glory

Yeah previously Manfred mentioned expanding the playoffs even further (after expansion) and dropping the number of regular season games. I'm sure the MLBPA wouldn't like that unless they were promised a bigger piece of the playoff revenue, but I think dropping from 162 is probably going to happen at some point. A long regular season made sense when the playoffs had fewer teams, but now with 12 teams making it (and owners eventually wanting 14), a full 162 just doesn't have the same value.

I think the Phillies missing out really hurt in terms of national interest. Pat McAfee who seems like someone who'd rather get punched in the face than talk about baseball had Bryce Harper on his show during the playoffs. That was the one team left that might have interested a national audience. Beyond that, this matchup just isn't sexy at all, and it doesn't help that they started the series on a Friday night instead of Tuesday like they used to. I think if they have more games like Game 1, then maybe the later games in the series will do better, but I can't be the only one who is waiting for this series to end so the off-season can start. Maybe that's just the impatient Blue Jays fan in me.

Yeah that's the issue with trading Vlad. He's going to be a $20m/AAV 1B who has been a 0.0-2.8 WAR player in the four non-2021 seasons he's played in the bigs. A team can sign Rhys Hoskins for nothing and probably get 25-30 HR and a 1-2 WAR. The team acquiring Vlad would have to view him as a superstar rather than what he's been for most of his career, and there are too many nerds in front offices for that to happen at this point. The best chance to trade him for good value is probably AJ Preller, but it's hard to see what a deal would look like that makes sense for both sides. Definitely won't be Tatis.

I've said before the Jays may have lucked out not acquiring anyone at the deadline since Davis Schneider did more than probably any deadline pickup would have, but Pham was such a no brainer for this team. Cost nothing to get him, and he was a RH OF bat with some pop, which is exactly what the Jays needed.

Since 2020, the Jays have the 6th best regular season record in baseball (304-242), 2 games behind the Yankees. I tend to agree that while we may think Atkins' job is in danger, from a business aspect he's probably done more than enough to keep his bosses happy. The only thing he hasn't done is had playoff success, but a lot of that is out of his control, and Shapiro is likely firmly in the "playoffs at a crapshoot" camp so he may focus more on the regular season success. I think the only way Atkins is gone after 2024 is if the team falls out of contention. If they are in contention and/or make the playoffs, then he's likely fine even if they go 0-2 in the WC round again. In 2021-22, he built a top 5 offense in baseball, and in 2023 built the best (or close to it) pitching staff in baseball. He's gotta find a way to make that happen in the same season.

Tiedemann is such a risky prospect but the upside is so high. If the Jays had any success at developing starters then I'd probably be OK with trading him knowing that they'd just develop others who might be more durable, but he's like the only prospect aside from Manoah in the last 8 years who looks like he could crack a big league rotation so it's hard to move someone like that. Curious to see what (a presumably desperate) Atkins does.

Taking Cronenworth with 7/78 left on his deal at ages 30-36 just for one expensive season of Juan Soto seems like a really bad idea for whoever does it. Brian Cashman would probably do it though.

After watching KK and Varsho in the same outfield for a season, I really hope they no interest in acquiring Carlson, much less selling low on Manoah to get him. Overpaying for Soler would a more logical decision than that. At least he would fill a need. Could definitely see Atkins trading for O’Neill, though.

This trade is definitely worse than prime John Olerud and $6 million cash for Robert Person.

Hard to see where they go from here. That core isn’t exactly built for long term success. Dombrowski definitely going to make a big splash in the winter. Probably want to upgrade on Rojas in CF, and Trout could be available. That has Dombrowski written all over it.

Apparently, Chris Russo said he would retire if the D-Backs won this series. No chance he actually follows through on that but might be one benefit to the Snakes advancing if he does.

They’ve been smoke and mirrors and still got past Milwaukee, LA, and now Philly. I wouldn’t count them out. Kimbrel blowing those two games in AZ has been the difference.

Moreno hitting the ball the other way and then getting thrown out on the bases. He’s a Blue Jay at heart.

I'm rooting for the Phillies as a Phillies/Rangers World Series would be really fun (plus no more playoff games for the D-Backs would mean no more Moreno discussion for at least a few weeks), but feels like it's going to be a D-Backs win tonight.

I really hope Philly wins tomorrow because Rangers/D-Backs sounds boring as hell.

I’d feel a lot better about the catching situation if Jansen was extended. I thought for sure it would happen last off season but now is fine too. Kirk might rebound, or this could be the new norm for him, but either way I’d bet on Jansen over the next 4-5 years at the catching position over Kirk, injuries and all. What Moreno does in Arizona is far less important than what Varsho does here. He needs to rebound, because if he does, then having a legit defensive CF who can hit league average or better is a huge asset.

Yeah series isn’t over. Astros play like s*** at home this season for some reason. Could easily see the Rangers win the next two.

Dave Dombrowski with the Red Sox... 2016: 93-69, lost in ALDS 2017: 93-69, lost in ALDS 2018: 108-54, won World Series 2019: 76-67, 3rd in AL East (fired prior to end of season) I don't recall the circumstances of his firing, maybe due to sign stealing stuff going on with the org at the time, but something like that followed by hiring Chaim Bloom to wreck the team for 4 years is probably not the most appealing recent track record. Keep in mind the new GM is going to inherit some bad contracts and will likely have to keep the team competitive. It's not a job that someone with options would leap at unless it was a dream job.

Being fit is only half the issue with him. He needs some mechanical adjustments at the plate as well. But one step at a time.

Kirk from 2020 through June 2022: 460 PA, 3.7 WAR, .291.376/.486, 142 wRC+, .195 ISO From from July 2022 - present: 717 PA, 2.7 WAR, .253/.336/.348, 97 wRC+, .095 ISO I used those dates because July 2022 was when Kirk's power decline began, and it just continued from there. I'm not sure what lead to the power decline, but the ISO dipped significantly and never recovered. I think a lot of people are still clinging to the hope that he's closer to the pre-July 2022 player rather than the post, but there's more sample size (and more recency) with the below average slap hitter, unfortunately. I think keeping Kirk over Moreno will prove to be a mistake, even if Varsho rebounds (which I expect/hope he will). Even if you got less back for Kirk, it might have still been worth it if it filled a need somewhere. The player Kirk has become post July 2022 is an ok starter/great backup. If Jansen could ever stay healthy I don't think it's a contest of which one is the better player at this point, but Atkins seems to think extending young players is against the CBA, so this might be Jansen's last season here. Of course if Kirk's power suddenly comes back, then the discussion (vs Moreno and Jansen) changes.

I recall Manfred mentioning a 154 game season recently when talking about wanting more international games during the regular season, with one owner (Cardinals) being for it. I don't think shortening the regular season is that big of a stretch, although my guess is if it does happen that it will happen when there is expansion and the playoffs become 7 teams in each league like the owners originally wanted.

That "Ross Atkins preferred Cody Bellinger to Daulton Varsho Last Off Season" article is going to be incredible. What an oddly specific and pointless thing to write about. Ng made some decent moves (Luzardo being the best one) but also had some stinkers in there (Garcia contract). If they wanted to write an article detailing every move, then that might have been an interesting read, but just singling out that Segura/Turner move is strange.

I kinda want to sign Josh Donaldson now just to see how quickly he voluntarily retires after spending a few minutes talking to Jays coaches.

I’ve said before, the biggest mistake with Varsho was making that trade after already signing Kiermaier. Unintentionally sabotaged Varsho’s first year because putting him in LF put way more pressure on his bat, and didn’t get the maximum value for his glove since he wasn’t in CF. I still believe he’s a 3-4 WAR player next season in CF, but we will see. Depends on if he’s a 100 wRC+ true talent or an 80 wRC+ true talent.