jerichoholicninja

Despite my hatred for the Yankees, I'm glad they beat the Indians because I feel the Astros have a much better chance against the Yankees. Also because it just goes to further the point that the playoffs are a crapshoot. Pretty much everyone was putting Cleveland in the World Series for the last month and now their done. Didn't even advance a round.

MLB is the only league where winning a division is considered anything special. Do the Packers have banners for all the division titles they've won? I don't know, but I don't think so. Getting to the playoffs is all that matters in every sport. I'll agree with those who don't think that making the Wild Card game is considered making the playoffs but it has direct playoff implications in that winning it advances you closer to a championship. I find it really interesting that so many people are choosing 1 division title over 2 wild card games. 2 wild card games doubles your chances of winning a World Series.

I'll be that guy... Well at least the concession folks get to hang a banner this year.

Just get to the playoffs, doesn't matter how. The more times the better.

The thing with Otani is there is cap to how much a team can sign him for (aside from those with penalties who can't offer as much), meaning there is literally a level playing field for signing him financially so where he goes is going to be his own personal preference, not where the money is (ignoring the loop hole extension he'll sign before his second season). No way Milwaukee is anywhere near the top of his list unless we guarantee he'll play the OF when he doesn't pitch, which isn't going to happen either.

The Orioles, Braves, and Reds all gave away Walker last year. All 3 have 1B pretty much set but it doesn't seem too promising that 3 teams, and 2 of them rebuilding, just let him go for nothing.

Some totally baffling calls by the refs today. As much as we love to grind on umps over their strikezone, NFL referees do a pretty terrible job as well. And don't get me started on spotting the ball.

The Giants aren't rebuilding, they've said so. Even Bochy said he'll be back because he wouldn't stick around if they were. And for them to trade Panik for Broxton just fills one hole while creating another one.

Zimmerman is finally healthy. Braun never will be 100% again.

I wonder if Rodgers scrambling has anything to do with constant OL injuries. Most plays only need 2 or 3 seconds of blocking. Rodgers can make plays last 6 to 10 seconds and linemen are running all over the place

Angel Hernandez sues for racial discrimination because he doesn't get playoff assignments. Watch this game, Angel. Your strikezone is crap.

I've had deGrom on my dynasty team since he debuted. Prior to this year he was a consistant, near-ace, TOR pitcher. This year, while his overall numbers look good, he threw a lot of stinkers where he got rocked. What does it mean? I don't know but it would be concerning to me especially since he's a guy who's had TJ and a couple other injuries prior. I don't know if I'd be comfortable giving up what it would take to get him.

All the TV shown stats do as well. But I agree it is pointless and stupid.

I'm not sure exactly that stat proves. Seems just like a thing that has no correlation to anything else.

Ugh, the Hosmer love needs to stop. He's only had one special offensive season and that came in his contract year. Despite 2 gold gloves, the numbers say he's terrible defensively. If you want to get into splits, Thames destroys RHP. Hosmer hits it pretty well. And while Hosmer has gotten better, both are basically useless against LHP meaning Hosmer still needs to be platooned. Hosmer's young for a free agent but he'll be 28 next year and has had 7 years to figure out big league pitching. It's possible he turns into a perennial .850-.900 OPS player but I wouldn't count on it. To me, signing Hosmer is basically getting a "more proven" Thames with a lower ceiling but for 3-4 times the cost.

That is the biggest takeaway for me, and a message to those who don't think the Brewers will seek to improve the roster through free agency. Doesn't mean only free agency. Just as likely more Aaron Hill deals where we take on an overpaid player and a prospect just to get the contract off the other team's payroll. I would prefer that to free agents.

Both the Reds and Padres did last year.

Ya, I have no idea why people are thinking this is an option at all.

What other rookie catchers were there? I think there were a couple Rule 5 guys but I can't think of anyone else.

As far I know, they just said all the coaches will be returning. Doesn't mean he will be coaching 3B again. He's been moved around before, no reason he can't again.

So are you saying 2017 was a fluke? The team finished one game out of the playoffs but we should make zero moves to improve the lineup? The lineup is just fine as it is? Asking sincerely as I want to understand you. To add, we only have a handful of guys that we can reasonably expect to become All Star or elite (unlikely) players. Canceling that out is no Nelson, Anderson/Shaw/Knebel maybe regressing. Next year's team could do nothing and would be very likely to win 80 games and we'd still have a bunch of guys that we are not expecting to develop into a team of elite players. We have an 80-85 win crop of core players and unfortunately, I do not see Hader/Brinson/Phillips/Arcia/Santana development doing much to change that. Everyone else is a regression candidate and half of the list in the previous sentence is a regression candidate. I just see no reason to even get involved in free agency and where exactly are we going to upgrade other than 2B? I suppose we could get a slight upgrade at 1B but I want no part of Hosmer. He may have some youth on his side but he's average to below average across the board but will be paid like a superstar for a long time. Some have mentioned Cozart to play 2B but I doubt he will have any interest in doing that as he's only played 11 games at 2B in his entire professional career. Also, he too will be getting a big, long contract which we would be stupid to sign him to. The outfield is pretty much set unless 2 guys are traded. The bullpen was feast or famine but we've seen what happens when you sign relievers to big money/long term deals - disaster. Same with starting pitching. We just got out from Garza and we want to sign another one? No thanks. As for 2017 being a fluke, there just is no way to say. The team was so jeckyl and hyde. How do you explain the almost 60 point drop in OPS in the second half? No hitter was lost due to injury or trade. In fact, Braun was healthy and Walker was acquired. The first half we lost games because the bullpen was crap. The second half we lost games because the offense couldn't score runs. I just don't see this as a team that is a player or two away from doing anything special next year and I don't want them to give out stupid contracts to free agents or trade young players for short term guys. I'm guessing Stearns feels the same way or he would have gotten more than Swarzack before the July 31 deadline. I just want them to stay the course. Give the young guys a chance and then go after the free agents and big trades to push us over the top.

Honestly, I do pretty much nothing in free agency. Wait until January or so to snag some relievers on the cheap that are left, find some veteran SP for a minor league deal as depth and that's about it. 2B is the only position that does't have a clear in house option and I'd fill that via trade for Kinsler or Caesar Hernandez. This team isn't a major signing away from being a legitimate contender nor do I think that a major signing is anything we should do, no matter how much money we have to spend.

If this doesn't lead to an international draft, nothing will.

We just did that a few years ago with Davis. Same amount of control and he was a little older but it's almost the same situation as they each have deficiencies that would hurt other teams less than it hurts us. As for 1B, it was brought up in another thread that the Astros tried him there and it didn't work. Speaking of Davis, in his 4 full big league seasons he's had batting averages of .244, .247, .247, and .247 in order.

With the amount of off days he needs to stay healthy and fresh he's basically a 3b outfielder. And that's fine.