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Posted ByDiscussion Topic: Baseball to fold 2 franchises?
PeterDragon
posted on 10-23-2001 @ 2:51 PM      
O&A Board Regular
Registered: Jan. 01
It seems that there is a real possibilty that MLB will allow the Montreal Expos & Florida Marlins. Selig's office hasn't denied it, and it's been reported on by cnn, espn, etc. On WFAN, they said that the current owner of Marlins would take over the California Angels from Disney; they didn't know if he would move Marlins to Cal and disband the current Angel roster, or if he would take over the current Angel roster and disband the Marlins.
Since both teams are in NL East, they would need to put a team in East; the Pittsburgh Pirates seem best choice.

Biggest question would be what happens to players; Players association would want Free Agents (Imagine what Vlad Guerrero would command?) and baseball would probably want a draft.

If this does happen, this greatly affects direction teams go in offseason, since there are several players on those teams with VERY bright futures.

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Rich Vos is the emobdiemnt of all that is teh funney
posted on 10-23-2001 @ 4:58 PM      
Psychopath
Registered: Jun. 01
I think its great. There just way too many baseball teams in the league. Some of them are just Horrible. For example, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Basically it's a place that all the Yankee fans that have moved to florida can go watch the yankees when they come and play. Other than that, nobody shows up. I say drop it back down to 24..

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posted on 10-23-2001 @ 6:29 PM      
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Registered: Jan. 01
That would be the right thing to do.

The pitching is watered down so much that some teams have starters that wouldnt start on any other team then the ones they are on.


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posted on 10-23-2001 @ 7:57 PM      
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Registered: Feb. 01
quote:

The pitching is watered down so much that some teams have starters that wouldnt start on any other team then the ones they are on.



Theyd start on other teams, jus not in the majors. This is a kind of great idea, but i mean, Vlad Guerrero would command a high price. Which might make it even more difficult for other teams to sign their players thatll be free agents cuz theyll see what kind of money hed be getting and want somthin close to that. Might have a bad effect on the game. But if it does happen, itll be interesting to see what effect folding two teams would have have on the rest of the league.


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rageparty
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posted on 10-23-2001 @ 8:29 PM      
O&A Board Regular
Registered: Aug. 01
this would be a good idea, like no one shows up or cares about the expos anymore, nothing can save this team now, the marlins could use another town considering no one shows up at there games, i think that would be smart




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Joe Soprano
posted on 10-23-2001 @ 9:25 PM      
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Registered: Sep. 00
Don't forget the Braves. When I heard that there were 15,000 empty seats during their last playoff game, that's just plain sad, considering their history.

Oh what am I saying, Fuck the Braves.



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Ferret
posted on 10-24-2001 @ 1:01 PM      
Psychopath
Registered: Oct. 00
Yes, it would be good, but there are many reasons why it probably wont happen.

1. The player's union must approve it. The league would have to make great concessions to the union during the next collective bargaining agreement negotiations to get them to allow over 50 jobs to be cut.

2. The owners must be compensated. There's no way an owner who paid hundreds of millions for the right to have a team that is worth even more than that would let their team just be "erased."

3. Who gets the players now? Is it fair to just let a team bid the highest (ie the Yankees) to get another possible hall of famer in Vlad Guerrero, or should he be sent to a losing/low market team where he'll rot away on another crappy team?

4. Public image. Contraction is saying a statement that basically says "baseball isnt good enough, so we have to get rid of some of it". Even though its the truth, that's not the happy smiley image that Selig wants for baseball.

5. Logistics. They have to change schedules, travel plans, and everything else that goes into planning a basball season in just 5 months. Plus, if people have allready paid for some season tix, they'll have to refund all of that money.

There are plenty more rreasons that I'm sure I'm missing. It's a shame they probably wont get rid of more teams, but it would be difficult to pull off.



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TeenWeek
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posted on 10-24-2001 @ 1:18 PM      
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Registered: Oct. 00
They should get rid of the Expos, Devil rays, Angels, Marlins, Pirates, and Orioles.

These teams either don't make any money or don't spend the money on the team or spend money but spend it foolishly.

Steinbrenner and his front office bust their ass making sure the Yankees put out a winner every year. While some other teams who make as much money or more do shit with it (ie Baltimore, The Mets, the Dodgers, Red Sox, Angels)

If these teams can't hack it, get rid of them. 3 teams with little payrolls did a great job this year in the A's, Phillies and Twins. I thought the A's with a 40 million something payroll have the 2nd or 3rd best team in baseball with a small payroll. What does that say for the rest of the teams.

Salaries are ridiculous now. Alex Rodriguez gets paid over a quarter billion dollars and the rest of the team sucks. Baseball should defintely get rid of these teams.

They talk about salary cap or revenue sharing, but you will still have teams that would rather pocket the money than put a winning baseball field on the team.

Francine Banger
posted on 10-24-2001 @ 1:39 PM      
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Registered: Dec. 00
Teen, Why dont we just get rid of every team and just keep the Yankees.

Everybody can come to New York and watch the Yankees scrimmage themselves.

Come on.

The only teams that need to be folded are the Expos and Marlins. Leave it at that.

Snoteater
posted on 10-24-2001 @ 1:44 PM      
Psychopath
Registered: Apr. 01
As far as the pitching goes, will another 10-15 guys make that much of a difference. That all you'll get off the Marlins and the Expos( with most of them coming from the Marlins.)

How would baseball handle the minor league teams also? You have to hold a separte draft for the Major and Minor Leagues.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Expos and the Marlins go. And move the Devil Rays to the D.C. area.



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Francine Banger
posted on 10-24-2001 @ 3:25 PM      
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Registered: Dec. 00
quote:

As far as the pitching goes, will another 10-15 guys make that much of a difference. That all you'll get off the Marlins and the Expos( with most of them coming from the Marlins.)



Oh yeah. I think alot of teams would like to get their hands on guys like Brad Penny, Ryan Dempster, A.J Burnett, and Javier Vasquez.



Snoteater
posted on 10-24-2001 @ 3:47 PM      
Psychopath
Registered: Apr. 01
quote:

Oh yeah. I think alot of teams would like to get their hands on guys like Brad Penny, Ryan Dempster, A.J Burnett, and Javier Vasquez.



Yes they would, but they all ain't going to be on one team. If it was to happen, there would probably be a NFL (worst record to best record) or a NBA (all non playoff teams put into a lotto machine. One pitcher to KC, Pittsburg, Texas, or TB ain't going to be a big difference. They need more than one pitcher. And whose to say they won't take Preston Wilson, Vidro, or Vlad?



"Your Ego is a Muscle."
JackDan1974
posted on 10-24-2001 @ 3:49 PM      
O&A Board Regular
Registered: Jul. 01
quote:

Steinbrenner and his front office bust their ass making sure the Yankees put out a winner every year. While some other teams who make as much money or more do shit with it (ie Baltimore, The Mets, the Dodgers, Red Sox, Angels)



To say that anyone spends more money then the Yanks is just a bold face lie. They make more money on their local TV contracts then most teams spend on their payroll. What they should do come up with a realistic form of revnue dispursment. The Marlins, and Expos year in and year out have produced some of the best young talent in the game. Examples Josh Beckett, Vlad Guerro, and Moises Alou. They just can't compete with the big markets teams because when these players become superstars they pirce themselves out of their own players, through no fault of their own. If you want to talk about a great front office I spend a little time looking at the Expos farm system. I don't think the Yankee's fron office is smart they just sit back and write the checks









This message was edited by JackDan1974 on 10-29-01 @ 10:30 AM
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posted on 10-24-2001 @ 8:35 PM      
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Registered: Feb. 01
Well the Expos and Marlins are the only teams in my opinion that this should happen to. folding the pirates would jus be a stupid move since the city probly wouldnt let it happen. the whole thing is ponderous. I say, fold the two teams and have a kinda draft type thing in the majors and in the minors. This whole thing has me on the edge of my seat. i cant wait to see whats gonna happen.


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rageparty
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I also have an imaginary girlfriend.
posted on 10-24-2001 @ 8:45 PM      
O&A Board Regular
Registered: Aug. 01
yeah leave it at two, they could have 2 expansion teams to expand baseball to places that dont have many major sports in there area, and then they could have an expansion draft, simple




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Sir Okonkwo
posted on 10-24-2001 @ 10:25 PM      
Psychopath
Registered: Jun. 01
Remember, this is all speculation at this point...

quote:

They should get rid of the Expos, Devil rays, Angels, Marlins, Pirates, and Orioles.



TW, are you fucking INSANE? If they folded the Orioles, there would be riots in the streets of Baltimore. It's probably the #3 baseball city in the country behind New York and Boston. Just because Angelos is an idiot, doesn't mean MLB should discontinue the franchise. Ditto Pittsburgh, who despite the small market, have a strong fanbase.

quote:

Biggest question would be what happens to players; Players association would want Free Agents (Imagine what Vlad Guerrero would command?) and baseball would probably want a draft.



A draft is the only way to go, fuck the players association. If everyone would just become automatic free agents, then the bigger market teams like the Yanks and Dodgers would buy up all the top players and prospects, while the lesser players would go to the teams who already need the most help. In a way, that would basically be continuing the very problem that is forcing the closure of two (TWO!) franchises. It's lunacy I tell ya!

I'd just go with one draft for all players signed to Florida and Montreal and their respective farm systems.

Of course, this is all hypothetical...




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Joe Soprano
posted on 10-24-2001 @ 11:49 PM      
O&A Board Regular
Registered: Sep. 00
It would be interesting to see what happens after the ciphering off of the Expos and Marlins. We could do it the civilized way: a lottery, where each of the 30 remaining teams draws one of 30 of the top available players (15 from each former team), and the rest can be free agents that the teams can worry about down the road.

Or: just make it an all-out feeding frenzy. The Expos' and Marlins' top players would be like the dumb guy trying to take a picture of the bear (in this analogy, the 30 remaining teams) in Faces of Death. Bring it on!



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PeterDragon
posted on 10-25-2001 @ 10:48 PM      
O&A Board Regular
Registered: Jan. 01
It would make sense on many levels, but I agree that it is unlikely.
The timing of the leak seems awfully convenient, since the collective bargaining is about to expire. It would lead to show that some teams are losing money without the owners opening their books.

If this were to happen, MLBPA would have to be satisfied, which would mean either expanded rosters, or some Free Agency for the contracted teams.

I would be shocked if we ever see significant revenue sharing. Unlike NFL and to a lesser extent NBA, baseball revenues are local, not national. There is very little incentive for the Yankees to share revenue with the KC Royals.



PeterDragon
posted on 11-06-2001 @ 11:32 PM      
O&A Board Regular
Registered: Jan. 01
Well, it looks like it is going to happen in some fashion. Selig was firm that it will happen, although denying that they had chosen franchises. According to his press conference, Contraction is an owner's decision; what needs to be discussed with MLBPA is what will happen to players.

Montreal is probably a lock. Rumors have Twins, Marlins, Devil Rays as possibilities, and there are all sorts of speculation about what would happen to players.

Yes francis, it will be an interesting off-season.

Cluster F
posted on 11-07-2001 @ 1:29 AM      
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Registered: Oct. 00
I know it doesnt seem like it now, because we would be getting rid of at least 2 bad teams; but this could be the beginning of the end for baseball. Imagine if in 1966, baseball decided to get rid of the Mets because for 4 years, they sucked. That wouldve been so damaging to baseball. Once you start to have to decrease the number of teams in a sport, then you know there are problems. Who's to say that it wont continue, and that we will be left with all high market teams?

Getting rid of teams like Tampa Bay, Montreal, and especially Minnesota, is not the answer at all. You cant blame the fans for not showing up, because they have nothing to show up for. Just discarding these teams is retarded.

You can either have a few teams that are really good, with them having a chance to be a dynasty, or you can have a bunch of teams each having a chance and have varied playoffs. You cant have both. Obviously i think baseball wnats to have just a few teams do well and become dynasties, and personally, i think its a bad move.

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Snoteater
posted on 11-07-2001 @ 9:44 AM      
Psychopath
Registered: Apr. 01
I heard the Selig press conference while flipping channels during commericals. I wouldn't mind contraction of the Expos. They can't draw flys. The thing is you have to get rid of a second team or else one team would be off for three or four days in a row. That would kill a pitching rotation. So They have to get rid of another team. Personally I'd like to see the Devil Rays go. They are much worse off than the Twins.



"Your Ego is a Muscle."
TeenWeek
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posted on 11-07-2001 @ 2:14 PM      
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Registered: Oct. 00
There should be only 3 choices and they are the Marlins, the Devil Rays, and The Expos. Any combination of those, would be fine.

The Twins make absolutely no sense at all. They were in a pennant race this year at least until August. They lasted longer than the Red Sox. They also have 2 World Series championships and Hall of Fame players.

I read an interesting quote by Jesse Ventura basically saying how convenient it was that Minnesota is being mentioned for contraction when Milwaukee owned by Selig is kind of close to Minnesota.

I think Selig is an idiot and one of the worst commissioners ever in the history of baseball. How can you own a team and be impartial.

TeenWeek
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posted on 11-07-2001 @ 2:14 PM      
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Registered: Oct. 00
There should be only 3 choices and they are the Marlins, the Devil Rays, and The Expos. Any combination of those, would be fine.

The Twins make absolutely no sense at all. They were in a pennant race this year at least until August. They lasted longer than the Red Sox. They also have 2 World Series championships and Hall of Fame players.

I read an interesting quote by Jesse Ventura basically saying how convenient it was that Minnesota is being mentioned for contraction when Milwaukee owned by Selig is kind of close to Minnesota.

I think Selig is an idiot and one of the worst commissioners ever in the history of baseball. How can you own a team and be impartial.

Also for those people who complain about the Yankees spending and want a salary cap, there should also be a minimum salary cap as well to stop owners from pocketing money and bnot putting it into the team to make it better.

Cluster F
posted on 11-07-2001 @ 2:37 PM      
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Registered: Oct. 00
quote:

There should be only 3 choices and they are the Marlins, the Devil Rays, and The Expos. Any combination of those, would be fine.

The Twins make absolutely no sense at all. They were in a pennant race this year at least until August. They lasted longer than the Red Sox. They also have 2 World Series championships and Hall of Fame players.



Well if thats the case, than you cant eliminate the Marlins from baseball. If you eliminate them, what does that tell teams like Arizona? The Marlins have a World Series title under their belts, and its not like they finish 20 games below .500 every year. IF they do this, the ONLY 2 teams possible to eliminate are the Devil Rays and the Expos. Thats it. I dont agree with elimination at all, because it will not solve the problem. But if they do eliminate teams, Expos and Devil Rays are the only ones that should go.

AIM: GMoneyBagz

Crack Committee

Objective 1: Root for Yankees to exit from playoffs- COMPLETE
Objective 2: Root for Braves to exit from playoffs- COMPLETE
Objective 3: Root for the Diamondbacks to win the World Series- COMPLETE
TeenWeek
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posted on 11-07-2001 @ 2:55 PM      
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Registered: Oct. 00
Cluster, Florida may have won a World Series but they gutted that team the next year. That is a classic example of only caring about money. You have a team like Oakland who I think brings in less money (Francine comment?)and they are a top 5 team in the majors. Explain that to me.



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