caulfield12

You're not off to an auspucious start in 2023.

Cheering on any team that takes out the Yankees as a Bostonian?

That would at least make Ron883 elated...

Seems forced. No replacing an iconic voice. Would almost prefer Sam Neill or the Avatar drill sergeant.

Interesting first pitch...reminds me of the Korean ceremonies lol.

10. Chicago White Sox A sleeping giant here. So much talent. Just about everything went wrong last year, and Tony La Russa was the wrong manager at the wrong time. I’ve proactively drafted five or six guys from this roster all spring. Just give them an average batch of luck for six months, and they’re back in the playoffs.

Really dislike generic nature of Twins' new road uniforms and the simplistic M on their batting helmets. I know I know supposed to conjure up the mystical 1950 and 60s Killebrew Oliva Carew look.

Old friend Reese McGuire starting at catcher for the Red Sox. Seems more like he belongs in the AL East.

And a banged up Yordan Alvarez

Alex Call starting for the Nationals in the OF. Go farm system?

Aaron Judge already homered...what new?

Downgrade from the past sounds like quite the familiar refrain this year...

2021 2005 2000 1993 1984 Five times in roughly fifty years...

I'll take things we probably don't want to hear from anyone other than Romy and Aaron Rowand for $400, Alex. Certainly not from LRobJr.

https://abc13.com/opening-day-astros-2023-framber-valdez-when-is-houston-justin-verlander/13006304/ Mr. Quality, that's who. Framber Valdez, the left-hander from the Dominican Republic who set a Major League Baseball record with 25 consecutive quality starts last season, got the nod to start in his second straight opening day game, the club announced Friday. While 'Stros fans now know who will get the chance to set the tone for a championship-defense season, the rest of the rotation order remains a mystery. As of Friday afternoon, ESPN mentions no probable starters for the four games after the March 30 contest against the Chicago White Sox. The "Worldwide Leader," though, currently has a probable rotation of Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr., Luis Garcia, and Jose Urquidy. McCullers, however, is out indefinitely to start the season with a reported forearm strain. It's not yet known who will fill in for McCullers for the time being, but fan sentiment places that responsibility on Hunter Brown, who debuted last year. White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease, who finished second to Verlander in last year's AL Cy Young Award race, opposes Valdez."

See Anderson, Brian...2006...in theory. Until the pressure to hit his weight at least got to him.

Isn't the Thursday before Thanksgiving essentially the same as saying one week before Thanksgiving?

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35998626/minor-leaguers-mlb-reach-tentative-deal-historic-1st-cba Minor leaguers, MLB reach tentative deal on 1st CBA, sources say 10:22 AM CT Jeff PassanESPN Minor league baseball players and Major League Baseball struck a tentative deal Wednesday on the first collective bargaining agreement between the sides that will more than double player pay, sources familiar with the agreement told ESPN. The deal, which will last for five years, comes after a rapid and successful effort last year by minor leaguers to unionize under the umbrella of the Major League Baseball Players Association and follows previous gains in housing and pay. The pay increases at each level are significant, according to sources, and will pay players in spring training as well as the offseason, outside of a dead period between the Thursday before Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. At each level, the increases will be: AAA: From $17,500 per year to $35,800 AA: $13,800 to $30,250 High-A: $11,000 to $27,300 Low-A: $11,000 to $26,200 Complex league: $4,800 to $19,800 The deal also will include the reduction of the Domestic Reserve List, which governs the number of players a team can roster outside of Latin America, from 180 to 165 starting in 2024. The union, which does not include players at teams' Dominican Republic complexes as part of its bargaining unit, fought MLB's efforts to reduce the reserve list during the lockout last year.

The White Sox are trying to rebound after a disappointing year The Chicago White Sox will enter 2023 with major questions in the outfield and at second base, which is not a recycled line from the past 20 seasons of White Sox previews. The Sox went into 2022 with massive exceptions and left the year a major disappointment. Then the team’s offseason was spotty. Andrew Benintendi was brought in on a $75 million deal to shore up one corner outfield slot. The team also brought in pitcher Mike Clevinger, who was the subject of a domestic-violence investigation shortly after he was signed. Clevinger will not be punished by MLB. If this team is going to get back to contention, it will need a strong showing from rookie outfielder Oscar Colas, who has performed well in spring training. It will also need new manager Pedro Grifol to prove he’s the answer. As long as Grifol doesn’t walk batters with 1-2 counts, he’ll be an upgrade for White Sox fans (hahaha). https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-opening-day-30-things-fans-need-to-know-after-an-action-packed-winter-130350327.html

Looks like I can see Yomiuri in the Tokyo Dome, maybe a Chiba Lotte Marines game at ZOZO Marine/Tokyo Dome (Roki Sasaki starting would be amazing, 4/5 odds)...Yakult Swallows on the 2nd or 11th at home. Unfortunately no time for a trip to Koshien/Kobe for the high school baseball tournament, annually held in August from what I understand.

Fine, then Caitlyn Clark...Iowa alums finally get something nice and shiny instead of the usual mired in B10 mediocrity. 1979 was the last Final Four for men's basketball under Lute Olson. No Sweet 16 since last year of Tom Davis in the late 90s who was ironically pushed out for "only" winning first round NCAA tourney games.

767 ops. 100 less than Yoshida's projected 867 with Boston. Solid defense and most runners hesitating on challenging his arm in RF. Good health would be nice too. 2-2.5 fWAR would be fine for a rookie.

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-predictions-2023-division-winners-100553351.html Detroit writer picks Sox to win division but lose to CLE in WC, lol. Another picks them third.

https://www.betonline.ag/sportsbook/futures-and-props/mlb-specials/shohei-ohtani-next-team Guardians slight favorite at 13th best team odds to sign over White Sox (14th) to sign Shohei Ohtani. Sox tied with four other teams btw. Rays after Wander Franco deal shockingly not last. Rockies and Orioles remain enigmas spending-wise, and Detroit Tigers fans might feel a bit discouraged. Tampa Bay Rays +5000 Kansas City Royals +7500 Cincinnati Reds +7500 Colorado Rockies +7500 Oakland Athletics +7500 Detroit Tigers +7500 Baltimore Orioles +7500 Pittsburgh Pirates +7500