BamaDoc

My second half or Sept sleeper is Jacob Lindgren. LHP. Drafted second round by the Yankees in 2014 and made it to the majors in 2015. Injuries wiped out all of 17-18. Picked up off scrap heap and now 26. Made it to High A. Looks like never pitched back to back games but previously stuff was there. At A+, 12 g 17.2ip with 17k and 4 w. If stays healthy may have a chance. Again, this is a very deep sleeper and with injury history certainly could get reinjured and be done. It would make a good story.

With what we see as the cost of decent pitching, to not get the year back is crazy. Wonder if he looks great in spring training you could do a deal getting 1-2 free agent years covered and make it a non issue?

Of the three Tier C options, the only one I want is Keuchle because I wouldn't give up the draft pick. Sorry, not for that tier or that contract length. I want a guy who will be good for 4-5 years to sacrifice the pick, not a guy I am holding my breathe for his health or nose on the tail end of the deal. If I can't get a C, Miley at two years ok. After one of the above, my one year guy would be Gio as I said before to start at the beginning of year and then maybe piggy back with Kopech. My reclamation project, so one year with a team option, would be Taijuan Walker who did make it back to the mound at the end of the year. Until his medicals are in order, don't give Wood much of anything guaranteed, his back was toast last year.

Anyone's know where Menechino profiles in his use of analytics? Would he have influence over minors or is that strictly the domain of Getz?

Charlie Brown, Lucy, and the football. Youngsters go look it up.

Gets grounders? Is as close to a positive comment as I can come.

The minor league protected lists are not published so no way to know prior to the picks being announced.

Bump as I think ptatc is medical and may have input and is on the board tonight.

Page one of this thread in the initial post from Sept! Nimmo was my plan B to Brett Gardner. Obviously can't do Yolmer now and they added a mediocre cf so may not want Engel but the idea holds. If Lowrie can still play, he could hold second until Madrigal comes up and if Lowrie can't play cut him. I so prefer this to Mazzara a bad defender who hasn't had a above average park adjusted offensive year. There is still a FA outfielder who hits left handed with bWAR the last 4 years of 3.4,4.9,2.8, and last year 4.0 available. Brett Gardner could be had for only money. Again it is location, he wants to retire a Yankee but hell for a couple extra million and no prospects lost go get him.

Yeah don't think many saw Stras getting the largest pitching contract ever or for a short time. Boras will still orchestrate things to his advantage. Think that is why rumors of dodgers and Angels now thinking about Rendon as if they are setting up a large add even if they miss on Cole.

Years ago I advocated for a complete revamping of our entire system. I advocated for paying Vanderbilts coach Tim Corbin whatever it took for him to implement all through our system. Hell I would have let him manage eventually if that was needed to seal the deal. I felt the top college programs were way ahead in terms of scouting and development. Every year many of the best players/recruits get snagged by MLB and colleges have to turn to plan B and/or develop guys. Vanderbilt is at a huge competitive disadvantage from a cost standpoint. For those unaware, most college baseball guys are on fractions of a scholarship due to title 9. If a instate college tuition is 15k and Vandy is 50k, the amount a player's family must come up with if each offer 1/3 of a scholarship is huge(10 vs 34) per year. Some lottery states have free tuition. They don't wave academic requirements. Despite the disadvantages, Vandy is a premier program every year. Now you see pitching coaches being hired by MLB big clubs from college programs. Former Vandy pitching coach fixed Sonny Gray(Vandy) at Cincinnati last year. We could have been something cutting edge as I advocated a lot of college coaches/scouts throughout the minors in player development not just the good old boy network. Also because colleges have smaller staff, but were ahead of MLB in technology, those college coaches learned how to communicate it to players better. So players heard it from a coach not a analytic office nerd who never played. Those guys bridged the gap. It kills me to think where we would be. Other teams trying to copy how we are cutting edge. Sorry, I have to go cry.......

Everything said should have a reason. If not listen.

Dug on Walker. Best year 2017 fastball 93.9 avg . 2018 TJ. 2019 shoulder issues. Pitched that one inning. Fb 93.3 in obviously sss .

If we are making a list, Ivan Nova generated 2bWAR last year.

I think I like Walker. He did pitch in the last game of the year though I don't know of any reports. Many people bring up Wood who missed most the year with back issues and tried returning only to go out with back issues. Without hearing what has been done for his back giving him anything is probably a waste. I spent thirty years dealing with my back trying to golf. Pitching hurt also.

Very easy then, you say no.

What player is ever brought up and management says "Well we expect him to suck and go back down in a week". You could certainly argue that you wish a prize prospect, coming back after being out over a year, you want to limit innings and limit his exposure to pitching in 30-40 degree weather. Look at my Kopech plan post.

I think this year the market moves differently. Since Boras controls most pitching, I think he will do Cole first to maximize the losers interest in Strasburg. Those still left out after the big two may then drive up Bumgarner, Keuchel, Ryu tier.

and Calhoun doesn't cost a draft pick and money. This is why I advocated so hard for Grandal who can hit 1-6 in a lineup. Because of Grandal, the RF addition could have less offensive pressure and could slot more in the 6-8 lineup range. I also prefer the LH balance addition.

Sorry back to topic. For those that didn't see there were two key points. Everyone heavy in analytics and tend to value players the same. Trades come merely from whether you are in a win now mode or in a rebuild so most are/will be vets for prospects with exceptions of dollar moves like Rays-Pads. Secondly it was surprising to me how much they all hate extra innings and want it curtailed significantly. All say the big extra innings games kill your team for weeks and want to avoid. Exception for playoffs and maybe after rosters expand but sounds like man on second to start inning after maybe 12 they would all favor possibly ties.

Rule number one: Don't trade with people way smarter than you! I know some would say that means we can't trade but that is not my intent.

For those that don't want him, since this is reported someone will swoop in and "steal" him could be your hope.

A wise man said "our best chance to get an ace may be to develop one". Okay this has been talked about in several threads so I was kinda putting my thoughts into one. Hope others in the med fields add to it especially if they have experience. I joked in a thread we should use our recovery blueprint as a selling point to guys like Taijuan Walker due to our rash of TJ injuries but in reality if we do rehab well it really would be a selling point. I know in the past our shoulder program was considered very good. Anyway to begin Hahn has pretty much stated Kopech has recovered well but will still have overall limits on his work load this coming season. First and foremost it would absolutely suck to be in contention late in the year and have to shut down our pitchers when we need them most. Cease is further out from his TJ but has never gone beyond the 141 IP of last year so he will have limits as well. Rodon, Dunning, Lambert will not even be ready at the start of the year and need close monitoring. Burdi who knows. Anyway with specifics for Kopech, not having him start the year with the big club could allow you to regain a year of control while easing/protecting him. I would do it for control but also as a way to potentially have him at the end of the year. I would put him at Birmingham if he is having any issues as Andrews is right there or Charlotte depending on early season travel and expected weather conditions. I would envision a 3-4-5 innings or 60-80-100 pitch max for him. I want to occasionally extend him so he uses his secondary/tertiary pitches more plus in the minors you can do that better without worrying about game outcomes as much. If you are doing pitch counts, you indirectly encourage him to be more efficient and use fewer pitches per inning, a problem young pitchers often have (Lopez). If his average is around 4 innings and about 30 starts you are at 120 innings. I would anticipate his max being 120-150 so you could keep him going later in the year if you are contending or let him pitch longer if his limit allows and you know there aren't going to have playoff starts. It would require a piggy back pitcher which isn't a problem in the minors and with modern pitching theory could be done in the majors. I had paired him with Gio Gonzalez in my previous plan as Gio tends to wear down so Gio would start early in the year and then piggy back after/when Kopech comes up if the staff condition at the time allows. It could benefit each of them. Kopech's heat followed by soft lefty may make an interesting contrast. Protecting our assets by such usage would also show other FA pitchers that we are actively concerned about their recoveries and obviously you would want to modify this if their is a better process. I had considered 10 three inning starts 10 at four and then 10 at five but I want pitch usage and occasional stretching out with a little more recovery time though admittedly I don't have evidence to back it up. If anyone does please add.

New with Twins, Cubs, Marlins, and couple others ODowd kinda moderates.

LOL, just posted about same thing in my offseason plan. Great minds.............