caulfield12

Tatis and Machado were total garbage yesterday...Padres managed to pull out the win after blowing a 6-1 lead and going down 7-6. Perhaps the MVP of the game was Jake Cronenworth, the type of valuable super utility guy the Rays never part with (afterthought the day of the Pham deal.) Kershaw was even worse, along with the Bellinger/Turner mixup on the basepaths.

Sure, and the counter-argument is that they already had McCann, plus Collins/Mercedes. That Grandal was entering his decline years and perhaps heading for an automated umpiring system in the next CBA. That he was benched by the Dodgers, and not the fiery take charge leader type in the clubhouse. Certainly, having the depth of Bummer, Heuer, Crochet, etc., made spending that money on a closer a luxury when it could have been earmarked for Ozuna or Springer instead. Obviously LaRussa wanted Eaton and he hit what should have been the game-winning homer last night so we’ll have to see if he can remain healthy AND productive. I guess if Lynn, Hendriks and Eaton all work out, he’ll (TLR) be a genius again. But they bought both of those guys near the top of their market values.

How is that cheap? I guess compared to Robertson when he signed as a Top 3-5 or 4-6 reliever in baseball or however you wanted to rank him at that time.

The Angels are improved. Upton, Ohtani and the rest of the rotation will be the keys now that the back end of the bullpen is nails. You also have an owner historically willing to spend big time to put a winning product on the field. That has to pay off eventually as the Astros start to crumble and Mariners/Rangers continue to rebuild.

Or at least pick the right Commodore. Trying to remember if Josh Fields or Joe Borchard were in the CWS.

Now the Giants are getting in on the action, blowing a huge lead to the Mariners and now in extras. Maybe we should stay away from any College World Series winner. Jared Mitchell, now Madrigal.

This reminds me of Jordan Bohannon and Luca Garza talking about Iowa going undefeated this season. Madrigal's 4000 hits quote isn't going away any time soon...especially if he's going to make game-changing mistakes. He was supposed to be the player who put pressure on the other team to make mistakes, one of the Piranhas if you go back to the 2001/02-2010 Twins. Practically the only guarantee for the White Sox is struggling on the West Coast since the 2000 season...except Seattle in recent years.

Everyone sucks!

The Angels and Astros look like they will battle it out all season long. Two pretty evenly matched teams, all comes down to starting pitching, as usual.

Perfect replacement after they auction off Hader to the highest bidder. Really wishing we had McCann over Grandal and Hendriks' money back to spend on this suddenly vulnerable offense. Really comes down to Vaughn passably playing LF without hurting or embarrassing himself out there.

If Robert's going like September and NOT August, the Cubs might have a better line-up 1-8. Also depends on which Abreu/Moncada we get, but Jimenez was a guy you counted on to drive in runs, moreso than anyone else but Abreu. It also highlights the fact that we need Grandal to be the "very good" and not pedestrian version of himself.

The walk to Upton felt like the real killer. Trout, you almost expect him to deliver there against a LHP.

Or was it 54?

On the plus side, Sotheby's is having a Hong Kong spring sale April 16th-23rd. I wonder how many SoxTalker's have ever frequented their auctions, or Christie's, lol? Guess we're wealthier than I thought!!!

Well, Madrigal, Leury, Collins and Yasmani Grandal fighting with Bummer and the umpiring for the worst aspects of this game. Tough luck no-decision to Lucas Giolito in his 2021 Cy Young campaign. Perfect bullpen already demonstrating that there's NO SUCH THING.

Predictable outcome for Robert there.

It's already just one game into the season and don't want to see Collins up there in a key late-game situation. Would honestly rather see Yermin, lol.

Garcia/Robert/PH/Madrigal...might have to PH Lamb to get some power. Haven't watched Iglesias pitch much for the Reds.

Putting Matt Foster in a really difficult position here...but you can't leave Bummer out too long, either. Somehow Jose Iglesias became a HoF hitter last year after being a complete black hole in the line-up.

Have to give credit to Upton there for that at-bat.

Gutsy pitch from Bummer after things looked (for the moment) like they were totally getting away...

You really want to play Leury or Mendick there? I know someone's gonna say Tommy LaStella was the magical answer. Or Kolten Wong.

So much for the bullpen going the entire season without surrendering a lead. New game. Thanks, Madrigal. Not sure they get the DP there, probably not...but sheesh.

Great job, Grandal. Granted, it wasn't the best pitch, but you have to keep it in front of you.

This has the makings of a complete disaster. Madrigal not distinguishing himself defensively this year, either.