Cubswin11

I think they charged Bryant with a throwing error retroactively and it turned 1-2 ER (was originally ruled a hit) to unearned runs.

Yeah, unfortunately, I don’t see it making a lot of sense to bring Lester back. I think they’re definitely staying under the LT. Which would give them about ~$25 mil to spend and stay under iirc. I think they almost certainly do the vet signing you mentioned (Q, Ray, Minor, etc). I think using resources to trade for a SP is unlikely and if we trade for a SP it will come via the return in a KB, Willy, etc trade. Q, Desclafani, Ray and Garrett Richards are some of the main/realistic FA options for me. Wouldn’t mind signing 2 of those and then having Mills/Adbert battle for the 5th spot with Abbott, Thompson, Brailyn, etc potentiality being mid-late season rotation options. I think the non tender deadline is going to be enough of a bloodbath that even a guy like Gray will be borderline. Agreed they're definitely not trading any of the upper crust of prospects. Yeah if Gray is non-tendered I’d be all over him. Syndergaard is another interesting guy, if things are going to be as bad as some think it’s not crazy to think he’s non-tendered. He won’t be back until mid-season and is due over $10 mil in arb. Throw him a 2 year ~$25 mil deal or so.

Between a ton of non tenders in addition to normal churn, this winter will have a lot of upside arms available. Depending on your thoughts on Mills we have either two or three open rotation spots. Love what Lester has done for this franchise, but I have no interest in having him back unless he miraculously finds 2-3 MPH under his pillow like Kershaw did this winter. He's neither safe nor an upside play. I think way to go is probably something like: - Trade for a pretty good #3 (Jon Gray?) - Sign a vet who had a bad 2020 to a pillow contract (Kluber, Quintana, Minor, Ray, etc.) - Battle Royale between Mills, Alzolay, et al Although who the hell know how much money is going to be available to the FO. Is even something as modest as the above going to be an option? Yeah, unfortunately, I don’t see it making a lot of sense to bring Lester back. I think they’re definitely staying under the LT. Which would give them about ~$25 mil to spend and stay under iirc. I think they almost certainly do the vet signing you mentioned (Q, Ray, Minor, etc). I think using resources to trade for a SP is unlikely and if we trade for a SP it will come via the return in a KB, Willy, etc trade. Q, Desclafani, Ray and Garrett Richards are some of the main/realistic FA options for me. Wouldn’t mind signing 2 of those and then having Mills/Adbert battle for the 5th spot with Abbott, Thompson, Brailyn, etc potentiality being mid-late season rotation options.

:flythew:

Good lord what bad base running by Happ

Ross managed the bullpen and Lester masterfully tonight, don’t horsefeathers this up Adam

What are you doing with Vargas for Nico, Ross? You almost nailed the landing with the bullpen moves here

Holy horsefeathers does Marquee over produce these games with Taylor raking the infield and doing segments in the scoreboard. Their production/marketing people horsefeathering suck.

Stop trying to bunt, idiots

The shots of him in the dugout talking to the coaches and trainer made it look like an injury discussion more than just pulling him

On an extremely cheap 1 year deal, maybe. But there’s a lot of other FA SPs who won’t cost much I’d prefer over him. Hell I’d have more interest in bringing Q and/or Chatwood (depending on the severity of his injury/if he needs surgery) back on 1 year deals over him. I’m actually pretty interested in Q for 1 year next year for a semi reliable/inning eating rotation spot.

Um, why would the MLBPA have agreed to this???? Tony Clarke is horsefeathering useless.

That's so absurd. It makes a 162 game season so meaningless. Teams will drastically shift usage to protect guys, imo, and also spend less because why build a projected 85-90 win team when 75-80 wins gives you just as good a chance to make the playoffs and you can save a couple million dollars. Man that is so true, I didn’t even think of the depressed salaries angle. Does the PA have any say in this? This change would be a negative for everyone involved with baseball except the owners. horsefeathers Manfred, I hate this soooo much They’ll probably go along with it in the end because they’ll see getting the DH, 26-28 man full time roster and an expansion team or two as a big win in the short term. Meanwhile teams will be lowering payrolls league wide since you don’t need to be aiming as high to make the playoffs.

That's so absurd. It makes a 162 game season so meaningless. Teams will drastically shift usage to protect guys, imo, and also spend less because why build a projected 85-90 win team when 75-80 wins gives you just as good a chance to make the playoffs and you can save a couple million dollars.

Another year will pass with Taylor Swift having more banners hanging in Staples Center than the Clippers

Feels like we stole that one to a degree, but I’ll take it. Keep winning this week so we have some games to put the feet up next week.

That was an absurd DP turn

Agree but I saw today that even though his K numbers are down he still has decent swing rates and the Ks aren’t matching the swing numbers and some more Ks should come. But yeah, with the rest of the pen looking pretty sharp He shouldn’t have a huge leash here.

Damn, just doesn’t have it tonight. Get him out and walk it off.

Hopefully Willy and Rizzo weren’t watching that because they think they can do that now

lol, a dumbass squeeze attempt there was so predictable. This team/Ross does so much unnecessary and forced stupid horsefeathers.

Hamilton and maybe Javy/Heyward on the occasion should be the only Cubs to ever attempt a straight steal.

He never should’ve been allowed to watch any Javy’s ABs/him run the bases, because he thinks he can do everything Javy can out there.

The Heat are fun as hell