NEWSLETTER
I just realized “That ’70s Show” debuted 22 years ago (1998) covering a period of time 22 years before that (1976). That means an equivalent show today (2020) would begin with high school kids in 1998, the very year “That ’70s Show” initially debuted.
Anyone else ready for “That ’90s Show” Or “That ’00s Show”?
MLB Gets Some Serious TV Money
Insert your preferred quip about the financial state of the game. A new $375 billion deal between MLB and Turner comes with a 65% bump in revenue to MLB, which amounts to an additional $535 million per season (~$18M/team per year).
Turner Sports and @MLB reach 7-year media rights extension through 2028, featuring TBS exclusively televising the most Postseason games of any network, new Tuesday Night live game franchise beginning in ‘22 & more
Details: https://t.co/gbEhWoXGgP & https://t.co/O5a7cBeZ7i pic.twitter.com/2vYBZYxb5S
— TurnerSportsPR (@TurnerSportsPR) September 24, 2020
The extension doesn’t kick in until the 2022 season, but it’s happening and it’ll include a setup that efforts to recreate what Turner did with the NBA (prime-time weeknight games, a new studio show, a Tuesday game of the week, expanded playoff coverage, etc.).
Broadcast implications aside, this is a relatively significant increase per team at exactly the right time for MLB. We’ve already discussed how different this offseason is likely to look because of the losses this year and while I don’t think this’ll necessarily move the needle for everyone (again, the money doesn’t actually kick in until 2022), it can’t have no effect.
You can read more about the changes and structure of the deal at The New York Post.
The Atlantic League Perseveres
The independent Atlantic League (i.e. not an affiliated Minor League of MLB) was recently named the first “partner league” of MLB, which, cross-promotional and marketing advantages aside, seems to be about preserving the ability to test out new rules.
As you’ll recall, The Atlantic league is where MLB tested the robot umps (automated balls and strikes) last year, plus other changes that have already reached the big leagues like mound visits, extra baserunners, etc. The league has also toyed with limiting defensive shifts, larger bases, shorter breaks between innings, etc. – all things that MLB clearly wants to try, but in a setting from which they can claim plausible deniability if there’s TOO MUCH backlash. It’s smart, really.
“The Atlantic League clubs and players have been great partners to us as we jointly test ways to make our game even more interesting and engaging to fans,” Morgan Sword, MLB’s executive vice president of baseball economics and operations, said in a statement.
Alrighty.
Is Mike Clevinger’s Season Done?
The Padres were likely thrilled to land starter Mike Clevinger at the deadline, despite his COVID-19 going out in Chicago scandal, given his talent and their proximity to a championship. However, San Diego now fears they may have lost him for the postseason.
The team is currently awaiting MRI results after the righty left Wednesday’s game against the Angels complaining with tightness in his right bicep, which is something we dealt with earlier in the week (he was scratched from his originally scheduled start on Sunday).
Although the initial diagnosis is not a worst case scenario (elbow injury), even more minor problems – at this point in the year – could force him out of October. “I’m comfortable with our options,” manager Jayce Tingler said. “But we’re not going to flip out and freak out. We’re going to get some information. We’ll go from there. We’ll have the off day tomorrow and go. We’ve just got to wait.”
Alex Gordon Announces Retirement
There’s not much to say here, but one of the greatest defensive left fielders in recent memory, Alex Gordon, is retiring from baseball.
After 14 years of hard work and dedication to the #Royals, Alex Gordon is retiring from baseball.
Thank you for always giving it your all, Gordo.#4EverRoyal pic.twitter.com/S5A0Y7ASFq
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) September 24, 2020
Gordon, 36, is wrapping up a 14-year career (all with the Royals) during which he slashed .257/.338/.411 (102 wRC+) with 190 home runs and 32.2 WAR. Although Gordon did have a several excellent offensive seasons (140 wRC+ in 2011, 126 wRC+ in 2012, 122 wRC+ in 2015, 120 wRC+ in 2014), he was known more for his glove than anything else.
Overall, he won 7 Gold Glove awards and one Platinum Glove award. He also made 3 All-Star teams and was a 2015 World Series Champion (alongside Ben Zobrist).
That’s one hell of a career and it’s a shame Royals fans won’t be there to send him off.
Nolan Arenado’s Future is More Complicated Than Ever
There’s a little too much nuance to get into in just one small section of the MLBits, but I’ll try my best to hit the highlights of Jay Jaffe’s latest at FanGraphs: “Nolan Arenado’s Season Is Over, but He and Rockies Are Still Stuck With Each Other”
In short, Arenado signed a massive extension with the Rockies before the 2019 season, but eventually felt he was misled about the direction of the franchise, which he believed was undergoing a rebuild. That led to a big public feud between Arenado and the Rockies which inspired a ton of legitimate trade rumors this past offseason (including, perhaps most notably, with the Cubs). The issue with a trade to any team, however, was not only the massive amount of money he had left on the deal, but also the opt-out after the 2021 season.
But since last offseason things have gotten only more complicated. Thanks to COVID-19, the willingness of any team to take on any amount of that contract dropped dramatically. Worse, Arenado had a bad season offensively *and* is now injured/ending his season/beginning rehab early. So now the Rockies really have an issue on their hands, because their unhappy star player is now an unhappy star player, who underperformed, then got injured, and is now relatively overpaid due to an unforeseen pandemic.
And the opt-out persists.
This’ll be a tricky one for that front office (though I can’t say I’d be mad if the Cubs found a way to get him in Chicago at a reduced rate).
The Rockies Expensive Bullpen Project is Over
Speaking of the Rockies and money, remember when the Rockies went hog wild on their bullpen a few years ago? If you don’t remember, note that they spent $52M on Wade Davis, $27M on Jake McGee, and $27M on Bryan Shaw. Unfortunately, the latter two were released by the Rockies just before the start of the season (and year three of their deals), while the former was released three days ago after appearing in just five games this season with a 20.77 ERA. Ouch.
Not a great time to be a Rockies fan. You can read more about those deals and their plans moving forward here at The Athletic.
The money quote from Rockies GM Jeff Bridich, who somehow finds a way to avoid learning any lessons and instead just blames the players: “I don’t think there are huge lessons that we’re going to take and drastically move in one direction. It always comes down to the men in uniform. And whether they’re rookies or middle-aged or wily veterans that have been around for a long time, it still comes down to what they’re made of and how they operate as a group together.”
Odds and Ends
• If you want to be reminded of the importance of Minor League teams (and thus the issues and risks of the planned contraction from 160 teams to 120 teams) read this:
From @DavidLaurilaQA over at @fangraphs. Quote from Dayton Moore about contraction in the minors. pic.twitter.com/7FlTzXcres
— mdthompFWFB (@mdthompFWFB) September 23, 2020
• I guess I just wasn’t old enough to actually remember guys looking like this. In my head, that’s just how villains were portrayed in movies like Little Big League, Rookie of the Year, Major League, etc.
Oh, so those 90s movies weren't crazy. Baseball players really did used to look like 45-year-old outlaws from the Wild West. https://t.co/z3V6hetQt4
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) September 23, 2020
• Life isn’t fair:
So much effort. Didn't deserve that final play … pic.twitter.com/Swzfu7AzOy
— Baseball is Fun (@flippingbats) September 22, 2020
