JUSTgottaBELIEVE

Both have been bad but the Mariners are worse and there’s no reason for any sense of optimism with that franchise over the next few years unlike the Sox.

There’s more to a catcher’s defense than framing. McCann is marginally better at framing but he leaps and bounds better at blocking balls, minimizing errors/miscues, and shutting down the opponent’s run game. Not sure how many games you’ve watched the last few years but it’s a night and day difference when you compare their defense. It’s really not even close.

I don’t understand the love for Narvaez. He was terrible defensively. He’s basically what I expect from Collins in another year or two. OPS around 800 but poor defense. That’s fine for the backup catcher/DH/occasional 1b but not as the primary catcher. Give me a guy like McCann all day every day as the primary catcher even if his OPS is 100-150 points less than a guy like Narvaez (which of course it isn’t this year).

Jones sucked when they tried him as their closer. Matt Thornton was another guy. Dominant setup man that sucked hard whenever they’d try him as closer.

Using WAR to compare all relievers to closers is ridiculous. Nate Jones at his peak was a 2 fWAR guy. Would you want him closing out games over a guy like Colome, who’s highest fWAR season as a reliever is 1.2? That’s a rhetorical question and is Exhibit A for why comparing middle relievers and setup guys to closers is misguided.

Since TB made him a closer back in 2016, Colome has a 91% save percentage (111/122) and an ERA under 3 while functioning as the team’s closer. Hard to find anyone with a better track record in save percentage and ERA, especially a team like the Braves that need a closer specifically (unless you trust Luke Jackson).

Slide Eloy to DH when you play JDM in RF or LF, Abreu at 1b. Vaughn won’t be ready until late next year or early 2021.

Depends on what Abreu is willing to sign for. If it’s a 1 or 2 year deal having both guys could definitely work.

Hopefully they skip Manny’s next start so Gio pitches against the Cubs in the second game of the series on Wednesday.

Guess who played RF tonight for the Red Sox...I know he sucks defensively but that lineup with JDM in RF and Abreu at DH might score 900 runs. Especially if they also signed Grandal to catch.

Does this count as a win against a “good” team or do the Yankees suck too?

Puig will be lucky to do better than a 2 year deal unless he has a monster second half this season.

Not hindsight. I was calling for this before the season started.

304/369/415 (784 OPS) and...2.4 K% ?

It only took 6 months but I see everyone has now figured out why I was saying last offseason that Harper was the much better fit than Machado for the Sox both now and in the future. Big missed opportunity there.

Well, not really. The people labeling him a bust haven’t shown up in Madrigal threads over the past week. I wonder why ?‍♂️

His defense is trending the wrong way in a hurry and he’s basically a 90 wRC+ hitter in a Cubs uniform over the past 4 years. Hard pass. I’d rather sign Avi Garcia to a cheap deal (certainly far cheaper than $50M) than trade for Heyward.

Free agency

When TA is your #7 or #8 hitter (legitimately, not because RR is a dumbass), you’ve got the makings of a fantastic lineup.

Still looking ? 1. Madrigal - 106 wRC+ in A+, 294 wRC+ in AA 2. Moncada - 128 wRC+ in MLB 3. Martinez - 137 wRC+ in MLB  4. Jimenez - 96 wRC+ in MLB 5. Robert - 297 wRC+ in A+, 169 wRC+ in AA 6. Vaughn - 1.242 OPS in college 7. Collins - 123 wRC+ in AAA 8. Anderson - 122 wRC+ in MLB 9. Basabe - 144 wRC+ in A, 76 wRC+ in AA

In other words, see this thread:

Nice to see the offense wake up tonight. Hopefully they carry it over into the Yankees series next.

One of the most overrated players in baseball. 95 wRC+ this season. That’s approaching Yolmer Sanchez territory.

It really is that simple. The only thing that will upset me is if they trade him for a mediocre prospect. I won’t be upset if they hold on to him or if they unload him for a top 100 prospect.

That OPS is creeping up too. 746 now. I’d be surprised if he ends the season under 800.