MLB Season 2017!

Lorini · Post by **Lorini** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 11:08 am

Rumors are that AZ may try to move Grienke, you guys interested?

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 11:12 am

Starting pitching in the Cubs-Nats series has been nothing short of phenomenal. Naturally, I expect Arrieta and Roark to get lit up today.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 11:19 am

ImLawBoy wrote:Starting pitching in the Cubs-Nats series has been nothing short of phenomenal. Naturally, I expect Arrieta and Roark to get lit up today.

I had this discussion with someone at work today and we came to the same conclusion. I expect 10-8, not sure who ends up on top.

And seeing this tweet:

Almost makes me sorry for the Nats. Almost.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 12:28 pm

Looking at the weather forecast, I'm thinking the game might not go today. If it gets postponed to tomorrow, that would allow the Nationals to pitch Strasbourg again instead of using Roark.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 12:32 pm

ImLawBoy wrote:Looking at the weather forecast, I'm thinking the game might not go today. If it gets postponed to tomorrow, that would allow the Nationals to pitch Strasbourg again instead of using Roark.

And the Cubs to use Hendricks.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 12:32 pm

I think the Cubs would stick with Jake, assuming his hamstring is fine.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 2:17 pm

Lorini wrote:Rumors are that AZ may try to move Grienke, you guys interested?

No! He stunk when he was with the Angels. So did Fernando Rodney.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:03 pm

Game 4 between Cubs and Nats postponed until tomorrow.

You'd think this would give the Nats an edge because it means Strasburg could pitch Game 4 on normal rest?

NAH.

Strasburg is "sick", and he also threw a regularly scheduled bullpen session today before the rains came, so he is totally unavailable tomorrow.

Go Cubs.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:29 pm

Tomorrow's game time better fits my schedule, so i tentatively approve.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:28 pm

Zaxxon wrote:Tomorrow's game time better fits my schedule, so i tentatively approve.

Likewise.

I reserve the right to change my mind tomorrow.

Lorini · Post by **Lorini** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 12:50 am

Apparently the city made Strasburg sick so the Cubs are in luck. Did you guys order up the mold???

Kelric · Post by **Kelric** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 8:34 am

Lorini wrote:Rumors are that AZ may try to move Grienke, you guys interested?

If Arizona eats $70M of the roughly $140M still owed him, sure.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 9:47 am

Lorini wrote:Apparently the city made Strasburg sick so the Cubs are in luck. Did you guys order up the mold???

It's been "off the charts" lately according to the morning weather chimp.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 11:08 am

Kelric wrote:
El Guapo wrote:It was fun having an inside the ballpark homerun in the last Red Sox game, at least.

The outcome isn't surprising, given that the Astros are probably better at baseball. I'm glad that the Red Sox salvaged at least some pride by winning game 3. What's more of a bummer is that Dumbrowski is probably going to further gut the farm system this offseason for a couple more established players, so that we'll have a competitive next couple years or so, but then we're going to have a LONG winter of terrible baseball coming sooner or later.
My offseason plan, in no particular order, and avoiding obvious ones like picking up Kimbrel's/Sale's options:

Trade Hanley for his last year and eat salary to do it, but don't give up prospects to sweeten the deal
Re-sign Addison Reed
Re-sign Eduardo Nunez if the money isn't crazy, or find another utility guy who can play 3rd to pair with Holt off the bench
Re-sign Fernando Abad if the money isn't crazy (and it shouldn't be)
Teach Dustin Pedroia he isn't as fast as he used to be and should become a station to station runner
Trade Sandy Leon or option him to Triple-A and find a new catcher to platoon with Vazquez
See if Joe Kelly would be open to a reasonable extension
Extend Drew Pomeranz
Bring in another bullpen arm or three, you can never have enough
Find a DH/backup 1B, while seeing if Sam Travis can win the 1B job
DO NOT SIGN JD MARTINEZ - he's going to cost too much and probably results in one of our young OFers being moved
Find a SP on a prove it contract (Chris Tillman?)

You left off firing Farrell on your list.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 11:33 am

I'm unsure how I feel about potentially letting Ferrell go. He does seem to make some dumb moves (though who doesn't), but he did win the division 3 out of the past 5 years (including the past two years), and won the World Series five years ago (admittedly, with two last place finishes mixed in), so he's not amazing but he's not horrible either.

Seems like it depends on who we would be likely to get as a replacement. Only name I've heard floated thus far is Varitek, which I don't feel great about because as far as I'm aware he has no managerial experience, so seems like a crapshoot.

Lorini · Post by **Lorini** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 11:40 am

Do you mean no head manager experience? Dave Roberts was a coach for San Diego but never had managed a team and he's been great. Sure a couple of bumps along the way but is miles better than Mattingly ever was.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 11:42 am

Saw a report on my phone that Strasburg is now expected to pitch today. Boo.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 11:43 am

El Guapo wrote:I'm unsure how I feel about potentially letting Ferrell go.

It's not a potential - Farrell was fired.

Kelric · Post by **Kelric** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 12:05 pm

stessier wrote:
El Guapo wrote:I'm unsure how I feel about potentially letting Ferrell go.
It's not a potential - Farrell was fired.

I'm okay with that.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 12:16 pm

ImLawBoy wrote:Saw a report on my phone that Strasburg is now expected to pitch today. Boo.

Ugh.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 12:56 pm

Low temps, high humidity, 15 mph NE wind...

Really looking forward to CLE/NYY though.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 1:34 pm

Zaxxon wrote:
ImLawBoy wrote:Saw a report on my phone that Strasburg is now expected to pitch today. Boo.
Ugh.

Strasburg won't like this weather. I'm also sure he would rather not start.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 1:45 pm

pr0ner wrote:I'm also sure he would rather not start.

Isn't this an elimination game for them? If so, why would anyone want a player on their team who doesn't want to play when everything is on the line?

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 1:47 pm

Jeff V wrote:
pr0ner wrote:I'm also sure he would rather not start.
Isn't this an elimination game for them? If so, why would anyone want a player on their team who doesn't want to play when everything is on the line?

Largely because the scuttlebutt is that he's sick but felt the pressure to be available, as their ace $170M asset in an elimination game. Good for testosterone-fueled Sportball psychology. Bad for pitching well.

We'll see.

Lorini · Post by **Lorini** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 2:09 pm

Baker says Strasburg is not pitching.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 2:18 pm

Lorini wrote:Baker says Strasburg is not pitching.

ESPN says yes. When/where did you see Baker's comment? As of this AM it was no, then yes. It's no again?

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 2:45 pm

This story time stamped 1:24 CT says he's starting. That's the latest I've seen so far.

Lorini · Post by **Lorini** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 2:47 pm

It was a headline on ESPN. He's now starting so there ya go.

Exodor · Post by **Exodor** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 2:53 pm

Kelric wrote: My offseason plan, in no particular order, and avoiding obvious ones like picking up Kimbrel's/Sale's options:

you forgot one:

-Throw $150M at Moustakas and break the hearts of Royals fans forever.

Although word is that he'd prefer to sign somewhere in Southern California.

If Moose winds up in Boston and Hoz with the Yankees I'll never forgive the Yankees and Yankees-lite.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 3:19 pm

Zaxxon wrote:
Jeff V wrote:
pr0ner wrote:I'm also sure he would rather not start.
Isn't this an elimination game for them? If so, why would anyone want a player on their team who doesn't want to play when everything is on the line?
Largely because the scuttlebutt is that he's sick but felt the pressure to be available, as their ace $170M asset in an elimination game. Good for testosterone-fueled Sportball psychology. Bad for pitching well.

We'll see.

If Washington wins with whoever starts, it's a moot point. If Strasburg starts and loses, he'll take some heat for playing sick. If someone starts and loses, he'll hate himself for not sucking it up and starting anyway.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 3:26 pm

Jeff V wrote:If Washington wins with whoever starts, it's a moot point. If Strasburg starts and loses, he'll take some heat for playing sick. If someone starts and loses, he'll hate himself for not sucking it up and starting anyway.

It's a moot point from a historical standpoint, but today, now--before the game begins--either Strasburg is the Nats best available pitcher for today's game or he's not. If he is, that calls into question the severity of what was given out (he was wheezing and couldn't run 1/2 mile yesterday--not something likely to abate before today's game). If he isn't, the Nats are being dumb by succumbing to testosterone-fueled sportball psychology or shady info sharing.

Which is not to say that that would be unexpected--it's the norm. But the bottom line is that exactly one of the following is true: 1) Strasburg had a miraculous recovery; 2) Baker or the Nats were gaming their info yesterday (ie lying to try to keep the Cubs off-guard); 3) Strasburg is starting even though he doesn't feel good, and thus damping (ha! damping! mold! see what I did there!?) his team's chances at extending their season.

If #1, then yay Nats--higher powers are on their side! If #2 or #3, poo on them.

Is it beísbol time yet? I need me some beísbol so I can get this out of my head.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 3:28 pm

If Strasbourg starts and wins tonight, who would likely pitch game 5 for the Nats?

Intuitively it would seem that since the Nats need to win both, if Strasbourg is significantly below 100% due to his illness, it would be best to start someone else and then have Strasbourg pitch game 5 (when he is presumably better). Since either way you need to win the Strasbourg start and the other start.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 3:37 pm

El Guapo wrote:If Strasbourg starts and wins tonight, who would likely pitch game 5 for the Nats?

Intuitively it would seem that since the Nats need to win both, if Strasbourg is significantly below 100% due to his illness, it would be best to start someone else and then have Strasbourg pitch game 5 (when he is presumably better). Since either way you need to win the Strasbourg start and the other start.

I'd guess Scherzer, even if it's on short rest.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 3:43 pm

Look, Strasberg will start when Scott Boras says he will, ok?

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 4:07 pm

ImLawBoy wrote:
El Guapo wrote:If Strasbourg starts and wins tonight, who would likely pitch game 5 for the Nats?

Intuitively it would seem that since the Nats need to win both, if Strasbourg is significantly below 100% due to his illness, it would be best to start someone else and then have Strasbourg pitch game 5 (when he is presumably better). Since either way you need to win the Strasbourg start and the other start.
I'd guess Scherzer, even if it's on short rest.

I guess the question is whether (Roark + recovered Strasburg) > (sick Strasburg + short rest Scherzer).

This story of the whole mess is amusing, at least.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 4:57 pm

Strasburg started

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 5:00 pm

For the second game in a row, Zobrist broke up a no hitter with a double. (OK, it was in the second inning today, but still.)

The wind is blowing in hard. Russell's shot would have been a no-doubt home run on most days.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 5:04 pm

Yeah, that was about the hardest-hit ball I've seen not go out at Wrigley.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 5:05 pm

ImLawBoy wrote:
El Guapo wrote:If Strasbourg starts and wins tonight, who would likely pitch game 5 for the Nats?

Intuitively it would seem that since the Nats need to win both, if Strasbourg is significantly below 100% due to his illness, it would be best to start someone else and then have Strasbourg pitch game 5 (when he is presumably better). Since either way you need to win the Strasbourg start and the other start.
I'd guess Scherzer, even if it's on short rest.

It'll be Gio. Scherzer would be available in the pen but no way he starts on 2 days rest.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 5:38 pm

Oooh, bases loaded.

Edit: Doh!