2019 MLB Thread

"muscle979 wrote:

Anthopolous and the Braves did some work today, shoring up the bullpen and not giving up any top prospects in the process. Allard was I believe the highest rated prospect we gave up.

The Blue Jays and Mets definitely screwed up the starter market.

No one offered the Jays anything worthwhile besides the Mets. And all the Mets got were a bunch of lowball offers for Wheeler and Noah. So the only ones who screwed up the starter market was the mindset of some GM’s just being cheap with their willingness to give up anything worthwhile. You can say what you want about Wheeler being a free agent but the ability to tender him guarantees them a top 2 round pick. So basically what you’re giving up has to be at least worth that.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

The Cubs traded for RF/3B Nick Castellanos of the Tigers. He gives them a big upgrade as a right handed bat for the rest of this season, but he is a free agent after the year, so it might just be a rental.

The deeper, interesting side story is that the Cubs have been in on Castellanos since the 2010 draft, when he was linked to them. Then after Theo took over in the Autumn of 2011, he proceeded to be one of the main prospects that was talked about with starting the rebuild for several years, including after he made it to the bigs. So as a Cubs fan, its like we finally got our man after almost a decade, lol.

I suspect that his playing time will mostly bench Albert Almora to being a defensive replacement, and Kyle Schwarber won't face lefties anymore. Jason Heyward will likely move into CF against lefties, with Castellanos and Kris Bryant at the corners and David Bote at 3B.

He’s a butcher on defense but he can hit.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

Well, they should have a good bit of payroll becoming available this offseason, so cold hard cash and free agents is one way they'll be able to build. I also expect that they'll try to trade Schwarber to an AL team, and the return for that could be pitching, prospects, or even a big contract on a pretty good player that the other club wants to move, but the Cubs can afford. They really need to get guys at 2B and CF who can regularly get on base via the base hit with singles and doubles, who regularly put the ball in play, and who aren't taken away by the shift. (shifting has KILLED Rizzo and Schwarber this year). Depending on how things go, Castellanos himself might be an option to extend, and then play LF.

I didn't want Addison Russell back this year. Mostly for his DV troubles, but also his knack for playing below his ceiling most of the time. And yeah, Almora (Theo's first pick with the Cubs at #6 in 2012) was supposed to be Derrek Jeter Light in CF. Hasn't worked out that way.

Schwarber won't fetch much more than they gave up for Castellanos frankly - he has never realized his peak either. Salary wise, they are losing Hamels, Zobrist and a few relievers. It's not a ton of relief, and they will need to replace Hamels. A lot will be decided if the Rickets are open to spending a few extra bucks or not. Ian Happ has a shot to put himself back in the conversation (either as a valuable player or valuable trade chip), but he hasn't been promising. Guess we will see.

Really happy the Yankees didn't give away the farm for a pitcher. We certainly could have used one but everyone was asking for the world for these guys thinking we were desperate enough to do it. Sometimes the best trade is no trade

"adamprez2003 wrote:

Really happy the Yankees didn't give away the farm for a pitcher. We certainly could have used one but everyone was asking for the world for these guys thinking we were desperate enough to do it. Sometimes the best trade is no trade

Reports were the DBacks wanted Frazier plus a 3 prospect package headlined by Clarke Schmidt. From what I can see, he's generally considered about the #5 ranked in the Yankee's system. Essentially, the Grienke package with lower ranked guys. Hard to think they couldn't have ponied up a better offer than what the Mets gave for Stroman. And clearly, Bauer was available as well and would have been a good fit. From a different standpoint, they could have added some more high leverage bullpen guys and potentially limited some of their starter's innings. Just standing completely pat while watching a few competitors improve quite a bit is tough to swallow. At least the Red Sox didn't do shit either.

I dunno, while it's tough to lose prospects, if they get bounced early in the playoffs because of shit pitching, that's a really bad decision.

You'll have to hope Voit's injury isn't as severe as it seems and that he comes back for the playoffs. While EE and DJ give some insurance there, it's a big loss. Someone like Castellanos would have potentially made sense.

The Marlins Traded Away A Playoff Team

"Boik14 wrote:

No one offered the Jays anything worthwhile besides the Mets. And all the Mets got were a bunch of lowball offers for Wheeler and Noah. So the only ones who screwed up the starter market was the mindset of some GM’s just being cheap with their willingness to give up anything worthwhile. You can say what you want about Wheeler being a free agent but the ability to tender him guarantees them a top 2 round pick. So basically what you’re giving up has to be at least worth that.

Sorry, but they pulled the trigger on the deal days before the deadline. If you have half a brain you at least wait until the last day to see if any buyers up their offer. They accepted peanuts from the Mets for Stroman and set the bar low days before the deadline. Terrible job by the Blue Jays GM. The Mets got a great deal for Stroman, but at the same time, why would anybody offer anything worth a crap for Wheeler or Thor after seeing how cheap Stroman was?

After today, the Cubs now have 20 more wins at home than they do on the road. In fact, their road record is comparable with some of the worst teams in baseball, like Baltimore and Miami. At this point, they would need to go 20-7 on the road the rest of the way to end up .500 away from home. And yet, they're 3 games up on the division, so they better just keep winning games at Wrigley!

They play their next ten on the road though, so if things don't change soon, they could find themselves looking up at the Cards and Brewers by the middle of the month....

Big 6 games for the Mets vs Washington then Philly. Didn’t think I’d be saying that 2-3 weeks ago. Keep on raking Polar Bear (Alonso) and the Flying Squirrel (McNeil) and pitching (best SP WAR since adding Stroman)

"Boik14 wrote:

Big 6 games for the Mets vs Washington then Philly. Didn’t think I’d be saying that 2-3 weeks ago. Keep on raking Polar Bear (Alonso) and the Flying Squirrel (McNeil) and pitching (best SP WAR since adding Stroman)

They're legitimately in the wild card conversation now. A pretty impressive run actually, considering where they were before. Trading for Stroman doesn't look as bizarre anymore.

I will say that Atlanta should send a thank you card for Hechevarria, the right player at the right time for us, with Swanson still out at SS.

"muscle979 wrote:

They're legitimately in the wild card conversation now. A pretty impressive run actually, considering where they were before. Trading for Stroman doesn't look as bizarre anymore.

I will say that Atlanta should send a thank you card for Hechevarria, the right player at the right time for us, with Swanson still out at SS.

Hechevarria is a streaky player. Had a great start to the year and has been awful since.

Another big week...3 vs Cleveland and 3 vs ATL. Been a good home team all year but Mickey and the pen always worry me. Bovada odds are down to +2000 from +2800 a couple of weeks ago. May have to consider it...

"Boik14 wrote:

Hechevarria is a streaky player. Had a great start to the year and has been awful since.

Another big week...3 vs Cleveland and 3 vs ATL. Been a good home team all year but Mickey and the pen always worry me. Bovada odds are down to +2000 from +2800 a couple of weeks ago. May have to consider it...

Yeah I'm hoping we don't need him in the lineup for longer than another week or two. Dansby's heel injury has been one of those weird lingering situations. Cleveland's been pretty hot lately, but I don't personally think those AL Central teams are as good as they get credit for being. Powerful lineups, sure, but overall I'm not sold.

This may be the first time I've been rooting for the Mets. Please sweep the Nationals... LOL.

"muscle979 wrote:

This may be the first time I've been rooting for the Mets. Please sweep the Nationals... LOL.

We need it. After that streak of crappy baseball vs the cubs and braves we hurt our chances big time.

"adamprez2003 wrote:

WHAT A COMEBACK 😳

The Nationals scored 7 runs in the 9th inning to beat the Mets. pic.twitter.com/opJBWr9RCK

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 4, 2019

Lmfaoooooo

Any chance you parlayed a bet between the MLB club blowing that 9th inning 6 run lead vs the nats and an 8 run 9th in lead in AAA vs the Yanks farm club in the same night? If you did, you likely became a millionaire.

FFS, there is something seriously wrong with the way the entire mets organization uses their bullpen or trains their bullpen. Your big league club has blown 30 + games in the 7th or later. You should be in contention for the best record in the NL instead of fighting for a MF'N wildcard that you likely will not get.

"Boik14 wrote:

Lmfaoooooo

Any chance you parlayed a bet between the MLB club blowing that 9th inning 6 run lead vs the nats and an 8 run 9th in lead in AAA vs the Yanks farm club in the same night? If you did, you likely became a millionaire.

FFS, there is something seriously wrong with the way the entire mets organization uses their bullpen or trains their bullpen. Your big league club has blown 30 + games in the 7th or later. You should be in contention for the best record in the NL instead of fighting for a MF'N wildcard that you likely will not get.

The Mets certainly have their issues, but they put up a graphic during a Cubs game last week that the NL's overall bullpen ERA this year is as bad as it's been in a long, long time. I think that the issue boils down to the fact that many relievers are power pitchers, and the juiced ball this season is wrecking total havok. It was noted earlier this week that AAA home runs are up 60% this season after they started using the MLB ball, whereas homers at all other levels of the minors are flat. The ball is messing up baseball, pure and simple.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

The Mets certainly have their issues, but they put up a graphic during a Cubs game last week that the NL's overall bullpen ERA this year is as bad as it's been in a long, long time. I think that the issue boils down to the fact that many relievers are power pitchers, and the juiced ball this season is wrecking total havok. It was noted earlier this week that AAA home runs are up 60% this season after they started using the MLB ball, whereas homers at all other levels of the minors are flat. The ball is messing up baseball, pure and simple.

I don't have a big issue with the balls, to be honest. It's not like anybody's out there hitting 80 or 90 home runs. Power pitchers are supposed to miss bats, so I don't think the ball hurts them as much. If anything, it should hurt pitchers that pitch to contact. I think bullpens are bad because teams are carrying too many pitchers. There isn't an endless supply of pitchers who are good at the MLB level. It's a small number, and I think there aren't enough to fill all the roster spots for 30 MLB teams. That's why you see so many teams struggling with bad bullpen pitchers. More teams are using more pitchers. It was highly probable that would cause a decline in performance.

The Cubs offense has exploded this weekend against the Pirates, and they are still in the hunt for the playoffs. But they've already effectively lost Javy Baez for the season with a broken thumb, and Anthony Rizzo had to be helped off the field with an injured ankle today. I'm pretty much throwing in the towel on 2019 at this point, and taking good feelings from how well so many of the guys are playing, hoping it translates into next year.

And if Theo doesn't resign Castellanos, he's screwing up big time. Cubs fans will revolt.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

The Cubs offense has exploded this weekend against the Pirates, and they are still in the hunt for the playoffs. But they've already effectively lost Javy Baez for the season with a broken thumb, and Anthony Rizzo had to be helped off the field with an injured ankle today. I'm pretty much throwing in the towel on 2019 at this point, and taking good feelings from how well so many of the guys are playing, hoping it translates into next year.

And if Theo doesn't resign Castellanos, he's screwing up big time. Cubs fans will revolt.

Yeah, Cubs are in trouble for this season. But we'll knock the Cards out of the playoffs for you.

"muscle979 wrote:

Yeah, Cubs are in trouble for this season. But we'll knock the Cards out of the playoffs for you.

8-11 record against the freaking Reds this year is what's going to do us in. The Reds who are 61-73 against everyone else, and who score 1.50 runs fewer in the rest of their games than they do vs the Cubs. :headwall:

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

8-11 record against the freaking Reds this year is what's going to do us in. The Reds who are 61-73 against everyone else, and who score 1.50 runs fewer in the rest of their games than they do vs the Cubs. :headwall:

I feel like every team has a crappy team they play down to. For the Mets, its usually the Marlins or in the years the Braves are bad, them too.

"Boik14 wrote:

I feel like every team has a crappy team they play down to. For the Mets, its usually the Marlins or in the years the Braves are bad, them too.

Yeah, and look at how bad Philly has been against the Marlins this season. It's hard to explain sometimes.

i have zero concern that the Yankees can get by the Twins or the Indians but the A's worry me a little bit. We should beat them if we face them but they are a feisty bunch. Rooting for the Twins or Indians in the first round

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

8-11 record against the freaking Reds this year is what's going to do us in. The Reds who are 61-73 against everyone else, and who score 1.50 runs fewer in the rest of their games than they do vs the Cubs. :headwall:

Imo that horrendous start killed the season. Cant lead off the season like that and expect a deep run.

Maddon out. Bit of a risk, but his message wasnt being heard and 2 straight disappointing seasons getting beat out by lesser talented teams makes it an easy choice.

Question is how far they go in tinkering. Do they hope a new manager can get the most out and mostly stand pat? Or do they go crazy and try a move like offloading Bryant for pitching? Will ownership be willing to spend?

Also, the Red Sox appear ready to pinch pennies and ship out Mookie.