Every GM has default starters from the previous year. The idea that any GM would bench Story and bring in someone like Bichette, or any other SS, is a non-starter.
And that's always the problem. I'd say roughly 20% of the teams know if they are contenders or out of it. If I were the RS, I'd start adding on the cheap. Maybe another RP who could be flipped at the deadline, if necessary. Or maybe a RH slugging DH with no other skills.
Probably because we are starting to hit.
Over the past 28 days, 14th in OPS.
Over the past 14, #16.
Over the past 7, #8.
The past 7 & 14 are BABIP influenced, but the last 28 looks legit.
Unless I missed something, the RS still had a challenge left on Yoshida's 2nd pitch. Not using it there is a waste. That would've made it 2-0. That's a huge difference. Past that, good game.
The FO/manager has to talk to these guys. It's like baserunning, where every decision requires a minimum level of success. First inning, you need to be about 99% certain.
If they were to re-rank the prospects, but included Tolle's 2026 results, he'd probably be top-10, maybe top-5. Trading him to enhance our chances of making the playoffs in 2026 is just one more fantasy.