moonslav59

I totally agree, but rental trades suck. A trade like Aldo Ramirez for Schwarber would be fine. I'm just not for trading Arias, Bleis and Early for Hoskins and Quintana.

I wasn't projecting those numbers for all 3 rookies: I was asking if those numbers would be enough to make up for the loss of literally 25% of our offense. I hate the idea of putting more pressure on these kids by batting them 3-4-5, like we had 3 rookies slotted, the other night. I don't expect any in house replacements to come close to making up 25% of our offense lost by trading Devers. I can hope and pray the remaining 12 guys + who? Eaton can maybe make up 5-10%. Maybe an outside addition can add another 5-10%, but I seriously doubt we can get to 15%, this summer/fall. I'm not for trading top prospects for a 2 month bat rental. This looks like yet another "wait till next year" moment way too soon within a season, but I'm not giving up, just now. I think Brez understands that the best trades are made in the winter, so I hope he doesn't go hog wild on rentals, unless we just trade marginal and blocked prospects to get them. It does seem like we manufacture or are terrible at avoiding these major cluster you-know-whats, time and time again.

I'm sure we'll hear more tidbits as time goes by. I will add that, we could have decided to say no, or put off the trade, once tings started "looking up." Rumor had it, we were all set to trade Betts in 2019, when suddenly, things started looking up, and we called it off. it could have happened here. The difference was, we wanted Betts but just wouldn't pay him: we did not want Devers, anymore. Plain & simple. I think we jumped at the timing, in case Devers got hurt, of SF found another trade to their liking

There is a window with Crochet and Bregman- both getting paid a lot. I'd like to think we will try to win, now, but not at the great expense of making a ton of prospect trades, especially for 2 month rentals. Key words: "I'd like to think"

Jordan is starting to get my attention. Maybe he was just a late bloomer. Tibbs went 1-3 w BB. Justin Gonzales went 2-3 and Musett 3-3.

How about Story, Casas, Abreu, Tolle and Romero for Olsen and Sale?

We aren't keeping any kid on the 26, if he's not going to be playing, a lot. I do think we make a trade, and Bregman will probably not be back until after the trade deadline, but even if we keep everyone of our everyday players, someone will not be doing to well and will be the obvious guy to be demoted. My guess is Toro. Campbell can platoon with Romy at 1B and get some time at 2B or CF, if he deserves it.

You know when you take a piece of bread and put it in the toaster? What comes out? That is Yoshida. And, there isn't even any butter.

Abreu is an aside? He's a better hitter vs R than Yoshida, and Duran, Rafaela and Anthony. He's a better defender than Duran, Refsnyder, Yoshida & Anthony.

Max, why does the last 6 games matter for the pitching staff but not for Toro?

I think that was the root of his being offended they moved him to DH. Even if he was good, he could not have possibly thought he was Bregman good, could he?

Winning low scoring games does not mean our O is good. I think the kids will improve, too, but the loss of Devers leaves a whole of 25% of our offense to plug. I like our D: they just have not played up to their level on paper, yet. I am more pessimistic about our pitching, despite the last 6 games.

The guy actually convinced himself he was a good defensive 3Bman.

I'm not on the Gio bandwagon, yet.

I think you assume batter continue hitting like they have so far. Toro is already coming down to earth (2 for last 17) and it's a long way to Bregman's return. Maybe Toro still deserves the 1B platoon by then, but maybe not. The way Campbell is playing now, I agree, but Toro is not doing well, either. Don't look, now: most of our O is not doing well. It's hard to project who will be deserving in August.

Maybe I was right about the Yanks not being much better that the rest of the AL. The Astros are tied with them, while missing more than half their rotation. Right now, they are 1.5 better than the Rays and 2.0 better than the Jays. Sure, they are 4 better than us, but they are swinging downwards,

Game ovah! Yanks lost.

I forgot to mention infielder time at DH. Right now, it looks like the OF'ers will cover DH until Breg's return, but afterwards, maybe it will be wide open. The Toro-Romy experiment may be over by then, too, so Campbell could play 1B.

Now that KC, Mayer and Anthony are with the Red Sox, the WOO and POR line-ups look rather thin. We see a few promising players, but more dead end and AAAA types. The GRE club has been the fun team to watch, this season, and now it's like the only team to watch. Taking away the players now in the bigs, here are the OPS leaders at each level (non pitchers): AAA: .928 Jh Garcia (up to 100 PAs in AAA- the one true AAA everyday promise) .913 Hickey (I'm still not sold, but good to see him making a move.) .858 Jordan (not at 60 PAs w Woo, yet/ .928 w POR) .798 Thompson (AAAA profile) .742 Sogard (not sure he can ever be more than utility) .719 Grissom (has some interest and chances) .714 Sabol (AAAA catcher) AA .792 Romero (The only guy with real promise) .770 Ehrhard .768 Castro A+ .817 Arias (GG defense, too) .790 Bleis (on the rise) .759 N Taylor .716 Brannon A- .928 Encarnacion .924 Anderson (100 PAs, now) .856 Ju Gonzales .804 Azocar .804 Arias (promoted) .727 Yuten .721 Mussett .700 Nunez .698 Cespedes

Houck went 1 IP: 2 hits, 1BB, 0 Ks and 1 ER.

I want to see Devers playing 2B in our series.

Was he in the clubhouse? I doubt any current player would speak out against Devers. The fact that none have come out to say glowing things about Devers may or may not telling.

Let it be known: we CAN beat good pitching and good teams.

I don't think we keep any of our 3 prospects on the big club, if the plan is to start them under 50-60% of the games. Maybe even under 70-75%. I like Bregman at 3B, Mayer at SS and Story at 2B, but Story has looked better on D, of late, so maybe Mayer at 2B works, too. Campbell could play 2B vs LHPs and maybe some CF vs RHPs, but I think Cora really loves Rafaela in CF FT, and I can't blame him. Duran should not be benched vs RHPs, so the only other place for Campbell to get 60-75% playing time would be 2B vs LHPs and some 1B vs RHPs. I'm not sure we try that, unless Toro struggles between now and Bregman's call-up, which is possible. Currently, he's 2 for his last 17, so maybe the decline has begun.

Houck pitched one inning for Woo, today: 1 hits, 1 run, 1BB, 0 Ks