Winter Meetings teaser
We’re just two days away from baseball’s winter meetings in Indianapolis, and already people are buzzing about what could transpire next week.
It all stemmed from a tweet from Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus:
“I know of two HUGE announcements coming at the Winter Meetings. I expect both will be bigger than any player signing or news made during.”
Immediately, the gears started turning in my mind about what these two huge announcements could possibly be. My first reaction was something to do with Bud Selig stepping down earlier than 2012, but Carroll denied that the announcement has anything to do with the commish.
ADVERTISEMENT
After the stream of debacles in the playoffs, I thought it might be the announcement that instant replay would be used for calls other than home runs. Again, Carroll confirmed it was nothing to do with instant replay.
So what else could it be?
Other folks have speculated that it might be a more balanced schedule, retooling of interleague play, or the possibility of scrapping interleague play altogether. Another possibility might be a retooling of the All-Star game, but I highly doubt an announcement like that would overshadow Roy Halladay trade talk.
Obviously it will be something that affects every team and possibly every player in baseball, so it has to be of epic proportions. I will be listening closely to the Winter Meetings starting Monday thanks to a free 14 day trail of XM Radio online, so hopefully I can relay the news as soon as possible.
Until then, we can only speculate that this huge news is that Tiger Woods is going to buy to Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers and move them to Regina.
My immediate thought when I saw Will's comment was "exploding bases".
However, my guesses would be increased video replay and expansion of the LDS to seven games.
(A balanced schedule…What a wicked awesome dream that would be.)
"(A balanced schedule…What a wicked awesome dream that would be.)"
Would be nice.
My bet is also on increased video replay inclusion due to the umpiring in the playoffs, and the all-star game being reworked somehow. It'll be interesting to see what it is.
A balanced schedule would be both a gift and a curse for those who need to make money for the Toronto baseball team. It would be a total gift to us fans though.
Just like you guys, I too am hoping for a balanced schedule but I don't think Bud Selig is proactive enough to spearhead that. Though having all the owners yelling at him constantly may have made him cave a little bit.
My first thought was video replay, even though Selig said that they would not be expanding it. We'll have to wait and see I guess!
I think one of them has to be the McGuire press conference where he comes clean.
Gil, that's actually a very good guess – that would be HUGE news and would supercede any announcement made at the winter meetings. I suspect you're right!
The Expos are coming back.
That and the long awaited return of Youppi!
I'm still sticking to my guns of the sale of two MLB teams. I'm hoping the sale is just part one of the big news and the second part is that the Pirates and Nationals merge into one team to make a slightly mediocre product. The Pirationals. Pirate with a bandanna with red, white, and blue colours? I'm sold.
My guess is that we will all be disappointed at the supposed "Huge News". Something as meaningless as expansion of the LDS to 7 games and/or the re-working of the All-star game. Really, I'm more interested in where Matt Holliday signs, and especially if Roy Halladay finally gets traded.
I am really hoping for an active winter meetings for the Jays.
BK, that is a brilliant idea. And the Pirationals mascot would be a mix between Jack Sparrow and Uncle Sam. It would be incredible!
Peter D, I suspect it's something bigger than a 7-game LDS. Like Gil alluded to above, a McGwire press conference would overshadow any trade or free agent signing at the winter meetings.
Just like you, I'm also hoping the Jays shake up things in Indy.
So is the MLB network blacked out for free trialists of XM Online? Because I can't get squat out of that channel.
Gil, which channel are you trying – Home Plate channel 175? I've been listening to it throughout the day and I haven't had any problems.
Drop me an email if you still can't dial it in.