The Officially Official Off Season Thread (2016)

[donaldson79]

Very interesting.........

MLB 2.0: Reimagining baseball -- It's time for robot umpires behind home plate

 

[True Rangers Fan]

MLB investigating gambling charges against Yu Darvish's brother

 

[saddles]

Jordan Danks to Texas on a minor league deal

Danks has a career .224/.300/.322 line in 390 major league plate appearances in the 2012-15 seasons, and can play all three outfield positions. He is a native of Round Rock and went to the University of Texas, so it wouldn't surprise me if the prospect of getting to play at home with the Express was a factor in Danks opting to join the Rangers' organization.


No word yet if Danks has an invite to the major league training camp, but he would seem to be a longshot to make the team. He will presumably compete with James Jones and whoever else the Rangers bring in for the 25th spot on the roster/backup CF job, and will be in AAA as minor league depth if he doesn't make the team.

 

[donaldson79]

I know of a team who qualifies.

BREWERS' LUCROY WANTS TRADE TO CONTENDER

Catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who was an All-Star in 2014, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "I'm not going to sit here and say we're going to compete for the playoffs this year. If I did that, you'd call me a liar. I'd lose credibility and respect. ... I want to win and I don't see us winning in the foreseeable future."

 

[romeo212000]

I know of a team who qualifies.

BREWERS' LUCROY WANTS TRADE TO CONTENDER

Catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who was an All-Star in 2014, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "I'm not going to sit here and say we're going to compete for the playoffs this year. If I did that, you'd call me a liar. I'd lose credibility and respect. ... I want to win and I don't see us winning in the foreseeable future."

Problem is he's not a full time catcher.

 

[donaldson79]

Problem is he's not a full time catcher.

According to Hitzges, he also plays a pretty good first base.

And a platoon of him and Robinson should work pretty well.

 

[romeo212000]

According to Hitzges, he also plays a pretty good first base.

And a platoon of him and Robinson should work pretty well.

Then we gotta do something with Moreland.

 

[donaldson79]

Then we gotta do something with Moreland.

Since Moreland can't hit Lefties for shit, you sit him with a lefty is on the mound.

Honestly, I knew Lucroy played some 1st but I didn't really know if it was just to keep his bat in the lineup or not. But - according to Hitzges - he plays damn near as good a 1st as MM.

 

[DT LUNA]

Since Moreland can't hit Lefties for shit, you sit him with a lefty is on the mound.

Honestly, I knew Lucroy played some 1st but I didn't really know if it was just to keep his bat in the lineup or not. But - according to Hitzges - he plays damn near as good a 1st as MM.

That tells me that Mitch has to go. Now Prince plays 1st with a legit back up.

 

[jta4437]

Problem is he's not a full time catcher.

Well its not that he isn't, but his concussion at the end of the year last year has people worried that he's not long for catcher, no way to say for sure until they start playing again

Hence why no one wants to pay the Brewers asking price which should be pretty good IF he was going to stick at catcher and less if he's playing 1B

 

[Bmurph]

Yu Darvish under MLB investigation after brother's gambling arrest

By David Brown | Baseball Writer​

January 19, 2016 2:33 pm ET

Not what Yu needs right now. (USATSI)​

Although Rangers ace Yu Darvish has not been accused of wrongdoing by authorities in Japan to this point, Major League Baseball reportedly confirmed that he is under investigation related to the arrest of Darvish's younger brother for operating an illegal gambling ring that took bets on MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball games.
The Japan Times reports that MLB spokesperson Michael Teevan told them the league is "aware of this situation and are looking into it, per our standard protocols." The situation is the arrest of Sho Darvish in October following a year-long investigation for gambling and running a betting ring. Police allege he accepted some "1,850 wagers valued at ¥10,000 each on pro games in both North America and Japan."
It is not clear, writes Jack Gallagher, if Sho Darvish took any bets on Rangers games.

Best-selling author Robert Whiting, who penned both “You Gotta Have Wa” and “Tokyo Underworld,” feels it is not much of stretch to think that Sho Darvish, who was 26 at the time of his arrest, may have turned to his older brother for information.
“Gambling on baseball in Japan exists, it always has existed, and always will,” says Whiting.
“As for (Yu) Darvish, you would have to say it was likely that he provided information, unwittingly I would have to assume (unless of course he is looking to supplement his income, which the last time I looked was about half of Masahiro Tanaka's),” added Whiting.
“Anything Darvish would have to say about team injuries or health of the players could affect the possible outcome of a game and the betting line.”​

Yu Darvish missed most the 2015 season after undergoing elbow reconstruction surgery but, even as an injured member of the team, could have been in a position to inform his brother of useful information for a gambling operation. Even unwittingly, as Whiting says.
Darvish released the following statement Tuesday afternoon:

"I am not and have never been involved with gambling activities. While I understand Major League Baseball must conduct an investigation, I am certain that they will find that I had no involvement in this matter whatsoever."​

Encouraging news for Yu Darvish, beyond police in Japan not associating him with any of his brother's alleged crimes, is that MLB has yet to hire a private investigator of its own. That's when it would become apparent that Yu is in actual trouble. Were MLB to find anything that indicated Yu Darvish knowingly helped his brother's alleged illegal gambling operation, he probably would be kicked out of MLB and banned for life. Leagues in Japan, Korea and Taiwan probably would abide such a ban, and Darvish would be done playing baseball as he knows it.
MLB, as the Pete Rose and the Black Sox scandals showed, is very serious about matters relating to gambling on baseball.

 

[UK Cowboy]

Yu Darvish under MLB investigation after brother's gambling arrest

By David Brown | Baseball Writer​

January 19, 2016 2:33 pm ET

View attachment 79014
Not what Yu needs right now. (USATSI)​

Although Rangers ace Yu Darvish has not been accused of wrongdoing by authorities in Japan to this point, Major League Baseball reportedly confirmed that he is under investigation related to the arrest of Darvish's younger brother for operating an illegal gambling ring that took bets on MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball games.
The Japan Times reports that MLB spokesperson Michael Teevan told them the league is "aware of this situation and are looking into it, per our standard protocols." The situation is the arrest of Sho Darvish in October following a year-long investigation for gambling and running a betting ring. Police allege he accepted some "1,850 wagers valued at ¥10,000 each on pro games in both North America and Japan."
It is not clear, writes Jack Gallagher, if Sho Darvish took any bets on Rangers games.

Best-selling author Robert Whiting, who penned both “You Gotta Have Wa” and “Tokyo Underworld,” feels it is not much of stretch to think that Sho Darvish, who was 26 at the time of his arrest, may have turned to his older brother for information.
“Gambling on baseball in Japan exists, it always has existed, and always will,” says Whiting.
“As for (Yu) Darvish, you would have to say it was likely that he provided information, unwittingly I would have to assume (unless of course he is looking to supplement his income, which the last time I looked was about half of Masahiro Tanaka's),” added Whiting.
“Anything Darvish would have to say about team injuries or health of the players could affect the possible outcome of a game and the betting line.”​

Yu Darvish missed most the 2015 season after undergoing elbow reconstruction surgery but, even as an injured member of the team, could have been in a position to inform his brother of useful information for a gambling operation. Even unwittingly, as Whiting says.
Darvish released the following statement Tuesday afternoon:

"I am not and have never been involved with gambling activities. While I understand Major League Baseball must conduct an investigation, I am certain that they will find that I had no involvement in this matter whatsoever."​

Encouraging news for Yu Darvish, beyond police in Japan not associating him with any of his brother's alleged crimes, is that MLB has yet to hire a private investigator of its own. That's when it would become apparent that Yu is in actual trouble. Were MLB to find anything that indicated Yu Darvish knowingly helped his brother's alleged illegal gambling operation, he probably would be kicked out of MLB and banned for life. Leagues in Japan, Korea and Taiwan probably would abide such a ban, and Darvish would be done playing baseball as he knows it.
MLB, as the Pete Rose and the Black Sox scandals showed, is very serious about matters relating to gambling on baseball.

And the hits just keep coming.......

 

[Bmurph]

And the hits just keep coming.......

This is crazy and would be very bad if there was an inkling of truth to any of it, or Yu had any involvement

 

[UK Cowboy]

This is crazy and would be very bad if there was an inkling of truth to any of it, or Yu had any involvement

I hate it, but it's very possible Yu never pitches for the Rangers again. If he gave his brother any inside Rangers/MLB info....... He's GONE

 

[Bmurph]

I hate it, but it's very possible Yu never pitches for the Rangers again. If he gave his brother any inside Rangers/MLB info....... He's GONE

Encouraging news for Yu Darvish, beyond police in Japan not associating him with any of his brother's alleged crimes, is that MLB has yet to hire a private investigator of its own. That's when it would become apparent that Yu is in actual trouble


Im hoping like hell this holds up

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Encouraging news for Yu Darvish, beyond police in Japan not associating him with any of his brother's alleged crimes, is that MLB has yet to hire a private investigator of its own. That's when it would become apparent that Yu is in actual trouble


Im hoping like hell this holds up

They have been working on this investigation for quite a while and if Yu was involved something would have come of it by now. And he sure cannot impact the game himself sitting on the DL. I think nothing will come of this in Yu's case.

 

[Bmurph]

They have been working on this investigation for quite a while and if Yu was involved something would have come of it by now. And he sure cannot impact the game himself sitting on the DL. I think nothing will come of this in Yu's case.

certainly hope you're right, I'm looking forward to seeing Yu pitch again this season

 

[saddles]

Since Moreland can't hit Lefties for shit, you sit him with a lefty is on the mound.

Honestly, I knew Lucroy played some 1st but I didn't really know if it was just to keep his bat in the lineup or not. But - according to Hitzges - he plays damn near as good a 1st as MM.

He has only started 30 games at 1B in his big league career. I wonder if Norm might be exaggerating just a tad on this.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

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