tmwiese55

Sure adding the extra teams does make it harder than when it was just 4 on each side. But generally speaking, baseball playoffs are still the flukiest off all sports besides march madness. So yes, the added round did make it harder, but the nature of the playoffs themselves is a key as to why MKE actually has a chance every year they make it. We're frustrated that as a consistently good team we keep losing so kind of looking at it from the normal big market perspective in that sense. But, the overall nature of MLB playoffs is what even gives the small market team like MKE a legit chance. So in a way its a chicken/egg or catch22. We have a chance because of the fluky system, but right now we're on the bad end of the fluky so we complain about it. This system is far superior to the past which would have had NYY/LAD as 50% of the playoff teams every year. The fluky and bloated system is what's giving us a chance, so we can't really get too mad at it(other than generally pushing for salary rules similar to NFL/NBA so things are even). 3/4 teams in the AL right now are KC, Det, Cle. And sure the Yanks will probably still win but in baseball no game is more than 60/40 at this stage so its not some foregone conclusion the others have no chance. If we keep getting there every year there will be a deep run eventually. There is really nothing structurally/strategically different they should be doing for us to be angry at or 'demand more' etc. You just have to keep rolling the dice. I'd say the strategic 1-2 year 'go for it' spending moves could be increased. But IMO they have been open to it when the situation presents it like it did with Moose/Grandal/Hoskins. So generally I think they do have that as part of the strategy like they should.

I'd say only if he ends up having to take the 1-3 year (hoskins, snell, chapman) prove it type deal with the opt out options for him. Hope you get a great year out of him, let him sign elsewhere next year. If he's not available on that type of deal so be it, let someone else eat the back end of a bad contract.

Would not have guessed it off top of my head. But after a little thinking it does make sense due to playoff expansion and that for the first big chunk of years only 2-4 teams even made the postseason, so the super long standing teams % gets killed by that

I know just an easy joke and its generally true for his time here the last few years. But just last year we staked him a 3-0 lead immediately and he blew it in game 1. Yet another eyeroll frustration of this stretch of playoff shortcomings.

If Hoskins doesn't opt out I just don't see this making sense, those two just seem reduntant. If we didn't have Hoskins, sure why not as long as its 1 year. But with Hoskins here and Contreras/Yeli needing a bunch of DH ABs already it just doesn't seem to fit to me. Let Bauers/Sanchez go and give Black have that role for league min, that's like 10 mil saved to help get an IF to replace Adames, and/or maybe helps them keep Williams for his last year.

Generally fair and all. But I'd say there is a logic in one being 'good enough' all things considered with our budgets. Essentially one to replace a big chunk of what Adames did this year, though unlikely all of it. The the '2nd' along with covering the rest of Adames is helped by Chourio being good all year rather than awful for 2 months, Mitchell if healthy should be noticeably better than the OFs we've played this year, hopefully 120 games instead of 70 from yelich, Hoskins year 2 improvement after injury like a Winker did this year, general slight improvements from Ortiz and Turang, Black should be at least slightly better than Bauers. OF course not all those will happen but several of them should put a dent in covering the rest of Adames along with wanting more or a '2nd' guy like you said. But yea of course getting an IF to replace Adames and one more legit known hitter for the OF/DH/1B rotation I'm not gonna complain either.

Just don't get pulling so early after he'd been fine the last two innings. And yes sure if Chourio catches that it changes things. But remember the first out was a rocket to the wall that chourio saved. Then the one he botched was also hit super hard. Yes he should've caught but the pitcher gave up two very hard hit balls. Also, for those not at the stadium the sun was in a brutal spot for Chourio and had to be a factor in him missing that. Just think they overhthought it too much. Its not like they have 2018 Hader Burns Woodruff multi inning guys virtually unhittable to be going to the pen so early. Also wonder how the two first pitch outs with runners on after pitching is scuffling could've changed the game. Of course they could still get out and changes nothing but who knows. One more hit in one of those innings might've changed the course of the game

Well, its shaping up that way. As long as the Mets don't somehow blow game 2 vs a team not even trying. If there's ever a Mets thing to do, its that ETA: realized you might've posted that when NYM was still ahead so a bit different

We all know we can't sign Bregman to a long term and del and wouldn't want to. It was a question if he's gonna get that elsewhere or not? If not then we could get involved in the Hoskins/Chapman style 1-3 year things. If so he'd fit in pretty well for our need. My guess is someone will give him a legit contract though but was seeing what more informed people might think on it

Think Bregman gets his mega contract or any chance he'd need a Chapman/Hoskins/Snell type of thing? He hasn't been thaaaat great of a hitter that I'd want to be paying him an 8 year 200 mil deal as he enters his 30s but my guess is he'll get something close to so that he doesn't need a 1-3 year options filled prove it deal either that we could get involved in

Clicked this article expecting something on Chourio, a shocking no mention but Meyers did https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2024-mlb-playoffs-10-potential-postseason-breakout-stars-from-promising-prospects-to-under-the-radar-rookies/

That's been a kind of wisecrack or 'positive' thing I've been joking with as the year has gone on. The last few years we've had the correct formula with the 2 legit ace pitchers, and a solid 3rd one too, plus elite BP. That is supposedly the playoff formula right, and we flamed out every year in 1st round with it. This year, lose the 2 aces and they'll somehow win it all. Because that's how baseball is

If I read that post correct, we'd be negative against the East/West but not the NL overall once you put the Central back in. Still a bit surprising though

I don't know, seems an odd spot for them to have landed on for Williams. He's ok for 1-2 batters but not the possibility of 4-5. If you want to be cautious and just mark him as out for this game, so be it, they're the experts and I wouldn't have disagreed. But if you're cool with him getting all warmed up and throwing up to 10ish pitches you might as well be ok with 15ish and do the whole inning. And to compensate maybe give him two full days off after, for all they know he might not even be needed in those where this one he was. This middle ground area seemed weird though. Another to note is probably having a Koenig limit of like 20 pitches. I could be wrong but I think he had another like this a few weeks ago where he completely lost control in this same pitch area.

I've always found it odd how some people are the devil for this and others it just gets overlooked and eveyrone loves them. Cruz and Bartolo as basic examples. Ortiz walked right into the HOF, Pudge Rodriquez got a complete free pass.

Sidenote, but Cruz was in the exact same suspension/bust as Braun

I generally agree. But the media has been pushing Lindor lately due to the mets streak. And there is a legit discussion on account of him playing great D at the toughest spot while the other guy doesn't play D at all. So I think their WARs end up pretty close because of that

Think we just have to hope year 2 after the injury leads to a bounceback for him. I can't imagine anyone wants him right now, best case would be a straight salary dump and I'd still guess the other team makes us eat money. Obviously some guys get hurt and never bounce back, but there has been plenty in many sports who struggle initially then a year or two later are at least close to what they were. Think all we can do is hope he's one of those guys. From what we can see on TV he does seem to care, trying, has a good attitude so I'd bet he's very motivated in the offseason to not suck again (plus of course he's a FA after next year so wants a payday). Kind of hurts that Yeli might be so heavy on DH next year too which is where both should be, and Contreras needs games at DH too. Bit of a logjam, but hey at least the owner tried to win and wasn't cheap!!!

After doing so well with the strike zone and taking walks lately seems he's had some regression lately with some bad chasing Ks. Probably pressing a bit since team is struggling but still have to just take the walk if they're giving it. I'd assume Pit does all they can to sign Skenes this offseason to some kind of extension trying to buy 2-3 years of FA. Don't know his agent or if it'll work, but I'm sure they'll do what they can but ultimately he just might decide to gamble for the 400 mil. There's such a risk for injury though that there has to at least be a conversation to had about putting 100 mil in the bank now

These two Hoby moves this week made so little sense to me I think they were about giving him test for his roster spot than actually winning the games. Like if he can't be used against a lefty for 1 out then why's he there. If they win just 1/2 of the games they have a 3-3 so so week and its whatever. Instead both are blown making it 2-4. Two big head scratchers to me that I have to think there's more to it. I won't be surprised if he's DFAd or back on IL in the next few days

Civale will almost for sure be back as an innings eater. As we saw this year, you need way more than 5 guys. But on paper, that list of pitchers looks way better than the list they went into with this year.

He would be eligible fro the new rule where they get the extra high draft pick if he wins ROY, correct? Don't get me wrong, its still likely not worth it. but combine that motivation with the kids motivation to play and win the award and you might have a situation where they do go for it. Maybe the middle ground is to be anal on pitch counts/innings, basically getting him out after 5 innings.

Fair. And yea these are the types of things a team with money can do. Overpay for ok/solid guys. Chapman will already be 32 to start next year and has been a shaky hitter the last few years already. I'm sure they just hope to get 3 years like this out of him before he falls off, good luck. On relook I do admit I thought the last two years were more like 720 ops years instead of 750-760. But generally speaking he's only been a 750 type guy and he's already 32 and you owe him for 6 years. Once a 750ish guy falls to 700ishyou can get the same thing or darn close for league min pretty pretty easily. And I know he's good at D, but already 32 and you just need to pay big money for good D. But yes, this is the difference between big market and small market, they can do it and live with the last 2-4 years being trash. ETA: I thought I saw something a few weeks ago with Boston as sleeper for Willy. They have a 3B and young SS but I think idea was the other SS would move to 2B, essentially giving up on Story. If I'm Willy I'll take that option, fun to play in Bos and that lf wall is great for him. Try to get an opt out after 2-3 years and cash in again in his low 30s after hopefully pumping his stats off the wall

Yup, that has been the weakness the last 5 years and what we all feared going into this year. Besides the patchwork rotation, but most assumed some trust in the management to figure out pitching. Hitting has been the Achilles heel for years and it still might prove to be. But at the very least it looks better than the last few years do to Willy being a tick up and now Chourio taking off along with generally having more contact type ABs rather than HR/K type guys. Really sucks Yeli went down after bouncing back so well, that would have really helped to flip a replacement level bat for an all star, still might not have been enough but sure helps the odds. But when it comes down to it you have weak sub 700 type hitters at usually 3 spots right now so its still a hole but at least they have more speed/contact type approaches than past years weak spots. But as a small market team its impossible to not have holes. The deadline pickups last year helped but I'd still say these years situation seems better. Now lets hope the Mets somehow get that last spot to avoid the Dbacks/Braves pitchers and we don't get a repeat of last year.

Well in just the last two pages this afternoon words of "brain dead", "very poor", "madness", not playoff baseball were all used. I don't even wanna see how bad it was last night. Again, its baseball, the best teams lose 40% of the time, crap happens, no one can be perfect but the team has proven to bounce back over and over. Its probably best to go with the flow than have big reactions on game by game basis in baseball