Brownie19

So what do we do? Hire their pitching coordinator on the player-development side!

There were some rumors of a possible return to the mound before the playoffs started - but I haven't heard anything recently. It seems unlikely. If he was close to returning, I think they'd be talking about it a lot more.

While how he can go from “He’s the total package, a guy that can teach the swing, understands movement and the way the body works along with the ability to game plan, break down pitchers and then the ability to connect with players,” to not having his contract renewed in the matter of 3 seasons. I wonder if there were similar comments/quotes about Guillermo Martinez in 2022. There probably are. But - new is good. Let's see what he can do with this group. For all those who felts Martinez or Donnie Baseball were implemented some team wide philosophy (which ruined the offense and the team), you must be relieved to hear this guy believes in individual game plans, based on ability and skill.

I really disagree with this. They had 1 GREAT season in 2021 (how the f*** did they win 107 games?). Their next best season was .500 and they've only been at or over .500 twice in the last 8 seasons. The team hasn't had many impact prospects or young players over the last 4-5 seasons either.

That Pack game was frustrating to watch, but I'm glad they pulled it off. Love needs to stop turning that ball over so much - but that offense is great. Love is starting to draw more comparisons to Favre (as a gun slinger) than Rodgers.

Damn right - give me a Game 7 World Series to cap off one of the best playoffs in recent memory for me.

Separates the true baseball fans from the Jays fans.

100%. My wife asked who I wanted to win last night. I said the Mets - simply because I wanted to see a Game 7 and more of this baseball. I hate to see it end!

Man - that game last night was unreal. Yanks had 2 "Joey Bats" moments in the same game. That's the drama, the lead changes, the moments we all want to see in the playoffs.

I'm not even sure I'd call it a hanger. It wasn't a cement mixer at all. It just caught too much of the plate. That at bat was f***ing amazing. Major props to Stanton for his ability to layoff pitch after pitch after falling way behind. That was just incredible baseball - an incredible moment.

10-4 - maybe he's elite, but he's coming off a bad year. In 2021, we had Pete Walker turning water into wine and Martinez leading one of the best offenses in baseball. A few years a later and our staff are dinosaurs who are a joke. Ecker coming off a complete stinker - where the team's offense fell off a cliff and returning champs were a joke. Maybe it was an off year for him, or maybe he's falling behind. No idea how anyone knows. If he can fix the White Sox, then just put him in the HOF.

In 2023, the Rangers offense was great. 3rd in MLB. That offense fell to like 18th last year, with LOTS of down years from their stars and young players. Reminds me a lot of the Guillermo Martinez lead Jays over the past few years doesn't it? Is the difference that the team won the WS and the Jays lost in the 1st round?

David Fry is giving off some 2011 David Freese vibes man.

How do you know that Bannister and Ecker are "good" and "ahead of the curve"? What's this opinion based on? I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'm certainly curious how you're so firm with this opinion.

I'm ready for that. I don't really care who wins now, just give me some drama, some comebacks, some back and forth lead changes, some 1 run games. Dodgers/Mets has been blowout city. Thank god CLE/NY provided some interest last night.

The reverse jinx worked perfectly! But I mean, the LA/NY series have all been blow outs. Hopefully the Mets can mount a comeback tonight.

So far, these CS series games haven't been overly interesting/close.

That's a pretty fair point...

I'm pretty sure all the spring training facilities are used by minor league teams throughout the year. The Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex might be the best fit. Would be hilarious (and sad?) if Tampa plays out of it and attendance increases this year...

Dave Stewart? Didn't he do enough damage as a GM?

100%. The Browns trade for Watson has to be one of the worst trades in sports history (when you factor in the contract extension).

Is it fair to suggest we should be selling both Vlad, Bo, Gausman, etc. now? Fire Atkins and start the rebuild. One last hail mary to add a bunch of free agents this offseason for one more shot at a WC birth seems like a lot probability move that just isn't worth the pain of losing them for nothing, while likely hitting a landmine or two. Vlad finally has a ton of value again...what is the probability he's really a 165 wRC+ hitter who's worth a long term, $350M+ deal? Maybe 35%? Rogers should save their money, signing short term vets you can sell at the deadline for prospect and then be prepared to spend it when the contention window re-opens in 2029-2030.

I think this just a misunderstanding of what you mean by "franchise". I think you're using it to represent the entire organization and are just saying that in addition to the team, the farm system blows. Which is true. I think most of us think of franchise rating represents a more historic and long term view of the team. I think we'll suck next year and for the foreseeable future - probably until 2028 or 2029. All teams go thru cycles - we're just on the tail end of one. IMO, that doesn't mean we're a s*** franchise that is one of the worst in baseball. As an example, KC won 56 games in 2023. They've had 1 season over .500 in the past 8 years, including 4 with 65 wins or less. Their 2nd best season in the past 8 years was 74 wins - the same as the Jays this year. Are they now a "good" franchise because they have Bobby Witt and Cole Ragans and are coming off 86 win season? Are we going to suggest they're a better franchise than the Jays? f*** that s***. They've been f***ing GARBAGE since I was old enough to follow baseball. 9 season over .500 in the past 35 years. I also don't look at the St. Louis Cardinals and think they're a s*** franchise now because they've had a few down years in a row (and may be falling behind the times a bit). That franchise has been incredible over the past 30 years. I think some are just defining what they mean differently. It's gonna happen on a message board.

Did any team move into the Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando after Atlanta left? It could be an option.

Oh wow - that's a tough position to be in. I can appreciate that nobody wants to dump millions into that shithole.