82brewcrew82

If I remember correctly, about a year ago, you were on the front lines of "We don't need to add a pitcher because Chase Anderson has been pitching like an ace for his last 200 innings bandwagon", no? Actually, I think I was on the "Sign Cobb because he's the ace we need" bandwagon, so take that as you may LOL. But yeah, I had high hopes that the Chase we saw in 2017 was the real Chase. Chase wasn't horrible last year, but he was a far cry from what he did in 2017. He regressed to average. I have no qualms admitting I was wrong. It's not about being right or wrong. Everyone of has been both but in the end it's just guesses. It may not have been you but my point was that there were people who thought Anderson was an Ace because of an uptick in performance and they had all the tangible reasons to point to. In fact, someone in this thread has already pointed out the uptick in velocity that was sighted last year. In the end it was a blip. Nelson is in the same boat. We ALL hope he returns to form but there are legitimate reasons for being cautious. His injury is one and and only having one year at that level of success is another. I find that much more convincing than "He did it one year so that is who he is going forward". You all may be right.......or not.

If I remember correctly, about a year ago, you were on the front lines of "We don't need to add a pitcher because Chase Anderson has been pitching like an ace for his last 200 innings bandwagon", no?

This is a message board on the internet, every argument is tired. Still, that is what outlier means so, yeah. I don't know why one third of the sample would carry more weight than two thirds of the sample. The problem I have here is that you are actually the one putting this in a vacuum. The context here is baseball, which we all know is built on the bones of "one hit wonders". Guys who came out of nowhere and had a great season and then disappeared only to be remembered fondly in threads just like this one. In that context, yes, 2017 is certainly the outlier for Jimmy and in no way is that trumped by the notion that the other two years don't count somehow. I've not once said he won't be 2017 Jimmy. I desperately hope he will be but given the actual context (which does include a serious shoulder injury), there is ample reason to question whether we will get 2017 Jimmy. I think a cautiously optimistic approach is far more reasonable than the sentiment that he is fully back to being a front line ace that some are espousing. Even more so, the notion that "he was an ace two years ago so he is an ace now" is far more tired than anything else. Ok then. Jimmy finished ninth in the Cy Young voting in 2017 so yeah i’d say he not only turn the corner but he was an ace. And I don’t think I’m the only one that thinks barring injury that he will be that pitcher again at some point in 2017. Based upon the evidence that I’ve seen I would say that is being “ cautiously optimistic “. Assuming a near best case scenario isn't being cautiously optimistic, that is just plain optimistic. I'd bet there have been dozens upon dozens of pitchers that have made the top ten in CY Young voting and were never heard of before or after. The real question is how many top ten CY Young finishers have destroyed their shoulder and finished in the top ten of CY Young voting afterward. You may be right (and I think you probably are) but that isn't the argument that would convince me.

Well...if those intentional walks don't score, that is. This change does not sit well with me. A reliever comes in at the start of the game, walks the 1st batter on four pitches and clearly does not have it...now you are forced to leave him in there for 2 more batters?? That is too big of a change to the basic rules of the game in my opinion. If they allow for pitchers to be removed because of injury, I can see managers/trainers "pretending" they are seeing an injury related issue and removing wild pitchers for "precautionary" reasons. I see this argument a lot, however, how often do you see a manager pull a pitcher for ineffectiveness after a single batter? That is a super quick hook for a pitcher that you intended to pitch more than a batter or two. I agree. We are far more likely to see a gigantic thread questioning why CC left in a pitcher who "clearly didn't have it" than we are to see a pitcher pulled after one hitter for ineffectiveness.

This is a message board on the internet, every argument is tired. Still, that is what outlier means so, yeah. I don't know why one third of the sample would carry more weight than two thirds of the sample. The problem I have here is that you are actually the one putting this in a vacuum. The context here is baseball, which we all know is built on the bones of "one hit wonders". Guys who came out of nowhere and had a great season and then disappeared only to be remembered fondly in threads just like this one. In that context, yes, 2017 is certainly the outlier for Jimmy and in no way is that trumped by the notion that the other two years don't count somehow. I've not once said he won't be 2017 Jimmy. I desperately hope he will be but given the actual context (which does include a serious shoulder injury), there is ample reason to question whether we will get 2017 Jimmy. I think a cautiously optimistic approach is far more reasonable than the sentiment that he is fully back to being a front line ace that some are espousing. Even more so, the notion that "he was an ace two years ago so he is an ace now" is far more tired than anything else.

So what is the underlying assumption here? That Jimmy is so talented he was destined to have the season he had in 2017? The league is littered with very talented ball players that put up a single solid season and never amounted to much more than that one season. I'm sure in every one of those instances there were stories of tangible reasons to explain that one season. I don't think it's any less hollow to assume that 2017 Jimmy is the Jimmy we get going forward.

Then I'll go with him starting the season somewhere other than the rotation. Which isn't to say we won't see 2017 Jimmy Nelson this year.

I'm too lazy to look but what do the off days look like early? Is it possible he's in the rotation but maybe held back until they need a fifth starter?

It'll be interesting. I think the top three teams could finish in any one of the top three spots. I can see the Reds and Pirates as high as third. I think St. Luis is being over-rated and the Cubs are being under-rated.

The ability to field a second AZL team (thus more talent in the system) and the addition of the cutting edge sports science facilities are worth 400 parking spaces and longer concession lines at a spring training faculty that might see 3000 people on a given day. My concern is with the output of the major league team and the improvements made will, in theory, do that. From that perspective, I consider it a significant win for the fans.

Observations: 1) The Biloxi and Carolina offenses are not very inspiring outside of a couple of individual performers 2) The pitching staffs are full of interesting pieces at pretty much every level. 3) If the majority of these pitchers are healthy, there are going to be some really difficult decisions with regard to who starts and who relieves 4) Miguel Sanchez might be the most underrated arm in the upper minors in terms of potential major league impact this year. 5) Nitpick #1 but I think one of Feliciano or Henry starts in Wisconsin or Feliciano is due for a position change 6) Nitpick #2, I think Diplan will be in the Biloxi rotation over Harber. They seem to use Harber as more of a swing pitcher 7) There is going to be a whole lot of talented players on the short season teams

Squirrel!

I am starting to get the sense both sides really like cake and want to eat it as well. First, I've read about 3 posts today be agent 39 that have absolutely made me laugh out loud and I totally appreciate and value his insights. However, I think Eye Black's post is probably about right. To scream collusion and completely dismiss the undeniable fact that analytics is changing the game on and off the field is wrong. The people who really make it all possible, the fans, are getting completely ignored (how about taking that extra cash and lowering ticket prices instead of paying players more). Neither side is passing the smell test at this point.

Youd be very wrong to use the word "cheap" for any reason next time. LOL!

I would not want Gio back unless he is mega cheap. I'd much rather have Miley every single time! Not sure what Gio would bring that we don't already have in spades other than depth and I don't feel particularly different about Miley. If they are going to spend money or assets on a pitcher, make a big impact pitcher. Otherwise, go with what you got.

Until I see proof of that, I chhose to believe that this is just a message board, full of regular people who think they know what is gong on... That's what makes the world go 'round.

The Lorenzo Cain rumors started on January 4th last year and it seemed a little far fetched at the time. Then it came to fruition three weeks later. Sometimes the moves come out of left field, and sometimes they are things that have been speculated about via Twitter and other mediums. Regarding Stearns being involved in all kinds of different discussions/potential moves, I think that has pretty much been universally accepted as his (and the front office’s) modus operandi at this point. No one was saying that Cain was down to three teams with the Brewers being one and offering x number of years. This would seem to be the exception that proves the rule even if you do want to make that equivalency.

Fixed that for you. No, there are people on here that know things......or at least have heard credible things....that the rest of us don't know about.

Only two things I'm relatively sure of at this point. One is that DS has his mits in all kinds of things. The second is that 99% of this board has zero notion of what those things are. That isn't a dig at anyone but if they do something it will be out of left field and won't be a routine rumor on some twitter feed weeks before it happens.

Did the Cardinals not "know how to win" last year?

No one has ever viewed Greinke as the mentor type. No idea where that notion is coming from. If the expectation is that you get Anderson circa 2017 production, then why not just keep Anderson? Isn't it just as likely that he bounces back as Greinke is to reverse a downward trend? No idea what Milwaukee would gain from that trade except all of the risk.

You are assuming that the Yankees (or Reds) care in the least about an arbitrary prospect ranking. I mean, it is easy to determine what every team's top prospects are, but once you get past the first 5 or so, each team is going to have its own ranking system, and I wouldn't doubt that its different than the mlb or any other prospect ranking list that is available to fans. I will say however that it's a pretty good starting point. You are correct in saying every team is going to have their own system, but they're still going to be relatively consistent. For example Baseball Prospectus will have their own separate rankings from Pipeline but for the most part they'll be similar. No one is going to have Cameron Roegner as the Brewers' #1 prospect and Keston Hiura as the #17 prospect, for example. Well, almost no one.

Where would Cain play? [sarcasm]Easy, move Cain to first, shift Aguilar to third and Shaw to short. Then trade Arcia straight up for DeGrom and boom, there you have it.[/sarcasm]

Agreed and I'm not even sure what all that value is being given up for. If Cashman gets anywhere close to that it will be a masterful job of asset management.

That thought makes me shudder. If they were going to blow that kind of money, I'd rather it be on Harper. Machado is probably more gifted, and plays a more valuable position, but he's such a tool. Oh I agree. No commentary on whether it's a good move or not, just curious what others thought because it seems like a Stearns move. Particularly if the price really is way down.