NL East 2024

[imref]

Mets DFA’ng Jorge Lopez after he threw his glove into the stands and called the team “the worst team in the whole f—-ng MLB” following today’s loss.

[Senatorswin]

Mets DFA’ng Jorge Lopez after he threw his glove into the stands and called the team “the worst team in the whole f—-ng MLB” following today’s loss.

That will do it.

[imref]

there's some argument that he was calling himself the worst teammate, his english isn't very good.

[Senatorswin]

there's some argument that he was calling himself the worst teammate, his english isn't very good.

When they were questioning him they were very fair making sure he was saying the Mets were the worst team and he acknowledged that's what he was saying. He also said he may be the worst teammate also.

[welch]

Before the Lopez game, Met vets called a team-only meeting. And then lost badly.

https://www.mlb.com/news/jorge-lopez-throws-glove-into-stands

[skippy1999]

Lololol Metsies

[imref]

Passan with a shocker:

Outfielder Avisail Garcia is being designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins, sources tell ESPN.

Garcia is in the third year of a four-year, $53 million contract. The Marlins will eat nearly $24 million on the deal.

[Natsinpwc]

Passan with a shocker:

Probably a bad move to get rid of Kim Ng but this one is on her.

[Smithian]

Apparently they only draft guys names Spencer now.

We did a run with guys named Taylor

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

There seems to be a lot of red in the stands at Olympic Stadium, there must be some visceral connection between West Ham and Phillies hooligans

[English Natsie]

My goodness -is it time for the annual rant again, already? Ah well, here goes...

How many more empty seats is it going to take for the penny to finally drop, with MLB, with regard to their extortionate ticket prices? Let's give up any pretence that this is about developing the game, over here - it's about providing a great vacation extra when in London, and a 'taste of home' for ex-pats; that's who seem to make up most of the crowd. Spotted most team apparel, except for Colorado, Mariners and...Nationals - but, could also see quite a few MiLB jerseys; if they were Brits then I'm a Dutchman. NFL could sell out Wembley, or Tottenham, many times over for games - MLB need to start pricing these games at an appropriate level for the profile of the game, over here. Once again (in common with previous London Series) it's been calculated that it would be cheaper for UK fans to go and see either team in their home city than in London (high ticket prices, cost of return travel, and accomodation in an expensive city at the height of the tourist season). If MLB can't even sell out a reduced capacity London Stadium, then...

A continuing issue, for MLB, is the lack of FTA TV coverage. The London games are carried by the BBC - but while first time they were on one of the main channels, they're now just embedded video on the BBC Sport website. Even if those new to the game manage to find the coverage and think 'that wasn't bad - I'll watch more' they can only do so if they pay-up for TNT Sports or MLB TV - they're just not going to, and any interest then dissipates. Those of my UK baseball generation will be forever grateful to Channel 5 for allowing us to learn the game, but today...It should be pretty easy - the NFL has always had a policy of keeping MNF available FTA, over here, to ensure everyone can see a game without pay tv, in order to foster interest in the NFL. Ironically, that now means Channel 5, as they and ESPN are in the same global media group. Surely that would mean that they could also share ESPN's MLB coverage, if they just had some support from MLB?

I always thought that if the Nationals ever come to London then I'll be there - but at the rate things are going I could see the London Series being abandoned long before then...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Growing the game in Europe I don't think is a priority. MLB I think takes markets as they are rather than develop them. I don't know how the pricing compares in Japan for the season openers vs. the London series. I would think there's a better market in Japan or Korea this year, especially with prominent Japanese stars who played in Japanese leagues. I do suspect it's more of a gimmick for tourists (let's draw a bunch of Philly and Long Islanders over). That and ex-Pats, as you say, explaining the jerseys. Bet you saw some Yankee / dodgers / Red Sox stuff, although I would figure Nats Soto jerseys would be seen, too. To my mind, Amsterdam might be a better setting than London if they were going for natives due to the Honkbal league.

It really would make sense for some ESPN games to be available. Given the time difference, 7 PM US east coast time is midnight GMT, and I can't imagine there's a lot of other live sports in that time slot in the UK.

[Natsinpwc]

What was the attendance at the games?  Phillies fans did their part in traveling to London.  I suppose it pulls some extra money into the economy. 

I blame Brexit. 

[Slateman]

Uh, MLB attendance is at an all time high. Why would they drop prices?

[Natsinpwc]

Uh, MLB attendance is at an all time high. Why would they drop prices?

He’s talking about the London games.

[English Natsie]

It really would make sense for some ESPN games to be available. Given the time difference, 7 PM US east coast time is midnight GMT, and I can't imagine there's a lot of other live sports in that time slot in the UK.

Absolutely - we can record games overnight, like with MNF, and watch next day (or even have a late night if not working the next morning... ).

[English Natsie]

Uh, MLB attendance is at an all time high. Why would they drop prices?

As PWC said, I'm talking about the London Games. MLB actually charge more than the NFL - and they're not above a bit of jiggery-pokery, either. They advertise 'tickets from £80 ($101) - but only make (it was reported) thirty tickets available at that price - the rest start at  $230 and upwards, for one game... How many WNFF'ers would pay that for one game at Nats Park? And the scalpers have their bots going to scoop up tickets en masse for inflated resale - although, looking at all the empty seats, on Saturday, that may be backfiring...

[English Natsie]

What was the attendance at the games?  Phillies fans did their part in traveling to London.  I suppose it pulls some extra money into the economy. 

Difficult to say - MLB uses the old dodge of stating tickets 'sold' (even if that includes the scalpers) as the (virtual) attendance rather than numbers actually in the park. I'll stick my neck out and say that Saturday's game looked to have the lowest attendance yet, for a London game - some parts of the park looked pretty sparse.

I would assume that those coming from the US, on vacation packages, have the ticket included in the overall package price so don't notice just how 'ouch!' they are...

[Natsinpwc]

Difficult to say - MLB uses the old dodge of stating tickets 'sold' (even if that includes the scalpers) as the (virtual) attendance rather than numbers actually in the park. I'll stick my neck out and say that Saturday's game looked to have the lowest attendance yet, for a London game - some parts of the park looked pretty sparse.

I would assume that those coming from the US, on vacation packages, have the ticket included in the overall package price so don't notice just how 'ouch!' they are...

Looked it up and was around 52k Saturday and 55k Sunday.  Using the tickets sold is standard stuff. It seems designed to have Americans go to England more than growing fans there. The tv stuff seems weird.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

As PWC said, I'm talking about the London Games. MLB actually charge more than the NFL - and they're not above a bit of jiggery-pokery, either. They advertise 'tickets from £80 ($101) - but only make (it was reported) thirty tickets available at that price - the rest start at  $230 and upwards, for one game... How many WNFF'ers would pay that for one game at Nats Park? And the scalpers have their bots going to scoop up tickets en masse for inflated resale - although, looking at all the empty seats, on Saturday, that may be backfiring...

Those are LCS prices here, not regular season.

I think MLB treats London games as special events, like the HR Derby, All Star Game, and LCS/World Series. An event with a nice setting. OTOH, the NFL treats London as a potential expansion city and has tried to steadily build the market. Were MLB to try to build in England, it would need to schedule about 4 weekends after the Champions League and before teams start training for the next soccer season. They also want to avoid international soccer dates.

[English Natsie]

Those are LCS prices here, not regular season.

I think MLB treats London games as special events, like the HR Derby, All Star Game, and LCS/World Series. An event with a nice setting. OTOH, the NFL treats London as a potential expansion city and has tried to steadily build the market. Were MLB to try to build in England, it would need to schedule about 4 weekends after the Champions League and before teams start training for the next soccer season. They also want to avoid international soccer dates.

Insightful comment - reflects (sadly) what most MLB fans here think (those more cynical than I say 'why not invite the Bananas over and have done with it.'..). Had Khan bought Wembley, and without COVID, then few doubt that it'd be the London Jaguars already...As a fan of both sports, I'd love MLB to follow the NFL, but it won't happen.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Between the ~180,000 US expats (not counting 10k military) and at least as many tourists during any given summer week, MLB can pretty much fill a stadium for a couple of games just with yanquis.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Between the ~180,000 US expats (not counting 10k military) and at least as many tourists during any given summer week, MLB can pretty much fill a stadium for a couple of games just with yanquis.

I will guess that most ex-pats aren't all that into baseball. If they are looking for a place just to gather with Americans, I'd think the NFL games would be more attractive, especially at a cheaper price. That said, baseball is more of an American-only thing.

[varoadking]

I will guess that most ex-pats aren't all that into baseball. If they are looking for a place just to gather with Americans, I'd think the NFL games would be more attractive, especially at a cheaper price. That said, baseball is more of an American-only thing.

Japan says hello...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Japan says hello...

relative to the population in England, it'd be much of interest primarily for USA ex-pats. In comparison, in Japan or Korea, lots and lots of nationals