2016 MLB thread. THE CUBS HAVE BROKEN THE CURSE! Chicago Cubs are your 2016 World Series champions

[jewbacca2]

The cards have an excess of stating pitchers that allowed them to make this move.

However, it should raise red flags that the Braves weren't interested in extending Heyward.

 

[madj55]

Stanton deal officially done.

 

[champcruthik]

It's truly a shame how few African Americans are in the big leagues today

Matty and J. Up my dudes. The baseball landscape is an enigma.

The cards have an excess of stating pitchers that allowed them to make this move.

However, it should raise red flags that the Braves weren't interested in extending Heyward.

Aside from his 2012 campaign, "J-Hey Kid" isn't a very good hitter. You're essentially paying for his defense, or a poor man's Alex Gordon from an offensive standpoint.

 

[madj55]

Stanton deal officially done.

Can opt out of the deal after 6 years. Full no-trade clause.

 

[madj55]

Matty and J. Up my dudes. The baseball landscape is an enigma.

Yep. Matty Kemp, Adam Jones, Giancarlo, Michael Brantley, Ian Desmond, Denard Span, C.C., Marcus Stroman, Chris Archer, Desmond Jennings, Howie Kendrick, Coco, Prince Fielder, Chris Carter, Curtis Granderson, Brandon Phillips, Billy Hamilton, Andrew McCutchen, Carl Crawford, Sam Freeman, and Lorenzo Cain are all the guys I could name off the top of my head. Sure I missed some.

 

[GreenNGold89]

I miss baseball.

 

[champcruthik]

Yep. Matty Kemp, Adam Jones, Giancarlo, Michael Brantley, Ian Desmond, Denard Span, C.C., Marcus Stroman, Chris Archer, Desmond Jennings, Howie Kendrick, Coco, Prince Fielder, Chris Carter, Curtis Granderson, Brandon Phillips, Billy Hamilton, Andrew McCutchen, Carl Crawford, Sam Freeman, and Lorenzo Cain are all the guys I could name off the top of my head. Sure I missed some.

Dyson, Dom Brown, Gore, Tai, Springer, Singleton. I believe Walker and Springer are half-African American.

 

[mr jordan04]

Peter Gammons tweeted Jays got Russell Martin for "McCann money"... I'm guessing 5 years, $80+ mil contract then

this dude's agent needs to get half of that money. he's not worth anywhere near that dough.

 

[phillyzphan]

The amount of African Americans in baseball declined because of how expensive it is to play and it takes a while to really make it and get A-Rod, Jeter, etc type money. A lot of these kids have dreams of becoming rich. Go to college for a year, then go to the NBA and you're being paid from year 1. Similar with football. But in baseball, you spend years in the minors, driving to games in buses, not living the high life. Unless you're top guy like Harper and Strasburg, in recent years, your first contract isn't that great, plus you don't see minor leaguers on tv rocking diamonds and driving Bentleys.

 

[dland24]

Travel baseball is expensive. Hell even baseball teams at inner city schools are underfunded so kids choose football or basketball over it

I am of the opinion that Travel teams/Tournament teams are destroying youth baseball.  And yes, part of the reason I feel that way is money.  A big part.

 

[ii flash ii]

Damn my boy JHey is gone

Guess rebuilding is what they wanna do with the new stadium coming

 

[ooiron manoo]

I like the fact that baseball is very diverse, so miss me with the lack of "x" group.

AAU ball isn't cheap, neither is pee wee football. Yes some of those kids get their athletic endeavors "funded". It isn't for lack of opportunities.

Everyone has the choice, they choose not to.

Travel baseball is destroying young arms everywhere.

 

[HIM]

I remember the hype Heyward came in with. Didn't he hit a HR in his first AB, too?

What a disappoinment

 

[finallyfamous]

68 grand a day

 

[trueprada]

 

[ooiron manoo]

Although he hasn't reached the offensive heights people said he would. He hasn't been awful at the plate. His glove though, makes him extremely valuable. He's only 25.

If the Cards lock him up, they win the deal.

 

[jewbacca2]

Travel baseball is destroying young arms everywhere.

Year round baseball and kids not properly conditioning their arms cause major problems.

Professionals have spring training to get their arms in shape for the upcoming season. Most kids I know and played with wouldn't do any type of preparation and just show up and start throwing 100 percent. Smh.

The showcase type events that encourage kids to try to light up a radar gun are also terrible for development.

 

[lightweight champion]

The amount of African Americans in baseball declined because of how expensive it is to play and it takes a while to really make it and get A-Rod, Jeter, etc type money. A lot of these kids have dreams of becoming rich. Go to college for a year, then go to the NBA and you're being paid from year 1. Similar with football. But in baseball, you spend years in the minors, driving to games in buses, not living the high life. Unless you're top guy like Harper and Strasburg, in recent years, your first contract isn't that great, plus you don't see minor leaguers on tv rocking diamonds and driving Bentleys.

This might be the mindset of a teenager, but when you're 7-8 years old you don't think of what jewelry and luxury cars you can attain as a pro athlete. That's not what kids play for, they play for the enjoyment of the game. You are right about one thing though, it is expensive to play and having money offers more opportunities to those whose parents have it. You can't enjoy playing a sport if you can't play it.

 

[johnnyredstorm]

Travel baseball is destroying young arms everywhere.

Year round baseball and kids not properly conditioning their arms cause major problems.

Professionals have spring training to get their arms in shape for the upcoming season. Most kids I know and played with wouldn't do any type of preparation and just show up and start throwing 100 percent. Smh.

The showcase type events that encourage kids to try to light up a radar gun are also terrible for development.

Not many ice their arms down after pitching either.

 

[jewbacca2]

Living in a big youth baseball city like Houston, kids start getting private instruction basically when they start playing the game.

There are several former Astros who run a select organization down here and just steal money from families. It's a joke, but only the wealthy families can even afford to get their kids foot in the door of a higher level of competition.

 

[pacificnorsewst]

It's truly a shame how few African Americans are in the big leagues today

Byron Buxton about to change all that.

I hope.

 

[theenorthstar]

I just want to say that baseball contracts are truly in another realm of insane and ridiculousness.

 

[dman14]

all that money for stanton? :x

 

[ooiron manoo]

Byron Buxton about to change all that.

I hope.

If the stars that are playing today can't change it, what makes you think Buxton can?

Kids are going to play what they want to play or what their parent's/environment influence them to play. Not many african american kids play baseball or soccer for that matter simply because they are steered towards basketball and football. Key word... "steered".

 

[lightweight champion]

13 years? What's the point? He'll be damn near 40 when it's over and probably useless.