3rd grade level of depth. I expect better from a Rice grad, but our school doesn't even know how or really care to keep competitive in sports, so what the he77 do they know?

Minor league players hit hard by baseball shutdown

Quote:As the news came down last week that the remainder of spring training was being canceled, and the players were being sent home, minor-league players were told that they would not be paid until the season resumed.

Even when they are getting paid, minor league ballplayers don’t make much money. While major league baseball brought in $10.7 billion in revenue last season, the average starting salary in the minor leagues was between $1,100 and $2,150 per month. The catch is that players are not paid during the offseason or during spring training, and are classified as “seasonal workers.”

While a few top draft picks receive signing bonuses worth millions of dollars, the majority of minor league players have to work part-time jobs in the off-season {many of which are ceasing to exist in the midst of the shutdowns}, in addition to working out and staying in shape for the upcoming year.

While players can try to find a part-time job for the time being, the uncertainty of when the season will resume makes it tough. Without knowing how long they will be able to work, the players have a tough time finding an employer willing to hire someone who might only be able to work for a few weeks. In addition, since they are still under contract, the players are not able to file for unemployment.

(03-18-2020 05:08 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  Too bad you state your attention span and consideration are not much above a 3rd grade level of depth. I expect better from a Rice grad, but our school doesn't even know how or really care to keep competitive in sports, so what the he77 do they know?

This is hilarious. I'm not remotely the first person to complain about you bloviating on these message boards. I get it - you love the sound of your voice, or in this case the sight of your own print. Perhaps that's why you keep resurrecting your years old threads on the Rice board.

Not enjoying your diatribes <> not understanding them.

Irony meter pegging; done.

Chris Sale, Tommy John Surgery

(03-19-2020 05:12 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  Chris Sale, Tommy John Surgery

Joel Sherman had a great point on this earlier today.

Let's play two:

Doubleheaders when MLB returns?

(03-24-2020 01:32 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  Let's play two:

Doubleheaders when MLB returns?

I'm all for it. They should do it every Saturday.

Actually, they should probably be doing things like that anyway to reduce the number of weeknight games. How many everyday people have the time to get off work, go to the ballpark, sit there for the entire 3 hours, and then drive home and get to sleep at a decent hour? Especially people who want to bring their families?

I know TV drives everything, but still. Seems like a better structure to just skip Monday or Tuesday every week. Those can be travel days or whatever which gives everyone a little more rest if you've got a guaranteed day off every week. Play a doubleheader every week.

MLB would have to add more roster spots if each team is going to play a doubleheader every week, let alone more than one a week. Every team is going to want to have 3 catchers on the roster, and an extra pitcher or two, and maybe more position players as well.

If you're a manager and you're playing a game on Friday night, a doubleheader on Saturday, and a game on Sunday afternoon, you're going to want enough players so that no one plays more than 3 of those 4 games.