Playing Catch

I'm guessing that was part of the motivation. Probably explained the Caratini rumors as well. Brewers just happened to have a logjam of catchers at the top of the organization. I'm thrilled with the McKendry and Blalock pickups.

Blalock and Jimenez... let's keep the pitching pipeline going!! Also, I can't seem to find the bonus info on Alastre. That little highlight reel was impressive.

Offsides is the most fundamental part of soccer, IMO. Without it, the game would be completely different. I like that the defense can strategically condense the playing field with the rule (playing a high line), thus forcing offenses to adapt. The lack of timeouts/commercials is fantastic. Relegation leagues are awesome. I like that regular season greatness is held in a higher regard than tournament-style championships (although the Champion's League is probably challenging that assertion). I like that when there is a dead-ball event, the game can sometimes just start up again without all of the exactness of American sports. Same thing with 90 minutes. You just keep playing until the ref says the game is over. It's like the game just isn't taken so seriously... With this said, VAR (video assisted referee) has been horrible to this effect. Who cares if the player was an inch offside, let them play! I don't love penalty kicks, as they seem to disproportionately penalize the offending team for certain fouls in the box. But I also don't always love the way free throws in basketball, either. Flopping doesn't bother me at all in either basketball or soccer, but only because it's the only way to get refs to call the foul. If basketball players didn't flop, there would never be an offensive foul called, and if the most talented players in soccer didn't go down easy every now and then, they'd just keep getting kicked over and over without the ref calling the foul. In many ways, I like soccer because it hasn't been so Americanized. It just feels different.

I mean, if guys are on base, I'd prefer that to a guy that swings and misses.

I just love a post that expresses admiration for the current team and manager instead of doubt, dread, doom, and disappointment.

I dunno, I feel like the players that decide to make the jump to Japan have, perhaps not given up on big league dreams, but have seen the writing on the wall, and would prefer to be a contributor in Japan instead of playing the 40-man roster shuffle for their career. While some of them come back, I don't know that many are looking at it as a springboard. It seems like other than the young kids who sign for MLS, most of the mid-career players are expecting to stay in MLS for their career. And the clubs that sign the young kids are signing them because they will increase value and solicit high transfer fees.

I'm new to the thread, but am curious about others' curiosity/fandom of soccer. As a kid from rural Wisconsin, with so little opportunity to experience soccer, I tended to ridicule it. But then I started playing soccer video games with my college buddies and became curious, particularly about the World Cup... How can billions of fans be so wrong? Anyway, after many years, I now love the sport.

Oh, I totally agree. I'm mostly against trying to acquire him based on his injury history. I was merely stating that in a universe where he's always healthy, he may be a "star".

I think he'd be a "star" if he played more than 80 games in a season. I mean, he batted .295 with 16 HRs in one-half season last year, and has similar old-school numbers this year. He doesn't walk a ton, but he also doesn't strike out a ton. I mean, if you're batting .290 with 30 bombs, are you a star?

Before reading your analysis, I would rather have Canha (and actually think he fits the Brewers' "philosophy" really well). The extra years of control for Rooker, though, are intriguing. Although, I'd probably just prefer they use Hiura instead of Rooker.

I'm sure it's not for everyone, but I think it would be so cool to be able to be good enough to play in Japan/Korea. Just an amazing experience. I applaud him to taking the leap, and wish him the best. Reminds me of international soccer players playing in MLS, or Sam Dekker enjoying success playing in London, except that the fanbase is probably about 10x as rabid.

I agree that it is odd. I was very surprised that's where they put him. But I get the sense that they really are liking the Yelich/Contreras 1-2, and with Santana, 1-2-3. It probably speaks to the paucity of hitting talent on the squad. He'll probably get a lot of baserunners ahead of him, and comparatively, he doesn't strike out, he gets hits, is able to expand the zone to get sacrifice flies, etc. He's just a really advanced hitter, even without the HR power.

He's only 26. I think if he wasn't riddled with injuries, he wouldn't be on the market at all, even with his defensive issues, because when healthy, he is a true middle-of-the-order bat (a star).

There's no games tomorrow. This could all just be a "get ready for trade OR promotion," including Hiura.

Depending on the return, I am okay with trading Lara, Brown, and/or Hiura... I've become attached to Adams, but there's a ton of variability/risk with his future outcomes. If they traded Brown, I would guess it means that they are comfortable with Turang and their teenage middle infielders.

Well, who do you think should DH??

With a team that lacks power, having someone that can hit the ball out of the infield is your next best bet to drive in baserunners.

In 2003 a Venezuelan phenom was brought up late in the season and helped the Marlins win a World Series... just sayin'.

The Card's commentator at the 1:20 mark really goes off after the ejections in the most out-of-touch, sanctimonious Cardinal-way possible. He just couldn't believe it. It's just gross. Your comment about it being the organization is completely correct. Presumably these announcers are hired by the Cardinals. This is clearly the messaging that the organization feels plays well with Cardinal fans. I feel like Rock would just say something like, "...well, Mikolas knows the rules. When you go inside like that, you're putting yourself at risk of being ejected."

Jimenez is always hurt. This has gone all the way back to when he was a prospect. I just can't get behind giving them anything of value for him.

This was exactly my thoughts as well. They want him to play a little first just in the event that they need someone to play first after the deadline. The other possibility is that they are planning to promote him to AAA anyway, and they've decided that he just won't stick at 3rd, and they are planning on him being a full-time first baseman whenever he gets to the big leagues. But I doubt that based on our intrepid minor league observers' opinions of his defense at 3rd.

I dunno, If I were Hiura, I might be feeling like the luckiest player in the league after no other team in baseball wanted to pay me 2.2 million dollars to play baseball... and in Nashville! Not even in Omaha or El Paso. I think this might be my first post in this saga, but you certainly seem to be taking Hiura's plight personally. In addition, you seem to believe that the organization has made it personal, and that they truly must not know what they are doing. This isn't to say that we can't disagree with their decisions or criticize them when their decisions fail, but to essentially accuse them of being vindictive and incompetent is ignoring a lot of other evidence to the contrary.

I just don't like the guy. I'll be accused of being old-fashioned, but I don't like his showing up pitchers for throwing him balls/walking him. I like bat-flips and celebrations and think old school retribution for such things is ridiculous. But his taking a close pitch? It's so annoying.

Who are the recent comps for guys that get "premature" extensions? - The Braves' core-4: Acuna, Albies, Riley, Harris II. - Wander Franco - Scott Kingery Any others of note? I'm blanking on others. I guess I'm trying to figure out the cost-benefit risk/reward of these extensions. I just don't think they've seen enough from Wiemer to be convinced that they really need to buy out FA years for some players.

I know how stupid this sounds, but I was starting to get worried that Chourio could ONLY hit balls to the opposite field! And my gosh, how exciting is it to see all of his walks??