titanrick

Someone with greater knowledge can correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't we also dealing with the unknown of a lockout next year, which has the potential to get quite long and drawn out. My understanding is no one on the 40-man roster is allowed to play while they are locked out, but our minor leaguers not yet on the 40-man, will be allowed to continue to play during the lockout. That would mean bringing up a prospect this year could interrupt his development next year. I can't really imagine using this as justification to keep Jett or Pratt down in Nashville all year, but guys like Made, who may get a look in September under normal circumstances? It may benefit him in the long run to skip the "cup of coffee" if it means he can play during a lockout next spring/summer. Is that accurate?

My highly uneducated opinion is that he reminds me of young Corbin Burnes. I wouldn't be surprised if he continues to excel in a bullpen role this year and gets stretched out for the rotation next year.

I'd feel much better replacing Gasser with Crow in that list, but that's just a heaping dose of recency bias. And I would think Crow will be back up as soon as the rules allow. Hopefully, Gasser can put his last start behind him!

True. They have to be checking velo during those bullpens and I'm guessing the mood would be more pessimistic if he hadn't returned to previous levels.

I'm concerned that they keep talking about Woodruff having "good" bullpens and feeling good, but are specifically not mentioning whether he's still sitting at 86 mph with his fastball or has returned to the 92-94 range. That's kinda important to know. Maybe I'm reading too much into the lack of information given out.

Yeah, that scared me a bit. Two off that area of his glove in the same inning, then he loses grip on the bat in the following AB. Really hope he doesn't reinjure that finger!

It's Crap in my Lap night? Never been to one of these, but I can't imagine how many accidents have to be cleaned up throughout the night. I suppose it's worth it though - no one appreciates the finer points of a baseball game quite like a dog.

That makes logical sense, but can we wait on the change until Ashby finishes his 34-win season?

When I asked AI what "Matos" meant in Spanish, one of the options it gave me was "scrub". I wish I were joking.

I see more Molitor than Votto, but to each his own!

Any other old guys see Molitor when they look at Black. Similar game but moreso in looks. Hoping he can become an ignitor too.

My only issue so far has been a couple instances where it looked like a batter or catcher inadvertently challenged. There shouldn't be a way to accidentally challenge a pitch. If someone taps their helmet, I thought the ump confirms verbally first. But it looks like that may not be the case. Are we going to get someone adjusting their helmet and accidentally burning a challenge? That needs to get cleaned up.

I always thought if Pratt put on some more muscle, his frame would work better at 3B than SS. But I understand they're enamored with his defense at SS. I don't understand the anxiety over Made. If he is as good as Pratt defensively at SS, then one of them moves to 3B or 2B (if Turang is gone by then). These seem like really good "problems" to have.

I count 7 "balls" that clipped the zone in Drohan's 2.2 innings of work. Sanchez successfully overturned one of those seven. What's the website that grades each ump's performance behind the plate?

Yesterday was brutal, missing Chourio, Vaughn, Yeli (until late), Turang and Mitchell. Arguably 5 of our 6 best hitters. Just need to hang on until guys get healthy again. Koenig is the only one who worries me. I think he's headed for season-ending surgery. But we are flush with leftys in the pen so that shouldn't be a fatal blow.