Jocko87

Back to regularly scheduled non-trade deadline programming. Brent Rooker is on pace for 27 homers. A's on pace for 45 wins. Bobby Witt is also on pace for 27 homers. Royals on pace for 49.5 wins, thanks to our Twins.

I was just kidding.

Messages can be delivered by action and inaction. If I'm in that clubhouse, message received. This is a performance issue, not a roster issue. Quibble around the roster all you want but it's not the problem. Had 70% of the position players been at expected performance, I feel completely different right now. Had 70% of the position players been at expected performance, they would have a 12 game lead.

Not having anything to do with last season, I’m also kinda OK with this with one big expectation. There have to be follow on moves within the current roster. Kuechel is only the first part. Gordon and Paddock and maybe Mancini 🤢 will require roster moves. I can understand that there are a ton of moving parts here but can’t believe there wasn’t a move that made everything easier.

Carry on, please.

I’ve made the same choice myself.

Someone with an accountant.

I personally believe that I won't be utterly furious.

I mean, honestly, what evidence do we have that they want to invest in the bullpen now? Being linked to guys by the media means nothing trying to predict a front office, especially this one. I'm mostly on their side with the off season plan, I might have added one guy but still mostly like to let the pen fill organically. In my opinion it took way to long to give Blazovic a look and it's flat dumb the way they're using Sands lately. Give some leverage early in the year and find out what you have.

Lmao, Messing around at trade value simulator has Stanton at - 100.6 value. Sheesh.

But they aren't. Other than Farmer they were all reclamation projects. They aren't the player type they are going for as a type, but an interim stepping stone. Bundy and Archer and Pineda and Dobnack etc are now Lopez and Gray. Gallo and Farmer and Salano will turn into what? They are building depth in all the right places but it takes time.

Bader plus something even. Kepler option would carry enough value for a reliever throw in. Maybe throw in a low level prospect to tip the scale.

Agreed, unless someone blows them away. Nobody is untouchable. That said, no such thing as too much pitching and it's really the only chance for a inside straight draw in the playoffs. There will be several different ways to use them all, 6 man rotation, someone or multiple someones to the bullpen or unfortunate injuries. I think Kuechel will get some starts to see if he can get major league hitters out and eat some innings. Varland in the pen is very interesting to me but I'd hold off on Maeda as long as possible. Call me crazy but there is still an outside chance of a qualifying offer on Kenta but he has to start and pitch well for the rest of the way to get there. Gray QO is obvious two way value to keep.

Agreed, every time I hear him speak I forget he's 18. Being groomed for this for 5+ years helps but most don't take to it like he seems to. Feeling comfortable in these situations will pay benefits to him for years to come. I also like that he wants to stick in center, wants to be a complete ballplayer. He may move to a corner just to get the bat moving up the system but having that flexibility and athleticism will be great. Very interested with Mike Radcliff comps to Bryce Harper and Larry Walker. I'm sure those didn't come lightly and much like Harper moving off catcher they can just push the bat and let the rest catch up.

I'm glad you caught that, as I was pointing out the things no one is saying. I'm happy with a group that keeps getting better and better. My window is just larger than most.

Two different things. You are describing different methods to achieve that same objective. And I would agree with you, the Angels are playing with fire right now. However, with the two best players on the planet YOLO isn't the worst idea. If they get in, they can make a run.

But see, here's the problem with the fire everyone crowd. I don't know that I've heard anyone call this a 'success'. I haven't heard anyone say this is a 'good' season in any crowds I run with, including this board. It's very easy to create a straw man to argue with and if you can actually point me to that person, I'll argue along side with you. That person doesn't exist though. Nobody is making these claims. No real change or real progress. My brother in Christ, please look back at the pitching rotation in 2020 and 2021. Look at the rest of the roster in those years. It made me gag just a bit when I did. The monumental leaps this organization has made in the past five years dwarf any other 5 year period in the franchise history. They still have work to do. I've been saying all year, this is the most talented 40 man roster most of us have seen in our fan lifetimes and I will continue to stand by that. (yes, 1969 is before my time) No, it isn't a success. Yet. No it hasn't been a good season. Yet. There is a huge problem in the offensive coaching/strategy department that I'm actually pretty confident they will fix, although maybe not this year. And I hate to break it to you, but making the postseason and hoping lightning strikes the right spot is literally the main objective of this entire dumb exercise. If you want to call it a shell game, fine, but its literally everyone's plan. And playing in another division might actually be a good thing for this squad. The same squad that seems to have a problem playing to the level of their opponents. We might be surprised how well they would do. We should all probably do a little less reacting daily and hourly to a weekly and monthly sport. That said, this has been a really ****** week.

Yeah, I guess it makes sense for a 39 year old to force the opt in. Still fits the Mets model. I watched the younger Acuna the last two nights and he looks the part. He'll be a solid 2nd baseman for a while.

To test the theory, how much hitting does a Miranda, Correa, Julien, Kirilloff infield and a Larnach, Gallo, Wallner outfield have to do? Answer. One hell of a lot. Like 29 Yankees lots. Kepler is on this team for a reason.

They won’t have to send a lot of money, Scherzer has an opt out I would assume he would use. Honestly, this is all part of the plan for the Mets. They are doing the trust the process thing the expensive way.

Raya looked good the first too innings but just as quickly was terrible in the 3rd. Lots of non-competitive pitches and he looked lost. Such is the life of a young pitcher I guess. Schobel looks like a ballplayer. Played well at 3rd with several great reaction plays. Almost made an all world over the shoulder catch in foul ground. He and Lee each cut a runner down at the plate. Sabato hit the scoreboard with his home run. 437ft seems conservative if Schobel was 419 in the bullpen. It was a bomb. I've been to a bunch of games here and never seen anyone close to where he went. He looked terrible at first base though. Severino went oppo again and this one was most certainly not wind aided. The Schobel, Lee, Severino infield combo is pretty nice but its probably broken up soon. It seems they will want to see Schobel at short so Lee has to get out of his way. htt ps://twitter.com/WindSurgeICT/status/1685087522034974720?s=

In exchange for the highlight of their season, The KC Royals have sent relief pitcher Scott Barlow to the Minnesota Twins. Who says no?

I brought him up in May and still think its a great idea. He's a RH Nick Gordon with options. Funny how most of the actual trades are from off the grids. Who had Floro anyway?

Right up my alley. Expensive, but a perfect fit.

I reckon we can table this discussion until Wednesday.