WhosTheBoskie

I don’t think Arrieta spent the first half of *a contract year* sitting 91 mph because he wasn’t motivated. Or that he couldn’t command a pitch to save his life in the second half of 2016 because he wasn’t focused. His mechanics are incredibly complicated and the slightest issue in repeating them can (literally) throw everything off. Plus — unless it was simply his mechanics — I think he wasn’t 100% in the first half last year judging by the velocity and sharpness jump later in the year. I'm just saying I think Jake thrives on people not believing in him. I think he gains an edge and a focus. He does have extremely complex mechanics and needs razor focus, it seems he's a guy who is at his best when he has something to prove. His struggles started after saying he wouldn't take a home discount and that he expected to get paid, it send like that's when things started slipping. That and the fact he threw his ass off for 2 and a half seasons. It seems like he got distracted by what he had done. When he lost his control and his touch and people started whispering that maybe he had lost it, he turned it back on. I think he comes out on fire this year. I'm not speaking bad on the guy, but some times guys look like they peak when they feel they need something to prove. I love Jake. Without him we don't have 2016, but he's fierce and he's proud, I think the perception of haters helps him. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

My point being he seems to be at his best when he feels disrespected. He takes it to a new level. Once he feels he's respected he seems to slack Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

That's kind of my point. He was still a good pitcher he just set the bar so high in late 2014 and 2015 that anything is a let down. If we don't get darvish, id rather have Jake starting, especially come October, than Monty Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

I've been wondering this too. I think Jake might be on fire next year. But no way he signs a one year deal. Hes going to get paid by someone and we've all seen what happens when Jake finally gets vindication (he goes from ridiculous to pretty good) Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

If I were a betting man, I'd say he has a give year offer with a 6th year option of some kind. His agent is probably trying to get that to a 6 year guaranteed with 7 as an option. It's rather reasonable when you see a lot of the other deals signed in years past. However, we are in a new market where teams are much more worried about LT penalties. Market has to change at some point. Whether you want to call it collusion or everyone coming to their senses, it's pretty clear teams and agents have their heels dug in. To everyone who has said the guys behind him want him to just go ahead and sign, I bet not. They're rooting for him to get everything he can. I'd be ok with the sixth and a vesting 7th of some sort. Our window isn't open forever and we have to maximize. There's no one else this year who can improve our rotation that much. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

If that is indeed the sticking point as some reports suggest, I wholeheartedly agree. The only reason I can see for Theo/Jed still holding firm is if they have solid intel that Darvish doesn't really have a significantly better offer that would cause him to not eventually cave in and sign a 4-year deal. Yeah I agree with both these points. If it’s ~25 on the aav I wouldn’t even have a problem going to 6 years with him so it’s kind of silly to me to hear (obviously rumors) we won’t go to 5 to get it done. Hopefully it is Theo just really feels he knows he has the best offer/only realistic place Yu wants to go. Can you imagine if we somehow do get yu on a 4 year deal? I don't think it happens but that would be amazing. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Yu is better at tipping his pitches than what the hell is going to happen the couple days of off-season left. And this whole process really concerns me with Jake. On the one hand I can see him being so pissed that his market depended on someone else that he has worked his tail off and gets his velo and control back, and it won't be with us. On the other hand, it could get him trying too hard like when he started talking about this off-season 2 years ago and he continues his spin into mediocrity with bouts of goodness. Both make me sad because I'll love Jake forever. He really made us all start to believe.