jaysblue

Also, despite the Dodgers being an attractive destination for Japanese talent, if you're a Japanese player trying to make a name for yourself in North America, you probably don't always want to be playing in the shadows of Ohtani and Yamamoto.

Isn't it the north east corner?

Nice pickup! Definitely might be available at the end of the season and can be a BP piece or swing starter in 2027.

I expect Cole to get there with a couple more 3-4 WAR seasons. He likely could get close to 60 WAR if he stays healthy. If Wheeler comes back healthy and not having lost a beat, he should be able to get there. He's at 41.2 WAR right now, so he's a little further than Cole and deGrom. I think if deGrom finishes in the mid-50's for WAR, he should be good. If deGrom does what he did this past season for another 2-3 year more years, that gets him to the mid-50's. I think the mid-50's for all these guys is the benchmark.

Is that what you're hearing from people you know?

Kurtz for sure. Shae maybe as well. Love that the A's are locking up some core players. They're not fooling around when they move to Vegas. They definitely want to contend right from the start.

I think Felix deserves it. He dominated at such a young age and also for a stretch from 2009 - 2014 was one of the best starters in baseball. Sad his career derailed at the age of 29/30. As a young fan at the time, Felix was one of my favourites. Sale I think is a lock for the Hall. Like you said, if deGrom, Wheeler and Cole could string together a couple more good seasons (3-4 WAR seasons), they should get stronger consideration.

Only downside is that it's not close to downtown Atlanta or the airport, so it's a bit of a commute. My recommendation for a baseball trip would be to stay at a hotel in the Battery or nearby. The Battery is a very cool and vibrant area before and after the game. A lot of great bars and restaurants, which is what really stood out to me. Truist Park as a whole - not sure it would be in my Top 5 but I would say Top 10 out of the parks I've been to so far. Haven't been to Baltimore, St. Louis or Pittsburgh yet, so maybe visits to those ballparks change things. Right now my Top 5 (in no particular order): Petco Park Oracle Park Coors Field Wrigley Field Fenway Park

Gotta find the leaks!

Sorry they offered 7 to 1 odds. I did take the cash out they offered me which was $500 before the Pats scored the next TD after haha. Also, made other bets in-game before that as well. Bet $50 on them today when they were 7.5 to 1 and a couple $100 beforehand at 2 and 3 to 1. Damn game today but oh well!

In the NFC, I still think the best team is the Los Angeles Rams. Not a huge fan of the Seahawks in the Playoffs. Sam Darnold as a QB isn't that good and makes a lot mistakes. He can't carry them. They probably could win one-game, but if they play the Rams or 49ers, I'm betting big on either of those two teams. Wouldn't count out the 49ers. They have experience and the weapons to go on a deep run. Eagles and Packers are both flawed teams and don't see them as Super Bowl contenders. Panthers and/or Bucs are awful. Bears have been on a great run, though again if they play a more experienced team or QB, I don't see them winning a big game.

The Bills defense is what's going to hurt them. They still have Josh Allen and he's pretty much Superman and can do anything, which is why you can never count the Bills out of a game, even if they're down by 2-3 touchdowns. Chiefs are washed and with the Mahomes injury, and possible Kelce retirement, their days of being Super Bowl contenders are over. With them missing out on the Playoffs, this feels like the perfect year for the Bills to get this done, but it still won't be easy. The two teams that worry me for Buffalo are Houston and Baltimore (if they make the Playoffs). Texans defense is just too good and they're getting hot at the right time. They beat Buffalo already once this year in Houston and if they met Buffalo in the Playoffs, they possibly might have home field (if the Texans win the division). As for Baltimore, if they win the division they would have home field and likely play the Bills in the Wildcard which I wouldn't be too crazy about. Buffalo has Baltimore's number over the last two years, but every game has been a nail biter and Baltimore would be at home. Hoping the Steelers win the division, so at least Buffalo goes into Pittsburgh for the Wild Card Round. Not too worried at all about the Patriots or Broncos or Jaguars. Bills can likely beat those teams even on the road. As for the Patriots, they still have a lot to prove like you said, and if the Bills met them again in the Playoffs, I always go with the QB with more big-game experience in the NFL Playoffs and that would be Josh Allen.

I bet $100 on them when they were down 21-0 and got 7.5 to 1 odds lol.

As a starting option given this teams aspirations after a World Series appearance, ew. As a utility infielder/bench option, not the end of the world. He still does have a bit of pop in his bat (12 HR's in 248 AB). Defensively, not sure he fits this FO's vision however.

I went down to Atlanta in 2023 for the NLDS and the Battery which is the surrounding area of Truist Park is awesome with bars/restaurants/live music. Fun atmosphere for sure before and after a game. Inside the ballpark, the Braves museum was very cool as well. Overall, the new ballpark in Atlanta and surrounding area are awesome.

Yeah most new ballparks are becoming geared towards more corporate types and hipsters. I couldn't care about how many different types of bars or lounges or club sections there are. My main attraction is a nice field, comfy seats, great view and like you said a fun/decent team to cheer for. Convenience as well inside the ballpark when it comes to line-ups, concessions and getting to and from the ballpark is important as well & the surrounding area.

I loved Petco. Such a great location right next to the Gaslamp Quarter. Great concourse and definitely a nice park to walk around. Stayed at the Omni when I was there, which was actually connected to the ballpark. San Fran is amazing as well. The views are top notch. Both those parks are in my Top 5, though not because of the amount of bars/social areas. More for the in-game experience and views.

Yeah all that stuff is cool I get it, but as long as the ballpark isn't a dump, I couldn't care about how many rooftop bars or lounges/clubs there are at a ballpark. It's not like I would go there to hangout for 1-2 drinks anyways during a game. Would rather sit in my seats during the game. When I visit a new ballpark, I'll go early to explore. I haven't even bothered with any of the new Rogers Centre areas. Too overcrowded, lineups and too expensive with a bunch of casuals mostly just there to snap pictures to post on their stories lol.

Hoping to make the drive down to Pittsburgh this summer to see a couple games. Need to cross that ballpark off my list.

Just use ChatGPT brah!

I would take a 2022 version of Springer in a heartbeat for 2026. Add in a hot Postseason on top of that, icing on the cake!

Could the Jays afford both Bregman and Tucker?

Bregman fits into this FO's ideology more than Bichette does. Defensively, Bregman gives the Jays a plus defender at third base and who has a floor of about 4 WAR. Offensively, he'll never be the kind of guy you saw in 2018 and 2019, but he still should be good for a 120-130 wRC+ moving forward. Plus, Springer being here might help recruit Bregman over to Toronto.

Braves bringing back Ha-Seoung Kim for $20M. Not that crazy about Kim at that price, though it's only a one-year deal. Would have thought maybe around $12-15M given him coming off the injury plagued season he had. If he stays healthy and returns to be a 3 WAR player, he at least is an upgrade at shortstop for the Braves in comparison to what they've had the past three seasons haha.