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Our pitchers survived unscathed beyond Reyes. We spent wildly on International guys and had a number of guys like Young and Kninzer surpass reasonable projections. We invested heavily in younger position players who haven’t panned out but still have prospect sheen
To the contrary, the Jays and Orioles are fulfilling commitments to fans and players. They should be commended. This popular idea that you only go for it when you are at an apex and your competition is down goes against the core principles of sports. Losing sucks and is contagious. I would avoid it at all costs.
Sometimes you go with the kids. Sometimes you go with reclamation projects. You always go for it, or you stop charging people unreasonable prices during years you are not trying to win a championship. Since the latter never happens, you maintain your character and try your best.This was about the point where we argued if Matt Morris was a true ace. Wacha would be our number one if Carlos wasn’t around, and he is actually an All Star pitcher who is just reaching his apex. We just have followed him so long that we have lost our excitement about him becoming an ace. He has not. I bet he intends to be near the top of our rotation.
A lot of questions is a good thing. We have options. This is not a case where we have Alan Babes, Morris, and Osborne and little else. We run deep with guys who could be solid threes. A scout for Houston once argued with me that five threes are the better than having aces and back end guys.No one knows our system better than us. I would take your opinion over any blogger. I love reading about the birds from any source, but I trust opinions of people like you, BobReed, CC, and others over any “expert” opinion.
I was excited when we acquired Orlando Sanchez. I dreamed on Mike Calise playing third base someday. I cried a little when Leon Durham was traded. Jerry Mumphrey was my favorite Cardinal when he played for Tulsa.
You are right. No one can follow even two organizations to the degree we follow this one.
Those are the two choices for sure, but they both carry potential to make contributions next year. Further, we need a pitcher and a hitter. We could and may forgo the hitter, but I could see three additions if there was space.
He is simply not as familiar as we are, and these mistakes seem blatant to us. The rest of the baseball world doesn’t even notice.
Robertson is trending up with fewer years than Holland or Reed. Further, we need to trade 40 man prospects if we are to continue adding players.
Solarte could very well bump Travis at 2nd. Donaldson is just so perfect for us, and Toronto has needs we can easily fill.
We still need to clear roster spots with a three for one which will allow us to sign the final pieces without releasing assets.
Even if we simply signed Cobb, Reed, and Morrison, we would have to give up picks for Cobb and at least two decent prospects from the 40 man roster.Oh I know why. Because Wong, Solarte, and Grichuk are better than Donaldson in terms of control. Plus they get a couple prospects too.
Watching the Mets collapse, I really believe you stagger your young starters. Let Weaver join the vets this year while Reyes and Hudson lock down the pen. Add Reyes next year while Hudson and Hicks contribute to the pen.
That is the very idea. Rehab and begin in the Memphis rotation. About the beginning of July, bring him up as a long fireman. As his innings decrease, allow him the opportunity to move to the late innings. This plan could build the innings to ensure he doesn’t have too great an increase next year. We want him in the 120 to 140 range total if he is to move towards the top of the rotation in 2019.
He won’t begin on time anyway, and someone may run with the job. Necessity may have a huge say in the manner of his use at that point.Davis had forearm tightness in KC. He was ridden hard by Madden, and I was shocked he made it tbrough the year. All strains are tears, and I suspect a situstion similar to Reyes could develop where one day soon he id throwing 95 free and easy and the next thing you know, he is scheduling for Tommy John.
We will pay for future saves, and our FO knows just how many innings Holland’s repaired elbow has left and will offer a deal accordingly. We may be the dreaded bride’s maid, but we have at least four baby Rosenthals ready right now in Fui, Hudson, Hicks, and my choice…Reyes.
What I found interesting about Helsley when I saw him at AA was that he was clearly working off his change and cutter. He threw about 33% fastballs in the first four innings and topped out at 94 or 95. As he went deeper, his fastball frequency turned up a notch and his velocity jumped up to 96 and 97. At the end of his night in the 7th or 8th, he hit 99 and one 100. He seems coachable and willing to take risks in order to get better.
Those are measurements to ascertain levels of superiority. They offer little to show incompetence. There is a difference. Again I am fighting a losing battle defending Fowler solely on his defensive prowess; I get that. I am defending Fowler as a winning component on our team.
Frazier will cost money that we don’t have. We have money to spend, but not on guys who are spiraling downward. I am not sure I could stomach watching Hosmer hit rockets at the opponents’ second basemen all summer any more than I could take Darrell Porter hitting drives to the warning track. Our team has enough money to sign Reed, Tillman, and a closer, plus take on Donaldson’s remaining year. After trading Gyorko, Wacha, and Grichuk, we would be poised to strike next year and still have all our young pitchers and outfielders to go into next off season loaded for trades like this year. I remember Easton once stating an argument for not wasting innings of young arms at AAA, and I would be fine with forgoing a Davis or Holland signing with the idea of keeping some powder dry and seeing if Hudson and Reyes could move from the Memphis rotation into the pen in August.
I watched him; I just have reasonable expectations. He played with foot injuries. That is really tough. I get that he wasn’t the difference maker we wanted in center. He wasn’t Gorman Thomas out there either. No body complained when that big lumbering oaf played center for the Brewers because he did a respectable job for a big,lumbering oaf. You want Fowler to be Willie McGee? You are going to be disappointed. You want him to be Edmonds? Sorry he isn’t. He is a 6’5″ guy who can play center. We are very lucky to be able to move him to left or right next year. He is not a liability at all at any outfield position.
Whitey always said you should trade three good players for one great one. Longoria isn’t great, but Donaldson is. I would give Gyorko, Wacha, Grichuk, and a pitcher like Artie Reyes for Donaldson without hesitation. This would improve the Blue Jays and Cards right now. That group might not produce 7 war, but they would be close. It takes the years of control down from the 18 Mo lamented to a more palatable 8 or 9 not counting Reyes.
Did we all watch the same season unfold last year? Fowler was not the defensive upgrade we dreamed of in center, but he played well all season. He got on base, drove in runs, got timely hits, provided leadership, and earned his money. We value defensive versatility, but rarely recognize it on the offensive side. It still has value. He is a big, wiry guy. He is never going to be a quick-twitch explosive player, but he covers ground and is a winner. I can tell you that counts for a lot. People who have never managed a group of diverse personalities don’t recognize the power of nuances. You can’t cure cancer…not even with winning. Teams win in spite of cancerous personalities sometimes, but that is rare and fleeting. Players like Dexter are wildly important and analytics fall short in that area. I find it hard to believe the negativity I am reading is coming from posters whose insights I have enjoyed for years.
It is not out of the question that Munoz would be our starting shortstop next year, and we are improved at that position. He could be the real deal with a 70 arm, a good hit tool, great hands, and speed. Think about Dejong at 3B with Gyrko as super sub with the guy we dreamed Diaz would become suddenly standing there in the form of Munoz. Sefarina is the real deal, too. Shrock is the real deal. Both of these guys should pass Valera (who can flat out hit) and Tovar. We have a lot of MLB ready depth when you add Mejia.
You should be excited because his bad season still contributes to a bullpen averaging more than 10 strike outs per game which heavily contributes to winning.
