floplag

This is where i think well see the flurry we would have seen at the end of ST.

I expected one around the end of Spring Training personally as we have too many redundant parts at certain spots, but i guess teams are still figuring out what they have in some ways due to the shortened spring. Honestly, right now, who would you even trade for? What do we actually think are our needs. They had 100 chances to go after a proper MiF and punted so they wont do that now. I can see them giving up on the kids in the OF. Everyone always wants more SP, but im not sure i see anyone giving up anything right now its just too early to tell. Buys like Marquez or Castillo they say they arent trading, Means just got hurt... who would be a viable target thats still an actual trade candidate? Id still like to add another bullpen piece personally, Rosenthal in FA might be interesting if nothing else.

We can make all the excuses in the world. but the bottom line is that is the team we have to beat to be taken seriously... all the pre-season hype just got a kick in the nethers. Were we competitive, yeah, save for a few innings in game two, but in the end the scoreboard is all that matters They beat us, soundly, +10 run diff for them, - 10 for us. It took us being perfect in that game three to win it. Its early, but we simply must do better to be taken seriously.

We should have been in on Suzuki, we dropped the ball there, guy was literally hoping for us to call based on his comments. The die is cast at this point i think any FA is moot, we arent spending anymore, and how far this team goes will depend on how long it takes the kids to take the next steps.

Im going to go with 6-4 and be optimistic.

Same old Lou... splitting hairs over nothing. Peace.

I love the optimism, and I agree for whatever thats worth, but there are reason why there are 6 teams rated higher than us. Be it better rotations, lineups, whatever... If all 6 have everything go right (no thats not likely but if)... should that not leave us in 7th? They only need everything to go right, we need that plus one or more of them to falter. The consensus seems to be some form of Jays, Yanks, Astros, Red Sox, White sox, Rays, and us. And the new format is totally ok with 4 teams from the east making it. Dont shoot the messenger, it isnt me saying it, its the so-called experts.

Nor do you know either way. The point is moot, the results speak.

If we have everything go right, will it matter what those behind us do? The point, to get back to it, is that WE need everything to go right AND other people to not do the same. And that this was a choice made by the front office, not a necessity, as the pieces were there, we simply chose not to act on them for whatever reasons, mostly payroll. Im hopeful, dont et me wrong, i think we could be in the mix for more than just a WC, but most people who know more about all this than i do and do this for a living, do not, and thats frustrating.

Thats fine but the ones behind us have nothing to do with the matter at hand though do they?

Really? You dont think a lot less has to go right for many of them? We need it all to go right and other to go wrong... 6 ahead of us just need it to go right. Which position would you rather be in?

IF everything goes right... Almost no one is picking us as anything more than a maybe WC team, we could have been so much better.

If this team misses the playoffs Arte should fire himself.

The most important thing is that they have us still apparently missing the playoffs.... 6 teams in, they have us 7. Yanks, Astros, Chisox div winners NY/Hou get byes, Chisox play Redsox, Bluejays play Rays, 4 teams from east get in. If this happens, im going to BBQ the front office for not doing more when it was there personally.

Random curiosity, is anyone else expecting some 11th hour hot stove today? Were not the only team with some rough or interesting roster decisions. Probably just wishful thinking... carry on...

Good read thanks, although i vehemently disagree with the bullpen take. This is what this club has needed more than anything else, including SP, for years now. Youre never going to remake and entire rotation and FA SP are notoriously poor investments... we have good starters, none will win any Cy Youngs probably but they arent the worst in the league by any means. You can win a title with 2 of these three, SP, RP, and lineup. WE never really had a chance at the SP one, and instead of building a quality pen we went clean peanut.. it was the worst strategy ive seen in my life for any team. WE should have done this years ago. We spent a lot, thats true, but we got multiple quality guys, for the cost of one stud SP, i can live with that Ill summarize my view as this, im optimistic, as always, but... my biggest concern is health. If this club stays healthy, it will be a contender, no question. My one bitch is that for all the great moves we made it feels like we again didnt truly finish the job.

You cannot argue he hasnt spent, thats simply not logical. You cant even really argue he hasnt tried. Where he has failed is that he let the mistakes make him gun shy. I would not be surprised if we do not see another big money sighing that isnt a no brainer.. dont expect top dollar FA. My real complaint with him is that he doesnt seem willing to finish the job. He signed Trout, go Ohtani, Rendon... every possible option this club needed to go from playoff contender to WS contender was out there in the last couple years and we didnt close the deal. Now to be fair that may or may not fully be his fault, we dont know what goes on in those conversations, but that doesnt really change the facts. If we had maybe one more quality starter, one more bullpen piece, were in that conversation... as is were back to hoping everyone stays healthy, when we all know that never happens. Thats the one thing i put squarely on ownership as we dont have the farm to make those trades so we are stuck spending, and they wont allow it, so... yeah, thats on them.

Yep, that changed it all for me. I was literally thinking "what they couldnt at least get a decent RP ro him... turns out that exactly what they potentially did. I wish they would announce both sides of these deals together

i now see the answer to the roster was Buttrey... ok, makes sense. Still hate seeing us eating the money but i guess it is what it is

Fair io suppose, its just frustrating to see this become an annual tradition.

This is so frustrating. The guy had a solid spring, we couldn't find a single trade even if we ate 90% of the money so instead we eat 100%, again. Who are they forcing onto the roster that this was necessary? A lot of us wanted Stefanic to get a shot but only if hes starting it makes no sense for him to sit the bench so if they did this to keep him as a utility guy... it makes even less sense. Times like this i really wish i knew what the plan was... were playin a lot of guys out of position to somehow force Fletcher into SS and now this, a very confusing week.

I likely would not either straight up, what about a package that also got you Gore?

With the recent Padres news, dealing SP and such, and for no reason other than killing time till opening day, what do you guy think a deal for Paddock or Gore or both might look like? im guessing it starts with Marsh, maybe Adell, based on their ask to Pitts. Do you do that, how far do you go, any interest in one of the young C in a package since they have depth there as well?

I cant say i like that and dont really see the value or reasons to do it. WE would likely be a much better off with Fletch at 2B and Wade at SS with Duffy and Rengifo bouncing around Why play two people out of position when they can play their naturals? Maddon must have his reasons but this is one of those i wish he would share them cause i dont really see it personally unless its just posturing for trade options which i dont think it is based on recent lineups.

I must admit i find that number a little perplexing... This team won 77 without Trout or Rendon, the pitching upgrades, or the bullpen overhaul. How are we only winning another 6-7 games?