moonslav59

Yes, and while people are worried about injuries to Devers, Casas seems more fragile. If they both DH'd 80 times a year, maybe both could stay healthier and fresher when they are at bat. To me, Yoshida has not role on this team, unless Devers, Casas or Refsnyder is injured.

It is what is best for the team. Good call, Cora.

These were the season ending rosters in 2023, before Brez took over the team vs what we have now: Rotation: MLB- Sale, Houck, Pivetta, Bello, Crawford (Paxton IL) >> Crochet, Houck, Buehler, Bello (IL) Crawford (IL) Giolito (IL) Sandoval (IL) Fitts, Newcomb (both would be in AAA) AAA: Drohan, Barraclough, Van Belle, Walter, Gambrell & AA: Wikelman, Dobbins, Liu, Sharp, Bastardo & I Coffey >> AAA (Fitts & Newcomb) Priester, Stock, Dobbins, Fulmer, Van Belle & AA: Sandlin, Early, Paez, Monegro, Wehunt, Uberstine Pen: MLB- Jansen, Martin (IL) Winck, Whitlock, Schreiber, Bernardino, Nick Robertson, Llovera, Murphy, Kelly & AAA: Joely, Ort, Mata, Weiss, Jacques, Garza, Politi, Gillaspie >> Chapman, Hendriks (IL) Slaten, Whitlock, Wilson, Bernardino, Kelly, Weissert, Criswell & AAA: Guerrero, Wink, Mata, Mills, I Campbell, Adames, Burdi, Harris, Webb, Moore (IL) Adams, I Coffey C: Wong, McGuire, Ro Hernandez, C Hamilton>> Wong, Narvaez, Zavala & Sabol 1B: Casas (IL) Turner, Dalbec, Kavadas>> Casas & Toro 2B: E Valdez, Reyes, Urias, McDonough>> Campbell, DHam, Romy, Grissom SS: Story, Koss>> Story & Mayer 3B: Devers, Sogard>> Bregman, Devers, Sogard LF: Yoshida & Duran>> Duran & Ref, Anthony CF: Duvall & Rafaela (late)>> Rafaela (Duran) RF: Verdugo & Abreu (late)>> Abreu (Ref & Anthony) DH: Turner/Yoshida>> Devers, Yoshida/Ref

MLB.com reports that a poll of some MLB execs, showed these teams improved the most: Dodgers & Red Sox: 6 votes Mets: 4 votes Athletics: 2 votes Astros: 1 vote

I could see them waiting, if the injury happened very soon. Another option could be... 3B Campbell SS Story 2B DHam-Romy platoon

That's been my suggestion for years. He actually has a pretty good glove and moves quickly for a pudgy guy. The other factor is that the bar is set very low with casas at 1B, now. He only has to be better than one of the worst defensive 1B in MLB to improve our defense.

Yup. Let's split the difference and say we are about 1/110th of the way.

Yes, for some reason, JH need to spend way less from 2020-2022, and while he still spent a lot in 2019, there was not much "new spending." That being said, they did choose to pay Sale, Nate and Bogey over Betts. That is probably a better comp than Betts vs Devers.

I think Mayer takes over 3B, if there is a major injury, but Devers would play 3B for a game, here and there, when Bregman needs rest or has a minor injury. Yes, it's a good idea he still takes reps at 3B. (Romy could play 3B, too.)

I'm very hopeful that Buehler can and will have a big season for us. While I'm tired of the recent injury pitcher signings, this guy looks a cut above guys like Richards, Kluber and Paxton. We need a SP'er or two to have great seasons. There may be a better chance of this than for 5 of them to have really good but not great seasons.

I thought you'd like that one! Hey, we're 1/81st of the way through the season. The sample size is huge!

Devers missed a lot of ST'ing, so maybe he just needs to get back into the "swing of things." I'm not worried about his bat.... yet.

I thought we had the best rotation depth I'd seen in a long time, before Newcomb made the squad. You can never have too much SP'er depth, and this guy looks pretty good. Using Criswell in the pen helps that area get better. I wonder, if that is where Fitts and Newcomb end up, once our starters start returning.

The ALE is the only division with no losing record team.

Didn't look too good, today. Had the one big chance with bases loaded and our two big money players up. Gotta take the next game. Buehler needs to be sharp.

He pitched well: 4 IP 0 ER 2 Hits 1 BB 6 Ks Wink and I Campbell let up 4 ERs on 9 hits in 4 IP, combined. Toro hit a dinger. Mayer and Anthony went 0-7, but Anthony drew a BB.

The team is so much better with Bregman at 3B. That's the reality.

I wasn't saying he should or will. My point was that he has a better case than Abreu. I'm not worried at all about Ref getting ABs vs LHPs, so keep up the strawman arguments. I know he will get them, because Cora is no fool.

Exactly, and that is why most platoon guys stay in the game, even if they flip pitchers. Abreu started 6 games vs LHPs, last year, and I think 4 of those were in one week, when Ref was out. He started 104 games vs RHPs. That's about a straight of a platoon as you see. He still ended up getting 67 PAs vs lefties, so they must have left him in often. 6 out of 110 starts ve LH'd SP'ers is 5.5%. 67 PAs out of 447 PAs is 15%. I could see Ref giving Rafaela or Duran a breather vs LHPs, here and there, but for the most part, Abreu will and should sit vs LH'd starters, until he starts showing better numbers. 1 BB in 1 PA is not some sign or a turn around.

OK. My bad, however it does make sense that if we lose Bregman or Story for more than 10 days, Mayer should and would get the call. 2B is maybe a little more iffy, as DHam and Romy could platoon, there and save the roster spot.

Agreed. I still like notin's trade idea of Story for Murphy. Maybe throw in some cash and or a blocked prospect. I think DHam, Romy & Rafaela can be enough middle IF depth to hold us to Arias & Romero.

Agreed. Mayer is the longtime back-up at 3B.

He may end up PH'ing in many games he starts on the bench.

Yup. The choices from an offense perspective were... DH: .775 Yoshida career (.810 v R and .669 v L) Devers at 3B and Bregman at 2B 2B platoon (Bregman at 3B and Devers at DH) .697 DHam in '24 (.729 v R and .532 v R) .723 Romy in '24 (.879 v L and .498 v R) I like Campbell over both of these options, but I'd prefer DHam-Romy over Yoshida. The O could be about the same, and the defensive alignment is much better. Yoshida is the odd man out in my book. He has options, so we can stash him in AAA, in case of a DH or 3B injury. He's not really a LF option, unless 2 get hurt.

When a player platoons, he often gets several chances to bat vs the oppo hand RP'er. He will need to do well in those few and far between ABs to work his way into playing FT. You can't hit .525 and demand anything. I'm not against giving anyone a chance, but we need to win as much as we can. BTW, why can't Ref demand to play vs lefties or be traded? Now, he would have a strong case.