moonslav59

On SPs, there are some interesting projections on what players will start at certain levels in the system. Some felt Mayer might be near MLB ready by AUG/SEP 2023, but they have him starting 2024 in AA. The projected Portland team looks pretty good: Wikelman, Bastardo, Gambrell, ICoffey, and Dobbins in the rotation. C- Hickey, 1B-Jordan, 2B-Bonaci, SS- Mayer, 3B-Paulino, OF-McDonough, Sikes & BGon with Lugo at DH. AAA has Drohan, Walter, Van Belle, Liu and Hadenman in the rotation, but maybe Murphy ends up there. The pen might make for some nice ML depth: Kelly, Guerrero, Politi, Robertson, Jacques and Fernandez. C- Scott, 1B-Dalbec, 2B-Yorke, SS-DHam, 3B-Meidroth, OF- Rosier, Rafaela, Abreu w EValdez at DH. It seems the upper levels of the farm should be pretty good. GRE (A+): Perales, Paez, Rogers, E R-C Teel, Ravelo, CCoffey, Romero, Anthony, Castro... SAL (A-): Monegro Joh Garcia, Alcantara, AAnderson, Zanetello, Bleis, Yuten, Brannon Projected Prospects ML ready by the end of 2025: P: Wikelman, Walter, Drohan, Mata, Guerrero, Dobbins, Hoppe, Robertson, Troye, ICoffey C: Teel, Scott 1B: (Dalbec), Jordan 2B: Yorke, EValdez 3B: Bonaci, Meidroth, Paulino SS: Mayer, DHam OF: Rafaela, Abreu, Rosier DH: Hickey, EValdez, Kavadas, Lugo

In the mid to late 80's they had... Ozzie Smith Willie McGee Terry Pendleton Tom Herr Vince Coleman Jose Oquendo Luis Alicea The 2009 Yankees Posada Teixeira Swisher MCabrera Ramiro Pena

I remember the old Cardinals teams. Ted Simmons hit very well from both sides, especially for a catcher. I think at one time, the Cards had a bunch of switch-hitters: Simmons Templeton Reggie Smith Jerry Mumphrey Plus lighter hitters Kessinger, Tony Scott & Vic Harris

We thought our rotation and D would be our downfall.

Too bad we couldn't have played the Nats earlier, this year, and PIT & STL, later.

Indeed. As much as this game seemed winnable, no one game, by itself, knocks a team out of a race. If we can keep beating good teams, like we have, this year, we are still in this thing.

He certainly could, as could Devers, Duvall, Casas, Yoshida or maybe even Duran or Dugo. Some have already shown they can do it, this year, at least twice: OPS in 2023 stretch 1.544 Duvall first 9 games (1.030 first 20 games) 1.308 Dugo 8 games in June 1.288 Yoshida 14 games April-May 1.271 Casas 8 games in May 1.186 Duran 17 games Jun-Jul 1.164 Dugo in 9 games in May 1.149 Devers 12 games in July 1.139 Duran first 17 games of season (1.006 first 28 gms) 1.098 Casas 13 games in July 1.062 Yoshida last 9 games of May 1.042 Dugo 8 games in late April 1.025 Dugo first 5 games of season 1.024 Duvall 11 games in July 1.012 Devers first 14 games 0.990 Yoshida 26 games June-July Story in 2022: 1.387 in 10 game stretch in May Notice how none are from mid July to mid August, except.... 1.019 Reyes in 8 games up to yesterday.

I still think our team can hit better than we have for the last few weeks, but how long can we go on like this, before we have to start thinking we might very well have been wrong. I'm far from giving up, but our bats need to wake up.

3.34 ERA Team is 7-9 in his 16 starts. 12 of his 16 starts, he let up 0-2 ERs. (1 with 3, 1 with 4 and 1 with 5)

With all the head-to-head series remaining, anything can happen, but it right now, it does look like a 3 team race for that WC 3 slot. I do think there is an outside chance TBR folds, and makes it a 4 team race for 2 slots, but it's hard to tell. There is less and less time for that to happen. Head to head games: BOS 7 v HOU 5 v TBR 3 v TOR SEA 6 v HOU 3 v TBR TOR 6 v TBR 3 v BOS TBR 6 v TOR 5 v BOS

Let Houck start, but just yank him after 18 batter or 50 pitches, whichever comes first. With the long RP'ers we have, our pen can handle it. Just no piggy-back BS. Mix it up.

That was a heart-breaker loss.

His inability to pitch well after 50 pitches and/or the 3rd time through a line-up, for whatever reason, is not overblown. I hope it's not too late to get Whitlock back to being the pen ace he was.

I'm almost certain they won't get two solid, new SP'ers. They will count on Crawford or Houck and even Sale. I won't get it. I can understand thinking 2024 is the year to pounce. I had hoped 2023 was, but if they keep putting it off, or worse yet, never pounce, I'll be on the criticism highway. To me, our pen would be freaking awesome, if we kept all our proven "long men" in the pen. It might even be revolutionary. Whitlock Houck Crawford Pivetta Murphy and even Wink can go 2. Add Jansen, Marin and Schreiber and that's 9 solid pen pieces for an 8 man pen. (Joely & Bernardino makes it 11.) That leaves just Bello and Sale, with Sale being so unreliable, I'm not sure mentioning his name is worth it. No way we get 3-4 solid SP'ers, so we know we will be working backwards: Pivetta to rotation: Murphy makes the pen. Houck to the rotation: Joely or Bernardino makes the pen. IMO, that's as far as we should go, and that leaves 2 slots, with Sale still being discounted. SP1 _______ SP2 Bello SP3 _______ SP4 Pivetta SP5 Houck SP6 Sale Closer Jansen RP2 Martin RP3 Wink RP4 Schreiber RP5 Whitlock RP6 Crawford RP7 Murphy RP8 Joely/Bernardino I'd be fine, if we spent all our money on jsut those two slots and rolled the dice with our everyday players, as they are, now (minus Turner, Duvall), but in reality, we should have enough to pay for or trade for... 2 SP'ers and 1 decent bat who plays 2B or CF/RF. KIt's been years, since I have felt like we are down to just 3 significant holes.

I think teams figured that out and forced players to give up the dream.

Pablito!

Houck pitched well for Woo, in their 8-1 win. 4IP 1H 0ER 0BB 4K Abreu homered, again- (1-2 w 2BB) Scott homered (1-3 w BB) DHam homered (1-3 w 2BB) POR is winning 7-1 Dobbins 7IP, 5H, 1ER, 0BB, 8K Meidroth 2-4 Sikes 1-3 HR

How many of those switch hitters actually did well from both sides? Maybe, those who are not so good are converted early.

What's the definition of "is?"

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, if we don't go for and get Y.Y. from Japan and/or Urias as a FA, I'm not sure I want Bloom spending large & long on a 30+ pitcher- just pull the plug on a big trade, involving a top prospect or two, and maybe more for a younger top SP'er with 3_ years of team control.

Indeed, but the Yankee injuries seemed more predictable.

I don't think Mayer, Anthony, Teel, Bleis or Yorke graduate, next season, so I think we rise, some more. Rafaela may graduate mid or late 2024. Maybe Abreu and Walter. We have a few guys that have dropped, like Yorke, Bleis and Mata who might rebound, next year, but I'm really high on so many of our lower level prospects that I have to think some are going to jump a ton, next year, or even in the next month. Cespedes Monegro Zantello Joh Garcia Castro AAnderson C & I Coffey Yuten, Arias and others Maybe 1 or 2 from these guys surprise between now and next August: Wikelman, Perales, Drohan and E R-C or this group: Hickey, Meidroth, Bonaci, EValdez, DHam, Paulino, Guerrero, Kavadas and Scott Or this... Romero, Jordan, Alcantara, Dobbins, Bastardo, Rogers, Paez and more...

I'm all for for having 9 players that don't need a platoon, but when you have guys like Ref and Dugo, then, why not? BTW, I'm not for platooning Casas or Duran, but their splits are wide enough, that when they are to be rested, just pick a day the correct handed pitcher is starting. It's not complicated. It's also not all that big a deal. I'm done talking about it for a while.

If we win 5 out of 7 v HOU, they are not good to go.

PH him.