chitownsportsfan

And everyone of them produces more than 3 bWAR on 150 innings plus. That would basically mean an 100 win team or thereabouts. Sign me up please. I'd give Don Cooper a lifetime contract! More seriously if one of Kopech or Cease breaks out. Look the fuck out AL Central.

I really hope he steps into that role this year. He was lights out at times last year. Can he do it under a little more pressure in the 8th? Let's hope.

That would be awesome if things are going so well with the youngsters that Rodon and Gonzo are depth pieces out of the pen. Could even get creative and try using Rodon as an opener for Lopez/Cease/Kopech to save innings.

With the position players almost completely settled I have to admit quite a bit of ignorance about how the pitching is going to look. What is the rotation on opening day? What will it look like in mid-summer? As I said I'm a bit ignorant here but on opening day might be: Gio, Kuechel, Cease, Gio, Lopez. By mid summer might be: Gio, Kopech, Kuechel, Rodon, Gio/Cease/Lopez. I don't have a lot of confidence in Rodon coming back and contributing bot for now I'll pencil him in. The pen seems much more set: Colome, Herrera, Cishek, Bummer, (big drop off) to Fry, Cordero, Marshall and whoever else makes it. I have no confidence in Marshall to repeat his 2.79 ERA. I think the pen is going to be a dumpster fire at points this year. Bummer could be the wild card. If he has a year like last year he could elevate the entire pen as the 4 out guy in the 6th and 7th.

My first inning of my first spring training was pitched by one Dylan Covey. Thanks dude I'll always have that moment in my fandom. It was a beautiful early March day at Camelback...and I believe he got absolutely shelled and was pulled after about an inning.

This gone be good you got two of the most redass and easily offended fan bases (and two of the largest) pissing on each other's leg for the next year over this shit, covering them all in urine.

Well for starters he could point to a specific game so people can start going through the tape. But yea perhaps it's already being done.

I'd love nothing more than this to bring down Manfred as part and parcel of the scandal but Logan is going to need some receipts.

I doubt Luhnow will work as a GM again. If the Stros' owner is telling the truth then Luhnow violated his trust and that's going to be a problem for him regardless of how much ignorance he claims here.

might be worth a camp invite but he sucks. It would have to be a real upgrade on Leury to make it worthwhile to add someone to the 40 man imo. Not really sure what's out there. It's too bad they passed on Iglesias he would have been perfect.

Damn. Was hoping he'd return at that price but he probably wouldn't see much action.

started 44 games there in his career and has a 94% fielding percentage. I remember some pretty bad errors last year in his brief stint. Looking at how he finished the year Leury is being over valued, including by myself. He's not a guy you want taking extended time at SS or in the OF. His versatility plays down when he's got a wRC+ around 85. Sox might need a real backup SS.

Yep they've been doing it for a few years now. Good way to build a little camaraderie with the new guys.

Lifetime bans or fire them, I can see it. Allow them to possibly save some face while de facto banning them for life at the same time via blacklist. I'd imagine it will be hard for Luhnow to ever work as a GM again.

Good, hopefully the Peter Principle hits every one of the middle managers.

nah, whoever comes in is going to clean fucking house and they all know it.

Dude everybody in that org is sending out a resume this afternoon. Their rabbis are gone.

Well now that both guys have been fired it's a big fucking deal. The Astros will be in disarray for a few years. This is great news for the Sox.

I would imagine it's a complete ban on any contact. And I'd hope that if he doesn't follow that directive he's banned forever.

Well damn. You draft a guy you think is a sleeper then don't have the coaching staff in place to bring it out. Classic Sox disconnect.

Not sure how they'd enforce this but it could be as simple as posting an MLB employee in the clubhouse. I think it's something they should look at.

Probably should amend that bylaw then. 5 million is ash tray money these days.

I think the fine could have been more, something that lets the owners know this will hit them in the pocketbook hard if their Club does it. Maybe 30 million or so. That's the only complaint I have with the punishment.

I'm with you. This is hardly a slap on the wrist. This is a serious penalty for the individuals involved and the club. Could Manfred have done more? Could he have vacated the WS? Sure, but that would have opened up a whole 'nother can of worms.

Manfred just couldn't help himself could he? Manfred the White Knight!