moonslav59

The toughest call Bloom might ever have to make is if we are a few games out of the last WC slot at the deadline. How will fans react to a major sell-off, if there was enough belief this team could turn it around and seriously compete for a ring. Personally, I don't see us being serious contenders, this year, as of now, and assuming we will not be buyers at the deadline. That doesn't mean my mind can't be changed. If we go on another tear and pick up some key pieces at the deadline, like in 2021, maybe- just maybe...

One or two more 15-8's and we're in the wild card slot lead.

He posted this right after we lost 4 of 6 to the O's and Reds, but we were also 13-7 before it. We are 2-0 sine its start. Some reverse mojo provided by jacko.

How long does this "grooming" take?

I've agreed, we'll attempt to fill 3 maybe 4 from within the system, but we've been signing 7-9 players for 2 years in a row. (I won't count 2020.) My hope is we do it with a few players above the $3-10M range. Since we may be replacing or extending a few already above that range, I'm not sure why that would create a mess. I'm not saying we will see 3-5 Story-like contracts, but I would not be surprised to see 4-6 contracts above $11M/yr and another 3-5 between $6-11M for a total of 7-9 above $5 or 6M. How many of these guys will be the pencilled in starter/full-timer? C Wong/RHern 1B Casas/Dalbec/Cordero 2B Arroyo/Downs/Fitzy (assuming Story at 2B) OF Duran DH Dalbec/Cordero SP Sale, Paxton, Whitlock, Pivetta, Houck (RP?)/Bello/Seabold/Winckowski/Groome/Walter/Mata RP Barnes,Taylor, Diekman, Schreiber, Danish, Davis, Sawamura, Brasier, Valdez, German If we don't replace a large chunk of these guys from outside the sytem, it will be an ugly mess: Bogey JD Eovaldi Kike Wacha Hill Strahm If we had ML ready players in the system that could step in and play, right now, why haven't we seen them, already? It's not like we are doing so well, there is no way to try them out, now. Vaz & Plawecki

Careful, you'll be accused of ganging up on the negative gang.

There are plenty of posters who would love to bring DD back.

And to think we made gains while losing 4 of 7 to the O's and Reds.

As far as I know, yes. I was thinking of putting a "the" in front of it, but I don't want to add more pressure on our next mega star.

The ALE has 3 of the top 4 records in the AL. The ALE has 4 of the top 7 teams in wins in the AL.

The pen squeaks by.

I'd play Franchise in the OF, when not at 1B.

Good answer!

And you doubted the dominance... or not!

Better pad this lead!

Danish walked the first guy in the 8th, but yesm Strahm added some gas to the dumpster fire.

Doesn't it seem like Lowrie was around during Dan Duquette's era? (I know he wasn't, but it feels like forever!)

This better not be happening (again.)

Hickey went 3-3 with 2 BBs and a 2B Kavadas had another BB w no Ks along with that 6th tater. The team walked 9 times and had just 3 Ks.

We might not win in 2018 without JD and Sale.

A late bloomer.

Those damn leadoff walks! And how many times to the 9 hitter?

Big game from Big Nate. Pen better hold this one! How ab out some more runs?

He always "had the tools," but so did a lot of others like him that failed. For a while, it looked like Winckowski was the best hope of redeeming something from that Beni trade. Now, Beni's control is up, this winter, and Franchy has 2 more arb years.

Can anyone really imagine we could have a budget like this? AAV in $millions 30.0 Devers 29.0 Betts 28.1 Bogey 25.6 Sale 23.3 Story 22.0 JD 17.0 Nate Total $175M on just 7 players