***Official*** MLB 2025 Thread

[gut]

To show you how face prices and secondary market prices are out of whack with the Dodgers wildcard series, that same $109 I paid for excellent seats would buy you second-level seats way out in right field in the back of the section, and the cheapest face value nosebleed ticket is $80.

The average dope just goes to dodgers.com and buys what they see is available.

It used to be that the primary market gave you incredible deals, but it was hard to get the tickets. In the old days, you'd have to line up outside the stadium hours in advance, or sometimes overnight.

Now the primary market gouges you, even for nosebleed seats. MLB has taken the position that the plebes who know little about the ticket game will be the ones who get the worst value.

EvenTribe tickets are expensive for playoffs because of the higher primary starting point.


I’m shopping and I usually sit like first few rows behind the dugout for $185 per. This year it’s going to cost be $375 for same tickets atm. I’m sure they’ll drop by game time, but way higher starting point.

Strangest year ever as Tribe fan. Post season baseball never entered my brain. I mean ffs we are a division winner with a negative run differential. I’d be shocked if that has ever happened.

1987 Twins, not just division champs with a negative run differential, but World Series champs!

That was a weird season.

[Dan Druff]

EvenTribe tickets are expensive for playoffs because of the higher primary starting point.


I’m shopping and I usually sit like first few rows behind the dugout for $185 per. This year it’s going to cost be $375 for same tickets atm. I’m sure they’ll drop by game time, but way higher starting point.

Strangest year ever as Tribe fan. Post season baseball never entered my brain. I mean ffs we are a division winner with a negative run differential. I’d be shocked if that has ever happened.

1987 Twins, not just division champs with a negative run differential, but World Series champs!

That was a weird season.

How old are you?

Do you have a clear memory of this?

I do, as I was 15 at the time. I was jealous because the Dodgers, who looked so promising in '85 before letting Jack Clark beat them in the NLCS, had two subsequent shitty years. Little did I know that a championship was coming the following season.

[gut]

1987 Twins, not just division champs with a negative run differential, but World Series champs!

That was a weird season.

How old are you?

Do you have a clear memory of this?

I do, as I was 15 at the time. I was jealous because the Dodgers, who looked so promising in '85 before letting Jack Clark beat them in the NLCS, had two subsequent shitty years. Little did I know that a championship was coming the following season.

I was only 7, so the memories are pretty vague. Definitely remember more of the '91 champ Twins, as by then my parents would let me stay up late for the playoff games.

[Sanlmar]

Tito vs Dave Roberts

:

[Dan Druff]

Tito vs Dave Roberts

:

They won Manager of the Year in the same season.

Roberts definitely won't be up for that in 2025. Tito might be, but probably not, as the Reds were 83-79, which is only slightly better than predicted.

I am guessing Craig Counsell gets it this season.

[Sanlmar]

Despite everyone’s wish to prevent Ohtani pitching on the road I overlooked the issue of Ohtani going 6 or 7 and then batting the next day. That wouldn’t be healthy or productive.

Ohtani scratched from game 1 and moved to game 3 or Superhero from bullpen game 2 (the Asian games)

Mgr of the Year is not the measure of baseball managerial IQ or accomplishment. Tito>Roberts AIEC

[Sanlmar]

Hey BCR,

Do you recall any “fire Tito” calls from the Cleveland fan base over the years? I never heard it thet I recall in Boston.

Dave Roberts’ head on a pike is constantly the Dodgers fan base number one request. I’ll bet as late as 2 of 3 weeks ago.

Roberts experiences none of the reverence Terry Francona does

[Dan Druff]

Hey BCR,

Do you recall any “fire Tito” calls from the Cleveland fan base over the years? I never heard it thet I recall in Boston.

Dave Roberts’ head on a pike is constantly the Dodgers fan base number one request. I’ll bet as late as 2 of 3 weeks ago.

Roberts experiences none of the reverence Terry Francona does

Dodgers fans get over regular season follies very quickly. The "fire Roberts" stuff died down last year after the World Series victory, though it was getting very loud as they were down 2-1 to the Padres in the 5-game NLDS.

He's not going to get fired now that he got them the title. As you know, many of his fail decisions come from above, so he's not even the right one to blame. It's like getting mad at cops for pulling you over in a speed trap, instead of accurately aiming your ire at greedy city officials.

Snell is the starter tomorrow. High chance I get Yoshi, which makes me happy. Reds have an issue in that Lodolo pitched a bit on Sunday, and he's their clear 2nd best starter (behind Greene, who is going tomorrow).

I also bought my tickets at what appears to be the low point, though I suppose prices could fall again if Dodgers lose game 1.

Even when I doubt myself, I always seem to buy at the low point on Stubhub. Must be a sixth sense for it in my Jewish blood.

[BCR]

Hey BCR,

Do you recall any “fire Tito” calls from the Cleveland fan base over the years? I never heard it thet I recall in Boston.

Dave Roberts’ head on a pike is constantly the Dodgers fan base number one request. I’ll bet as late as 2 of 3 weeks ago.

Roberts experiences none of the reverence Terry Francona does

Never. Excited he’s doing well. He is beloved. I hated to see him go. Thought his health had deteriorated. Clearly was ready for a change.

My account got fat on the easiest MNF double header of all time.

How do we deploy today? Please tell me Hunter is an autobet sitting at +175.

[BCR]

Sort of about $100 freeroll on Tribe today as I’m going tomorrow. Prices have already dropped. So bet Cleveland for $100 and get $140 if they win, and it pays for tickets staying up. Or Tarik does his thing and tickets drop another $75. Prefer to just roll winnings into tickets staying the same. They are already down in the high 290s range for my usual seats. $200 for good seats and club seats on baseline. They were $400 the other day.

[Sanlmar]

It is alleged the Guardians have the lowest batting average for any team that has ever qualified for the playoffs.

[gut]

Always love the ole "fire the manager just to do....something"

The Twins announced that they have fired manager Rocco Baldelli. “This game is ultimately measured by results, and over the past two seasons we did not reach the goals we set,” said president of baseball operations Derek Falvey, per Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. “I take personal responsibility for that. After discussions with ownership, we determined this is the right moment for a change in voice and direction.”

I thought Baldelli was perfectly...acceptable?...as a manager. Players seemed to like him, he made generally good strategic decisions. But hey, when the fail-kids owners lose a bunch of money on office buildings or crypto or who-the-fuck-knows, and the team is now saddled with debt, and half the team gets traded away at the deadline....A CEREMONIAL HEAD HAS TO ROLL!

[Sanlmar]

Always love the ole "fire the manager just to do....something"

The Twins announced that they have fired manager Rocco Baldelli. “This game is ultimately measured by results, and over the past two seasons we did not reach the goals we set,” said president of baseball operations Derek Falvey, per Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. “I take personal responsibility for that. After discussions with ownership, we determined this is the right moment for a change in voice and direction.”

I thought Baldelli was perfectly...acceptable?...as a manager. Players seemed to like him, he made generally good strategic decisions. But hey, when the fail-kids owners lose a bunch of money on office buildings or crypto or who-the-fuck-knows, and the team is now saddled with debt, and half the team gets traded away at the deadline....A CEREMONIAL HEAD HAS TO ROLL!

Managers are allowed less and less control by the front office and analytics. If you are willing to lie in press conferences and be a dutiful soldier like Dave Roberts you’ll prolly get a gold watch. Did Rocco demonstrate he had a spine? That might have been his downfall.

There is now a growing trend to call each pitch from the dugout based on analytics. Just relaying a spreadsheet to the catcher pitch by pitch. This is often how it’s done in college.

Nerds. The staggering change in the game in the past 5 years. Particularly driveline.

[country978]

what the hell is it with these "strauss" ads on everyone's helmets?

[Sanlmar]

what the hell is it with these "strauss" ads on everyone's helmets?

Timberlands were made essential ‘90’s fashion. Rap artists sported that house framer look with their crispy work boots.

We remember painters pants.

Strauss work pants gonna take a run at post crisis chic. Stay tuned

[Dan Druff]

Should've bet this live as soon as I saw Greene get wild.

Was obvious he was nervous, possibly because he grew up in LA.

Greene is one of the league's best pitching talents, but he's always had issues with his own head.

Once I saw the control issues, I knew it was not going to be long until he overcompensated and gave up HR or doubles.

Now Snell can relax.

Obv Dodgers have to be careful with putting in failpitchers and blowing this late.



In other news, Tigers got their revenge on the Injuns with 14 K for Skubal, and the Yankees blew bases loaded, no out in the 9th at home down 2, and are on the verge of elimination already against the Sawks.

[Tellafriend]

could the rest of us MLB neophytes get some of this actionable information in the proper thread?


tia

tella & kalam

[Sanlmar]

Dodgers bullpen still ass.

Who thought we’d see Vesia and Henriquez in the Wildcard round? Ohtani and Teo allowed Roberts sufficient runs to pick that old scab.

Imagine they go to Ohtani with the score 10-9

Funny

[Dan Druff]

Always love the ole "fire the manager just to do....something"

The Twins announced that they have fired manager Rocco Baldelli. “This game is ultimately measured by results, and over the past two seasons we did not reach the goals we set,” said president of baseball operations Derek Falvey, per Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. “I take personal responsibility for that. After discussions with ownership, we determined this is the right moment for a change in voice and direction.”

I thought Baldelli was perfectly...acceptable?...as a manager. Players seemed to like him, he made generally good strategic decisions. But hey, when the fail-kids owners lose a bunch of money on office buildings or crypto or who-the-fuck-knows, and the team is now saddled with debt, and half the team gets traded away at the deadline....A CEREMONIAL HEAD HAS TO ROLL!

Ron Washington of the Angels also canned.

At least he's old and has major heart issues, so that one makes sense.

[Dan Druff]

Dodgers bullpen managed to make an 8-0 lead become an adventure.

Somehow Blake Treinen was the steadying force.

Honestly they got lucky to get out of that 8th with it being 10-5. Bases loaded, Stephenson fouled off a million pitches 3-2, and he chased ball 4 to be out #2. Then automatic out Ke'Bryan Hayes was the next batter, and the Dodgers were out of it.

This was the story of the Dodgers the past few weeks, and is going to be the story of their postseason:

Great starting pitching
Great offense
Horrible bullpen


That Shohei 2nd HR was something else. 454 feet. Felt like padding at the time, but it turned out those two runs were an important additional cushion.