caulfield12

I'm not sure exactly where the "tsunami" of talent is in Wave 2, once you get past JImenez and Kopech. Theoretically, you can include Burdi, and then Collins/Cease, although both those players are likely at least 1/2 season away from the big leagues still. Basabe would be the next, unless you want to include Zavala, which is pushing it (especially with the emergence of Narvaez and Palka/Delmonico's return). Ian Hamilton, too. I guess 6 players is "relatively close" to a wave, and (7) with Dunning, but he's probably even further behind...and the slide backwards of (8) Hansen has compounded that depth problem in the rotation. One would think that who they sign for the pitching staff in the FA market is going to be the biggest indicator. If it's merely a couple of veteran placeholders or they really break out the wallets for the equivalent of a Lester/Darvish/Arrieta-like signing (which many would argue would be at least 1 1/2 years too early.)

Gonzalez

It's a little bit like the Shields situation, getting blasted the previous start and overlooking it due to the prior body of work. The rumor was that Darvish was tipping his pitches (with the Dodgers, particularly in the WS), and that there was not any noticeable deterioration in his actual stuff. In hindsight, it's easy to say they would have been better off keeping Arrieta, but that would have been the thinking of approximately NOBODY in February of this year.

Personally, I think it was 50% exactly what she said (sensitivity, allowing constituents to speak freely), but the other 50% was protecting her from yet another PR gaffe with the national media and especially GOP waiting to pounce. Taking her soundbites and throwing up an image of Pelosi alone might be enough to hold some right-leaning GOP House districts.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/commentary-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-becomes-the-sarah-palin-of-the-left/ Ocasio-Cortez already getting compared to Sarah Palin...oh well, it was fun while it lasted

Actually, I meant from that group of "second wave" outfielders:Robert, Basabe, Rutherford, Adolfo, Gonzalez, I guess you can stick Call in there if you want to. (Obviously, Robert's got to show more pop, eventually.)

It's whether you want to outbid the rest of the market by 10-15%, see Buehrle with the Marlins/Loria in 2012.

Don’t forget Adolfo, too. We’ll know a lot more about Robert from the AFL. Also, fwiw, Mercedes (obviously older), Collins and Narvaez making the catching situation is at least look more promising.

That’s exactly what got Hillary (Goldman Sachs), Romney (47% don’t contribute) and Obama (cling to guns and religion) in trouble...miked comments from private fundraisers that leaked out. One key difference is this was a meeting with constituents about district issues.

3/4 now, 919 ops, really is (inarguably) the best overall OF prospect, based on performance alone.

Positive spin, if you look really hard and squint...or just throw out April and May altogether, Giolito would be an okay 5th starter. Or we can blame the defense, umpiring, etc. Covey and Lopez falling back hasn’t helped much either. Of course, if we can screen for positive, the reverse should be equally true...Moncada would be the worst player in baseball if we threw out his first two months.

The difference is only $100+ million there. Between Matt Harvey, and, let’s say, Dallas Keuchel. Do we go with a sign and flip one year Bandaid or legitimately target a long-term piece for the rotation?

Except it’s total AAA innings...that’s very deceptive, because he came up very late at the end of last year. And his ERA was well into the 4’s about six weeks ago. If he gets lit up, there will be many who argue he was rushed to placate the fanbase. In fact, some of the AAA/AA competition might be better than what the Twins, Royals and Tigers are sending out there right now.

Lopez is, at worst, a fifth starter or potentially elite bullpen piece. Giolito has looked that way his last 6-7 starts as well, and there’s been a notable uptick in velocity from his first two months. Now if we still don’t have any “sure” rotation pieces in place at the end of 2019, something has gone terribly awry.

So now he’s not to be applauded? You've articulated for two consecutive posts that they should be held back until next April...that decisions should be completely divorced from the desires of “meathead” fans (well, that’s more SouthSider2k5).

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/19/politics/trump-joseph-mccarthy-tweet/index.html So far this weekend, an open war in the intelligence community, McCarthyism accusations (although Mueller doesn’t speak and Roy Cohn was Trump’s lawyer) and calling the new Korean-American NY Times editorial board member “disgusting.” Par for the course.

If boosting attendance this season was even considered a “legitimate” factoring in the decision...god help us.

The list of starters with over 50 MLB starts after two Tommy John’s can be counted on fingers and not hands...

Let’s hope it’s not connected to placating him after the temper tantrum the last time out...

Where did Renteria get the idea that Engel was a “good” bunter? Curious as to how much of this happens out there. There is a coach at a school in Louisville that never calls the bunt off or even tries to disguise it. We read it every time but he never stopped. What since does that make? By the way they fouled for strike 3 every time. I'm not a big fan of bunting period (I think it's way overused, and is rarely the best option as outs are precious), but if the situation calls for or if you believe a bunt is the right play, I see no harm in bunting with 2 strikes, especially if you have someone that is a good bunter, but isn't a sure hitter. http://bluegrasspreps.com/ky-baseball-high/bunt-with-two-253178.html

What was Voldemort’s signing bonus with the Sox? Let’s not forget Soler, Yasmani Tomas, Hector Olivera and Rusney Castillo. The primary difference is the 4 organizations who invested that crazy money all are in playoff hunts currently. They were able to successfully absorb the payroll hits.

This would be even MORE of an issue if the White Sox had won 75 games and Rodon was Top 5 in the Cy Young balloting. The only difference would be “three years of useful (to contention) Rodon” instead of just two and more likely one. I just hope they don’t give Hahn another year or two of rebuilding to wait on whoever they receive back for Rodon to produce at the big league level. I don’t even know if a Ricketts type with deep pockets would break the bank to extend Rodon...maybe, but it would be the equivalent of the Darvish deal for the franchise.

She needs to spend a month just studying national and international issues in depth...and step out of the public eye for awhile. It’s like the Sarah Palin phenomenon (too much exposure, too quickly..media eventually turns on everyone), although I personally believe Ocasio-Cortez is much smarter and has more empathy towards her constituents. The only winning argument that supports socialism is the parallel with China’s 30 years of economic growth, but I don’t think any politician in the country can pull that one off. Trump has actually made a lot of headway with the “these Crazy Dems want totally open borders!” and abolish ICE argument. Somehow, that’s helping him more than some of the most outrageous abuses along the border or in Puerto Rico after the hurricane are hurting.

Knowing Sale, he got hurt throwing 100 mph against the White Sox...

You’re not going to get that for Rodon until he proves to be 100% all the way through next year’s trade deadline...