2025 MLB Thread

[MrNubbz]

Never liked the  O' Neills

Ed says Hi!

[MarqHusker]

The only caveat is the quality of announcer is worse, because former players get pushed up the ranks too quickly.  Tigers have been lucky to have back to back elite radio PBP guys.  But we went through a horrible TV PBP era.  Listening to a lot of broadcasts, there are a lot of bad announcers out there.

Great baseball radio broadcasts are undefeated.  Current radio broadcasts are very dependent on the guy doing them

That's a terrific qualifier. When I cruise around the dial for games, I definitely steer clear of some of the ex player led casts.   Some narrow exceptions to this but they are generally old as dirt former players, so some survivorship bias.

[ELA]

Tigers with a walk off walk in the 10th, 1-0.

Not the game to sell baseball to your spouse on

[ELA]

That's a terrific qualifier. When I cruise around the dial for games, I definitely steer clear of some of the ex player led casts.  Some narrow exceptions to this but they are generally old as dirt former players, so some survivorship bias.

Another reason its so hard to hate the Guardians, even though I should, is Tom Hamilton.  I think he does a good job knowing that,. particularly on the radio, he is speaking 95% to Cleveland fans, but still calling it straight.  I love Dan Dickersons voice for the Tigers, but he almost calls it so straight, Im shocked he doesnt do some FOX regional games.  Cubs, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Athletics might be my other favorites.

Worst has to be the Cardinals and White Sox.  Cardinals at least sounds like maybe a couple guys past their prime.  White Sox keep trottong out trash, and then when they stumble into a Jason Benetti, who called it his dream job, they run him off.  This organization actually paid Hawk Harrelson, to use his voice 

[OrangeAfroMan]

Expansion is tricky, because you've got to assume it's highly likely a AAA city is getting called up, so to speak.  So then you have 2 AA teams moving up to AAA, and so on.

Portland would need a retractable/permanent roof
Vegas has the A's
Charlotte is current AAA
Montreal?
San Juan is a non-starter, imo
Nowhere in Mexico is not going to happen (safety/infrastructure/elevation)
Nashville would work
I want to say New Orleans, but is that a 'major' city anymore?  And it would have the same weather issues as Portland/Tampa Bay
Salt Lake City...wouldn't that just be another Coors Field situation? 

As for AA moving up to AAA, Richmond, Hartford, and Reading PA have stronger attendance than most AAA teams.  And A+ Dayton has great attendance as well. 

[847badgerfan]

I liked The Hawk. Benetti was better. 

Steve Stone is really good. Kept Hawk and Harry straight. That's not easy.

[FearlessF]

agreed

[847badgerfan]

[ELA]

Too much league swapping.

[FearlessF]

make it regional - put em on busses

[Cincydawg]

Why do we have an AL and NL today?

[MarqHusker]

Id like to see the NL umpires come back w red blazers and exterior chest protectors.

[847badgerfan]

Why do we have an AL and NL today?

No need.

[SuperMario]

MLB is selling out, so it's just natural to realign and eliminate AL & NL. Just like it was natural to put a pitching clock, start runners on 2nd in extra innings and limit how many times you an attempt to pick a player off first. It's why the Guardians removed 10,000 seats and added couches and bar areas. It's no longer about the game.. it's about it being "a cool place to hang out." So let's align everything so it's the cool and popular thing to do since tradition in sports is dead.