2016 MLB Thread

[The Buscher]

And now the rosters have been officially unveiled:
 

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Starters
C: Salvador Perez, Royals
1B: Eric Hosmer, Royals
2B: Jose Altuve, Astros
3B: Manny Machado, Orioles
SS: Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox
OF: Mookie Betts, Red Sox
OF: Jackie Bradley Jr., Red Sox
OF: Mike Trout, Angels
DH: David Ortiz, Red Sox

Pitchers
RHP: Dellin Betances, Yankees
RHP: Brad Brach, Orioles
LHP: Zach Britton, Orioles
RHP: Alex Colome, Rays
RHP: Wade Davis, Royals
RHP: Marco Estrada, Blue Jays
LHP: Cole Hamels, Rangers
RHP: Will Harris, Astros
RHP: Kelvin Herrera, Royals
RHP: Craig Kimbrel, Red Sox
LHP: Andrew Miller, Yankees
RHP: Danny Salazar, Indians
LHP: Chris Sale, White Sox
RHP: Steven Wright, Red Sox

Reserves
C: Stephen Vogt, Athletics
C: Matt Wieters, Orioles
1B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
2B: Robinson Cano, Mariners
3B: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays
SS: Francisco Lindor, Indians
SS: Eduardo Nunez, Twins
OF: Carlos Beltran, Yankees
OF: Ian Desmond, Rangers
OF: Mark Trumbo, Orioles
DH: Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays

Final Vote
2B: Ian Kinsler, Tigers
3B: Evan Longoria, Rays
2B: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
OF: Michael Saunders, Blue Jays
OF: George Springer, Astros

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Starters
C: Buster Posey, Giants
1B: Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
2B: Ben Zobrist, Cubs
3B: Kris Bryant, Cubs
SS: Addison Russell, Cubs
OF: Yoenis Cespedes, Mets
OF: Dexter Fowler, Cubs
OF: Bryce Harper, Nationals

Reserves
C: Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers
C: Wilson Ramos, Nationals
1B: Paul Goldschmidt, D-backs
1B: Wil Myers, Padres
2B: Daniel Murphy, Nationals
3B: Nolan Arenado, Rockies
3B: Matt Carpenter, Cardinals
SS: Corey Seager, Dodgers
OF: Adam Duvall, Reds
OF: Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
OF: Odubel Herrera, Phillies
OF: Marcell Ozuna, Marlins

Pitchers
RHP: Jake Arrieta, Cubs
LHP: Madison Bumgarner, Giants
RHP: Johnny Cueto, Giants
RHP: Jeurys Familia, Mets
RHP: Jose Fernandez, Marlins
RHP: Kenley Jansen, Dodgers
LHP: Clayton Kershaw*, Dodgers
LHP: Jon Lester, Cubs
RHP: Mark Melancon, Pirates
RHP: A.J. Ramos, Marlins
RHP: Fernando Rodney, Marlins
RHP: Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
RHP: Noah Syndergaard, Mets
RHP: Julio Teheran, Braves

Final Vote
1B: Brandon Belt, Giants
OF: Ryan Braun, Brewers
3B: Jake Lamb, Diamondbacks
OF: Starling Marte, Pirates
SS: Trevor Story, Rockies

* Inactive

I did really well with predictions, many of my misses being ones where I hoped I'd be wrong because I had doubts about the voting process (Molina, Cain, Tillman).  Glad Ramos and Betts didn't get snubbed.

Somewhat shocked that Story got bumped to the Final Vote but I guess somebody had to be bumped with Collins filling his 13 pitchers and needing to use spots to fill the Cardinals, Reds, Padres, Brewers, and Phillies reps.

Also Yost went even more reliever heavy than I thought, not even selecting a starting pitcher besides the 5 assigned to him via the Player Ballot.  Looking at the list though it's hard to blame him.  Davis and Colome are hurt but could be replaced by guys like Chapman and Osuna, which is absurd to think about.  Game could be over the second the AL gets a lead.

[Your Mom]

We got the entire infield 

[Meacon Keaton]

I fucking hate the All-Star game. Get rid of this shit so I can continue watching regular season please.

[Your Mom]

I like it and not just because Bryant just blasted a HR  

[Your Mom]

I may like em but god we suck at them

[The Buscher]

They always say they can't strictly use best record because it creates too many scheduling conflicts. But why not make it so that the league that has the team with the best record at the end of the year gets it? It means the pool of potential World Series Game 1 hosts when the playoffs starts is exactly the same as it would have been under the current format.

Having home field decided by the World Series is just stupid, especially since the game's history supports that leagues go on winning streaks.

[Your Mom]

Ump just robbed us of a run

[The Buscher]

Wow.  It was bad enough having Cespedes and Thor scratched to injuries.  But then Collins goes on a big spiel about making sure every team gets into the game only for him to not use any of his own Mets.  I thought he was about to put in Familia with 2 outs and the 9th but nope, he goes to Kenley Jansen.

What a waste of fucking time it was watching this.

[Meacon Keaton]

It's always a waste of time. All-star games are something that really should be eradicated for the four major sports. Nobody really cares anymore. Inter-league play killed any bit of interest I had left in a baseball all-star game. 

[The Buscher]

I don't mind having it because it's tradition and rarely does anybody get hurt during it.  Even without the game, they'd need to give the players a break eventually.

But the homefield advantage rule is just terrible.  Make it a meaningless exhibition again and just let guys go ham.  Bartolo Colon and Steven Wright absolutely get into this game if it doesn't count for anything because it's supposed to be fun.

[gunnar hendershow]

Homefield advantage should be determined by the league with the better interleague record. 

[Meacon Keaton]

I think homefield should be determined by whatever team in the World Series has the better record. It's how it use to be. I find it hard to believe they can't figure out a way for it to work in 2016.

[The Buscher]

Selig always cited that it would cause too many issues with set up and scheduling if they didn't know who was hosting the World Series ahead of time, and Manfred has echoed the same sentiments.

I don't really buy that.  But even if there's validity to it I don't see why they couldn't just award it to the league that has the team with the best record at year end.  The Cubs finish 100-62 and have the best record?  The NL gets homefield even if the Cubs don't play there.  MLB knows a month in advance what league hosts and should the NL team wrap up the NLCS early, they'll have plenty of time to set up.

It would give teams motivation to keep pushing late in the year long after they've clinched playoff spots and not just try to get the best record in their own league but in all of baseball.  If you base it on interleague it'll be the same issue that currently exists with the All Star Game:  one league tends to dominate over a prolonged period, in this case the AL.

[thatshortguy]

Gose may be done in Detroit.  Well, I mean, technically he is done in Detroit right now, but we'll see if he can recover.

[The Buscher]

[Meacon Keaton]

Chris Sale was sent home and now suspended because he had a hissy fit and refused to wear the throwback jerseys yesterday.

He claims they're uncomfortable and difficult to pitch in. This is not the first time he and the front office have butted heads. If he's still a White Sock by the end of the deadline, I'd be surprised.

[Your Mom]

Looks like we might be getting Chapman from the Yanks. As a player I like it but as a person I'm not sure I'm too fond of him

[Maxx]

17 hours ago, Little Red Srarvette said:

Looks like we might be getting Chapman from the Yanks. As a player I like it but as a person I'm not sure I'm too fond of him

Its now confirmed

[Your Mom]

6 minutes ago, Maxx said:

Its now confirmed

I mean I guess that's good? I am going to feel so dirty if he is the one that closes out our first WS win though

[Meacon Keaton]

Helloooooooo Gleyber Torres.

Hate to see Chapman go, but we are going nowhere this year and I'll never turn away a top-15 prospect!