2025 Major League Baseball

Happy New Year!

It’s time for a new MLB thread with a smattering of news, with spring training in Florida and in Arizona now less than one month away.

As you may have heard, RIP the broadcast legend and former player:

The A’s have meagre temporary digs in Sacramento now by MLB standards, but otherwise the A’s are spending and betting heavily on the road to Las Vegas scheduled in 2028 (maybe take the bet against that season though):

I will be cross-linking this one:

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Just a little outside…

One of my favourite all time broadcasters and sports personalities passes away.

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Another broadcasting legend gone. Hard not to think of the Brewers without Uecker.

Also remember him fondly for being repeated celebrity with the then WWF for WrestleMania 3 and 4. As he said it was the only time his option was renewed!

RIP Bob

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Not just that either, 5 movies, and 10 TV episodes. and the Miller Lite commercials '82-'86.
…and the Best of Hulkamania Video…

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I first came across him with the 80s sitcom “Mr. Belvedere”.

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Which led to the epic line in Futurama (S04 E10 A Leela of her Own) “There’s not much that scares me, I’ve seen Mr Belevdere naked”

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Blue Jays trade with Guardians .

The question is WHY ??? He’s 30 years old , 5’8" 178 lbs and plays OF and SS .

Some musings from Paul Skenes, generally considered to be the best pitcher in the world at present. Love that he is focussed on playing for my Pirates and wants to pitch 240+ innings next year. Hate it that he is already being questioned about where he might play once the notoriously cheap small market Pirates can no longer afford him. Not at all interested in the latest Japanese sensation signed by the Dodgers in the least competitive and most broken sport in North America. Salary cap please!

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Hall of fame selections including breakdown of voting:

An interesting insight into the Hall of fame selection/voting process from one writer/voter:

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I’m with you on that.

I do love baseball, but this is getting ridiculous, allowing a big money team to essentially buy a championship.

Let’s face it, barring a slew of injuries to key players, may as well give the Dodgers the World Series 2025 right now.

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When the Blue Jays supposedly go after guys like Soto & Sasaki I don’t know if they really expect to sign them or are just trying to show fans they are doing something.

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Following up on an earlier story from last year’s thread and from the Willy Wonka department, the one of a kind Paul Skenes rookie card has been found. The Pirates have offered an enormous package for the card including season tickets for 30 years. I would trade it in solely for the opportunity to watch a game with Livvy Dunne in her luxury suite, which is also part of the prize package. It’s a gamble considering that Skenes could get hit by a bus tomorrow, but considering that Skenes is the best pitcher to come into the league in at least the last 40 years or more and is already the best pitcher in the world at 22, this card could one day be very valuable.

Again, details on what the Pirates et al have offered for the card.

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When I was 11 years old I also had tough decisions with my baseball cards - do I put them on my bike spokes or use them to play closest to the wall.

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Even the Yankees have bent the knee and yielded to the insane spending by the Dodgers. Let me know when there are more than five or even more than one team with a chance. Yawn. No competition or level playing field to be found in this league.

The threshold for the luxury cap is $241 million. The Dodgers payroll this year with penalties is expected to be over $500 million. How exciting.

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Jon, I think you’ll be on board with this:

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I was hoping that the Dodgers ongoing imitation of European royalty might spark some talk of a salary cap. Hopefully the author is right that a work stoppage is necessary to fix this broken league. It can be for 10 years as long as it gets it done. In the meantime those of us who aren’t fans of the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Phillies, Red Sox, etc. will continue to be turned off by the least competitive league in North American sports. The only title my hapless Pirates can win every year is for best uniforms, and they have held that title for a long time. Talk about a dynasty!

https://images.app.goo.gl/6WGoCp9FhQBFMjWb9

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This guy didn’t even bet but lost his job all the same for being grossly negligent. Bye, bye Mr. Lemon.

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Ohtani’s former interpreter sentenced. Relatively light in my opinion.

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