John_Havok

Most cards' values dont really increase all that much. Like... say the book value on a Vlad rookie card from 2019 with an autograph and a patch is.. $500. Hypothetically, just a made up number I pulled from the sky. By now, the value of that card has pretty much reached its peak since it's 6 years later and the sport has seen what Vlad most likely is. If he keeps up his current level of play, yes, the card would likely increase a modest amount by the time Vlad retires. ... UNLESS Vlad goes on a monster tear for the next 5+ years and people start taking about being a sure-fire 1st ballot HOF, in which case it would see a larger increase for sure as collectors would try to snatch them up, with preference of course for cards that have been graded, and graded high from either PSA or Beckett. There's a few other grading services out there but PSA and Beckett are easily the most highly regarded. For me to estimate a modest bs large increase though.... 20% to maybe 50%? Highly unlikely any card from his 2019 doubles in value from this point going forward. But, the lower the serial number, ya never really know. They don't even generally put values on cards with a printed run of 10 or less because there's so little movement on them it's just a "get what you can get" for it. It's kinda hard to predict what the market might be in 20 years though... for all we know physical trading cards won't even be a thing by then and nobody will care.

Feels like that makes the most sense. We know Gausman, Bassitt and Berrios are good for innings, even if they aren't going to be top-of-the-rotation type innings (Gausman's recent starts have been fantastic though). We know Lauer can go, but... perhaps running into a bit of fatigue? Scherzer's last few starts have been excellent, but age and injury status will always be in the backs of everyone's minds. With the 2 off days though in the next 13 days, there might some real rust on some guys with a true 6-man rotation where guys might get 6 days off between starts.

And if you land Tucker, that means Springer or Santander has to go via trade or the DH spot gets jammed up. Not the worst of problems, but ... it is one.

I considered that, but... that leaves RF for Barger and DH stuffed with both Springer and Santander. Bit of a logjam in that case. It's probably gonna be a similar thing to this season where Barger, Clement, Schneider, Gimenez and 1 more guy get cycled through the 3 IF positions and RF depending on matchups. That seems to be the preferred method at the moment .. barring unforeseen trades of course.

There's a ton of variance in sports cards in a players first few years. Also depends on the sport... baseball has by the far the most variance just due to the sheer number of players that ultimately end up useless. Rookie cards, serial #'d variations of rookie cards, jersey patch cards and autographed cards are basically the only ones that will ever hold or increase their value over time, but only the massive superstars are truly worth "investing" in. It's a real crapshoot getting any of those cards in breaks, buying boxes or even cases.

More likely they shift Gimenez to short most days and try to fill 2b hole with either an internal platoon, or a trade/signing.

No.... but yes

Watching yesterday was a real treat. First hitter, RHB, he set him up perfectly for that backdoor sinker that he almost never throws .... froze him solid. 2nd hitter, also RHB, seeing that sinker now he can't just give up on pitches on the outer edge thinking they're 4 seamers or sliders... now since he has to protect against that sinker he just saw.... does nothing but try to swat flies over a couple of nasty sliders. 3rd guy - he was just overmatched. Hoffman was pretty much pinpoint up and in, then low and away with another fastball, to set up the splitter for the whiff... perfect. I know we won't get that perfection every night but seeing how it's supposed to work is near boner-inducing.

100th percentile chase rate, 92nd percentile whiff rate Thats crazy

Agreed. Him pinch hitting for anyone is practically pointless. Pure defense and pinch runner

Hahaha they gave Kirk 2nd base to take home

Hoffman just straight-up boned the Cubs and Rangers with no lube. Filth

Maybe, but may as well bunt with him everytime up..hes absolute trash with the stick. Chances are it was a one off play to try and catch someone napping ... then he just stares at a meatball for strike 2. Just a really bad hitter

How many centre cut meatballs will this team not swing at? Lol my god Kirky's first ever SB. Lolol

Attaboy Kirk!

Just don't hit it on the ground Kirky...

With a hanging slider... when a guy throws 99 and has a bugs bunny curve. Just bad pitch selection imo. I know ya cant be super predictable but... 99 is 99

The players choose what goes on the jerseys

Which can be mitigated if a guy induces mountains of weak contact. That is one area where Yariel does pretty good work. It probably means he doesnt really profile as high leverage. More like a multi-inning guy.

Really, the option SHOULD be Ty France being DFA if we're being real... but since that won't happen, either Loperfido or Schneider COULD make sense depending on how the Jays prioritize IF and OF versatility. Schneider probably gets tabbed to stay up I think, but neither option is really "wrong"

You're right in general, if there was no underlying issues causing a decrease in his results. If the same stuff was there, and he's just run into a few rough outings (see Hoffman or Little), he probably gets that rope. But when you see the possible reasons for his decline being an actual slip in velo, stuff and control.... then you don't get that rope.

I thought the same thing, I thought he would go to Little to open the inning and was mentally preparing myself for the landslide of complaints of taking Scherzer out when he was dealing.

HEY, that's a half truth....

I think so yeah.. with 3 straight LHB coming up in a 1-run game, i think he probably gets the hook and it's the right call. Also gotta remember Scherzer's pitch count was up to the point where his thumb could easily be a concern ... so all signs pointed to Little coming in regardless of the outcome to Shaw.

I don't think may players out there at all would compare to what Altuve has done, but.. yeah almost identically sized players. Altuve definitely had some HR pop in the minors, but Pinto's most recent SSS would be significantly higher than Altuve ever had in the minors. Thing is, Pinto is 22 at High A. At that age Altuve spent the entire season in the majors putting up 2fWAR. Altuve is probably headed to Cooperstown someday so to compare Pinto to him would seem pretty unfair really.