caulfield12

Why is KW the one who is assumed to be responsible for this particular trade? We've seen plenty of evidence that he and Paddy were heavily involved with Abreu and Robert, to cite other examples...but does Hahn then receive the full credit because those two, along with McCann and Keuchel, actually worked out well ? Unfortunately, the most logical move, and one that would have us now celebrating an AL Central (sort of title) would have been Kole Calhoun. And it's not like Mazara was ever going to be a 3-4 fWAR player in a full season, we were just HOPING for maybe 1. In reality, guys like Calhoun that are pretty much reliable for 1.5-2.5 (and definitely outproduced those this year) become the enemy of the elusive young/impact player we keep chasing (Avi for years/Betts/Springer/Pederson, etc.) Marte makes a lot of sense. Ozuna, likely now has outpriced himself out of Sox market, along with adding the Grandal/Keuchel salaries.

27. Sweden 5,880 deaths 10,115,000 total population=0.00058 28. Philippines 5,448 deaths 109,581,000 total population=0.0000497 (11.67 times better than Sweden for a 3rd world/developing country) 67. Denmark 650 deaths 5,797,000 total population=0.000112 (about FIVE times better than Sweden) 82. Finland 345 deaths 5,543,000 total population=0.00006224 (about NINE times better than Sweden) 88. Norway 274 deaths 5,431,000 total population=0.00005045 (about ELEVEN and 1/2 times better than Sweden, also consistently one of Top 5 countries in the world on PISA exams for Math/Science) USA 209,815 deaths 328,240,000=0.0006392 (USA 1.10 times worse than Sweden) UK 42,001 deaths 67,886,000=0.0006187 (UK 1.067 times worse than Sweden)

American League wild-card series No. 8 Toronto Blue Jays at No. 1 Tampa Bay Rays -- Rays 29, Blue Jays 1 No. 7 Chicago White Sox at No. 2 Oakland Athletics -- A's 19, White Sox 11 No. 6 Houston Astros at No. 3 Minnesota Twins -- Twins 21, Astros 9 No. 5 New York Yankees at No. 4 Cleveland Indians -- Indians 20, Yankees 10 https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29991008/expert-picks-2020-mlb-playoffs

Sure, the counter-argument of course is always going to be we STILL would have been a Wild Card team based on overall record...with the caveat being we have no idea how well the White Sox and Robert/Moncada/EE/Mazara would have pulled out of their tailspins over a much longer season. Not to mention the bullpen was on track to be totally worn out even in a half season (guys like Cordero and Detwiler), with Cishek being yet another patented Rick Hahn FA special ala Herrera. Of course, the argument there is Hahn knew Crochet was coming along with Bummer, and that he WOULD have done something in a normal, 162 game schedule at the trade deadline.

The Marlins, White Sox and Padres all broke long playoff-less droughts. That basically leaves the Mariners on the outside looking in.

The irony is that we were STILL #1 in AL runs scored/runs allowed...before today. From first to seventh, couldn’t have happened to any other franchise, congrats for that. No heartbreak like 1967, just not much of a positive feeling at all. We did outdo 2012, that went 4-11 down the stretch, this was somehow 2-8. No AL Central banner, yet again.

Robert Redford since in The Natural and couldn't be worse...

Nope.

How would we be ahead of the Indians?

Who are we willing to trade that SF would really want? He’s the top fWAR guy on their entire team... It’s not going to be just Stiever as the headliner. Or Lopez.

Pederson/Engel is absolutely fine for the weakest offensive spot...and no reason to believe Pederson would not at least have an 800 ops with the right matchups, except for the fact we said the same about Mazara. But compare their career fWAR numbers. Not even close.

Relying on Rodon or Lopez as a potential closer...Rodon walks WAY too many, and Lopez lacks a true dominating wipeout pitch. With Bummer and Crochet, they’re absolutely set from the LH side. That still leaves Heuer, Marshall, Foster, Burdi, Ian Hamilton and Lopez/Rodon/Stiever. Not to mention Thompson or Dahlquist...? Tons of options there. There’s also still a non-zero chance Kopech ends up as the closer. Maybe they win a championship and then convert Crochet in a legit attempt at a starting role...

Pederson for one year, assuming Colas or Cespedes long term. Leery of buying high on NL player peaking at that age. But who knows? All depends on the ask and how highly SF values him. If thry make the postseason and he stars, his value is even higher, but he has started to return to earth already. We can look all point to Cruz, but JD Martinez and EE are both looking dead in the water, at some point soon, he’s going to crash hard. Vaughn gets that shot, regardless. Still no idea what they’re thinking with Leury Garcia. He seemed an automatic resign until the injury, bot not so sure anymore with Mendick and Engel, even Yolmer, potentially back in the oicture.

Is it my imagination, or did Clayton Richard start one of those 2008 playoff games against TB? Or was it Javy?

Feels a LITTLE bit like 2005 now...but that 3rd starter question is now even more jumbled. It could end up being either Lopez or Gio Gonzalez, which would be pretty nuts. Clayton Richard, haha?

NL MVP goes to Freddie Freeman? By fWAR, Tatis is somehow still second... Looks like StL (1), SF (losing, would be -1) and MIL going down to the wire tmrw. MIL also at -1, so they have to account for those missing Cardinals' games.

Crochet has been pretty darned amazing when you consider the circumstances and lack of minor league testing...already gotten more out of him than Fulmer and Burger.

Feels like about a month. The bottom didn't fall out after that GS to Bryant. So this team still has some fight/grit/determination after all.

What's the pitching match-up tomorrow?

This is almost becoming a comedy. Losing ten in a row or 11/12 to end the season has to get someone fired... Doesn't it? Well, at least Robert got a hit? We don't even have a 3rd starter. At this rate, it's going to be Gio Gonzalez or Clayton Richard.

Can't even get the spite fantasy league grand slam out of Contreras in the final week of that...

For Hahn, it really has only been McCann and Keuchel. Not occasional. Seldom. Unless you change the definition to qualify guys like Cabrera and Robertson as successes.

Except Keuchel, who was clearly at the front of second tier but who has saved Hahn's hide for now. OTOH...Bumgarner, yikes. Of course, we've witnessed the other side of that in Cruz vs. Encarnacion.

This is either going to look like genius or be the one that gets refreshed when there's seemingly no light at the end of the tunnel. The funny thing is a majority of the offseason was spent bemoaning Abreu when he has simply been the best player along with Anderson...yet the tone is like the last two weeks of 2012. At least that collapse was eminently predictable. And 4-11 (2012 finish) would be simply amazing compared to 1-7.

Now that I would buy season tickets for...