caulfield12

Knew those two runs that didn't score would come back to bite them...

Ball not carrying well in the outfield today.

Really quick hook and already to Palencia?

Pivetta SD MVP. Probably the best bargain pitching contract of the off season from Tier B. SD will only have Musgrove Darvish Pivetta and R.Vasquez next year...really need to replace King and/or Cease.

LSU Ben McDonald the Southern accent. Gwynn's son does radio/part time tv in San Diego.

Normally he's one of the best base runners in the game...

Iglesias MMaldonado and Colt McCoy is your bench...two middle infielders and a beyond aging catcher.

You really want them to play Bryce Johnson instead? They would be fine had Ramon Laureano not fractured his finger in the last week of the season. It's not like you can put catcher Diaz out there in LF.

Have to score this time... Facing SD pen in shadows not going to be easy if Padres can extend lead.

Padres lead baseball in bunting by far.

Pitching dominates in the playoffs. The Tigers had a really good offense the first half of the season. Also Astros were highly flawed at end of the season as well. Alvarez such an impact bat to be missing.

Just made no sense to project an inexperienced future 35-37 year old reliever into the 2028-29 contention window.

And what are his plus tools?

First game winners in these 3 game series have won 18/20. Ofc the 2020 White Sox one of those exceptions.

Have to come off the base and block it but not the first instinct. Last year the Padres were more versatile with Peralta and Solano off the bench.

Have to come off the base and block it but not the first instinct.

Guardians doing CLE things. Ramirez still running well in early 30s.

Laureano out with a fractured finger for at least this series. B.Johnson is a defensive replacement usually. Probably cost them a run...Cubs LH heavy now without Horton in the rotation.

Merrill playing as well as anyone in September. Bogaerts back for just a week or so. 2-0 would have been the expected outcome...big run left on base there.

"With Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson already added to the bullpen from the left side in Boston and Brennan Bernadino in the fold as a more established lefty option as well, Booser had become somewhat expendable for the Red Sox." He was expected to be cut coming into the season...not unlike how the Sox picked up Damaso Marte from the Pirates way back when.

Skenes vs. Skubal a closer argument because of Skubal being a LHP and much more experienced...and Skenes really hasn't had to overcome major injury issues yet. Probably going to have to go to Vest or Finnegan at some point soon. Halpin can really scoot. Finishes with 14 k's. Can't imagine his FA contract if he can stay healthy...$425-450 million? $475? $500 million seems insane for a pitcher around 29-30.

Have you been a Sox fan for over fifty years? This is most definitely a "prove it/show me" organization. If you told me the Sox were going to spend money in the off season like the Royals two years ago, the outlook would be decidedly more positive. It's not like wishing and hoping and praying and being optimistic will get all these players to make dramatic improvements. But sure, knock yourself out. And then you still have Benintendi around for two years, Luis Robert and God knows what in RF. At best, a 2/3 starter in Shane Smith and 3/4 in Martin. Us anyone really counting on Gomez or Burke as a #3 starter next year? Smith and Schultz are at a minumum 3-4 months into 2026 additions. And still massive holes in the bullpen... In the end, everyone will simply argue Getz didn't have all the financial resources he needed to supplement the "core" group of Colson Teel and Braden.

Tigers turning the tables on CLE with some small ball. Skubal with 1-2 innings left with the extra rest/off time from last start. 10 k's through 6, including 7 in a row. Still at 100 near pitch 90.

As always, the problem is expecting 3-4 players to improve by 1-2 war while not expecting anything but better numbers from Colson and Teel.

Konnor Griffin in the Sox system and then a 1-1/2/3 draft pick in 2026 dramatically changes the narrative there. That said, Braden and Bonemer were the only position players that seemed to make big-time progress. And that's still only a #8-10 ranked system probably...just not enough high quality pitching depth to confidently fill 2-3 spots in the rotation if Taylor's permanently a reliever.