MLB 2009 Season

[boomer69]

Sweet! Thanks TomCat, now I wonder how many I can actually see with Directv since there is no 100% HD channel for FSN Cin.

I'm with ya there, pal!!!...I have DISH up here in Indy and last year they put up less than half the available HD games on their FSN Cincy HD channel!!!...

 

[TomCat4680]

MLB Network just released the Thursday Night Baseball schedule:

MLB Network Sets Thursday Night Baseball Lineup - TVWeek - News

 

[TomCat4680]

Tigers / Braves game just started on SportSouth (simulcasted on MLB Network). Great to see all the big boys back from the WBC.

 

[HD MM]

In Light of Economy, Great American Ballpark to Create Dollar Menu

The Reds are going with a dollar menu at Great American Ballpark this year:

It might seem just like a fast-food restaurant when you walk into Great American Ball Park for a Reds game this season.

The Cincinnati Reds’ concessionaire is launching a value menu, offering a few food and drink items for a dollar.

“We realize the need to create more value,” said Don Dierig, general manager for Sportservice at Great American.

Fans will be able to pay a buck for any of six items: hot dog, soda, peanuts, popcorn, ice cream or Redlegs Chew candy, Dierig said. The items are smaller than the standard that sell for $3.50 or so. For example, the hot dog is “one size smaller” than the standard dog, Dierig said. It’s one-tenth of a pound, vs. the standard size that’s one-sixth of a pound and sells for $4.50 at the stadium.

 

[HD MM]

FanGraphs Grades MLB Franchises: Tribe #4, BoSox #1

Known for their awesome charts that detail win probabilities and stats like “value wins,” FanGraphs is wrapping up their ranking of all of the organizations in baseball. And while we can’t always nab the high-priced free agent, Indians fans should be glad to see their team in the top five.

Each team has been graded on four different areas of the organization: ownership, front office, major league talent and minor league talent. All of those in the top five have at least an overall grade of an A-. Coming in fourth overall, the Tribe finished with just that. But the biggest bright spot comes in at the front office level.

Front Office: A+
Mark Shapiro and his gang of advisers set the standard for how a front office should operate. The implementation of DiamondView gave them the ability to combine scouting and statistical data into a resource that could be used at all levels of the organization. They’ve established a fundamental system that works from top to bottom, and explore every area that could give them a competitive advantage. They understand how to value talent, where the inefficiencies are, how to build a roster that works together, and how to sustain winning teams through player development. It’s hard to find any chinks in the armor - the Indians front office is what everyone else aspires to be.

Not bad at all. The other grades are as follows:
Ownership: B
Major League Talent: B
Minor League Talent: B+

It is worth mentioning that the three teams ranked above the Indians are all in the AL East: New York Yankees at third, Tampa Bay Rays at second and the Boston Red Sox as tops overall. FanGraphs says that our mid-market payroll is the only thing keeping us from the top tier. That is somewhat contradicted by putting the Rays ahead of us, but that is easily countered by their across-the-board talent. Regardless, the fact that we’re in the AL Central is definitely a plus and here’s hoping that the team can capitalize on their position.

The rest of the rankings:

#30: Washington Nationals
#29: Florida Marlins
#28: Houston Astros
#27: Kansas City Royals
#26: Pittsburgh Pirates
#25: San Diego Padres
#24: Cincinnati Reds
#23: Colorado Rockies
#22: Detroit Tigers
#21: St. Louis Cardinals
#20: Toronto Blue Jays
#19: San Francisco Giants
#18: Minnesota Twins
#17: Chicago White Sox
#16: Baltimore Orioles
#15: Seattle Mariners
#14: Philadelphia Phillies
#13: Los Angeles Dodgers
#12: Texas Rangers
#11: Oakland Athletics
#10: Los Angeles Angels
#9: Arizona Diamondbacks
#8: Atlanta Braves
#7: Chicago Cubs
#6: Milwaukee Brewers
#5: New York Mets
#4: Cleveland Indians
#3: New York Yankees
#2: Tampa Bay Rays
#1: Boston Red Sox

 

[Ramy]

The Reds are going with a dollar menu at Great American Ballpark this year:

Alright!!!!! I might go to more games this year.

 

[TomCat4680]

if you live in Kentucky why do you have a Lakers logo for your avatar?

 

[Ramy]

if you live in Kentucky why do you have a Lakers logo for your avatar?

Because the Kentucky Colonels didn't make the NBA.

 

[TomCat4680]

don't they air the Pacers down there?

 

[Ramy]

Nope, Cavaliers. When I first started watching the NBA it was Magic Johnson's rookie year.

I live in eastern KY by the way.

 

[TomCat4680]

no home team pride I see

 

[cybok0]

The Reds are going with a dollar menu at Great American Ballpark this year:

​

The Pirates have seats that you get free food and pop and water.

 

[salsadancer7]

The rest of the rankings:


#29: Florida Marlins

LMAO they are so OFF on this it's pathetic. IF the farm system is as they rank it, how come they have basically been in the playoff race till the last month of the season. AND, NO ONE has had MORE lop-sided deals go THEIR WAY by"farming out to the major leagues" than the Marlins. They also did not mention that they have the worst contract/agreement with a multipurpose stadium than any other team....where the Marlins make almost no money from consessions.....but hey, what would THEY know.... Obviously, they right might still have a bone to pick with Loria for leaving Montreal and striking up a deal with MLB for buying the team. HHHmmmmm...wonder if they conveniently forgot that the Red Sox owners was ALSO involved in this 3 way deal, if I am not mistaken.....

For the last 5 or 6 years, the Marlins farm system takes a back seat to NO OTHER farm system in the majors.....none.

 

[cosmo_kramer]

#1: Boston Red Sox

I whole-heartedly agree!!

 

[BillD1984]

#1: Boston Red Sox

I whole-heartedly agree!!

Me Too!!!! :up

 

[SabresRule]

Question:

When do the Pirates play their home opener?

If it's on Monday the 6th, a night game, and the Panthers are playing in the national title game, that could eat into attendance.

 

[HD MM]

LMAO they are so OFF on this it's pathetic. IF the farm system is as they rank it, how come they have basically been in the playoff race till the last month of the season. AND, NO ONE has had MORE lop-sided deals go THEIR WAY by"farming out to the major leagues" than the Marlins. They also did not mention that they have the worst contract/agreement with a multipurpose stadium than any other team....where the Marlins make almost no money from consessions.....but hey, what would THEY know.... Obviously, they right might still have a bone to pick with Loria for leaving Montreal and striking up a deal with MLB for buying the team. HHHmmmmm...wonder if they conveniently forgot that the Red Sox owners was ALSO involved in this 3 way deal, if I am not mistaken.....

For the last 5 or 6 years, the Marlins farm system takes a back seat to NO OTHER farm system in the majors.....none.

Sorry hoss. This is from a neutral source. Not my opinion. According to this source though, the Fish are 1 franchise better than the Nationals.

 

[TomCat4680]

Question:

When do the Pirates play their home opener?

If it's on Monday the 6th, a night game, and the Panthers are playing in the national title game, that could eat into attendance.

its not til the 13th. road opener is the 6th at St. Louis

2009 Pirates Schedule | pirates.com: Schedule

 

[Jimbo]

Known for their awesome charts that detail win probabilities and stats like “value wins,” FanGraphs is wrapping up their ranking of all of the organizations in baseball. And while we can’t always nab the high-priced free agent, Indians fans should be glad to see their team in the top five.

Each team has been graded on four different areas of the organization: ownership, front office, major league talent and minor league talent. All of those in the top five have at least an overall grade of an A-. Coming in fourth overall, the Tribe finished with just that. But the biggest bright spot comes in at the front office level.
Not bad at all. The other grades are as follows:
Ownership: B
Major League Talent: B
Minor League Talent: B+

It is worth mentioning that the three teams ranked above the Indians are all in the AL East: New York Yankees at third, Tampa Bay Rays at second and the Boston Red Sox as tops overall. FanGraphs says that our mid-market payroll is the only thing keeping us from the top tier. That is somewhat contradicted by putting the Rays ahead of us, but that is easily countered by their across-the-board talent. Regardless, the fact that we’re in the AL Central is definitely a plus and here’s hoping that the team can capitalize on their position.

The rest of the rankings:

#30: Washington Nationals
#29: Florida Marlins
#28: Houston Astros
#27: Kansas City Royals
#26: Pittsburgh Pirates
#25: San Diego Padres
#24: Cincinnati Reds
#23: Colorado Rockies
#22: Detroit Tigers
#21: St. Louis Cardinals
#20: Toronto Blue Jays
#19: San Francisco Giants
#18: Minnesota Twins
#17: Chicago White Sox
#16: Baltimore Orioles
#15: Seattle Mariners
#14: Philadelphia Phillies
#13: Los Angeles Dodgers
#12: Texas Rangers
#11: Oakland Athletics
#10: Los Angeles Angels
#9: Arizona Diamondbacks
#8: Atlanta Braves
#7: Chicago Cubs
#6: Milwaukee Brewers
#5: New York Mets
#4: Cleveland Indians
#3: New York Yankees
#2: Tampa Bay Rays
#1: Boston Red Sox

This is comical .....
Detroit is ranked 22 because mainly the economy stinks ....

What a great poll, did they ask about the team or the cities economy ?

 

[TomCat4680]

Detroit is a sports town and there are thousands of long time season ticket holders who go no matter how bad the economy is.