2016 MLB Thread

[Saul Goodman]

Whatever future plans they may have, not making moves this offseason seems pretty inexcusable in what's clearly a buyer's market at this point. They could have easily gone after Cespedes and the like that would have helped them approach that Trout+30 number without being albatrosses like the Hamilton deal. They've effectively punted a year in which their top player should be worth 9 wins. Unbelieveable.

That whole shine on Arte Moreno being such a great owner...whatever happened to that?

Yeah, I mean if you define "great owner" as "willing to spend" he's certainly not been cheap, going all the way back to signing Vlad Guerrero back in '04, but letting that whole mess with DiPoto and Scioscia carry on the way it did and now sitting pat while Trout's best years go to waste...not a good look.

I'm glad we don't have to live in a world where the Cubs have other priorities besides winning. Until Trooblud gets his way, I mean.

[Quality Start Machine]

While we're at it, BP published their Nationals top-10 prospect list (now with 99% fewer hot takes!).

Top 10 Talents 25 And Under (born 4/1/90 or later)
1. Bryce Harper
...

Let this sink in for a moment: Bryce Harper will be on the 2018 25U Nationals list.

It's so crazy that he'll be younger than Kris Bryant for at least one more season.

Bryant has a Dorian Gray portrait in the attic?

[SKO]

Neither one of these is really a fit nor would they make sense for the Cubs but fuck it I want them anyway give me all of the Cubans: http://www.bleachernation.com/2016/02/08/huge-cuban-defection-news-is-breaking-and-other-bullets/

[Powdered Toast Man]

Neither one of these is really a fit nor would they make sense for the Cubs but fuck it I want them anyway give me all of the Cubans: http://www.bleachernation.com/2016/02/08/huge-cuban-defection-news-is-breaking-and-other-bullets/

There was a story about these two on ESPN the other day and whomever was giving the prospectus on these two didn't have glowing words. He basically said the eldest brother would be an average contributor and the youngest is a ML-ready defender with no offensive potential.

But, ESPN.

[SKO]

Neither one of these is really a fit nor would they make sense for the Cubs but fuck it I want them anyway give me all of the Cubans: http://www.bleachernation.com/2016/02/08/huge-cuban-defection-news-is-breaking-and-other-bullets/

There was a story about these two on ESPN the other day and whomever was giving the prospectus on these two didn't have glowing words. He basically said the eldest brother would be an average contributor and the youngest is a ML-ready defender with no offensive potential.

But, ESPN.

Doesn't seem to mesh with what Ben Badler and Jesse Sanchez and others have said about them, but to each their own I suppose. The "no offensive potential" for the younger one especially seems out of order with what others have said. Over the last two years at age 20 and 21 Lourdes hit .308/.388/.466 and .321/.387/.537. I don't know if we have enough data points yet to really determine how effectively Cuban stats translate to the big league game but he certainly seems to have offensive potential, and he's a big, strong looking dude.

[Powdered Toast Man]

Neither one of these is really a fit nor would they make sense for the Cubs but fuck it I want them anyway give me all of the Cubans: http://www.bleachernation.com/2016/02/08/huge-cuban-defection-news-is-breaking-and-other-bullets/

There was a story about these two on ESPN the other day and whomever was giving the prospectus on these two didn't have glowing words. He basically said the eldest brother would be an average contributor and the youngest is a ML-ready defender with no offensive potential.

But, ESPN.

Doesn't seem to mesh with what Ben Badler and Jesse Sanchez and others have said about them, but to each their own I suppose. The "no offensive potential" for the younger one especially seems out of order with what others have said. Over the last two years at age 20 and 21 Lourdes hit .308/.388/.466 and .321/.387/.537. I don't know if we have enough data points yet to really determine how effectively Cuban stats translate to the big league game but he certainly seems to have offensive potential, and he's a big, strong looking dude.

Fair enough. But so was Jake Fox.

[Quality Start Machine]

Neither one of these is really a fit nor would they make sense for the Cubs but fuck it I want them anyway give me all of the Cubans: http://www.bleachernation.com/2016/02/08/huge-cuban-defection-news-is-breaking-and-other-bullets/

There was a story about these two on ESPN the other day and whomever was giving the prospectus on these two didn't have glowing words. He basically said the eldest brother would be an average contributor and the youngest is a ML-ready defender with no offensive potential.

But, ESPN.

Doesn't seem to mesh with what Ben Badler and Jesse Sanchez and others have said about them, but to each their own I suppose. The "no offensive potential" for the younger one especially seems out of order with what others have said. Over the last two years at age 20 and 21 Lourdes hit .308/.388/.466 and .321/.387/.537. I don't know if we have enough data points yet to really determine how effectively Cuban stats translate to the big league game but he certainly seems to have offensive potential, and he's a big, strong looking dude.

Fair enough. But so was Jake Fox.

And Josh Vitters.

[SKO]

30 game suspension for Chapman seem fair?

Really tricky situation since Manfred can't just rule arbitrarily like Goodell does in the NFL, but I'd say almost 20% of the season despite no actual police charges seems about as far as they could reasonably go without serious pushback from the union.

[PenFoe]

30 game suspension for Chapman seem fair?

Really tricky situation since Manfred can't just rule arbitrarily like Goodell does in the NFL, but I'd say almost 20% of the season despite no actual police charges seems about as far as they could reasonably go without serious pushback from the union.

Was just talking about this on Slack.

Ray Rice's initial 2 game suspension (which was roundly and rightfully criticized) was only 6% less of the season (12.5% vs. 18.5%) so that doesn't feel anymore justice has been done. 

Sure, there was video for Ray Rice, but we all know the deal now, we shouldn't need video. 

I get the differences in player association and CBA rules, but seems light to me, if we want to use Ray Rice as a baseline for "bad punishments."

[SKO]

30 game suspension for Chapman seem fair?

Really tricky situation since Manfred can't just rule arbitrarily like Goodell does in the NFL, but I'd say almost 20% of the season despite no actual police charges seems about as far as they could reasonably go without serious pushback from the union.

Was just talking about this on Slack.

Ray Rice's initial 2 game suspension (which was roundly and rightfully criticized) was only 6% less of the season (12.5% vs. 18.5%) so that doesn't feel anymore justice has been done. 

Sure, there was video for Ray Rice, but we all know the deal now, we shouldn't need video. 

I get the differences in player association and CBA rules, but seems light to me, if we want to use Ray Rice as a baseline for "bad punishments."

Fair enough.  Probably makes a difference that Chapman was never charged with anything and Rice was actually found guilty by a court of law.

The real test will be how they handle Jose Reyes, as i believe he was arrested and he supposedly threw the victim through a glass door

[Saul Goodman]

The Marlins have filed a grievance over the $100K salary that the Nationals are allegedly paying former Miami GM/manager Dan Jennings, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.  Jennings joined the Washington front office as a special assistant to GM Mike Rizzo in January after being fired by Miami after the season.  Jennings still had three years and $5.8MM remaining on his Marlins contract, including $1.5MM for 2016, and Miami owes Jennings the difference between that $1.5MM figure and his new salary for the 2016 season.  The Marlins aren’t pleased about still being on the hook for $1.4MM and they claim their NL East rival is paying Jennings “well below a salary commensurate with his responsibilities,” Jackson writes.

That's hilarious, Nationals. I personally think Jeff Loria should have to pay every single dime of that difference for being such a 'bag. And the Nationals should have made his salary $1. Don't like it? Don't sign guys to long guaranteed deals and get rid of them with three years left then. ("Damn straight." - Mark Buehrle)

[Saul Goodman]

The Pirates shutting down the Kyardnulls is a nice start. Even better is Mike Matheny blowing his only challenge of the game on a HBP of Andrew McCutchen in the first inning. Mike's already in midseason form.

[Chuck to Chuck]

While we're at it, BP published their Nationals top-10 prospect list (now with 99% fewer hot takes!).

Top 10 Talents 25 And Under (born 4/1/90 or later)
1. Bryce Harper
...

Let this sink in for a moment: Bryce Harper will be on the 2018 25U Nationals list.

It's so crazy that he'll be younger than Kris Bryant for at least one more season.

Won't he always be younger than Bryant?

[Eli]

While we're at it, BP published their Nationals top-10 prospect list (now with 99% fewer hot takes!).

Top 10 Talents 25 And Under (born 4/1/90 or later)
1. Bryce Harper
...

Let this sink in for a moment: Bryce Harper will be on the 2018 25U Nationals list.

It's so crazy that he'll be younger than Kris Bryant for at least one more season.

Won't he always be younger than Bryant?

Yes.

[Slaky]

While we're at it, BP published their Nationals top-10 prospect list (now with 99% fewer hot takes!).

Top 10 Talents 25 And Under (born 4/1/90 or later)
1. Bryce Harper
...

Let this sink in for a moment: Bryce Harper will be on the 2018 25U Nationals list.

It's so crazy that he'll be younger than Kris Bryant for at least one more season.

Won't he always be younger than Bryant?

Yes.

Chuck was just confirming that he understood your joke.