moonslav59

I've talked about the critical view one could take at the Yankee roster, based mostly on age and injury situations, and now a look at some Blue Jays issues: TOR won 94 games, last year, after winning 74 in 2024. Their Pythagorean W-L was 88-74, so to start with, maybe 2025 was a bit lucky and hard to repeat. Springer had an amazing year at age 35. I'm doubtful he can repeat that at 36. They have a few other bats in the 30-31 age group, but nothing too serious. TOR had 6 batters with 500+ PAs, 2 more over 350 and 5 between 175 and 300. They did not need much extended depth. Their top 7 batters by PAs all hit over .710, and they had 5 batters over .750. Gimenez .598, Straw .680 and Santander .565 were their worst 3 batters out of their top 12 PA players. They lost their #2 PA guy, Bichette (.840) and basically replaced him with Okamoto, who looks promising, but is hardly a known producer in MLB. The pitching side has some serious age-related concerns. Yes, they lost 80 year old Bassitt, but his numbers will not be easy to replace. Their ace, Gausman & Tyler Rogers are 35. Hoffman is 33. Berrios & Ponce turn 32 in April/May. Bieber, Cease & Lauer are 30. These are their best pitchers. Bieber starts the season on the IL, and Sox fans should know how that usually works out. Cease is heir big hope, but he is a far cry from the great pitcher he was back in 2022. People claim 2025 was a down or bad luck season, but he has a higher ERA in 2023. His 2023-2024 combined numbers: 21-20 4.00 (106 ERA+) and 3.40 FIP. That's pretty good, but not ace material. People said Gray was not a number 2, and his numbers from 2023-2025 are better. 2023-2025: Cease: 29-32 4.18 (102 ERA+) 3.45 FIP S Gray: 35-25 3.63 (116) 3.11 Suarez: 28-22 3.58 (120) 3.46 I'm not trying to argue Gausman and Cease are not any good, but both are bigger question marks than Crochet & Suarez, and I'll take Gray & Bello over Berrios and Ponce, too. The Jays have a good chance at having a good or very good season, but I think they look worse than 2025.

Saw a podcast where a couple guys were talking about how Duran went from an all around great season in 2024- offense, defense, power & speed to being a possible platoon DH in 2026. The only thing slowing that down is the Romy injury.

Oviedo starts today. Let's see what the big guy can do...

So, extend him 1 more year and buyout his last arb year? I'm not sure. I can see both sides.

It looks like Cora likes... 1. Anthony 2. Story 3. Duran 4. Contreras 5. Abreu 6. Durbin I hope he slots Rafaela 9th, but we've seen him bat 7th in ST'ing. I wonder if he tweaks things vs lefties, especially when and if Romy returns and shows he still rakes lefties.

Too funny! I almost busted a gut!

The Pirates scored every inning after the first! The Sox had 7 hits and 8 BBs.

The power 5!

He was a huge part of the team's success, last season and is likely a big key to this season's outlook. He blew away his most recent seasons' numbers and actually had a lower K/9 rate. His BB/9 was way better than his career norm. It's nice having Whitlock to take some pressure off him, and I'm looking forward to having a healthy Slaten for the full season. Whoever goes to the pen from Oviedo, Crawford & Sandoval could eat up a lot of middle innings, including some high leverage ones. Weissert is probably the 7th and 8th inning guys, but Watson or Moran may move up.

Does PIT have more ex Sox players than the Dodgers? I see Yorke, E Valdez and Jh Garcia in today's game. They also added some Sox minor leaguers. STL added Dobbins & Fitts and some minor leaguers, this winter. MIL added DHam, Harrison & Drohan. The Dodgers have Mookie & Kike. The winner is the CWS who no longer have Moncada, but they have Teel, Meidroth, Hicks, Sandlin, Beni, Wikelman, Murphy, Newcomb, Paez plus Montgomery (not on the 40) 6 ex Sox pitchers on their 40. 3 everyday players.

Rafaela with a bomb!

A net would help!

Okay, so you were just agreeing with the MVP sarcasm- a position nonetheless. 🤣

Probably the easiest stat to predict correctly.

So, not so much "love" as confidence in his abilities. My faves as of the moment: 1. Rafaela 2. Narvaez 3. Abreu 4. Romy 5. Whitlock

Good to see a stated opinion. "Extend the Butterfly Man," thus spoke Ole-red-a-thustra.

I really like Duran, but your love for him is beyond limits.

If they play him in the OF, the other OF'er's value is diminished.

Could be. Has he had an observed throwing session?

How much do you pay to extend a platoon bat, even if it's the strong side platoon? His .872 OPS vs RHPs is 12th in MLB since 2023 (His best sample size.) He's 17th, if I drop the PA sample size to 500 and 19th at 300+ PAs. That's damn good- no doubt. BTW... .827 Abreu .796 Contreras .795 Masa & .794 Casas

I think, assuming all healthy: Duran: DH 120 games, LF 30 gms, CF 5 gms

Ranger Suarez starts today! The line-up: Anthony LF Story SS Duran DH Contreras 1B Abreu RF Durbin 3B Rafaela CF IKF 2B Wong C (I think the first 6 might be the template for the 2026 season.)

More likely, we'd trade Masa, Mullins & Cespedes and hope someone pays half his contract. (Getting nothing in return.)

Next winter, Gray and Sandoval are out of team control, but your point is still a good one. I would not extend Duran, unless it's a team friendly deal, and I might want to see how 2026 goes, first. FAs in 2027: SP: Skubal, Guasman, Perlata, Woodruff, Bieber and more 3B: Bichette (opt out) & Bohm 2B: Hoerner, Chisholm & Torres SS: JP Crawford (move Story to 2B?) C: Ryan Jeffers & Tyler Stephenson OF: Acuna, Springer, Arozarena, Grisham

If the whole Juan Soto offer was for real, then JH should be willing to go super large and long on a guy like Skubal. Having Skubal, Crochet & Suarez locked up for 5+ years would be awesome!