JG34

My pick can be skipped then. With this draft going on is there a pause on adding to our MLB roster from Waivers or are we free to add?

I’m at 15 prospects. Anyone want my pick?

Hopefully the wait is worth it as it has been with me and Kaprizov!

What was the trade for Bieber? I’ve had some offers and even though I’m not looking to trade him I’m curious what he could get me.

Will Ny the scoring guy!

Awesome to see for Spezza!

I agree

Finally available on Xbox!

Groshan is on Law’s just missed list. Jordan Groshans, 3B, Toronto Last year I wrote this about Groshans: “A full, healthy year in 2020 will help establish just how advanced his bat is and whether he has the power to be a star even in a corner.” Ah, well, it was a good thought, but because of the pandemic Groshans hasn’t taken an at-bat in an actual game since May 2019. Groshans did spend the summer at the Jays’ alternate site, facing a lot of pitchers who had appeared in the big leagues or were close to doing so, which is better than no experience but doesn’t give us much new information, such as whether he’s still rotating his hips early and cutting off some of his potential power. He does have a great swing path and has shown an ability to make some adjustments in the limited experience he has in pro ball. I’d just like to see him produce over a longer period against better pitching now.

From Rick Carpiniello at the Athletic: The last straw for Tony DeAngelo and the Rangers apparently occurred moments after he was on the ice for the overtime goal that gave Pittsburgh a 5-4 overtime win on Saturday night at the Garden. Three sources have confirmed to The Athletic that there was indeed an altercation involving DeAngelo and goalie Alexandar Georgiev in the tunnel that leads to the Rangers’ locker room. Incidentally, Georgiev was held out of practice for “maintenance” on Sunday. The altercation was quickly broken up. The Rangers did not confirm or deny the incident occurred. “There’s always rumors, as you know,” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “I’m not going to address rumors. This isn’t about one incident. It’s not about one thing. It’s a situation the organization felt was best at this current time and we’ll see how the situation plays out. “It’s part of the business. It’s a decision we made. You’re always sitting down, evaluating your organization. It’s something we did. We’ll see how it plays out. … I don’t want to get into specifics. In 24 hours we’ll probably be able to be more specific and address the situation differently.” DeAngelo, who was on the ice for four of Pittsburgh’s five goals, was on notice for a while – from his controversial social media posts through his “maturity” issues that got him benched at least twice in the last three seasons – including a two-game vacation for an unnecessary unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on opening night. Now this. On Sunday, the Rangers placed DeAngelo on waivers, meaning he can be claimed by any team until noon on Monday. He did not practice with the team on Sunday. DeAngelo came to the Rangers with a reputation as a hot head, and for missteps along the way, as he was suspended twice in the OHL for violating the league’s harassment, abuse and diversity policy due and suspended once in juniors and again with the Coyotes for abuse of an official. He had been scolded by the team multiple times for his social media postings, and eventually, recently stopped posting. Clearly there was going to be a line he couldn’t cross, and he ultimately did anyway. It didn’t help that his play has been awful so far this season – one single assist, and poor defensive play, albeit with a couple of partners (Jack Johnson and Brendan Smith) who have found their way out of the lineup repeatedly. DeAngelo’s defensive game wasn’t an issue the last two seasons with steady Marc Staal as a partner, and his puck-moving and offense more than made up for it. Staal was traded to Detroit in a salary-cap move over the offseason. DeAngelo and Georgiev had a miscommunication almost immediately before the winning goal was scored Saturday, resulting in a turnover or, at least, a failed chance to clear the zone and get three exhausted players – DeAngelo, Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin – off the ice. This is clearly more than DeAngelo’s on-ice performance. The Rangers certainly scoured the market for a trade partner for DeAngelo, even after signing him to a two-year contract with a $4.8 million annual cap hit to avoid arbitration in October. It is fair to say there was barely a market, if any, for DeAngelo in a trade. Certainly his baggage weighs heavily into that, because teams would normally line up for a 25-year-old right-handed offensive defenseman under cost control. The Rangers have righty Jacob Trouba, one of their alternate captains, and righty Adam Fox, their best defenseman, here for the long-term. Nils Lundkvist, a highly-touted, skilled righty and a first-round pick in 2018, is likely coming at the end of this season. So it was never likely DeAngelo would be around for long. He even had been given a shot in training camp to switch to the left side as Trouba’s much-needed partner on the first pair, but the experiment didn’t even last as long as the camp. Rookie K’Andre Miller has since grabbed that spot in the lineup. There’s an excellent chance DeAngelo will clear waivers Monday at noon. Then the Rangers’ next move will be really interesting. Obviously they have a plan for him not clearing. And obviously they don’t mind if he’s claimed. They could assign DeAngelo to Hartford or the taxi squad and save money on the cap hit. It’s not likely they would just cut him loose and eat the cap hit. Quinn said Anthony Bitetto, signed as a free agent during the offseason, will make his Rangers debut on defense Monday against Pittsburgh. Brendan Smith will also remain in the lineup, rather than prospect Libor Hájek, who remains on the taxi squad.

Rangers put DeAngelo on waivers, have had enough of his antics off the ice.

98. Orelvis Martinez, SS, Toronto, Age: 19 Martinez is still just 19 but finished the summer at the Blue Jays’ alternate site, impressing the team with his production against older pitching. The ball explodes off his bat thanks to his plus bat speed and present power, while he has already shown glimpses of advanced plate discipline. In the field, he’s got a plus arm and great hands, still playing shortstop but with a body that might eventually push him to third base. I noted last winter that he might be the Jays’ best prospect in a year, but with no minor league season to show progress and the addition of the best player in the 2020 draft in Austin Martin, Martinez has to wait a year for any such coronation. He has an enormous ceiling as a strong OBP guy with 25-30 homers and plus defense at third. We just need to see how the bat plays at higher levels.

92. Alejandro Kirk, C, Toronto, Age: 22 Kirk got a surprise call-up to the majors and was very impressive for a kid who’d never played above High A, and had just 151 professional games total before he reached the big leagues. His bat-to-ball skill and swing decisions are both excellent, leading to very low strikeout rates, while he’s got explosive acceleration at the plate and showed in the majors he can hit for power the other way and turn on 97 in. He’s a solid catcher who can frame, block and throw well, but he’s on the big side already for a catcher at age 22 and has to maintain his conditioning. He was listed at 5-8 and 265 pounds last year, and while he’s apparently lost weight heading into spring training, that’s going to be an ongoing issue for him so he can stay behind the plate, as there’s no other position for a player with his build. His bat will make him a longtime regular as a catcher, with a chance to be a star if he keeps his body in shape for it.

79. Alek Manoah, RHP, Toronto, Age: 23 Manoah was the top college right-hander in the 2019 draft but the Blue Jays got him with the 11th pick on some concerns about his size and minor health issues before his draft year. It looks like a steal now as Manoah continues to stay healthy and throw hard, while improving his conditioning over the course of 2020 and the last two offseasons. Manoah sits 93-94 and can touch 98, with an above-average slider and above-average changeup as well as a curveball he can land for strikes. He is big, 6-6 and 260 in college, and only pitches from the stretch, but he throws strikes and attacks guys consistently with his fastball, an approach that should continue to serve him well as he moves up the ladder. He does have to keep his body in shape, but if he stays healthy he should be in the Blue Jays’ rotation within the next two seasons, with mid-rotation upside.

14. Austin Martin, SS, Toronto, Age: 22 The best prospect in the 2020 draft class slipped to the Blue Jays, who picked fifth and were probably delighted to have a player with his kind of potential get to their selection. Martin has exceptional hand-eye coordination and plus-plus bat speed, striking out only 36 times with 50 walks in 392 PA over his last year-plus at Vanderbilt. He’s probably best suited to third base, but the Jays intend to try him out at shortstop — which he has the athleticism and foot speed to handle — with third, second or even center field all possibilities. He did have some throwing trouble in the brief college season in 2020, but it’s not supposed to be a long-term issue and the Jays seem comfortable with his throwing post-draft. This bat at a skill position is pretty unusual and gives him some MVP upside, although we should be a little cautious since he has yet to take a pro at-bat.

5. Nate Pearson, RHP, Toronto, Age: 24 Pearson’s debut in the majors was tantalizing, but as with his first full pro season in 2018, it was interrupted by injury, leaving him still eligible for these rankings. Pearson averaged 96.3 mph on his four-seamer, showed a full four-pitch mix, all three of which at least missed bats, although he leaned most on his slider and the pitch wasn’t as consistent as it has been in the past. He’s 6 feet 6 inches and 250 pounds, with a good delivery that he has learned to repeat since the Jays signed him, so in theory he should be durable. Still, he had several fluky injuries in 2018 that limited him to one inning, and a flexor strain sent him to the injured list in late August, after which the Jays used him for just a single relief appearance. If he can stay healthy, there are very few starting pitching prospects who can match his stuff and size, which give him the ceiling of a No. 1 starter.

Nvm I thought we were able to move eligible prospects back and forth now that we are on Fantrax. I got him in the waiver Draft, will keep him on my active roster for now.

Am I able to switch Wahlstrom for Bemstrom from playing to my farm?

Laine and Roslovic for PLD and a third apparently.

These signings in the last 24 hours are amazing! Curious to see what they’ll do next!

Mike Babcock is stepping back into the hockey spotlight on Sunday, though not in the way he was accustomed to for 30-plus years. In fact, it’s the first time in 33 years Babcock isn’t behind the bench as a coach. The time away from the game has been “spectacular,’’ Babcock said. He and his wife Maureen travelled last year before COVID stopped the world and have since enjoyed spending time with their three grown kids. “We’ve had an unbelievable time to tell you the truth, and really embraced the opportunity to enjoy life,’’ Babcock said Tuesday. Babcock, 57, also had a blast helping out with University of Vermont hockey coach Todd Woodcroft. “Coaching the coaches,’’ is how Babcock described his volunteer gig. He’s now looking forward to his new part-time gig with NBC starting Sunday, his re-entry into the NHL spotlight after being fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. It’s also why he is breaking his silence, agreeing to his first interview since his dismissal in November 2019. The timing is finally right. “I had planned in my mind that I was going to take a year away (from the media spotlight), that I wasn’t going to talk,’’ Babcock said. A year stretched into 14 months as the NHL delayed its 2020-21 season. “Now the season is going and I’m going to do a few games with NBC, I thought it was important to talk before I did that. So that’s what I’m doing. And clear any air that needs to be cleared.’’ There is indeed air that needs to be cleared. The Mitch Marner incident In the wake of his firing last season, a story surfaced in the Toronto Sun that Babcock had asked Mitch Marner, during the forward’s rookie season, to rank his teammates’ work ethic and the Leafs coach later shared the list with the players. “Yeah, that’s not how that happened, actually,’’ Babcock said. “I was working with Lou (Lamoriello) at that time, we made it very clear our No. 1 priority was to make sure these young guys, Mitch, Matty (Auston Matthews), were going to be the best pros they can be at 23, 24. And turn them into the hardest working, best players they can possibly be. “So Mitch was in my office. We were talking about work ethic. I asked him where he ranked on the scale. And that was no problem, that was just a private thing. It was a good meeting, Mitch left. But then I was meeting, I’m pretty sure it was with (Tyler) Bozak, afterward. Bozy was an important part of our team. What I ended up doing — and I made a big-time mistake, I knew as soon as I did it — when we were talking about competing and I said, ‘Well look where Mitch ranks it.’ “Well, as soon as I did that, and he saw the list, I knew that I had made a major mistake. After the meeting with Bozak, I went right into the dressing room. I grabbed Mitch and said, ‘Mitch, this is what I did. I screwed you here.’’’ Babcock said he offered right then and there to Marner to air out the coach’s mistake with the team. Marner declined. But for those who said Babcock went into the dressing room and posted Marner’s list up for all to see, that’s not true, Babcock said. “Now, in saying that though, what I should have done in hindsight, I should have stopped everybody and said, ‘This is what I did to Mitch. I screwed him.’ Now, he didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. But I could have made a lesser deal of it,’’’ Babcock said. “But (for) anyone to think Mitch Marner and Mike Babcock didn’t have a relationship, or Mitch didn’t play great for me or anything like that, that’s sadly mistaken.’’ Babcock said when he confirmed to Darren Dreger and Elliotte Friedman that the Marner incident had indeed occurred, he didn’t realize the version of it that was out there. “The story wasn’t right,’’ Babcock said. “In the end, though, you do lots of things over 32 years as a coach that you’d like to have back. Have you ever had a conversation with your wife when two words come out of your mouth and you’d like to reach with your arms and pull the words back? “It’s human nature. In the heat of hockey, there’s lots of things said. But you try to create an environment that’s good. When you look at Mitch Marner and the time he spent with Mike Babcock, Mitch Marner was a player. We had a good relationship.’’ When the incident happened, Babcock said he talked to Lamoriello and Mark Hunter. “When this went wrong, I talked to Lou a ton about it, and I talked to Mark Hunter about it, and the way to handle it the best,’’ Babcock said. “And there’s no question that it was all on me. Not on Mitch. It was all on me. I made a mistake. My fault.’’ The Johan Franzen incident The Marner story was followed by allegations from Johan Franzen, who played for Babcock in Detroit and whose career ended prematurely because of post-concussion syndrome. It began with former Red Wings defenceman Chris Chelios going on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast and alleging that Babcock had verbally assaulted Franzen during a playoff series against Nashville. Franzen, in a subsequent interview with Swedish newspaper Expressen, called Babcock a “great coach,” but a “terrible person” and a “bully,” saying he suffered from verbal attacks from the coach. Former Red Wings GM Ken Holland was asked by the Detroit Free Press last December if a player had ever come to him and accused Babcock of verbal abuse. Holland said no. But obviously, Babcock was aware of what Franzen said. “(Franzen) had unbelievable years in Detroit,’’ Babcock said. “He was a big man with great hands. When he first came here, we thought he was a checker and he turned himself into an unbelievable player. “When a player that you’ve coached says that about you, it stings you big time. But not only does it sting for that, if you’ve been involved with mental health like I have …'” Babcock has been an advocate for mental health awareness, beginning after a young man his family knew in Saskatchewan took his own life. Over the years, Babcock has lent his voice to the cause, participating in the Bell Let’s Talk campaign. So to have Franzen feel that way about him, it hurt deeply. “Can you imagine having someone say that about you when you have been involved in mental health as much as I have? Now, I’ve reached out to (Franzen). That’s not going to make anything go away. “It doesn’t matter what I perceive. When you’re talking about this kind of thing, if the person — whether it’s a co-worker, your spouse, your student — if they think that’s the environment, that’s what they’re feeling. Now, I sure wish I would have known about that then. And I could have done something about that. Besides apologize, there’s not much I can do about that now. But does it sting? Does it hurt? Absolutely.’’ It’s one thing having players sour with him as a coach because of playing time or being scratched. That’s all part of the game. But when it comes to the suggestion of mental abuse… “Nothing can hurt you more than something like this,’’ he said. “Your whole plan as a coach, and your plan as a parent, is to provide the best opportunity for everyone to be the best they can be,” Babcock added. “And that’s what you do to have success. And you can’t have success year after year in any league without a good environment. It just doesn’t happen. “So when something like this comes out, that hurts you. And it should. No one ever wants to be perceived that way. I can think of nothing worse than one of my kids going through something that they feel would be like this.’’ Coaches routinely tweak their approach between jobs. I asked Babcock if he would change his coaching style if he was ever back behind an NHL bench. “Yeah, I think what you do in the offseason every year is you try to re-invent yourself, I really believe that, both technically, tactically, and also as a human being,’’ he said. “You try to surround yourself with the best people you can. But I think in today’s world, having a good sports psych person or someone besides yourself that is looking at the whole situation and can say, ‘Hey, it’s off the tracks here. It’s not as good here as you think.’’’ Babcock paused, before adding: “I love players. Do I push them hard? Absolutely. But in saying that, do you want to cross the line with them? At no time ever.’’ What’s next Will Babcock coach again in the NHL? “I don’t know the answer to that,’’ Babcock said. “It’s got to be the right fit. But I’ve stayed busy. My interaction with NHL coaches has been spectacular. It’s unbelievable. And I’ve talked to a number of managers, so that’s been a lot of fun. “I don’t know what’s next. But I do know there’s a shortened season here, everybody’s got a coach, the chance of me coaching in the NHL this year is very, very slim.’’ The Maple Leafs owe Babcock $5.875 million a year until his eight-year contract expires on June 30, 2023. So he certainly doesn’t have to coach again for financial reasons. But he still loves the game. He was interviewed for the Washington Capitals coaching vacancy in the offseason, along with Gerard Gallant and Peter Laviolette. Capitals GM Brian MacLellan ultimately hired Laviolette. So for now, he’s got three games lined up with his NBC gig, just getting his feet wet with that part of the industry. “It will be interesting,” Babcock said. “I’ve been watching games and preparing for my three games. That will be fun to go in and see if you like it, and whether you’re any good at it.’’ Team Canada? The NHL plans to return to Olympic participation next year in Beijing. Doug Armstrong is expected to be the GM for Team Canada. And before I can even finish getting the question out of my mouth, Babcock jumped in. “That’ll be unbelievable for someone, eh?’’ he said. Babcock coached Canada to Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014 and to the World Cup title in 2016. He absolutely loved coaching Team Canada in those events, not to mention having also coached Canada to world junior gold in 1997 and world championship gold in 2004. The Olympics are extra special but he feels it’s time for someone new to lead them. “It’s someone else’s turn,” said Babcock. “I can turn around right now in my place here and I can look at those championship pictures with everyone gathered around. It’s something you’re going to remember for the rest of your life. To be an Olympian, to have had success, to represent your country, and the relationships you built with all those coaches and managers, spectacular. “But also, we’ve got lots of great coaches in the NHL. Someone is going to get a chance and it’s going to be the thrill of their lifetime. What a responsibility at the same time, but what an opportunity.”

Best game of the season vs the best team they have played so far. Lucky for them no Laine either!

Pionk tried to kill Marner on that empty netter, glad he missed!

Dell will probably get claimed, but Spezza’s agent said he’ll retire if claimed.

Leafs gonna Leafs every once in a while. See how they respond tomorrow!