adambr2

Going to be interesting when Gasser and Cortes are both available. 6 man rotation for August/September seems plausible. The Miz ride has been fun but they’re going to need to tread lightly with his arm the rest of the way.

First of all, I do agree that it's time to raise the bar — it's ok to start expecting playoff success now. I think we can all agree that we've been playing enough postseason baseball to start feeling disappointed with these early exits. It's not 2008 anymore. It's ok to talk about a World Series. I'll add to that by saying, I know it's not comfortable or popular to just blame it on "bad luck", and I'm not attributing it entirely to that ....but it's a big part of it. If we walk Bellinger and Grandal in extras in 2018...maybe we win the game and the NLCS. If Grisham doesn't flub the ball in '19, maybe we go on to win it all. If Devin doesn't blow Game 3 last year ....maybe everything turns out differently. We'll never know. Then you have a similar small market, with less consistent postseason appearances like the Royals, get to the playoffs just two years in 2014 and '15, and they make the World Series in the first one and then win it the following year. Sucks to say "it's baseball", but I don't know how else to explain that. I don't think the Royals made all these crazy moves in 2014 and 2015 that resulted in this. But it's what happened. None of this is saying we can't, and shouldn't, go get a bat or other weapon to improve our chances. That's fair. But it won't guarantee anything in this game. We can't have a better team on paper than the Dodgers. Doesn't mean we can't beat them, but we can't outspend and outinvest them. Unfortunately, the design of the game isn't fair. One thing to keep in mind though — the real difference makers, the Ronald Acunas, the Gunnar Hendersons — they're not really available. Not for what any team would realistically spend, not without risking actually making the rest of the roster worse. There's still assets out there that could help. But everything has to be considered. How does this guy fit into our system? How does he fit into the clubhouse? Will he be a seamless fit, or are we getting a Jesse Winker? If it's a position player, will he be a good defensive fit who will coordinate and communicate well with the others? (especially important when acquiring an infielder). Is the guy we are trading away crucial to the morale and general atmosphere of the club? I don't mean to suggest numbers aren't important — they are — I want a big bat too, but there are weird, unseen intangibles in baseball that just aren't always clear by the strength of your lineup. If there weren't, we certainly wouldn't have the best record in baseball.

Best thing to do when you have a long winning streak snapped is to start a new one.

I know people want to think Ortiz is the modern day Ozzie Smith, But he’s the most upgradable spot in the lineup. By far.

Guys, this lineup as currently constructed isn’t good enough to win a World Series. Our best hitter is … well I don’t even know, because we don’t even really have one. I guess what I’m saying is, if we need to take one or two 1-0 games on the chin in the last week before the deadline for Arnold to go out and find a bat or two, it’s worth it.

Hopefully Quinn can keep it rolling.

George Webb burgers are only good when it’s 2 am and you’re at least a 6 pack in, anyway.

The ump sucked, but this team needs a big hitter.

The streak was fun, but tonight is a good reminder that this offense needs help to win in October.

Yeah, the Vaughn magic is gone.

The Strike 3 call was fine. It’s the earlier calls in the AB.

Worst umpire we’ve seen this season, and that’s saying something.

Home plate umpire starts the Collins AB out with a garbage Strike 1, because why wouldn’t he

Shohei Ohtani

Well, that’s enough Christian Yelich for me tonight. Good grief, man.

If we are advocating for Andruw Monasterio pinch-hitting, we could probably use another bat or two at the deadline.

Disappointing result, but scoring 0 runs is a lot more of the culprit right now.

Turang rocking the golden sombrero tonight. Man he has looked ugly up there.

Homeplate umpire just randomly saying “ball” or “strike” up there.

I have no idea what Murphy is doing tonight.

I’ve seen about all I need to see out of Seigler.

I agree. This has been so much fun, but they still need a bopper in this lineup, badly, I hate to be that guy, but none of this means anything if we can’t win in the playoffs. We’ve been here too many times at this point to just be happy to be here.

It just feels like tonight ain’t gonna be our night. There was one particular game early in this streak against the Nats that also felt that way, though.

The Vaughn magic was never going to last forever.

Offensively he could have used some time away , I wonder how reliant the pitching staff is on him.