southsider2k5

That's for sure. Next season is all about Eloy, Robert, Moncada, Vaughn, and Tim Anderson doing what they should be doing at this stage of their careers.

Nothing is ever 100%, but that goes both ways. There is probably a better chance that Cueto goes back to what he was, than Clevinger not being able to put up 5th starter numbers.

Especially since if you go back over 2017 to 2022 Clevinger has averaged about 2.5 war per season, even including the surgery years.

We also could help him out a ton by getting him an OF who can catch the damned ball.

For the record, since 2017, which includes Clevingers last TJS, Johnny Cueto has put up 7.8 WAR, or 1.3 per season. Clevinger has put up 14.2, or about 2.5 including the seasons he missed due to his surgery. During that time frame he has put up two seasons with a higher WAR than Cueto did in 2022 at his recent peak.

I think it was probably in cooperation with Grifol, but also done above his level.

To finish the important part here, there is about zero chance that Cueto's 23 is as good as his 22. The last time Cueto was this good was 2016. What is crazy is that Cueto's 2022 saw an insanely low HR rate despite his K rate being the lowest of his entire career. It was also the first time he has been over 140 innings since 2016. There are a lot of red flags here screaming fluke.

I think there was a fair amount of progress lost by players not having normal winters and/or springs for three years now.

I can't help but wonder if his conditioning last year cost him some of his flexibility.

Well, hopefully this is also the last we see of Fields this season with his injuries as well.

I would hope a decent amount. Look, as we saw with Tony, you can have all of the assets and information in the world, but if the manager refuses to use it, it is worthless. The scene that keeps playing over and over in my mind is the staff trying to tell Tony how a rule works, him refusing to listen, and Tony being wrong.

I have to imagine he is looking for somewhere around double that, and he is looking for a promised starting slot. No reason he shouldn't be demanding at least that.

So far, especially in the off the field department, it really looks like the 21st century crowd is back in charge of the decision making process with the club.

From here I think you are probably done on big dollar spending on the rotation. I look for them to add another swing man type deal, and definitely some MiLB with major league option type deals to fill any potential injury innings. If you see them sign another major league deal for a starter of some significance, it makes it certain that Giolito is getting dealt.

I am so disappointed.

There hasn't been any official statement yet, so no.

Yeah the Twitter followers thing is the 2022 version of the attendance argument. Just because things are popular doesn't mean they are good, unless you think BTS is the best band in the world.

I am better at flipping the bird.

It could also mean that it is a major league deal.

That actually worked out pretty well. He had one more decent year and then completely fell apart.

Every roster is back filled with guys like VV. You can't get to 15+ pitchers to fill a season long roster without them.

Elvis was the definition of a fluke for his two months. He is a better bet for a sub .650 OPS than he is for an over .700 one.

The teams that look to trade their best players at their peak are the teams that are in perpetual rebuilding. I know it seems like a great concept, but successful teams aren't looking to deal their players coming off of breakout years.