MLB 2019: Mad Max Beyond Astrodome

The Oakland A's are playing 600 ball right now and still aren't guaranteed a playoff spot. Amazing.

 

Did I miss something? Castellanos is a RF, not an infielder. But there we also have Hoerner. If he can play 2B alongside Javy...and if a new hitting coach can get Javy back to only a moderate strikeout rate, that's a middle IF I'd like to see.

We're really kinda thin in the OF, unless you keep Happ there most of the time, and he also does a better job at the plate. I'd always hoped for Almora to get his shit going so he could be the full time CF, but not sure he'll ever be more than a defensive replacement/occasional starter.

I'm still behind Hoss in LF. He's no Heyward on defense, but very few guys are. He can flatten baseballs and has made himself a decent LF. Hell, Seattle is playing Vogelbach at 1B despite his size. He was supposedly only going to pan out as a DH.

 

Castellanos also plays third and, if I recall correctly, that was his original position before moving to outfield.

 

Thanks. I didn't do an in-depth look at Nic, but he certainly seems comfortable in RF. Like Hoss, not A+, but good.
We have Bryant thru 2021, plus Bote signed an extension this year. Even if the next manager doesn't play musical positions as much as Joe has, Bryant can rotate into the OF here and there like he has done.

The Cubs announcers called him Hoss (as in Cartwright) when he came up in 15 and I'm sticking to it

Schwarbs lost weight after the knee injury and the move to LF. Not sure how much, or how much he should lose, but definitely slimmer.

 

Mad? No. Harper likely had a chance to chase a ring with other teams on shorter deals, but instead needed to make a meaningless statement about having the biggest contract ever.

He has "made a living" for himself and his family for several generations on what he has already earned. The money at this point really is meaningless beyond being a status symbol. I have no issue with a player squeezing the owners for every penny possible, at the same time, you have to be smart about the decisions you make because your time in the game is finite.

Harper will probably have twenty chances at hoisting the World Series trophy in his lifetime, seven of them are now gone forever.

 

It helped that I had him on my Fantasy team for two years while he was with the Tigers.

 

What do we think of this? Big deal or not? Two teams with nothing to play for.

 

Reds spent some money this season and did a face plant, so David Bell’s seat could be getting warm. Same for Gabe Kapler in Philadelphia.

 

I see nothing wrong with it, just some teammates giving their guy something to be proud of... and he still had to earn that K.

 

The Phillies aren't the Marlins - they can build a winner, and all those trophies don't build permanent wealth for your descendants.

 

Yeah, doesn't matter to me, but you know there's those "unwritten rules" nazis that love complaining about this type of thing.

 

I have little interest in their fussing. That sort of close minded, elitist thinking has not helped baseball.

 

Permanent wealth? I imagine between what he’s earned between the Nationals and in endorsements, he and his family will be comfortable for a very, very long time.

 

Nah Bell is fine, he was only hired because of family so he will keep his job for at least 3 years for the same reason.

 

^Mattingly was just awarded an extension, so he’s probably safe for another year. I would be shocked if Kapler isn’t fired, as he’s managed to run that team out of contention in back-to-back second halves, and I can’t believe Callaway hasn’t already been sacked.

 

Teams will more than likely trip over themselves to hide Maddon, even though he out manages himself in most cases.