Abomination

There's no way 1.5 years of Rasmus would get us Cingrani, but maybe there could be framework for a deal there somewhere. It also looks like they're going to use Hamilton as a center fielder, so how much need they have may be up in the air.

Btw, I sent you a trade proposal the other day. Are you interested in it, thinking about it, or should I cancel it? I hate leaving them open for too long.

I think I'll pass, but I'd be game for us all submitting what we think the first round will look like. One point for each slot we miss by, low score wins. I'd also be game for something where we choose who we would take each time the Jays pick, and then look back in a few years and see if we can pick better than AA can

I wonder if Arizona would consider moving Prado, or the Nats Rendon? Daniel Murphy could have some appeal - at least his bad defense comes with a nice bat. Overall, I really think Kinsler makes the most sense for us to go after (if he's at least partially available).

I think it's too early to really get a feel for a lot of this (for example whether Lind can maintain his new approach, whether Lawrie can pick it up again, whether Rasmus continues the recent trend of using the whole field or not, etc). As of right now, the only really identifiable problem spots on the team are at C, 2b, and SP. Catcher can be solved with McCann (preferably) or possibly Ruiz. Assuming Zobrist's option is picked up, the 2b free agent market is terrible next year outside of Cano who will likely stay with the Yankees. I suppose we could gamble on Utley staying healthy too. The starter market is pretty slim, but Garza would be a nice fit. Resigning JJ would be a possibility too, and Halladay would look real nice if he returns from surgery in September with his normal velocity again. I don't think Kuroda would play outside of the Yankees, a west coast team, or Japan but Hudson could be interesting. The way I see it, catcher should be filled on the FA market. 2B will probably have to be filled via trade, and pitcher may be fillable by either.

Is this for who we think teams will take, or who we would take (the results of which can't really be evaluated for a few years)?

- The KC idea doesn't make much sense for KC unless they're in it at the deadline (which is looking unlikely). - I doubt Detroit could take on Reyes contract - I'm not convinced Texas could take on Bautista's, unless it was something like Bautista for Kinsler. - Stl almost certainly can't take on Buehrle's contract.

I think Bautista's back is too sore for that. You see him grab at it periodically throughout the game at at the plate. Otherwise I would 100% agree.

Finished bouncing off the walls yet?

Guess that depends on how his shoulder feels. Has some extra zip on the ball, so maybe it's feeling better.

Holy smokes DeRosa hammered that one. Boy did we need that.

Dang it, my whip was down to 0.64 for the week before that hit.

Janssen looks like he has a little extra on the fastball tonight.

The baseball gods hate us so much ...

I'd like to see Bautista cut the swing down just a tad. That is horrifically violent (even for him).

That hbp, against a tough lefty, on a breaking ball is pretty much the best case scenario for us!

Normally I hate lots of off days, but we really really need them right now.

3 games not including tonight (although the equivalent of 4).

I wonder about guys coming in out of high school or college throwing 100+ innings, and then they get into the minors with short season and it seems like they throw very few for a year or two. I kind of wonder if that has something to do with it, especially at a time when the body is still developing.

I don't think that's the cause of the injuries though, which was my point.

I think we do have serious issues with developing players, but I don't think it has anything to do with the injuries. The only thing I can think of is that we stress heavily that every guy coming up should be able to throw the changeup, but I doubt that's causing it. I still kind of wonder if cut fastballs are causing some of the problems all teams are seeing recently.

We may not have to (yet), since JJ is returning. Dickey, JJ, Buehrle, Jenkins, Rogers.

Maybe it actually is Wilner masquerading as a troll of himself.

AA needs to make amends with the witch doctor who cursed our pitching staff.

It looked like it was only 3 or 4 rows back, and he absolutely crushed it.