ScruffytheJanitor

Oh, I did... the fact that his response to getting drafted was to go and workout was the cherry on top. The kid clearly wants it bad.

Hell, I would have drafted him just to have him as a future coach. Kid clearly loves the game, has a huge work ethic, and probably taught himself a bunch about pitching the past few years. If he doesn't pan out, I'd pay his way to get a physical therapy degree and let him work with young pitchers. Of course, the chance you'd get a fireball pitcher would be pretty good, too.

RE: Maturity-- I have noticed that too. Each of these kids sounds more like a future Senator than a future outfielder. Of course, they all also have buckets of talent-- which is nice.

Damn... I was hoping we'd finally get a thread about the Capracious Conqueror, the Romantic Ruminant, the Bovid Big-Cheese : Super Goat.

Ty Cobb wasn't a racist, bro. Get with the times.

I actually love the red uni's, but I liked them all that much better when they weren't standard. I seem to remember Kelvim Escobar preferring them, and they looked amazing when they would come out randomly.

Honestly, a wet turd might be a pleasant surprise compared to the last few seasons. Kinsler isn't a HOF candidate, but if there was a "Hall of the really good players," he'd be in it. I always thought could be a Jerk-- bit I've also thought every team needs a jerk.

I also hope we keep Ramirez, though it's mainly because the name "Noe Ramirez" is fantastic. A spin rate of 2,730 is just stupid.

Remember when giving up Brandon Wood would have gotten us Miguel Cabrera? Good times.

I call it the curse of Swatty McBigBat Dallas McPherson.

I keep forgetting how much Marsh mashed last year.

Yelich doesn't really feel right to me, you know? I don't know that Eppler is a big fan of spending in FA, but if we were going all-in, I feel like we would have added another piece or two for players w/o a qualifying offer. It makes more sense to spend cash than to spend prospects. We could have signed Darvish, a high-end reliever, and maybe another bullpen piece, and hell: someone like Cargo to play Corner OF and maybe even 1st if needed. Spending big on non-premium players or shipping out prospects does not feel like Eppler's MO, but I think he'd rather do the former than the latter. Outside of the Simmons trade, Eppler has really, really held on to prospects.

I presume you misspelled "worst take possible"

Did Ichiro wrong you in some deeply personal way? Ichiro providing 4th OF numbers next season isn't exactly the craziest idea in the world.

To be fair, not many 7 year-old kids these days have much of a feel for a change up. I blame video games.

Do we really know how Eppler likes to build his 'pen? He's basically had one offseason-- where resources were limited-- where he grabbed a bunch of guys on the cheap and it worked out. But is that enough of a track record to suggest that's the only way he'd want to build a bullpen?

I agree. I had him pegged for 140-150 innings and 250-300 PAs, depending upon performance and injury luck. I really don't think that workload is crazy-- or, at least it's no more crazy than a guy trying to be a high-level hitter and pitcher in the Majors.

I dunno if I am reading all of these correctly, but it looks like this would be my EXACT ballot if I had one. Each one of those guys is a no-brainer to me.

That's easy. The list of all-time FO guys in American sports is basically Jerry West and Branch Rickey. It's amazing that EVERY team he's had a hand in (either as GM, President, or advisor) immediately turns the corner. He built two separate dynasties with the Lakers, turned the Grizzlies into a half decent franchise, and then started working for the Warriors.

Um... plantar issues usually eventually heal. Look, I am not saying that Pujols will suddenly become a 40/40 guy or anything, but half of the board is acting like he has to be unhooked from life support before he's dragged to the ball park. I'm just saying that it's not crazy for him to rebound a little bit next year. Will it be worth his contract? Hell no. Could he be a 1 or 2 war player that enables us to use Ohtani in the best way possible? I think it's doable.

What the hell are you talking about? It's not like he's using a walker or anything. And he doesn't look THAT old. He looks about as old as my 26 year-old brother does (who has lost basically all of his hair). He looks like most 38 year old dudes I know, if not much better. And for the record, Plantar issues can basically cripple you. There is just enough standing around in Baseball to make sudden movements feel like a knife going into your foot.

Exactly. I half wonder if a starter or bullpen arm is in the offing as well.

This is the correct take. In fact, if this team had a full season of Kinsler and Upton last year, we are probably a wild card.

More people should just stick random L's into old names and make them new. My next kid will be name Mlatthew.

What does it mean, though?