2017 MLB Season Thread

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

Congrats to the Astros for taking the first two of the ALCS. Now, I'll root for them to take the rest of the series in 7.

NCLS Game One. Lets go Cubs!

If Quintana can't give the Cubs more than four or five innings tonight after being used in Game 5 of the DS, and/or they're down by 4+ runs, then I would just put in Lackey and let him go as long as he could. Don't lose the war trying to win the most difficult battle.

WOW. YOU REALLY ARE UNLUCKY

Tonight is a sad end to the Cubs season, but it remains the best three year period in over 100 years for the franchise, and they'll be a solid team for years to come. Hopefully, tonight is the explanation point on the fact that's been hammered all post season that they need to make a few changes in their lineup. They desperately need a guy who can get on base at the top of the order and make things happen. People are going to hammer the bullpen, but when you score 1-3 runs a game, the pen isn't your main problem.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

Tonight is a sad end to the Cubs season, but it remains the best three year period in over 100 years for the franchise, and they'll be a solid team for years to come. Hopefully, tonight is the explanation point on the fact that's been hammered all post season that they need to make a few changes in their lineup. They desperately need a guy who can get on base at the top of the order and make things happen. People are going to hammer the bullpen, but when you score 1-3 runs a game, the pen isn't your main problem.

As an outsider it seems like the starting pitching and bullpen is a bigger problem moving forward than the line up. They will need to replace 2 SPers this offseason and a closer. They also need to figure out what to do with Schwarber as I think he's probably best suited for an AL team where he can play 1B and DH. But yeah probably need to upgrade in the OF too.

I am wearing head to toe Dodgers stuff today, and while on stage tonight. Yes, I am going to be THAT guy.

And I want The Yankees in the Series.

"Ray Finkle wrote:

As an outsider it seems like the starting pitching and bullpen is a bigger problem moving forward than the line up. They will need to replace 2 SPers this offseason and a closer. They also need to figure out what to do with Schwarber as I think he's probably best suited for an AL team where he can play 1B and DH. But yeah probably need to upgrade in the OF too.

Starting pitching should be allright. Not great, like 2015 and 16, but good enough. Lester, Hendricks, and Quintana are a really solid 1-3, and Mike Montgomery should take one of the other two spots. We need to find a 4th starter, probably from the outside.

The lineup is more than good enough to be top three in the NL again, and lead the team to 95+ wins in 2018. But vs the top pitching staffs, there's just something missing. I would imagine that Schwarber will be traded to the AL like you suggest, either for pitching or a more dynamic left fielder. We don't need the power really. We need on base and base running skills.

Let go Dodgers

If the Dodgers win I'll be happy for Grandy. As a Mets fan he gave us 3+ years and is all class.
But I also can't help but like Correa, Altuve, Springer, etc. that's a fun team in Houston.

I'm pulling for Houston, even though I generally go for the NL.

Been a Dodger fan since 1955, go Dodgers.

"Idahophin wrote:

Been a Dodger fan since 1955, go Dodgers.

Since Brooklyn? Nice! 62 years is a long time. Koufax must have been something to watch!

"Boik14 wrote:

Since Brooklyn? Nice! 62 years is a long time. Koufax must have been something to watch!

TV coverage was bad when I was young. Most of the baseball games I had to listen to on the radio. I do remember Koufax as a kid and was very impressed.

And the yankees have fired another Joe

"Vertical Limit wrote:

And the yankees have fired another Joe

Holy cow. Now I have to wonder if Joe Maddon will "retire" from the Cubs and they'll go after Girardi.

Houston better pitching, more energy

Congrats to the Astros in their first championship.

The only teams left who have never won a WS are the Rangers (2 appearances), Padres (2), Rays (1), Rockies (1), Brewers (1), Mariners (0) and Nationals/Expos (0).

And we go from a 30 year drought with the Royals, to a 108 year one with the Cubs, to the Astros who had never won in their 56 seasons prior.

And I think that everyone who said it was wrong or silly for both the Cubs and Astros to rebuild the way that they did looks pretty silly right now. Both teams will be contenders for a long time.

Man, this has to be the slowest start to a MLB offseason in history. Just nothing. Its been nearly a month. Everyone seems to be waiting for someone else to make the first move.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

Man, this has to be the slowest start to a MLB offseason in history. Just nothing. Its been nearly a month. Everyone seems to be waiting for someone else to make the first move.

Yeah it has been pretty slow. I think it's a mixture of the free agent class being poor and teams/players/agents are probably waiting to see where Stanton goes. He's the first domino to go and whatever teams lose out on him will focus on Martinez and go from there.

Usually moves start taking place at the Winter Meetings coming up next week though.

It’s going to be slow imo...the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox aren’t looking to spend big (Supposedly) and the Dodgers don’t need a lot. That’s 3 big spenders and one that can spend but won’t (Mets) out on many free agents.

The Mets supposedly are looking at bringing back, Neil Walker or Jay Bruce or bringing in Logan Morrison. Bryan Shaw (Callaway connection makes sense), Brandon Kitzler and other RPs have been linked as well. Alderson wants a innings eating SP (Lynn, CC Sabathia, among others have been mentioned), a 1B/OF type, an RP and possibly a 2B within about 40M. Personally, I want Wilmer Flores to get a shot at 2B. His power stats project well, he slaughters lefties, and his defense isn’t any worse than Walker or Asdrubal Cabrera at 2B. I wouldn’t mind bringing back Bruce on a 2-3 year deal as a safety net for Dom Smith who flashed but wasn’t consistent during his call up. 3B is really my biggest concern but want neither Moustakas or Frazier as the Mets strikeout enough and don’t want the 20M a year albatross that Moustakas contract is destined to become.

Ohtani has narrowed his choices down to the Mariners, Giants, Angels, Padres, Dodgers, Rangers and Cubs.

If can transition to MLB, he's an incredibly interesting guy. A starting pitcher who can also hit well, play the OF, and contribute as a PH on his days between starts. He essentially saves a team a roster spot, and allows for more roster flexibility.

Just traded dee gordon to the Mariners... cant tell you how much this stings, he is a fan favorite...

If they trade ozuna or yelich or both, ima go crazy. Especially Ozuna. He is an all star batter and gold glover

"Vertical Limit wrote:

Just traded dee gordon to the Mariners... cant tell you how much this stings, he is a fan favorite...

If they trade ozuna or yelich or both, ima go crazy. Especially Ozuna. He is an all star batter and gold glover

I just saw that. I would have loved for the Cubs to trade for him and put him in CF. We need someone like him at the top of the lineup.

Stanton doesnt seem too eager to waive his NTC, the purpose of the NTC was so that he can have control of where he is going to be the rest of his career. He isnt willing to go to another team just so that trade him again after a bad season.

And jeter pretends he had full control of Stanton but he doesnt. Stanton is in control and that bothers Jeter so now he traded away Stanton’s bestfriend on the team.

"Vertical Limit wrote:

Stanton doesnt seem too eager to waive his NTC, the purpose of the NTC was so that he can have control of where he is going to be the rest of his career. He isnt willing to go to another team just so that trade him again after a bad season.

And jeter pretends he had full control of Stanton but he doesnt. Stanton is in control and that bothers Jeter so now he traded away Stanton’s bestfriend on the team.

He allegedly has refused to go to St Louis and SF, which is awesome from my perspective :thumbup:

He apparently has the Yankees, Dodgers, Astros and Cubs on his short list now. The Cubs don't have prospects to make any kind of deal, but I wonder how they can get creative. A deal would certainly start with Kyle Schwarber and go from there.

Ohtani signs with the Angels. It'll be interesting to see how they use him. However, as a Cubs/NL fan living on the East Coast, he might as well still be in Japan, lol.

He wants to DH on his days off.

Just a prediction, if his bat is as good as marketed, he wont be a pitcher for long. It’s been a while since we have had a true ace come from Japan. Yu Darvish is one out of many, and that if he ever gets back to 2013 form.

Ohtani has his bat to fall back on if his pitching doesnt translate well in this league