moonslav59

These types of pitchers seem to be recycled from team-to-team, and often end back with a team that already gave up on them once.

Hoping Devers has a career year. (I keep saying that.)

In all likelihood, injuries and poor showings by a few players will help make some of the roster choices easier to make for Cora and Brez, but we could see some difficult decisions having to be made. One could be optioning Yoshida to AAA or some "rehab" assignment. The biggest logjam seems to be at 2B, although many "contenders" are not going to break anyone's hearts if demoted, traded or otherwise. If Bregman plays 3B 90+% of the time, then the choices get tougher. It gets tough (or easy, however you want to look at it) if Campbell is raking this spring. Even if he is added to the 40, 26 and starting line-up, the choices for back-up infield could get difficult. It helps to have Rafaela able to play SS & 2B on the 26. I figure a catcher and refsnyder take 2 of the 4 slots on the 26, so (assuming Campbell wins the 2B job) the last 2 slots could come down to.... DHam: Maybe the best defensive 2Bman of this group and a decent batter vs RHPs, but our need is vs LHPs. He is a minus on D at SS and 3B. He could steal 60+ bases per 650 PAs, if given the chance and a decent OBP. Romy: Maybe the best bat vs LHPs on the team, behind Ref. He can also play 1B and a decent 2B, SS and 3B. Word is he can play some OF, too, but I doubt we need him there. He might have the best shot. Grissom: Two years ago, he looked very promising. A slump and then an injury soured many against him, while he'll be forever known as the guy we got for Sale, but we should not write this just turned 24 year old. (He's 3-4 years younger than DHam & Romy.) He's not good on D at SS, and looked bad at 2B, in the limited time he played there in '24. He bats RH'd but unless he shows he can hit, that might not matter. Yoshida: His injury could be used as an excuse to delay the choice, especially if Devers is looking like the near FT DH in '25. He can hit better than Rafaela L & R, and better than Duran & Abreu v L, but his D is so much worse, it looks like the best he can do is come out equal to Rafaela (and better than Abreu vs lefties.) I'm not sure even the $18M a year is enough to give him the nod. Anthony may win a slot, but it might take an OF injury. That's not to say he's not as good as Rafaela and Abreu v lefties, but they may hold back this choice to see how the OF starts the season. He could gain that extra year of control by waiting, too, so maybe that plays into the choice. Seeing if Yoshida can build back value or earn a slot in the line-up may be the biggest factor in choosing Anthony for the 26. (He will not be on the 26 in a bench role.) I don't see Sogard as a choice, unless we see multiple injuries, and he won't be a longtime fix, anywhere.

Likewise.

Nary a peep.

Fussin's what makes the world go 'round. (I'm gonna write a song titled that.)

Not much to report on today's 6-1 loss. Jap Stock looked awesome... NOT! DHam with 2 of the team's 5 hits. He also stole his 2nd base of the spring.

We've been told to stop fussin'.

Watch how many articles will be written about these latest non controversial comments by Devers.

148 pitchers had 70+ IP from 2023 to July 18, 2024. Bernardino's 1.1 fWAR placed him top 60. He placed 41st in FIP at 3.33. 19th in ERA- at 63. (105th in WHIP at 1.32 is not good.)

ERA-, it's better to be lower. Last I checked 101 is lower than 102- not below average.

He may not. He sounded pretty sure of himself and his position. He kinda reminds me of Manny, without all the drama, until maybe, now. Happy-go-lucky. Loves playing the game and has fun doing it. Extremely focused and studious on hitting. I'm just saying my gut says he's not a prolonged pouter.

I based it on my opinion that Devers seems easy-going and is not a hot head. Tell me what you think and what your opinion is based on.

Based on my opinion. I also won't be surprised, if he grumbles, some. The guy thinks he's a good defensive 3Bman. He takes pride in what he does. He also seems to really enjoy the game. He smiles, a lot. To me, he seems like an easy-going kind of guy, who will accept what Cora tells him to do. He may not like it, but I think he will not make a big stink about it. I could be wrong. It would not be the first time.

I won't be at all surprised, if he ends up DH'ing 140 games without a peep.

I get a feeling we will be seeing many of our lower ranked prospects make some very strong leaps upwards. Some will disappoint or get hurt, but we have so many prospects with promise, I think we will be impressed.

Indeed, but he doesn't really have to agree. He is not the manager. He just has to not pout or let his feelings interfere with his hitting and contributions to the team, as a DH or possibly 1Bman and back-up 3Bman.

Since 2023, the league average is a 102 ERA-, Kutter's is slightly better at 101 for SP'ers. When you factor in rotten defense, his SIERA 4.04, while the leagues is 4.27.

I'm not seeing a big "fuss" over Crawford. Most of the talk has been about is he better than Bello or Gio, or should he be the 5th, 6th starter or in the pen as the long man. Hardly a "fuss," but here are some numbers that show he might be better than average: Looking at 2023-2024, and why count his first couple seasons, anyway? 32nd in IP. That's not a bad thing, even if mediocre. It beats having Chase Anderson and Keller on the mound. To put this in perspective, there are 150 pitchers in the rotations of 30 teams, at any given moment. You have to drop the 2 season sample size to under 140 IP (70 per season!) to get that many pitchers. Among the 150 pitchers with 140+ IP since 2023, Crawford places..... 49th in fWAR at 4.1 (Houck is 4.9 and Crochet 4.7) TOP 3rd 64th in SIERA at 4.04 (League SIERA: 4.27) 87th in ERA- at 101 (slightly better than the league average of 102.) Middle 3rd. 90th xFIP at 4.33 near bottom of middle 3rd. (League 4.22) 45th in K-BB% at 17.3% (league 114.3%) The kid is not bad. He's about average, which as a 5-6 starter is damn good, IMO!

We gotta keep Devers bat in the line-up, or we are toast. The choice is obvious.

They've both been in the league about the same time. I recognize team seniority is more important. I don't see things as only black and white. You ended your reply to me with this, "Devers has EVERY right to feel that way, and it shouldn’t come as any surprise to anyone." What did I say or even imply that has anything to do with this? Of course, I'm not surprised and of course Devers feelings are understandable. What does it mean when you say, "This has been already been gone over before." You don't just choose those words for no reason. Saying that implies the debate was settled or your point was established and does not need to be brought up again. Of course, your fallback will be that your words have alternate meanings that nobody else shares, but your street corner buddies. You are the master of strawman building, but I am aware you probably don't even know what the true meaning of the term is.

Oh, you went over this before, so it's set in stone. of course Devers has every right to want what he wants and say what he said. My point was about Bregman's seniority and accomplishments. Yes, team seniority matters more, and I get that, but that does not mean Bregman's case is moot. It's a good thing he's open to playing whereever Cora wants him, so there will be no show down between the players, but to me, Bregman has done a better job at 3B for just as long as Devers, and that has meaning, too. For someone who stresses the rights of everyone to have their own opinion, you sure make it sound like some opinions are off limits. There is no "surprise" about Devers' position. I never said he does not have "the RIGHT to feel that way." More strawman talk. I'd have been surprised if Devers rolled over, easily.

Bregman has equal seniority. I'm not sure why Devers might thinkhis opinion over rides all others.

Agreed, but with Bregman at 3B and Devers/casas at DH, Ref has to play corner OF vs LHPs.