caulfield12

See Baldwin this year...3+ hot AA months and boom, you're a starting middle infielder in the majors despite a "marginal" prospect profile coming into the year.

Reconvert. He pitched in Japan, albeit sparingly.

Being petty like that with Moncada isn't going to help re-establish the Cuban Connection...but it's nearly dead and buried already when Robert is jettisoned.

Then you really wipe out Robert's surplus value when he's 100% and playing GG caliber defense in CF. That corner version of Robert is just a fairly decent player with 2023 numbers...maybe a 2.5-3 fWAR but far from a star. His contract would be fair then...relatively....but hardly a bargain or value. Not to mention at least half or more of his injuries have happened on the base paths.

Then the obvious question becomes whether he can come close to sustaining his defensive metrics in CF. For example, because of his arm strength/outfield assists in 2016, Adam Eaton put up a huge fWAR, but he was nothing special in CF. His bat plays more in CF, but likely his defense is only so special on a corner. So they're still left with a conundrum.

If we set our sights THAT low, we're never going to get out of the basement. Because Fletcher's defensive metrics might not hold up like they have in 2024 over a more expanded sample size. Then you're basically screwed if it proves to be unsustainable. At best, you're talking something like a 1.5-2 fWARish player...but much more likely a fourth or fifth outfielder on a decent team.

Oregon barely survived Boise State, too.

We have Jacob Gonzalez instead.

6-13 now....

Meanwhile the Bills getting approximately (half) $700 million in public funding from Buffalo and not billionaire Pegula...because they actually matter to their community.

Same one who "sabotaged" the Jacob Gonzalez stats/photo last year.

They traded DeJong to the Royals, so apparently Minnesota Detroit or Cleveland are verboten.

Big Ten other than OSU and maybe Nebraska or Illinois... Typical conservative Ferentz played not to lose...even if it was 20-20 (went for two early), wouldn't have scored if they kept playing for hours. Defense disappointed and the days of speaking into B10 championship games only to get smoked is over.

Maybe Vaughn can get to a 700 ops so we have one in that category...?

Are they deliberately putting every player in the lineup fans don't want to see at this point?

Texas looking like a juggernaut...and MI already has a QB dilemma.

A's Rockies Pirates Rays Marlins Tigers would be fun, or KC. Not like Maikel Franco has 3B sewn up for the Royals into next year.

Royals pretty much have that one in hand this year going from 106 losses to WC. But they spent quite a bit in FA and just so happen to have the 1A player in the AL. Gunner Henderson would arguably be 3.

Obligatory bullpen collapse.

Martin continuing to stake a claim along with Cannon for the 2025 starting rotation.

Vargas should be at second...Ramos at third, Baldwin or veteran placeholder at SS.

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/white-sox-vs-red-sox/2024/09/06/746912/preview There's zero reason to even play the first five hitters tonight. Protecting playoff race integrity lol? Trying to goose Robert's offseason value every bit they can?

That was the weird thing with Grandal last year....it's like they were more afraid to give Lee and Perez at bats down the stretch. Still not even sure what Lee is at this point.

The worst part of course was spinning Kimbrel's parallel QO as a victory somehow, which led to Pollock, which then of course led to the Benintendi signing and therefore throwing roughly $90 million combined into the wind. If the minor leagues could simply have produced a measly corner outfielder...no need to force a deal with AB or add one more year than even the Yankees were willing to go.

Moncada whatever...but both Sheets and Lopez at this point? It's as if they hardly ever concerned themselves with the actual consequences of guys like Sheets Vaughn and Palka in the outfield. Or whether Pollock was still an everyday outfielder period, for instance.