mul21

I downloaded the app a couple weeks ago to watch something (Cubs game maybe?) and there was no option for a free trial, so I'm not sure that will work. Regardless, it's absolutely stupid.

Maybe it's Hosmer. Edit: Hopefully it's Hosmer.

The trash Cobs go to Houston to continue to get their brains beat in by actual good teams who started slow out of the gate. Can't wait to see Hosmer leading off tonight for reasons. Of the 6 Cubs who have faced Valdez, zero have gotten a hit. Astros are a combined 14/41 or .341 against Taillon with 4 HRs. I expect all the trends to reverse and the Cubs to win 8-1 tonight.

I had walked away from the game for a bit and was shocked to see Assad come out for the 9th. He'd struggled with command a bit in the previous inning (missing badly on the arm side with fastballs) and got bailed out by the double play that Morel made a hell of a turn on. I wasn't thrilled about the pitch count, but the 3rd time through the order for a guy who has no record of success to speak of in the majors is a tough sell for me. I very much understand trying to give the pen a rest under the circumstances, but man, he's consistently leaving guys in a little too long. With Stroman it's a bit more defensible, but there's not much of anyone else on this team I can get on board with that strategy for. I'll concede to TT's point on batting order, but I'm so tired of watching Hosmer Heyward and Juan Pierre almost every time he's up. And why is he first pitch swinging to ground into a DP when the last 2 guys have walked and it's clear Flaherty is struggling mightily with his control? I know the FO values the soft skills Ross brings to the table and I'm not sure if it's his request or the FO that's been handcuffing the roster but maybe if Mervis and Morel were brought up while things were going well offensively they'd be through the adjustment period and contributing more at this point. I guess I'm just frustrated at all the missed opportunities of late that I knew were coming when they were hitting so well with RISP during the hot start.

It used to be in the avatar: Hell (aka St. Louis). 😂

Accurate. I'm 4 hours from KC, Chicago is 4.5, Indy is less than 3.5.

I would just be copying others if I made my own top 20 but keeping Ferris out of the top 10 after that debut performance seems nigh criminal to me.

Gives them a guy who can back up CF and he gets the PAs Wisdom has been getting since he's in such a funk right now?

Yep, that's a spot where you need contact and that's the only reason madrigal is on the damn roster. Massive fail by Ross there.

Yeah, that was a huge performance if only because it kept the rest of the pen from having to pitch today.

Sure, but this is an upgrade from a hot steaming pile of horsefeathers to likely average to above average production.

It's absolutely hilarious down here. The fans are in full revolt, they lost their minds yesterday with the Stifel announcement, they all want Marmol fired and DeWitt to sell the team for being a cheap ass who won't pay for pitching. I'm reveling in it.

If you're not going to bring up Mervis put him in CF and Bellinger at 1B.

I think that last bit there is my biggest problem with this whole situation. Dude is 25, has destroyed the baseball for the last 7 months in the minors and at some point you have to find out if he's an asset, has things to work on that get exposed when he comes up, or if he's not the solution long term. We know Hosmer and Mancini aren't.

After him MFing Willy yesterday I'd say probably not.

What a horrible decision by the A's 1B. Thanks for the free out.

I think roster construction (i.e. Hosmer/Mervis both being LHH) is a as big a factor as any for me. Hosmer doesn't provide a level of defense that appears to be game changing a la Rizzo from the eye test thus far and even if it's a modest increase in offensive output, I have to think that just getting away from all the damn ground balls he hits will have a net positive effect. Long story short, Hosmer is a minimal sunk cost, Mervis is probably better already and hits less rally killing GBs, so bring him up and let's see what we have.

I think there's some reasonable expectation that Smyly will implode or get hurt at some point and there's nota lot to lean on right now as backup until Hendricks proves he's healthy/fixed and that's a dubious proposition.

Does Cody Heuer and a fixed Hendricks satisfy those "adds" for you or are you talking about additions beyond that?

This seems like a win/win. I'm a fan.

It's not going to be through there until like 8 EDT and the Reds play at 3 EDT tomorrow in Philly. I'd be surprised if they try to play at all today.

Having actual ML players at all the positions on the field probably has something to do with that. Even Hosmer and Wisdom both had important defensive plays in spite of lackluster days at the plate.

I'm prepared for this to be the end result of the game tomorrow. Prove me wrong jackasses!

Passan estimated 5 and 10 for those years and 20 for the FA year buyout, which seems reasonable to me if not a tad light on the arb years.

I can't see Social and I've been here since 2004 so an add to the old timey group would be appreciated.