Baseball 2025 - Batter Up! ⚾

[jmyrlefuller]

Previous years:

• 2024
• 2023
• 2022
• 2021

[Hoodat]

Thanks, @jmyrlefuller .  The Caribbean Series is coming up at the end of the month:


Everything you need to know about the 2025 Caribbean Series

David Mitchell  |  December 16, 2024



With the participation of Japan as a guest team, the Caribbean Series will be held at the home of Los Águilas de Mexicali from January 31 to February 7

MEXICO — The Caribbean Series Mexicali 2025 It will take place from January 31 to February 7 and this Tuesday the trophy, the uniforms and all the details surrounding the aforementioned competition were presented.

The Caribbean Series is of notable importance in this new edition, which will be held in Mexicali, Baja California, since it will be a very special guest: Japanwhich will compete for the first time in the tournament that takes place annually and hosts winter baseball teams.

“The presence of Japan has aroused great expectations, because there is a large Japanese community not only in Mexicalibut throughout California,” reported Tomás Serna, commercial director of the event.

In the 2025 edition, the Caribbean Series It will also have the traditional member countries, such as Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Mexico.

Tomas Serna explained that it is expected “that this baseball festival will exceed the expectations of the thousands of fans who will attend the Caribbean Series“, since the presence of more than 200 thousand visitors is expected during the eight days that the competition will last, which will not have more than two games per day.

In fact, on why they have not increased the number of guests to the traditional Caribbean Seriesit was said that it is due to the capacity they have; That is to say, there is no way to do more than two games in one day.

“It is very difficult to do more than two games per day; then, inviting more teams represented having a ‘series’ of 12 or 13 days, which also makes it very complicated for the fans, being able to spend so much time in the city” , he stated Tomas Serna.  .  .  .

https://www.am850.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-2025-caribbean-series/

[AllThatJazzZ]

Previous years:

• 2024
• 2023
• 2022
• 2021

Thanks, @jmyrlefuller. This is when I miss Easy Ace. I don't know if he would be discussing the various acquisitions across the League, but as someone who doesn't understand it at all, I try to glean whatever I can from those who understand the ins and outs of contracts, etc. I'm still smarting at losing Kyle Tucker, and many say it's a forgone conclusion that Bregman won't be an Astro soon. It's the part of baseball I didn't know about when I became a fan. Can I take it? I'm not sure. Don't know if it's just a female thing, but my friend and I are really having a tough time losing "our guys."

[DCPatriot]

Thanks, @jmyrlefuller. This is when I miss Easy Ace. I don't know if he would be discussing the various acquisitions across the League, but as someone who doesn't understand it at all, I try to glean whatever I can from those who understand the ins and outs of contracts, etc. I'm still smarting at losing Kyle Tucker, and many say it's a forgone conclusion that Bregman won't be an Astro soon. It's the part of baseball I didn't know about when I became a fan. Can I take it? I'm not sure. Don't know if it's just a female thing, but my friend and I are really having a tough time losing "our guys."

 
              Easy Ace

[Polly Ticks]

A little bit past this now, but it is a nice bookmark, anyway. 

[AllThatJazzZ]

https://youtube.com/shorts/enzn8TkXFzY?si=tznhjQSx_wqiqdOj

 

[Hoodat]

https://youtube.com/shorts/enzn8TkXFzY?si=tznhjQSx_wqiqdOj

Awesome.  While the first three pitches were borderline (i.e. they could easily have been called 'strikes'), the one that Buck Farmer threw was right down the middle.

[GrouchoTex]

So, where does Alex Bregman land?
Any opinions?

[AllThatJazzZ]

Awesome.  While the first three pitches were borderline (i.e. they could easily have been called 'strikes'), the one that Buck Farmer threw was right down the middle.

@Hoodat

During regular season when the umpire is infuriating me, I'm going to come back here and view that video again so that I can calm myself down.

So, where does Alex Bregman land?
Any opinions?

@GrouchoTex

I have no guesses, educated or otherwise. I just wish the dust would settle and Breggy would still be a 'Stro. I really needed less drama this year, but... 

[Hoodat]

Free agent signings and trade additions since season end:


AL EAST

Blue Jays

Jeff Hoffman
Yimi García
Andrés Giménez
Nick Sandlin
Josh Walker


Orioles

Tyler O’Neill
Tomoyuki Sugano
Gary Sánchez
Charlie Morton
Andrew Kittredge


Rays

Danny Jansen
Eloy Jiménez


Red Sox

Garrett Crochet
Walker Buehler
Patrick Sandoval
Aroldis Chapman
Justin Wilson
Jovani Morán
Carlos Narvaez


Yankees

Max Fried
Devin Williams
Cody Bellinger
Paul Goldschmidt
Jonathan Loáisiga
Fernando Cruz
Alex Jackson


AL CENTRAL

Indians

Austin Hedges
Shane Bieber
Carlos Santana
Luis L. Ortiz
Slade Cecconi


Royals

Jonathan India
Michael Lorenzen
Joey Wiemer


Tigers

Gleyber Torres
Alex Cobb


Twins

None


White Sox

Martín Pérez
Austin Slater
Mike Tauchman
Bryse Wilson
Josh Rojas
Tyler Gilbert
Matt Thaiss


AL WEST

Angels

Yusei Kikuchi
Jorge Soler
Travis d’Arnaud
Kyle Hendricks
Kevin Newman


Astros

Christian Walker
Isaac Paredes
Hayden Wesneski


A's

Luis Severino
Jeffrey Springs
Gio Urshela
T.J. McFarland


Mariners

None


Rangers

Nathan Eovaldi
Joc Pederson
Jake Burger
Kyle Higashioka
Chris Martin
Jacob Webb
Hoby Milner
Shawn Armstrong
Robert Garcia
Luis Curvelo


NL EAST

Braves

Bryan De La Cruz


Marlins

Eric Wagaman
Matt Mervis


Mets

Juan Soto
Clay Holmes
Sean Manaea
Frankie Montas
Jose Siri
Dylan Covey
Justin Hagenman
Jared Young


Nationals

Nathaniel Lowe
Michael Soroka
Josh Bell
Trevor Williams
Amed Rosario
Jorge López


Phillies

Jesús Luzardo
Jordan Romano
Max Kepler
Joe Ross


NL CENTRAL

Brewers

Nestor Cortes
Grant Anderson
Grant Wolfram


Cardinals

None


Cubs

Kyle Tucker
Matthew Boyd
Eli Morgan
Carson Kelly
Caleb Thielbar
Colin Rea
Cody Poteet
Vidal Bruján


Pirates

Andrew McCutchen
Spencer Horwitz
Caleb Ferguson
Enmanuel Valdez


Reds

Nick Martinez
Brady Singer
Gavin Lux
Jose Trevino
Owen White


NL WEST

D-backs

Corbin Burnes
Josh Naylor


Dodgers

Blake Snell
Michael Conforto
Blake Treinen
Giovanny Gallegos
Teoscar Hernández
Hyeseong Kim


Giants

Willy Adames
Justin Verlander


Padres

None

[AllThatJazzZ]

Mookie and/or Dodgers should sue. These pukes could have caused a career-ending injury. Make an example for other fans to remind themselves of when they're feeling too rambunctious.

[jmyrlefuller]

And let the games begin.

https://x.com/Brooks_Gate/status/1893033666982424965

[catfish1957]

[quote author=AllThatJazzZ link=topic=550090.m I'm still smarting at losing Kyle Tucker, and many say it's a forgone conclusion that Bregman won't be an Astro soon. It's the part of baseball I didn't know about when I became a fan. Can I take it? I'm not sure. Don't know if it's just a female thing, but my friend and I are really having a tough time losing "our guys."
[/quote]

@AllThatJazzZ

Yes, it has been a tough off season.  But, from my POV, I felt the most hurt at the onset of losing Springer.  Prior to his move he was our greatest post season clutch hitter.  But one thing about our players in the past 10 years.....   Having such a potent lineup has resulted in players having great seasons due to the depth of pitchers not being able to pitch around other weaker hitters, or those in slumps.  Look at Springer's stats since moving to Toronto.  Decent, but no where near his output in Houston.

To the others....

Tucker-  One kind of overlooked physical attribute to injuries are a few that seem to create lasting nagging issues....   One of those are deep deep shin contusions like what Tucker suffered last year.  Sometimes, players never regain that sweet spot leg plant while hitting.   This isn't always the case, but I am sure it entered the team's thinking process.  The add then $16M likely salary arbitration, plus one year to free agency?   It boiled down to economics

Bregman-  To me this was a no-brainer.  Bregman had great seasons for us, but I don't think there is much chance that the 30-35 y.o Bregman will be as productive as the <30 y.o. version. And the price tag?  $40/M a year?  He definitely won't be $40/M good in Boston.  Plus I think that he will have a problem overcompensating for the Green Monster.   As inviting as it sound and looks, there have been those like Bregman who are susceptible to over-swinging.  And on a personal note, I hated his Hotdogging.  '17 was bad enough without having his ongoing antics.

And let's not forget we are going to have freed money in a few years to pay who I feel might be the greatest Astro hitter of all time when it is said and done.  Yordan Alvarez is a monster who has a decent chance of being the first Astro to have a shot at 500 HR's.  He is a franchise player.