Also, unfortunately, I think the story of 2025, aside from HOU, will be that of great payroll disparity, and perhaps the early side of a string of regular seasons that just won’t matter. MLB has a wider payroll gap now than ever before. While talent in the league seems to be at unprecedented levels, fan interest may fall short from clear competitive advantages, unfair or not. MLB isn’t like the NFL or NBA. The upcoming CBA negotiations will be interesting. MLB will likely (luckily for itself) be buoyed by LA/NY representation in the WS for the next decade more often than not…but if the opponent is not from non-5 top market teams, I just think league interest could dwindle significantly sans the die-hard fans. I also think it could be hard for the MLB to sustain interest with the growing costs to attend and enjoy games.
Look forward to the lockout....and further diminishing fan's interest in this sport. Out of sight, out of mind.
I wouldn't mind a lockout if they actually fixed ****. I have no faith in the MLBPA and the Owners actually fixing **** though.
Lance McCullers pitches for Sugar Land Cowboys today: Here is a link to listen in, game is at 2:10pm. https://www.milb.com/sugar-land/fans/audio-listen-live DD
https://bsky.app/profile/lvannsports.bsky.social/post/3llmm5hj67s2n 11 changeups 8 sinkers 11 curve balls 5 sliders top velo was 94.9 mph
Looks like he’s ditched the 4 seamer….. just sinkers. As long as the arm is sound and allows him to throw the curveball.
I think he ditched the four seamer a while ago, or at least I remember a story about Greinke basically telling him it sucks and that it was good that he wasn’t going to throw it anymore lol. But I might be conflating other Greinke stories with this one.
He dumped it even before his TJ surgery, 2017 was the last season he threw it with any regularity. It was not a good pitch for him. The changeup usage in the outing today is higher than normal. Dunno if they were just working on it or what, but it would be a significant deviation from what we saw in his last healthy season in 21.
He struck out all three batter in the first inning and was working on stuff in the second inning. He gave up his runs on a double with changeup right in the middle of the zone.
It was encouraging to see more curveballs than sliders. I know the slider profile went up after the 2021 injury.
I agree, the disparity in Baseball has to be fixed, is that a "salary cap" or something similar, I don't know. IMO we have an owner who is smart to not give the 10-year contracts that suck after 6 years, but you can't have a team like the Dodgers who can spend it all but then have a team like the Brewers or Royals who can't do that, I think you need a MIN-MAX. Yes, the owners have to pay a tax if they go over a certain amount but I think you need a hard cap, but also a minimum that you must pay. I prefer parity, over what we have now...................the Dodgers should run away with the title, but we shall see
