moonslav59

Wish we had Story.

If they go with 8 divisions of 4, how would they balance it? 3 games x 28 non div games? (84) + 26 games x 3 div teams (78) 4 games x 28= 112 17 games x 2 div= 34 and 16 x 1 div= 16 5 games x 28 teams= 140 7 games x 3 div= 21 (8 gms vs 1 div foe) If they went with 4 divisions of 8: 5 x 24 non div teams= 120 6 x 7 div teams= 42 This is balanced, but just 6 games vs your own division is lame. 4 x 24= 96 9 x 4= 36 + 10 x 3 div teams= 30 Not balanced 3 x 24 non div= 72 12 x 1 div=12 13 x 6 div=78 Close to balanced

Would they go to 4 divisions of 4 in each league? I'd like to see them break down the NL-AL barriers and re-align geographically. At 30 teams: 5 divisions of 6 East BOS NYY NYM PHI BAL WSH North TOR PIT DET CLE CIN CWS South TBR MIA ATL HOU TEX KC Central Cubs MN MIL STL COL AZ West SEA OAK SFG LAD LAA SDP 6 divisions of 5 BOS NYY NYM PHI BAL WSH ATL TBR MIA KC TOR PIT DET CLE CIN MN MIL CWS CC STL TEX HOU COL AZ SDP SEA OAK SFG LAD LAA

Um, there is a lot of evidence to support what I think. I don't just pull it out of a hat. Henry has had a long history of spending large for short periods of times, and then resetting the tax and not going over the threshold for 2-3 years at a time. The times he spends big seems to line up with the times we are in an upward cycle towards being a top contender. Only 2013 breaks that mold, in terms of ring seasons.

You think 32 teams is in the works?

Agreed. I just think there are times Henry thinks it's worth spending more and times he feels like spending less. I happen to think it is related to when he feels like we have a good shot at being a strong contender or not, but it's just my opinion. I think he tries to spend enough to keep the team entertaining and somewhat competitive, except for 2020, but is willing to go the extra mile, when he thinks we are 1-2 big players away from being a top contender.

I'm not trying to defend JBJ, here. I did not like the trade. I'm not expecting a big bounce back from him or even a moderate one. I was hoping for some improvement over 2021, but I also know 2020 was not that long ago either, and selectively choosing specific samples sizes to suit our cases, does not always do justice to a player. (I do it, too.) What is scary is if you go back and include the short 2020 season, where JBJ did well, he's still at .595 since the start of 2020! .661 since 2019 .678 since 2018 .689 since 2017 We may see his career OPS dip below .700, this year.

Did any rules change to make going over less punative? I focus on it a lot, because it seemed like Henry has had restricted winter budgets because of it, and not so much because of actual salaries.

I agree, but I doubt we stop spending. Instead of paying Bogey + Devers $60M, we might pay 5 guys $12M or 4 guys $15M. Instead of paying JD + Eovaldi $40M, we might pay 4 guys $10M. With an anticipated influx of farm help, I'm not sure how far you can spread out top money, and still have everyone play enough to earn the $10M. Let's assume we don't extend or re-sign anyone, this winter, and Bogey opts out. We'd start with this as a roster: SP1 Sale (health?) SP2 Houck SP3 Pivetta SP4 Whitlock SP5 Paxton/Groome/Winckowski/Bello/Mata/Seabold Closer: Barnes RP2: Taylor RP3: Crawford RP4: Diekman RP5: Brasier RP6: Sawamura RP7: DHerrn RP8: Davis/Valdez/Danish/Murphy/Walter C: _______, Wong, RHernandez/Cottam 1B: Casas, T Reed (Binelas) 2B: Arroyo, Hamilton (Yorke) 3B: Devers (last year), Arauz (Howlett) SS: Story, Downs (Lugo) LF: Duran, Fitzy CF: JBJ, Jimenez RF: Verdugo, McDonough DH: Dalbec, Rafaela Let's say instead of replacing (in kind at nearly the same pay) or extending Devers, Bogey, JD & Eovaldi, we sign 10 players. Where would they play? 1. SP 2. Closer 3. RP 4. CF 5. RF 6. 2B 7. 3B (replacing Devers after 2023) 8. P 9. P 10. P Not sure there is room for 10 and the incoming rookies.

Is it less of a burden?

I guess it's entertaining to see some varying opinions.

Good for you

Reality is he was handed a weak farm and bottom of the 40 man roster (like the bottom 18 slots) and a tight new spending budget. The checkbook was opened, this winter, so the clock starts ticking now. Blaming Bloom for 2020 and the over performing 2021 season is short-sighted.

I disagree.

My running blame game breakdown: More responsible for each loss: Starters: 2 Relievers: 1 More responsible for each win: Starters: 0 Relievers: 1 (Note: this is not necessarily a reflection of which area is better or worse, or which area needs an upgrade most of all.)

He'll likely end up better than maybe half our pen by year's end.

Citing small sample sizes is too. Oh wait, I do it, too!

Nice hit, but to the wrong place. Tough loss.

Come on JD!

It could be pretty close. Renfroe sucked in April and Schwarber was here for 2 months. 6 months of Story vs 7 good months from Renfroe & Schwarber. We could hope for better from Verdugo or a bust out year from Devers or Bogey, but that would likely be offset by a dip from someone else. I don't think offense will be our biggest weakness. I also think our starting pitchers will lose more games than our pen, and will have less to do with our wins than our pen, but that is by no means a lock. It's just my opinion. Overall, pitching as a whole is our weakest link.

Bad omen not having the game thread for 4/11.

A color most fitting for Rusney.

And games played by 2 over Judge.

He'll be one of the team's games played leaders, barring injury.

Tell that to the Rusney ranters.