Juan Soto, Yankee

[imref]

UCL injury?

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

Ironically, baseball has far more parity than football

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/to-win-a-world-series-teams-almost-always-have-to-spend/

Not sure that I agree it has more parity.

[HalfSmokes]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/to-win-a-world-series-teams-almost-always-have-to-spend/

Not sure that I agree it has more parity.

In the last 10 World Series, 9 different teams have won. 6 teams have won the last 10 super bowls.

[Natsinpwc]

In the last 10 World Series, 9 different teams have won. 6 teams have won the last 10 super bowls.

Overall though it’s easier to go from bad to competitive in the NFL. There are more MLB teams that have been at the bottom of the league for years. Not as much of that in the NFL.  Hockey has a hard cap also and is generally competitive.

[Senatorswin]

It is true through better management the KC Chiefs and San Francisco have dominated the playoffs lately in football but every team has the same chance. In the NFL some team from a city in Wisconsin called Green Bay can be one of the most successful teams because they're managed better. Baseball would be better off if the same was true.

[Natsinpwc]

It is true through better management the KC Chiefs and EAGLES have dominated the playoffs lately in football but every team has the same chance. In the NFL some team from a city in Wisconsin called Green Bay can be one of the most successful teams because they're managed better. Baseball would be better off if the same was true.

FTFY.

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

In the last 10 World Series, 9 different teams have won. 6 teams have won the last 10 super bowls.

Yes but overall its the same high revenue teams winning and competing. You basically have no chance if you aren't spending or you aren't a high revenue club. The imbalance is there and the data backs it up but the league simply doesn't care. Its also why I believe they instituted this draft lottery. Not to get the teams that don't spend to spend but to give these bluechip prospects a chance to wind up with the better clubs.

[Natsinpwc]

Yes but overall its the same high revenue teams winning and competing. You basically have no chance if you aren't spending or you aren't a high revenue club. The imbalance is there and the data backs it up but the league simply doesn't care. Its also why I believe they instituted this draft lottery. Not to get the teams that don't spend to spend but to give these bluechip prospects a chance to wind up with the better clubs.

So how about a salary floor? 

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

So how about a salary floor? 

Yes. Absolutely. I want both. I don't agree with having owners who simply refuse to spend money. Honestly, the league needs to encourage those guys to sell and I think a salary floor will lead to that as well.

[HalfSmokes]

Yes but overall its the same high revenue teams winning and competing. You basically have no chance if you aren't spending or you aren't a high revenue club. The imbalance is there and the data backs it up but the league simply doesn't care. Its also why I believe they instituted this draft lottery. Not to get the teams that don't spend to spend but to give these bluechip prospects a chance to wind up with the better clubs.

Different teams can go from poverty to winning in baseball. Both the Royals and Nats have recent wins. In football, you need to luck into an elite qb or you can never win

[HalfSmokes]

Overall though it’s easier to go from bad to competitive in the NFL. There are more MLB teams that have been at the bottom of the league for years. Not as much of that in the NFL.  Hockey has a hard cap also and is generally competitive.

Is it? The same sad sack franchises occupy the bottom of the NFL the same way terrible franchises in the MLB never compete. Occasionally one will make a run, but the same thing happens in baseball- just look at the Os

[Natsinpwc]

Is it? The same sad sack franchises occupy the bottom of the NFL the same way terrible franchises in the MLB never compete. Occasionally one will make a run, but the same thing happens in baseball- just look at the Os

Go look at longest times of teams not in MLB playoffs versus the NFL playoffs. There are a few sad sack franchises like the Jets but most have some good seasons.  The unbalanced schedule does help. 

Don’t look now but the Orioles are a juggernaut. KC is good again. Pirates and Reds are at least decent. Maybe there is hope.

[nobleisthyname]

The Rays and A's of old show it's possible to be a competitive MLB franchise without much revenue. Brewers are doing it now as well.

[nobleisthyname]

Going back to Soto, has anyone else noticed that Soto has actually been... good defensively this season? The assumption always seems to have been he's a future DH (if not already one now) but including this one 3 of his 7 MLB seasons have him as a plus defender in the outfield.

[nfotiu]

There are a lot of moving parts when comparing both leagues.  NFL is a national TV product.   

There is a distinction between having a high payroll and doing it smart in MLB vs signing Boras's big guys to dumb contracts.   Harper seems to be working out for now, but usually it's a dumb way for a team to spend money, and doesn't necessarily bring success.   Nor does whatever the Mets and Padres strategy of spending is.  Yankees fans don't seem too comfortable that they'll even be able to keep Soto and he may well go to free agency.   

Nats views are pretty skewed by the fact that we had so many high profile Boras guys come through.   He has been successful in convincing his big guys to not place any value in early security to go all in for the big prize in free agency.  It definitely works at a macro scale across his stable, but some individuals end up getting screwed.   His approach takes away any leverage a team has for trying to keep his players long term.   

[Natsinpwc]

Going back to Soto, has anyone else noticed that Soto has actually been... good defensively this season? The assumption always seems to have been he's a future DH (if not already one now) but including this one 3 of his 7 MLB seasons have him as a plus defender in the outfield.

Yes Slate had already decided he is a DH although playing the OF.

[Slateman]

Not sure how 1 OAA is good, nor counters like -30 in his career. He sucks in the OF.

[nobleisthyname]

Not sure how 1 OAA is good, nor counters like -30 in his career. He sucks in the OF.

I'm not calling him a gold glover, but by definition a 1 OAA is above average. The vast majority of his negative fielding stats were accumulated in 2022-23. Before the 2022 season he was considered slightly below average by OAA and that was with a 4 season sample size.

[Slateman]

I would chalk it up to playing in a smaller outfield with a good CFer.

[Natsinpwc]

I'm not calling him a gold glover, but by definition a 1 OAA is above average. The vast majority of his negative fielding stats were accumulated in 2022-23. Before the 2022 season he was considered slightly below average by OAA and that was with a 4 season sample size.

You just need a LF to be adequate. Padres made a mistake having him in RF.

[Slateman]

You just need a LF to be adequate. Padres made a mistake having him in RF.

He's currently playing RF for the Yankees. He is definitely trying harder than as  Padre, but it also helps that he is playing in a small park with a competent CFer in Judge.

I agree, you need a LF to be adequate, but Soto is the type of defender you would look to move to DH or 1B before he is 30.

[Senatorswin]

I was watching a Yankee game earlier this year and the Yankee announcer mentioned Soto was determined to improve as an outfielder and put a lot of time into it.

[Smithian]

I've watched enough Juan Soto to know he isn't a "bad" corner outfielder, but just because he can play outfield when he is locked in doesn't mean you're not better off with him at 1B or DH.

They probably can play him out there a couple more years, but he isn't going to get paid to be a glove in the corner. Better off having him as 1B/DH long term and let the bat go nuts.

[GataNats]

Judge and Soto in the same outfield is a turnstile

[Senatorswin]

Judge and Soto in the same outfield is a turnstile

The Red Sox had a runner on second tonight and got a single to center. It looked like the runner was going to score easily. Judge threw a 96 MPH on the line perfect one hop to the catcher. They had to do a reply to decide he was safe. Not quite, but almost was Bo Jacksonesqe.