Official *MLB Season Delayed* Thread

[chancellor]

The press release basically said, "Whoa, let's not get ahead of ourselves. We're exploring everything right now."

Understood, thanks!

[Sour Masher]

I think at this point, they have no choice but to play because even Trump said there will likely be no crowds until September, so they shouldn't hold their breath waiting for a miracle. Deciding to end the season before it starts would be a decidedly bad look for the league when the country really needs them to play. They may need to come to an agreement with the MLBPA to withhold a percentage of salaries due to a loss of revenue.

1 - No idea, not sure if this really matters. They seem to do well in spring training.
2 - Probably will have zero effect
3 - Passan mentioned something about this. I'm sure they will have to have precautions in place

I'm sure each stadium can make some modifications, like enclosed, air conditioned dugouts, or the like. I mean, I understand how hot it can get, but these players will be inside for half the game. I'm sure they'll survive knowing it's play or not get paid. It's also possible the heat will lead to many replacements or sitting out of games more than usual.

I think 1. could matter for some players. Some player play poorly in cold weather. Hitters generally fair better in the heat than pitchers, as they are not putting forth the effort the pitchers on a consistent basis. So, I'd expect more offense early and often.

I also think 2 could matter a little. There are players who play better come playoff time, or worse, because of pressure. Some of that may be the energy of the crown. Mr. March, Lewis Brinson, might actually be good this year .

[Sour Masher]

If everyone would take a cut (players, owners, etc.) and baseball were the first sport back, that would be some forward thinking on everyone's part. Baseball has been concerned about how to attract new fans for a while now, and nothing would beat this for it. On the other hand, everyone could get sick, and it could turn out to be a really stupid idea, too.

It would be a wise move, financially, for baseball to get games played and televised, for sure. Already, even here among diehards, we are seeing interest wane as people find other things to do. Better to nip that in the bud. Still, I worry about what the season will look like from a fantasy standpoint, if it is played under these conditions. Many players will get this, I imagine. I expect that to be pretty disruptive. And then what happens if we spike again in the fall and things shut down? There goes the rest of the season. What happens then, especially in h2h leagues yet to have their playoffs?

[chancellor]

What happens then, especially in h2h leagues yet to have their playoffs?

H2H? Isn't that a Sports Bar game?

[Ken]

H2H? Isn't that a Sports Bar game?

Not sure. Check on H2Hjunkiefix.com

[Sour Masher]

H2H? Isn't that a Sports Bar game?

Ha, it is the only place it is deemed acceptable here, I think. You peeps have always looked down on my kind, with our h2h and points leagues and what-not. All I know is my h2h points league has been around for 27 years--we were trend setters, and it looks like finally a small subset of the community has come around to that being a fun way to play.

Don't knock it till you try it. Back when you lot were drafting Juan Pierre over Barry Bonds, my league was enjoying having actual good players do well for our teams .

[Sour Masher]

Not sure. Check on H2Hjunkiefix.com

Bah, you fit right in here Ken, with the rest of the roto elitists! H2H points is the game of the people!

[revo]

The Japanese League delayed the start of their regular season for a 2nd time, from April 24th to likely sometime in June, after Abe declared a state of emergency and a few players on the Hanshin Tigers were diagnosed with it. This is viewed as a bad sign by MLB.

[chancellor]

Ha, it is the only place it is deemed acceptable here, I think. You peeps have always looked down on my kind, with our h2h and points leagues and what-not. All I know is my h2h points league has been around for 27 years--we were trend setters, and it looks like finally a small subset of the community has come around to that being a fun way to play.

Don't knock it till you try it. Back when you lot were drafting Juan Pierre over Barry Bonds, my league was enjoying having actual good players do well for our teams .

I've actually played points leagues. H2H is for football for me, but I was just yanking your chain.

[Sour Masher]

I've actually played points leagues. H2H is for football for me, but I was just yanking your chain.

Wow, I'm surprised anyone else here has tried points. How did you like it compared to roto?

[Ken]

Wow, I'm surprised anyone else here has tried points. How did you like it compared to roto?

I've tried basically "everything" over the years. I started out in H2H in the 90s. I heart roto.

[Sour Masher]

I've tried basically "everything" over the years. I started out in H2H in the 90s. I heart roto.

I like the relative verisimilitude of points compared to roto in terms of player values. I could never get past the scaricty of steals driving up the value of specialists like Pierre to be comparable to a once in a lifetime hitter like Bonds. Does that have any impact for you? Are you drawn to the newer metrics some leagues use instead of the traditional ones, or do you like the old school ones? I'd prefer the leagues that use more categories and choose ones that try to more closely approximate real offensive value with the fantasy values, but even after all the advances in our understanding of the numbers, it surprises me that the vast majority of league seem to stick with the old school 5x5 categories.

[chancellor]

Wow, I'm surprised anyone else here has tried points. How did you like it compared to roto?

Not at all. My league lacked verisimilitude (I'm using it just because I was really impressed with your usage....) since starting pitchers were overwhelmingly overvalued. For example, in 2002 to use your Bonds analogy, Kevin Millwood was just slightly less valuable than Barry Bonds. Mind you, Millwood had a very good year in 2002, but....really?

And, yes, I finished second to the owner who had Millwood. And, yes, I'm bitter.

I've been in roto now for a long time. I'd guess 90% or so of the leagues I've been in have been roto, remainder were points. I'm not in any points leagues any more.

[Sour Masher]

Not at all. My league lacked verisimilitude (I'm using it just because I was really impressed with your usage....) since starting pitchers were overwhelmingly overvalued. For example, in 2002 to use your Bonds analogy, Kevin Millwood was just slightly less valuable than Barry Bonds. Mind you, Millwood had a very good year in 2002, but....really?

And, yes, I finished second to the owner who had Millwood. And, yes, I'm bitter.

I've been in roto now for a long time. I'd guess 90% or so of the leagues I've been in have been roto, remainder were points. I'm not in any points leagues any more.

Well, see that is your problem. Most points leagues suck, cuz of the way they allocate pitcher points. I fixed that years ago in our league. Our pitching scoring is very different than standard points leagues. I worked at it a long time and realized it was near impossible to make it perfect, but we decided to devalue wins and saves a great deal and up Ks a lot. It isn't perfect, but it mimics skills much more. Overall, most hitters outscore most pitchers. The exceptions each year are the top 3-6 true aces that strikeout 250 or more batters. Those guys do outscore the top hitters, but last year, after Cole and Verlander, who outpaced everyone else by over 100 points, it was hitters for most of the top 20. So, yeah, the top 5ish aces are insanely valuable, but the drop off is really steep from that group to the next and the next group to the one after, etc. Overall, hitters carry more value. I think all of that mimics the real game. The true aces in a given year are incredibly valuable to their teams, but every day players, in general, carry more value than your run of the mill arms.

[chancellor]

You had me at “Most points leagues suck”. We have agreement!

Like Ken, I’ve really come to enjoy roto a lot.