Balta1701

So you didn't actually answer my question then, you just picked random teams that improved based on some criterion you invented? I don't dispute that teams can go from bad to good in a single season. I wanted to know if anyone had any examples of it happening without the benefit of either an infusion of prospects from a solid system or an infusion of high priced free agents, which is what Rick Hahn will have to do this offseason.

Plus the White Sox are so desperate for DHs that the fit from signing another one is perfect.

In bullpens, guys can have success in short stints even if they’re not very good. Jimmy Lambert had a 3.26 ERA in 42 innings last year.

What were their minor league systems ranked in the years before this?

When is the last time that a team went from bottom-4 in either league to being a title contender without: Taking a serious step back and developing a top 10-ish system, or A big increase in free agency spending? Genuinely curious if anyone has any good examples of pulling this off.

Technically he pinch hit yesterday so they’d have to do any IL stint starting then.

Consecutive series losses to Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Texas.

I sincerely doubt they will do the hard reset that I would, but I would try to move every dollar possible at the deadline. I wouldn’t worry about the return, if I can get someone to take on his contract, I will count that as a win. Removes the risk of him struggling or getting injured over the last couple years.

He’s helpful but I also think the Rangers are just trying to get the game over by swinging at anything close. I doubt there are many games when Seager and Semien both were retired on one pitch each back to back.

I think the Rangers are just trying to get to the end of the game for the late night travel.

You should probably stop now.

The Tampa metro area is 66% larger than the Nashville metro area. It’s hard to see that ownership defaulting to leaving without a sweetheart stadium deal. Central Florida should have a baseball team, I think everyone just hates their ballpark.

What?

A smart org would have respected his comeback from injury in 2021 and started stretching him out in the minor leagues, with the intent of working him back in as a successful starter.

That was the worst looking swing…

Rick Hahn probably chose Vince Velasquez over Martin Perez.

Shoulders in pitchers are so complicated that I wouldn’t ever bet either way when there’s pain. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s back in 15 days and they say he’s fine, I wouldn’t be surprised if the articles 6 weeks from now say he’s still having pain and they don’t know why. But;, the fact that soreness in muscles that weren’t used at full power for a year is likely is why no other team in baseball would ramp a guy up to bring a full time big league pitcher only 13 months after the surgery. It’s bonkers.

I cannot claim insight about how valid of a point this is, but here's a response from the Score saying that they can't be angry about local media when they don't communicate with local media.

He’s 13th in MLB (among all players) in fWAR and the top CF in the AL right now, so barring anything drastic he should be their lone representative.

If we could just get back to having an average GM, that would be progress. An average GM in the Chicago area, with moderate resources and the AL central as opponents, should be able to give you several competitive years in a stretch before a few lean and rebuilding years. We got that from Kenny Williams of all people, that’s not a ridiculous standard to hope for.

I’d just go with 4th place. It would be his 6th time there, including the arrogant years of 2015-2016.

What place did the Braves finish at in the NL in 2022? What place are they in right now in 2023?

I disagree with this. We’ve reached a point in the playoffs where teams that get hot for a couple rounds just get worn down, and a really good team always seems to knock them out in the end. When is the last time a team described by what you just wrote won a title? Maybe the Giants when they blew out Bumgarner to do it in 2014, and for them that was their third title in 5 years? After that, basically every team that has won has been really strong, winning 90 games and making the playoffs several times in a short stretch. If you have to go all the way back to the 06 Cardinals for an example, that shows how rare it is, and that team of course was extenuating circumstances- having won 100 games and making the NLCS the year before, and having two all stars who were injured but returned for the playoffs.