YelichPosse

1. Cain - CF 2. Yelich - RF 3. Machado - SS 4. Shaw - 3B 5. Aguilar/Thames - 1B 6. Braun/Thames - LF 7. Villar or Keston up - 2b 8. Pina/some deadline upgrade - C

You're giving Arcia, of all people, credit for hard hit balls? His LD% at 17%, and he's consistently hitting 0-2. Funny thing is (and I agree with those who say to get rid of the whole lot for better players), we have very good hitting 2B at AA and AAA (Hiura and Orf) that just might be better than most mentioned. I've said it in the Hiura thread, but - Hiura up to play 2b , moving Villar to split time with Arcia maybe.... and then rid ourselves of Sogard... that would be the ultimate upgrade short term, wouldn't it? His bat is ML ready. His spray chart is absolutely delightful. That will translate to the big show. And from the small sample size at AA playing 2B, he's not been a butcher.... leads me to think this may be the best (and cost no prospects) upgrade up the middle....

Day games are generally "give any good players a day off" game so that makes sense. They are almost 20% worse during day games. That's pretty bad. The biggest offenders: Travis Shaw, with a .998 OPS during night games and a .554 OPS during day games -- he's started 29 of the 31 day games so far this season. Ryan Braun: 18 Day games started (28 Night games) .902 OPS at night, .424 OPS during the day. Orlando Arcia: 17 Day Games started, .583 OPS during night games, .260 OPS during day games Holy crap. That is BAD in day games. Every day game (which then is also every Sunday) - it seems like we are behind the 8-ball to start the game... now I realize more and more it's not just the feeling but it is literally backed by the math.

If Shaw does need surgery, then absolutely you'd have to think that is a possibility. The question is, will that be enough to push us to the top of the NL? I hope Shaw is more of a short term issue and we then can trot Shaw AND Machado out there, because that would be a huge upgrade for us. (Maybe not defensively though- even though I don't know Machado is THAT bad as he gets knocked for on statistical analysis, but I have not watched him play this year).

I agree that Saladino is not the end all, but I think Sogard is even worse... but yes, this is a silly argument in all areas as we could use a little bump up for SS some how. I think we all are just upset that Dubon got hurt because he may have been a more exciting replacement than anyone .... I am trying to not let my distaste for Sogard to continue to get starts and important at bats over other folks to poison my thoughts, but its just so difficult. I mean no offense to anyone other than it makes me sick that we can't upgrade him in some way.

Thank god How is his guy THaT much better than what we have? Glad he's coming back, I guess, but isn't he a combo of players we have? By your posts, you act like there is a large gulf in difference between Sogard and Saladino, rather than a small stream. Sogard? Get rid of him. Saladino? So glad he is coming back on the team. I believe he’s a better defender than Sogard. And I think the gap lies in Saladino having more than double the OPS of Sogard. So yes hallelujah Saladino is close cause hopefully that means Sogard will be gone.

Appears as though he’s adopted Bartolo Colon’s diet as well

We have played severely uneven baseball this year.... yet are in first by 2 games, 45 wins, and 13 games over. That is good !

Speaking of plugging holes, upgrading positions, the offence, etc.... Hiura has continued to show he is indeed a professional hitter. Has seen increased 2B time. Doesn't look *horrible* there..... Do you call him up, give him 2B. Move Villar to backup 2b/SS. Jettison Sogard finally.... and consider the move a big upgrade? This will cost no trade chips, and the impact may be Braun - call up-esque. What do you guys think is the reality of this? No way?

when they made the Sabathia deal wasnt that prior to the ASB and gave us 3-4 extra starts? That's what we really need. And would be the "best" way to do it if you're essentially over paying (just as the market seems this year).

I would say missing that much time, and then this year, being out with "shoulder fatigue"... that broad term scares me and usually ends up being more by the end of the year. By definition he may not be "prone" but the fatigue word - personally - worries me especially with pitchers, when related to elbows and shoulders. That means something just is not right... and we don't need to drop 3-4 top prospects for a guy who may be a start or two away from a serious injury. Just my personal opinion - is all.

This was a fantastic post. It puts to words what we feel in the IGT's.... where there are days where you just know you can turn it off and that's that... we have to shake that up somehow. Either we score a dozen or we are down 5-0 and might as well go to a movie or cut the grass. ESPECIALLY on Sundays!

I'd like DS to target Mark Loretta as hitting coach. That guy was a maximizer of minimal physical gifts, and is a smart fella to boot. I'd love to see a guy like him as the next hitting coach. Somebody who hit for good average and has the smarts like a Jeff Cirillo / Mark Loretta type. And yes, a former Brewer wouldn't hurt. Somebody who has been through the lean years and would like to see these hitters take the next step. Not saying its all Cole's fault. BUT, it wouldn't hurt to make a change. As for targets. Upgrade C.... Realmuto may be the only candidate in a true upgrade area. Ramos from TB? Although Salvador Perez would be a great "get" and i think there is something to be said about actually playing in a pennant race and what he could bring. Upgrade SS... Now this is tough. Go for Escobar from MN? Go for the big fly and tough get like Andrelton Simmons? There aren't many great SS's out there.... lets be honest... Machado's asking price for a few month rental will be way too high... and to be completely honest... Baltimore is too stupid to take a good offer... will keep asking for the moon, and end up getting nothing in return for him walking... lol. Upgrade SP... Stroman will cost a lot, BUT is injury prone. Reminds me of Ben Sheets... great stuff, can't stay on the mound. JA Happ maybe? Maybe a Cole Hammels and hope they eat some of the salary? Go overpay for Archer (who has either underperformed or been hurt also).... eek. I don't like the ideas here either. As the time goes by the more I think we will stay close to pat... and hope that we can squeak in to the postseason.... I HOPE that's not the case... but I see a lot of high price tags for a lot of ???? marks....

Thank god

I’m bout ready to jump off the Sogard train. Please mister Stearns , please ? A very unspirited , white flag waved Sunday ... golden opportunities don’t come around like this weekend , often. Sure we got 2/4 but the potential was there for a huge leap. Again, from the get go it looked bad ... sigh. We do need to get more consistent starting pitching , yes. Sogard needs to go , far far from here. Pina is ... meh. Arcia couldn’t find a clue if he had spilt the game clue in front of him on a table.... I expect some shake and bake by Stearns and if he is smart which we think he is - I bet he jumps on a couple deals early July and beat the ‘Christmas’ rush....

I'm not sure why a game in June would impact ordering tickets to a game at the end of July... It’s a Sunday.. lol

He’s also bobbled a lot of plays and made a couple errors too. Just not looking right to us... how can they not see it

Just think .. the Cubs got swept... and we are headed for a disappointing split... bummer . Lost chances ... and I know today is not done but it feels like a 20 run deficit lol

3-8 Thank you. Wow. So it doesn’t just feel like it ... ouch

In just not sure we can rally with the Sunday white flag special lineup but will hold out hope !! By the way our Sunday record has to be abysmal ..... can’t recall winning many Sundays

I'd really like to get Realmuto, yeah. He is just getting tougher and tougher to acquire. If there's any chance of getting him without Hiura, yeah, I think you'd unfortunately need to center it around Burnes and Peralta. Realmuto is just too good and has too much control left for the Marlins to let him go easy. I'm not totally sure you could get him without Hiura, but I think I'd draw the line there. I could maybe stomach trading Hiura if we had a good other option as our 2B of the future -- unfortunately we do not. I'd try to substitute Woodruff for Peralta. So I think my offer would be Burnes + Woodruff + Ray + Erceg. If they insisted on Peralta instead of Woodruff, I'd pull the trigger. If it still wasn't enough, I'd move on to other options. That's a good offer even without Hiura and would as high as I'd be willing to go. And it would hurt, but you're not going to get Realmuto without it hurting. It's probably similar in value to what we gave up for Yelich and I expect it to be. I feel the same as you do . I do think that with his position and his productivity , and signed for a couple more years - it may be worth it .... we would have a fantastic lineup then ... and maybe overcome some of that feast and famine tendencies

I’m at the point where I think this guy would be a needle mover and put us even with the Cubs.... Peralta , Burnes, Ray, and xxx get it done? Would you do that?

Cain doesn’t leave the game , Yelich catches that Molina homer... If ifs and buts were candy and nuts ...

Feast or famine with this team If we upgrade C , I feel much better about the bottom of the order and Saladino can’t come back fast enough ...

Blah come on you sallies !!!