MLB Chatter Thread

[NoDak]

I like it better than a 3 game series. If you make the WC a 3 game series the teams that are playing have an advantage over the teams not playing. I know people will point to rest and whatnot, but there is something to the repetition of playing.

While playing and staying in a rhythm does have it's advantages, so does having a few days rest to get your starting rotation into the order you want them pitching, and your bullpen ready. The team that has just played a 3 game series has to go with whoever is on enough rest.

 

[Carp]

While playing and staying in a rhythm does have it's advantages, so does having a few days rest to get your starting rotation into the order you want them pitching, and your bullpen ready. The team that has just played a 3 game series has to go with whoever is on enough rest.

Feh. If they are going to go that route then just add 3 more WC teams. 3 game WC series, 5 game div series, 7 game LCS/WS series.

 

[Deuce]

I'm not so secretly rooting for the Royals to win it all.

Same here. I always root for the small market and their playoff drought is a good story.

 

[NoDak]

Feh. If they are going to go that route then just add 3 more WC teams. 3 game WC series, 5 game div series, 7 game LCS/WS series.

I agree with you, liking the one game playoff. I was just presenting an advantage the other team would have to counter the advantage of the repetition of playing. Are you saying the rest for their starting rotation wouldn't be an advantage?

 

[Rev]

Same here. I always root for the small market and their playoff drought is a good story.

Yep. I'm still rooting for the Rays.

 

[Carp]

I agree with you, liking the one game playoff. I was just presenting an advantage the other team would have to counter the advantage of the repetition of playing. Are you saying the rest for their starting rotation wouldn't be an advantage?

I don't always think that extra rest helps pitchers...one extra day, sure, but being pushed by 3 or 4 more days for a start hurts more than helps IMO. There is a repetition and routine that pitchers go through and it throws off their schedule.

 

[NoDak]

I don't always think that extra rest helps pitchers...one extra day, sure, but being pushed by 3 or 4 more days for a start hurts more than helps IMO. There is a repetition and routine that pitchers go through and it throws off their schedule.

They can still throw bullpen sessions to keep loose. I'm talking about getting your rotation set to start a series. Being able to go with your 1 and 2 to start is a significant advantage to having to start with your 3-4. Or having your bullpen rested so their available.

 

[E_D_Guapo]

What did the trade consist of? I want to laugh at the A's, too.

The trade with the Cubs was Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel for prospects Addison Russell and Billy McKinney.

Samardzija pitched well for the A's after the trade (trade was made July 4th) and is under contract for another year at a very reasonable cost for a pitcher of his caliber. That's where the good news about this trade ends for the A's. Jason Hammel predictably cratered after the trade and turned back into the league average (at best) starter that he has been most of his career.
What he did with the Cubs the first few months of the season looks to have been a mirage.

Shortstop Addison Russell was/is a consensus top 5–10 prospect in all of baseball and really played well in the Cubs minor league system after the trade/coming back from a quad injury. He projects as a very good all-around player with some power and has drawn comparisons to a young Barry Larkin (high praise, but he's still a prospect and hasn't proven it at the MLB level).

Billy McKinney is a nice OF prospect but is very young (not yet 20 I don't think). He's a lefty that can hit and draw walks, as well as play all 3 OF positions. He still has quite a bit of time to go in the minors, but was the #2 prospect in the A's system (system was weak after crown jewel Russell though).

So combine that with shipping out Cespedes for Lester and it looks really bad for Bean. If Samardzija is amazing next season and helps the A's get to the World Series that will change things, but that's the only thing that would justify the move because Jon Lester is leaving in FA. I think there is little chance that Samardzija is a huge reason the A's get to the World Series next season. He's a very good starter, but not a true ace.

 

[Carp]

It did not work out for the A's, but I do credit them for being aggressive. Runs was never an issue for them, so dealing Cespedes did not hurt them offensively. Unfortunately, they did not get to the divisional round because having Lester, Samardjia, Kazmir, and Gray is about as good as you get. With the emphasis on pitching recently, I understand loading up there.

 

[E_D_Guapo]

It did not work out for the A's, but I do credit them for being aggressive. Runs was never an issue for them, so dealing Cespedes did not hurt them offensively. Unfortunately, they did not get to the divisional round because having Lester, Samardjia, Kazmir, and Gray is about as good as you get. With the emphasis on pitching recently, I understand loading up there.

I applauded the moves for the most part because I like that they were going all in. However, when a team does that and comes up short they're left out in the cold. It has to really, really sting. Going to be worse if Cespedes thrives next season and Addison Russell lives up to his lofty expectations when he is brought up.

 

[Carp]

I applauded the moves for the most part because I like that they were going all in. However, when a team does that and comes up short they're left out in the cold. It has to really, really sting. Going to be worse if Cespedes thrives next season and Addison Russell lives up to his lofty expectations when he is brought up.

I think they were going to move Cespedes this offseason...he is in a contract year and they were not going to be able to extend him. Russell may hurt losing, but I think they actually can sign Samardjia,

 

[Cotton]

 

[E_D_Guapo]

I think they were going to move Cespedes this offseason...he is in a contract year and they were not going to be able to extend him. Russell may hurt losing, but I think they actually can sign Samardjia,

I don't know that they can sign him. Cubs were hearing that he wants a contract comparable to Homer Bailey, who got 6/$105M. He's probably at least going to get something close to that. Oakland doesn't really sign guys to that kind of money.

 

[E_D_Guapo]

I just read a new write up on the top 10 prospects in the Cubs system, minus guys like Baez and Alcantara, who put in enough time in Chicago to no longer be considered prospects. Better than (most) porn.

 

[Rev]

Nomar Mazara quietly made a big jump for Texas this year. Really started putting it together this year and is at AA at the age of 19. Will be fun watching him and Gallo work their way to Arlington next September.

 

[E_D_Guapo]

Nomar Mazara quietly made a big jump for Texas this year. Really started putting it together this year and is at AA at the age of 19. Will be fun watching him and Gallo work their way to Arlington next September.

They hire a manager yet?

 

[Rev]

They hire a manager yet?

Not yet. They have interviewed Bogar, Maddox, and Steve Buechele but haven't named out of those three. Don't know if they are going to keep looking or not. I suspect its Bogar since he was handpicked by Daniels during last off season to be the bench coach. I wouldn't be opposed because he at least had them competitive to finish the year.

 

[Carp]

I look at the depth of pitching...Colon, Harvey, Gee, Niese, deGrom, Wheeler, Montero, Syndergaard, Matz, Mazzoni, and Ynoa...then hope we can turn it into a legit bat. I think Niese will be our most valuable piece because he is controllable with a decent salary. I am looking at Starling Marte from Pitt and Corey Dickerson from Col.

 

[Carp]

So this is my offseason plan:

Trade Niese to the Rockies for Corey Dickerson
Trade Colon, Montero, Herrera for Jose Reyes
Sign Michael Cuddyer to 2 year 10 mil deal

Starting Rotation
Harvey
Wheeler
deGrom
Gee
Syndergaard

Bullpen
Black
Edgin
Torres
Parnell
Familia
Mazzoni
Mejia

Line Up

1 Reyes SS
2 Murphy 2B
3 Wright 3B
4 Duda 1B
5 D'Arnaud
6 Granderson
7 Dickerson LF
8 Lagares CF

Bench
Cuddyer
Flores
Plawecki
Nieuwehuis
Campbell

I'd give Cuddyer time at 1B and LF against lefties and also rest both Duda and Dickerson as needed. Flores will be my ultimate back up, Campbell can move around too. Plawecki is a possible chip for an even bigger bat.

Anyways...championship.

 

[Rev]

Rangers are also interviewing Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo for Manager and claimed Pitcher Alfredo Figaro off waivers.



Champi... crap.