drewski6

That doesnt answer the question asked

This is more penciling in than I am comfortable doing at this point in time. I think we need to expect injuries and slumps and breakouts. Every season has twists and turns. As of this very moment, Im not looking to hand away Duran because "4 OF'ers", Duran has been durable and has hit a lot of doubles and right now is probably our #3 hitter. Im not against Harper, but at this point in time, Im not willing to swap Duran for Harper.

Romys down and the WBC hasnt even started yet.

I dont know that or even think that. I think it will be rare that we have full health and most nights who is playing where will depend on who is healthy, available and not slumping and handedness of pitcher.

Trading the best LF in baseball would absolutely hurt us.

I dont think it carries 0 weight. What he is saying, is that hes sick of all the falling back to options B,C,D,E. The lineup as it is currently constructed was not plan A,B,C,D,E I personally believe that Fred (who I like) is overestimating how much financial pressures from ownership are contributing to that. But I also feel like some other posters (not you) overestimate how much the falling back is a choice , and then they applaud it. It reminds me of a deadline a couple years ago. Im a homer but I have 2 friends that are more homer than I. And one deadline a few years ago my buddy was like "Im so glad no deadline moves. Because I really like this team. Bloom like me, just really really really loves this team". Meanwhile Bloom was on TV and was like "Vegas gives us about a 25% chance to make playoffs, team aint worth short term investments" ...And Im thinking thats like the exact opposite of what my friend is telling me. Bloom is essentially saying the team is too bad to add to (in the short term). And my friend, expectedly, goes into the whole "some people shouldnt open their mouth. Why say that." And Im thinking: " You just want to be happy withy what you got, you want to lie to yourself that this team was built to win, and management is not telling you what you want to hear, and I find the statements refreshingly honest." I never had an issue with Blooms communication style. I did have issues with his (lack of) aggression and complacency to roll a mediocre roster over year over year.

Yes

Well, way to punish the guy for validating ur opinion. U can be a hard guy to even agree with.

Doubt that.

Trade our best bat, again? For prospects? Did you hear he laced a double off Crochet? Duran is once again, our best acquisition.

Sure, we dont know whats in his head. But I hope its not what some old school minded folks want it to be. It should be "no to that pitch, I cant really drive it. I think a better one is coming" "no, not that one either, I was looking for a fastball and got a change and it was a good pitch selection and I cant adjust in time , wait for the next one" Then if you find yourself 3-1 or 3-2 and you get a ball in the dirt, you TAKE your walk. Its DISAPPOINTING but the best you could have done. Unless you are a noodlebat, then you celebrate. But good hitters should not being trying to walk or even drive a pitch count up. Thats like for guys who are out there for their glove, but they are trying to contribute anything offensively. Im not saying good hitters shouldnt ever take a walk. Its like folding in poker. Sometimes you gotta do it, but its not the goal. Going up there to work a count or draw a walk or even sell out for contact (let the ball get deep, slap it oppo) is SUCH a "play to not lose" mentality. Play to win. Go up there hungry and confident. Pass on pitches because you are looking to crush one and that aint it. Not because "if I see 5 pitches, IVe done my job". Thats nerd talk.

I want him to put the ball in play before theres 2 strikes.

The Red Sox did everything they could to make it easy for Bregman to sign ...........with the cubs

Absurd take, Sam.

If you are going up there trying to draw a walk, it hurts you in more places than just called strikes looking, even though I agree that is one place where it hurts you in a measurable way.

Exactly, its this OBP is king mentality that is hurting his overall production. The Yankees arent celebrating in the dugout when Aaron Judge gets walked.

I dont even really like the phrase "drawing walks" implying that its some kind of goal/achieving. To me, most of the time, its akin to settling. Take your walks, but they should only be drawn situationally. Like down by 2 runs late. Or speedster leading off an inning. Or a #8/9 hitter in there for his glove. I dont like the mentality of approaching the box and hoping to grind out a walk.

Who has a harry bum?

Got further in the playoffs last year, Im expecting positive regression to the mean for their pitching, Donovan/JROD/Cal/Naylor is a stronger front 4 than we have Just my reasoning.

Anthony Contreras Duran Story Abreu Durbin Mayer Narvaez Cedanne

Babe Ruth was traded in 1919. You are thinking of Gabe Tooth, the RS pitcher traded in 1960 for a pack of Joe Camel Cools cigs and a coat of green paint to touch up the wall

In 1993 I thought the Mendoza line was Ramiro Mendoza, the yankees reliever, as in "you are so bad , you cant even outhit this pitcher" and I was always confused why of all pitcher, Ramiro Mendoza was chosen as the bar/standard

Hope he was good in the field

That doesnt feel right but Im not immune to home team homerism. I think that the Yanks and Ms are the T1 of AL and tier 2 is Jays, us, Tigers, Orioles, T3 is Stros , Rangers, Cleveland ,,,,My opinion....Not sure why Pecota thinks of us as T3. I think if we're heading that way we'll add like Michigan Adam was saying. At least I hope so. Plus the pitching is going to win a lot of games. I think to go deep in playoffs we'll need either a breakout bat (or multiple) internally or to add bats externally as the season progresses....But even without further additions/unforseen breakouts, 82.2 feels quite low. HATERS!

I was trying to compare your optimistic leaning post to his pessimistic leaning post, and it didnt work and I apologize. I agree, 4th place at best is nowhere near reasonable, and you were never unreasonable. I think 4th is more realistic than I wish it was, but I think thats a function of the division's strength , and I think 3rd is still most likely. 2nd 3rd and 4th are all close to equal in likelihoods.