A Realistic View at 2023: Part I

[cp176]

I liked the Phillies fine enough when I was younger. Mike Schmidt was a great player. My joke was obvious enough. I hope the Astros end up being the modern version of the 90's Braves.

 

I loved those old Phillies teams. I've always tolerated your jokes.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Astros complete shutdown of Philly after a five-homer barrage the night before was painful to watch for both Yankees and Red Sox fans. Javier and Co. combined for a second no-hitter this year, while the Houston staff repeated what it did in the '21 ALCS, when it silenced Boston's grand slammers for good.

 

The worst news for the Sox is that the best offseason acquisition is already gone: Oz Ocampo has been signed by the Marlins... Ocampo was the Astros' exec responsible for international signings of pitchers Javier, Framber Valdez, Garcia, and Urquidy, among others.

 

I would say Bloom blew it by missing out on Ocampo, except it probably didn't "make sense" for the budget...

[Bellhorn04]

I would say Bloom blew it by missing out on Ocampo, except it probably didn't "make sense" for the budget...

 

Hopefully it doesn't mean Chaim doesn't want others stealing the talent evaluation glory...

 

I'm trying to stay Pollyanna on Bloom, but he's not making it easy.

[mvp 78]

Hopefully it doesn't mean Chaim doesn't want others stealing the talent evaluation glory...

 

I'm trying to stay Pollyanna on Bloom, but he's not making it easy.

 

This doesn't make sense at all.

 

Chaim isn't really involved in the talent evaluation internationally. It has been typically delegated to Eddie Romero who oversees the scouting directors.

[Bellhorn04]

This doesn't make sense at all.

 

Chaim isn't really involved in the talent evaluation internationally. It has been typically delegated to Eddie Romero who oversees the scouting directors.

 

OK, then hopefully Eddie still has his A game...

[mvp 78]

OK, then hopefully Eddie still has his A game...

 

They did just sign Bleis in 2021 and he's already a top 3-5 prospect in the system. Hard to really project off of FCL/DSL stats, but it looks like Salem will have a considerable amount of former DSL guys next season.

[oldtimer]

Astros complete shutdown of Philly after a five-homer barrage the night before was painful to watch for both Yankees and Red Sox fans. Javier and Co. combined for a second no-hitter this year, while the Houston staff repeated what it did in the '21 ALCS, when it silenced Boston's grand slammers for good.

 

The worst news for the Sox is that the best offseason acquisition is already gone: Oz Ocampo has been signed by the Marlins... Ocampo was the Astros' exec responsible for international signings of pitchers Javier, Framber Valdez, Garcia, and Urquidy, among others.

 

I would say Bloom blew it by missing out on Ocampo, except it probably didn't "make sense" for the budget...

 

Javier is a pitcher with a fastball in the low 90's. I wonder if some execs would pass on him in the quest for pitchers with higher velo? There more to pitching than velo!

[moonslav59]

They did just sign Bleis in 2021 and he's already a top 3-5 prospect in the system. Hard to really project off of FCL/DSL stats, but it looks like Salem will have a considerable amount of former DSL guys next season.

 

SP has this as the projected Salem roster for 2023:

 

Rotation

RH Luis Perales

RH Jedixson Paez

RH Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz

LH Dalton Rogers

LH Noah Dean

 

Pen

RH Matt Litwicki

RH Luis De La Rosa

RH Luis Talavera

RH Alex Hoppe

RH Caleb Bolden

RH Jonathan Brand

RH Jose Ramirez

RH Christopher Troye

RH Henry Núñez

 

Starting 9

C Daniel McElveny

1B Lyonell James

2B Ahbram Liendo

3B Johnfrank Salazar

SS Mikey Romero

LF Roman Anthony

CF Miguel Bleis

RF Juan Chacon

DH Allan Castro

 

Bench

C Matt Donlan

C Jonathan Diaz

IF Luis Ravelo

IF BJ Vela

OF Kier Meredith

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Javier is a pitcher with a fastball in the low 90's. I wonder if some execs would pass on him in the quest for pitchers with higher velo? There more to pitching than velo!

 

Sure is: movement, location, deceptive delivery, etc.

 

The Astros R & D departments might not employ all geniuses, but you can't say they're all lucky, either.

[Bellhorn04]

Sure is: movement, location, deceptive delivery, etc.

 

The Astros R & D departments might not employ all geniuses, but you can't say they're all lucky, either.

 

They're definitely doing some things very well.

[moonslav59]

They're definitely doing some things very well.

 

They seem to be the model team, now, despite the cheating in 2017.

[mvp 78]

They seem to be the model team, now, despite the cheating in 2017.

 

They weren't dealt with harshly enough. Thanks Manfred.

[moonslav59]

They weren't dealt with harshly enough. Thanks Manfred.

 

I agree.

 

In terms of fan hatred, they are still paying the price.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I agree.

 

In terms of fan hatred, they are still paying the price.

 

Just with fans who don't even realize there are only five players left from that infamous club. They're the same fans who also don't understand that what the Phillies discerned vs. McCullers is part of the same culture of baseball since it was invented. Paying attention to details.

[mvp 78]

I agree.

 

In terms of fan hatred, they are still paying the price.

 

Does that matter to the Astros or their fans?

[Bellhorn04]

Just with fans who don't even realize there are only five players left from that infamous club. They're the same fans who also don't understand that what the Phillies discerned vs. McCullers is part of the same culture of baseball since it was invented. Paying attention to details.

 

The Astros did kind of take it to the next level with the cameras and trash can banging, though...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The Astros did kind of take it to the next level with the cameras and trash can banging, though...

 

They won, so the league made an example of only them, and not the many other clubs trying similar schemes (including the flagship franchise occupying the same city as the MLB offices).

 

The Astros also admitted to having an entire front office department dedicated to their system before they hired their new bench coach to apply it.

[Old Red]

They weren't dealt with harshly enough. Thanks Manfred.

 

No players being suspended wasn’t even a slap on the wrist.

[moonslav59]

Does that matter to the Astros or their fans?

 

The fans down here think they have been overly persecuted.

 

Of course, they think they were singled out and made an example of, but they did do something very extreme and blatant.

 

They think winning, this year, will vindicate their image.

[Old Red]

The fans down here think they have been overly persecuted.

 

Of course, they think they were singled out and made an example of, but they did do something very extreme and blatant.

 

They think winning, this year, will vindicate their image.

 

No matter how many times they win will not vindicate their image for a long time especially with Altuve, and others who cheated are still on the team.

[moonslav59]

No matter how many times they win will not vindicate their image for a long time especially with Altuve, and others who cheated are still on the team.

 

There have been several stories on how Altuve did not cheat. (I don't believe them, but...)

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The fans down here think they have been overly persecuted.

 

Of course, they think they were singled out and made an example of, but they did do something very extreme and blatant.

 

They think winning, this year, will vindicate their image.

 

I agree with every point in this post. The extreme and blatant part is really what bothered opponents.

 

It has always been my opinion that the MLB didn't discipline any players because they were only doing what many, many others on every team have always been trying to do since organized baseball began.

 

Manfred had to suspend a few in management to save face in the public eye, gestures for the sake of fans and media who never played the game much past the Little League level.

 

No ballplayers have ever been suspended for stealing bases, either.

[mvp 78]

No players being suspended wasn’t even a slap on the wrist.

 

I think that was probably because the MLBPA would have fought it and said Manfred couldn't prove players were cheating, just that management was providing means to cheat.

[mvp 78]

The fans down here think they have been overly persecuted.

 

Of course, they think they were singled out and made an example of, but they did do something very extreme and blatant.

 

They think winning, this year, will vindicate their image.

 

It didn't work that way for the Patriots.

[mvp 78]

No ballplayers have ever been suspended for stealing bases, either.

 

Ba dump...

[moonslav59]

I agree with every point in this post. The extreme and blatant part is really what bothered opponents.

 

It has always been my opinion that the MLB didn't discipline any players because they were only doing what many, many others on every team have always been trying to do since organized baseball began.

 

Manfred had to suspend a few in management to save face in the public eye, gestures for the sake of fans and media who never played the game much past the Little League level.

 

No ballplayers have ever been suspended for stealing bases, either.

 

The Astros did lose some top draft picks, but that didn't seem to bother them.

[moonslav59]

It didn't work that way for the Patriots.

 

Cause they have a new cheating scandal about the time you start forgetting about the previous one.

[Bellhorn04]

It didn't work that way for the Patriots.

 

Maybe because Bill has been there through all of it.

[mvp 78]

Cause they have a new cheating scandal about the time you start forgetting about the previous one.

 

What's the new one?

 

What was the previous one?

[mvp 78]

Maybe because Bill has been there through all of it.

 

I wonder if the stigma will stick with Kraft too?