Two-Gun Pete

Yeah, about that... While I get that we're all fans, and we can become irrationally exuberant, this team is no "juggernaut." This team is no "AL version of the Dodgers." A "juggernaut" crushes and punishes both good teams as well as poor ones. By contrast, this roster, as currently comprised, bumslays effectively. But is this team even .500 vs good teams? Is it even .450 vs playoff teams? Now, perhaps once the injured players return, and perhaps if Hahn can patch the roster, maybe this team can become a "juggernaut." I certainly hope so. But its funny that this thread pops up after every run of bumslaying shitty teams, and then disappears after a tough series vs a good team.

I have to agree. Whatever Katz did to the bullpen, I cant understand how it got this bad. Or more probably, this bullpen was not exposed during a shortened 2020 season. That said, I think some of the "kinda-sorta competing" teams that aren't really in the postseason race don't seem to be selling. (Thinking LAAA, Toronto, Philly, st Louis.) So, Hahn's gonna have to get creative and aggressive to add to this bullpen. Ian Kennedy, Yimi Garcia, come on down. Or whoever he can get, because its clear that this bullpen simply isn't good enough for the postseason, as currently comprised. But, I'm thinking that relief help will be a seller's market, because there may not be as many sellers in the market. And thus, less "inventory" for the real contenders to choose from, at least compared to a more open trade season.

Don't really disagree; I think Foster or Marshall solely should be enough for a few months of Escobar. Adding in a warm body that's been in AZ before in Lamb gives them a warm body at 3rd to replace Escobar for the rest of 2021, although I suppose AZ could just roll the carcass of Cabrera out at 3rd for the rest of the season. [shrugs]

Its probably superstition on my part, but I hate seeing this thread pop up. I feel like this thread appearing in the top of the 1st page seems to precede something bad happening more often than not. I hope I'm wrong.

I think I'd prefer to trade from the group of: Lamb, Mercedes, Adofo, Rutherford, Foster, and Marshall. I'd like to move at least 3 of these guys, so as to open up 40 man slots, as the injured players return to Chicago. I'd rather preserve Sheets and Burger, and whomever from the above group that stays for offseason trades. My guesses: Escobar for Lamb and Foster or Marshall, and Yimi Garcia for Mercedes and Adolfo? What do you think, too much? Too little? I think that Jimenez's [hopefully pending] return to the roster will force a trade to occur sooner, rather than later.

Relax. And there's no need to turn up the temperature while using the bolded. That said, it's perfectly fair to look at Escobar's splits: 73 v RHP away from Arizona. But, they're better than Story's 64 vs RHP, or vomit-inducing 41 vs LHP away from Coors. Oh yeah, and Story's inferior splits come with the additional ~$5MM or so in remaining salary, compared to Escobar's remaining salary. For a budget-conscious ownership, $5MM could buy a RP in the offseason, or perhaps go towards part of a QO [if they'll still exist] this offseason.

I think I agree that RF seems like more of an offseason acquisition than a TDL pickup. Catcher as an acquisition seems panicky, unless Grandal's done for the year. I think I'd send Burger and Sheets to Charlotte for Jimenez and Robert. I think Mendick would also head to Charlotte in exchange for an acquired 2nd baseman rental.

I didn't comment on the "strikeout machine" angle. My view is that the overwhelming majority of Rox leave Coors, and then suck out loud. I remember just this past offseason how David fucking Dahl was going to be a golden god, and that the SOX should acquire him. Where's he now? Most MLBers leave the Rox, and either suck, or take some time to adjust from Coors after leaving Colorado. Sure, the true stars like Arenado can prosper away from Coors. But Story ain't a star. Hes got a middling wrc+ v RHP, and he sucks out loud vs RHP (this team's Achilles Heel), and he's due a lot of cash for the rest of the season. FFS, Danny Mendick's splits v RHP ARE BETTER than Story's non-Coors splits v RHP. Add into it the very real adjustment period of switching leagues on top of losing the Coors Field advantage, and I wouldn't want him here, unless it was for an absolute song. Escobar's right now a better player, a switch hitter, with ALC experience, with OF experience, and would be cheaper in terms of salary to acquire. There isn't the very real question of Escobar having to adjust from Coors Field. Hes in every measurable way a superior acquisition to Story, full stop.

64 wrc+ vs rhp away from coors this season And he's still owed ~$8MM for the rest of 2021 Yeah, I'd take Escobar instead. Ya know, the switch-hitting, 2nd baseman who's already played here, and is only owed ~$3MM for the rest of the season? That guy could help this roster that needs some help vs RHP more than story, while being more palatable to this frugal ownership, IMO.

Sure. Just force Arizona to take on Rutherford or Adolfo, in addition to whatever RP sent there for Escobar.

Greg, don't bullshit us, and don't bullshit yourself. You wouldn't serve if there was a shooting match vs the Chinese.

Wait, how is 5'10" Andrew Vaughn a better fit at 1st than 6'5" Gavin Sheets? (Yeah, Vaughn's listed as 6', but in person he looks to be only 5'10".) That is, unless Sheets is a complete butcher... If (and yes, that's a big "if") both Vaughn's and Sheets' bats play, couldn't Vaughn play a corner OF, while Sheets play some @ 1st? In any case, I'd prefer to not deal either of Burger or Sheets until the offseason, unless some other GM loses their damn fool minds & sends a Gallo-level player in return.

Ooh, goody! What, exactly would you like, ACTUALLY FUCKING DO about such worries? Would you actually modify your behavior? Or would you keep on doing the same stoopid shit? Would you actually serve your country if there was a threat, or would you, ya know, leave it to braver patriots than yourself? Armchair warriors: what exactly would you do IF the coronavirus came from a lab? Would you run down to your local recruiter and enlist, or wuss out? Armchair physicians: what exactly would you do differently than Fauci? Would your armchair doctorate help us protect this nation and the world? (And remember, posting in the third person makes you a turd.)

There's this other tournament that'll be in Qatar in 2022 for which they've got to get ready. Qualifying begins in September. All of the Europe based players have come off a long season. Exposing them to further competition during their offseason risks injuries, just as qualifying is about to begin. OTOH, the MLS based players are in mid-season form. And this is one opportunity to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak. This gives Berhalter one more opportunity to vet the MLS guys before qualifying starts. The US' greatest player, Landon Donovan, had his career cut short, in part because he never refused a call up. So, instead of having him for one more World Cup, he was squandered on useless Gold Cups. IOW, he was squandered on running up the score on the likes of Martinique, or other CONCACAF minnows. Similarly, I do not want to waste Pulisic on this tournament, if it will keep him healthy for qualifying for 2022. I also would rather have him in the wprld cup roster in 10 years from now, as opposed to being in this or any Gold Cup roster. All in all, I give zero fucks about the Gold Cup. That is, apart from finding out which MLSers pack the gear necessary to serve in qualifying and in Qatar '22 itself. Gold Cup isn't really a competitive cup, so much as it is a cash grab for CONCACAF.

Agreed. When the other guy starts with "whattabout," then tried to shift to "main stream media," then grasps for straws with "water carrying," its really weak fucking sauce. From a lab or not, with or without Fauci, it still leads to the same end: get your fucking vaccine. Everything else is noise, really.

Given where the team is right now, what the roster deficiencies are, the questionable work stoppage for 2022, and where the MiLB system is, I'd prefer rentals being acquired at the TDL. I'd also prefer to avoid trading Sheets/Burger at the moment, and learn more about them. Then, in the offseason? Maybe Burger or Sheets can be a part of a package for a controllable player. Maybe we learn more about the labor negotiations. And maybe some youngsters in MiLB pick their heads up and grow a bit in the 2nd half. But right now, I'd rather not try to commit to anything beyond this season for an acquisition.

Yuck. When evaluating Rockies, you HAVE TO look at the splits, because their numbers at Coors are completely and totally artificial. McMahon Splits: a vomit-inducing 67 WRC+ vs RHP away from Coors. Daniel Bard, by himself in trades, is mildly interesting as a middle reliever. But NO FUCKING WAY would i waste sheets and dahlquist in the pursuit of Ryan McMahon.

One reason why I didn't initially favor the acquisition of Lynn was that I thought that there was no freakin way he was NOT going to FA after this season. Im pleased to have been wrong. On Gallo, I believe it will cost too much (i.e. a piece this team is using RIGHT NOW) to acquire him. And in landing Gallo, it would open up another hole in this roster. It doesn't hurt to ask, but I doubt this team has the ammo to get him, without hurting this roster in some other way.

Yawn. Literally, some folks here step up and defend Fox News with "whattabout" more than they defend this country, since they never served. OTOH, you never see anyone "whattabout" from the other side. Trying to "whattabout," and then trying to make it about "main stream media companies" is a limp straw man argument. YOU bring up the "whattabout" bullshit at any opportunity, not me.

The "whattabout" defense. The race to the bottom. The last "defense," when others fail. Looking back, I didn't see the other poster bring MSNBC or CNN into the convo. Why do you have to do so? How about: if Fox pulls some bullshit, call THEM out on it, without bringing up "whattaboutism." At the same time, if MSNBC pulls some bullshit, call THEM out on it, without "whattaboutism" and bringing the others into it. And yes, if CNN pulls some bullshit, "whattaboutism" is stoopid, too. There's really no need to instinctively "defend the colors" of one or the other with "whattaboutism." If you're truly about the truth, you don't need to "whattabout" everyfuckingthing. Cool? Carry on, then.

How could this be? I was told that he would keep improving at the MLB level, despite years of sucktitude. Well, maybe the FO can make a bold move, and trade something for him. Gotta get those "still improving" types into the org.

Yeah, full pass on artificial numbers coming from Coors Field.

Seconded on these, especially Iglesias as a setup-type guy. Also, Paolo Espino as a potential swing guy that can start or long relief, as a way to control IP from the rotation.

Trying to hold an opponent for 90 minutes is a fool's errand, IMO. Sooner or later, a mistake is made by a defender or keeper. I recall seeing 71% possession stats for Italy in the 2nd half. Overall, I saw a 66%/34% possession stat for the final! I can understand defend-and-counter, but at that level of possession, conceding a goal becomes an eventuality. Playing AGAINST that great a disparity in possession is exhausting. I just looked and, Rushford hadn't played a lot of minutes this tournament. Same with Sancho. These two, plus Saka were ALL 23 or younger. Putting this sort of responsibility on youngsters such as these is criminal, IMO. I mean, a nation's half-century of hopes, and here's a 19 year old to take a decisive PK? Unbelievable.

Stop. Just stop. It is a waste of time, it is a waste of bandwidth, it is mental masturbation to squander a billisecond dreaming of this org having enough trade ammo to go get anything more than a rental. It is FURTHER mental masturbation to squander a billisecond thinking about this ownership putting as much cash as it would take to pay BOTH Hendriks and Kimberly. Once again, just stop. K?