poppysox

Hard to knock it since it worked...but...not a fan of that play.

Speed is a wonderful tool. Robert, Anderson and Moncada have that ability to hit HR's and run like jackrabbits. Going to drive some teams absolutely nuts.

Amen!

McCann is a steady influence on this team. That block of the plate while holding the ball with both hands was textbook.

Good point.

I was one of his haters...but since he's picked up his pace a bit...he's a different pitchers. A win tonight would put him at .500 with a team winning at a .447 clip. He's holding up his end of the deal. I would like to say Coop fixed him...but even I don't believe that.

It is a fools errand trying to explain what Ricky does and why. I hope no explanation will be necessary next year concerning Castillo hitting anywhere in a WS lineup.

When he's on one of these streaks...he looks great. When he is chasing out of the zone he looks like crapola. I guess that's true of most power guys.

It's fun when we beat them. Just doesn't happen often enough.

If he batted left handed I would be all over him. I still don't hate the idea.

I don't disagree with your timing thought. We will surely have some constraints on what they will spend. Need to maximize the utilization of our resources whatever they are. If Jerry will go to $175 million payroll we can have lots of bright shiny new toys.

Ricky doesn't worry about protecting a hitter. He believes in lefty/righty. Soon we will have so many good hitters that Ricky won't be able to jazz it up to much. We will be able to draw the lineup out of a hat and it will still look potent.

The vast number of major leaguers sign for reasonable offers. Only a few agents have magical powers over their clients.

I'm not suggesting Robert in the third spot. Robert gives you a top of order hitter allowing Moncada to hit third with Eloy or McCann fourth and Jose 5 th or some such variation. Jose chases to much crapola thinking he needs to do it all himself IMO.

I agree with your take on this. Additionally consider moving him down in the batting order when Robert joins the mix.

His one redeeming quality is the players like him. I'm not even sure if that is a good thing or not.

McCann won't be making outlandish demands IMO. A 3 year contract at 6 million per would have him doing handsprings.

I understand this is the thinking but the FO can see the needs just as clearly as we can I would hope. I refuse to believe that anyone thinks a couple of Nova's fills the need in the rotation.

Is he less likely to reinjure himself in Charlotte than Chicago? I don't get it.

Nothing is more nonsensical than Jay batting cleanup. Ricky and his lineups are hard to justify sometimes.

We can have Cole for a third of what Machado got and have Madrigal for the next 10 years.

That is more than true. If he is one of the two or tree starters we pick up I will be satisfied if it means the other is premium grade like Cole. I would still like a RF and several good relievers. Grandal would also be a good get. BTW I think Nova will cost about 9 million for 1 year not the 7 some are suggesting.

I agree with you but he is as good as any #5 or #6 starter available. I am actually surprised this thread has more or less showed an openness to consider him. If we have Giolito, Lopez, Kopech, Cease, Rodon, Cole, Nova & Dunning we can make it work. We will also have an improved offense and defense with Robert & Madrigal. Frankly...I would like our chances.

No denying that throw was impressive.

By the time that homer was hit my energy had left the building as well.