John_Havok

I think the more frustrating part of the Barrio years was the absolute brain-dead baserunning. Like, you can live with the ok to subpar D as long as they're mashing with the bat but they just gave away so much on the basepaths it was nauseating.

He's has some excellent stretches with multiple games looking like a beast with the Jays too. He has really good stuff

Bassitt out there showing everyone part of the unfixable problems

Could be a thing where Mattingly can see the problems, needs Hague to figure out what drills are needed to fix the problems.

No doubt. Lost some time with injury, but even if he shows up at 27 on the roster as a pen arm that doesn't suck, ...cool.

Here's my quite about Burnes "New guys traded for Burnes and that's about it, a good acquisition but that wasn't even really a supplement to a great staff, it was because they didn't have anyone even in the same talent realm as Grayson." And it was directly related to my position that so far, the Orioles have not been willing to supplement their roster with what's needed ro fill in the cracks. They had no front end starter, so they traded for 1 year of one. Now they have a few months left of him before he flies away because, imo, they won't do what's necessary to keep him based on history, though it remains to be seen with the new ownership. So far, all they've done is swing weird trades for garbage aside from Eflin, who has had exactly 1 great season in his career. My opinion of the Os lack of pushing to win will change if they actually make meaningful signings or trades that land non-rental top talent. As usual you've read into my post what you want to read.

Possible, but they also get far more opportunities to show their defensive usefulness (framing) than any other position.

Pipeline? Check. Willingness to supplement with actual impact talent? Doesn't seem so. Willingness to spend on top tier FA to supplement? TBD Old ownership was a hell no on both the 2nd and 3rd questions. New guys traded for Burnes and that's about it, a good acquisition but that wasn't even really a supplement to a great staff, it was because they didn't have anyone even in the same talent realm as Grayson. Will be a shame when they're out in the second round again this year

Yes, and ...who cares if it's first ballot or not. The only reason people attach meaning to first ballot is because of the idiotic rules of HoF voting

I selfishly wish though that he would be told the team his plans to retire so they could bring him to Toronto and announce it at the ballpark, even if it before the last game of the Reds/Jays series. Wouldn't have had to call him up, or add him to the roster, just let him announce it there instead of from Buffalo. But then, I guess the way he did it ultimately fits the type of guy he is

I fully agree his statement was criticalmof the FO. I just dispute the specifics that people read into it... the "he must mean THIS specific criticism" and "Jays must have told him to walk back his comments" stuff. That's all guys made up in people heads. I'm sure the jays PR called Bassitt and alsed him what he meant for internal reasons. I don't think they forced him to put out an additional comment. I don't think they "sent" Shi or Zwelling out with instructions to get Bassitt to clarify anything. Any good Jays reporter would have seen that podcast and knew a follow up would be worthy of attention. Is it possible? Sure. Anything is possible. It's just weird around here when something regarding Jays staff, players etc happens, the people involved will al deny it happens a certain way, but people here will have already made up their minds about whatvtheybthink really happened and won't believe the denials. Flip it, when multiple Jays office says yes, this is exactly what happened, we did this, it was this guys decision, this other guy had nothing to do with it, and everyone involved and thought to be involved all says the same thing, it's still not believed because people have already made up their mind about how it must have happened. Whether it's a denial or a complete agreement, nope. Can't be that way, it must be what I think.

Right now sure. He's not playing right now. When he comes back, that will be the test. I agree he looked mentally checked out a ton of the time. He said he would welcome a trade (allegedly) a quote from "a friend". He's been hittiing like dog s*** and has been chronically injured in the same place over the past season, so it's hard to say if the attitude stems from that or something else. Yes, they should absolutely explore trading him in the offseason. No, they shouldn't just trade him for the sake of trading him. If the return isn't there, you take your chances that the sulky child will use his impending free agency as enough motivation to stop being a baby, and start playing like he can. Then, if they're winning at that point, the toxicity will likely be minimal.

Nah, it's just that toxicity is cured really fast when a guy actually plays well amd the team is winning

Psychologically speaking, you heard what Bassitt said initially and made a lot of inferences based on your own criticisms of the team. Basically it was your brain hearing what it wanted to hear because it would have agreed with you. Then, when the source of those comments clarified those comments, and said exactly what he meant and it no longer fit your inferences, you then decided he "walked it back" because....he must have? Can't have it both ways

Based on your comments...I'm not sure where you're at. You seem to believe that the status quo isnt good enough (valid) ... but that Bassitt is staying based on his interview. That's a problem if the status quo isn't good enough. Bassitt doesn't have a choice in whether he stays or not. But, what's your preference, hypothetically, A) rotation as is right now sign a top-ish free agent SP pushing bassit and berrios down a notch and Francis or Yareil to a pen role C) trade Bassitt, sign a top-ish free agent SP, and roll with FA, Gausman, Berrios, Yariel, Francis. All of the above options include signing at least one journeyman SP on a minor league deal to act as additional depth

There's tons of ways they could go for sure, but If they're serious about contending I don't think they want the #3 guy to be an innings eater. Plus,they'd save his 21 million and be able to allocate that to the new pickup who would surely cost more, but also be much better. Like, dumping his 21 and signing Eovaldi... I'd be more cool with that than keeping Bassitt

I think to do that, they'd look to move Bassitt. I don't think they're looking at Francis as the long man in the pen when he's showing this well. Neither he nor Yariel can be optioned next season so both will be on the club. My money is on the rotation being either...a) exactly as it looks now, or trading Bassitt to sign one of the higher FAs, and the 4/5 is still Yariel and Francis. Bloss is the 6, sign some depth guy on minor league deal for the 7, Macko the 8....Manoah and Ricky T won't even be ready for the start of the season so, they won't factor in right away.

That's no joke bro. They get idiots from all over the globe to those things

Why is the reason not obvious?

I dig the Diamondbacks one, but just because of the name. The style is pretty basic

Clase would be a good guy to get a look at

56 pitches, 35 strikes.

I like the Smarties taste better, but I like that the M&M colouring doesn't immediately rub off on your fingers like Smarties does.

I thought the same thing once he got to 2nd, but it's not like he actually made a mistake on the play. Line drive to 3rd when its 1st and 2nd and none out, you're always going to freeze and take a step or two back to 2nd to ensure there's no DP. Just sucks the 3B muffed it and Kirk is slower than a sloth going uphill.

And Smarties in America are we call Rockets up here. Crazy.