[Mick]

Patrick Bailey homered for the Guardians in their game 1 ALCS win over TB. His second HR of the postseason.

Cleveland, or Manager Stephen Vogt did something for him. Bailey's OPS+ was 92 in Cleveland...it was 16 in SF, and he averaged 74 during his SFG career. His caught stealing percentage increased from 24% to 32%.

He still can’t hit lefties (3-30) with CLE.  The best move Posey made this year was dumping Bailey.  SF is better off without him. I think a healthy Susac will be a significant improvement at C next season.

Have to agree. Still concerned about overall grasp of issues. At their press conference, Posey and Vitello discussed the need to improve the pitching. That's definitely a need, but so is scoring more runs and fielding better, to wit:

Offense: 
In the World Series winning years, the Giants' offense was ranked between 12th and 17th in runs scored at between 4.1 and 4.43 runs per game. In 2026, the Giants scored 4.13 runs per game, but that was our worst category, 26th of 30 teams. We need to score more runs in that ballpark (4.06) AND on the road (4.20).

Pitching:
For pitching, the Giants were really strong in the WS years, finishing 2nd (3.6 allowed), 8th (4.01 allowed) and 9th (3.79 allowed). Last year, we were 23rd at 4.69 allowed, (4.98 on the road, 4.41 at home). 

Fielding:
As for fielding, we finished 11th (24 Rtot), 6th (39) and 2nd (45) in the WS years. Last year, we were 20th at -19.

Overall:
Think about that last fact. Our crappy fielding was the highest ranked part of our game. Both our hitting and ERA were poorly ranked. We need to improve across the board.

[Mick]

Patrick Bailey homered for the Guardians in their game 1 ALCS win over TB. His second HR of the postseason.

Cleveland, or Manager Stephen Vogt did something for him. Bailey's OPS+ was 92 in Cleveland...it was 16 in SF, and he averaged 74 during his SFG career. His caught stealing percentage increased from 24% to 32%.

He still can’t hit lefties (3-30) with CLE.  The best move Posey made this year was dumping Bailey.  SF is better off without him. I think a healthy Susac will be a significant improvement at C next season.

Have to agree. Still concerned about overall grasp of issues. At their press conference, Posey and Vitello discussed the need to improve the pitching. That's definitely a need, but so is scoring more runs and fielding better, to wit:

Offense: 
In the World Series winning years, the Giants' offense was ranked between 12th and 17th in runs scored at between 4.1 and 4.43 runs per game. In 2026, the Giants scored 4.13 runs per game, but that was our worst category, 26th of 30 teams. We need to score more runs in that ballpark (4.06) AND on the road (4.20).

Pitching:
For pitching, the Giants were really strong in the WS years, finishing 2nd (3.6 allowed), 8th (4.01 allowed) and 9th (3.79 allowed). Last year, we were 23rd at 4.69 allowed, (4.98 on the road, 4.41 at home). 

Fielding:
As for fielding, we finished 11th (24 Rtot), 6th (39) and 2nd (45) in the WS years. Last year, we were 20th at -19.

Overall:
Think about that last fact. Our crappy fielding was the highest ranked part of our game. Both our hitting and ERA were poorly ranked. We need to improve across the board.

[BostonCard]

At least we can revel in the schadenfreude that the Dodgers and their astronomical payroll got swept by the Brewers in front of a bunch of fans dressed as empty seats for Halloween.

BC

[BostonCard]

At least we can revel in the schadenfreude that the Dodgers and their astronomical payroll got swept by the Brewers in front of a bunch of fans dressed as empty seats for Halloween.

BC

[Giants]

At least we can revel in the schadenfreude that the Dodgers and their astronomical payroll got swept by the Brewers in front of a bunch of fans dressed as empty seats for Halloween.

BC

The worst Giants season in decades followed by a Brewers sweep over LA.  A tiny spark of light in pitch black darkness. 

The Brewers bullpen (0.85 ERA in 31.2 innings thus far in the playoffs)) brought back happy memories of the S.F. bullpen in their championship era.  

I hope Buster was watching - Pitching, pitching and more pitching.  After which, he needs to focus on adding more hurlers.

[Giants]

At least we can revel in the schadenfreude that the Dodgers and their astronomical payroll got swept by the Brewers in front of a bunch of fans dressed as empty seats for Halloween.

BC

The worst Giants season in decades followed by a Brewers sweep over LA.  A tiny spark of light in pitch black darkness. 

The Brewers bullpen (0.85 ERA in 31.2 innings thus far in the playoffs)) brought back happy memories of the S.F. bullpen in their championship era.  

I hope Buster was watching - Pitching, pitching and more pitching.  After which, he needs to focus on adding more hurlers.

[BostonCard]

What amazed me is that this was not the celebration of a team that hadn’t been to the World Series in 44 years.

BC

[BostonCard]

What amazed me is that this was not the celebration of a team that hadn’t been to the World Series in 44 years.

BC

[Giants]

What amazed me is that this was not the celebration of a team that hadn’t been to the World Series in 44 years.

BC

…and was the only current NL franchise that had never won a National League pennant. 

Now the Pirates have the longest streak of NL pennant-less seasons. The last was in 1979.

And, of course, the longest streak of pennant-less season in the AL is Seattle (they have never realized that achievement). They played their first game in 1977.

[Giants]

What amazed me is that this was not the celebration of a team that hadn’t been to the World Series in 44 years.

BC

…and was the only current NL franchise that had never won a National League pennant. 

Now the Pirates have the longest streak of NL pennant-less seasons. The last was in 1979.

And, of course, the longest streak of pennant-less season in the AL is Seattle (they have never realized that achievement). They played their first game in 1977.

[Mick]

Shohei Ohtani has had his share of problems. Buyer's remorse?

The Dodgers' growing problem with Shohei Ohtani

[Mick]

Shohei Ohtani has had his share of problems. Buyer's remorse?

The Dodgers' growing problem with Shohei Ohtani

[Giants]

1792190925[/url]']
Shohei Ohtani has had his share of problems. Buyer's remorse?

The Dodgers' growing problem with Shohei Ohtani

Considering how much money LA has made from signing Ohtani since he joined the Dodgers, I think not.  He is a marketing cash box, particularly in Japan.  Keeping in mind that Japan is a baseball-crazy country, the Dodgers are the dominant franchise in that country.  Last fall, I traveled around Japan - the number of billboards featuring Ohtani, the number of people wearing Dodger caps, and the observations made by tour guides was amazing. Every Dodger game is telecast there.  And who owns those rights?  Yep, the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Add to all of this, the signing of Yamamoto, LA’s best pitcher.  He close to play in Southern California because of Ohtani. And Sasaki as well.  

And, of course, two World Series titles and the highest attendance numbers in MLB.  Flags fly forever.  I am certain that Mark Walter has no regrets about signing Ohtani to the massive contract he received.  Quite frankly, if anything, I think Ohtani is underpaid.

[Giants]

1792190925[/url]']
Shohei Ohtani has had his share of problems. Buyer's remorse?

The Dodgers' growing problem with Shohei Ohtani

Considering how much money LA has made from signing Ohtani since he joined the Dodgers, I think not.  He is a marketing cash box, particularly in Japan.  Keeping in mind that Japan is a baseball-crazy country, the Dodgers are the dominant franchise in that country.  Last fall, I traveled around Japan - the number of billboards featuring Ohtani, the number of people wearing Dodger caps, and the observations made by tour guides was amazing. Every Dodger game is telecast there.  And who owns those rights?  Yep, the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Add to all of this, the signing of Yamamoto, LA’s best pitcher.  He close to play in Southern California because of Ohtani. And Sasaki as well.  

And, of course, two World Series titles and the highest attendance numbers in MLB.  Flags fly forever.  I am certain that Mark Walter has no regrets about signing Ohtani to the massive contract he received.  Quite frankly, if anything, I think Ohtani is underpaid.

[Mick]

I'm thinking more about the future payment bubble As of October 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers have deferred compensation agreements with 10 players, totaling approximately $1.095 billion in future payments extending through 2047. Here are the 10 players and their reported deferred amounts:

Shohei Ohtani, $680 million
Mookie Betts, $115 million
Blake Snell, $66 million
Freddie Freeman, $57 million
Will Smith, $50 million
Kyle Tucker, $30 million
Tommy Edman, $25 million
Teoscar Hernández, $23.5 million
Tanner Scott, $21 million
Edwin Díaz, $13.5 million

[Mick]

I'm thinking more about the future payment bubble As of October 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers have deferred compensation agreements with 10 players, totaling approximately $1.095 billion in future payments extending through 2047. Here are the 10 players and their reported deferred amounts:

Shohei Ohtani, $680 million
Mookie Betts, $115 million
Blake Snell, $66 million
Freddie Freeman, $57 million
Will Smith, $50 million
Kyle Tucker, $30 million
Tommy Edman, $25 million
Teoscar Hernández, $23.5 million
Tanner Scott, $21 million
Edwin Díaz, $13.5 million

[Goose]

I'm thinking more about the future payment bubble As of October 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers have deferred compensation agreements with 10 players, totaling approximately $1.095 billion in future payments extending through 2047. Here are the 10 players and their reported deferred amounts:

Shohei Ohtani, $680 million
Mookie Betts, $115 million
Blake Snell, $66 million
Freddie Freeman, $57 million
Will Smith, $50 million
Kyle Tucker, $30 million
Tommy Edman, $25 million
Teoscar Hernández, $23.5 million
Tanner Scott, $21 million
Edwin Díaz, $13.5 million

Does anybody know what "escrow" arrangements are required by these contracts? I would be pretty concerned about some future owner (or even the present one) declaring bankruptcy if paying them becomes impossible. I would also be concerned if the liability may be subject to negotiation in a sale. If it remains with the previous ownership they may not have an adequate revenue stream to pay it. Deferring compensation sounds like a potential windfall, in that the player can leave California and avoid taxes in the future. That is great only if the compensation can be paid.

[Goose]

I'm thinking more about the future payment bubble As of October 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers have deferred compensation agreements with 10 players, totaling approximately $1.095 billion in future payments extending through 2047. Here are the 10 players and their reported deferred amounts:

Shohei Ohtani, $680 million
Mookie Betts, $115 million
Blake Snell, $66 million
Freddie Freeman, $57 million
Will Smith, $50 million
Kyle Tucker, $30 million
Tommy Edman, $25 million
Teoscar Hernández, $23.5 million
Tanner Scott, $21 million
Edwin Díaz, $13.5 million

Does anybody know what "escrow" arrangements are required by these contracts? I would be pretty concerned about some future owner (or even the present one) declaring bankruptcy if paying them becomes impossible. I would also be concerned if the liability may be subject to negotiation in a sale. If it remains with the previous ownership they may not have an adequate revenue stream to pay it. Deferring compensation sounds like a potential windfall, in that the player can leave California and avoid taxes in the future. That is great only if the compensation can be paid.

[Giants]

I'm thinking more about the future payment bubble As of October 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers have deferred compensation agreements with 10 players, totaling approximately $1.095 billion in future payments extending through 2047. Here are the 10 players and their reported deferred amounts:

Shohei Ohtani, $680 million
Mookie Betts, $115 million
Blake Snell, $66 million
Freddie Freeman, $57 million
Will Smith, $50 million
Kyle Tucker, $30 million
Tommy Edman, $25 million
Teoscar Hernández, $23.5 million
Tanner Scott, $21 million
Edwin Díaz, $13.5 million

LA rakes in $334 million/year (through 2038) from their local television contract.  I don’t think their future obligations are a concern.

[Giants]

I'm thinking more about the future payment bubble As of October 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers have deferred compensation agreements with 10 players, totaling approximately $1.095 billion in future payments extending through 2047. Here are the 10 players and their reported deferred amounts:

Shohei Ohtani, $680 million
Mookie Betts, $115 million
Blake Snell, $66 million
Freddie Freeman, $57 million
Will Smith, $50 million
Kyle Tucker, $30 million
Tommy Edman, $25 million
Teoscar Hernández, $23.5 million
Tanner Scott, $21 million
Edwin Díaz, $13.5 million

LA rakes in $334 million/year (through 2038) from their local television contract.  I don’t think their future obligations are a concern.

[Mick]

I'm thinking more about the future payment bubble As of October 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers have deferred compensation agreements with 10 players, totaling approximately $1.095 billion in future payments extending through 2047. Here are the 10 players and their reported deferred amounts:

Shohei Ohtani, $680 million
Mookie Betts, $115 million
Blake Snell, $66 million
Freddie Freeman, $57 million
Will Smith, $50 million
Kyle Tucker, $30 million
Tommy Edman, $25 million
Teoscar Hernández, $23.5 million
Tanner Scott, $21 million
Edwin Díaz, $13.5 million

LA rakes in $334 million/year (through 2038) from their local television contract.  I don’t think their future obligations are a concern.

The current player contract expires at 11:59 p.m. on December 1, 2026, at which point the owners will lock out the players.

The owners #1 demand is a salary cap. Do you think all the voting owners are happy with the Dodgers' circumvention of large-scale payouts this year and will make the Dodgers pay for it in years to come? Would the owners like to take a piece of the DOdgers' $850 million revenue stream? My guess is yes, that will happen.

The DOdgers' annual revenue increased 55% between 2023 and 2025. Here's the breakdown:

Local television: $334 mms.
Tickets/club seating/gate: $293 mms.
Corporate sponsorships; over $200 mms.

That doesn't include national MLB broadcasting and league distributions; concessions, food & beverages; parking; merchandise and licensing; playoffs tours, other stadium activities, etc. The other owners will want a piece and they will want to enforce a salary cap on the Dodgers, and they will lock out the players and use scabs.

[Mick]

I'm thinking more about the future payment bubble As of October 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers have deferred compensation agreements with 10 players, totaling approximately $1.095 billion in future payments extending through 2047. Here are the 10 players and their reported deferred amounts:

Shohei Ohtani, $680 million
Mookie Betts, $115 million
Blake Snell, $66 million
Freddie Freeman, $57 million
Will Smith, $50 million
Kyle Tucker, $30 million
Tommy Edman, $25 million
Teoscar Hernández, $23.5 million
Tanner Scott, $21 million
Edwin Díaz, $13.5 million

LA rakes in $334 million/year (through 2038) from their local television contract.  I don’t think their future obligations are a concern.

The current player contract expires at 11:59 p.m. on December 1, 2026, at which point the owners will lock out the players.

The owners #1 demand is a salary cap. Do you think all the voting owners are happy with the Dodgers' circumvention of large-scale payouts this year and will make the Dodgers pay for it in years to come? Would the owners like to take a piece of the DOdgers' $850 million revenue stream? My guess is yes, that will happen.

The DOdgers' annual revenue increased 55% between 2023 and 2025. Here's the breakdown:

Local television: $334 mms.
Tickets/club seating/gate: $293 mms.
Corporate sponsorships; over $200 mms.

That doesn't include national MLB broadcasting and league distributions; concessions, food & beverages; parking; merchandise and licensing; playoffs tours, other stadium activities, etc. The other owners will want a piece and they will want to enforce a salary cap on the Dodgers, and they will lock out the players and use scabs.

[BostonCard]

I presume that those future obligations would be entered as liabilities on the balance sheet and upon sales would figure into the valuation in the way any other debt would.  The Dodgers are estimated to be worth about $8 Billion, and depending how far in the future those payments are, they may be heavily discounted.  Interestingly, Ohtani’s contract has now provision for interest and is not adjusted for inflation (at least that’s what the AI summary says), so if we have higher than expected inflation between now and the deferral dates, it will eat into its value heavily. 

Bobby Bonilla’s $1.2 million annual payday from the Mets has been steadily eaten away by inflation, and its real value is now only about 2/3 what it was when he started receiving the annuity in 2011.  The $1.2 million is 2026 is worth only about $800k in 2011 dollars.  Not that he’s complaining, but at this point it is about a rounding error for the Mets.

BC

[BostonCard]

I presume that those future obligations would be entered as liabilities on the balance sheet and upon sales would figure into the valuation in the way any other debt would.  The Dodgers are estimated to be worth about $8 Billion, and depending how far in the future those payments are, they may be heavily discounted.  Interestingly, Ohtani’s contract has now provision for interest and is not adjusted for inflation (at least that’s what the AI summary says), so if we have higher than expected inflation between now and the deferral dates, it will eat into its value heavily. 

Bobby Bonilla’s $1.2 million annual payday from the Mets has been steadily eaten away by inflation, and its real value is now only about 2/3 what it was when he started receiving the annuity in 2011.  The $1.2 million is 2026 is worth only about $800k in 2011 dollars.  Not that he’s complaining, but at this point it is about a rounding error for the Mets.

BC

[Giants]

1792266400[/url]']

1792253713[/url]']

1792251831[/url]']
I'm thinking more about the future payment bubble As of October 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers have deferred compensation agreements with 10 players, totaling approximately $1.095 billion in future payments extending through 2047. Here are the 10 players and their reported deferred amounts:

Shohei Ohtani, $680 million
Mookie Betts, $115 million
Blake Snell, $66 million
Freddie Freeman, $57 million
Will Smith, $50 million
Kyle Tucker, $30 million
Tommy Edman, $25 million
Teoscar Hernández, $23.5 million
Tanner Scott, $21 million
Edwin Díaz, $13.5 million

LA rakes in $334 million/year (through 2038) from their local television contract.  I don’t think their future obligations are a concern.

The current player contract expires at 11:59 p.m. on December 1, 2026, at which point the owners will lock out the players.

The owners #1 demand is a salary cap. Do you think all the voting owners are happy with the Dodgers' circumvention of large-scale payouts this year and will make the Dodgers pay for it in years to come? Would the owners like to take a piece of the DOdgers' $850 million revenue stream? My guess is yes, that will happen.

The DOdgers' annual revenue increased 55% between 2023 and 2025. Here's the breakdown:

Local television: $334 mms.
Tickets/club seating/gate: $293 mms.
Corporate sponsorships; over $200 mms.

That doesn't include national MLB broadcasting and league distributions; concessions, food & beverages; parking; merchandise and licensing; playoffs tours, other stadium activities, etc. The other owners will want a piece and they will want to enforce a salary cap on the Dodgers, and they will lock out the players and use scabs.

The players have consistently refused to agree to a salary cup.  Why would they move off that position this time?  

Heck, we are on the verge of a World Series between two small market clubs.  A salary cap is just an excuse that is used by teams that aren’t competitive because they have poor leadership. That isn’t going to change with or without a cap.  

Since I am adamantly against the idea of a cap, I have my fingers crossed that the players will beat the owners on this issue.

[Giants]

1792266400[/url]']

1792253713[/url]']

1792251831[/url]']
I'm thinking more about the future payment bubble As of October 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers have deferred compensation agreements with 10 players, totaling approximately $1.095 billion in future payments extending through 2047. Here are the 10 players and their reported deferred amounts:

Shohei Ohtani, $680 million
Mookie Betts, $115 million
Blake Snell, $66 million
Freddie Freeman, $57 million
Will Smith, $50 million
Kyle Tucker, $30 million
Tommy Edman, $25 million
Teoscar Hernández, $23.5 million
Tanner Scott, $21 million
Edwin Díaz, $13.5 million

LA rakes in $334 million/year (through 2038) from their local television contract.  I don’t think their future obligations are a concern.

The current player contract expires at 11:59 p.m. on December 1, 2026, at which point the owners will lock out the players.

The owners #1 demand is a salary cap. Do you think all the voting owners are happy with the Dodgers' circumvention of large-scale payouts this year and will make the Dodgers pay for it in years to come? Would the owners like to take a piece of the DOdgers' $850 million revenue stream? My guess is yes, that will happen.

The DOdgers' annual revenue increased 55% between 2023 and 2025. Here's the breakdown:

Local television: $334 mms.
Tickets/club seating/gate: $293 mms.
Corporate sponsorships; over $200 mms.

That doesn't include national MLB broadcasting and league distributions; concessions, food & beverages; parking; merchandise and licensing; playoffs tours, other stadium activities, etc. The other owners will want a piece and they will want to enforce a salary cap on the Dodgers, and they will lock out the players and use scabs.

The players have consistently refused to agree to a salary cup.  Why would they move off that position this time?  

Heck, we are on the verge of a World Series between two small market clubs.  A salary cap is just an excuse that is used by teams that aren’t competitive because they have poor leadership. That isn’t going to change with or without a cap.  

Since I am adamantly against the idea of a cap, I have my fingers crossed that the players will beat the owners on this issue.

[Mick]

I just realized that, unlike 30 years ago, the minor leagues are now unionized too. So it's even less likely that the owners will use replacement players.

On the other hand, they are pretty serious about a $245.3 million hard cap. Only seven teams exceeded that in 2026. I think the players will get locked out, but I'm not sure for how long. After the 1981 lockout, the initial attendance dip was only 1% and attendance went up by 11% in 1982. But after the prolonged 1994 lockout, attendance went down 20% and didn't recover for almost a decade.Then after the 2021/2 lockout, attendance went up by about 10% again.

[Mick]

I just realized that, unlike 30 years ago, the minor leagues are now unionized too. So it's even less likely that the owners will use replacement players.

On the other hand, they are pretty serious about a $245.3 million hard cap. Only seven teams exceeded that in 2026. I think the players will get locked out, but I'm not sure for how long. After the 1981 lockout, the initial attendance dip was only 1% and attendance went up by 11% in 1982. But after the prolonged 1994 lockout, attendance went down 20% and didn't recover for almost a decade.Then after the 2021/2 lockout, attendance went up by about 10% again.