2023 MLB (non-Tigers) catch all thread

[mtutiger]

49 minutes ago, RandyMarsh said:

Yeah they'll have a new stadium but I just don't see how things will be any better for the A's in LV. I heard they are banking on alot of the tourists going to games but really with all the things to do in Vegas why would one choose to go to baseball game when you can do that anywhere in the country? Even if they did you would need a big chunk of those people to go to the games to make any tangible difference.

As far as the local market, its a pretty small market so presumably you're not going to get a alot of people watching the games and TV ratings are like the biggest revenue source for MLB teams now. 

I guess it's going to come down to how committed to winning Fisher is,if he puts forth the resources to have a consistent winning team then maybe the locals will come out in droves but if he runs it the same way I don't see how it's going to be any different. Much like how people thought a new stadium would get people to come out and watch the Marlins. Made little difference. 

He will sell once the stadium is built I'll bet

[oblong]

21 minutes ago, RandyMarsh said:

The hardest part was the throw but still that is relatively easy play for a big leaguer. To me the most impressive thing is that there was no hesitation or indecisiveness that you may see from a player at a new position. He immediately went straight to 2nd and jumped off the base to make the throw just like a regular SS would. 

I think it just shows how talented these big leaguers are, almost all of them played SS and were the dominant player on their teams/league growing up.  I think that type of athleticism, skill and feel for the game doesn't just go away for these players. Atleast for the most part. 

I also suspect that guys like him will play the IF during BP because "it's fun".  

[RandyMarsh]

16 minutes ago, oblong said:

I also suspect that guys like him will play the IF during BP because "it's fun".  

Yeah I was gonna mention that too, just like you used to see pitchers shag flyballs in bp(idk maybe they still do) you likely see OFers mess around in the infield.

Same with all sports I guess, Im sure tackles in football goof off at practice sometimes and run WR routes or something. 

Speaking of that I get a kick out when announcers or fans make a big deal when an OT makes a catch out of the backfield. They act like these guys aren't professional athletes that live and breathe football who have played since they could walk. Im pretty sure they are more than capable of catching a 5-10 yard pass.

 

Edited April 21, 2023 by RandyMarsh

[VegasTiger]

A's say MLB and union have to sign off on playing in the AAA park. Hope it happens. About 2 miles of easy traffic from my house.

[theroundsquare]

1 hour ago, mtutiger said:

He will sell once the stadium is built I'll bet

This.  With a new stadium and all the hype of the new location, the franchise value will inflate.  Sell high!

[gehringer_2]

1 hour ago, RandyMarsh said:

almost all of them played SS

this.

[CMRivdogs]

2 hours ago, RandyMarsh said:

Yeah they'll have a new stadium but I just don't see how things will be any better for the A's in LV. I heard they are banking on alot of the tourists going to games but really with all the things to do in Vegas why would one choose to go to baseball game when you can do that anywhere in the country? Even if they did you would need a big chunk of those people to go to the games to make any tangible difference.

As far as the local market, its a pretty small market so presumably you're not going to get a alot of people watching the games and TV ratings are like the biggest revenue source for MLB teams now. 

I guess it's going to come down to how committed to winning Fisher is,if he puts forth the resources to have a consistent winning team then maybe the locals will come out in droves but if he runs it the same way I don't see how it's going to be any different. Much like how people thought a new stadium would get people to come out and watch the Marlins. Made little difference. 

Tourist fans really worked out for Tampa and Miami didn’t it?

[mtutiger]

2 hours ago, RandyMarsh said:

Yeah they'll have a new stadium but I just don't see how things will be any better for the A's in LV. I heard they are banking on alot of the tourists going to games but really with all the things to do in Vegas why would one choose to go to baseball game when you can do that anywhere in the country? Even if they did you would need a big chunk of those people to go to the games to make any tangible difference.

As far as the local market, its a pretty small market so presumably you're not going to get a alot of people watching the games and TV ratings are like the biggest revenue source for MLB teams now. 

A couple of points: I do think some fans will center trips to Las Vegas around the ability to see their team play, and Las Vegas is in many ways an ideal place to do that.... generally flights are cheap, hotel accommodations are actually fairly reasonable from a cost perspective (because the city's industry is separating you from your cash at Casinos), so I can see that being a draw.

And locals in Vegas have generally shown themselves supportive of the Golden Knights, so I don't know that it is a given that ratings will bad or that people from Las Vegas will not take to the team.... like any other city, it will depend on ownership putting out a competitive product by the time the new stadium is built.

[RandyMarsh]

I was gonna bring up the Golden Knights and how LV took to them but I didn't think it was an apples to apples comparison.

For starters it was their first pro sports team and was their very own, not a team that relocated. Also they were highly successful from start even making it to the Cup Finals their very first year.  That kinda success right out of the gate is the perfect recipe to engage and build the fanbase. 

Finally even though the Knights do have a relatively strong base its alot easier to fill a hockey arena than a baseball stadium. 

Your point about opposing fans is noted though and I agree with that possibility. 

 

[CMRivdogs]

I’ve only been to LV a couple of times and usually in Spring and Fall. If Summer temps are similar to Arizona or Florida, it still could be uncomfortable in the summer. 
 

(Trust me, I know about humidity, but 100 degree days in Phoenix during Spring Training is still very uncomfortable)

[RandyMarsh]

1 minute ago, CMRivdogs said:

I’ve only been to LV a couple of times and usually in Spring and Fall. If Summer temps are similar to Arizona or Florida, it still could be uncomfortable in the summer. 
 

(Trust me, I know about humidity, but 100 degree days in Phoenix during Spring Training is still very uncomfortable)

I been to Vegas probably a  half dozen times in the summer since my parents were major gamblers so our "family summer trip" would be there and it was always unbearable.

My brothers and I would spend all the time by the pool or in the air conditioned arcades that all the casinos had at that time. 

[oblong]

I assume it would be a domed stadium and for the locals I bet it would be a welcome respite to have something to do in the summer.  My understanding is they avoid the strip and Fremont St like the plague.

I would consider retiring there if not for what I think will end up as a water crisis.  

[Tiger337]

2 hours ago, RandyMarsh said:

The hardest part was the throw but still that is relatively easy play for a big leaguer. To me the most impressive thing is that there was no hesitation or indecisiveness that you may see from a player at a new position. He immediately went straight to 2nd and jumped off the base to make the throw just like a regular SS would. 

I think it just shows how talented these big leaguers are, almost all of them played SS and were the dominant player on their teams/league growing up.  I think that type of athleticism, skill and feel for the game doesn't just go away for these players. Atleast for the most part. 

Yes, it was an easy play, but the somewhat impressive part was that he made i look easy and natural.  Most major leaguers can make that play, but some would look awkward playing out of position.    

[CMRivdogs]

17 minutes ago, oblong said:

I assume it would be a domed stadium and for the locals I bet it would be a welcome respite to have something to do in the summer.  My understanding is they avoid the strip and Fremont St like the plague.

I would consider retiring there if not for what I think will end up as a water crisis.  

One memory I have is being there in the late 80s for a convention. I overheard a conversation between a local and out of towner. Then locals said it was very family friendly and few rarely venture to the strip. 
 

The highlight of that trip incidents was a visit to a TV station once owned b Howard Hughes. It was then owned by the company my wife worked for. It was said that HH would call the station late at night and tell them what movie he wanted to watch.

[RandyMarsh]

LV just has such a small market compared to other teams it takes a much higher percentage of people going to the game to fill the stadium. For reference their local population is about only half of Detroit and Detroit is considered mid market. 

[VegasTiger]

It's going to be a retractable roof. There was a cheesy little casino on the site until they tore it down just last year. That site was never mentioned in all the tv talk. The plans may have been in place for a while.

As far as tourists, yes they will show up. They already do. On top of that, there's the locals like me from all over the country who will be thrilled to see their favorite team come to town. And the A's will end up being my second favorite team like the Raiders and VGK before them.

[casimir]

4 hours ago, VegasTiger said:

A's say MLB and union have to sign off on playing in the AAA park. Hope it happens. About 2 miles of easy traffic from my house.

Dude, you better keep quiet.  People are going to suggest moving the annual rule V party from Liston's place to yours.

[casimir]

4 hours ago, mtutiger said:

A couple of points: I do think some fans will center trips to Las Vegas around the ability to see their team play, and Las Vegas is in many ways an ideal place to do that.... generally flights are cheap, hotel accommodations are actually fairly reasonable from a cost perspective (because the city's industry is separating you from your cash at Casinos), so I can see that being a draw.

And locals in Vegas have generally shown themselves supportive of the Golden Knights, so I don't know that it is a given that ratings will bad or that people from Las Vegas will not take to the team.... like any other city, it will depend on ownership putting out a competitive product by the time the new stadium is built.

I think it would interesting to see numbers of home/road/neutral fans attending Golden Knights games.  It'd be really crude and highly unscientific, but maybe base it off of zip codes of final ticket purchaser.  Compare those %s to same data of other NHL teams.  Maybe it tells a story, maybe it doesn't, maybe it isn't a reliable test at all.  But its numbers and I'd like to see what they are our of curiousness.

[chasfh]

9 hours ago, RandyMarsh said:

Yeah they'll have a new stadium but I just don't see how things will be any better for the A's in LV. I heard they are banking on alot of the tourists going to games but really with all the things to do in Vegas why would one choose to go to baseball game when you can do that anywhere in the country? Even if they did you would need a big chunk of those people to go to the games to make any tangible difference.

As far as the local market, its a pretty small market so presumably you're not going to get a alot of people watching the games and TV ratings are like the biggest revenue source for MLB teams now. 

I guess it's going to come down to how committed to winning Fisher is,if he puts forth the resources to have a consistent winning team then maybe the locals will come out in droves but if he runs it the same way I don't see how it's going to be any different. Much like how people thought a new stadium would get people to come out and watch the Marlins. Made little difference. 

Las Vegas immediately becomes the smallest market in the majors and, to your point, a tough sell to tourists coming in to gamble. Unless they create a gambling paradise on-site where people who go there can leave the area of play to go gamble in air-conditioned comfort elsewhere on the grounds.

I could see them doing deals with local casinos offering baseball/gambling package trips, where the tickets are folded into the package cost and not line-itemed out in the total cost.

[mtutiger]

I dont get why they have to get draw the casual, non-baseball fan gambler to come to the ballpark to be a success. 

Between people in town to gamble as well as being the largest convention destination in the United States, they will likely do better on the margins than most teams lol

Edited April 21, 2023 by mtutiger

[Tigeraholic1]

Wow, Armando Galarraga had to chuckle watching this. 

 

[RandyMarsh]

Wow that is a terrible way to lose it. On a side note can't believe Smyly is still around and pitching well, he has carved out a really good career for himself. Also crazy that he is still only 33 years old so he may still have a few years left in him. To think at one point we had JV, Max, Price, Sanchez, Porcello, Smyly and Robbie Ray all on the team at the same time. 

[gehringer_2]

There were still 6 outs left when it happened so the perfecto was far from a sure thing

[Tigeraholic1]

12 hours ago, gehringer_2 said:

There were still 6 outs left when it happened so the perfecto was far from a sure thing

Very true and insult to injury.

 

[casimir]

14 hours ago, mtutiger said:

I dont get why they have to get draw the casual, non-baseball fan gambler to come to the ballpark to be a success. 

Between people in town to gamble as well as being the largest convention destination in the United States, they will likely do better on the margins than most teams lol

Vegas is primarily based on gambling, sure.  But there's also plenty of other entertainment out there.  Baseball just becomes another option for folks.