Quit slamming superstars for their teams’ failures

Fans have long loved to criticize players who sign big contracts. The media has long encouraged and aided this effort to greater or lesser degrees. Players who rake in the big bucks have long had a target on their back and probably always will.

Which is not totally unfair, of course. They’re supposed to be good. They’re supposed to help the team win. That, as the old saying goes, is why they’re paid the big bucks.

But there are limits to that right? A baseball team has 25 guys on it, not just one, and any one baseball player has way less power to carry one’s team to victory himself than, say, the quarterback of a football team or any single basketball player, each of which can make a huge difference. As such, while it’s fair to hold star players to a higher standard, it’s less fair to blame them when their teams fare poorly through no fault of their own.

Bryce Harper and Manny Machado have boosted local TV ratings for Phillies and Padres

Turns out, fans like it when baseball teams spend money on elite players. The Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres have seen strong television rating increases this season after signing Bryce Harper and Manny Machado during the offseason, according to Sports Business Journal.

The Padres have seen a massive boost in viewers during the first half of the season. Ratings are up 81 percent compared to last year. Though the team is just 47-52, Padres fans have a lot to be excited about. On top of Machado, the team also has young stars like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Chris Paddack putting up breakout seasons.

Harper and the Phillies are seeing a 20 percent boost in the ratings thus far. The Phillies started the season hot, posting a 33-24 record through May. The team has gone 19-24 since, which could spell lower second-half ratings if they can’t turn things around.

The way things are going with Harper, I’m starting to regret suggesting that Eric Hosmer was the Steve Garvey of our times….

Carig: In lashing out at Manny Machado, umpires’ union reveals itself to be tone deaf – The Athletic

#Disappointed #LeadByExample #NotAppreciated #Violence #TemperTantrum #Inaction #NotTolerated #MakeanExampleof #OneGameSuspension #RepeatOffender #Nonsense #MLBUA @MLB @Padres @Buster_ESPN pic.twitter.com/pkcW5O1SnB

— Major League Baseball Umpires Association (@MLBUA) June 18, 2019

More stuff.

Breaking: MLB has suspended #Padres 3B Manny Machado for one game for "aggressively arguing" and making contact with umpire Bill Welke in Colorado on Saturday. Machado will appeal the ruling. pic.twitter.com/ncksG4r8F7

— Troy Hirsch (@troyhirschfox5) June 17, 2019

MLB calls umpire union statement about Manny Machado discipline “inappropriate” – HardballTalk

“Manny Machado was suspended by MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre, who considered all the facts and circumstances of Machado’s conduct, including precedent, in determining the appropriate level of discipline.  Mr. Machado is appealing his suspension and we do not believe it is appropriate for the union representing Major League Umpires to comment on the discipline of players represented by the Players Association, just as it would not be appropriate for the Players Association to comment on disciplinary decisions made with respect to umpires.  We also believe it is inappropriate to compare this incident to the extraordinarily serious issue of workplace violence.”