Masterbather

I don't have a problem with any of that, I'm a fan too, but I'm disappointed that a team that had a chance to be a serious contender is going in what I think is in the wrong direction. I don't think the front office gets challenged enough in this market for the decisions they make. There's way too much fluff in the media here.

Which part was dumb? Sorry if I'm upset that a team that had such a great starting base to work with is being messed up by a lousy front office

I'm wrong for saying the starting pitching situation is the same as last year? I'm wrong for saying we were a right-handed mashing team who couldn't hit lefties and adding lefties doesn't make that situation better in fact probably makes it worse? I did say our outfield defense was better. And we added one good piece to a bullpen that needed a revamp. Which part of that was wrong? And what does one game have to do with anything?

Wow, considering I didn't actually say anything outrageous, that's soft as it comes.

Don't give me that crap, I've already stated that I don't like the off-season we had in the offseason. I'm not reacting to any one game whether it's this one or yesterday. And I still don't know what part of my assessment was wrong? Nobody wants to talk about that.

You're right I should be patting a front office on the back that is accomplished absolutely nothing to this point. You're the kind of fan they love. I'm still not sure what part of my assessment of this team is supposed to be wrong by the way, I'm sorry if I'm not warm and fluffy enough for you.

I expect them to be in the mix, unless they have any injuries to their rotation, then they're screwed. I'm sorry if I have an opinion that differs from the maple syrup covered echo chamber that apparently exists here. This is clearly a flawed team how are you all missing this?

They are absolutely not guaranteed a playoff spot. They might be in the mix but it's going to be tough.

Guaranteed?!

I'll keep watching, I've watched this team through the JP Ricciardi era I can handle anything. As far as what reality is, I guess we'll find out won't we?

The horrible plan we had last year, with Kikuchi at the back end of our rotation, no starting depth and prayers, you realize that's the same terrible plan that's in place this year? Our lineup is clearly worse, and we traded assets to do it. Bullpen that needed a revamp got one really good arm and still no power lefty. We did improve our outfield defense, but that's it. Pitching is nowhere near good enough and offense, forget about it. It'll be a good team it just won't be anywhere close to championship caliber.

What did I say that was inaccurate? Front office had a terrible offseason and people aren't calling them out for it.

What the f*** have they done to our lineup? Varsho, Belt, Kiermaier, utter trash. f***ing idiots took a lineup that can mash right handers and couldn't hit left-handers and make the problem even f***ing worse. Now we won't hit the right-handers as much and might even be worse against left-handers.

We don't have a top 5 bullpen or top 5 bullpen depth. We have an okay to good bullpen and I don't know who's supposed to come in and help us when there's injuries. Where's this great depth? What he said is ********. I don't like the use of our assets. The division is not getting any easier and I don't think making the playoffs will be so comfortable this coming year. Time will tell, I think it's been a s***** offseason with panic moves for the wrong pieces. Anyhow, Merry Christmas to all. Have a wonderful day.

We need bullpen arms, top shelf bullpen guys, filthy swing and miss stuff. We don't have enough of it. We have NONE of it from the left side. Our deluded GM actually believes we have a top 5 bullpen. This is the guy running our team and he actually believes that. That terrifies me. They actually pay this guy lots of money to come to THAT conclusion after watching our mediocre bullpen get rocked into submission in one of the most embarrassing playoff collapses in recent memory, and watched the conga line of fireballers coming out of other top teams' bullpens and came to THAT conclusion.

You are judging Teo and Gurriel on down years, especially Teo and so much of Varsho's value is based on his defense which actually can be a fickle thing. Any nagging leg injury, especially playing on turf, can quickly obliterate his value. People will tire of this guy quickly with that garbage bat he carries. I get there are years of control to consider, but the bottom line is this team is not much better than it was last year if at all. We went and downgraded our offense, perhaps significantly so for a significant improvement in defense, I'm not sure what will offset what. We did add one good bullpen arm. Our rotation made a lateral move, at best. This team had a gap to close, while other contenders get stronger, that gap gets bigger. We've lost two everyday OF's, a top prospect and I don't think we have enough to show for it. The FO went and complicated what should've been much simpler because they kept striking out on guys they wanted. At some point you really have to win now or just spin your wheels as a team that is always good but not good enough until it's time to start over again. I'd rather shorten a window to win it all and be aggressive in that shorter window, than extend the window while just being very good but not good enough to win it all. This move seems like more of the latter.

It should be noted, that many people like this trade partly because it gives us a decent LHB everyday player, but the need for an everyday LHB has been completely overrated and was completely unnecessary. This team mashed RHP. We have done nothing to improve that, we have actually taken a step backwards in that regard and now have also worsened our ability to hit LHP. This offseason really hurt the one area of the team that was good. I love that we improved our defense, I really do, and I know there are $ considerations also (although that's Rogers' problem so I'm not making that mine as a fan) but we hurt the bread and butter part of our team. Just a better bullpen and starting pitching help. That's all we needed. The task was straightforward. Now it got all complicated and we have fewer pieces to work with in trades. We could've rolled out the same team with another starter (and a little bit of AAAA starting depth) with a couple of better bullpen arms and we could've taken a massive step forward. I've had a couple of days to sober up to the deal, and I still don't like it.

I don't think we're a better team overall than last year. I don't think we're better built for the playoffs outside of the defensive upgrade, but that's not enough. Starting pitching made a lateral move, at best. Need another high end arm and our depth is STILL an issue. Bullpen is better, but not enough pure stuff guys still, and no power LHP either, yet somehow the FO think we have a good pen. What are they watching? By contender standards, it's still only okay. Defense is way better, especially if KK is healthy, I was DONE watching Teo attempt to play OF. I didn't hate LGJ as much but he wasn't lighting the world on fire defensively either. Offense took a step back by losing Teo and LGJ and potentially Moreno and gaining Varsho and KK. Power is no better. I also like contact guys, you need those guys against tough pitching and we lost two good contact/average guys for a couple of high K, low average hitters. Varsho contributes power but KK is garbage at the plate. Moreno is not the guy I wanted to give up of the 3, although I can see arguments for all of them. Overall are we keeping up with the Jones'? I don't think we are and we already had a gap to close. We're good still, very good even. Not WS contenders.

I know we won't pick him up because the FO are a bunch of pansies but I would love him on our team.

Bonds, Clemens and Schilling should all be in. Absolutely ridiculous.

Well this is underwhelming. He was one of the worst outfielders I've ever seen in my life, but when he got going that bat can carry a team. It's nice we upgraded our relievers, with years of control, but we're going to need the kid in this deal to turn into something to make this worthwhile. We also need another everyday outfielder.

After the damage that the bullpen did to the team last year it's inexcusable to return with a mediocre to decent pen at best. The lack of depth at starting pitching was also something that everybody was aware of and not properly addressed. You only have so many years with this core and you blew another one by not addressing things that everybody knew you needed to address. I don't think that's excusable, I vote to fire him.

You are generalizing. I have never felt this bullpen was good enough to win in the playoffs. Never. I was okay with Berrios, loved Gausman, I didn't mind the Kikuchi risk, Bass and Pop were decent acquisitions, but at the end of the day, after the bullpen blew our chances to make the playoffs last year, it remained mediocre this year (by contender standards) and ultimately collapsed in the place where mediocre bullpens always collapse: the postseason. Starting depth was also not addressed and was a struggle all season long. Both the starter situation and the bullpen situation were know issues and predictable problems and complete failures of the FO.

What the f*** would even be in contention? The last game of the 1987 collapse? That's was just a part of a bigger collapse.

Leafs/Bruins or Jays/Mariners? Which one was worse?