Empty Stadiums and Full Drafts
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2020 9:33 am
By now, most of you have heard about the playing of baseball in empty stadiums. Possibly, all games being played in Arizona.The first plan of isolating players, umps, officials, tv personnel, team trainers, coaches, owners, and everybody else involved with games seems very far fetched.
At the least though, it offers hope. Hope is something we've had damned little of lately. So, I'm in.
I look at everything through a fantasy mind. Let's say that these games start tomorrow.
Who would I want to draft?
And who would I want to avoid?
Here's my take...
First, I would take Mike Trout with the first pick. Trout doesn't need the crowds cheering. He isn't driven by a "LOOK AT ME AND WHAT I CAN DO, MOM!" attitude.
He just plays.
I believe Acuna Jr. is more driven by the look at me, Ma!'' playing style. He thrives on adulation. He may even drop to third, fourth or fifth on my personnel list.
I would also avoid players that are abnormally helped by their home fields. This includes every Colorado Rockies hitter who would drop in drafts like balloons with rocks in them in drafts.
The New York Yankees won't have that friendly right field fence.
Padres, Mets, and Giants pitchers won't have friendly parks to throw in.
Home/away splits rendered meaningless.
I would avoid high octane players.
Max Scherzer thrives on a big game atmosphere.
Now, he would be throwing as if he were 'Tommy' in the Who's rock opera.
'Can't hear no buzzers or bells, can't see no lights flashing'.
Scherzer and pitchers like Scherzer who feed off the crowd and surroundings would be lowered on my draft list.
And you know ho really gets a bump up with this plan?
The Houston Astros.
Not one fan will be ragging on the Astros.
Hopefully, the microphones on the field will pick up what rival teams yell at them!
THAT, would make for great television!
From a fantasy perspective, they all get a bump up to where they were being drafted before their tomfoolery.
And no, there is no truth to the rumor that the Astros started this virus.
A month ago, the Commish said that the report about the Red Sox and their wayward ways was complete.
Where is it?
Why not bring it out now when few are concerned?
Stupid suits.
Anyway, from a fantasy look and playing to empty crowds, this will help the Red Sox.
Especially when playing the Yankees.
A Yankees-Red Sox series without fans will be like eating and drinking with no taste buds.
It happened.
But, we'll feel little excitement.
From an Overall look...
I believe there would be even less stolen bases. Stolen bases are mostly driven by adrenaline. Nowadays, there are no 'steal' signs flashed by Managers. It is almost 100 % left up to the players. I believe fewer and fewer players will have the impetus to steal bases.
I also believe that Managers will play it safer with their pitchers.
90 pitches becomes the new 100.
With rosters being larger, relievers will be used quicker.
Older pitchers who have 'been there and done that' may be picked over a fledgling pitcher who will see less time on the mound.
No matter the 'professionalism' we expect from players, I don't think we'll see many players diving into empty stands or crashing fences to catch baseballs. These games would have the same look as a scrimmage to these players. And if playing ball in high school, College, or somewhere else, you know it was tough getting up for these type games.
We would see names come from nowhere.
Kevin Kiermaier or Andrew Benintendi may play better than those drafted higher in drafts like Tommy Pham or Ramon Laureano.
Some players may thrive with no crowd noise and no fanfare.
It'll be up to us to judge who will take that next large step under these strange circumstances.
And if indeed, playing with no fans and in one area does come to be, we will certainly have our work cut out for us on draft day!
At the least though, it offers hope. Hope is something we've had damned little of lately. So, I'm in.
I look at everything through a fantasy mind. Let's say that these games start tomorrow.
Who would I want to draft?
And who would I want to avoid?
Here's my take...
First, I would take Mike Trout with the first pick. Trout doesn't need the crowds cheering. He isn't driven by a "LOOK AT ME AND WHAT I CAN DO, MOM!" attitude.
He just plays.
I believe Acuna Jr. is more driven by the look at me, Ma!'' playing style. He thrives on adulation. He may even drop to third, fourth or fifth on my personnel list.
I would also avoid players that are abnormally helped by their home fields. This includes every Colorado Rockies hitter who would drop in drafts like balloons with rocks in them in drafts.
The New York Yankees won't have that friendly right field fence.
Padres, Mets, and Giants pitchers won't have friendly parks to throw in.
Home/away splits rendered meaningless.
I would avoid high octane players.
Max Scherzer thrives on a big game atmosphere.
Now, he would be throwing as if he were 'Tommy' in the Who's rock opera.
'Can't hear no buzzers or bells, can't see no lights flashing'.
Scherzer and pitchers like Scherzer who feed off the crowd and surroundings would be lowered on my draft list.
And you know ho really gets a bump up with this plan?
The Houston Astros.
Not one fan will be ragging on the Astros.
Hopefully, the microphones on the field will pick up what rival teams yell at them!
THAT, would make for great television!
From a fantasy perspective, they all get a bump up to where they were being drafted before their tomfoolery.
And no, there is no truth to the rumor that the Astros started this virus.
A month ago, the Commish said that the report about the Red Sox and their wayward ways was complete.
Where is it?
Why not bring it out now when few are concerned?
Stupid suits.
Anyway, from a fantasy look and playing to empty crowds, this will help the Red Sox.
Especially when playing the Yankees.
A Yankees-Red Sox series without fans will be like eating and drinking with no taste buds.
It happened.
But, we'll feel little excitement.
From an Overall look...
I believe there would be even less stolen bases. Stolen bases are mostly driven by adrenaline. Nowadays, there are no 'steal' signs flashed by Managers. It is almost 100 % left up to the players. I believe fewer and fewer players will have the impetus to steal bases.
I also believe that Managers will play it safer with their pitchers.
90 pitches becomes the new 100.
With rosters being larger, relievers will be used quicker.
Older pitchers who have 'been there and done that' may be picked over a fledgling pitcher who will see less time on the mound.
No matter the 'professionalism' we expect from players, I don't think we'll see many players diving into empty stands or crashing fences to catch baseballs. These games would have the same look as a scrimmage to these players. And if playing ball in high school, College, or somewhere else, you know it was tough getting up for these type games.
We would see names come from nowhere.
Kevin Kiermaier or Andrew Benintendi may play better than those drafted higher in drafts like Tommy Pham or Ramon Laureano.
Some players may thrive with no crowd noise and no fanfare.
It'll be up to us to judge who will take that next large step under these strange circumstances.
And if indeed, playing with no fans and in one area does come to be, we will certainly have our work cut out for us on draft day!