caulfield12

Yep, Colas and Crochet and perhaps Vera would have to become significant contributors, with Kopech a Top 10ish AL fWAR value to pair with Cease. And God forbid they have a major pitching injury, because that means we’ll be looking more backwards at division competitors gaining on us than at potentially advancing in the playoffs. That’s why putting Buxton and Correa together for one season is admirable. Risky as hell, and 75-80% chance it doesn’t payoff, but it’s 10x the strategy for putting together an outstanding season than relievers and scrubs supplementing a great core.

Might as well trade everything not nailed down for Murphy (as the starting catcher) and Montas/Manaea and compete like hell in 2022-23. Grandal would be getting 60% of his at-bats at DH, 40% at catcher to preserve his health. Because while it would mean the loss of Sheets, Crochet and probably Vaughn…it would be the best way to up payroll in the future, actually getting to the ALCS and maybe even a WS. Otherwise, it’s a losing battling over roster attrition, escalating extension salaries internally and waving goodbye to player after player without being able to replace them cheaply from the barren farm system. Of course, that likely means relying 100% on Jose Abreu in 2023 as well, which is dangerous in and of itself.

Yes, looked at that again and it’s pretty telling Hahn-speak has evolved from multiple championships to having a great shot at the division series. That’s more out of that “let’s target a second place team just to keep the fans’ appetites whetted but expectations not ever too high” PR bag of tricks.

That would make Josh Harrison pretty much superfluous on this roster…

Really solid post. It could be sliced and diced ten different ways, or a Ketel Marte thrown in there as well because it seems this team has no plan whatsoever to replace the likes of Gio and TA7 and extend the window past 2024. Even if you do this same exercise with the Angels’ roster, it’s still not as ridiculously weighted towards the bullpen…their problem is having so much payroll tied into Trout, Rendon and Ohtani (see 2013-16 White Sox Stars and Subs approach). I have a feeling VV won’t last the first 2-3 months. Harrison could easily go the way of 2021 Adam Eaton. Oh, and expenditure.

Sure, but it’s an abbreviated one…just reinforces how none of our so-called wave of outfield prospects is pretty much in shambles. And, yes, the likes of Trayce Thompson and Mazara are still getting at-bats in ST. Would like to have seen a better throw from Harrison…should have been a DP.

Sure, but we were never in on Conforto well before they saw anything out of Colas stateside.

Yay, we hit into yet another DP! Why are we giving so much playing time to Dwight Smith, Jr., by the way?

Why would the A’s want him back when they are trying hard to finish 5th?

Next we’ll be trading Hendriks to prove Kimbrel still can close. And if they don’t pitch Kimbrel…how will that possibly increase his value? VV looks like another KW/RH bargain rack special.

ACC continues to do well after being overlooked the entire season, other than Coach K’s final season accolades.

There’s VaFan’s positively-themed essay for tmrw.

Dodgers showcasing Lux at SS for a possible trade, haha. Mariners up 1-0 after 1.

KU has to be the favorite at this point...or Duke. Although it will probably be Nova. UNC against St. Peter's? Iowa State against KU? Can't be many surviving brackets at this point.

2000 and 2006 first half Sox ball.

Or Carlos Perez for defense over Zavala…doubt his bat is ready, though.

Clippard? Kahnle?

I would rather watch Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion.

I don’t think the standard that we hold our GM is to is whether Balta or Ray Ray could do a better job. It’s still who does the best job with a given set of resources…who maximizes those resources and allocates money most efficiently. And it’s not rocket science. It takes a lot of diligence, good fortune and being in the right place at the right time. https://theathletic.com/1845734/2020/06/02/meet-mike-mcneive-the-one-constant-tasked-with-gathering-intel-for-hawks/ This is a story on one of my two best friends from grad school…if you read it, you will see that there are MANY who could be a front office exec, some are born with Ivy League families or silver spoons, but a number also get there through persistence and networking and knowing the right people in the right places. Developing relationships with coaches, GM’s and scouts the old-fashioned way. Having the ability to get along well with others helps, too.

That would be more entertaining. Let Haber give it a whirl. (Granted, he’s likely cut from the same cloth.)

Madrigal with two doubles today.

Who was the poster chronically getting on him about his weight, being out of shape, not taking enough pride in himself as an athlete, playing video games at home all day and social media posting, etc.?

What A Burger…don’t they have any franchises in Chicagoland to sponsor him, NIL deal?

Harrelson loved that guy’s arm…and, in general, all things Miguel when he first came up. He later soured on him a bit, as he was wont to do.

C’mon. Nobody would even bother, at most there would be 5 or 6 posters, tops. And this whole argument about power rankings is kind of pointless. It’s like arguing over attendance championships with Cubs’ fans. If these rankings were so compelling to non-insiders, we’d have a season ticket waiting list a mile long, instead of a struggle to sell out Opening Day. You can always write a positive, rose-colored glasses, rainbows, pots of gold and unicorns post like VaFan now does on a weekly basis if it makes you feel any better. That post might have jinxed us, even. Two spring training losses. Rodon at 98 again. Giolito arbitration and rumored extension debacles. Kimbrel self-immolation. Rodon coming close but not quite criticizing management. Not the greatest of weeks so far. And TLR hasn’t even done anything to put the Sox and JR in the national news this year (yet).