Post your 2022 MLB predictions. More teams will make the playoffs this season.

The Braves will look to defend their championship from last season. I think they have an even stronger team this yer. They won last year without their best player in Ronald Acuna Jr. The loss of Freddie Freeman will hurt them, but Matt Olson is a pretty good replacement. He's a Georgia native. He should enjoy playing in a more hitter friendly park. The Braves have the best bullpen in baseball with Kenley Jansen as their new closer.

I think Chicago is the team to beat in the AL unless Tony La Russa manages to screw thing up. Toronto should win the AL East. Detroit looks to be much improved. They are going to score some runs. I'm not sure if they have pitching enough to overtake Chicago. A winning season and a wild card spot isn't out of the question if they get off to a good start.

NL East - Atlanta
NL Central - Milwaukee
NL West - Los Angeles Dodgers
NL Wild Cards - New York Mets, St. Louis, San Francisco
NL Champion - Atlanta over Los Angeles Dodgers in 7 games

AL East - Toronto
AL Central - Chicago White Sox
AL West - Houston
AL Wild Cards - Tampa Bay, New York Yankees, Detroit
AL Champion - Chicago over Toronto in 6 games

World Series Champion - Atlanta over Chicago White Sox in 7 games

NL MVP - Ronald Acuna Jr.
NL Cy Young - Walker Buehler
NL Rookie of the Year - Oneil Cruz

AL MVP - Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
AL Cy Young - Lucas Giolito
AL Rookie of the Year - Bobby Witt Jr.

I'll just copy and paste what I said in the boycott thread last night

Yankees rallied 3 times today to finally beat the Red Sox in the home opener, which I sense may be the highlight of the season. As currently constructed, right now I see them ending up around .500, but with the expanded playoff format (2 more teams in each league), who knows, maybe mediocre gets in.

Talk to me in October to see how brilliant or stupid I am.

NL East - Atlanta
NL Central - Milwaukee
NL West - Los Angeles Dodgers
NL Wild Cards - New York Mets, St. Louis, San Francisco
NL Champion - Atlanta over Los Angeles Dodgers in 7 games

AL East - Toronto
AL Central - Chicago White Sox
AL West - Houston
AL Wild Cards - Tampa Bay, New York Yankees, Detroit
AL Champion - Chicago over Toronto in 6 games

World Series Champion - Atlanta over Chicago White Sox in 7 games

NL MVP - Ronald Acuna Jr.
NL Cy Young - Walker Buehler
NL Rookie of the Year - Oneil Cruz

AL MVP - Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
AL Cy Young - Lucas Giolito
AL Rookie of the Year - Bobby Witt Jr.

I think your team picks are pretty good...but I believe The ALCS will be Toronto vs Houston, and the NLCS will be Dodgers vs Braves...and Toronto and the Dodgers play the world series this year

As far as MVP/CY/ROY.... your picks seem to echo what I've been hearing from others

I might go along with the MVP picks, but too much is up in the air on the others to pick.

Personally, I hope that "Moonshot" Torkelson wins AL ROY

I predict my Dbacks to end up last in NL west. No pitching, no hitting as usual. I really, really want them to do good, but it looks like the same outcome.

Well, I see there is a new article over at ESPN.com (https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33803710/a-10-war-season-move-babe-ruth-our-hottest-hot-takes-two-plus-weeks-mlb-season) predicting that not only will some team OTHER than the White Sox will win the AL central, but that Tony LaRussa won't last the entire season as Sox manager.

Should mention the Bears shutting out the Steelers (ummm, I mean Cubs and Pirates)

Cubs crush Pirates, 21-0, handing them worst loss in franchise history (https://triblive.com/sports/cubs-crush-pirates-by-3-touchdowns-handing-them-worst-loss-in-franchise-history/)

I wish the Orioles battled the rest of the division as tough as they play the Yankees.

There was one season they really seemed to have the Red Sox number. More of that please.

If you think your team sucks this season, please bear in mind the Cincinnati Reds are 3-19.

If your team is the Cincinnati Reds, sorry, can't help you.

The Reds currently have the worst record, but after the season is over and all the games are played I wouldn't be surprised if it's the A's who have the worst record.

I hope MLB will be getting rid of that ridiculous automatic runner on 2nd base in extra innings rule, it's a terrible rule and is making a mockery of the game, it gives a big disadvantage to the pitchers. I am surprised the pitchers are going along with this rule. A rule like this does not belong in major league baseball, it sounds more like something they would have in the kiddie leagues/little leagues.

Just some thoughts, but offense is way down this year. League wide batting average for the entire league during the month of April was the lowest for ANY April, in the entire history of the sport.

All 30 teams are now using humidors to store their baseballs in, and the inner windings inside the baseball have reduced tension....by intent. Trying to cure the "lively baseball" problem of excessive home runs they experienced in 2019.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33848888/what-heck-going-baseball-everything-need-know-mlb-scoring-drought

I hope MLB will be getting rid of that ridiculous automatic runner on 2nd base in extra innings rule, it's a terrible rule and is making a mockery of the game, it gives a big disadvantage to the pitchers. I am surprised the pitchers are going along with this rule. A rule like this does not belong in major league baseball, it sounds more like something they would have in the kiddie leagues/little leagues.

I know, right? When the lockout is over news broke this rule was reportedly gone, but somehow it survived :confused:

As currently constructed, right now I see them ending up around .500

Yankees at 18-6 currently making me look foolish.

And I certainly don't need any help in that department!

I know, right? When the lockout is over news broke this rule was reportedly gone, but somehow it survived :confused:

Hopefully this is the last year for that ridiculous rule, we will see what happens.

2022 is shaping up to be a lost year for the A's, the main news coming from Oakland this year is a vote scheduled for June 30th that will determine if the A's still have a future in Oakland. A yes vote would approve the construction of a new ballpark at the proposed Howard Terminal site, a no vote would basically mean the A's will relocate, probably to Las Vegas and join the Raiders there.

The A's owner is not popular with fans of the team, he trades off the teams most talented and expensive players and then raises ticket prices, nice way to run a ball club if you want to alienate your fan base. It reminds me of the late 1970's era when Charlie Finley still owned the team. Finley was not a popular owner either and low numbers of fans would attend the home games, 2,000 to 3,000 fans attending the games was a common thing then, and again now.

Hopefully this is the last year for that ridiculous rule, we will see what happens.

2022 is shaping up to be a lost year for the A's, the main news coming from Oakland this year is a vote scheduled for June 30th that will determine if the A's still have a future in Oakland. A yes vote would approve the construction of a new ballpark at the proposed Howard Terminal site, a no vote would basically mean the A's will relocate, probably to Las Vegas and join the Raiders there.

The A's owner is not popular with fans of the team, he trades off the teams most talented and expensive players and then raises ticket prices, nice way to run a ball club if you want to alienate your fan base. It reminds me of the late 1970's era when Charlie Finley still owned the team. Finley was not a popular owner either and low numbers of fans would attend the home games, 2,000 to 3,000 fans attending the games was a common thing then, and again now.

I’m like 90% sure I’ve probably asked you this before, but where does your A’s fandom come from? And would you still follow the franchise if they moved, since you’re not in the Oakland area anyways?

I’m like 90% sure I’ve probably asked you this before, but where does your A’s fandom come from? And would you still follow the franchise if they moved, since you’re not in the Oakland area anyways?

I was originally a Cubs fan, but after the 1976 season they traded my favorite players on the team, Bill Madlock to the Giants and Rick Monday to the Dodgers. So in 1977 I just decided to start following the A's because I took a liking to some of their players, guys like Mitchell Page, Tony Armas, etc.

I've posted here before about my love for the 1978 A's team, they got off to a surprisingly hot start and were the talk of baseball for a good portion of the season and stayed in the division race through about the first week of August before tailing off badly down the stretch and skidded to a 6th place finish. I'm still bummed about the way they finished that season but their schedule was very tough down the stretch and they just didn't have the equal talent level to keep up with teams like New York, Boston, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Kansas City, California, and Texas. The '78 A's won 69 games, I think they were good enough to win about 75 games or thereabouts but it is what it is.

Taking a closer look at the 1978 A's season, their inability to win games vs. three teams was the reason for their 69-93 record. They were 2-8 vs. New York, 1-9 vs. Milwaukee, and 0-11 vs. Baltimore for a combined 3-28. That is embarrassing. But against the rest of the league, they basically broke even at 66-65. How about that.

If the A's end up moving, don't know yet if I will still follow the team. Not being in Oakland anymore sure wouldn't be the same, but regardless of where they play the philosophy needs to change and stop this rebuilding process that happens every five years or so. Develop a winning team and keep it together, pay the good players what they deserve and stop trading them off because they get too "expensive" to keep around.

I was originally a Cubs fan, but after the 1976 season they traded my favorite players on the team, Bill Madlock to the Giants and Rick Monday to the Dodgers. So in 1977 I just decided to start following the A's because I took a liking to some of their players, guys like Mitchell Page, Tony Armas, etc.

I've posted here before about my love for the 1978 A's team, they got off to a surprisingly hot start and were the talk of baseball for a good portion of the season and stayed in the division race through about the first week of August before tailing off badly down the stretch and skidded to a 6th place finish. I'm still bummed about the way they finished that season but their schedule was very tough down the stretch and they just didn't have the equal talent level to keep up with teams like New York, Boston, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Kansas City, California, and Texas. The '78 A's won 69 games, I think they were good enough to win about 75 games or thereabouts but it is what it is.

Taking a closer look at the 1978 A's season, their inability to win games vs. three teams was the reason for their 69-93 record. They were 2-8 vs. New York, 1-9 vs. Milwaukee, and 0-11 vs. Baltimore for a combined 3-28. That is embarrassing. But against the rest of the league, they basically broke even at 66-65. How about that.

If the A's end up moving, don't know yet if I will still follow the team. Not being in Oakland anymore sure wouldn't be the same, but regardless of where they play the philosophy needs to change and stop this rebuilding process that happens every five years or so. Develop a winning team and keep it together, pay the good players what they deserve and stop trading them off because they get too "expensive" to keep around.

That was the era Reggie went from the A's to the Yankees, not counting his one year stop in Baltimore

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ok68hQecQM/UbXQgVRzSxI/AAAAAAAAA0w/mQEHhQAwHpE/s1600/1976-REGGIE-TRADED(1).jpg

Yankees at 18-6 currently making me look foolish.

And I certainly don't need any help in that department!

I think the Yankees will do pretty good this year, their two main guys are Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo. Aside from those two, their roster doesn't appear overly impressive but good enough to get the job done.

I think the Yankees will do pretty good this year, their two main guys are Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo. Aside from those two, their roster doesn't appear overly impressive but good enough to get the job done.

I read along at a Yankees message board (filled with die hard Yankees fans of course), and even there no one foresaw a 18-7 start.

If the A's end up moving, don't know yet if I will still follow the team. Not being in Oakland anymore sure wouldn't be the same, but regardless of where they play the philosophy needs to change and stop this rebuilding process that happens every five years or so. Develop a winning team and keep it together, pay the good players what they deserve and stop trading them off because they get too "expensive" to keep around.

I’m watching Oakland playing the Tigers in Detroit right now, but the A’s are the home team. Maybe they moved already.

I’m watching Oakland playing the Tigers in Detroit right now, but the A’s are the home team. Maybe they moved already.

Yes, I have the game on also. Doubleheader in Detroit today with the A's playing as the home team in game 1. This is because since the season started a little late there are games to be made up from the first week of scheduled games.

Yes, I have the game on also. Doubleheader in Detroit today with the A's playing as the home team in game 1. This is because since the season started a little late there are games to be made up from the first week of scheduled games.

A's got beat up in game 1. Wonder if this gets listed under their home or road record.

A's got beat up in game 1. Wonder if this gets listed under their home or road record.

I shut the game off after they fell behind 3-0. I imagine the game will go into the books as an A's home game. Game 2 of the double header is being televised also on the MLB network, but I'm not wasting time watching it.

Thanks to their cheap ass owner, the A's are now a terrible team, they are going to get beat up many times this year. After the season is over, I wouldn't be surprised if the A's end up with the worst record in all of baseball and Cincinnati will have a better record than Oakland.

First Covid postponement of the season. Today’s Indians Guardians- White Sox game. Problem comes from the Guardian side I believe.

I should probably not be so tough on the A's this year, take away the nine game losing streak they had and they are four games above .500 at 14-10. A's vs. Angels in a series this weekend, should be a good test, will see if the A's can compete with them or if the Angels knock them around like a punching bag.

I like Mark Kotsay as the A's new manager, for the most part he has the players competing and trying to win the ball games and you can't ask for more than that.

After the season is over, I wouldn't be surprised if the A's end up with the worst record in all of baseball and Cincinnati will have a better record than Oakland.

Reds pitched a no hitter yesterday. AND STILL LOST.

Reds throw a no-hitter — and lose 1-0 to Pirates (https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/5/15/23074312/reds-throw-a-no-hitter-and-lose-1-0-to-pirates-cincinnati-pittsburgh-hunter-greene-warren)

Three walks and a groundout in the eighth lift Pittsburgh.



I think that seals the 'who's worst' deal.

Reds pitched a no hitter yesterday. AND STILL LOST.

Reds throw a no-hitter — and lose 1-0 to Pirates (https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/5/15/23074312/reds-throw-a-no-hitter-and-lose-1-0-to-pirates-cincinnati-pittsburgh-hunter-greene-warren)

Three walks and a groundout in the eighth lift Pittsburgh.



I think that seals the 'who's worst' deal.

Probably one of the few times in MLB history that the team pitching the no hitter ends up on the losing side of the score.

The A's were almost swept by the Angels over the weekend, the one game the A's won was sort of a fluke, took a 3 run homer in the bottom of the 9th inning to get the win.

The A's pitching staff seems fairly decent so far, it's their hitting/offense that is garbage. Sheldon Neuse and Chad Pinder are the only players on the team hitting for a respectable batting average. The team batting average is currently .200. How pathetic is that, it's very embarrassing.

Not much is expected of the A's this year anyway so I'm trying not to be too tough on them. Hopefully they can avoid losing 100 games or more. Cincinnati had a bad start but I think they will play better as the season goes along.

Orioles to Tennessee? Probably not, and therefore not worthy of its own thread. But...

Lawsuit: MLB's Orioles could move to Tennessee (https://www.williamsonhomepage.com/brentwood/lawsuit-mlbs-orioles-could-move-to-tennessee/article_13387610-606e-504f-b0dd-1a59c5cbb431.html)

Oh, more excitingly, new baseball smilie here at the site

:baseball:

Probably one of the few times in MLB history that the team pitching the no hitter ends up on the losing side of the score.

The A's were almost swept by the Angels over the weekend, the one game the A's won was sort of a fluke, took a 3 run homer in the bottom of the 9th inning to get the win.

The A's pitching staff seems fairly decent so far, it's their hitting/offense that is garbage. Sheldon Neuse and Chad Pinder are the only players on the team hitting for a respectable batting average. The team batting average is currently .200. How pathetic is that, it's very embarrassing.

Not much is expected of the A's this year anyway so I'm trying not to be too tough on them. Hopefully they can avoid losing 100 games or more. Cincinnati had a bad start but I think they will play better as the season goes along.

I don't track the two of them daily, but I just noticed the Reds now have a better record then the A's

I don't track the two of them daily, but I just noticed the Reds now have a better record then the A's

Before this baseball season began, I had a feeling that there is potential for the A's to have their worst season since 1979 when they lost 108 games, and it looks like that forecast is on track, I wouldn't be surprised if they end up losing 110 games or more.

I feel bad for Mark Kotsay, a rookie manager brought in to handle this circus, he's got a real mess on his hands and I doubt there will be improvement anytime soon.

Before this baseball season began, I had a feeling that there is potential for the A's to have their worst season since 1979 when they lost 108 games, and it looks like that forecast is on track, I wouldn't be surprised if they end up losing 110 games or more.

I feel bad for Mark Kotsay, a rookie manager brought in to handle this circus, he's got a real mess on his hands and I doubt there will be improvement anytime soon.

In happier news, Yankees are exceeding all expectations. If they go just .500 the rest of the way they’d still end up with about 100 wins.

In happier news, Yankees are exceeding all expectations. If they go just .500 the rest of the way they’d still end up with about 100 wins.

The Yankees have a good club and are among the contenders. Maybe an all New York world series this year, Yankees vs. Mets?

The Yankees have a good club and are among the contenders. Maybe an all New York world series this year, Yankees vs. Mets?

I can only agree with half that statement. I still haven’t gotten over the stress of the 2000 World Series, even though it had a happy ending.

Quirky game today. Yankees, down 3-0 and 8 outs away from being the first team in history to be no-hit two games in a row, fight back to get the split with Houston.

All teams in the AL East are at .500 or better at the All Star break. Orioles are surprisingly only 3.5 back for the final wild card spot.

I usually have the All Star game on each year, but how much I pay attention varies from year to year. This year I watched most of it. Decent game.

Couldn’t believe it hadn’t been in LA since 1980.

Would have been decided by a mini home run Derby if it’d been tied after nine.

Yankees starting to come back down to earth.

Break up the Orioles. 15-5 in their last 20 games. They have only 2 less wins than they did all of last season. Good to see them no longer in the basement in the AL East. They might be buyers at the trade deadline if they keep this up. They are in wild card contention.

Maybe they have the next Cal Ripken Jr. with the #1 overall pick of Jackson Holliday, the son of Matt Holliday. Things are looking brighter in Baltimore.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34303409/baltimore-orioles-sign-top-pick-jackson-holliday-819-million-bonus

How about that, the A's are currently on a bit of a roll and have a 10-4 record in their last 14 games. I'm not holding my breath but if the trend continues maybe they will avoid losing 100 games, I would actually consider their season a success if they avoid losing 100 games.

How about that, the A's are currently on a bit of a roll and have a 10-4 record in their last 14 games. I'm not holding my breath but if the trend continues maybe they will avoid losing 100 games, I would actually consider their season a success if they avoid losing 100 games.

Yankees just traded for Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino from A's. You have a scouting report on them?

Maybe they have the next Cal Ripken Jr. with the #1 overall pick of Jackson Holliday

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34303409/baltimore-orioles-sign-top-pick-jackson-holliday-819-million-bonus

I really hope they're not saying that. That's waaay too much pressure on the kid.

Yankees just traded for Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino from A's. You have a scouting report on them?

Frankie Montas is a fairly reliable starter and Lou Trivino is erratic as a reliever, sometimes on and sometimes off, although he's been more on lately than off. Both pitchers should provide help to the Yanks in the pitching department. I imagine in return the A's got some prospects from the Yanks farm system.

Frankie Montas is a fairly reliable starter and Lou Trivino is erratic as a reliever, sometimes on and sometimes off, although he's been more on lately than off. Both pitchers should provide help to the Yanks in the pitching department. I imagine in return the A's got some prospects from the Yanks farm system.

The names you got are rookie left-hander JP Sears and organizational No. 1 pitching prospect Ken Waldichuk. The Yankees also gave up highly regarded Double-A pitching prospect Luis Medina and High-A second baseman Cooper Bowman.



The only guy I've seen is Sears who did well in spot starts this year, going 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 22 innings. I don't watch minor league ball so I've never seen the other guys.

Hate to admit it, but I’m kinda getting used to the ghost runner in extra innings. Not for the playoffs of course, but in the regular season it’s the equivalent of the NHL shootout.

Of course if you’re a fan of those 20 inning games of yore, you hate it.

The names you got are rookie left-hander JP Sears and organizational No. 1 pitching prospect Ken Waldichuk. The Yankees also gave up highly regarded Double-A pitching prospect Luis Medina and High-A second baseman Cooper Bowman.

The only guy I've seen is Sears who did well in spot starts this year, going 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 22 innings. I don't watch minor league ball so I've never seen the other guys.

It will turn out to be a good trade if it benefits both teams. The Yanks are in win now mode while the A's are once again in rebuild mode. I don't expect the A's to be a contender again until after their stadium issue is resolved. Progress is being made on a stadium deal in Oakland but the chance still exists that they could move to Vegas.

Yankees starting to come back down to earth.

Yankees season still going off the rails. Give up only 1 run, lose. Score 9 the next day, lose. Trade deadline pickups not contributing (admittedly in a small sample size). Still 9.5 games division lead, but shrinking. Dreams of home field advantage throughout playoffs fading away.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/97mAUmP8WfCiA/200w.gif?cid=82a1493blkdayjcj9buerxb0rwx5ce8ourr420do3gw9jako&rid=200w.gif&ct=g

It will turn out to be a good trade if it benefits both teams. The Yanks are in win now mode while the A's are once again in rebuild mode. I don't expect the A's to be a contender again until after their stadium issue is resolved. Progress is being made on a stadium deal in Oakland but the chance still exists that they could move to Vegas.

Montas ain’t doing so good. I hope we saved the receipt.

Montas ain’t doing so good. I hope we saved the receipt.

Montas had some good moments when pitching for the A's but overall he didn't really impress me that much. Yanks have a 14-23 record in their last 37 games so there is reason for concern unless they can get back on track in September. Aaron Judge is having a great year swinging the bat but he cannot carry the team by himself, Anthony Rizzo has 29 home runs but his batting average is only .223. The Mets actually have a better record than the Yankees now, and the Dodgers are steamrolling their way through the schedule.

Montas had some good moments when pitching for the A's but overall he didn't really impress me that much. Yanks have a 14-23 record in their last 37 games so there is reason for concern unless they can get back on track in September. Aaron Judge is having a great year swinging the bat but he cannot carry the team by himself, Anthony Rizzo has 29 home runs but his batting average is only .223. The Mets actually have a better record than the Yankees now, and the Dodgers are steamrolling their way through the schedule.

Don’t worry though, all the fans here are staying calm, cool, and collected, and no one’s panicking.

https://media2.giphy.com/media/HUkOv6BNWc1HO/200w.gif?cid=82a1493be0aolyamkog0gi0dlr0reg9yc93ihqbjbg904puc&rid=200w.gif&ct=g

Epic collapse going on in the Bronx. Y’all should check it out.

Epic collapse going on in the Bronx. Y’all should check it out.

Crisis seems to have been averted. Back up to 6 in the loss column over TOR and TB.

Check back here in a couple of weeks just to be sure.

The AL Central is the ****ing weakest division in the MLB...EVER!

If the MLB ever expands to 32...The AL Central should have 6 or 7 teams in that division! Maybe The Kansas City Royals and/or Houston Astros can play in the AL Central! Mexico City and/or Houston can play in the NL West and if Tampa Bay stays in Florida rather than become the new Montreal Expos...maybe there can be an expansion in Las Vegas!

The American League with expansion could look like this...

AL East...

Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays
Tampa Bay Rays or Montreal Expos

AL Central

Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Guardians
Detroit Tigers
Houston Astros
Kansas City Royals
Mexico City Red Devils
Minnesota Twins

AL West

Las Vegas Wranglers
Los Angeles Angeles
Oakland Athletics
Seattle Mariners
Texas Rangers

I know the AL Central has 7 teams, but...since that division is weak...they should have the advantage.

ICYMI, Albert Pujols has reach his 700th Homer during St Louis Cardinals’ game vs The LA Dodgers last night.

Well as expected the A's had a bad season, but not quite as bad as I originally thought, I had them pegged for about 110 losses but they finished up with a 60-102 record. And they finished the season on a positive note, winning four straight games to hit the 60 win mark.

I think manager Mark Kotsay did a pretty good job considering the mess of a roster he was given to work with, I believe he definitely deserves to return as manager next year. I don't expect the A's to be playoff contenders in 2023, it will take a few years until they contend again, but finishing this season on a four game win streak, maybe the A's can use this as momentum going into next season and improve on this years record. 60 wins this year, about 75 wins next year would be an acceptable improvement.

The main question right now for the A's remains, where are they eventually going to end up playing? Their current lease at the coliseum runs for two more years, 2023 and 2024, so I imagine that by 2025 at the latest they will be playing home games at a different stadium, but the location is anyone's guess. I believe the chances of the A's moving to Las Vegas are increasing because it is taking too long for the decision makers in Oakland to agree on a new stadium deal, they are shuffling their feet and spinning their wheels, time is running out for them if they want the A's to stay in Oakland. Will see what happens.

Talk of the A's wanting/needing a new stadium goes back to the mid 1990's after the NFL Raiders moved back to Oakland from Los Angeles. The current situation is this- the coliseum where the A's currently play is about 55 years old which isn't really that old but the problem is that it hasn't been properly maintained over the years and now deteriorated to the point of beyond repair and a new stadium is the only solution. Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are both over 100 years old but those those stadiums have been properly maintained. So it seems to me that this whole stadium dilemma for the A's could have been avoided if the coliseum had just been properly maintained. A very sad situation.

I couldn’t do this last night so I’m a day late

No. 62! Aaron Judge breaks Roger Maris’ all-time AL HR record

https://www.mlb.com/news/aaron-judge-breaks-roger-maris-home-run-record-with-62

Is Aaron Judge the real single season HR champion? There's some controversy about the NL leaders who hit more. Sammy Sosa hit 60+ three times.

All Rise!

JqiAI5EwZDI

Elite Eight matchups (to steal vernacular from college basketball). Series are 3 of 5.

Cleveland Indians Guardians- NY Yankees

Seattle Mariners- Houston Astros

Philadelphia Phillies-Atlanta Braves

San Diego Padres- LA Dodgers


By the way, in the new wild card best of 3 series with the higher seed having all 3 games at home, the only home team to advance was the Cleveland Indians Guardians. The other three home teams got eliminated.

I couldn’t do this last night so I’m a day late

No. 62! Aaron Judge breaks Roger Maris’ all-time AL HR record

https://www.mlb.com/news/aaron-judge-breaks-roger-maris-home-run-record-with-62

Roger Maris hit a record 61 home runs for the Yankees in 1961. Then 61 years later, the record is broken, by another Yankees player, the record was broken by one home run and the new record is 62. I think it's all very interesting.

Roger Maris hit a record 61 home runs for the Yankees in 1961. Then 61 years later, the record is broken, by another Yankees player, the record was broken by one home run and the new record is 62. I think it's all very interesting.

And they’re both right fielders (although Judge spent some time in center and as DH this season), and Maris wore number 9 whereas Judge wears 99

And they’re both right fielders (although Judge spent some time in center and as DH this season), and Maris wore number 9 whereas Judge wears 99

And both players have five letters in their first and last names. Roger Maris, Aaron Judge. :lol:

And both players have five letters in their first and last names. Roger Maris, Aaron Judge. :lol:

https://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Kramer-You-Just-Blew-My-Mind-Seinfeld.gif

Well...

The Cleveland Guardians season is over...Cleveland will NEVER win another World Series!

Well...

The Cleveland Guardians season is over...Cleveland will NEVER win another World Series!

Maybe instead of changing the team name they should change the city name.



Anyways, the LCS matchups, best of 7 the rest of the way….

Yankees- Astros

Phillies- Padres (Philly up 1-0, having taken game one tonight)

Maybe instead of changing the team name they should change the city name.



Anyways, the LCS matchups, best of 7 the rest of the way….

Yankees- Astros

Phillies- Padres (Philly up 1-0, having taken game one tonight)

I got a good name for the city I live in...

Mistake-on-the-Lake!

I got a good name for the city I live in...

Mistake-on-the-Lake!

That’s an old joke. I think you can be more original.



Yankee batters strike out 17 times tonight. Surprisingly, they do not win.

Phillies blow early 4-0 lead as Padres even that series.

I was a little surprised that the Dodgers got bounced out of the playoffs, maybe they were too comfortable with themselves after winning 111 games during the season. It's just another example of much success in the regular season not translating to success in the post season.

I was a little surprised that the Dodgers got bounced out of the playoffs, maybe they were too comfortable with themselves after winning 111 games during the season. It's just another example of much success in the regular season not translating to success in the post season.

Especially in MLB and NHL, playoffs are a crapshoot. I wish someone would shoot the crap out of the Astros.

That’s an old joke. I think you can be more original.

That's what we've been named...any new names for Cleveland?

That's what we've been named...any new names for Cleveland?

I think Cleveland should dominate the AL central (admittedly not the strongest division) for the next few years. You should get season tickets.


In tonight’s news, Yankees improve from game one and only strikeout 13 times tonight. Still don’t win though.

I think Cleveland should dominate the AL central (admittedly not the strongest division) for the next few years. You should get season tickets.


In tonight’s news, Yankees improve from game one and only strikeout 13 times tonight. Still don’t win though.

Won't doubt the Yankees will get swept.

Won't doubt the Yankees will get swept.

It’s would be hard enough to win in the preseason with 9 hits and 30 strikeouts in two games, much less against the Astros in the ALCS.

Yankees pound out 3 hits tonight (2 in the bottom of the ninth after two were out and already down 5 zip) and add 11 strikeouts to their total (now 41 in 3 games). Weirdly, they still don’t win.

Meanwhile, Phillies one win away from the WS.

World Series-----

Philadelphia Phillies (I'm okay with this) vs Houston Astros (I'm not :( )

I don't know what happened with the Padres, maybe they were content with themselves after upsetting the Dodgers and bouncing them out of the playoffs.

I'm also not a Houston fan, but the way it currently appears I don't think the Phillies have much of a chance against them. Houston appears to be a team on a mission and nothing is going to stop them, but we'll see what happens.

It's only the 1st game but maybe the Phillies have a chance after all, coming back to take game 1 of the world series vs. Houston by a 6-5 score after falling behind 5-0. Nice job. :)

I don't know what happened with the Padres, maybe they were content with themselves after upsetting the Dodgers and bouncing them out of the playoffs.

I'm also not a Houston fan, but the way it currently appears I don't think the Phillies have much of a chance against them. Houston appears to be a team on a mission and nothing is going to stop them, but we'll see what happens.

It seems that San Diego is always under the thumb of Los Angeles. Though it is one of the biggest cities in America...they can't escape being the second banana to LA. It's like Cleveland can't get over the term "Mistake-on-the-Lake"...though the Cavaliers won it all in 2016 and probably will win it all this season.

It's only the 1st game but maybe the Phillies have a chance after all, coming back to take game 1 of the world series vs. Houston by a 6-5 score after falling behind 5-0. Nice job. :)

Phillies tried the fall behind 5-0 plan again tonight. Didn’t work as well this time.

though the Cavaliers won it all in 2016 and probably will win it all this season.

Wait. You think the Cleveland Cavs WILL win the title this year? That’s so unlike you. Who are you and what have you done with the real MrCleveland? :confused:

It seems that San Diego is always under the thumb of Los Angeles. Though it is one of the biggest cities in America...they can't escape being the second banana to LA. It's like Cleveland can't get over the term "Mistake-on-the-Lake"...though the Cavaliers won it all in 2016 and probably will win it all this season.

The Cavs made a great deal when they traded with Utah for Donovan Mitchell and he is going to help that team a lot.

I follow the Jazz but I don't really like what they've done with their team, they have a new owner who wanted to dismantle the team and rebuild it his way. Donovan Mitchell is gone. Rudy Gobert is gone. Other players were traded too. To the Jazz credit, this new look team is off to a 5-2 start but I'm not confident that it's sustainable and I imagine they'll eventually fall back in the standings. The Jazz also have a new coach, Will Hardy, it's too early in the season to say much but so far I like him better than Quin Snyder.

Phillies tried the fall behind 5-0 plan again tonight. Didn’t work as well this time.

Houston took game 2 as expected but the next three games are in Philly so if the Phillies can take 2 of the 3 they would still be in good shape.

Is the World Series still relevant in an NFL world? Our viewership predictions and more (https://theathletic.com/3721204/2022/10/26/world-series-ratings-predictions/)

By Richard Deitsch and Bill Shea
Oct 26, 2022

If you want a small indicator that we are living on a very different planet from years past, we invite you to look at the television viewership of the World Series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Series_television_ratings) in the 1980s and 1990s. (We could send you back further, but let’s make this a semi-modern exploration.) In 1980, a World Series featuring one of the same teams in this year’s Fall Classic (the Phillies defeated the Royals in six games) averaged 42.3 million viewers on NBC. Fast forward 13 years later. Toronto’s 4-2 series win over those same Phillies averaged 24.7 million viewers — a series in which the network did not get the benefit of having two U.S. home markets.

Since then, we have had a couple of viewership outliers thanks to the Red Sox (2004, 25.4 million viewership average) and Cubs (2016, 22.85 million viewers) ending long droughts. But World Series viewership has trended down since 2016 as viewership options grow wider and household declines continue for network television and cable. Last year, the six-game Braves-Astros World Series averaged 12.02 million total viewers across TV and streaming. For just the Fox TV broadcast, the series averaged 11.75 million viewers. That was up 20 percent from the 9.77 million average for the Los Angeles Dodgers beating the Tampa Bay Rays in six games in the pandemic-altered 2020 season. It was down, however, from the Washington Nationals’ seven-game win over the Astros in 2019, which averaged 13.91 million TV-plus-streaming viewers.

If you want a number to blow your mind, consider this: Game 7 of the 1991 World Series drew 50.34 million viewers to CBS. That’s essentially the same viewership (50.42 million) as last year’s NFC Championship Game between the Rams and 49ers (which included Fox, Fox Deportes, Fox Sports streaming platforms, NFL Digital and Yahoo Sports properties).

We sometimes get questions in this space about why sports fans should care about the viewership of a sport. It’s a very fair question. But “should” isn’t the right word here. You care about what you care about it. The more interesting question is, how does MLB viewership impact me as a viewer? At a base level, you need some kind of marker to measure the popularity of a sport, and viewership has long been a decent (though flawed) metric to measure where a sport sits with the American public.

So what do we expect with this year’s Phillies-Astros matchup, viewership-wise (https://deadline.com/2022/10/friday-ratings-world-series-game-1-dominates-demos-holds-steady-from-last-year-1235158309/), and how does the World Series play in the larger context of sports media properties? Let’s examine.

Deitsch: The one truism for thinking about World Series viewership — and this isn’t an original thought: Fox desperately wants this series to go long because length ultimately is the biggest driver of World Series viewership. You want the public invested in a series, especially those that don’t live in Philadelphia or Houston. Close games help. Obviously, the competition each night will be a factor. I’ll play off your thoughts, Bill. How do you look at this series from a sports media or business perspective?

Shea: I think it’s a really interesting litmus test of where baseball and the TV industry is at right now. As we all know, it’s a wild west out there with cord-cutting and changing consumer habits — and we have five age cohorts, from the Silent Generation to Gen Z, consuming media in often vastly different ways. Leagues and their network partners try to placate as many as they can — not an easy task. But while the numbers are interesting and can tell different stories based on how we interpret them, in the end, MLB has already been paid by the network. Paid well. I’m sure Fox and its advertising partners will all be pleased unless the viewership somehow tanks.

Deitsch: Philadelphia is obviously a great sports town and a significant television market. It’s Nielsen’s No. 4 Designated Market Area in the United States with a TV household population of 2.9 million. They were last in a World Series in 2009. They will draw huge locally (obviously) and I think have some national appeal given their unlikely appearance. Bryce Harper is a known star. The five-game Phillies-Padres NLCS series averaged 4.66 million viewers on Fox and FS1, which was down against TBS’s Dodgers-Braves series (5.2 million) in 2021, a series that went six games and was the most-viewed LCS since 2018.

Houston is also a top-10 DMA, and they have a strong fanbase. But I sense there is some national fatigue with the Astros making their third World Series appearance in four years. (I’m not even sure they draw as a heel.) I think this matchup has some challenges, including the competition. If it’s a short series, I think we’re looking at an average of 12 million or so viewers. A long series could get to 14 million. What do you think?

Shea: On paper, a Yankees-Dodgers series is the ideal when it comes to ginning up raw eyeball totals. But it’s not like Philly and Houston are remote outposts. They’re major markets of rabid Astros and Phillies fans. As you noted, a long, competitive series generates the best audiences and wins you the key demos. Fox, MLB and everyone else with a stake in the World Series dreams of a Game 7 won in the bottom of the ninth on a grand slam. The nightmare is a four-game sweep of blowouts.

The viewership totals also can be helped by MLB and the network crafting compelling storylines to keep things interesting, especially among casual fans who may have trouble naming players on either team. Do these teams have the household names to lure casual fans?

Lastly, Games 2 and 7 are on Saturdays, so there is college football to potentially contend with. You also have Games 3-5 on school nights, which is impossible to avoid but isn’t ideal for building affinity with the youngest potential fans — a consideration for a league with the oldest fanbase. There are no Sunday games, so MLB avoids a major confrontation with the NFL. Game 3 on Halloween does face “Monday Night Football.” I think a seven-game series averages 13 million. A sweep, maybe 11.5 million.

Deitsch: One of the things I always think about with baseball is how the alphabet soup of regular-season national media partners (Apple, Amazon, ESPN, Fox, MLB Network, NBC/Peacock, Warner Bros. Discovery) impact interest in the postseason. I find MLB’s media rights agreements the most fan-unfriendly of all the major sports. Yes, you’ll always know where your local team is playing in the playoffs because you’ll be inundated with that info, but they make it very difficult for casual fans. It’s costly to subscribe to all the streamers. Obviously, it’s a pure money grab by MLB, and what would be honest is to call it such as opposed to the nonsense we hear about growing the game. I think so much national inventory spread out ultimately hurts national interest in the World Series product. What do you think?

Shea: You’re right — the current broadcast and streaming landscape isn’t great for fans. I don’t think that’s sustainable long-term, but it’s the frustrating reality right now. I’m in the business and still have to look up where games are airing or streaming. Short-term, cash is king. But at what long-term cost? Casual fans are important, too, particularly if you want the younger ones to evolve into cash-spending diehards. Hard to see that evolution occurring at scale if it’s a constant battle to find where games are shown while those fans are growing up.

On the plus+ side (pun intended), young fans are tech-savvy and the streaming wars affect their preferred non-sports content, too, so they’re used to navigating around for what they want to watch. Long-term, and industry-wide, the sooner consolidation and stream-bundling occurs, the better for viewers and their bank accounts. That helps baseball and every other sport, too.

Deitsch: There’s a significant story on the talent end for this World Series. This will be the first World Series since 2000 that Joe Buck will not call for Fox. Joe Davis will make his debut as the television World Series game-caller. That’s significant for the audience, as there have only been five play-by-play voices of the World Series since 1990 (Jack Buck, Sean McDonough, Bob Costas, Al Michaels and Joe Buck). There are casual sports fans whose only baseball viewing annually is the World Series and many will not have realized Joe Buck is no longer the World Series voice until they turn on the screen. It will be interesting to see the reaction, even anecdotally. I think Davis is a quality broadcaster and will be received well.

Shea: Agreed. The media nerds — and like you, I am most certainly in that dorky vanguard — will scrutinize Davis’ performance and compare it to the greats that came before him, fair or not. Fox obviously believes in him, and he’s earned that trust. That all said, how much the casual fans think about the announcers outside of a gaffe or memorable call isn’t clear to me. Probably not much. But it’s certainly a chance for Davis to launch himself into some rarified broadcaster air (pun only partially intended).

Wait. You think the Cleveland Cavs WILL win the title this year? That’s so unlike you. Who are you and what have you done with the real MrCleveland? :confused:

It IS the REAL MrCleveland...

American Media STILL has the "David v Goliath" scenario...Cleveland is David...America is Goliath.

The Cleveland Cavaliers could win it all this year...we did surprise everyone in 2016. I dunno if The Cleveland Guardians will be in The World Series next year...but no matter what, we usually give The Yankees and Red Sox a run for their money...they only win sometimes because...the media is only concerned about the east coast or west coast.

But...Americans really don't want that ****...look at The Super Bowl between The New England Patriots and The Los Angeles Rams...two big market cities...not many viewers.

Sometimes...we want to see a city like Cleveland, St. Louis, Minnesota, or even Utah win it all for once!

Game 3 rained out. Now scheduled for tomorrow.

This now puts game 7 on track to be up against Sunday Night Football, which is what they tried to avoid with the Fri-Sat-Mon-Tue-Wed-Fri-Sat schedule.

It IS the REAL MrCleveland...

American Media STILL has the "David v Goliath" scenario...Cleveland is David...America is Goliath.

The Cleveland Cavaliers could win it all this year...we did surprise everyone in 2016. I dunno if The Cleveland Guardians will be in The World Series next year...but no matter what, we usually give The Yankees and Red Sox a run for their money...they only win sometimes because...the media is only concerned about the east coast or west coast.

But...Americans really don't want that ****...look at The Super Bowl between The New England Patriots and The Los Angeles Rams...two big market cities...not many viewers.

Sometimes...we want to see a city like Cleveland, St. Louis, Minnesota, or even Utah win it all for once!

Looking at the cities you mentioned——

Cleveland- Last pro title 2016. NBA Cavaliers

St. Louis- 2019. NHL Blues.

Minnesota- If you count the WNBA, the Lynx in 2027. If not, MLB Twins in 1991.

Utah- never, but then again they only have one pro team. I figure most people there would be more into the various college teams.

Houston and Philadelphia's baseball and football teams are set to play at the same time due to World Series delay (https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/10/31/with-world-series-rain-delayed-astros-phillies-eagles-texans-both-will-play-thursday/)

Fans in Houston and Philadelphia will need multiple televisions Thursday night.

Game 3 of the World Series between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies was postponed by rain (https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2022/10/31/world-series-game-3-astros-phillies-could-be-postponed-weather/10654954002/) Monday night. So, Major League Baseball announced (https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/world-series-game-3-postponed-rain-pushes-phillies-astros-to-tuesday-alters-schedule-for-2022-fall-classic/) that the three World Series games in Philadelphia will be played Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The series is tied 1-1.

Thursday originally was scheduled as a travel day for the baseball teams.

The Eagles are scheduled to play the Texans in Houston on Thursday night when the Phillies are playing Game 5 against the Astros in Philadelphia.

The World Series, which is on Fox, actually might have better ratings than the NFL game, which is on Amazon Prime and could be an early blowout. The Eagles are 7-0 and the Texans 1-5-1.

According to Elias, this will mark the seventh time a World Series and NFL game take place on the same day, involving the same two metro areas. The last time was Oct. 23, 2011, when the St. Louis Rams played the Dallas Cowboys on the same day the St. Louis Cardinals played the Texas Rangers.

Phillies pound out 5 homers early to rout Astros tonight and take 2-1 series lead.

Phillies pound out 5 homers early to rout Astros tonight and take 2-1 series lead.

Awesome win !!! :cool: GO PHILLIES !!! :)

Awesome win !!! :cool: GO PHILLIES !!! :)

You may not want to read the rest of this post.

Astros throw the second no hitter in World Series history, 4 pitchers combined. Series tied 2-2, Astros regain home field advantage.

Whelp, World Series over. Let the Aaron Judge watch officially begin.

Whelp, World Series over. Let the Aaron Judge watch officially begin.

:(:(:(

But I kinda figured Phillies weren't going to win! :confused:

This year's World Series is 2nd-least watched on TV (https://apnews.com/article/mlb-entertainment-sports-television-57d9303f97fdbfde701badfae8325c50)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Houston Astros’ six-game victory over the Philadelphia Phillies finished as the second least-watched (https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/yqgsx8/this_years_world_series_is_2ndleast_watched_on_tv/) World Series (https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/2022-world-series-game-6-is-least-watched-ever-series-ends-as-most-watched-since-2019.html) on television.

The six games averaged 11,784,000 on Fox, down 1.3% from the 11,940,000 for the Atlanta Braves’ six-game win over the Astros last year and ahead of only the 9,946,000 for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ six-game victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020.

Houston’s 3-1 win in Game 6 on Saturday night was seen by 12,549,000 viewers on Fox, down 11% from 14,140,000 Atlanta’s 7-0 victory over the Astros in last year’s finale, played on a Tuesday night. Including Fox Deportes and streaming, this year’s Game 6 was viewed by 12,871,000.

Game 6 was played opposite several college football games, including Alabama-LSU on ESPN, Clemson-Notre Dame on NBC and Florida State-Miami on ABC.

The Series finished with a 6.1 Nielsen rating and 17 share. The rating was the second-lowest behind the 5.2 for 2020, which had a 12 share. This year’s share marked a 1% increase from last year.

Including Fox Deportes and streaming, this year’s Series averaged 12,023,000 viewers.

Viewers peaked at 51,560,000 for Game 7 of the 1975 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds.

Totals declined with the rise of cable television and then of streaming services, giving viewers more choices.

The Series had a 25.0 rating and a 52 share in Philadelphia and a 24.0/55 in Houston.

The rating is the percentage of television households tuned in to a broadcast. The share is the percentage viewing a telecast among those households with TVs on at the time.

My predictions were way off for the most part. Good to see Dusty Baker finally win one. He seems like a good dude.

Whelp, World Series over. Let the Aaron Judge watch officially begin.

Back to the Yankees, 9 years/360 million (pending physical)

:dollar::dollar::dollar::dollar::dollar::dollar::dollar::dollar::dollar::dollar::dollar::dollar::dollar::dollar::dollar: