Cleveland Indians Name Change ODDS Released!

Like it or not, it’s happening! The Cleveland Indians are going to change their name and I am very worried about what it will be. We have some pretty good ideas of the possibilities now that official ODDS have been released! Here are the odds, provided by BetOnline.ag, and my opinions of each name…

• Spiders +300

• Naps +400

• Guardians +500

• Buckeyes +600

• Dobys +700

• Wild Things +800

• Blue Sox +900

• Rocks +1000

• Cuyahogas +1500

• Crows +2000

• Rockers +2000

• Unions +2500

• Fellers +3300

• Great Lakers +4000

Cleveland Spiders

This would be a tribute to the old National League team that existed during the late 19th century. It has a nice ring to it, historical significance, and hopefully won’t be offensive to any one later on down the road! This is one of my favorites and would probably be my first choice.

Cleveland Naps

This was the name of the club before being changed to the Indians. The name simply came from their star player, Nap Lajoie. The odds are not bad at all for this name, which surprises me as it was named after a former player who doesn’t seem any more significant at this time than any other former great player from any franchise. He got to have the team named after him while he played, but why should it be named after him now? I’m not a huge fan of this option.

Cleveland Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians is an original sounding name but it doesn’t have a great ring to it, at least not at first. Of course, whatever it is changed to we will likely get used to.

Cleveland Buckeyes

This is a tribute to the old Negro League team called the Buckeyes. Due to the current political climate, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the new name. However, I don’t like it, simply because I associate the Buckeyes nickname with Ohio State, as most sports fan do! Buckeyes belongs to OSU and not the MLB team… I don’t want them to share it.

Cleveland Dobys

What’s with all the player name options? Larry Doby was the first black player in the American League and followed Jackie Robinson as the second in the MLB after Jackie broke the color barrier. For this reason, it does make some sense to name the team after him. However, I am in general not a fan of naming teams after players. This has a good shot to be the new name for the same reasons as the Buckeyes.

Cleveland Wild Things

A tribute to the Major League films, I see this as having almost no chance. Major League is my favorite baseball movie of all time, so I wouldn’t hate this name, but I also don’t love it.

Cleveland Blue Sox

I’m not a fan of this name. The Red Sox and White Sox have been around for over 100 years as have the Cleveland Indians. To now, after all this time, try to be the third Sox team is ridiculous. Save that for an expansion team.

Cleveland Rocks

Well, this makes sense. It obviously has a ring to it, which is why the expression become popular on the Drew Carry show. I don’t hate it all, actually. It wouldn’t be my first choice, but it’s not bad.

Cleveland Cuyahogas

This one I really like. It is in competition with the Spiders as my #1 choice. The name of the river has a great flow with Cleveland and has a Native American feel (and likely origin).

Cleveland Crows

Not a terrible ring to it, but not my favorite. It would be something we’d get used to pretty quickly, but fairly lackluster.

Cleveland Rockers

This one I like as a musician and lover of rock music. However, it has a bit of a Minor League feel. Will the scoreboard be shaped like a guitar??

Cleveland Unions

This is a civil war reference, and while the team would be named after the Union, I’m not sure I like naming teams after civil war sides.

Cleveland Fellers

Another name - this time Bob Feller, the great Indians pitcher. You know how I feel about player names being team names, but this one does sound somewhat cool - We’re the Fellers! Still… pass.

Cleveland Great Lakers

Naming the team after the great lakes is not a terrible idea; I just don’t love the sound of it. Again, a bit of a Minor League feel. Also, not sure the Lakers will appreciate it.

Another name making the Rounds is the CLEVELAND LINDORS?…

LOL.

Stupidest MLB Rule of All Time: 2020 Season Will Start a Runner on Second Base in Extra Innings

I am happy that it seems like baseball will be back in 2020!! Nothing brings me more pleasure… and at the same time nothing brings me more disgust than knowing that in extra innings, a runner will start the inning on second base… an idea I assume Manfred picked up at his local Beer Softball League.

This rule has been in effect in Minor League Baseball for some time and has been annoying enough to cause me to leave games once they go into extra innings. However, at least the result of Minor League games cannot be considered nearly as meaningful as big league results. Yet now, the same ridiculous rule will apply in MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAMES… games that MATTER… games with PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS.

I can already see it happening… a game in late September or early October… a team has fought and clawed all season to be in a position to make the playoffs! Let’s say it’s the Arizona Diamondbacks. And the D-Backs are taking on the Dodgers on the last game of the season… win and you make the Wild Card game.. lose and you go home.

Well, after nine innings the game is tied up 2-2. So, now we go into the 10th at Dodger Stadium… the D-Backs are unable to score in the top half despite two hard line drives right at infielders. Tough luck. Here come the Dodgers, who trot a runner out to second base to start the inning. Arizona’s relief pitcher throws a nasty slider that breaks Max Muncy’s bat in two… but the ball flares out into short right field.. drops in, and in comes the free runner to score! Sorry, D-Backs…

The pitcher made no mistakes.. the fielders made no errors.. yet a run scores because they get a FREE RUNNER!? This is INSANITY… this is completely unfair and it will only take ONE of these instances for the outcry to force MLB to abolish the rule. So, WHY HAVE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE??? Imagine if the same scenario happened with the YANKEES or RED SOX…

This WILL happen if this rule ever becomes more than just a one season thing during the pandemic. Problem is.. this rule was already in Manfred’s mind before this season! That’s why it has been in use in the Minor Leagues for a few years. It’s absolutely horrible… and Manfred & Co. are using the pandemic as an excuse to implement this rule that will destroy extra innings baseball forever. As long as this rule is in effect in the MLB, I will complain about it, tweet about it, make videos about it, blog about it and basically just bitch and moan until I die… if you hate the rule as much as I do, please share this post.

MLB Owners Shoot Down MLBPA Proposal and REFUSE to Send Counter-Offer!

In a move that surprised no one, the MLB Owners denied the 114 game proposal sent by the players that included pro-rated salaries. What may be a bit surprising is that the owners also said that they will not send a counter-offer! This is certainly bad news, and another indicator that a 2020 MLB Season is becoming more and more unlikely.

Rumors have indicated that the owners would prefer a much shorter season that will end around late September as to avoid any possible “second wave” of the coronavirus. This seems logical but may require a season as short as 50 games. In my opinion, there are actually some pros to such a short season (as a one time thing!):

• Every team, including the Marlins, Giants, Mariners and Orioles, has a chance to get hot for a few weeks and make the playoffs

• The season will hit the ground running and every game will be huge

• There will be a higher probability of finishing the season without any player or MLB employee getting infected, causing an early shutdown

• If there is a second wave of the coronavirus, it may be avoided

These are advantages for the owners and fans, but do the players care? They would not get paid more for less games, and may not care about the possibility of sneaking into the playoffs as an underdog. Most MLB players are confident and don’t go around thinking that their team has "no chance”… so, perhaps there is little about a shorter season that would appeal to them. This is evidenced by their 114 game proposal — they want to play as many games as possible.

All in all, things do not look good for baseball in 2020…. and keep in mind, even if these two sides do come to an agreement, there are several other hoops to jump through in order to get a season going. I hope I’m wrong, but I believe it will be a long time before we see some meaningful baseball.

MiLB Pitcher Rips Mets For Tim Tebow Celebrity Signing.. and I Agree With Him!

Hundreds of Minor League baseball players are being released this week due to the current pandemic. One of them, who has been with the New York Mets organization since 2013, is named Andrew Church. Church, a pitcher with mediocre career stats, ripped into the Mets organization in a lengthy Instagram post, which included the mention of a “celebrity signing,” who we all know to the be the fromer Hesimann Trophy winner and NFL Star, Tim Tebow.

Regarding the Mets and the Tebow signing, Church wrote:

“The Mets made a mockery of our team by putting a celebrity on it to sell more tickets,’’ Church wrote, an apparent reference to the 2016 signing of Tebow. “I saw players lose their jobs because of it. We weren’t playing to win, we were playing to make everyone else money. Not the players. We never saw a cut. Well, allegedly one player did.”

Andrew Church, former Mets Minor League Pitcher

As a lifelong fan of Major League Baseball, I respect the talent and worth ethic it takes to get to the top. I dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but never made it. It takes a combination of ridiculous talent, hard work, and usually a little luck as well. For this reason, I have never been a fan of celebrity singings, whether it be Garth Brooks, who embarrassed himself during a few Spring Training performances or Michael Jordan, who actually hit over .200 in Double A, which is pretty impressive for a man who hadn’t played baseball in 15 years.

Unsurprisingly, the Tebow signing was a bit annoying - an obvious attempt to cash in on the celebrity, who likely thought he could become a good professional baseball player. He couldn’t.. and didn’t. Last season in Triple A, he was by far the worst player in the league, hitting .163 with 98 strikeouts in 239 At Bats and only 4 home runs. That unfathomably earned him an invite to 2020 MLB Spring Training Camp with the New York Mets. Unbelievable.

This move by the Mets proves that all along it was what it appeared to be - a complete mockery of professional baseball, a celebrity signing for money and not in the spirit of winning games at all. Tebow did not develop into the talent they hoped yet still got a Spring Training invite in 2020. It is about time another player spoke out about this, and I appreciate Andrew Church doing so.

Tim Tebow with Syracuse (Triple A International League)

As for Tebow, he may be a great guy and a hard worker and incredible athlete. However, as long as he holds a roster spot with an affiliated team, he takes one away from a player who is deserving, who has a chance to play at the Big League level. Tebow has already lived the dream - he has played at the highest level of professional football, won the Hesimann Trophy, become a gigantic celebrity, earned a ton of money, and has played professional baseball for 3 years. Retire, Tim.

It’s especially the time to give it up, because of this pandemic.. how many Minor Leaguers need to be cut before Tebow is? He was the worst player in Triple A last season… he will never be a contributor on a big league time. Having faith in Tebow is is not like having faith in Tiger Woods, who was once the greatest golfer in the world. Tebow was never a great baseball player and never will be…at least not at the big league level. If the Mets won’t release him, I believe he should retire… this is the time.

Prediction: There Won't Be a 2020 MLB Season

It’s time to admit the truth: there likely will not be an MLB Season in 2020. There are just too many obstacles in the way, including the ongoing dispute between the Major League Baseball Player’s Association and the MLB Owners. This is just one hurdle, however. Even if they are to come to an agreement (which is not a guarantee — see 1994), there are also so many other factors including, but not limited to…

• Making sure all the players, coaches, umpires, and every employee involved are able to get constant testing throughout the season.

• Finding places to play when there are still many cities and states that have strict laws on public gatherings (even without fans it would still be a fairly large public gathering)

• Dealing with the public scrutiny of using up resources needed for others in order to play a game

• Finding a way to play a semi-normal baseball game while trying to comply with social distancing laws

These are just some of the many obstacles that may stop a 2020 MLB Season from happening and in my opinion, they will be more than enough. This prediction has nothing to do with what I want to happen or what I think should happen. I want nothing more than an MLB season, even if it is a little weird. I love baseball more than anything else and cannot imagine the toll it would take not having it for an entire year or more. However, as said, there are just simply too many obstacles in the way.

As for a Minor League Season, it is all but guaranteed to be cancelled. Well, on the bright side, I guess that means the Sacramento River Cats get to be reigning Triple A Champions for another year.

MLB Owners Agree On 2020 Season Proposal... But Will The Players???

The Major League Baseball Owners have reportedly approved a plan to bring MLB back to our homes in 2020. However, this plan still needs to be approved by the...

According to Ken Rosenthal and other reports, the Major League Baseball owners have come to an agreement on a plan for an MLB Season in 2020. However, this plan cannot go into effect until approved by the MLBPA (Major League Baseball Player’s Association), which could be a tall task. Some of the highlights of the plan include:

• 82-game regional schedule and universal DH

• 30-man active rosters with a 20-player taxi squad

• 14 teams in the postseason with games played in home cities in October

• 50/50 revenue split for players and owners

That last point will be the biggest problem when it comes to receiving the MLBPA’s approval. The owners want to change the way players are paid, even though both sides already came to an agreement only 6 weeks ago over how players would be paid if and when baseball resumed. Now, due to the fact that there will be no fans in the stands to start the season, owners are proposing a 50/50 revenue split, which the MLBPA will surely reject. Players have never been paid based on their team or league’s revenue and they will not be willing to start now, especially when playing baseball this year will be anything but normal. They may be expected to wear masks, keep social distancing before, during and after games, adhere to a strange new set of rules, be away from their families, and worst of all — be denied the post-game buffet!

Nevertheless, many baseball fans may be encouraged by the latest news that the owners have agreed upon a plan. However, it means nothing until the MLBPA also agrees to the plan. A 50/50 Revenue Split is basically a salary cap, and the last time the owners tried to enforce that, we lost the World Series due to the Player’s Strike of 1994. Therefore, tonight’s negotiations are likely only the beginning. It will be a long and hard fought negotiation, but at the end of the day, both sides stand to benefit from having some sort of a season. And even if an agreement is made, there are still many obstacles left, such as what to do about cities that are still enforcing bans of mass gatherings (even without fans, an MLB game may be considered a mass gathering).

As for the rule changes, the Universal Designated Hitter is not something I am a fond of as a National League fan, but I can deal with it for one season. The same goes for the expanded playoffs. That being said, there is no doubt that owners and executives are doing their best to take advantage of the current situation in order to get whatever rules or regulations they were dreaming of before to enter into reality. I only hope that in 2021, things revert back to normal.

Woman Whose Face Was Crushed by a Foul Ball Sues MLB & The Chicago Cubs

It is no surprise in the modern Smartphone era that more and more fans are being injured by foul balls at Major League Baseball games. A Chicago Cubs fan named Laiah Zuniga was crushed in the face by a foul ball in a 2018 Major League Baseball game at Wrigley Field. She and her lawyers are suing the Cubs and Major League Baseball for the damages this caused, which seem quite severe.

“The blow knocked me unconscious,” Zuniga said in a statement released by her lawyers. “When I awoke, my beef sandwich was the only thing I had to catch the waterfall of blood running down my face.

“I suffered a spider fracture under both of my eyes," she said. “I have frequent bloody noses to this day, and my taste and smell have been permanently affected. I was hit so hard my teeth were detached from their nerves and I had to have extensive dental work done. And even then I still lost a few teeth in the process and am still losing them today.”

According to the Chicago Tribune, they are suing for over $50,000. This is an amount that a Major League Team can quite easily afford, but the question is.. should they help fans who are injured by foul balls? As most MLB fans are aware, warnings are given every game not only through the PA System but also on the tickets themselves. Teams are not to be held responsible. Nevertheless, it would be a kind gesture to help out such fans who are injured by foul balls… after all, it is not like this happens every game. It is thankfully a relatively rare occurrence.

As a die-hard baseball fan, I would prefer not to look through a net. However, given the era we’re in, and the fact that many parents have their faces stuck in their phones with young children sitting beside them, I believe it is the best move to extend the netting as far as possible.

Laiah Zuniga, after being struck in the face by a foul ball in 2018.

New MLB Proposal Has All Teams Playing In Their Own Stadiums... But Still No Fans.

The proposals began almost immediately after Spring Training stopped. MLB owners and executives are desperate to bring back Major League Baseball into people’s homes so that some type of revenue can start being generated. However, thus far, every proposal has been met with extreme challenges that proved too much to overcome.

First, there was the Arizona plan… then the Arizona/Florida plan… then the Arizona/Texas/Florida plan… and now it’s the 3-Division plan. In this plan, there would be 3 separate divisions of ten teams each, with each team playing in their own ballpark. The plan surfaced through a report by Bob Nightengale of USA Today, who said that MLB officials are “cautiously optimistic” that the season will start in late June, and no later than July 2, playing at least 100 regular season games. This plan would not include fans and the ten teams in each division would only play among themselves.

Of course, nothing can happen until medical experts agree that it is safe and widespread testing is available. Also, even with the 10 teams in each division only traveling to teams within their own division, there will still be plenty of travel. Under the current proposed divisions, teams like the San Francisco Giants would be traveling to places like Houston and Arlington, while the Yankees would travel to Miami. To further complicate matters, the plan calls for an abbreviate Spring Training in each teams’ Spring Training Complex. This would require even more moving around for the players and personnel.

What also must be taken into account is the fact that these games would be televised. Therefore, the amount of people at each game, even without fans, would easily be in the several hundreds. Think of the cameramen, reporters, producers, coaches, extended rosters, umpires, network personnel, announcers, clubhouse assistants, trainers, etc etc… and this would be in multiple states during a pandemic. The governors of these states would have to approve the plan and MLB would have to be prepared for the backlash it might receive from the general public, who, believe it or not, are not all baseball fans. Unless the social climate improved tenfold within the next 30 days, this plan simply feels impossible.