Summary[]
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about Shohei Otani, the Players Association, and a trio of opt-ins, then discuss whether tanking is bad for baseball and which conclusions can and can’t be drawn from the rebuilds, roster constructions, and in-game tactics of this season’s successful playoff teams.
Topics[]
- What are the lessons, either correct or incorrect, that teams will take from this past October?
- Is there a concern that more teams will tank after the success of the Cubs and the Astros?
- Are the Tigers tanking of just bad?
- Is there another team better situated to tank and rebuild like the White Sox than the Marlins?
- If there are several teams tanking is there a diminishing return per team?
- Do you have a moral opposition to the idea of getting really bad?
- Have the Astros changed the idea of “bullpenning” in the playoffs?
- Will the tandem starter approach gain popularity?
- Bullpen use by Astros in playoffs.
- Baseball trends in general.
Banter[]
- Jeff watched Narcos and Ben played video games
- The MLBPA is fighting the MLB over the posting rules.
- Is there a resolution to the posting fee issue that is satisfying to both sides?
- A lot of players seem to be opting in, why?
- What are Johnny Cueto’s bounce back odds?
Notes[]
- Johnny Cueto, Ian Kennedy, Masahiro Tanaka, and Justin Upton have opted in.
- Jeff is very unconcerned about Johnny Cueto.
- The guys think the White Sox, Padres, Braves, and Phillies are tanking.
- The Astros proved you can win in the playoffs without trusting anyone in your bullpen.
- Jeff thinks you'll see more teams use a “swing man” as a starter.
- Jeff and Ben think Ken Giles will be the Astros closer next year.
- Ben saw some Dodger fans “wanting to get away from all this stat nerd stuff”.
- How much higher can the pitcher trend go up.
- Mariners tied the all time number for pitchers used at 40.
- Charlie Morton thought the contract was for 7 million dollars, only later to find out it was 2 years for 14.