Random Thoughts about this MLB Offseason

Image Courtesy of Bing

With apologies to Trey Wingo, this baseball offseason has been as about as exciting as this year’s Super Bowl.  Out of the boredom emerged a report that MLB is considering some rule changes.  And, surprise, I like them.  One of the suggested changes is requiring a pitcher to face a minimum of three hitters.  Thank you.  Watching managers use four pitchers to work an inning isn’t an enthralling battle of wits between two baseball minds, it’s just tedious. Some left-handed relief specialists might not like the idea, but as a fan I think it makes sense.  It can add some offense to the game and limit the amount of pitching changes.  It might even make over managing a little more difficult and let the players actually play the game.

Many Tanks

MLB is also looking at changes that would penalize teams for tanking.  Thank you again.  I’m really tired of watching games where only one team is trying to win.  I know the Astros and Cubs built championship teams that way, but that has to be reevaluated.

But what about Travis Wood?

There is also talk about the universal DH.  I have mixed emotions on that one.  It could help the Cubs, but I hate to see pitchers who can swing the bat lose their value.  I think back to how Travis Wood helped the Cubs a couple of seasons back as a hitter and even as a pinch runner.  Wood’s overall athletic ability added about 10%-15% of his value.

How dare the owners not be stupid!

Free agency is moving at the speed of a glacier again this offseason.  Nobody seems to be jumping out with 10 year deals for Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.  I really don’t blame major league clubs for showing some restraint.  Back when long deals were being tossed around to guys like Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard people were talking about how stupid owners were.  When they hesitant to be stupid with money some people conclude something is wrong with the system.  

Thanks for the memories but....

Jake Arrieta was one of my all-time favorite Cubs but when he sounded a warning about the future of free agents in years to come, I had a little different take on things than Jake did.   The issue in Jake’s case wasn’t just a declining free agent market; it was a declining Jake Arrieta.

Ghosts of free agent signings past

The Cubs have caught some criticism for shopping in the bargain bin of this year’s free agent market, but it’s not necessarily the Cubs being cheap.  It’s more a function of the Cubs spending bad money in free agency in the last few years.  Yu Darvish and Tyler Chatwood were spectacular misses last season.  Jason Heyward’s contract has been a financial albatross since he signed with the Cubs.  There are ramifications for missing on big free agent signings, as there should be.  It’s just tough on a team’s fan base when the chickens come home to roost.