2015: The Back To The Future Season

[SKO]

Dan Haren reminds me of when the Cubs tried to get anything--ANYTHING-- out of Steve Trachsel in late 2007 (or Don Wengert in 1998).

Send this fucker out to pasture.  He's done.  His existence on this team is pointless.  Surely they can't do any worse than Wada, right?  Right?

I'd rather see them put Richard back in the rotation.  At least his fastball can break a window

[Quality Start Machine]

Dan Haren reminds me of when the Cubs tried to get anything--ANYTHING-- out of Steve Trachsel in late 2007 (or Don Wengert in 1998).

Send this fucker out to pasture.  He's done.  His existence on this team is pointless.  Surely they can't do any worse than Wada, right?  Right?

I'd rather see them put Richard back in the rotation.  At least his fastball can break a window

Fortunately, with Lester, Jake and whatever they get out of Hammel the rest of the way, they can make the playoffs.

[Slaky]

Dan Haren reminds me of when the Cubs tried to get anything--ANYTHING-- out of Steve Trachsel in late 2007 (or Don Wengert in 1998).

Send this fucker out to pasture.  He's done.  His existence on this team is pointless.  Surely they can't do any worse than Wada, right?  Right?

I'd rather see them put Richard back in the rotation.  At least his fastball can break a window

I'm guessing there aren't enough days off to try a 4 man?

[Eli]

Dan Haren reminds me of when the Cubs tried to get anything--ANYTHING-- out of Steve Trachsel in late 2007 (or Don Wengert in 1998).

Send this fucker out to pasture.  He's done.  His existence on this team is pointless.  Surely they can't do any worse than Wada, right?  Right?

I'd rather see them put Richard back in the rotation.  At least his fastball can break a window

I'm guessing there aren't enough days off to try a 4 man?

I don't think so. And ideally, they'd probably try to find an extra day of rest here or there for Lester and Arrieta, rather than push them.

[Quality Start Machine]

Dan Haren reminds me of when the Cubs tried to get anything--ANYTHING-- out of Steve Trachsel in late 2007 (or Don Wengert in 1998).

Send this fucker out to pasture.  He's done.  His existence on this team is pointless.  Surely they can't do any worse than Wada, right?  Right?

I'd rather see them put Richard back in the rotation.  At least his fastball can break a window

I'm guessing there aren't enough days off to try a 4 man?

I don't think so. And ideally, they'd probably try to find an extra day of rest here or there for Lester and Arrieta, rather than push them.

I think Maddon might try making sure he has Lester/Jake/Hammel teed up for the Cardinals series starting 9/7, and if they don't sweep there they'll be content with one of the WC spots.

[Saul Goodman]

This bullpen might be a problem, guys.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

September can't get here fast enough.  I can't bear to stomach the ass-end of this bench and bullpen much longer.

[SKO]

This bullpen might be a problem, guys.

Eh. Grimm/Strop/Rondon are as good as any trio anyone else can throw out there. I really doubt James Russell and Tommy Hunter will get the chance to do much harm in meaningful situations

[Saul Goodman]

Great news: Fernando Rodney has been acquired to fill the Rafael Soriano "washed up old reliever who's shit" role.

But it also means Brian Shitter has finally been DFA'd. I'm conflicted.

[SKO]

Great news: Fernando Rodney has been acquired to fill the Rafael Soriano "washed up old reliever who's shit" role.

But it also means Brian Shitter has finally been DFA'd. I'm conflicted.

For what it's worth, Rodney makes more sense than Soriano because Rodney's stuff seems as good as it was last year when he was very effective. It appears he's leaving the ball up more, so maybe it's a mechanical issue they think he can fix.

As long as he's only allowed to pitch in low leverage situations until he proves he can handle more, I'm okay with it. If Joe inexplicably goes to him in extras in a tie game when Justin Grimm is still sitting in the pen, like he did with Soriano vs the Phillies, I shall have grievances. 

[R-V]

Another roster question: if Dexter is more than a little banged up, the outfield defense depth is looking pretty shitty right now. Szczur and (maybe) Denorfia are the only guys you can expect anything more than "barely competent" from at this point. Would there be any downside to adding Almora to the 40-man to use purely as a defensive replacement in September? Herrera's presence will be pointless with both Baez and La Stella on the roster, and I don't know or care what Yoervis Medina is up to these days, so there's two good DFA candidates who are currently taking up a spot on the 40-man.

[Chuck to Chuck]

Another roster question: if Dexter is more than a little banged up, the outfield defense depth is looking pretty shitty right now. Szczur and (maybe) Denorfia are the only guys you can expect anything more than "barely competent" from at this point. Would there be any downside to adding Almora to the 40-man to use purely as a defensive replacement in September? Herrera's presence will be pointless with both Baez and La Stella on the roster, and I don't know or care what Yoervis Medina is up to these days, so there's two good DFA candidates who are currently taking up a spot on the 40-man.

Only negative is from a business standpoint. Getting him on the 40-man starts the Rule V clock.

[SKO]

Another roster question: if Dexter is more than a little banged up, the outfield defense depth is looking pretty shitty right now. Szczur and (maybe) Denorfia are the only guys you can expect anything more than "barely competent" from at this point. Would there be any downside to adding Almora to the 40-man to use purely as a defensive replacement in September? Herrera's presence will be pointless with both Baez and La Stella on the roster, and I don't know or care what Yoervis Medina is up to these days, so there's two good DFA candidates who are currently taking up a spot on the 40-man.

I think that might actually be why they brought back Bonerface on a minor league deal, so they have one actual backup CF on the roster. *Shudder*. Please be okay, Dex.

[Yeti]

Another roster question: if Dexter is more than a little banged up, the outfield defense depth is looking pretty shitty right now. Szczur and (maybe) Denorfia are the only guys you can expect anything more than "barely competent" from at this point. Would there be any downside to adding Almora to the 40-man to use purely as a defensive replacement in September? Herrera's presence will be pointless with both Baez and La Stella on the roster, and I don't know or care what Yoervis Medina is up to these days, so there's two good DFA candidates who are currently taking up a spot on the 40-man.

Only negative is from a business standpoint. Getting him on the 40-man starts the Rule V clock.

Huh? Being on the 40-man excludes him from Rule V

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Another roster question: if Dexter is more than a little banged up, the outfield defense depth is looking pretty shitty right now. Szczur and (maybe) Denorfia are the only guys you can expect anything more than "barely competent" from at this point. Would there be any downside to adding Almora to the 40-man to use purely as a defensive replacement in September? Herrera's presence will be pointless with both Baez and La Stella on the roster, and I don't know or care what Yoervis Medina is up to these days, so there's two good DFA candidates who are currently taking up a spot on the 40-man.

Only negative is from a business standpoint. Getting him on the 40-man starts the Rule V clock.

Huh? Being on the 40-man excludes him from Rule V

Chuck must've meant his service time clock, though I don't think that'll be nearly as much of an issue for Almora as it was for Bryant since I don't think Albert's going to break the bank at any point.