Flash

Not sure if this is a serious sentiment but I like it....looking at you Seattle. Kelenic plus ???

If Rodon stays healthy (big if), no need to add pitching, Scherzer or otherwise unless Gio loses his groove. Up the middle depth piece and/or LH hitting corner OF would be nice to have and I wouldn't turn down addition of Bryant is possible but we've already cited the challenges there.

As we sit here today, its hard not to like the WS to emerge in the AL just based on pitching alone. Between Kopech, Rodon, Lynn and Gio... good luck. On a given night, Keuchel and Cease can also make you look bad and I'm confident the BP will live up to its billing.

Top 3?

Here's a question to ponder...is TA among top 5 SS in MLB today?

I like the Padres and the Mets but in a short series, the one team I would not want to face is the Brewers...Dodgers included.

You make a good case for not hiring him to begin with.

Of course he's going by his gut. Like all managers, his gut instincts are informed by experience which include years of processing scenarios and having a feel for his players. I disagree its fair to question his decision. Thats what JR is paying him for.

Agreed. Vaughn seems to be finding his stroke. Why disrupt his rhythm now?

Not a fan of TLR but the guy has earned the right to exercise his perogative in the moment. He's seen this movie many times, weighs what the analytics say and has a feel for each player and how best to use him in a given situation. If he didn't feel having Grandal bunt him over was the best move, he obviously wouldn't tell him to. Its not like he wasn't aware or didn't calculate the various scenarios. He processed the situation in real time based on his many years of experience. Sometimes, it goes against the book.

It was a rhetorical question. Burnes has been historically good. Always around the plate (zero walks) yet hitters can do nothing with him. Machado and Tatis sat it out against him last night to avoid humiliation. My guess is he won't go the entire season without giving up a walk or another run but you never know ?

Just curious...is that guy Corbin Burnes any good? Haven't been following.

I can actually see it happening. Not so far fetched!!

This pitching staff will keep us in the chase but hitting has obviously underperformed. I understand SSS but I see no reason to believe Moncada and Vaughn are going to turn it around anytime soon. On the flip side, I'm optimistic about Mercedes continuing to disrupt things and my expectations for Collins remain high.

I've got some buddies in Milwaukee who are hard core baseball fans, one of whom pitched a bit in the Twins system. They told me the Brewers had a pitcher with the best stuff they had seen in years. I told them I was familiar with Brandon Woodruff and I agreed he had great stuff. They said it wasn't Woodruff but rather some guy named Corbin Burnes. Not familiar with Burnes I made it a point to follow him starting in 2020. He might fizzle out but, for now, I agree with my buddies.

Burnes has 30Ks and 0 walks to start the year. That's nobody's pitching line...ever, regardless of who's hitting.

Another lousy outing for Burnes (v. Cubs). 6IP, 2 hits, 10ks.

Locking them up seemed like a good idea at the time and might still be the case but if they don't perform, thats a chunk to have to work around, especially with how this team manages payroll.

My concern isn't the absolute amount of 2021 payroll but rather the $100M tied up in Moncada and Jimenez through 2024 (plus options/buyouts). I'll stipulate that Jimenez will deliver on his promise when he returns as long as he can stay on the field. I am more concerned that Moncada might never fulfill on his vast potential. He was a bright spot in 2019 despite the many strikeouts but 2020 and thus far this year he really looks overmatched at the plate. Obviously I'm stating the obvious here but I'm not optimistic he's gonna figure it out anytime soon. If he doesn't hit and Eloy doesn't return to form and stay on the field, thats a lot of powder locked up in multiyear deals. I suppose I would be less concerned if Madrigal and/or Vaughn were looking like potential All-Stars but thus far, that hasn't been the case.

Easy one for me...Tauchman. Would probably cost Steiver but he would answer so many needs (LH, some pop, all 3 OF positions, cheap).

Need TA to return to provide some swagger. Current lineup lacks chemistry. More or less a collection of interesting players w/o an identity. Its also time for Moncada to start performing at the plate. Since his breakout in 2019, while improved at 3B, he is currently an easy out at the plate, especially from the right side. This guy was scheduled to be among the premier players in MLB and he's looking more like a liability.

Got it. Thanks

Do you know the date to send him down by in order to preserve service time?

One of the first honest assessments of Eloys trade value I've see posted here. We had a window before he got hurt to maximize his market value in trade. Maybe he'll return in great physical shape and continue to knock the cover off the ball but unless/until evidence of sustainable performance, demand for his one-dimensional value will disappoint this board.

Another shit outing for Burnes today in St. Louis. Gave up a hit to first batter he faced then retired the next 18 in a row, 9 on Ks before being lifted. On season he has thrown 12.1 innings and allowed 2 hits while striking out 20. WHIP = 0.16.