Odds and Your pick to win the 2025 World Series?

[Harry Dresden]

Soto may have had some nice stat lines with regards to fielding this year.

Here’s why some folks believe he is a glorified DH.


View attachment 1167626

he had 8 assists the top guy had 11.....

 

[Rocko]

Soto sure is a great talent … but Alonso had a better year.


Soto had a better year than Alonso. Soto was the king on getting on base. Alonso had a good year in hitting doubles and homers, but he wasn’t a top 5 player in baseball like Soto was.

 

[Harry Dresden]

That is a very fair point. It is interesting though that Alonso had more RBIs and 2x I believe the amount of doubles that Soto had.

But yes, it seems that managers and pitchers would rather face Alonso….

Bottom line for me and this is simply my opinion as we are all providing our opinions here. I don’t think Soto lived up to his contract this year that doesn’t mean he will do the same next year. For what he is getting paid I think he should have a better batting average and more home runs.

the guy is only 26.....the guy is coming into his prime....

 

[Harry Dresden]

Well 2x world championships in the last five years is pretty darn good. And if they win another one this year….

i dont include 2020 as a legit season...

 

[Rocko]

Soto was almost a member of the 40-40 club as well. The reason why Alonso had so many RBI’s was Soto.

 

[Harry Dresden]

Soto was almost a member of the 40-40 club as well. The reason why Alonso had so many RBI’s was Soto.

also one of the reasons why Soto had a 120 runs scored....

 

[Andrew_Jackson_FTW]

How about the Houston Astros ending their eight year postseason streak?

Now what is mattress Mac going to do?

 

[Andrew_Jackson_FTW]

Soto was almost a member of the 40-40 club as well. The reason why Alonso had so many RBI’s was Soto.

Again, I will always acknowledge that Soto is a tremendous talent

But how about Jose Ramirez. Just had his third 30/30 year. And only five players in MLB history have done that. I think he is underpaid. I think the guardians got a steal on his 7 contract for 140 million back in 2022.

He is a switch hitter… perhaps the best switch hitter in the league… batting above 280 this year. I know I know what about Cal who is batting 247

Jose is Considered by many to be the best third baseman in baseball. He is a seven time All-Star and one of the best clutch hitters this year. Dare I say I would rather have him on my team this year compared to Juan Soto. Key words this year

 

[Harry Dresden]

How about the Houston Astros ending their eight year postseason streak?

Now what is mattress Mac going to do?

they and the Tigers died down the stretch....the tigers are lucky....

 

[Rocko]

Again, I will always acknowledge that Soto is a tremendous talent

But how about Jose Ramirez. Just had his third 30/30 year. And only five players in MLB history have done that. I think he is underpaid. I think the guardians got a steal on his 7 contract for 140 million back in 2022.

He is a switch hitter… perhaps the best switch hitter in the league… batting above 280 this year. I know I know what about Cal who is batting 247

Jose is Considered by many to be the best third baseman in baseball. He is a seven time All-Star and one of the best clutch hitters this year. Dare I say I would rather have him on my team this year compared to Juan Soto. Key words this year

If you say Ramirez is a better prospect than Soto then I won’t push back, but I think Soto had a better year. Right now there aren’t many players better than Soto. He’s got to be top 5 in baseball.

 

[lith leo]

I can’t understand why the tigers Indians game is on at 1 PM. On espn as well. Well lots of youngsters will be skipping school that day.

The MLB has their reasoning I suppose. And I suppose one can say it would be unfair if one team had an extra day off to allow for more night games. But mlb probably wants the games to not be on at the same time.

Det-Cleve is the first game because of time zones. They're EST along with New York. Boston-NY is a better draw, so they are playing after Det-Cleve. Chicago is CST, so they play next. LA is, of course, west coast, so they play last.

--Lithium Leo

 

[lith leo]

I'm not a Mets fan, but I don't like the tiebreaker rule. Mets-Reds should have a one game playoff. You had the same record, so play it off. Head-to-head not withstanding.

And what's with a division winner being down there with a lowly 6 seed wildcard? Okay, the idea of vying for best record among division winners is appealing, but that should be reflected in home field advantage.

The solution is to simply add two more teams to the league. The US population has grown enough to support two more teams. If the NFL has 32, then the MLB can certainly do it. And I don't want to hear that pitching would be too thin. Nonsense. Stop emphasizing the hard throwing. I was watching pitchers in high single A this summer throwing over 95 mph regularly. Ridiculous.

--Lithium Leo

 

[Andrew_Jackson_FTW]

Det-Cleve is the first game because of time zones. They're EST along with New York. Boston-NY is a better draw, so they are playing after Det-Cleve. Chicago is CST, so they play next. LA is, of course, west coast, so they play last.

--Lithium Leo

I get it. But I would say this is why MLB needs to consider days off for the playoffs specifically. To get more primetime games. But I also understand the argument against it.

 

[lith leo]

I get it. But I would say this is why MLB needs to consider days off for the playoffs specifically. To get more primetime games. But I also understand the argument against it.

They're greedy. You have the billionaires vs the millionaires.

--Lithium Leo

 

[Andrew_Jackson_FTW]

I'm not a Mets fan, but I don't like the tiebreaker rule. Mets-Reds should have a one game playoff. You had the same record, so play it off. Head-to-head not withstanding.

And what's with a division winner being down there with a lowly 6 seed wildcard? Okay, the idea of vying for best record among division winners is appealing, but that should be reflected in home field advantage.

The solution is to simply add two more teams to the league. The US population has grown enough to support two more teams. If the NFL has 32, then the MLB can certainly do it. And I don't want to hear that pitching would be too thin. Nonsense. Stop emphasizing the hard throwing. I was watching pitchers in high single A this summer throwing over 95 mph regularly. Ridiculous.

--Lithium Leo

Well, pictures are throwing a lot harder. There’s more 100 mile per hour throwers in the league nowadays.

 

[lith leo]

Playing in November is ridiculous. Cut the crap.

--Lithium Leo

 

[lith leo]

Well, pictures are throwing a lot harder. There’s more 100 mile per hour throwers in the league nowadays.

Yes, and they are paying for it. Upper management and owners are bastards.

--Lithium Leo

 

[Andrew_Jackson_FTW]

Playing in November is ridiculous. Cut the crap.

--Lithium Leo

Haha

Only do it for the wildcard round perhaps.

 

[lith leo]

Haha

Only do it for the wildcard round perhaps.

I don't consider myself a purist, but wildcard is crap. You could simply have 8 divisions of 4 teams.

I think that structure would actually attract more fans than these goofball wildcard set-ups. The first time fan and the casual fan would get it right away. Win your division--make the playoffs. Lose your division--go home.

--Lithium Leo

 

[Andrew_Jackson_FTW]

I don't consider myself a purist, but wildcard is crap. You could simply have 8 divisions of 4 teams.

I think that structure would actually attract more fans than these goofball wildcard set-ups. The first time fan and the casual fan would get it right away. Win your division--make the playoffs. Lose your division--go home.

--Lithium Leo

I agree that the wildcard is questionable. Can take away from the old school game, which I really prefer.

But the wildcard means more playoff games. Now what could be done about having more primetime wildcard games considering that would push games into November. Could have the World Series at a dome or warm weather city in a neutral location. Kinda like the Super Bowl. Obviously it is simply a consideration. It obviously would have its criticism.

As for baseball purity, which is I believe another term for the way the game used to be played. I am against a pitcher having to face three hitters. I am against the designated hitter. I am against the runner on second base in extra ends. I don’t like the 30 second pitch clock. I don’t like the pitcher only being able to check back the runner twice …I have brought this up before most, especially the rule where a pitcher brought into a game has to face three hitters or at least complete the half inning…. takes away from the managerial decision-making. The left-handed specialist the right hand specialist. Of course the DH takes a removes the crucial decision of the manager used to have late in the game to stick with a pitcher performing well or put in the pinch hitter. I completely understand the argument against all of these points. But it is what it is I enjoyed the longer games.