MLB Preseason Preview 2024 Part 1

 

There was only one 2024 MLB preview issue on the racks when I went looking for one in February, Lindy’s.  As is unfortunately becoming usual, it was way too early and a bunch of high-impact trades and free agents weren’t accounted for.  Back when most trades and deals were done by the Winter Meetings, their early publishing date made more sense.  It’s a worthwhile guide in general.  While the price went up to $11, I do appreciate that Lindy’s at least put that increase into some better writing.  I’m going to preserve a few quotes here for posterity. 

   

They referred to Boston’s Triston Casas as “a statue” on defense.  Kevin Kiermaier was listed as “running down anything within reach,” but “an undisciplined hitter, running exorbitant strikeout rates and swinging at anything within his zip code.”

 

About the White Sox: “Nautical speed records were challenged by the force with which the 2023 season hit the rocks on the South Side.  The rest of the year held the excitement of an autopsy.”  [Heh, heh.  That’s good.  I may steal that someday.]

 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. “hits the ball with nuclear force.”  Meanwhile, a couple of Blue Jays were said to have “invisible offense.”

 

Royals: “The farm system is a landfill.”

 

A’s: “Oakland used 24 different pitchers to start games in 2023, and it will likely take a village again to fill 162 games.”  The commentary also went after owner, John Fisher.  They’re highly skeptical about the team’s move to Las Vegas.  (Here’s a cue for Fisher’s critics.  He’s not going to sell until his team is playing in a new stadium.  Duh.)

 

Phillies: “Garrett Stubbs, an 80-grade clubhouse guy if nothing else.”

 

Nationals: “The constants in life are death, taxes, and Patrick Corbin making 30-plus bad starts a year.”

 

Rockies: “We reassigned scouts last year to just catch their affiliates by coincidence; we didn’t have anyone high enough on a pref list to sit on them.”  In other words, their farm system is terrible.

 

The Marlin’s entry blathered on about deposed GM, Kim Ng.  This was the problem with hiring a woman for the position.  You couldn’t ever fire her without the enduring a firestorm of criticism from the Media.  The team instead put her in a position where she had a reason to quit.  All I have to say is, I haven’t seen anyone else hire her.  The team is pretty good.  Was it her or was she basically a figurehead?

 

Team reports are the bulk of the issue.  There’s a bit of MLB in general up front.  They’re mostly congratulating the league on improving pace of play.  (Here, here!)  There are rankings on the best individual players, as well as minor league and college and high school players.  On the back page, there’s an odd article about trading cards.  You can buy shares in the live openings of packs and sets.  You can also make “fractional investments” in high-value cards.  It feels like the hobby is straining for relevance.

 

There’s also a set of tables in the back giving the stats.  Texas led the AL in BA and fielding, but was in the lower half in ERA.  The AL WAR leaders in Batting were Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, who also leads in defense.  The Rangers had three Gold Glove winners.  There’s a reason Texas won the World Series. 

 

The Rangers were fourth in payroll, but 16-th in attendance.  That’s a bit disappointing, especially with a new beautiful new, indoor stadium.  Payroll does usually track with fan attendance.  The Orioles were near the bottom in payroll and also in attendance, even while fielding a great team last year.  Rays were actually better than them in fans (albeit mostly there rooting for the Yankees and other visiting teams).      

 

Atlanta led the NL in BA (fifth in attendance, but tenth in payroll), AZ in fielding, and Milwaukee in ERA.  San Diego was second in pitching, but in the lower half in hitting.  They were second in attendance and third in payroll.   

 

There are a few other imbalances.  The White Sox were 15-th in payroll, but 24-th in attendance.  Meanwhile, the Mariners’ were 18-th in payroll, while 10-th in attendance, and the Cardinals were 17-th payroll, but fourth in attendance.  (The Midwest loves their birds, even when they lose.)  A 100+ loss Rockies team was 14-th in payroll, but still 13-th in attendance.  (Rocky Mountain High, indeed.  They’ve only vaguely aware of who wins and losses their games.)

 

At the ends of the scale, there’s the A’s, who were last in payroll and attendance.  That’s not surprising.  The Mets were first in payroll (by a lot), and 14-th in attendance.  (NYC doesn’t show up to see losers.)  The Yankees were second in payroll and third in attendance.  (I stand corrected.)  Lastly, the Dodgers were first in attendance again, but sixth in payroll.  Are they still having those cable issues with people in Los Angles not able to watch the team on TV?  

I picked up an issue of Baseball America because they put the Rangers on the cover as the Organization of the Year.  I have a little shrine going with my two Rangers World Champion commemorative magazines.  You have to celebrate these championships, since you don’t know when or if you’ll get another.

 

I have several issues of this magazine, but I’m not sure why.  It’s mostly about minor league reports and players.  (Player reports are mostly a list of their injuries.)  But inevitably, there’s always a couple of articles that interest me and tempt me into buying it.

 

The Orioles and the Diamondbacks were also honored for Executive and Manager of the Year respectively.  The O’s Triple-A team, the Norfolk Tides, were the minor league Team of the Year, which included former Aggie star, Joey Ortiz.  The Albuquerque Isotopes were awarded as the best Triple-A organization for their PCL-leading attendance.  BA puts it on their Mariachi’s alternate identity, but I doubt it.  I hope to go to a game there someday.  The Amarillo Sod Poodles were the Double-A winner.  The article gushed about their alternate identity as the Calf Fries (don’t ask).   

 

At least there’s some nice action pictures.  These were part of their American League farm system reports.  The Orioles are rated number one with the number one rated player, Jackson Holliday.  The Yankees and the Rangers are also top rated.  The Astros (surprisingly), the Angels, Blue Jays, and the Royals are at the bottom. 

 

Lastly, there was an obituary for Peter Seidler, owner of the Padres, and an opinion piece about minor league contraction.  Minor league players got a pay raise by virtue of the elimination of 15 players per organization.  Further cuts may be on the docket.  The writer proposes an expansion of the Dominican Summer League and allowing low-revenue teams expanded minor league rosters.  Overall, the $15 price was bit brutal, but it was okay. 

 

I’ve gone back a couple of times to B&N since getting these.  I haven’t seen Baseball Digest on their racks at all.  Surprisingly, Sports Illustrated is still there.  I’d heard they were bankrupt and had fired everyone.  If they’re producing a baseball season preview, I was apparently too early to get it.  If I see it, it’ll be after the season starts, so I may or may not get it.        

 

Part 2