swahl

Just wanted to point out what is obvious, albeit tangential to this: athletes, like . . . world class athletes keep getting injured, and across all sports, well, or at least all sports that have such a stupid love affair with the weight room. Tendons and ligaments cannot handle such increased muscle mass. I don't know how this is not obvious. The human body can increase muscle mass in fully natural ways. The weight room is not natural at all.

No. 1 thing as a pitcher in little league growing up in Bemidji--coaches would say "don't aim it, just throw it! Much ado about his K/BB rate this year in the minors. Which was astounding. But then there was some chatter in an article here on TD saying that he must learn to not do that very thing. In this second start, he looks like aiming was on his mind . . . and was, obviously, missing the zone. Because that is what happens when you think too much. Tell this man to pound the zone with his +stuff. Please. Trying to get major league batters to chase is just as silly as pounding the zone . . . unless pounding the zone is what a pitcher has been used to doing, and what has made him successful in this remarkable 2024 season. Work fast, throw strikes, change speeds.

Margot needs to be gone. He is--in no way--remotely close to being a deserving position player on this team. This should be obvious. Julien, Kirilloff, et al are not going to benefit from time back in the minors. Keep your best players playing with the team. It is simple.

Back in that draft 2012, I was jabbering on this site about Purdue baseball and how good Wittgren could be. Twelve years later . . . and he gets a shot! LOL.

I would stick with him for the foreseeable future. But they surely should have some organizational things done, especially with regard to health.

There is a corner jam on the team right now. The Soto addition is going to be quite temporary. Meanwhile, Kiriloff getting another week or two of consistent at bats isn't the end of the world. By July, however, I would then start to wonder what the hell is going on.

Lineup: Buxton, CF Polanco, 2B Correa, SS Arraez, DH Sano, 1B Kepler, RF Sanchez, C Kiriloff, LF Urshela, 3B With Sano and Sanchez getting DH time, Rooker replacing Kepler or Kiriloff against lefties, Jeffers catching, and Arraez with less exposure against lefties. One reason I have Sano and Kepler where they are is because we really want them to be hitting well this year. Because, if so, this lineup is stacked and that's before the arrivals of Miranda and Larnach.

Catchers: Sanchez, Jeffers, Godoy Infielders: Sano, Polanco, Correa, Urshela Outfielders: Kiriloff, Buxton, Kepler, Rooker Utility: Arraez, Gordon Rotation: Ryan, Gray, Ober, Archer, Bundy Bullpen: Rogers, Duffey, Smith, Stashak, Jax/Smeltzer, Alcala, Thielbar, Moran, Cotton, Romero