Well, the Cubs could use a catcher. Wonder if he has the ability (and the desire) to play in the majors.
this will be an intresting conversation in the clubhouse
Ohtani is so much fun to watch. I really hope he can remain a two-way player for the next ten years or so.
MLB is making some minor tweaks to the new pitch clock rules, though the general rules will remain the same. The tweaks are mostly in regards to when the clock is started, such as in situations when the pitcher had left the mound to act as a fielder, or when the batter had been knocked down.
With spring training drawing to a close, the average game time has been 25 minutes shorter than last year (2:36 versus 3:01); as players have grown accustomed to the clock, violations have become less frequent, and are now averaging just over one violation per game (similar to the rate seen in the minors).
If Ohtani remains healthy this year, he could get a contract worth $600-$800 million. Hell, maybe more.
The Jays did not allow the Expos to share the Ottawa area and that led, in part, to the demise of the Expos. So I disagree with you. They didn’t see it that way back then so I doubt they would for a new team.
wow there’s some vitriol against the current commissioner in this one
And I can’t tell whether this is a legitimate concern or a big nothingburger written by someone who’s just looking for something to be upset about.
Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, who was slated to be the team’s Opening Day starter, suffered a groin strain during a weight-room session at the WBC, and will start the season on the IL – it’s expected that he’ll miss several weeks.
In semi-related news, the commissioner wants more top pitchers participating in the WBC.
Yankees are adding top-rookie Anthony Volpe to the ML roster to start at SS for opening day. Let’s go kid!
I am failing to find a reference for this. The Jays definitely did not want to share southern Ontario, that’s for sure, but I can’t find where they gobbled up Ottawa.
The Expos’ demise had little to zero to do with the Ottawa market in any event.
Oh, that’s good news! He played here for part of 2021 (high A), and he looked really promising in the games I saw him in. Surprising power, good speed, looked steady if not spectacular on defense. The only issue I saw was being a little too choosy with close pitches–he was rung up on strikes a few too many times. I didn’t meet him personally, but people I know who did said he seemed like a good guy.
I’m by no means a Yankees fan. But I’ll be rooting for him anyway.
Well, if I’m the Yankees, I’d rather take a chance on Volpe being ready now than any of the alternatives.
The Jays voted for the team to be contracted along with the Twins. The very least they could have done is vote for non contraction and show support for their Canadian cousins. It wouldn’t have changed anything. I understand it was likely the league that forced every team to vote that way but the Jays probably saw an opportunity at the time to get the province of Quebec which they were sharing with the Expos.
Back in the early 2000s before the team left for Washington, there were no English broadcasts of game by stations outside Quebec. This means no Ottawa station were doing games. If that doesn’t help in reducing interest, I don’t know what does. The best you could have was the French station across the river in Gatineau. And of course, there was no television, certainly not in English.
The Expos had done surveys of people coming to games and where they came from. The second biggest region after Montreal was Ottawa. I’m proof of that as well as the many Greyhound buses from Ottawa going to games. I was talking to Jacques Doucet about 15 years ago about this (he was the Expos’ French broadcaster) and he was of the opinion that losing the Ottawa market hurt the Expos.
IF Montreal gets a team, they NEED the Ottawa region in order to be successful and survive. The problem is that it seems the Blue Jays won’t let them share the Ottawa market. A new team has to come to an agreement with them about this, or force/convince the league to do so. If not, we’ll have the same situation and the team may move again with pundits saying “see, Montreal can’t support a team”. Being in Ottawa, I can follow both teams, I did before. But I’d rather drive the two hours to Montreal a couple times a year rather than the five hours to Toronto. If the Blue Jays don’t share Ottawa, I’d rather not have a team in Montreal.
With spring training games having concluded, this ESPN article outlines the impact of the various rules changes during spring games:
- Average game time was down 26 minutes versus last year (2:35 versus 3:01), thanks to the pitch clock.
- The limited number of pitcher step-offs, and slightly larger bases, led to increases in steal attempts (2.3 attempts per game, versus 1.6 last year), and a higher success rate on steals (77% vs. 71%).
- Elimination of the infield shift led to a somewhat higher batting average on balls in play (BABIP) for lefty hitters (.327 this year, vs. .314 last year); BABIP was essentially unchanged for right-handed hitters.
- Runs per game and overall batting averages were essentially unchanged.
Back in the early 2000s the Expos for one year had no local TV broadcasts at all. Jeffrey Loria simply refused to sign any TV contract that wasn’t outrageously expensive. In 2004, they did have some Canada-wide games, as Loria had sold the team one he gutted it, and MLB was willing to accept a cheap deal to make at least some money.
You seem to be operating on the assumption Expos ownership was trying to make a go of it in Montreal. They were not. The team that most wanted the Expos to move was the Expos. This wasn’t a situation where a franchise really was trying to succeed but for business reasons had to move.