POLL: UPDATED: Bryce's team in 2019 will be.....

[Nick the Pig]

I don't buy the collusion arguments. Teams act the same because it's a copycat league and at this point everyone has the same analytics data mostly

You might be a Capitalist, UMD.

Have you considered that ?

[Elvir Ovcina]

It's more complicated than that. It's could be construed as collusion to suppress wages and it's illegal under anti-trust laws.

Allegations of conspiracy in "conscious parallelism" cases like this would be are notoriously hard to even get past summary judgment, much less win at trial - and that's even before dealing with MLB's antitrust exemption and the thorny interactions between the Sherman Act and labor markets that have collective bargaining agreements.

[Nick the Pig]

Allegations of conspiracy in "conscious parallelism" cases like this would be are notoriously hard to even get past summary judgment, much less win at trial - and that's even before dealing with MLB's antitrust exemption and the thorny interactions between the Sherman Act and labor markets that have collective bargaining agreements.

Your command of American English is quite excellent, Elvir...

[imref]

Reports tonight are that the Padres have offered Machado 8/$240 and Harper a larger deal.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/02/padres-reportedly-offering-250mm-or-more-to-manny-machado-bryce-harper.html

[blue911]

I really want Harper to sign with Phillie. He’s nothing more than David Ortiz without the leadership or post season success.

[hotshot]

I really want Harper to sign with Phillie. He’s nothing more than David Ortiz without the leadership or post season success.

If Ortiz read your post, I'm sure he would be highly insulted.

[Slateman]

I really want Harper to sign with Phillie. He’s nothing more than David Ortiz without the leadership or post season success.

So nothing more than a hall of famer?

[Copecwby20]

Meh, I was offered a pretty freaking fair salary for my current contract.

I could have turned it down an then cried when my current company or any other didn’t offer what I wanted.

Would that be collusion?

No that would just be the people that sign the paychecks informing me that I’m overestimating my value and I need to get the freak over myself.

[imref]

Meh, I was offered a pretty freaking fair salary for my current contract.

I could have turned it down an then cried when my current company or any other didn’t offer what I wanted.

Would that be collusion?

No that would just be the people that sign the paychecks informing me that I’m overestimating my value and I need to get the freak over myself.

[Mathguy]

Cope - that's very true, particularly in Harper's case.  But one big difference is the population of potential employers wanting your skills is probably much bigger than potential employers wanting Harper's skills.  Just that size difference alone makes the chance for collision a bit higher in Harper's case.  So your scenario really isn't a good comparison. 

Meh, I was offered a pretty freaking fair salary for my current contract.

I could have turned it down an then cried when my current company or any other didn’t offer what I wanted.

Would that be collusion?

No that would just be the people that sign the paychecks informing me that I’m overestimating my value and I need to get the freak over myself.

[DCFan]

I really want Harper to sign with Phillie. He’s nothing more than David Ortiz without the leadership or post season success.

Ortiz is considered a baseball god in Boston so I don't know where you're going with that sentiment.

[blue911]

Ortiz is considered a baseball god in Boston so I don't know where you're going with that sentiment.

Put Papi in rightfield without three rings, then we'll see how much love.


I don't want to get into a leadership debete because none of have any real information. However after the Boston Marathon attack it was Ortiz who assigned himself as spokesman for the players, and was brilliant.

[PowerBoater69]

Saved you a click, no, long term free agent contracts aren't worth the risk.

https://www.talknats.com/2019/02/18/are-long-term-free-agent-contracts-worth-the-risk/

[DCFan]

Put Papi in rightfield without three rings, then we'll see how much love.

That's fantasyland. In the real world Ortiz thrived and succeeded in Boston, hence the god like reverence in Boston. Of course 3 WS wins will get you that. So again I don't see where you're coming from re Bryce and the Phillies.

[Duke of Earl]

Ortiz is considered a baseball god in Boston so I don't know where you're going with that sentiment.

There are some of us who don't think a DH is a real baseball player. (I'm talking about a guy who's only a DH and never plays a position.)  I'm one of those.  Younger fans feel differently.  It's a generational thing.

[blue911]

That's fantasyland. In the real world Ortiz thrived and succeeded in Boston, hence the god like reverence in Boston. Of course 3 WS wins will get you that. So again I don't see where you're coming from re Bryce and the Phillies.

Okay

[bluestreak]

Meh, I was offered a pretty freaking fair salary for my current contract.

I could have turned it down an then cried when my current company or any other didn’t offer what I wanted.

Would that be collusion?

No that would just be the people that sign the paychecks informing me that I’m overestimating my value and I need to get the freak over myself.

I’m not sure what you do, but if every company that could have employed you got together and said, “we’ll pay you 50 percent less than what had been typically been paid to someone doing what you do, and if you don’t like it, go bag groceries because you don’t have an option otherwise and hey, that’s the market.” I don’t think you’d be happy.

I mean ultimately it’s still a lot of money and I don’t see much sympathy being generated, but I can understand them being pissed. Everyone in their situation would be.

[UMDNats]

Man you guys really missed blue's point

[DCFan]

Man you guys really missed blue's point

Because it didn’t make sense. Probably because it was contrived while under the influence of too much demon rum?

[Natsinpwc]

I think the bigger issue for the MLBPA is the lower end free agents. Many are unsigned and may remain that way as teams realize it’s cheaper to play the young guys. Just look at Werth. 5 - 10 years ago he would have played somewhere last year. Owners are treating the luxury tax line like it’s a hard cap.

I don’t really have an ace to grind with either or the players or owners. It’s economics. If the owners don’t put a good team on the field that’s an issue. If players don’t perform up to the big contract that’s an issue. If a guy makes 30 million versus 20 million I don’t care as long as they can field a good team.

[Natsinpwc]

Put Papi in rightfield without three rings, then we'll see how much love.


I don't want to get into a leadership debete because none of have any real information. However after the Boston Marathon attack it was Ortiz who assigned himself as spokesman for the players, and was brilliant.

I don’t understand the argument. They have the DH and the Red Sox won three times. Take away Brady’s six Super Bowls and he is not a hero either. Take away Bill Russell’s ten championships and he’s not a big deal either.

[Natsinpwc]

Man you guys really missed blue's point

Please educate us.

[HalfSmokes]

I think the players really botched the last CBA- they gave up a lot with very little in return. Maybe having Tony Clark instead of a career labor lawyer was a bad idea

[Natsinpwc]

I think the players really botched the last CBA- they gave up a lot with very little in return. Maybe having Tony Clark instead of a career labor lawyer was a bad idea

This. So now they will try and make up for it by taking a really hard line. Looks like a long strike.

[UMDNats]

Please educate us.

his point was that a huge part of ortiz's legend came from his leadership and charisma and ability to feel like he is connected deeply to boston. obviously he's a really good hitter but he was a DH-only (blue saying harper's defense sucks) who is going into the hall of game in no small part because of his overall off-the-field persona. ortiz minus all of that is just a good DH, and if that's all you are getting for $30 million a year, is it worth it?

ortiz's highest salary was $16 million a year and his career OPS+ was 141 and Harper is at 139.