# MLB Spring Training 2018 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 25, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569 "2018-02-25T21:14:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/101 "2018-03-17T18:03:52Z")
Does it really matter to most pro athletes what city they play in? Just because Altuve plays for the Astros, he doesn’t have to buy a house there if he doesn’t want to. He’s going to be spending close to a month each year in Florida for spring training plus about half of the season on the road. He can just get an apartment near the stadium and buy a house where he wants. I’m sure there are some exceptions. Perhaps it is an exciting place, but spending the winter as a hockey player for the Winnipeg Jets doesn’t sound as appealing as playing for the Los Angeles Kings. Although, with NHL money, I’m sure I could find ways to amuse myself in Winnipeg, Manitoba during my spare time in the season. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/102 "2018-03-17T18:11:57Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Actually, the contract extends through his age-34 season. It is an extension to the existing contract, which has Altuve in Houston in 2018, and gives the team a $6.5-million option for 2019. There’s no way that they don’t exercise that option. So the new contract actually begins in the 2020 season. I realized that shortly after I posted, but I hoped nobody would point it out. :mad: Still, he’ll probably maintain his athleticism through the extension. If he had become a free agent after 2020, he could have gotten more years but maybe not at $30 mil per. The Astros “win” by having the reigning MVP over the next two seasons for “only” $12.5 million. Is there any doubt that the Astros are the favorite to win again and be the first team in twenty years to go back to back? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/103 "2018-03-17T19:17:13Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I realized that shortly after I posted, but I hoped nobody would point it out. :mad: > > Still, he’ll probably maintain his athleticism through the extension. If he had become a free agent after 2020, he could have gotten more years but maybe not at $30 mil per. The Astros “win” by having the reigning MVP over the next two seasons for “only” $12.5 million. > > Is there any doubt that the Astros are the favorite to win again and be the first team in twenty years to go back to back? Yes. Look at the awful World Series hangover that the Cubs had last season. The Astros are loaded, no doubt. But so are the Dodgers and Cubs. There’s about 7 teams that have a decent chance to win the World Series this year. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/104 "2018-03-17T19:24:51Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Yes. Look at the awful World Series hangover that the Cubs had last season. The Astros are loaded, no doubt. But so are the Dodgers and Cubs. There’s about 7 teams that have a decent chance to win the World Series this year. Are these the 7 you’re thinking of? **AL** : Astros, Cleveland, Yanks & Red Sox **NL** : Dodgers, Cubs & Nats ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/105 "2018-03-17T19:28:45Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Are these the 7 you’re thinking of? > **AL** : Astros, Cleveland, Yanks & Red Sox > **NL** : Dodgers, Cubs & Nats Yup, with the Brewers as a potential sleeper. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/106 "2018-03-17T19:35:28Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Yup, with the Brewers as a potential sleeper. Interesting, I have the Twins as my sleeper. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/107 "2018-03-17T19:48:34Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Yes. Look at the awful World Series hangover that the Cubs had last season… The Cubs scored more runs in 2017 than they did in 2016. Their “hangover” was almost exclusively down to the fact that their pitching regressed considerably last year. And this “hangover” still resulted in them winning their division by 6 games and advancing to the NLCS. Since the Yankees last repeated as Champs in 2000, only five of 16 WS winners, including the Cubs, have made it to the CS in the following season. Fully nine didn’t even make the playoffs the next year. The only team in the last 17 years to advance to the WS the year after winning was the Phillies. So, basically, of all WS winners since 2000, the Cubs have done as well as, or better than, all of them except one in the following season. If that constitutes a “hangover,” then the term effectively has no meaning. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/108 "2018-03-17T22:26:10Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Are these the 7 you’re thinking of? > **AL** : Astros, Cleveland, Yanks & Red Sox > **NL** : Dodgers, Cubs & Nats The Nats always have “a chance.” Maybe some year, they’ll do something with it. (He said bitterly)… ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/109 "2018-03-17T22:52:33Z")
I’d make the Astros the pre-season “favorite” but favorite means “about a 15 percent chance to win”. Maybe LA or Chicago have a slightly higher chance to win since the NL isn’t as strong at the top end. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/110 "2018-03-18T19:48:28Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Interesting, I have the Twins as my sleeper. Good choice. The Twins have quietly deepened an already solid team, adding Logan Morrison, Jake Odorizzi, Fernando Rodney, Addison Reed, and now Lance Lynn. Plus they signed Michael Pineda, but that’s for next year. Unfortunately for Minnesota, Cleveland will probably win the central and they don’t have a knockout starter for a wild card game. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/111 "2018-03-18T20:00:07Z")
I’m baffled by the notion only seven teams have a shot. Ten teams make the playoffs, guys, and if you think the World Series winner is easily determined, man, have a look at history. According to Fangraphs, 13 teams are projected to have winning records. I dunno if they’re right, but 13 seems like a pretty reasonable guess. Any team whose mid range estimate of wins is a winning record has a shot at winning at all; it takes just a few lucky breaks for such a team to surprise everyone with a 92-70 season. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/112 "2018-03-18T20:18:36Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’m baffled by the notion only seven teams have a shot. Ten teams make the playoffs, guys, and if you think the World Series winner is easily determined, man, have a look at history. > > According to Fangraphs, 13 teams are projected to have winning records. I dunno if they’re right, but 13 seems like a pretty reasonable guess. Any team whose mid range estimate of wins is a winning record has a shot at winning at all; it takes just a few lucky breaks for such a team to surprise everyone with a 92-70 season. Well, of course, anything can happen. But going into this season, I can’t see the World Series winner being anyone but the Dodgers, Cubs, Nats, Astros, Indians, Yankees, and Red Sox. I’m in agreement with the Twins also being a sleeper, as well as the Brewers. I’m sure if either of them is doing well, they can swing some sort of a trade for some pitching help, even if a rental. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/113 "2018-03-19T01:42:04Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’m baffled by the notion only seven teams have a shot. Ten teams make the playoffs, guys, and if you think the World Series winner is easily determined, man, have a look at history. Big difference between “only seven have a shot” and “There’s about 7 teams that have a decent chance to win …” like \*\*dalej42 \*\*said. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/114 "2018-03-19T01:49:09Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Big difference between “only seven have a shot” and “There’s about 7 teams that have a decent chance to win …” like \*\*dalej42 \*\*said. But even this, by definition, is wrong. Even if we exclude the losers of the single-shot Wild Card games, 8 teams will make the Division Series round of the playoffs. Every one of those teams will have, again by definition, “a decent chance” to win it all. We might not know exactly which teams those are right now, and it might be that the seven listed teams are the best bets, right now, to make the playoffs. But a lot can happen over the course of a 162-game season, and a lot of unpredictable things can also happen in the course of a 5- or 7-game playoff round. There’s nothing wrong with making predictions; it’s part of the fun of being a sports fan. But the level of certainty that some people attach to their predictions is rather unrealistic, and this should be obvious to anyone who has spent more than about a season watching Major League Baseball. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/115 "2018-03-19T02:12:17Z")
Decent chance to win is an unrealistic level of certainty? I think that phrase means something else to you than me. \*\*Dale \*\*made a statement, I was curious if he thought of the same 7 I did and we each had different less than decent chance eighth teams. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/116 "2018-03-20T20:41:20Z")
Justin Turner will miss Opening Day for the Dodgers with a “non-displaced” broken bone in his right wrist. He got hit by a pitch in last night’s Spring Training game. That gets Logan Forsythe some playing time at third, with Kike Hernandez apparently the starting second baseman. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/117 "2018-03-21T16:19:14Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Well, of course, anything can happen. But going into this season, I can’t see the World Series winner being anyone but the Dodgers, Cubs, Nats, Astros, Indians, Yankees, and Red Sox. I’m in agreement with the Twins also being a sleeper, as well as the Brewers. I’m sure if either of them is doing well, they can swing some sort of a trade for some pitching help, even if a rental. What odds are you willing to give that the World Series winner will not be any team you names here? I mean, I like those teams too, but the likelihood of it being some other team that wins it all is higher than I think people realize. I will say this; placing Minnesota ahead of 22 teams is, in my opinion, way optimistic. I am not confident they’re top half of the major leagues. I know they made the wild card game, but objectively, a team that loses 103 games one year and 77 the next is probably more of a 75-win team than an 85-win team. Regression is to be expected. Why are the Twins a team with a chance but the Cardinals or Rockies aren’t? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/118 "2018-03-22T05:05:13Z")
As the players compete for spots on Major League rosters, the United States government is about to codify criminally low pay in the minor leagues. The spending bill that’s going to be approved in the next few days contains a provision that will alter the Fair Labor Standards Act, covering baseball players within the Act, but also adding an explicit exemption on issues of overtime pay, basically allowing minor league players to be paid at minimum wage with no overtime, no matter how many hours per week they work. As a bunch of news stories ([like this one](https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/spending-bill-could-quash-minor-league-baseball-players-wage-claims/2018/03/18/d31cd76e-2b0a-11e8-8ad6-fbc50284fce8_story.html?utm_term=.954f950a9536)) have pointed out, these measures are the result of heavy lobbying by baseball owners, in response to a slew of lawsuits arguing that minor league players have been illegally underpaid. Adding this measure to the law will, admittedly, actually increase minimum compensation for minor league players from $1,100 per month to about $1,160 per month, but it will also head off any lawsuits, and permanently legalize the incredibly shitty pay in the minor leagues. They have the hide to call this abomination the Save America’s Pastime Act, but it would be more accurate to call it a handout to billionaire baseball team owners. Here’s what the head of Minor League Baseball had to say about the law: > [@](#): > > O’Conner said the litigation underway represents an existential threat to minor league clubs, which could see their business model upended if courts rule that players must be paid according to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. > > “We’re not saying that it shouldn’t go up,” he said. “We’re just saying that the formula of minimum wage and overtime is so incalculable. I would hate to think that a prospect is told, ‘You got to go home because you’re out of hours, you can’t have any extra batting practice.’ It’s those kinds of things. It’s not like factory work. It’s not like work where you can punch a time clock and management can project how many hours they’re going to have to pay for.” They can’t project or keep track of players’ hours in the job? This is a sport that manages to keep track of the exact result of every single play in every single game. This is a sport that can show graphs of exactly where in the strike zone every pitch is located, and where on the field every batted ball ends up. This is a sport that keeps track of exactly how well each player does against lefties and righties, home and away, in day games and night games, and whether up or down in the pitch count. And these people can’t keep track of whether a player is involved in batting practice for 3 or 6 or 12 or 20 hours a week? Fuck these guys, and especially fuck the politicians that agreed to this. I understand the owners asking for this special treatment. There’s never any harm in asking for a handout—and the same principle applies to sidewalk panhandlers and billionaire businessmen alike—but that doesn’t mean that our elected representatives should cave in. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2018, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/119 "2018-03-23T23:55:54Z")
The Mad Bum suffered a fractured pitching hand during today’s game. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2018, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569/120 "2018-03-24T00:55:51Z")
Clayton Kershaw finished the spring with an ERA of…0. 0.00, to be precise. I don’t know which way that omen goes, but it’s definitely an omen of something. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-spring-training-2018/809569.md?page=7)