2012 MLB Season

[bosrs1]

Looks like Tropicana Field is probably going to be the last one standing with artificial turf. The Blue Jays are exploring and hoping to put real grass on their field at Rogers Centre in time for the 2013 season. Meaning this will likely be the last year that any MLB team plays on a field with the goofy island bases. Very interesting development with implications for not only the Jays but also the Argos and the Bills as it means that the Argos are going to be out on their asses after their lease expires this year since to put grass in the stands will have to be locked in the baseball configuration to prevent killing it. Same for the Bills I'd imagine.

http://ballparkdigest.com/201202084493/major-league-baseball/features/blue-jays-considering-grass-field-at-rogers-centre

[FiddySicks]

In a bit of a shocker, the A's actually made a pretty big move today, signing Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/fl-yoenis-cespedes-signs-with-oakland-0213,0,6927563.story

This may be where the A's start trying to put together a competitive team by the time they move to San Jose.

If not, I'm sure he'll be dealt for prospects by May.

[patsox]

Who would've thought David ORtiz would be making 14 something million dollars in 2012 a couple years ago, let alone still playing.

[Brass]

Who would've thought David ORtiz would be making 14 something million dollars in 2012 a couple years ago, let alone still playing.

He can still hit. Hopefully he puts up the same type of numbers that he put up last season.

Also, can Roy Oswalt make up his mind on where to go? Is he even worth this game he's putting the Red Sox through?

[patsox]

Who would've thought David ORtiz would be making 14 something million dollars in 2012 a couple years ago, let alone still playing.

He can still hit. Hopefully he puts up the same type of numbers that he put up last season.

Also, can Roy Oswalt make up his mind on where to go? Is he even worth this game he's putting the Red Sox through?

Oh I'm just saying based on how bad he started a couple years ago, people wouldn't have believed it.

[bosrs1]

In a bit of a shocker, the A's actually made a pretty big move today, signing Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/fl-yoenis-cespedes-signs-with-oakland-0213,0,6927563.story

This may be where the A's start trying to put together a competitive team by the time they move to San Jose.

If not, I'm sure he'll be dealt for prospects by May.

I think he's just being used to eat up revenue sharing money they are required to spend, and to give the "crowds" SOMETHING to watch. As it was the A's were going to be nearly unwatchable. And on the plus side if they still like him in 3-4 years when Cisco Field opens then can go ahead and resign him and plug him into the competitive club they're hoping will have developed by then.

[AlMagz]

In a bit of a shocker, the A's actually made a pretty big move today, signing Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/fl-yoenis-cespedes-signs-with-oakland-0213,0,6927563.story

This may be where the A's start trying to put together a competitive team by the time they move to San Jose.

If not, I'm sure he'll be dealt for prospects by May.

I think he's just being used to eat up revenue sharing money they are required to spend, and to give the "crowds" SOMETHING to watch. As it was the A's were going to be nearly unwatchable. And on the plus side if they still like him in 3-4 years when Cisco Field opens then can go ahead and resign him and plug him into the competitive club they're hoping will have developed by then.

Cespedes will now be the highest paid player on the team with 6.5m/yr, coco crisp makes 6m. This deal was made definitely made for the move to San Jose and agreed Oakland needs some kind of draw this year. They traded away everyone. The rest of the division is very competitive and made a ton of moves. Gonna be a long season for the moneyballers.

[Sport]

Looks like Tropicana Field is probably going to be the last one standing with artificial turf. The Blue Jays are exploring and hoping to put real grass on their field at Rogers Centre in time for the 2013 season. Meaning this will likely be the last year that any MLB team plays on a field with the goofy island bases. Very interesting development with implications for not only the Jays but also the Argos and the Bills as it means that the Argos are going to be out on their asses after their lease expires this year since to put grass in the stands will have to be locked in the baseball configuration to prevent killing it. Same for the Bills I'd imagine.

http://ballparkdigest.com/201202084493/major-league-baseball/features/blue-jays-considering-grass-field-at-rogers-centre

Doesn't the roof, when open, still cast a considerable shadow on part of the outfield? I'm all for grass to (literally) liven that place up, but could it work?

[TheOldRoman]

Looks like Tropicana Field is probably going to be the last one standing with artificial turf. The Blue Jays are exploring and hoping to put real grass on their field at Rogers Centre in time for the 2013 season. Meaning this will likely be the last year that any MLB team plays on a field with the goofy island bases. Very interesting development with implications for not only the Jays but also the Argos and the Bills as it means that the Argos are going to be out on their asses after their lease expires this year since to put grass in the stands will have to be locked in the baseball configuration to prevent killing it. Same for the Bills I'd imagine.

http://ballparkdiges...t-rogers-centre

Doesn't the roof, when open, still cast a considerable shadow on part of the outfield? I'm all for grass to (literally) liven that place up, but could it work?

Yeah, I exressed my doubt (not sure if it was on here or on another board). Stadiums such as Gilette had issues with the upper deck structures being so big they blocked the field from getting sunlight, necessitating them getting Field Turf. However, those problems occured in Oct-Jan. I guess they assume the field will be able to get enough sunlight in Summer hours.

[bosrs1]

Looks like Tropicana Field is probably going to be the last one standing with artificial turf. The Blue Jays are exploring and hoping to put real grass on their field at Rogers Centre in time for the 2013 season. Meaning this will likely be the last year that any MLB team plays on a field with the goofy island bases. Very interesting development with implications for not only the Jays but also the Argos and the Bills as it means that the Argos are going to be out on their asses after their lease expires this year since to put grass in the stands will have to be locked in the baseball configuration to prevent killing it. Same for the Bills I'd imagine.

http://ballparkdiges...t-rogers-centre

Doesn't the roof, when open, still cast a considerable shadow on part of the outfield? I'm all for grass to (literally) liven that place up, but could it work?

Yeah, I exressed my doubt (not sure if it was on here or on another board). Stadiums such as Gilette had issues with the upper deck structures being so big they blocked the field from getting sunlight, necessitating them getting Field Turf. However, those problems occured in Oct-Jan. I guess they assume the field will be able to get enough sunlight in Summer hours.

They've had a similar problem at Chase Field in Arizona for years due to its "warehouse" shape. But it's not as bad due to it being summer as you say, and due to the use of sun lamps. They do the same thing with soccer stadiums in the UK. It's not a fun problem to have, but its a fairly simple and easy solution to the problem.

[BigBubba]

Looks like Tropicana Field is probably going to be the last one standing with artificial turf. The Blue Jays are exploring and hoping to put real grass on their field at Rogers Centre in time for the 2013 season. Meaning this will likely be the last year that any MLB team plays on a field with the goofy island bases. Very interesting development with implications for not only the Jays but also the Argos and the Bills as it means that the Argos are going to be out on their asses after their lease expires this year since to put grass in the stands will have to be locked in the baseball configuration to prevent killing it. Same for the Bills I'd imagine.

http://ballparkdiges...t-rogers-centre

Doesn't the roof, when open, still cast a considerable shadow on part of the outfield? I'm all for grass to (literally) liven that place up, but could it work?

Sometimes it's like this:

And sometimes like this:

[Cujo]

RIP Gary Carter

[njmeadowlanders]

Looks like Tropicana Field is probably going to be the last one standing with artificial turf. The Blue Jays are exploring and hoping to put real grass on their field at Rogers Centre in time for the 2013 season. Meaning this will likely be the last year that any MLB team plays on a field with the goofy island bases. Very interesting development with implications for not only the Jays but also the Argos and the Bills as it means that the Argos are going to be out on their asses after their lease expires this year since to put grass in the stands will have to be locked in the baseball configuration to prevent killing it. Same for the Bills I'd imagine.

http://ballparkdiges...t-rogers-centre

Doesn't the roof, when open, still cast a considerable shadow on part of the outfield? I'm all for grass to (literally) liven that place up, but could it work?

Sometimes it's like this:

And sometimes like this:

Yeah, sliding pits should have been eliminated about a decade ago.

I was actually thinking about that on Tuesday when I happened to play a random game of Griffey for N64 and was at Skydome. It'd definitely help liven the place up, and maybe would encourage the roof to be open more often, which is a good thing.

[crashcarson15]

No idea why, but I really loved the SkyDome when I was there this past year.

[RedSox44]

MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that the Pirates and Yankees have agreed on the AJ Burnett trade.

The Yanks will send Burnett, $20 million to Pittsburgh for two low-level minor leaguers, pitcher Diego Moreno outfielder Exicardo Cayones.

I'm on my phone so no link. Sorry. I think it's the first story that comes up when you go to mlbtraderumors.com, though.

[Brass]

Tim Wakefield to announce retirement after 19 major league seasons.

One of the more underrated guys of their championship runs, Wake was a class-act in every sense of the word. Thanks everything, Wake!

[BigBubba]

Yay. The Blue Jays Home Opener sold out in only one hour. They don't really draw much anymore, but it's nice when they have a few games with ~50 000 fans each year (last year they had 5 with >45 000: Home Opener, Canada Day, Doc's return, Alomar HoF Day, and a regular game vs. the Yankees).

[RedSox44]

Tim Wakefield to announce retirement after 19 major league seasons.

One of the more underrated guys of their championship runs, Wake was a class-act in every sense of the word. Thanks everything, Wake!

Thanks for the memories, Wake.

[floydnimrod]

The Reds have wrapped their World Series run by signing 38-year-old Brett Tomko.

[pmoehrin]

MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that the Pirates and Yankees have agreed on the AJ Burnett trade.

The Yanks will send Burnett, $20 million to Pittsburgh for two low-level minor leaguers, pitcher Diego Moreno outfielder Exicardo Cayones.

I'm on my phone so no link. Sorry. I think it's the first story that comes up when you go to mlbtraderumors.com, though.

That deal has been coming for awhile. He needs to get out of New York and the Yankees don't need him.

Best case scenairo for Moreno is he winds up being a decent middle reliever. Cayones is several years away from even thinking about the majors so still too early to tell what he can do.

The Yankees just wanted Burnett off their hands more then anything. He's got two years left on his current deal and that will probably be it unless he comes back to his old form which I don't see happening. I think his attitude now is I got mine and now I'm just doing the bare minimum required of me to keep a roster spot.