glory

Siakam+ for Giannis is a no brainer. Even if Giannis leaves after a year like Kawhi did, it would at least give the Raptors another legit shot at a championship, something they don't have as currently constructed and likely will not have if they keep this existing group together (Pascal/Fred/OG). The latter is a very good regular season team but likely a 2nd round exit most years. The 2018-19 season should clearly illustrate that when a top 3-5 player becomes available and you have the assets to get him, then you do it even if it's a rental. Pascal is a better all around player than DeRozan, but impact-wise, I don't think he's much different as a #1 option. As a 2nd/3rd option on a championship contender, he'd be great (as he proved in 2018-19). So the Raptors need to either acquire a player better than him while holding on to him at the same time, or move him for a piece that would put the team in a better position to contend for a title. However, I don't think the Bucks trade him to the East, if they trade him at all. More likely they trade him West, although PG and AD were traded within the conference, so who knows. Bucks wouldn't have a ton of leverage if they moved him since teams know he only has a year left. If I were the Bucks, I'd just keep him for a year and try everything to win a title next season. If it fails, it fails, but at least in that scenario they would have exhausted all their chances with him.

Cito benched 1993 John Olerud in a World Series game to get Ed Sprague into the lineup. I could totally see Charlie doing something like that, so maybe this is a good thing. We can't win with a pure analytics guy. We need more "I had a feeling he'd hit a home run" and "I'm batting the best hitter 8th to turn the lineup over". Time to embrace it.

Dolis has been very solid this season.

That could have been a lot worse.

Coming into tonight's game, Vladdy and Panik have the same WAR from 2019-20. That's pretty sad.

The Jays need innings from their SP so they are going to have to ride Walker here, good or bad.

A quick inning would be nice here by Walker.

Never mind. Boone shook this ump. He's not going to be helping the Jays.

All Walker needs to do is be 4-5 inches away from the strike zone and this ump will give him a few calls. Unfortunately his called balls are no where near the strike zone.

The HP ump is the same ump that Boone verbally destroyed last year ("savages in the box"). He deserved every bit of it based on tonight's strike zone.

I've been saying, Davis as a 4th/5th OF who plays exclusively against LHP has value.

Stripling last pitched on Friday. He could probably come on in relief to pitch multiple innings. Walker looks bad. He's not going to last long.

Yankees not swinging at Walker's junk. Must be stealing signs.

Don't mind this. Davis has done pretty well against lefties in the minors. Not enough sample in MLB, but 87 wRC+ and .375 OBP in 41 PA in limited time. Eh, I'm fine with it. Although to be fair Villar has looked so trash since the trade, I'd probably be OK with anyone over him at this point.

Villar is awful. Dumb as rocks and infuriating to watch. I know he had a good year in 2019 but seeing him everyday just paints a different picture.

Anything hit to Villar is frightening.

Ryu’s getting rocked.

Trying to squeeze an extra inning out of Font is understandable but a little scary too.

Yankees lose. We better not blow this game.

Charlie was playing chess while we were playing checkers when it came to Joe Panik.

This is my first time watching Ray. Does he scream like a tennis player after every pitch?

Charlie bases talent on how many years someone has been in the league.

Depends on how Charles configures the lineup. He may have Fisher out there some nights, and Biggio out there others. Fisher should get more a chance than he would have otherwise. However, knowing how Buntoyo is, he'll use this time to play Villar and Panik more.

Hernandez being out is a huge blow. Fisher will get a chance to play now, but most likely it will mean Panik at 2B, Biggio in RF, and Villar at SS most nights until Bichette is back. This happening right before the Yankees series is terrible. Hope he's not out long.

I actually thought Villar was a decent pickup at the deadline but he and Charlie are making me regret that very much.