a700hitter

If the Marlins weren't such apoorly run organization they would have more revenue to support a bigger payroll. Stanton's price isn't the problem. The buffoons running their organization are the problem.

Who can figure out the thought process of the Marlins organization. They have made so many inexplicable illogical decsions. If anyone had a brain there, they would extend Stanton long term. He is the type of player that fans will pay to see.

The guy has destroyed his legacy. Plus, he has made himself a punchline.

It would have my blessing if it goes down, despit my blind hatred for the FO.

Agreed.

The highlighted statement is just silly and childish. I will always scrutinize the FO. They are the ones who are responsible for putting the team on the field. Scrutiny is not hate. Some moves are good some are bad. Their record speaks for itself, and it is very mixed with 2 last place finishes sandwiched around a World championship. Their record is almost schizophrenic. It is certainly not very consistent. You are right that I did like the acquisition of AGon, but that doesn't change the result that it was a mistake in the final analysis. Just because I was also wrong about it doesn't make them right. The fact that I liked the AGon move when it happened disproves your assertion that I always hate the FO. It is pretty clear that the FO made a very bad move in the end getting Webster and Rubby and $ for Rizzo. It's just that simple.

How many Rookies do you think will be in the 2015 rotation?

I am not dismissing anything. Sure trading AGon was a huge benefit from that point on, but it can't be separated from the transaction obtaining AGon that cost us probably the best hitting prospect that the organization produced since Ellsbury. Giving them credit for trading AGon after giving up Rizzo for him would be like giving someone credit for climbing out of a hole that they dug for themselves.

It is a "data point"? I dont even know what that means in this context. Comparing XB s stats to those of Dwight Evans rookie year or those of any other player is anecdotal and worthless as proof of anything. You mention Iglesias. Iglesias has less career career AB s than XB. Pedroia? After 170 games, Pedroia had won Rookie of the Year. XB has played 162 games.

My apologies to the late great Alex Webster - Hall of Fame football player, gambler and actor. Allan Webster should never be confused for Alex Webster.

The trade nets out as Webster and Rubby and $ for Rizzo. Try to tell me how that was a good thing. Right now you are just blustering nonsense in an attempt to bust chops. I can do this all day. If you are trying to get under my skin, you should know better than that after all this time. All my ballbuster friends are gone. I miss some of them. I enjoy an argumentative beat down.

Ditto.

You have always had a soft spot/blind spot for the underdogs.

BTW, the book can be closed on Bradley and Middlebrooks.

I like looking at numbers, but they mean nothing as they are merely anecdotal. There's no hate of XB from me. I haven't even come up with a good derogatory nickname for him yet, because it is too early to close the book on him. What we do know are the facts. The facts are that he did not cover himself in glory in 2014. His hitting was not good and neither was his fielding. He needs to improve both aspects of his game a lot to be our long term SS. Not a fact but my opinion is that he was not ready for MLB in 2014. He should have been working on his game at AAA. I also think it is unwarranted to expect or put any validity in these reports that he has a ceiling of Manny (unless they mean Manny Trillo) or reports of his massive potential. None of that means anything to me, because those people need stuff to write. Writing that he might only be meh isn't good copy. His "potential" means nothing now. He has had a full season in the majors. The only question now is how much he can develop and improve his game from what we witnessed in 2014. What he did in 2014 will not be acceptable going forward. We will know soon enough whether he is moving in the right direction. Predictions and scouting reports are useless at this point. He has a lot of work to do on his game.

I think most of us can understand a hot streak. We also know that hot streaks don't translate over a full season.

no you cannot. The team is committed to $18 million. You could look at it as 1 year for $ 18 million if he blows up like 40 year olds are apt to do.

I'm an advocate of smart management. In the end, they didn't trade an unproven prospect for proven talent. In the end,they swapped a blue chip prospect for 2 busted prospects and $. Keep on trying Bell. I can do this all day long.

so we got Webster and rubby and $ for Rizzo. Terrible move.

And this translates as proof that XB will likely have a career similar to Dewey? Or is it anecdotal evidence of what is possible? It is far more probable that he will not have have a Dewey like career.

And if he falls off a cliff in 2015 which would not be unusual for a 40 year old, they would have a $9 million sunk cost in 2016. I would have increased the AAV in 2015 to something like $11 or 12 million and taken a club option for $ 8 million for 2016. I would consider a player option for $ 8 million if he pitches more than 60 innings in 2015. A 2 year contract for a 40 year old is never a good idea regardless of the AAV.

But those trades did net us Alex Webster and Rubby for Rizzo.

What makes you think it is valid to extrapolate and project XB s future performance when in almost 600 plate appearances he OPS'd .660 had an OBP of .297 and a whopping 46 RBI? Let me remind you that you were making similar projections about Automatic Out Jr when he changed his stance and had about 10 good games. That didn't turn out to be even close to accurate as he got even worse. These projections based on a guy's best segment of the season are worthless and completely invalid. Most of his production was in garbage time in September after the team had been out of the race for at least a month. The rap against him is that he chokes when it matters. It remains to be seen if that criticism is valid. Let's see how he does when they come out of the gate in April.

I would have given him $12 million for 1 season with team option of $8 million for a second season.

He might be, but the organization probably would haqve kept AGon if he had been popping 35 HRs out of the park each year. If the guy carries a wrecking ball bat, you can tolerate his personality.