WeatherWonk

OK, so he's got an AW guarantee to sign a lifetime contract THIS TIME, because he was turned down by Arte LAST TIME. Let's see how that goes. Geez, Arte can't seem to make a good decision on a long-term contract, to save his life.

No, there's a HUGE difference, that apparently is beyond you and Strad. You have no choice but to be where you work, when you are working. But when he has a choice, like at the holidays, he's back home. Where he's been since the season ended. 'Course, I guess he coulda flown the entire family out to SoCal for pizza on State College at Christmas, huh? What was he thinking????? Tick...........tick............tick.

Gee, I wonder how he manages, attending all these Eagles games, obviously spending all his Christmases there. It must be really trying on him.

There are several legitimate POSSIBILITIES that probably have Arte and the front office saying 2019 is not the year to approach the tax threshold. I've decided to give him a pass on being Duck McScrooge this year. -the free agent class in our areas of need are not worth it this year. We have Cozart at third for two more years and Adell may be ready in 2020 to replace Calhoun. Ward might come along, too, and move Cozart to 2nd. Machado and Harper are not in pressing areas of need, AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME. And they are very expensive, at a time when the POSSIBILITY of a Trout extension looms. -we have farmhands that will reveal their worth this year. Why not give ourselves a chance to contend with some short-term signings (Bour, Harvey, Cahill, etc.) and see how it goes? If we are truly in the thick of the playoff pic, add more at the deadlines. -Albert may, indeed, decide to retire prematurely, after 2019 and the St. Louis Farewell tour. And Calhoun's salary is gone. Albert is a proud man; I dont think he wants his legacy tainted by a perception of salary sandbagging his last two years. He has that personal services contract for ten years, anyway. 2020, by virtue of a better FA class for pitchers and more payroll space, looks like the year to stretch the budget. Probably more certainty on Trout, too. The Beltre scenario was unfortunate, however it shook out. He AVERAGED 6.2 WAR over the course of that original six year contract, I believe. Not sure what contract covered the last two years, but his playing time was reduced by injuries. Anyway, the first six years might have gotten us in the playoffs in 2011, 2012 and maybe 2015. It might have gotten us farther in 2014. That was 6+ WAR that we didnt have and 6+ WAR that a division rival did have.

I agree, love to see Lowrie, but I suspect Epplers priority is now a catcher and/or reliever. Fletcher's performance in 2018 and the acquisition of LaStella probably has him thinking he has that covered rather cheaply and can spend elsewhere.

You COMPLETELY missed the point. Look at the bold text. He contended that pitching has to be developed. And you bring up all the trades and FAs these teams acquired. Thank you for reinforcing my argument. Now, if you look a little closer at Cueto's playoff numbers with KC that year, he got rocked in only one start but pitched very good in the other three. One was a WS gem.

Apparently he isnt expected to play ANY second or third base for the Rockies. The guys on MLB radio, this AM, are saying that Desmond will move to CF and Murph will play 1st. Blackmon moves to left and Dahl to right. I never realized what a bad OFer Charlie Blackmon is, but I dont watch the Rockies much. Only Harper was a worse outfielder last year, according to these guys. Amazing that he was allowed to play CF so much.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/12/rockies-sign-daniel-murphy.html

You mean like the Red Sox did with Sale and Porcello and Eovaldi? And the Astros did with Verlander and Cole and McCullers? And the Cubs did with Lester and Lackey and Chapman and Arrieta? Or the Royals with Cueto and Wade Davis and Volquez? Sorry, but the recent history of successful playoff teams is that the important pitchers they acquired were from elsewhere. Have we acquired anyone of importance?

I'm sorry, but Casey Stern is an intelligent guy. He's one of the most objective personalities they have. And he is a good radio guy, who communicates well. There are many people on MLB radio who dont think the Angels are going hard enough for good players. Emmolo and Stanton sure dont. Their take is that we are not that far from competing for a playoff spot but all we do is sign retreads. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay and Houston are way above us and the Yankees are still about 15-20 wins better than us.Never mind Boston. And Cleveland could win their division with 85 wins. So they are in. It's obvious. We're treading water in 2019. Don't blame the MLB guys for recognizing it, and saying it.

Son, this kind of viewpoint is blasphemous around here. Go with the flow! Release your inner Dollar Tree and accept Arte as your savior!

A lot more appealing than a "bird in the hand" team like Boston or NYY or even the Dodgers, instead of our "two in the bush" team? Imagine having a lineup of Betts, Benintendi, Trout, Martinez, Bogaets, Devers, and so on. Who could resist that for, money comparable to anything that Arte would offer? Well, anyway, if all these prospects are as good as advertised, Trout will know before the end of 2020.

So, I'm fitting right in, here, finally? Even without the juvenile memes???? Yeah, comparisons to Trout and The Messiah might be a BIT hyperbolic. You took it seriously?

What were Trout's 93 PA in 2012 at Salt Lake? I cant remember..............uh, yeah, because I am falling down drunk at 8am, of course.

So, he would simply bypass AAA? Even Trout didnt do that. He raked for 100 PA, and was brought up. Maybe Adell is the second coming of The Messiah.............I was underestimating him.

Agreed. And if Calhoun tanks again, it would be nice to have an offensive option to Calhoun, instead of just a defensive replacement for Upton late in games (VERY necessary). Given how good a fielder Calhoun is, if he isnt hitting again, he could at least be a defensive replacement in left or center (to spell Trout, if needed). But that leaves us needing an offensive option. I know, I know, Adell is the second coming of Trout to some. I doubt he will make much impact for the next 1.5 seasons of playing time, even IF he is as good as some think.

How soon is Realmuto a FA?

Good point. And he's probably got more interest than Matt Harvey, to bid his services up a bit.

LOL! But I still think he is worth taking a look at. I would hate to see it cost Fletcher playing time, but it probably would. I think Tulo would look at our situation at 3rd and say he doesn't expect to get enough playing time with Zart, Fletch and Ward in the picture. He will find a place where he will get more playing time. I absolutely do not think he would last, physically, playing 2nd.

I absolutely love these scenarios. We would contend tor a WC spot, for sure. Hey, what are you doing in 2020, if Eppler doesnt get extended???

This still doesnt move the needle towards the playoffs much, IMO. And it's 25-33% of what we have to spend. Though, why a big market team has to sit at around 170 million is beyond me..... I understand the upside potential. A somewhat expensive gamble. He's probably here, because the other starter options weren't about to take a single year, at this point in the off season. And starters are disappearing fast. Possibly some desperation motivation going on, here. He will be adjusting to the AL, though. Decent career numbers, overall, against the AL, but...........he started one game each year against the AL, the last two years. Not good results, but obviously a small sample. HOU really rocked him in 2017, but they did that to everyone, that year. All of his good years against AL opponents came when he was good in NY. If he is back to that kind of pitching, he might do well. We need more than this, though. Has our offense improved enough to overcome another starter who is probably going to give up 4.0+/9? I guess this lefty from Japan is what AW says we are getting, based on some kind of Boras mind-meld that Arte suddenly has going. I hope he's better than Harvey AND I hope we don't get outbid again, like so many other starters we have supposedly pursued this year.

I think he means starting pitching. Only Garrett Richards to the Pads would qualify, but he wont pitch this year.

I tend to agree with you, Strad. Any and all monies, outside of a Trout extension, are going to pitching, at this point. We are going with an infield combo of Fletcher, Cozart, Simmons, LaStella, Bour, Albert. Calhoun remains in right. Who is our fourth OFer? Not Hermosillo again? Will we spend money there? I doubt it.

LOL!! Biting humor..........I love it!

After the first inning, a lineup that might go Kemp, Altuve, Brantley, Bregman, Correa, Guriel, Springer (or some permutation) is going to be tough to keep off base. Above average speed, except for Guriel, too. Platooning Brantley increases chances he stays healthy; something he has had problems with. WOW, a club with Major League depth...............I suspect they will try and flip one of their expensive outfielders for pitching. Maybe Springer? Maybe Reddick? Both depart after this season, I believe.