732 replies to this topic

[aastra]

Obviously still very early but so far they're not looking like they have the mojo. When your pitching has been good it's tough to swallow these losses to weak teams re: your own stupid screw-ups and/or dumb bad luck.

[aastra]

 

 

When your pitching has been good...

 

Good enough, anyway. 

[Victoria Watcher]

Ya, these losses to lesser teams is not good, and a test comes early this next week with three agains the Dodgers, at home at least.

[Victoria Watcher]

The unveiling of Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki's statue had an unforced error on Friday — a broken bat.

As broadcaster Rick Rizzs declared “we're going to count down from 51!” — a nod to the jersey number retired by the Seattle Mariners for their beloved Suzuki — the curtain covering the bronze statue was pulled down, and so too went the bat.

A snapping noise could be heard as the bronze bat flopped down and confetti sprouted up.

“Here it is! The statue of one of the greatest players in the history of the game!” Rizzs declared as the curtain was pulled and a celebratory tune rang outside of T-Mobile Park.

 

https://www.sportsne...o-goes-his-bat/

[Mike K.]

Yeah, whoops.

[Victoria Watcher]

Vancouver mayor Sim moves to launch bid for Major League Baseball expansion team

 

Mayor Ken Sim says the process would need any interested ownership group "to demonstrate financial capacity, experience, and a clear plan to support a successful team."

 

https://www.timescol...n-team-12141613

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 April 2026 - 06:51 PM.

[aastra]

Sometimes I feel like it could work, but other times I feel like it could never work. If the ballpark was interesting enough and accessible enough to be a consistent draw for people in the far reaches of the lower mainland, on Vancouver Island, and south of the border then methinks you should have enough population to pull it off. But would any MLB players want to live in Vancouver? In that regard you still have many of the same issues that you had with the Grizzlies. And all of this is assuming the money somehow magically materializes to a) get the team and b) build the park and c) build the new Skytrain line (because this is BC and you just know that would be bundled into the deal somehow, even if just a short line specifically for ballpark access)

 

MLB's plans re: future divisional and/or league re-alignments are also relevant. No way in a million years would they create a situation like they had before, where there's even a slim chance that two Canadian teams could meet in the World Series.

[Victoria Watcher]

 

 

 

For the third night in a row, the Milwaukee area was hit with a deluge of rain, and this time not even the roof at American Family Field could keep out the water.

It turned out to be the least of worries for fans attending the game on April 15. Brewers Boulevard – a major thoroughfare that handles a high volume of departing stadium traffic – was essentially underwater in the moments after the game, with cars stranded after attempting to pass.

With the southbound exit closed, vehicles were funneled away from the stadium on Canal Street.

During the Brewers' contest against Toronto, rain poured into the stadium in multiple locations, a worse-than-usual outcome for a stadium that has occasionally been vulnerable to leaks in past years when the weather is severe enough.

 

https://www.jsonline...ed/89636392007/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 April 2026 - 05:03 AM.

[aastra]

That was a terrible loss for the Jays. They've already had a full season worth of screw-ups and it's only mid-April.

[Victoria Watcher]

'Superman' Kevin Pillar to land at Royal Athletic Park

Pillar was announced Saturday as the celebrity guest hitter for the West Coast League all-star game home-run derby at RAP.




https://www.timescol...c-park-12162206





I think Cleve is 70 and still writing for the TC full time.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 20 April 2026 - 11:53 AM.

[aastra]

If Salt Lake City gets an MLB team then I sure hope Shohei ends up playing for them. Ohtani should be a Utahni.

[m3m]

Would love to see an expansion team in Mexico

[aastra]

If Montreal was too exotic a market for MLB then I don't see how a Mexico team could ever work.

 

Same thing for the NBA's international dreams. Toronto is still regarded as an awkward fit and they absolutely couldn't stand the taste of Vancouver, but hey, why not Europe?

[lanforod]

Mexico city could host 3 teams.

[Victoria Watcher]

Based just on population, sure. But a huge portion of the team budget comes from corporate sponsorships.

That’s trickier in smaller markets or lesser nations.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 May 2026 - 12:20 PM.

[aastra]

Methinks a Mexico City team would have the largest "local" market in MLB, even if you include a big chunk of Japan in the present "local" market for the Dodgers. I'm just saying a fair few American players wouldn't be willing to play there and US broadcasters and media would surely struggle with it.

 

But... you could also say it must happen if MLB does indeed have aspirations re: "world" status.

 

I dunno. It would certainly call into question the validity of the "travel burdens" issue. Houston would be the next closest team and they're ~800 miles away.

[m3m]

Monterrey has a metro population over 5 million. It would be like the 9th biggest local market for the MLB. It’s close to the US southern border and would make a nice little division with the Astros, Rangers, and Diamondbacks.

In fact, it’s pretty common for MLB teams to play against Los Sultanes de Monterrey and or in Monterrey during spring training. I seem to have some recollection of regular season MLB games being held in Monterrey too. But can’t definitively remember

[Victoria Watcher]

Monterrey has a metro population over 5 million. It would be like the 9th biggest local market for the MLB. It’s close to the US southern border and would make a nice little division with the Astros, Rangers, and Diamondbacks.

 

Monterrey is one of Mexico’s wealthiest cities and its industrial hub, with an estimated GDP per capita of approximately $31,600 USD. 

 

The U.S. GDP per capita (nominal) is approximately $85,000–$94,000+ as of late 2024–2026, representing the average economic output per person.

 

Based on 2025–2026 data, Mississippi consistently ranks as the U.S. state with the lowest GDP per capita, at approximately \(\$55,877\). Other states with the lowest GDP per person include West Virginia (\(\$61,873\)) and Arkansas (\(\$63,703\)), driven partly by a reliance on lower-wage industries such as agriculture and manufacturing. [1, 2, 3]

 

 

 

 

THAT is why it's difficult to have pro teams of any sort in Mexico.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 May 2026 - 01:28 AM.

[m3m]

GDP per capita doesn’t matter. MLB teams get most of their revenue from media / tv deals and Mexican market is huge. Just like the blue jays, they would become the “national team”. Canada’s GDP per capita is lower than any US state too and yet the Jays have huge revenue.

The only place where GDP per capita would affect an mlb team is tickets and stadium revenue. Lower revenue would be offset by lower costs.

[Mike K.]

That’s why Canada has lost so many major league teams over the years.

Are the Jays the national team? There are more Mariners fans here than Jays fans, from what I see.