WestEddy

I see what you did there. You made a statement, but put it in the mouths of "many", so that you can both argue any inane point to make the other person wrong, and then claim you didn't say that. We're all adults, here, so you don't really need to explain how other people think to us. However, my belief is that if Houston were to offer their staff ace to a potential ALCS rival, that cost would hurt, to the point that "many" would not actually be "happy". They would scream about a Jackson Holliday + 3/4 ask, and Framber Valdez would immediately become a bum, an "older" 2-year rental who choked in the 2021 & 2023 playoffs, and "many" would wonder if he was just a "good" pitcher in the season who turns into a pumpkin come playoff time. So, no, I don't "get" that, but it seems like you're saying you don't either.

There was an MLBTR headline about Diamond Sports Group announcing a restructuring deal that doesn't mention the Rangers. So I'm guessing they probably would rather go with Monty, but are still in limbo.

When these dudes mention that the O's could just pivot to Jesus Luzardo, or Framber Valdez, do they not understand that they would be paying even more than what Getz is probably asking for Cease?

MLB on FOX profiles 6 possible trade partners for Cease. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/dylan-cease-trade-candidates-6-teams-best-suited-to-acquire-the-star-pitcher

One day, I will be old. I will be detaching from those gathered around me, coma-like, but periodically responsive. Nieces and nephews will whisper how I was special in their lives, hoping to convey any message to me before I leave. My eyes will open, and I will lock in on one person with what looks like clarity. I will squeeze a hand, and an ear will come close to my mouth. "What is it, Uncle?!?" "..... Cowser ..... Nor....." "Norby can't be a second piece, Uncle Eddy. We've told you that a hundred times!!"

I am preparing for the sting of a "posting from my mom's basement" zinger.

Well, tell us all you know.

Unless it isn't. Or another team like the Mets bails and floods the market with 2 guys like Verlander and Scherzer. If the Mets were 6-7 games better, Cease possibly gets traded to Texas or Houston.

More old friends alert:

5 week stand. Two ships that pass in the night, actually, over 35 nights.

old friend alert:

I sometimes wish that Dylan Cease would just take the money he's already earned and retire.

Wasn't Andrew Friedman impossible to deal with early in his GM tenure? I seem to remember every single rumor around the Rays took months, and then nothing happened.

It's funny that "being friendly" is this strange, unrecognizable thing.

I pose the same question nobody answered last week. If you worked for a shitty boss at a bad company, do you believe you should never be employed again in your life because you have been programmed to fail?

There are 30 GM jobs in baseball, and probably 1 that Getz could reasonably think he could get. If the boss tells you he doesn't want to pay 3 managers, it's not a character flaw to agree that you can work around that. There are so many other fundamental problems with the organization that he could punt on the manager position for half a season.

Getz most probably didn't set the agenda. He probably conducted negotiations under Hahn's direction, brought suggestions on how to better run development, and they were either accepted or rejected. It sure seems like the Hahn/KW setup had become pretty dysfunctional.

Well, he's an Admin, and I understand that I can get salty. He's got to keep the site mostly free of flame wars, so that's fine.

I didn't use the word "unfair" at all. Yes, after the "what are you smoking" comment, I guess I ratcheted up a bit, and just gave it back. I'll calm down.

Of course. Breaking camp with Cease on the roster and a RF who looks like DeJong/Lopez could be called a 70 win team. But then they'll trade Cease, maybe Robert, allow Montgomery and/or Sosa to replace DeLopez, and fail a bit, trade any of Kopech/Soroka/Flexen that actually has any success, and then they'll tank. Or not.

I think you're exaggerating here. I haven't complained once that people are responding with reasons why optimism isn't justified. Unless accusing me of lying and being on drugs are actually reasoned arguments.

No, I guess the "not being honest" and "give me some of what you're smoking" comments just rubbed me the wrong way. And I don't even consider recognizing that 2024 could contain more wins than 2023 to be all that positive. My point is that NOT being negative gets one jumped on.

I hear ya on the frustration. I don't know if Mike Shirley is better than Hostetler at running a draft, but they just had a half dozen minor league hitters break out this last season in a way I don't remember seeing. And there's a good handful of pitchers that are actually being talked about for a change. I doubt they flip anybody beyond Soroka. I think the slogan for the 2024 season could be "For Christ's sake, Stop the Bleeding!!" I get that people are pissed that JR said he didn't want to rebuild, then Getz started swinging the sledge. Yes, it's a tear-down rebuild. I don't demand everybody feel good about that.

I don't disagree with anything you said. I said earlier that I stopped following the Bears because I got so tired of that level of constant disappointment. I'm not being very positive beyond finding Getz's approach interesting, and thinking they could finish 10 wins better with this team. The light at the end of the tunnel for me is that the whole front office finally seems to be on the same page. Baby steps.

I think that Bannister and Barfield don't have ties to the KC front office. It's become a joke how everybody tries to find if a new player even was on the Padres with an ex-Royal, then we all wail. I've posted a bunch about Getz's networking hires. That's where he was. That's who he knows. Deride away. I'm disappointed they didn't fire Grifol, too. Oh well. I've guessed it's probably a mulligan firing Getz is hanging onto if 2024 goes sideways, quick. I don't think I've expressed relief at Grandal leaving beyond saying the catching position delivered negative WAR last year. Grandal was the pin-up fantasy of the stat-heads. I just wanted someone to throw the ball back to the pitcher. Again, the craziest, out of leftfield things I've said are - they could win 70+ games, just with the changes they've made, and if a bunch of other positive things happen, they could get to the mid-70's in wins. Insane, I know. Be as negative as you want. Deride away. Nobody's asking anybody to cheer, or be positive. It's when people are actually offended by somebody not even being positive, just being less negative than everybody else that gets me to post my own whiny BS about it. I have justified my positions. So tell me I'm crazy. Ask me what I'm smoking. I don't care.