Brownie19

Interesting debate. When people say "generational player" does that mean he'll be the best player drafted by a particular team "in this generation"? or are we talking about the best 4-5 players in all of MLB within "a generation"? Personally, I'm not sure I consider Harper to be a generational player - or even a no doubt HOFer at this point (although I more than likely he will get in). Harper certainly entered the league with a lot of fanfare and had a massive 2015. He's a great hitter - but I look at someone like Chase Utley and he may not even make the HOF, let alone be considered a generational talent. Utley had 5 straight seasons over 7.2 WAR. Harper has 1 in his career. I never considered guys like Jeff Bagwell, Sheffield, Votto or Edgar Martinez to be generational players - yet they'll all probably end up with much higher career wRC+ numbers than Harper (and some will have more career WAR). When I think of generational players, I think of Trout, Pujols, Griffey Jr., A-rod. And if we're talking just bats, guys like Frank Thomas and Manny. Even current players like Judge and Yordan are way ahead of Harper with the bat IMO. Great player, probably a future HOFer, but not generational IMO.

This is a poor take if you aren't going to factor in his age. Age and results in the minors can be very good indicators of ML success. Kirk was raking in A+ ball as a 20 year old (when he was 2.4 years below the average age) and raked in the majors as a 23 year old in his first full season. This are very good indicators that Kirk is a legit, ML hitter. That's obviously much different than Riley Adams, who raked in A+ ball as a 23 year old.

I mean, in Moneyball, they were going around preaching to (seemingly) everyone that they should see more pitches, knock that starter out early, etc. So I guess it could happen. Moneyball is really the only insight I have in how teams may influence their players. Perhaps they kept showing them the numbers and the value of spreading the ball around and using an all-fields approach? It just seems so mind numbingly stupid that I can't believe it's true. Each player needs their own strategy, based on their abilities/skills.

Rob Friedman (@pitchingninja) • Instagram reel WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM 84K likes, 394 comments - pitchingninja on January 31, 2024: "Bartolo Colón vs. His Helmet.". That is the greatest stat of all time. No idea of true but let's just blindly assume it is!

Yimi got paid because he has almost a 2 MPH jump in velo in 2021, including very good results after joining Houston. Good stuff, good projections. Nobody was considering what Yimi did in 2019.

Luckily - there seems to be a ton of interesting arms in our upper minors, who can hopefully help replace these guys for next to nothing.

I think most did find Green's contract to be odd and/or complicated. Why is this good for SD? If Peralta is good - he's going to opt out and leave. If he sucks, then SD is stuck with him (for up to 4 years). How is a pitcher coming off a s***** -0.5 WAR season getting a 4 year deal? I expected him to get a spring training invite to be honest. I thought SD was trying to cut payroll. Their new strategy seems to be signing lots of RP'ers.

Sorry, we're only evaluating teams on this planet.

Surely this can't be true.

https://www.thescore.com/pga/news/2834707/pga-tour-investment-group-make-3-b-deal I don't exactly know what this means for the PGA, but it sounds like a big deal. Anyone care to give me the Cole's Notes?

I know - but he's not some unknown now man. People are talking about him.

The bottom of the Jays lineup isn't very impressive from an offensive perspective. The team is clearly built on pitching and defense. That said, you're correct that the bottom of the lineup for most teams, even contenders, are often full of guys who are at, just above or just below league average at the plate. Bottom of the Phillies lineup, with Steamer wRC+ projections in brackets: Stott (100) Bohm (107) Marsh (98) Rojas (83) Orioles: Mullins (103) Hays (105) O'Hearn (105) Westburg (107)/Urias (95) Mateo (82) - unless Jackson Holliday starts Even the Dodgers (greatest team ever created on paper): Teo (110) Outman (103) Lux (109) Heyward (101) / Taylor (91) / Margot (99) Jays: Varsho (106) Schneider (113) / Biggio (99) KK (91) IKF (89) There is little doubt the Jays offense is only going to go as far as the stars take it. As of right now, our offense is probably 7th-12th overall, based on the expectation that we get bounce back years from Springer, Kirk and Vlad (whom are all projected to do so). If we're going to become a Top 5 offense, we're going to also a couple of guys to breakout or overperform. That would likely be Bo, Jansen, Varsho or Schneider.

Are you suggesting GM's shouldn't be using projections when constructing their teams? They should only look at actual results from previous years?

Basallo is MLB's 17th ranked prospect in baseball. People are talking about him. You're going to need a new schtick.

It was an honest question. I've always just thought I'd rather take the best hitter - regardless of which side of the plate they bat from. I mean if you have 2 equal players and one is LH and one is RH - then sure, give me the LH bat to create more balance, but I'm not sure I'd go out of my way, or pay more, just to get balance. Perhaps I'm understating the importance. That said, it seems A LOT more LH batters are complete s*** v. LHP and have to be platooned and/or can be neutralized late in games by bringing in a LHP (like Joc would have been). RH batters don't seem to have the same issues. No need to be dick man.

Last year we were 8th in MLB v. RHP and 9th in MLB v. LHP (based on wRC+). Can someone explain why adding a 'strong LH bat' is so important to this team?

JD might be a spring training invite at this point. Tim Anderson could be too.

Go away.

Vlad, Springer, Kirk and Varsho all project to be significantly better offensively than they were last year. I don't think it's a stretch or an insult for the FO to expect at least 3, if not all 4 of them to be better offensively this year. Don't let recency bias take over man......

As currently constructed, it would appear Horwitz has a firm role on this team heading into spring training. Backup 1st base and DH option v. RHP who could easily see 300+ PA's and has the opportunity to run with it if he get's hot.

To be fair - the 2023 outcome doesn't matter either.

And they were super unlucky with their bats. What's your point?

At this time last year, on paper, we were one of the favorites to win the World Series.

This team certainly needs more gingers in the clubhouse. They bring the fire and have no souls.

2023 bases empty - .232 RISP - .338 Our RISP issues are fixed guys. We signed a clutch hitter. Sarcasm aside, he's been a much more productive hitter with RISP throughout his career too - one of the few players who consistently performs better with RISP.