I have never said the Moreland signing was a great one. I just didn't think it was a horrible one. He got a Chris Young contract to be a backup/insurance first baseman.
I think it's time for me to start my thread about Baseball Philosophy - in which we seek explanations for WHY there is so much randomness in baseball, WHY hitters and pitchers have such hot and cold streaks etc.
The economic disaster of HanRam's option vesting is being overstated a bit. Even if it happens, the $22 million comes back for the years 2020 and every year after that.
That's fine, but I think we can all agree that's there a huge difference between winning the division and making it to a wild card game. Some folks on this board don't even consider the wild card games to be the playoffs.
Yes, I think it's time to start hoping for a healthy Hanley turning in one of those big seasons he has had. He looks like he's highly motivated but also having fun.
dgale is a very reasonable fellow.
But there's no way it will be a smooth ride to winning the division. It's doable obviously but tough. A smooth ride to winning the wild card, perhaps.
Let's be reasonable, Moreland will play, we know that. At minimum, when JD plays OF, HanRam DH's & Moreland plays first. Plus Moreland is late inning defensive sub for HanRam.
And obviously Moreland is also insurance for HanRam injury.