I think it's just the opposite. I think it's another brilliant trade for the Rays. In their minds, they sold high and got a haul.The rays need a new owner. Beyond cheap
They just finished a season in which they made the WS and they once again trade a star player because he is too “expensive”
and they wonder why attendance has been shit for them pre Covid.
they refuse to pay their star players.
YahtzeeI think it's just the opposite. I think it's another brilliant trade for the Rays. In their minds, they sold high and got a haul.
And it's no secret why attendance has been shit. They have a horrendous stadium, located in St. Pete. Separate issue.
But again they are only prospects and not a sure thing. We as Sox fans should know that (Middlebrooks/Lars Anderson/Swihart/Owens etc) Snell was a sure/proven player. Prospects have a better chance of of not Reaching their potential/flaiming out.I think it's just the opposite. I think it's another brilliant trade for the Rays. In their minds, they sold high and got a haul.
And it's no secret why attendance has been shit. They have a horrendous stadium, located in St. Pete. Separate issue.
Longoria’s extension. 6/100.who was the last player the rays gave a large contract to that was home grown?
I5 pennant race. The 405 merges with the 5 in Orange county.Should be a wild 405 Freeway division/pennant race.
To me, baseball is more fun when teams from a wide range of markets and resources find ways to be competitive.Math tells us that never paying big money for stars, remaining flexible and constantly hunting for prospects and veteran bargains is the right way to run a baseball team, especially in a small market.
Not to Carfardo it up here; but as a baseball fan it is pretty gross to watch an organization resist spending at all costs and remain competitive. Is it impressive? Sure; but is it entertaining or good for the growth of the game? Probably not. Baseball is more fun when individual players feel like big stars and important, but now it seems like more teams are focusing on the method that individual stars are a detriment and not an asset; which I don't think helps baseball.
I agree with this. Competition is better on the whole for the game. And while the TB stadium is a nightmare, and their methods of team building successful, I do wonder if the relative inability to have a favorite player or get attached to anything except the laundry limits fandom?To me, baseball is more fun when teams from a wide range of markets and resources find ways to be competitive.
2022 with Clevenger that is really something.That’s some rotation for SD
Snell
Lamet
Davies
Paddack
Gore/Weathers
They just addressed this on MLBN, this is just what TB does. Price, Shields, Archer, Odorizzi, on and on.Wonder if Snell’s outward criticism of Cash contributed to this.
I'm sure that it does, but we also probably take for granted the impact of having a team long enough to create that multi-generational fanbase. I know a lot of casual Red Sox fans who don't care that much about baseball, but root for them and will go to a game or two, and more importantly buy their little kids tiny Red Sox hats, mainly because their parents raised them that way.I agree with this. Competition is better on the whole for the game. And while the TB stadium is a nightmare, and their methods of team building successful, I do wonder if the relative inability to have a favorite player or get attached to anything except the laundry limits fandom?
I agree with this. Competition is better on the whole for the game. And while the TB stadium is a nightmare, and their methods of team building successful, I do wonder if the relative inability to have a favorite player or get attached to anything except the laundry limits fandom?
Tampenos are starting to get that second generation of fans going, but as others have said the stadium and its location are the problems--not the Rays team building philosophy. People miss Longo, Price, and Lugo*, but I don't think those guys leaving is a huge deal to building fans. Maddon and Longo have invested in local businesses and remain recognized celebrities, so the club would benefit from having a bona fide star stick around. But Sternberg is 100% the problem. Not to derail the thread, but there was a PPP that coordinated to offer him the perfect spot near Downtown Tampa last year. So naturally, Sternberg proposed a $1.1B stadium, with over 50% public funding. DOA.I'm sure that it does, but we also probably take for granted the impact of having a team long enough to create that multi-generational fanbase. I know a lot of casual Red Sox fans who don't care that much about baseball, but root for them and will go to a game or two, and more importantly buy their little kids tiny Red Sox hats, mainly because their parents raised them that way.
Imagine if after '67 the Red Sox traded Yaz because the math told them they shouldn't pay a single player that much money.I'm sure that it does, but we also probably take for granted the impact of having a team long enough to create that multi-generational fanbase. I know a lot of casual Red Sox fans who don't care that much about baseball, but root for them and will go to a game or two, and more importantly buy their little kids tiny Red Sox hats, mainly because their parents raised them that way.
Oh, absolutely, I should say that I went to a Rays-Sox game down there and the stadium was atrocious. Everything felt temporary, and the location wasn't great (aside from parking, which was easy). I'm just saying it will take a while for the second-generation fans to become old enough to start buying tickets themselves, and they could make the area around the stadium a bit more inviting to lure people over from Tampa (or add some good public transit options). I think we are agreeing here that the player shuffling isn't the primary reason for their lack of attendance.Tampenos are starting to get that second generation of fans going, but as others have said the stadium and its location are the problems--not the Rays team building philosophy. People miss Longo, Price, and Lugo*, but I don't think those guys leaving is a huge deal to building fans. Maddon and Longo have invested in local businesses and remain recognized celebrities, so the club would benefit from having a bona fide star stick around. But Sternberg is 100% the problem. Not to derail the thread, but there was a PPP that coordinated to offer him the perfect spot near Downtown Tampa last year. So naturally, Sternberg proposed a $1.1B stadium, with over 50% public funding. DOA.
*Just making sure you're still paying attention
Admittedly, that was before my time. However, I've seen a lot of players come and go over the years, and yet most rooting is for laundry. Stars leave or get traded all the time, but I'm not going to suddenly stop liking a sport, or just become a fan of a team from another city. Borque? Boggs? Lester? Seymour? Nomar? How many fans actually left? I guess with Mookie and Brady we get a decent test of the theory over the next few seasons, but at some point, if you have a favorite team, you root for the players on it while they are there, then gripe a bit when they leave before falling in love with the next crop of homegrown stars (Devers). Wash, rinse, repeat.Imagine if after '67 the Red Sox traded Yaz because the math told them they shouldn't pay a single player that much money.
It’s strange to see these kinds of reactions every time the Rays make a deal like this from a board full of Patriot fans. You think you’d appreciate the mentality more than most. The Rays have the 3rd best record in the AL over the last decade. As a fan, you want your team to win. If the Rays didn’t do this stuff, then they wouldn’t win. We’re on to 2021.Imagine if after '67 the Red Sox traded Yaz because the math told them they shouldn't pay a single player that much money.
So nice to see you post, I was getting a bit worried something had happened to you.It’s strange to see these kinds of reactions every time the Rays make a deal like this from a board full of Patriot fans. You think you’d appreciate the mentality more than most. The Rays have the 3rd best record in the AL over the last decade. As a fan, you want your team to win. If the Rays didn’t do this stuff, then they wouldn’t win. We’re on to 2021.
This.Snell isn't that great. He overperformed for one year, walks entirely too many, and gives up dingers. Maybe that plays better in San Diego, but people are generally labeling this as an ace being traded. Crazy.
The Rays, as usual, made the right move at the right time.
The Padres probably needed to do a move like this with Clevinger out, but this is a buy high scenario.
It's an awesome package for a pitcher who, while was great in 2018, has only pitched over 130 innings once in his career.I feel like the package TB got is being a bit underestimated:
a top 20 overall MLB prospect in Patino
a recent top 50 overall MLB prospect in Mejia
two guys who could easily be top 100 prospects in the next year if they're not already
It’s a great deal for the Rays. They let everyone believe that these moves are all about salary, Keyser Soze style, but Snell wasn’t elite after that one amazing year in 2018 and there is a lot more value to them in this package than in his contract for the next 3 years.I feel like the package TB got is being a bit underestimated:
a top 20 overall MLB prospect in Patino
a recent top 50 overall MLB prospect in Mejia
two guys who could easily be top 100 prospects in the next year if they're not already
The NFL has a hard salary cap and the Patriots always spend nearly all of it (as basically every team does). Completely irrelevant comparison.It’s strange to see these kinds of reactions every time the Rays make a deal like this from a board full of Patriot fans. You think you’d appreciate the mentality more than most. The Rays have the 3rd best record in the AL over the last decade. As a fan, you want your team to win. If the Rays didn’t do this stuff, then they wouldn’t win. We’re on to 2021.
Is this really true though? Plenty of small market teams have managed to be very competitive (Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Cleveland, etc.) without being quite as gung ho as the Rays on trading established players. This is the same argument for the A's; that the A's are such a small market that the ONLY way to compete is to constantly be trading your best players for cost-controlled prospects. However, other teams in small markets have proven that it is possible to pay some of your key players and remain very competitive; there is a middle ground to be reached and I think arguing that this is the only way to win conveniently absolves ownership of ever having to spend any real money.It’s strange to see these kinds of reactions every time the Rays make a deal like this from a board full of Patriot fans. You think you’d appreciate the mentality more than most. The Rays have the 3rd best record in the AL over the last decade. As a fan, you want your team to win. If the Rays didn’t do this stuff, then they wouldn’t win. We’re on to 2021.
The World Series took a lot out of me!So nice to see you post, I was getting a bit worried something had happened to you.
Given the package they got for him, money may not even be the main issue. The Rays know their talent. I agree with those who think the Rays sold high.The thing about Snell is he is signed for three years at a very reasonable price; he took an extension to lock in salary for his arb years and gave up a year of free agency. That's the kind of deal small market teams always try to make, and then they got rid of him 20 months later. They should get criticized.
Do Pats fans get sentimental about players or do they say In Bill We Trust and root for the laundry?The NFL has a hard salary cap and the Patriots always spend nearly all of it (as basically every team does). Completely irrelevant comparison.
The thing about Snell is he is signed for three years at a very reasonable price; he took an extension to lock in salary for his arb years and gave up a year of free agency. That's the kind of deal small market teams always try to make, and then they got rid of him 20 months later. They should get criticized.
That said I am more sympathetic to the Rays doing this kind of thing than the Astros who are in a huge market in a nearly new stadium.