Thusly Boned

Cards weren't going to be factor in the playoff race even before this offseason's sell off, but they might be looking at 100+ losses in 2026 They should have done this last offseason

It isn't quite as clear as some say (and agree you can't really blame Dusty for Wood, but his injury history should have been a reason to go easier on him), but Dusty was the worst about riding SP, even in context. In 2003, Cubs starters led the majors in pitches per start, for example, and his teams were routinely at or near the top in this area.

It was just an egregious example of unnecessarily riding his pitchers. If you look a Prior's pitch counts for the whole season, especially down the stretch, it was brutal, even for the time. It looks even worse in context. And sending one of your prize pitchers out for the late innings with 100+ pitches and a seven-run lead was not routine.

Corey Patterson and Hee-Seop Choi Choi was turned into Derrek Lee so it worked out for the team, but I had really wanted him to be a thing

Yeah, I think with the injury risks, Steele coming back from injury, and Shota and Boyd and getting gassed down the stretch last year, loading the rotation up is a wise move. Skip some Cabrera/Shota/Boyd starts here and there and spread the regular season innings around a bit and protect your best arms so they're good to go late in the year.

I mean most athletes aren't intellectuals, but it's one thing to assume the people you're rooting for are largely regressive morons and it's another to know it. He's in the bucket with Chapman and Addison Russell as far as I'm concerned. However, IMO there are also sound baseball reasons to want to trade him. For example: Even before all the nonsense, I wasn't at all in love with what I saw. If his statistically good second half can be spun into a trade for something of value, I say do it.

No, but it's New York; he'd be subject to the same scrutiny as if he were "the guy" in just about any other market, especially if they were paying him what the reported offer is.

Yeah, Toronto seems like the obvious fit for Tucker to me as well. He wouldn't need to be "the guy", and it isn't the pressure cooker NYC is. I think the Mets would be an awful fit for him.

Yeah, from what I've heard (mostly speculative noise in line with your impression) and my own intuition I think the front office just wasn't impressed by the Kyle Tucker experience, and I would guess there is no real motivation to bring him back at all. And while part of me thinks that's crazy, part of me is okay with it. Not with not spending the money, but not spending the money on Tucker.

incredible Time to move into Tom Grossi's house

literally dying

This is gonna hurt

too much time

I mean ownership seems totally cool with people who view women/girls as subhuman, so why not I guess Gross