Don't need info on the camera. From the Yankee Letter, "...also admitted that during that same time period, in certain stadiums on the road where the video room was not proximate to the dugout, used the phone line in the replay room to orally provide real-time information about opposing Club's signs to Yankee coaches on the bench." From Sandy Alderson Memo in 2001, "Please be reminded that the use of electronic equipment during a game is restricted. No club shall use electronic equipment, including walkie-talkies and cellular telephones, to communicate to, or with, any on-field personnel, including those in the dugout, bullpen, field and – during the game – the clubhouse. Such equipment may not be used for the purpose of stealing signs or conveying information designed to give a club an advantage." I do not see what the argument is that the Yankees didn't violate the same rule. Phone lines are not hollow that sound travels through or carry vibrations like two cups connected by a string. Phones (i.e., electronic equipment) with hard lines take sound, while powered with electricity, convert the sound to an electronic signal that travels through the phone line to another phone that converts the electronic signal back to sound. The Alderson Memo does not differentiate between how the info gets to the batter. The violation occurred as soon as the Astros got the signal in the clubhouse. The violation occurred as soon as the Yankee coach got the info on phone.
This is from Michael Schwab's digging from what I remember. It was Yankee Stadium in 2018 but the video didn't surface until years later. In 2018 complaints were filed about the camera, including by the Astros I believe and the league "investigated" this in 2018 but of course this was more than a year before the Astros scandal and the league wasn't really investigating hard. Yankees claimed they used the camera to monitor their pitchers and their release points, etc. Camera is clearly zoomed in on the catcher. League told the Yankees they could continue to use the camera, but it could not send video in real time. Schwab reached out to the manufacturer of the camera and they said the lights on the camera 100% indicate that the video was being sent somewhere in real time. Schwab tried to get this to be looked at again but no luck since Orange team bad and Yankees good. When this camera/video is shown to Yankee's fans/media they immediately reply and say is that the best you got because the league already investigated it (in 2018) and found nothing against the rules.
That is the question isn't it? Some of the very early hires by Crane were not good, but he fired them quickly and it always struck me that Crane likely brought them in to do the dirty work and move on. The hire of Luhnow and Hinch were very good. Contrary to what have said, the choice to hire Dusty has been a good one as well. Click has so far not screwed anything up terribly. He has overall done a good job on the bullpen. As for Click, there are some personality issues and he failed to deliver a few times. Crane wanted to spend money before the season to improve the team, Click wanted to wait until the deadline. Click felt confident he would be able to add an impact bat or two and it didn't happen. So there are some issues there for sure. Crane, from what I have heard from people that know him, is someone that really relies on his gut. I doubt they do it, but I would make Oz Ocampo in charge of scouting. He is exceptionally good and largely responsible for all of the Astros international arms.
The Dodgers are indisputably the better team? How do you define better team? The Dodgers are clearly awesome over 162 games, but are they the best team over a 5-7 game series? Are they the best team in a match up against the Braves or Mets or Astros? That is a lot less clear. Are the Dodgers a better team if they have Scherzer and DeGrom shoved down their throat 4 times in a 7 game series with Edwin Diaz pitching 3-4 games in the series? Are the Dodgers better if they have to face Fried, Strider and Wright 5-6 times in a 7 game series? Do the Astros have enough elite hitters to beat elite pitching? We will have to wait and find out.
I despise the Dodgers as much as the next guy, but they don’t have a single starting pitcher with an ERA above 3.00, and only one above 2.60. All that on top of the best offense in the NL, if not the majors. Anything short of a WS win is a disaster season for them.
I think the Dodgers have a good chance.... but I will take the under on the Dodgers winning the World Series. Baseball isn't like the NBA where the "best team" usually wins. The Dodgers have some weaknesses just like the Astros and Mets and Braves.
I remember when the best offense in the league had Randy Johnson at the very best of his career starting 2 games in a best of 5 series. That was a stone cold lock.
Judging by how many wins the Dodgers have, I'd say that's a fair assessment. I'm no MLB expert yet, but after being out a while I've been getting back into the last few months or so and seems like the Dodgers are very legit. Will be interesting to see if they win the WS. I'd love a rematch with them and to beat their brains in.
LADs bullpen is a significant vulnerability, but maybe they cover with SP arms in the pen. Among the playoff teams, LAD clearly has worse high leverage pen arms than NYM, ATL, STL, HOU, TOR, SEA, and possibly TB. NYY has serious bullpen woes as well. In a short series, it’s a toss up between LAD and ATL in my opinion. NMY lacks offense but has elite proven pitching. The NL will be a dogfight.
Is there a case to be made for the Astros signing Judge? I’m guessing that would all but kiss JV goodbye. Move Tucker to 1st? Seems too crazy to actually come to fruition. Buuuuuut Judge in this lineup…whoa
If they didn’t sign Correa or Springer, they ain’t signing Judge. That said, yes he would be a fit in their lineup since they have a big hole in the OF. 2B Altuve RF Tucker LF Judge DH Alvarez 3B Bregman SS Pena CF McCormick 1B Matijevic C Maldonado Bench: Meyers, Lee, Dubon, Hensley Rotation: Valdez, McCullers, Javier, Garcia, Brown, Urquidy Bullpen: James, Martinez, Maton, Stanek, Abreu, Neris, Pressly They could probably afford that roster.
Sorry ass Yordan can't hit HRs anymore Just doubles off the wall and breaking no-hitters Get an RBI you slacker
Justin Verlander picked up wins against 4/5 NL East franchises. Only missing the Braves (he did not face them).
Since 1920 the only pitchers in the AL to have an era lower than Verlander’s 1.75 in 2022 have been: Pedro Martinez in 2000 at 1.74 Ron Guidry in 1978 at 1.74 Frank Chance in 1964 at 1.65 You have to go back to Walter Johnson in the dead ball era to find more sub 1.75 era’s in the AL. Everything is debatable but Justin Verlander had one of the finest seasons ever by a pitcher and did it just shy of 40 years old.
