# Major League Baseball Hot Stove League Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [November 10, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382 "2016-11-10T18:02:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/41 "2016-11-18T14:49:10Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Don’t know about bad blood, but Craig Calcaterra of Hardball Talk says that one of the two Tampa writers submitted his ballot a week-plus before the deadline, thereby missing Verlander’s last two (brilliant) starts and a couple of mediocre ones by Porcello. He also says the Rays faced Porcello five times on the season and Verlander just once…the implication being, these guys relied heavily on what they saw in person. I think I also saw that one of the two writers ranked JA Happ (and his 20 wins) in the top three…so winning 20 seems like a huge deal where this voter at least is concerned. I’m a Blue Jays fan and JA Happ had a wonderful season for us, and I’ll admit was way better than I expected. But I watched the guy all year, and I’ll tell you right now that anyone who thinks he was one of the three best pitchers in the league doesn’t know shit about baseball. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/42 "2016-11-18T15:53:04Z")
Hey, Trout wins the AL MVP! I’m pleasantly surprised! Yes, the Angels were terrible, but definitely not Trout’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/43 "2016-11-18T16:12:46Z")
I’m surprised too; my money was on Betts, and given the statistics I’mreally surprised it was as one sided a win as it was. Trout was a decent choice, he is a truly great player. Betts would have been a good choice. I note that players are being referred to as “finalists” for awards. Bleacher Report called Trout a “finalist” for MVP for the fifth year in a row. I don’t remember this term ever being used before, but it is, of course, wrong. A “finalist” is someone who has made it though a preceding round of a competition into the last round. There are no “finalists” in MVP (or Cy Young, or ROY) voting. There is one vote, and theoretically anyone in the league is eligible to be voted for. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/44 "2016-11-18T18:40:12Z")
**RickJay** , I share your definition of “finalist,” but the BBWAA doesn’t. _The finalists are merely the candidates who finished in the top three spots in the voting. They are not the only candidates who were eligible for the award._ [http://bbwaa.com/voting-faq/](http://bbwaa.com/voting-faq/) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/45 "2016-11-19T13:38:02Z")
Interesting side note: The Detroit Tigers had Verlander, Porcello, \*and \*Scherzer in their starting rotation in 2012. The same year Miguel Cabrera won the triple crown. And they did not make the playoffs. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/46 "2016-11-19T20:21:39Z")
Andrew Cashner signed a 1-year, $10mil deal with the Rangers. Among his reasons for selecting Texas was that Miami’s facial hair ban was a “[big deal](http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18080299/andrew-cashner-agrees-1-year-10-million-deal-texas-rangers) to me in free agency.” St Louis signs LHP [Brett Cecil](http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18087187/the-st-louis-cardinals-former-toronto-blue-jays-reliever-brett-cecil-agree-four-year-deal) on a 4-year, $30mil deal. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/47 "2016-11-29T05:20:53Z")
Edinson Volquez signs with Miami for 2-years, [$22 million](http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18160221/edinson-volquez-agrees-2-year-22m-deal-marlins). ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/48 "2016-11-29T14:43:56Z")
Still hearing rumors that the Red Sox want to trade for Chris Sale. I wish they’d have pulled the trigger at the deadline, if that was an option. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/49 "2016-11-29T20:57:04Z")
The Mets re-sign Yoenis Cespedes. That’s big for the team; they can then trade Jay Bruce to help fill holes. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/50 "2016-11-30T02:23:23Z")
In a move that could signal that Dexter Fowler is done with the Cubs, Chicago signed OF John Jay to a one-year, $8 million deal. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/51 "2016-12-01T08:33:22Z")
MLB and the union agreed on a new CBA for the next few years. Among the changes: - DL stays have been reduced from 15 days to 10. - The All-Star Game no longer decides the home stadium for the World Series. Now the team with the better record gets home-field. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/52 "2016-12-01T12:48:33Z")
Thank God they’ve changed the home field advantage for the World Series. Not that I care how the decision is made, I just am ecstatic that sports talk radio and ESPN won’t beat that dead horse over and over again. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/53 "2016-12-01T13:47:56Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Not that I care how the decision is made, I just am ecstatic that sports talk radio and ESPN won’t beat that dead horse over and over again. Exactly how I feel. I honestly didn’t care about the ASG determining home-field - it has to be determined somehow, so why not, right? Every argument against it just didn’t hold for me, but good god have I gotten sick of the discussion. I guess now I’ll have to spend my eye-rolling allowance on people who bitch about the designated hitter. The CBA is going to be really interesting. The soft-cap rules as well as the drastic limits on spending in the international market could usher in even more parity going forward. As a fan of a team with a traditionally strong farm system, we could see a lot more of the Royals and other small-market teams in the playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/54 "2016-12-01T14:16:48Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Not that I care how the decision is made, I just am ecstatic that sports talk radio and ESPN won’t beat that dead horse over and over again. No kidding. I never understood the controversy. Before, they assigned home field advantage based on whether it was an odd or even year, and I’ll be damned if I understand how that’s a fairer system. Assigning it according to record is almost as random, given that they’re teams in two different leagues, but this will end the argument. The most important part of the CBA is probably that, starting next offseason, teams that lose a free agent to whom they made a qualifying offer will only get a 3rd round draft pick, which is a huge difference from a first rounder. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/55 "2016-12-01T14:20:26Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > No kidding. I never understood the controversy. Before, they assigned home field advantage based on whether it was an odd or even year, and I’ll be damned if I understand how that’s a fairer system. > > Assigning it according to record is almost as random, given that they’re teams in two different leagues, but this will end the argument. I can’t wait until next year, when both the AL and the NL championship teams have identical records and the MLB management says: “Well…uh…shit. Sooooo who won the all-star game this year?” I think a very interesting report from the new agreement is the ban of smokeless tobacco for all NEW players. This means, in a handful of years, you’re going to have players who can’t chew surrounded by players who can (and do). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/56 "2016-12-01T15:28:27Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > MLB and the union agreed on a new CBA for the next few years. Among the changes: > > - DL stays have been reduced from 15 days to 10. > > - The All-Star Game no longer decides the home stadium for the World Series. Now the team with the better record gets home-field. Oh Joy! ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/57 "2016-12-01T15:29:34Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I can’t wait until next year, when both the AL and the NL championship teams have identical records Huh… is there a contingency for that? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/58 "2016-12-01T15:33:07Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The most important part of the CBA is probably that, starting next offseason, teams that lose a free agent to whom they made a qualifying offer will only get a 3rd round draft pick, which is a huge difference from a first rounder. There are apparently some triggers that would cause a team to lose a 2nd and 5th round pick, something to do with team salaries. That’s a much bigger hit - but not like losing a 1st rounder. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/59 "2016-12-01T15:33:39Z")
I’m not a Jon Lester fan, but his tweet about it did make me laugh: > [@Jon Lester tweet](#): > > While my efforts to eliminate pitchers from having to throw to 1B didnt pass, I’m proud of the PA & Owners for coming together on a new CBA! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/60 "2016-12-01T16:01:08Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I think a very interesting report from the new agreement is the ban of smokeless tobacco for all NEW players. This means, in a handful of years, you’re going to have players who can’t chew surrounded by players who can (and do). Some teams/stadia already ban it anyway. Players are whining about it, but I don’t think it’s going to be a big deal. You aren’t allowed to smoke in the dugout or drink whiskey, either. Seriously, it’s gross. They’re adding more off days to the schedule, which means, I assume, that we’re going to be starting in March or guaranteeing November baseball. If I may make a really humble suggestion; if you’re going to play baseball games on March 30, _make an effort to schedule the first series or two in a southern city or a domed stadium._ If Opening Day is in Minnesota and it’s snowing, who’s surprised by that? * * * What’s interesting to me is what DIDN’T happen; there was much talk of the regular roster being expanded to 26 players and the September roster being reduced to something under 40. Neither happened, though I would have thought the first one would be quite popular with both sides. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382.md?page=4)