CheezWizHed

3rd RB options: Taylor: 33% Wilson 33% Neither 34% I'd hang onto Wilson, but I didn't see him in there pass blocking much, so I doubt the Packers keep him over Taylor. It wouldn't shock me to see them both cut and attempt to get both on the PS to elevate them during the early season. Newman vs Rhyan. Rhyan has looked pretty decent, but I still don't see him passing Newman. Both probably make it because there are not other backup Gs. Interesting to see Runyan at C. I'm not sure I've heard him trying that before. Safety: Savage and Ford starting. Johnson makes the backup. Leavitt was a team captain today so I assume he is on the team. Owens becomes questionable but probably makes it. Moore probably gets an injury waiver or maybe they "stash" him on the IR to return later? CB: I think they simply go with four to start the season (Alexander, Douglas, Valentine, Nixon) Lots of options for the PS. Little risk of losing anyone as we have several that are pretty comparable. Stokes on the PUP gives him an automatic 5th CB later in the season. OLB: Cox made a good final statement. I'm guessing he makes the cut. DL: Ford didn't look so hot and was rather movable for such a mountain of a man. I give him 50/50 odds of making the 53 man. K: Carson had a nice day. Might be an adventure, but the position is his. At least he has a good leg. P: No idea. Both are punting well. Might come down to holding and experience vs cost and upside.

OL(9): Bakh, Jenkins, Myers, Runyan, Tom, Nijman, Rhyan, Walker, Jones (PS - Tenuta, Empey, Telfort) I don't see them cutting Newman because that leaves Rhyan as your top G backup. And they don't tend to like shuffling two spots (i.e. moving Tom) in case of injury. As little as I think of him, we don't have many other options. Edge(5): Gary, LVN, Smith, Enagbare, Hollins (PS - Cox, Mosby) You are probably right here though. Cox is probably one of those "oh, no, we are going to lose him to waivers" players that just quietly goes on the PS. I don't think it is obvious that #2 QB is a weakness. I think Sean has been better than MANY backup QB options available this year. He has been better than any rookie QB we've had in a long time (Rodgers and Love included). I don't see any third options (that we couldn't just stash on the PS) anyway.

Good stuff. I came to writeup my final list, but we are in 90% agreement... so I'll cop out writing the whole thing and write where I differ: OL: I wasn't as impressed with the backend players and I doubt they would lose any of them. However, I can see a potential Nijman trade - especially with Walker playing well and perhaps Jones there too. TE: This will be a waiver wire priority, IMO. DL: We agree on 6, but I wanted to add that with the youth of Wyatt, Wooden, and Brooks (not to mention potential run support issues), I see Ford as important depth. OLB: I think Hollins is a lock. He has the least upside, but the most leadership at the moment. The Packers obviously favor him. All 6 make it, IMO. MLB: I hate to say it because I had high hopes, but Carpenter looks lost. Hollins at OLB over Carpenter at MLB. S: Moore has disappeared... Owen and Ford seem to be leading for the starter spot. Johnson shows enough upside to not be cut. But here is another spot for waiver wire pickups and/or late round draft pick trades. CB: SJC has made some splash plays at CB this preseason, but I don't think it keeps his job. Too many years of doing nothing... Another possible waiver wire spot? Else Kiondre Thomas is the same age, but less experience and better size.

Forget about the Minneapolis Miracle... Freeman's catch against the Vikings was a true miracle!

And yet it seems that 100% of the time we need (and/or should) beat the Twins... we get swept. Yes, I'm speaking with my heart, not my slide ruler. Honestly, the Twins still owe us for 1987, IMO. Not that I'm holding grudges at all... for a long time... for a WS victory... and we didn't even get in the playoffs... despite a better record... OK, I'm done now...

A Twins sweep is more likely. Doesn't seem to matter... we don't play the Twins well. 9-13 vs the Twins the last 5 years... 😟

Noting that OPS+ (where he is slightly below average at 94) is a positionless metric. Where WAR considers him playing at 3B (excluding Ohatani and other people that don't play 3B). His current bWAR of 0.8 in 200 PAs would mean he is about a 2.0 bWAR player for the year. Not lights out, but still a tick above average.

So donuts, obviously! 😂

I'm a huge grill/smoker guy, but I don't quite get the outdoor griddle thing. What drew you to getting a griddle?

Well, I think he is up for trade this offseason, so that would be the timeframe. Then Indy would have 2 years of Jones as a return. I would suspect that 1 year of a 30 year-old Jones (and cost) wouldn't be interesting to Indy.

Just please keep JT from the Bears or Vikings... I think I'd cry to see him in those colors. Probably wouldn't work for Salary cap reasons, but would you trade Jones for JT straight up?

I'm pretty convinced Heath is going to be the 5th WR at this point (Wicks still making the squad at 6th). He seems to have a bit more speed than Lazard... though maybe that is just watching him vs backup CBs. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get playing time this year in 3 or 4 WR sets so they can still do running plays. Safety... ouch. Neither Ford nor Owens has done much... Johnson is contributing as much as these two with much less experience. But that doesn't make him starter material yet. Seems like Moore has fallen behind and his injury isn't giving any chances of catching up. Yeah, I'm hoping Gute can pull out some old Wolf magic and trade for a starting safety for a 7th round pick. Savage/<mystery pickup>/Ford/Johnson would be "ok" this year. But still weak unless the pickup somehow comes through huge. I have fears that Wooden and Brooks turn into pumpkins in the regular season against starting OL because they can't stop the run... But still, it is encouraging to see them playing well. There is certainly some talent there.

I'm guessing Toro would be the insurance policy. But I do think it was more than the arbitration number next year. He certainly fell out of favor... whether it was injuries, attitude, or ??

In regards to the premise of starting your best defender first... I think the point is the loss of flexibility. If Monastario is clearly the better overall player (O and D combined), you want him in there the most. Then you replace him when his offensive contribution is minimized (i.e. late in the game when it is unlikely for him to hit again). If you do the opposite, you are forcing an early switch (i.e. 3rd inning when they come to bat) and lose a player for the rest of the game when you might want to use them for the best situational play.

Monastario's current season is nearly a cookie cutter of Urias' MLB norms; both in batting and fielding. Urias: .235 .333 .390 .723 98 Monastario: .258 .340 .365 .705 94 94.8% vs 94.6% fielding percentage at 3B and similar D-WAR. Yes, not the best metrics, but I was too lazy to look up the advanced D-metrics. Plus, the eyeball test seems to say the same. Feel free to prove me wrong with your favorite D-metric. 😉 Both turned 26 years old this year (4 days apart even). Given the aforementioned upcoming arbitration and Luis' injury history, it seems smart to me to go with Andruw over Luis.

Nah... Just Prince Fielder...😂

Thoughts by position: QB: Love doesn't play much, but looks pretty solid out there. Nice arm, and good decisions. Clifford is the surprise here though. Really looks comfortable, strong decision-maker, understands our offense, and really has a good arm. Better than Brett Huntley ever was. Better than Love looked like as a rookie. Looks like he is under-drafted as a 5th rounder instead of over-drafted as many thought. Will be a good backup with starter potential. RB: Goodson's injury is at a bad time. 3rd RB looks like a fight between Taylor and Wilson. I'm cheering for Wilson TE: Kind of quiet night. Musgrave is ok at blocking. WRs: Toure looks decent at KR/PR, but I wonder if his tendency to cross the field is getting us holding penalties. Heath is really fighting to make the team. Reed looks more like Cobb than Rodgers as a slot WR. He should have a nice impact this year. OL: Walker looking good out there. Nijman and Myers seem to be regressing... Rhyan was out there without any big issues. 3rd rounder without much competition probably means he makes the team. DT: Brooks really had a nice night. Wooden also looked good. Hopefully, they don't turn into wall-flowers when all the starters are out there. OLB: Engebare... wow. Nice night, good improvement. Van Ness just being "ok". Seems to be in position mostly, but not making any big plays. Hopefully that will come. ILB: Not much from anyone out there. Walker was just "ok" at best. CB: Valentine was really up and down, but I love his aggression and not giving up when he makes a bad play. A keeper. Thomas had some flashes also. S: Really a lot of mediocre. Johnson getting a lot of play out there. Not doing much yet, but I think he has the best upside. Owens batted down a pass; Ford had a couple of nice tackles; no one is really grabbing the job. ST: Carson had a nice night. I think the kid will be good, but it will take some patience. Seems to be improving.

We suddenly look not interested in this game...

That camera angle was giving me motion sickness though...

Getting in the 2 runs is more than we normally get... (and now a 3rd as I type.

I think you need to work hard to convince us of that. 😉

Texas' D != Dodger's D

Close, but that was better! 😀

Well nice try....😂

Rowdy wanted to hit one... should've walked yet again.