MLBTR Chat Transcript

From Mark:

“I’ve been running these chats for over five years now, and I feel like “why can’t Cleveland improve its outfield?” has been a question virtually every week.”
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Have had a saying to younger people in business that question why what is being done has been done for a long time:

“Things are the way they are because that’s what the people in charge want. If they didn’t want it they’d change it”
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Years ago a friend saw Terry Francona speak at a function when he was managing Cleveland. When asked about bringing in a big slugger, he responded with: “Do you know what sort of money those players get paid?”

Cleveland stopped copying the A’s model shortly before Antonetti took over, and started copying the Rays. The Rays seldom have big boppers in their OF. Even if they trade for one within his 6 years of control, they dump them before their walk year. Cleveland does the same. Small market teams are under strong financial constraints. Currently they’re trying to bring along Jhonkensy Noel but he’s inconsistent. Years ago they thought they had a big OF bat in Oscar Gonzalez, but he fizzled out (now with the Padres). Before that they brought in Edwin Encarnación (who was at the end of his career and not making top money) for a few years as a big bat when they were winning and had good attendance.
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The Guardians are a team of contact hitters built around Jose Ramirez. Their big OF challenge is keeping Steven Kwan.

The Royals owner was a former minority owner of the Guardians. They hired their manager from the Rays (and pitching coach from the Guardians). They’ve built their offense around Bobby Witt Jr. – and as with the Guardians, Brewers and now Reds and Marlins, they look for contact hitters, good defense and above average affordable pitching around their big bopping run producer. That’s financially viable.
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The problem with this website is that it values all teams based on individual payers statistics, then expects all teams to have the same component parts. To understand MLB better it’s best to look at the patterns the individual FO’s are using as they work within their individual budgets. (Follow the money).
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Unfortunately, Americans tend to think in terms of the way they think things ought to be, as opposed to looking at what realities people not just in America, but throughout the world live with. When we observe and respect other peoples values, then it’s easy to understand why they do what they do….which is why Americans get frustrated both in and out of country when others don’t do what they want them to do.
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As Bob sang long ago:

“Meantime, life outside goes on all around you”.