Around Baseball 2024

[Terminator]

There are Orioles fanboys on this board? Like geez so any positive comment towards the Orioles in any baseball discussion, I guess that considers you a fanboy.

 

^Another Orioles fanboy scurrying for the exits. I haven't heard much in the way of Braves/AA cheerleading from you lately either.

[Brownie19]

^Another Orioles fanboy scurrying for the exits. I haven't heard much in the way of Braves/AA cheerleading from you lately either.

 

Still can't believe they gave away the best catcher in baseball, who was on his rookie contract.

 

Imagine giving up Esteury Ruiz to get Contreras, who's going to give you like 11.5 WAR in 2 seasons for like $1.5M

[connorp]

The playoffs are a total crapshoot, however emotionally it doesn't seem like that. It seems a team like the Orioles who are limping into the playoffs will just get swept as the 2022/23 Blue Jays did.

 

It also seems that maybe there is some curse and only Red Sox and Yankees are allowed playoff wins, and Tampa Bay sometime... but Toronto and Baltimore must suffer forever.

 

However

 

1. Using logic and data probably can prove playoffs are a total crapshoot with perhaps 3 year mean winning percentage having some small effect.

2. Using anecdotes can show that every type of team conceivable has won World Series, including some awful team that limped into playoffs.

3. Using emotion and flawed human intuition it seems that only certain teams can win in the Playoffs... like the Arizona Diamondbacks with that up and comer next Johny Bench guy.

 

I actually don’t know how to craps and it’s a good thing because I don’t know how to do anything in moderation and luckily gambling never became a vice.

 

But in terms of a roulette wheel, you have 38 numbers and even if you put money on 19 of them, you’ve increased your odds significantly, but still a “crapshoot”..

 

Losing Bradish obviously hurts them. Grayson being a total wildcard also doesn’t help.

They aren’t looking sexy for sure with the bats. I’ve rode the Santander train many times over the years in fantasy and it was not good more than good.

 

They made it though. They have a lot of solid pieces and still a couple pieces that could be franchise players.

A much rosier outlook than the Jays for now

[max silver]

Still can't believe they gave away the best catcher in baseball, who was on his rookie contract.

 

Imagine giving up Esteury Ruiz to get Contreras, who's going to give you like 11.5 WAR in 2 seasons for like $1.5M

 

AA has a long and storied history of trading away the wrong catchers.

[jaysblue]

^Another Orioles fanboy scurrying for the exits. I haven't heard much in the way of Braves/AA cheerleading from you lately either.

 

I mean, the Braves are still 85-71 and that's without Acuna and Strider for the entire season. As well they had guys on and off the IL all year like Albies, Harris, Murphy, and Riley. No excuses though. If the Blue Jays lost Vladdy for an entire year along with someone like Gausman and had a bunch of other key guys on and off the IL, would just be bad luck and Atkins gets a free pass from you guys lol. As well, Jays likely are a 60 something win team if that happens. At least the Braves have been able to keep afloat and still in Wild Card contention despite all the injuries they've had.

[jaysblue]

Still can't believe they gave away the best catcher in baseball, who was on his rookie contract.

 

Imagine giving up Esteury Ruiz to get Contreras, who's going to give you like 11.5 WAR in 2 seasons for like $1.5M

 

Yeah not AA's greatest trade, but you love bringing that one up all the time for some reason as its the only trade AA has made in Atlanta lol.

 

Imagine trading away the Jays top prospect at the time who was a 23-year-old catcher under club control for 6 years along with one-year of an outfielder with pop for an outfielder similar to 2015's Kevin Pillar haha. Geez would have thought Atkins could have done better than a Kevin Pillar type outfielder! You don't trade your top prospect in a deal for an outfielder/player like that.

[Spanky__99]

^Another Orioles fanboy scurrying for the exits. I haven't heard much in the way of Braves/AA cheerleading from you lately either.

 

lol... sometimes I really love this forum.

[Spanky__99]

^Another Orioles fanboy scurrying for the exits. I haven't heard much in the way of Braves/AA cheerleading from you lately either.

 

I mean, the Braves are still 85-71 and that's without Acuna and Strider for the entire season. As well they had guys on and off the IL all year like Albies, Harris, Murphy, and Riley. No excuses though. If the Blue Jays lost Vladdy for an entire year along with someone like Gausman and had a bunch of other key guys on and off the IL, would just be bad luck and Atkins gets a free pass from you guys lol. As well, Jays likely are a 60 something win team if that happens. At least the Braves have been able to keep afloat and still in Wild Card contention despite all the injuries they've had.

 

lol... sometimes I really love this forum.

 

Like fishing in a barrel.

[Brownie19]

Yeah not AA's greatest trade, but you love bringing that one up all the time for some reason as its the only trade AA has made in Atlanta lol.

 

Imagine trading away the Jays top prospect at the time who was a 23-year-old catcher under club control for 6 years along with one-year of an outfielder with pop for an outfielder similar to 2015's Kevin Pillar haha. Geez would have thought Atkins could have done better than a Kevin Pillar type outfielder! You don't trade your top prospect in a deal for an outfielder/player like that.

 

LOL - I knew you'd bite at that one. Only you would turn this into a comparison to Atkins. Interestingly enough, Varsho's already eclipsed Pillar's career WAR total. Pillar really only had one good year.

[connorp]

LOL - I knew you'd bite at that one. Only you would turn this into a comparison to Atkins. Interestingly enough, Varsho's already eclipsed Pillar's career WAR total. Pillar really only had one good year.

 

If only all that War and a nickel got us a dime

[max silver]

Yeah not AA's greatest trade, but you love bringing that one up all the time for some reason as its the only trade AA has made in Atlanta lol.

 

Imagine trading away the Jays top prospect at the time who was a 23-year-old catcher under club control for 6 years along with one-year of an outfielder with pop for an outfielder similar to 2015's Kevin Pillar haha. Geez would have thought Atkins could have done better than a Kevin Pillar type outfielder! You don't trade your top prospect in a deal for an outfielder/player like that.

 

If the guy the Blue Jays traded starts producing 5+ win seasons you'll have a great point.

[Stangstag]

If only all that War and a nickel got us a dime

 

Your weekly “connor pretends like defense doesn’t matter because it doesn’t win points in fantasy baseball” post

 

I look forward to hearing it again next week.

[connorp]

Didn’t do well on the field either. KK, IKF, Jansen, Varsho. Whomp whomp

[Spanky__99]

Yeah not AA's greatest trade, but you love bringing that one up all the time for some reason as its the only trade AA has made in Atlanta lol.

 

Imagine trading away the Jays top prospect at the time who was a 23-year-old catcher under club control for 6 years along with one-year of an outfielder with pop for an outfielder similar to 2015's Kevin Pillar haha. Geez would have thought Atkins could have done better than a Kevin Pillar type outfielder! You don't trade your top prospect in a deal for an outfielder/player like that.

 

Sil, I have a cool napkin if you need one man? The trade isn't a dunk, wasn't he your homie, mate?

[jaysblue]

LOL - I knew you'd bite at that one. Only you would turn this into a comparison to Atkins. Interestingly enough, Varsho's already eclipsed Pillar's career WAR total. Pillar really only had one good year.

 

Dalton Varsho hasn't had as good of a season yet with the Blue Jays as Kevin Pillar's 2015 season lol. So in essence yes, Atkins had to trade the organizations top prospect for an outfielder who so far has been no different than Kevin Pillar was with the Jays in 2015/2016 haha. Like that's kind of sad.

[jaysblue]

If the guy the Blue Jays traded starts producing 5+ win seasons you'll have a great point.

 

Gave up a 23-year-old catcher who is under club control for six years for a player who has been no different than Kevin Pillar in 2015.

 

You guys always talk about "club control" when it comes to the Teo/Swanson swap since Swanson as a reliever had 3 years of control, but all of a sudden six years of control for a young promising 23-year-old catcher isn't that big of a deal lol.

 

If Moreno lets say gets 2.5 WAR this season and averages 2.5 the following four he's still under control, including his 2023 season of 2.3 WAR, that's 14.8 fWAR. That's also pretty conservative for projections, and he definitely has the upside to produce more moving forward. If Varsho ends up averaging 3.5 WAR for the following two seasons, along with his 5.4 WAR he already accumulated during his first two seasons with the Jays, that's 12.4 fWAR. Also, the fact the Jays lost a 2 WAR season and 24 HR's from LGJ in 2023, which would have helped the lineup greatly, gives the D'Backs almost 17 WAR total. Regardless, Moreno doesn't have to produce +5 WAR seasons for it to be a net win for the D'Backs lol. Varsho needs to start producing 4 or 5+ WAR seasons over his next two years at the age of 28.

[jaysblue]

Sil, I have a cool napkin if you need one man? The trade isn't a dunk, wasn't he your homie, mate?

 

I like Varsho and have stated numerous times he's an easy player to root for. Have nothing against him whatsoever. Even as a 3.5 WAR centre fielder who is a defensive wizard with the glove and with some occasional pop, will take that from him.

 

Reality is, the trade wasn't a dunk by Atkins as it was made out to be last season and even in the early part of this season. Two years in a row with a 88 and 99 wRC+ and sub .300 OBP's from Varsho isn't that encouraging. Varsho is going to be 28, yet he still has untapped potential and could get better, though a 24-year-old Moreno doesn't? No different than Kevin Pillar's 2015 season.

 

Hope the Jays could win the trade, but not looking that way, unless Moreno has a serious injury and misses significant time for one or two years. Overall, wish the Jays could have used Moreno in a package for a better player, but it is what it is.

[Olerud363]

I like Varsho and have stated numerous times he's an easy player to root for. Have nothing against him whatsoever. Even as a 3.5 WAR centre fielder who is a defensive wizard with the glove and with some occasional pop, will take that from him.

 

Reality is, the trade wasn't a dunk by Atkins as it was made out to be last season and even in the early part of this season. Two years in a row with a 88 and 99 wRC+ and sub .300 OBP's from Varsho isn't that encouraging. Varsho is going to be 28, yet he still has untapped potential and could get better, though a 24-year-old Moreno doesn't? No different than Kevin Pillar's 2015 season.

 

Hope the Jays could win the trade, but not looking that way, unless Moreno has a serious injury and misses significant time for one or two years. Overall, wish the Jays could have used Moreno in a package for a better player, but it is what it is.

 

Moreno unfortunately got a hand injury in early 2021 and hasn't been the same since, as may have Kirk in June 2022... and apparently Rutchmann too. Kirk and Rutschman never even went on the DL but their numbers have tanked since.

 

Are hand injuries career altering? Do MLB front offices have info on this kind of thing that isn't quite public yet? Could explain a lot.

[Jimcanuck]

I like Varsho and have stated numerous times he's an easy player to root for. Have nothing against him whatsoever. Even as a 3.5 WAR centre fielder who is a defensive wizard with the glove and with some occasional pop, will take that from him.

 

Reality is, the trade wasn't a dunk by Atkins as it was made out to be last season and even in the early part of this season. Two years in a row with a 88 and 99 wRC+ and sub .300 OBP's from Varsho isn't that encouraging. Varsho is going to be 28, yet he still has untapped potential and could get better, though a 24-year-old Moreno doesn't? No different than Kevin Pillar's 2015 season.

 

Hope the Jays could win the trade, but not looking that way, unless Moreno has a serious injury and misses significant time for one or two years. Overall, wish the Jays could have used Moreno in a package for a better player, but it is what it is.

 

Best OF in the game with a league average bat? That's f***ing awesome, man.

[Laika]

I like Varsho and have stated numerous times he's an easy player to root for. Have nothing against him whatsoever. Even as a 3.5 WAR centre fielder who is a defensive wizard with the glove and with some occasional pop, will take that from him.

 

Reality is, the trade wasn't a dunk by Atkins as it was made out to be last season and even in the early part of this season. Two years in a row with a 88 and 99 wRC+ and sub .300 OBP's from Varsho isn't that encouraging. Varsho is going to be 28, yet he still has untapped potential and could get better, though a 24-year-old Moreno doesn't? No different than Kevin Pillar's 2015 season.

 

Hope the Jays could win the trade, but not looking that way, unless Moreno has a serious injury and misses significant time for one or two years. Overall, wish the Jays could have used Moreno in a package for a better player, but it is what it is.

 

LMAO go find one non-sarcastic post that calls it a dunk

 

realistically everyone here either hated it or thought (thinks) it was fair

 

nothing has really changed either other than things that have nothing to do with the players (if the Jays could go back in time they would not do the trade, simply because they didn't win in 2023 or 2024 and now they would prefer Moreno and his remaining years of control)

[Brownie19]

LOL - so triggered. At least it's not as bad as AA (and David Frost) giving away Contreras.

[Brownie19]

KC has lost 7 in a row. 2-8 in their last 10. Minny is 3-7 in their last 10 and the O's have s*** the bed for a couple of months now. Bad timing for these teams, but it should make for a more entertaining end to the season.

[Laika]

KC has lost 7 in a row. 2-8 in their last 10. Minny is 3-7 in their last 10 and the O's have s*** the bed for a couple of months now. Bad timing for these teams, but it should make for a more entertaining end to the season.

 

Go Tigers!

 

Jackson Jobe!

[connorp]

Go Tigers!

 

Jackson Jobe!

 

I tried a few times to get my hands on him. Numbers seem a lot more underwhelming more recently.

[G-Snarls]

KC has lost 7 in a row. 2-8 in their last 10. Minny is 3-7 in their last 10 and the O's have s*** the bed for a couple of months now. Bad timing for these teams, but it should make for a more entertaining end to the season.

 

Yes, suddenly it's interesting again

[G-Snarls]

I just don't want Seattle or Boston to sneak in

[Jimcanuck]

I tried a few times to get my hands on him. Numbers seem a lot more underwhelming more recently.

 

We are aware you are susceptible to recency bias

[Stangstag]

I tried a few times to get my hands on him. Numbers seem a lot more underwhelming more recently.

 

Kinda gay but ok. Didn't know you swung that way.

[Olerud363]

I just don't want Seattle or Boston to sneak in

 

Boston is almost impossible... Seattle? Holy s***. They are like right there. This is hilarious. Grant will go nuts.

 

Despite hitting .224 they have scored as many runs as Toronto and are a better hitting team when adjusted for park... actually probably an above average hitting team

 

Seattle in the year 2024 must be one of the all time worse places for a hitter....

[wilko]

I just don't want Seattle or Boston to sneak in

 

Boston's basically done.