2021 HOT STOVE

 there was a bunch of them back in the day, Gibson was the meanest one I would think,no one charged the mound on him he was Quick.Drysdale was another one that you could not get closed to the plate on, hitters knew it was part of the game, they knew when they were going down.

@KeyElement

@JEG53

 I sent a carrier pigeon to both of you old timers. Send me a Morse Code when they arrive.

@undermysac

 The pigeon arrived, worn out and gasping for breath. I read the message and promptly disposed of it an the pigeon. How is that for a Morse code reply?

Newer guys may not remember the one I have told about Gibson, but I swear it is a true story. A rookie came up one day and dug himself a nice hole to launch his swing. An inning or two later Gibson came to bat and told the opposing catcher, "You tell that rook if he digs in like that again, just dig the hole six feet deep and we will use it to bury him". The catcher replies, "OK, Bob". The umpire cracked up so bad he had to turn away from the plate and fake a coughing jag to cover up his laughter.  

Of course Gibson, Drysdale and Ryan were around in the days of wooden ships and IRON MEN, not these pansies today with a helmet and 15 pounds of body armor that still don't want anything thrown inside. You wanted to charge one of those guys? Bring it on, sonny boy.

@KeyElement

 I didn't get the morse code

@undermysac

 I did same plus more, in a week I will share more info with you all.

@undermysac

 I do not think he sent you anything, he was trying to be nice telling you he killed your Bird.

@KeyElement

 I have heard that story from you before, it is still a Good One to read again, I saw Drysdale pitch against Robin Roberts in the AstroDome the year it opened, it was huge but could still see how fast Don was and Robin was junk city, think he was one of the Gaylord Perry types, spit everywhere.

@undermysac

 Suffice it to say "I got your message"

@JEG53

 Didn't Gaylord Perry get caught using illegal substances on the baseball more than any other pitcher?

@undermysac

 I had dinner with Perry once. He had a W.C. Fields aspect about him. You know "Nothin' up my sleeve". Reminded me of the Fields movie where the newbie guy says, "Ah yes, poker; that's a game pf chance isn't it?" and under his breath Fields mumbles, "Not the way I play it". Perry seemed like that kind of guy.

@undermysac

 Sand paper maybe, he was a Giant Pitcher for a bit but most years in Cleveland which is where he got caught doing something to the ball, been awhile ago now to remember.But bet Key heard some stories where the catcher would throw the ball out of the game because it was to wet, the good old days.

@JEG53

 It takes some cooperation from the catcher. He has to throw the ball out one pitch before the umpire asks to inspect it. Cheating in that regard was not thought of as cheating in those days, just part of the game. "Catch me if you can" 

Wooden ships - Iron men

@KeyElement

 Wooden Ships if I remember was a CSN&Y song that they played at WoodStock thought you were there for that, not that Far from KC but 1000 miles give or take a few.

@JEG53

 I didn't make it to Woodstock but the wind was blowing east to west that weekend and I got high on the fumes. A couple years later my brother borrowed my van for a concert in the Ozarks and after he got back we didn't need to drink or smoke for two weeks; just get in the van and breathe deep. Ah, those were the days. Drugs, sex and rock-n-roll. Yee-Haw.

Cubs sign Jake...

Return of a legend

James Paxton has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Seattle for the 2021 season pending a physical, worth $8.5 million.

Jay Bruce has agreed to a Minor League contract with the Yankees, Bruce will earn $1.35 million if he makes the team, plus $50,000 bonuses for 400, 450 and 500 plate appearances. A signing that keep with the Yankees strategy, of having a veteran hitter as a back-up for a starter.

The Orioles have agreed to terms with right-hander Matt Harvey on a Minor League deal. he deal will pay Harvey around $1 million if he makes the team out of camp. Man he is only 31 and his career looks to be pretty much over, big fall considering his potential...

Turner and Los Angeles agreed to a two-year, $34 million deal, with a club option for the third season. It also includes an $8 million signing bonus.

Ok, this seems like a waste of money for me, also I can't forget this arsehole knew he was Covid positive and went on the field for a picture with the WS trophy.

@yaongingy

 The contracts this year seem to have a system to them, if they think you are young enough you can get up to 3 years at big money but the addition of minor league contracts to pass stars that I am wondering if they played last year and this is the results of not playing. Then we have the one year guys that can be in some cases lower than pass years but those like Archer with 6.5 million still has me wondering why, it is very hard to figure out how the Owners are basing salaries for the year after the Covid19 season.

Bruce and Harvey contracts really seem strange to me, in past years they would of just given them the bit over a million, that is why I am wondering if they sat out last year, I did not watch much baseball last year so my info for virus season is low.

@KeyElement

 You had a van in the 60s? That really does not fit unless it was a Ford with no windows,lol.

@JEG53

 Pretty sharp of you, but yes; I had a '66 Ford van with no windows and later advanced to a '69 with side windows in the side and back doors only. The '70's brought us custom vans with windows all around, captain's chairs and cocktail tables, but that was for a more sophisticated crowd than I ran with. 

@JEG53

 The approach has been pretty clear from the start, caution fuelled by the uncertainty of our current times. The only multi-year contracts were offered to the highly coveted FA, all the other guys got 1 year, but what's interesting is that I saw many contracts have bonuses, built-in them, which are basically financial incentives for the players to perform.

Those minor league deals are even better, from the owners point of view, the player has spring training to prove he is worth the money, although imo for all the teams to complete their whole spring training will be a huge challenge...

@KeyElement

 Now you have seen my Bartender skills in action,

@yaongingy

 Well the Yankees gave a nice amount of money to Paxton when because of being hurt he only had 5 starts for them last season, Covid19 season, but what is worse is that in those 5 starts he had 20 innings and his ERA was close to 7 so that was a dead year.But even if we look at the year before 2019 when he won 15 games in 29 starts with an ERA close to 4.,I would be curious to know how much he made that year.

Being that I would assume he was signed by Yankees as a FA, which them being one of my favs team I should remember but based on his 28 starts in 2018 and a whopping 160 innings pitch with 11 wins for Seattle and 12 the year before that.So being pre virus he might have gotten 20 million for the 2 years before he became a FA again this year where I think he did well after being hurt last year.

The Owners did saved a bunch last year, shut minors down and mass lay offs in front office and anything else they could do to offset the fact that no Fans were allowed in seats and it would seem with the pro-rated paychecks the Owners did not lose much money if any. Still had TV money which is a good amount when you consider they share major revenues and every team has there own Local TV contracts that they make money on and they all also have a Fox Sports channel that Direct TV sells to Sports Bar and cable companies pay for rights to show them with a fee to there customers which you know the Owners are getting a cut from all the different ways we watch.

I have not even mention merchandise that Fans buy to show who they root for, just think of me, between all the teams I have that win I had to work in a sports bar so I was able to bet a bunch of free stuff, otherwise I might have had to cut down on teams,lol, I used to buy new Shirts for SB and WS but baseball had to go 7 games before I had to buy stuff. Also they have some form of sharing with this junk.

And though some guys look like they are getting big money but just look at the highest one, Bauer signs 3 years for 102 mill.,lets compare it to Cole 324 million, this year highest paid player is making less than 1/3 of Cole in guaranteed money, so Owners are cutting years off contracts and dollars in the long run if baseball makes a comeback by summer the next few years the Owners will shine again.

@JEG53

 You mean you suspected all along I didn't run with a very sophisticated crowd? That is bartender skills? Heck, back in the 60's I couldn't even spell sophisticated. 

@KeyElement

 I still can not spell that.