caulfield12

We’ll see if he can stay healthy. AZ tends to transform lots of easy fly outs into homers, too.

https://www.milb.com/charlotte-knights/schedule/2022-04 Looks like Vargas, Finnegan, Cueto, Benjamin, Dominguez and Kade McClure the likely starters.

Nobody knows their actual payroll cap…but they’re nowhere close to hitting the tax. And that Cueto deal isn’t guaranteed…plus its prorated, too. They’re not just giving away money. If Cueto pitches well, he can make some money. If not, he catches on with another team in the middle of May, like the Mets. He just needs to pitch right now.

They’re just trying to keep their heads above water until the calendar hits July. And hope to God they don’t lose another one of their remaining Big 3. Let’s not forget Charlotte will be playing Tuesday through Thursday in Norfolk. Actually six in row, Tuesday through Sunday, with next Monday off.

Pilkington has an 8.22 ERA this spring and just gave up 3 ER in 3 IP to a pretty terrible DBacks team. He wasn’t going to be the savior this season, skipping all the way past AAA. You can trust the Indians to get the max out of him, but he’s not really perceived as a long-term starter over there…not unless they have the same amount of injuries as last season.

Well, pretty much anyone with a sub 5 ERA is doing well at Charlotte. They need some veteran stability to get through the first half. Who knows, maybe Keuchel or Cueto catch fire like Latos did for a handful of starts. They desperately needed to cover innings with someone better than Lambert or Stiever, so that was accomplished. Would rather give him a chance than Velasquez in the rotation.

Well, nearly every Sox fan should be positive/optimistic about Luis Robert and TA7. We arguably have 6 of the top sixty players in baseball, and that doesn’t even include Cease, Kopech and Hendriks. Surely no sane Braves fan thought they could win it all without Acuna AND Ozuna. Only 5-10% of KU fans thought their team was still going to win at halftime. That’s the thrill and agony of sports. Imagine being a Gonzaga fan. Or basically any NFL football fan going through that insane postseason. Almost no one os ever happy at the end of a season. Just one team’s fans. Thats why 2005 was so special, something like that will never happen again in out lifetime with the starting pitching. Until it does.

Then you really need to read that book. Trust me, things are a lot worse here in China…where 95% are defending Russia and hoping for the US and Europe to dragged into a decade-long conflict. And where we still need to do 2-3 Covid tests per week. And haven’t been able yo travel back to see friends and family since 2019 and it will likely be the summer of 2023 for most of us here. Imagine being a fan of the Indians…even worse, the Orioles, Pirates, D-Backs, A’s or Rockies right now.

Then he’ll end up like McGuire. So let’s try to stay away from public spaces as a general rule. Reading Humankind: A Hopeful History would be a good start.

There’s pretty much zero indication we were offered Bellinger and turned him down for Pollock. The Dodgers don’t win 8 consecutive divisions and lose the other will 105+ wins to SF without consistently making good decisions with their talent.

At least having a real division race this year will make things interesting and keep everyone in the organization honest. Way too much coasting last year until they suddenly realized Houston having HFA wasn’t such a great idea.

The bullpen without Crochet, Kelly and Kimbrell is not exactly their strongest link right now…

They're serious about spending more money than previously. Postseason success remains to be seen.

We won't know that until the afternoon of the trade deadline...

https://books.google.com/books/about/Humankind.html?id=yumsDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&gboemv=1&gbmsitb=1#v=onepage&q&f=false A book recommendation for Jack...

Having spent a lifetime watching Sox playoff teams implode the following seasons...anything is possible. Likely, no. If the Twins with that lineup keep Correa and Buxton healthy and add a Montas, they're going to be right there. Cleveland and the Tigers played us really tough, and the Royals are pesky. They're one more major injury from the division becoming a free for all, unless Kopech puts up a 5 fWAR to replace Rodon seamlessly.

https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2022/04/04/rays-trade-austin-meadows-to-tigers/ The other aspect is this is transforming Parades into Yandy Diaz while simultaneously lowering payroll.

Or Jake Cronenworth...

Paredes was part of that Cubs' deal with Candelario/Castellanos...I think. With Riley Greene with a bad foot delaying his arrival for now, they keep improving that roster.

You're also arguing a hypothetical, because that's a rumor that has a lot less backing. One can guarantee if Pagan was also included that the return would have to be more substantial than Sheets. The Padres are going to value Smith's predictability and performance over the next couple of seasons over the long term...because Sheets isn't a proven everyday player and you can't really play him very often in the outfield. Smith is at least playable out there.

Sure, but we always knew he was going to be pretty limited defensively...which absolutely kills his fWAR numbers. He's always on verge of out of shape, has a lousy arm. It's those five tool player, 30/30 expectations with Moncada. Bigger than anything, I think his fun loving personality and constant smile make him a more difficult target compared to the seemingly nonchalant Moncada. Plus, everything Moncada does comes with ease perception-wise.

Hunting with Buehrle in Missouri?

Yes, obviously pre Pollock. Although you could certainly argue Eloy at DH...but that would really block Vaughn.

You're going out on quite a limb, but you did it once before sticking with Giolito. The odds of going from second worst ERA in baseball to where he is now...would be about the same as Moncada ending up under Josh Harrison's fWAR this year.

Maybe. But they also valued a premium outfielder with a proven track record more highly than Vaughn...despite fewer years of control. We don't really know the specifics as with the Mets deal that was ultimately rejected. Look at it this way...would the White Sox trade Vaughn straight up for Reynolds? And would the White Sox trade Vaughn for Paddack and Weathers?