I still think MLB is more favorable to small-market teams than the NBA. My main problem isn't so much with teams that tank to get youngsters like the Astros, but with teams like the Marlins that sell off everyone once they come up. The Reds had a healthy farm system a few years ago and now basically all the players are in the majors and signed to long-term contracts. I would like to see the slot caps done away with; make the teams that want to build farm systems spend money on it and gamble.

Houston isn't a small market team. The MLB used to be before the mandatory slotting system for the small markets because you could spend extra money in acquiring talent without killing yourself. Only Atlanta was able to follow slotting rigidly and still build great talented farm systems (and of course they supported this because it gave them a competitive advantage). The biggest problem though isn't necessarily the slotting for the draft but the fact that they use your finish position to cap how much international spending you can do. There is no draft so there is no rational relationship other than rewarding tanking.

I didn't even notice the score, runner positions, and outs when I first saw this. ios mio

When you're bad, you're bad.

I didn't realize the Rangers had quietly turned into a pitching team.

The Diamondbacks are quietly a good baseball team. #12 in position player WAR, #8 in pitching WAR. Paul Goldschmidt nearly the best 1B in the league. 3 starters with an xFIP under 4, all 5 starters under 5. Currently have 4 position players with a wOBA over .400, including Goldschmidt, Gregorious, Chavez, and Hill.

Hill has only played 10 games due to injury and the other guys you named all have high-to-highlarious BABIPs (as does Gerardo Parra, their other big-time hitter thus far). OTOH Miguel Montero and Martin Prado are as due for improvement as they are for regression. Point is it's still early.