XZero771679666304

Perhaps, but not to the degree some people seem to think. It's one thing to be skeptical, it's quite another to revel in the negativity like a pig in [expletive].

Mitch Williams is/was the worst of the lot. God, he is insufferable.

This. I'd rather watch 24 hours of MLBN than one hour of BBTN or some other such [expletive]. Yes, they have to bring on a bunch of mouthbreathing ex-players to keep the casual/meatballs tuning in, but it really is just so much better than the alternative networks.

They owe a lot of it to their aggressive, risk-taking philosophy that will inevitably produce some C.J. Wilsons. Mike Trout helped a little too. They had a great season, but their short to mid term outlook is...volatile. That's a really talented but old, expensive, injury prone team with lots of declining stars and few contingencies. The could win their division next year, or they could finish last. I'm not sure which one is more likely. But as you say, Mike Trout helps.

And to think they owe it all to C.J Wilson

Yeah, their coverage (mostly the photos) of the project is the only thing that has motivated me to visit BCB in years. Probably because it isn't opinion or "analysis" written by that clown Yellon.

I just ... how can someone feel this way? Your also a little spoiled in Oklahoma having Durant. I agree the quality isn't as good, but neither is it in college football. Still would watch that over the NFL any day. The NBA has a ton of flopping and whining and for the most part a lot of hate-able personalities. Since Jordan I just haven't found the NBA to be all that exciting, and my favorite team growing up in South Texas is the Spurs. 15 years of them winning, and still not that interested until the playoffs start. The NBA is just so uninspiring. The quality of play is better, but there is less parity than ever, and the regular season is just a sleepwalk of a formality. And it isn't just you; the NBA has been steadily slipping in popularity since the "Jordan" era ended. If you put any stock in the Harris Poll, it's at about the same level as NASCAR when it comes to being a focus for the average sports fan. That's a far cry from the mid-late 90s. I used to love watching NBA games, not just because I was a Bulls fan, but all the games. It seemed like there were more teams that had their own superstar (not a bunch of them ganging up), the personalities were less of a focus, and there was more parity. Now the NBA is almost a cult of personalities, with superteams, self-promotion and drama. It's like the WWE, except somehow more contrived. I have no interest in it whatsoever. I love college ball because it's so volatile. Sure, you have the same blue bloods who are always in it, but cinderellas come and go, and you never quite know how new batches of recruits for various teams are going to jell (or not). It's just more fun and unpredictable, imo. And March Madness is just the best.

Or sealing the deal, if you use the Mojo interpretation method.

Andrew Miller@ 4/36 plus draft or David Robertson at 4/50+. I think the Yankees made the right choice. I've seen reports they are still likely to go re-sign Robertson as well Seems like a completely needless waste of money, but then again a bullpen consisting of Betances,Miller and Robertson for the final 3 innings is just ridiculous. Well, they'll need to prevent runs, because they aren't going to score a ton of them.

Yeah, the offense has been a disappointment to say the least, but the defense is an unmitigated disaster.

Yeah, I'm not going to sweat this at all until I hear some corroboration. I agree nothing to worry about yet, but there has been talk of a mystery team for over a week now so it's possible that team is the Yankees I know execs like to game, but I almost believe the Yankees when they said they wouldn't be in on big free agents this offseason. I think that old Yankees business model doesn't work, hasn't been working for them the past couple years, and they know it.

Yeah, I'm not going to sweat this at all until I hear some corroboration.

Grandal is the better hitter and is a much better pitch framer. Although one of the reasons the Padres are shopping him is that their pitchers much prefer Rivera's receiving skills, apparently.

I don't think that many people have a problem with the A's selling Donaldson high. It was probably coming in the next nine months or so anyway. It's the return that most people are taking issue with. Because they were selling high on a RH power bat who provides defensive value at a relatively premium position who has been one of the most valuable position players in baseball over the past couple years, many think they should have gotten more. I tend to agree.

Listen, I get that the prospects are "might be" players. But I'd just prefer to focus on positions where there isn't even that, like LF, (unless you count Bryant and his potential move there) and spots like C and another TOR SP or two. And yes, the Cubs do have a lot of parts to move, but that doesn't mean they should just start making it rain prospects whenever a star player becomes available, just because they can. We may well need to deal a few of them to fill positions of need before this offseason is over. There probably weren't any rumors about the Cubs/Donaldson because a 3B isn't what they're looking for. And I don't have a problem with that. There weren't any rumors about the Cubs/Heyward, but hell, there weren't any rumors about the Cards/Heyward (or Jays/Donaldson, for that matter) until it went down. And if the Braves wanted a high ceiling guy they could slot into their rotation, well, the Cubs wouldn't have had an answer for that. But for all we know, they did inquire; I think that it's probable. The Braves also, according to rumor, are shopping Upton. The Cubs could be in on that, though I don't know how they feel about potential rentals (this could also have come into play with Heyward).

I'm not saying that so much as that there are more pressing areas to target via trade, and to expend trade resources on. Would Donaldson have been a boon to the team? For sure, but there are far more glaring weaknesses to address. I am chomping at the bit for the Cubs to make a meaningful move, but at the same time I'm not going to get bent out of shape every time another team adds a player that the Cubs could have gotten and made fit, just because. Now if SP, OF and catchers start moving for prices the Cubs could have bested, then I'll get a lot more angsty.

Well, sure they could have. But I'm fairly certain the Cubs aren't in the market for infielders. Kinda wish they were for one that good. It's not like Bryant has to stick at 3B. Yeah, Donaldson would definitely have been appealing, but if we're going to make trades, I'd just as soon see them use our trade chips on a quality OF, SP or C before an infielder. And I don't think that Bryant is going to stick at 3B, but Baez may end up there, or even Castro. It's just not a position of need in any way. It's not a situation like Heyward where I am thinking "damn, we really missed an opportunity there".

Well, sure they could have. But I'm fairly certain the Cubs aren't in the market for infielders.

Ugly, but against a big, physical team, I'll take it.

i really thought this illinois team was immune to this sort of game that they used to love so much On the plus side, Malcolm Hill is good and getting better.

Illinois-Baylor has been an unattractive basketball game.

Oakland got talent back, but with the noise about other trades in the hopper, it feels like Beane is breaking it down (again). It just has to feel like groundhog day for A's fans, especially frustrating after they were so good pre-ASB this past season. But we'll have to wait and see what else Billy is up to, I guess.

Gotta suck to be an A's fan right now.

what I'm saying that I think that Baez has very little value right now. His MLB stint last year only seemed to validate every concern about him. Trading him now would be to trade him would be to sell him at the nadir of his value, I would think. 213 AB's did very little (if any) damage to his value. Prospects aren't expected to immediately adjust to major league pitching. The only change in his value from his first 213 AB's would have been if he raked, in which case, his value would be even higher than it was as a top 5 prospect. If he continues to falter next season, his value will begin dropping. Yeah, I'm just feeling bitchy and cynical today.

Bull [expletive]. His value isn't the highest it's ever been, but it's still high due to his age and his history of struggling. The same reasons the Cubs and Cubs fans can convince themselves that he'll be valuable is the reason GM's would want him. Maybe you're right, but I'm less optimistic. I think a GM could just as easily use his struggles as a reason to drive the cost down. I don't think Baez is going anywhere, at least right now. No one is going to give much for him until they see him rebound from this latest struggle cycle. Though the Miller thing was probably a bit much, though I don't think we're going to go out and land the top trade targets by using Baez as a centerpiece.