Blake Snell

[David Watts]

I see Snell is already getting blasted by fans for saying he won't play if it's a 50-50 split.

[Bobbyraz49]

I just read the article. He brings up a fair point regarding player safety. However...he didn't need to inform the public.
The Rays should tell him he's out for the season yet another year gets added to his contract.
IMO... nit certain I like the idea of them playing at all this season.
Let's say the season starts, they play a few games, and a star player Trout/Harper/Betts, etc. becomes infected. Does the entire team get quarantined ? What about the teams that the recently played? The umps etc.
Scary times. Be safe....Bob in Buffalo

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by David Watts

I see Snell is already getting blasted by fans for saying he won't play if it's a 50-50 split.

Good to see some sanity prevailing. I hope there are more like him. I love baseball intensely, but:

A) The worst pandemic in 100 years is raging on both sides of the border. Now is not the time to put people's lives at risk because people are bored with their current entertainment options, and

B) WTF is up with this cobbled together, nonsensical, BS season? 82 games? No games outside your time zone? 14 teams in the postseason? Don't try to force it if it can't be done properly man

Here's an idea. How about pitching in on the woefully inadequate response so far? The sooner the two countries move towards actually levelling off (and perhaps even declining, instead of helplessly watching on the sidelines, as they continue to rise) the number of cases and deaths that are happening, the sooner we can get back to real baseball.

The season the owners have proposed is like playing RBI Baseball instead of OOTP, or eating junk food instead of a great meal. If they go forward with this sh!t, I'm out. I'll be back when they're ready to play a real season, not a season that from day one will have a huge asterisk beside it. Good for Snellzilla for calling this out for what it is: BS hot garbage juice.

[AnotherAlias]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

B) WTF is up with this cobbled together, nonsensical, BS season? 82 games? No games outside your time zone? 14 teams in the postseason? Don't try to force it if it can't be done properly man

Yep.

Not a single club in MLB wants the 2020 *asterisk* next to their team's name in Cooperstown.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by AnotherAlias

Yep.

Not a single club in MLB wants the 2020 *asterisk* next to their team's name in Cooperstown.

It would fit in nicely with the 2017 *Astrosisk* (not to mention the 2018 *RedSoxisk*, 'cause call me crazy, but I ain't buyin' Manfred's conclusions from that investigation). For me, all of these would be seen as permanent stains on the tenure of one Robert D. Manfred Jr., who should be fired on the spot for incompetence, but won't be because the owners are laughing all the way to the bank under his "guidance". It's a really sad state of affairs, and as far as I'm concerned has made this league a laughingstock.

[andyhdz]

Yes because the other 28 teams are little angels that never ever cheat.

BTW Snell crying that he'll only make 3.5 million instead of 7 Milton while front line workers are truly risking their lives not even making close to that expose snell for the entitled punk he is.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by andyhdz

Yes because the other 28 teams are little angels that never ever cheat.

BTW Snell crying that he'll only make 3.5 million instead of 7 Milton while front line workers are truly risking their lives not even making close to that expose snell for the entitled punk he is.

Sure. Do we have evidence of sign stealing, or other forms of "cheating" (quotation marks because teams routinely steal signs on the field of play, but not with video) though? If it's done between games, or on the field within a game, I'm fine with it. I'm not fine with corked bats, or other methods that are escaping me right now, but using video in game is beyond the pale for me. If any other team gets caught doing it, you can lump them right in there, and throw the book at them. There's no excuse for it.

On our 1993 Blue Jays, we had Cito Gaston, Robbie Alomar, and Paul Molitor, who were all experts at stealing signs, and picking up tells from a pitcher. Back in those days, there wasn't as much video though, so I doubt there was any of that shady stuff going on. That ain't cheating. That's using your smarts to gain an advantage. There's a fine line between the two, but it does exist.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by andyhdz

Yes because the other 28 teams are little angels that never ever cheat.

BTW Snell crying that he'll only make 3.5 million instead of 7 Milton while front line workers are truly risking their lives not even making close to that expose snell for the entitled punk he is.

As for Snell, if the owners take in buckets of money during the season (they'll be much smaller buckets this year, but if there's a way to maximize their revenue, I'm quite confident that they'll find it), why shouldn't he get his proper share? He's the one putting his health on the line (even more so this year than other years). Crying about getting half of what he's normally paid, while he's playing in half the games he normally would, is absolutely shameful, but if the owners are going to move forward with this dumb plan, he's earned his.

[dsvitak]

Blake Snell made $573,700.00 last year.

This year, his contract is for $7,600,000.00.

IF you chop his contract in HALF, his pay raise is only 622%.

Mr. Snell needs to calm down.

[andyhdz]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

Sure. Do we have evidence of sign stealing, or other forms of "cheating" (quotation marks because teams routinely steal signs on the field of play, but not with video) though? If it's done between games, or on the field within a game, I'm fine with it. I'm not fine with corked bats, or other methods that are escaping me right now, but using video in game is beyond the pale for me. If any other team gets caught doing it, you can lump them right in there, and throw the book at them. There's no excuse for it.

On our 1993 Blue Jays, we had Cito Gaston, Robbie Alomar, and Paul Molitor, who were all experts at stealing signs, and picking up tells from a pitcher. Back in those days, there wasn't as much video though, so I doubt there was any of that shady stuff going on. That ain't cheating. That's using your smarts to gain an advantage. There's a fine line between the two, but it does exist.

The 1951 Giants used a telescope and a buzzer system. Is that beyond the pale?

https://sabr.org/research/durocher-s...-1951-finalist

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by andyhdz

The 1951 Giants used a telescope and a buzzer system. Is that beyond the pale?

https://sabr.org/research/durocher-s...-1951-finalist

Yep.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

If they go forward with this sh!t, I'm out.

Just don't let the door hit you in the bum.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Just don't let the door hit you in the bum.

Didn't say I wouldn't be back. Just said I wouldn't bother with Major League Circusball.

[ohiodevil]

I love it when millionaires argue with billionaires over money.....

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by ohiodevil

I love it when millionaires argue with billionaires over money.....

I love it, unironcially, when workers stand up for their rights.

[ry1220]

If he's willing to take $0 instead of $3.5m to guarantee his and his family's safety, why are we criticizing him??

[ohiodevil]

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

I love it, unironcially, when workers stand up for their rights.

If he was a regular joe that worked at the stadium or in the team front office, I would agree with you....but he's a player making millions and he's complaining about making $3.5 mil instead of $7 mil.....yeah, no sympathy.

Now if his reasons for not playing is what ry1220 said (safety for him and his loved ones), then I agree with him.

[ohiodevil]

And for those that did not see what he said, here it is:

"Y'all gotta understand, man, for me to go -- for me to take a pay cut is not happening, because the risk is through the roof," Snell said while answering questions on his Twitch channel. "It's a shorter season, less pay.

"No, I gotta get my money. I'm not playing unless I get mine, OK? And that's just the way it is for me. Like, I'm sorry you guys think differently, but the risk is way the hell higher and the amount of money I'm making is way lower. Why would I think about doing that?"

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...reduced-salary

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by ohiodevil

And for those that did not see what he said, here it is:

"Y'all gotta understand, man, for me to go -- for me to take a pay cut is not happening, because the risk is through the roof," Snell said while answering questions on his Twitch channel. "It's a shorter season, less pay.

"No, I gotta get my money. I'm not playing unless I get mine, OK? And that's just the way it is for me. Like, I'm sorry you guys think differently, but the risk is way the hell higher and the amount of money I'm making is way lower. Why would I think about doing that?"

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...reduced-salary

Venn diagram: people complaining about Blake Snell and people who are working for free

Just to make sure everyone is clear on what happened and is happening.

The players and MLB signed a contract

The players then agreed, due to the coronavirus, to alter the original contract and take a pay cut.

Now, the owners are asking for a THIRD agreement and for the players to take ANOTHER pay cut.

The owners haven't and wouldn't redo the deals when they make more money. But because they're going to lose money, they are asking for the SECOND time for the players to redo the agreement.

The owners are billionaires. Billion-aires. 1,000,000,000-aires. And "they deserve it because they took the risks". Well, the risk works both ways. That's why it's risk.

They are usually drowning in money, this year they can take a bath

[Jason Moyer]

It always baffles me when I see (not so much here) normal Joes defending ownership in sports labor disputes. Aren't these contracts insured? And how is fulfilling the contract you offered in full even though the season is cut short because of a natural disaster any different than paying the full contract if the guy tears his ACL in spring training and is out for 2 years?

I think the union should be lauded for offering to play for a pro-rated salary, but ownership asking for a 50/50 revenue split is hilarious. Here, you 1000 guys who are the ones generating all of the league's revenue take this half, and the 30 of us will take the other half.