2021 HOT STOVE

@barneybeans

 Miami and KC--my two picks to cover their team totals this year.

Hope you kill 'em this year!

RT2

The Fish are a hidden gem 

3/18

 adding on to my prior OAK bet:

OAK +145 2U

BOL

Adding:

Brewers +120

I am due to hit a double up 

Yesterday 2-3 -2.64

YTD 34-38-11 (-2.40)

@RebelTell2

 Good to see you here 

@undermysac

 Thanks...the oldtimers' forum...me, you, Key, Barney. We oughta be able to pick some winners between us. Ha! Hope you have a good season

RT2

@barneybeans

 The Fish are a hidden gem...which would indicate that Atlanta under this year is a hidden gem too.

RT2

The Starting pitching in the NL East is going to be good.

With the Nats, a lot hinges on Lester. We'll see if the old man still has something left in the tank. I think that him and Corbin will bounce ideas off each other. It will be good for those 2 southpaws being in the same clubhouse. Max and Stras look great this spring. If all 4 stay healthy watch out.

For the Mets, Degrom is on another level. Stroman took last year off, he's fresh. Great ground ball rate when he's on. David Peterson looks solid. Very young though but the ceiling is high. Carrasco is a vet. Unfortunately he strained his hamstring. Luchessi and Walker are serviceable 4 and 5 guys till Carrasco comes back. And Syndergard is due back at some point this year. I think he'd be great out of the pen, and maybe make a few starts to eat innings.

The Marlins starting 5 will be awesome. Well at least the first 4. Trevor Rogers is still rough around the edges. For a #5 though they can't complain.

That leaves the Phillies with the weakest starting 5 in the division imo. Wheeler is damn good. The analytics guys were right about him, he blossomed. Aaron Nola is a staple, great pitcher. All though he's going through some major speed bumps this spring. I'm not sure if he's just messing around with new pitches/tweaks right now, or if there is an underlying issue. Vince Velasquez doesn't leave much to desire. I think he's passed his breakout threshold. I'm a Zach Efflin fan. Think he can be better more often than not this year. Chase Anderson can be serviceable. There was a time when he was really good, getting older. Spencer Howard might be good one day, but who knows?

I am thinking Kershaw goes in the IR, maybe another injury to pitching, Turner slumps, Dave Roberts makes some lineup and/or bullpen mistakes and every other team is gunning to beat them.

Who knows.

BOL in your season RT, let's make some drink some

Incase anyone didn't notice, the Angels scored an unearned run. Thought I should point that out.

Heaney has a no hitter going

Mariners +120

I don't like anything about this bet except the starting pitcher matchup. That's all

@barneybeans

"Remember that year of the Cubs where they had the best defense in all of baseball? Crushing it on both sides, won the WS?  Manager Joe had them dressing up and doing all kinds of crazy stuff, they were having fun. That is a super key ingredient."

More truth there than some may realize. I found one thing to remind players of when they got too tight. - You did not start playing this game because someone promised you a million dollars. You started playing as a little kid because it was FUN, and the better you did, the more you enjoyed it. The game was MEANT to be fun, don't forget that. All the way up, when players laugh, or cry, together, they are putting their hearts into the game, the life experience. Money can't buy that, but there is no feeling in the world like it.   

AMEN brother

PS: except that sometimes winning some cold hard cash on the games comes in a close second to all that camaraderie and life experience mumbo jumbo.

0-3 stankin it up.

Nice job on the A's Barney.

Off work tomorrow, cause there's some basketball watchin to be made.

Sometimes, when you're not having fun, you manufacture it.

Speakin' 'bout the tourney, where's @JEG53 with the picks?

3/18 graded

MIA +125  3U         -3.00U
  KC +125  3U         -3.00U
OAK +115  3U  +3.45U
OAK +145  2U  +2.90U

1-2-0 + .35U

MLB ST: 26-18-7 / +28.34U

@OneWayOut

The new MINOR League rules for 2021, with most text copied directly from the MLB press release.

• Triple-A (Larger Bases): To reduce player injuries and collisions, the size of first, second and third base will be increased from 15 inches square to 18 inches square. The Competition Committee also expects the shorter distances between bases created by increased size to have a modest impact on the success rate of stolen base attempts and the frequency with which a batter-runner reaches base on groundballs and bunt attempts.
• Double-A (Defensive Positioning): The defensive team must have a minimum of four players on the infield, each of whom must have both feet completely in front of the outer boundary of the infield dirt. Depending on the preliminary results of this experimental rule change, MLB may require two infielders to be positioned entirely on each side of second base in the second half of the Double-A season. These restrictions on defensive positioning are intended to increase the batting average on balls in play.
• High-A (“Step Off” Rule): Pitchers are required to disengage the rubber prior to throwing to any base, with the penalty of a balk in the event the pitcher fails to comply. MLB implemented a similar rule in the second half of the Atlantic League season in 2019, which resulted in a significant increase in stolen base attempts and an improved success rate after adoption of the rule.
• Low-A, all leagues (Pickoff Limitation): Pitchers will be limited to a total of two “step offs” or “pickoffs” per plate appearance while there is at least one runner on base. A pitcher may attempt a third step off or pickoff in the same plate appearance; however, if the runner safely returns to the occupied base, the result is a balk. Depending on the preliminary results of this experimental rule change, MLB will consider reducing the limitation to a single “step off” or “pickoff” per plate appearance with at least one runner on base.
• Low-A Southeast (Robot strike zone): In addition to the limitations on step offs/pickoffs, MLB will expand testing of the Automatic Ball-Strike System (“ABS”) that began in the Atlantic League and Arizona Fall League to select Low-A Southeast games to assist home plate umpires with calling balls and strikes, ensure a consistent strike zone is called, and determine the optimal strike zone for the system.
• Low-A West (Pitch timers): In addition to the limitations on step offs/pickoffs, following successful pace of game rules testing among Florida State League teams in 2019, on-field timers (one in the outfield, two behind home plate between the dugouts) will be implemented to enforce time limits between delivery of pitches, inning breaks and pitching changes. The on-field timer used in Low-A West will include new regulations beyond the system currently used in Triple-A and Double-A to reduce game length and improve the pace of play.

They forgot one about the three ring circus in the middle of the field complete with trapeze and ring of fire between 1st and 2nd base. Jumping through the hoop on a steal without singeing your eyebrows awards the runner 3rd.

I'm actually in favor of the robo strike zone.

In the winter they talk about deadening the ball, then in the spring they experiment with rule changes to help the offense. How much of this garbage will make it to the major leagues? The distance between bases thing was simple, but not to these rocket scientists. Simply move all three inches of the expansion toward the outfield. But that wouldn't help the offense would it? What a crock of shiit. 

Banning shifts is absurd. If a hitter can't hit to all fields the game is going to cover up his weakness with a rule change? The defense is supposed to stand where they DON'T think a batter will hit the ball? 

Will they ban low and away pitches when facing guys who don't like low and away pitches? That would sure help BABIPs. How about really, really FAST pitches with movement? Those are hard to hit too! Slow and straight pitches only fellas, we've got tickets to sell!

If a quarterback always rolls to his right will the NFL make a rule telling linebackers to stay to his left??

There would be more goals in the NHL if they banned goalies with 20/20 vision or better. 

Ay yay yay,,,,

@CheckChange1000

 Ryan Howard STUNK versus left handed pitching, so the Phillies always substituted John Mayberry. Today they might be able to say, "We want our star to play, so you can't use any left handed pitchers, especially starters." 

Spring Training 2021 [ 12-18-3 / -397 / RoR -13.2%]

3/19

Cardinals +120

Comment: Maybe a Cactus League later, lines have to move.   

1-4 -3.80 yesterday. Seattle won, and I didn't like them much at all

YTD 35-42-11 (-6.20)

Cubs +115

Brewers -135 *1.00/.74

Only 2 of the day. Good Luck