Laika

If he averages 96 then he would basically have the best FB in the majors right now. So, have to think gun was a bit hot. Or Davidi is just wrong (or heard wrong).

Bailey being broken for the next twelve months probably doesn't matter to Gibbers. Healthy Bailey > or = Odorizzi.

Nola has nightmare mechanics. Could have trouble staying healthy.

Fantastic value for Gibbers. Nice to see him win a trade big.

Randy Wolf > Aaron Sanchez. Send Sanchez to AA and don't let him back until he has a new pitch that he can consistently throw for strikes. A little cutter or something. An underhand lob. Anything. Ok, maybe not an underhand lob. But right now Sanchez is possibly the worst SP in baseball. Is there anyone in a rotation that projects worse than him?

No, unfortunately

Raisel Iglesias remains an enigma. Hopefully he gets a few more starts so I can at least find out if he's 20-team relevant.

I think you should eat a dick or two

wow. Corey Kluber just shoved 18 K's down North's throat. wow.

Aaron Sanchez is very, very bad at being a starting pitcher.

Most reasonable explanation for San Diego's offseason is a meddling owner. What's hilarious is the praise that Preller was getting in the offseason for all of those moves. The Kemp trade might be the worst trade in baseball history, other than Ruth for cash.

Is jaysblue on vacation or something? He suddenly went dark on the email/PM/Yahoo fronts.

Tidy little performance last night by Pomz, who isn't very good BTW.

I would click accept and order a Blue Jays Syndergaard shirsey faster than you can say "I'm a bike".

Boyd is nuking AA, has 17 starts at that level now, and is 24. He really could be called up any day.

Ben Badler ‏@BenBadler Blue Jays lefty Matt Boyd pounding the strike zone with 92-95 mph fastballs in the first inning here in Double-A.

looking forward to having an 80/70/70 super-Ace in the pipeline

lol this place, honestly...

Kiley McDaniel (Fangraphs) Syndergaard Fastball: 65/70, Curveball: 55/60, Changeup: 50/55, Command: 45/50+ Hoffman Fastball: 60/70, Curveball: 55/65, Changeup: 50/55, Command: 40/50+

I take it you saw that .gif from yesterday. Nice.

1. Noah Syndergaard Position: RHP DOB: 08/29/1992 Height/Weight: 6’6” 240 lbs Bats/Throws: L/R Drafted/Acquired: 1st round, 2010 draft, Legacy HS (Mansfield, TX) Previous Ranking: #1 (Org), #11 (Top 101) 2014 Stats: 4.60 ERA (133 IP, 154 H, 145 K, 43 BB) at Triple-A Las Vegas The Tools: 8 FB; 6+ potential CH; 7 potential CB What Happened in 2014: Syndergaard proved to be mortal in Triple-A, giving up 154 hits in 133 innings, but still fanned more than a batter an inning. Strengths: Excellent size; uses frame to advantage; downhill thrower; elite fastball; routinely works mid-to-high 90s, with arm-side life; can overpower with offering; strong feel for curve; throws with a loose wrist; stays on top of pitch to create deep, downward break; already a mature piece of arsenal (present plus); will miss bats at highest level; change shows guise to fastball; throws with similar arm speed and angle; fades arm side aggressively; room for more growth; very athletic for size; projection for command improvement. Weaknesses: Command presently more of the area variety; needs to throw quality strikes more often; falls into ruts of working elevated and in challenge mode; still learning the ins and outs of craft; at times wraps with curveball and will roll; change can be on the firm side and lack enough separation Overall Future Potential: 7; no. 2 starter Realistic Role: High 6; no. 2/3 starter __________________________ 4. Jeff Hoffman Position: RHP DOB: 01/08/1993 Height/Weight: 6’4” 185 lbs Bats/Throws: R/R Drafted/Acquired: 1st round, 2014 draft, East Carolina University (Greenville, NC) Previous Ranking: NA 2014 Stats: Did Not Play (Tommy John Surgery) The Tools: 7 potential FB; 6+ potential CH; 6 potential CB What Happened in 2014: The power arm was cruising through the college season and pushing for a definitive chance at being selected first overall. But then the dreaded Tommy John struck and dropped him into Toronto’s lap at 9th overall. Strengths: Very athletic; loose arm and delivery; explosive fastball at 93-96; touches higher when needs it; can throw past hitters or pound the zone; turns over good changeup; true bat-missing ability; shows arm-side fade with quality tumbling action; high amount of confidence in offering; snaps breaking ball with loose wrist; shows power break in upper-velocity band (78-82); will vary shape; can throw for strikes; aggressive on the mound; projects a high amount of confidence in stuff; plus future command profile. Weaknesses: Command presently plays down; lot of limbs and body to control; can stand to add strength to maintain stuff over long season; fastball can be on the straight side; present mentality to work in dangerous areas with offering; breaking ball can get slurvy and soft; will cast; gets predicable with change; heavily throws to arm side; needs to focus more on hitting all four quadrants with arsenal in general; developmental delay due to injury. Overall Future Potential: 7; no. 2 starter Realistic Role: High 5; no. 3/4 starter

In terms of raw stuff and potential, Syndergaard and Hoffman are pretty much the same. Ideal frames, elite pitches. But Syndergaard is more mature, big league ready, and not coming back from injury, so...

There are absolutely no viable arguments in favour of Osuna. Sorry.

At this point you have to assume that Bautista has a partially torn rotator cuff (or something like that) and he is just desperate to avoid surgery. 3 weeks and he still can't throw. Winces after every little swing. I'm baffled as to why he isn't immediately removed in a 10-2 game. What's the point of letting him hit there?

You get one more Rodon gloat post, and then that's enough.