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Post by hawaiiyankee on Oct 4, 2018 20:45:37 GMT -5
I think pitching should be the team's main focus. Stanton, Hicks, Frazier and Judge with maybe another veteran option to plug in in case of injury in the OF. I don't know where Manny would fit in the IF. Manny's only fit would be at third, so then what happens with Andujar? Some say first base, but then you have a player learning a new position, and that doesn't make me feel like that's going to produce championship baseball... I'm already making my winter shopping list, primarily thinking of who to trade for rather than going ballistic for a bunch of free agents to break the banks and then break our hearts. Some of the thoughts are extreme, but I feel we won 100 this season without the feeling of playing team baseball, and with some elements missing from both the high scoring offense (contact, speed and versatility) and a rather decent pitching staff (length from the starters and middle relief with all needing to keep the ball in the park)... I could list some ideas here, but that may be a thread hi-jack. Hawaii deserves to get some votes and thoughts on the subject he posted for... I don't mind if you hijacked the thread. I just like some lively discussion. I mean, I forgot I even started this convo until I checked back today. |
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Post by hawaiiyankee on Oct 4, 2018 20:57:02 GMT -5
Yeah, sometimes I take living here for granted. Maui is my favorite island to visit. Last time I went to Kauai I couldn't believe how many wild chickens there were. They were everywhere. It's been a while since I visited that island. Heard the island of Lanai was beautiful as well but haven't visited there yet. One day. I also agree about the comment about the poi. I don't like poi either. For the longest time I didn't like any Hawaiian food but now I love it. Maybe my taste buds have changed. I didn't like Thai food growing up but now I also love that.
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Post by greatfatness on Oct 4, 2018 21:50:54 GMT -5
Neither
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Post by inger on Oct 4, 2018 22:06:23 GMT -5
Manny's only fit would be at third, so then what happens with Andujar? Some say first base, but then you have a player learning a new position, and that doesn't make me feel like that's going to produce championship baseball... I'm already making my winter shopping list, primarily thinking of who to trade for rather than going ballistic for a bunch of free agents to break the banks and then break our hearts. Some of the thoughts are extreme, but I feel we won 100 this season without the feeling of playing team baseball, and with some elements missing from both the high scoring offense (contact, speed and versatility) and a rather decent pitching staff (length from the starters and middle relief with all needing to keep the ball in the park)... I could list some ideas here, but that may be a thread hi-jack. Hawaii deserves to get some votes and thoughts on the subject he posted for... I don't mind if you hijacked the thread. I just like some lively discussion. I mean, I forgot I even started this convo until I checked back today. Well hot doggies! Permission to highjack this thread is granted! I'll look my shopping list over for some trade ideas. I have two minds about trades. In one scenario, we swap prospects for the young, controlled and capable players on the teams that are downtrodden. In yet another, we offer some of our established talent to teams that may feel they're a player or two away...Most of the ideas will be about changing team approach and dealing away prospects who may become stale...Might get back to this tonight...If not...It'll be here...sometime...I try to stay away from Crazy Karl ideas, but there are some players that I'd get a kick out of seeing in the pinstripes... |
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Post by inger on Oct 4, 2018 23:21:43 GMT -5
First, I'd like to list some pitchers that I think should be looked at over the winter, whether as free agents or via trade...
Starters:
Robbie Ray. Okay, so I wanted him last winter, and he had an off year in 2018. He was out for a while with injury and his command never came back with him completely. But, he's still young with tons of upside. He'll be back.
Patrick Corbin. I'm still a little shaky on Patrick, but his rise in K's last year is so intriguing. He's probably my least favorite on the list, which is in no particular order...
Reynoldo Lopez. He's still a bit on the effectively wild side, but he keeps the ball in the yard and is hard to hit. Pitches to contact. If he can shorten his pitch count, could be a real good one.
Jose Berrios. Potential galore. He'll be 25, and Minnesota should be willing to listen to offers of prospects for him.
The Mets trio of DeGrom, Wheeler, Syndergard. The reasons are obvious, right?
Jameson Taillon. He came a long way in 2018 and Pittsburgh is going nowhere fast.Which also brings us to...
Trevor Williams. Taillon's team mate in Pittsburgh. At least kick the tires. He keeps the ball in the park.
So that's nine starting pitchers to at least put our toe in the water that could make an impact. Most are quite young, and on teams that need help...In the case of Arizona, they have to feel like they may only be a player or two away from their division, so they may be willing to talk turkey if we dangled Torres, Andujar, or Stanton for instance...We can talk more about why we'd even dream of dangling those guys as the thread rolls on...The Pittsburgh guys aren't glamorous, which could make them cheaper...
Relief pitchers
Kirby Yates. Dang, I hated to let him go when we did. I just smelled success on him. Now, with a big year behind him in SD, he'd look good back in our BP.
Jose Laclerc. The walks have been an issue, but when a guy allows 3.7 hits per nine innings (to be fair 3.9 walks, but improved from much higher in 2018), he makes me take notice.
Any thoughts from anyone here as to who would be the best and most available choices? I purposely stayed away from contending teams when looking to rob pitching staffs...Except for borderline contender Arizona...Any other ideas? Thoughts on the Yankee pitching prospects that could fill the role on the NY team???
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Post by inger on Oct 7, 2018 20:31:17 GMT -5
I should have added Eovaldi to the list of pitchers I’d be interested in. The only issue is the price, which could be anywhere from cheap to filthy high considering he’s still getting well...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2018 23:06:11 GMT -5
I’m still not sold on him. Let’s see how long it takes the league ti figure out his slider. His fastball velocity is terrific, but not a lot of movement. He got rid of that stupid splitter he was throwing all the time that hardly ever dove enough to be effective which helped a lot.
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Post by inger on Oct 8, 2018 9:53:02 GMT -5
The other thing I like about him is that he's learned to go upstairs with the heat, changing the eye level...He doesn't need the movement up there because no one can catch up to it. He's also throwing a cutter now at about 94 MPH, so there is change of speed and location...Yeah. I can get that you're not completely sold. He shouldn't be expensive though...and at worst case he winds up in the bullpen...
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Post by chiyankee on Oct 8, 2018 10:50:20 GMT -5
I’m still not sold on him. Let’s see how long it takes the league ti figure out his slider. His fastball velocity is terrific, but not a lot of movement. He got rid of that stupid splitter he was throwing all the time that hardly ever dove enough to be effective which helped a lot. Eovaldi is throwing more cutters now, which helps explain his lower batting average against. In my opinion, he's a big health risk, but then again, you can say the same thing about most of these free agent pitchers. |
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Post by inger on Oct 8, 2018 14:16:06 GMT -5
I’m still not sold on him. Let’s see how long it takes the league ti figure out his slider. His fastball velocity is terrific, but not a lot of movement. He got rid of that stupid splitter he was throwing all the time that hardly ever dove enough to be effective which helped a lot. Eovaldi is throwing more cutters now, which helps explain his lower batting average against. In my opinion, he's a big health risk, but then again, you can say the same thing about most of these free agent pitchers. He’s the only FA pitcher that I really like. I only like him because he seems to have learned how to pitch and may be cheap... |
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Post by rizzuto on Oct 8, 2018 15:58:16 GMT -5
Eovaldi is throwing more cutters now, which helps explain his lower batting average against. In my opinion, he's a big health risk, but then again, you can say the same thing about most of these free agent pitchers. He’s the only FA pitcher that I really like. I only like him because he seems to have learned how to pitch and may be cheap... If we light him up tonight for about seven runs and he leaves in the second inning, he'll really be cheap. Yankees win tonight and next season! |
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Post by kaybli on Oct 8, 2018 15:59:50 GMT -5
He’s the only FA pitcher that I really like. I only like him because he seems to have learned how to pitch and may be cheap... If we light him up tonight for about seven runs and he leaves in the second inning, he'll really be cheap. Yankees win tonight and next season! I like the way you think! |
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Post by inger on Oct 8, 2018 19:17:40 GMT -5
If we light him up tonight for about seven runs and he leaves in the second inning, he'll really be cheap. Yankees win tonight and next season! I like the way you think! Me too!!! I’m all for it!!! |
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Post by inger on Oct 8, 2018 21:38:08 GMT -5
I like the way you think! Me too!!! I’m all for it!!! well, that didn’t work out... |
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Post by inger on Oct 9, 2018 1:52:06 GMT -5
So, back to my premature babbling about what we need to do to fix the team. As for position players we should be shopping for, again talking about teams that are going nowhere and could use young players to build... Here are some great targets from those teams:
There is always Mike Trout. Every year it seems, there is Mike Trout. I doubt he goes anywhere, but he should always be a target...at least for a couple more years anyway...But, let's face it...The money on him is going to be stupid at some point...The only way I can see the Angels sacrificing Trout is to completely unload our farm system, PLUS get Stanton in return, so in a word...it's not happening...
So how about some others that could make a difference? My top non-free agent suggestions are:
Starling Marte. I'm not sure why. He bats RH, and he hardly ever walks, but he's aggressive on the bases. While he's no Brett Gardner in LF, he played CF for Pittsburgh in 2018, so he can go get 'em...The Pirates have been willing trade partners.
Whit Merrifield. He's a good, solid fielder. Yes, he'll be thirty years old, but he's got wheels, place a strong 2B and can fill in anywhere in the OF. So of course, we'd need to make room for him. I can get to that later...
Dee Gordon. Another veteran 2B that got pushed to CF this past season. I always like his D at second base, and he can fly...not much power, but the speed would be great. His OBP went in the toilet last year with his drop in BA, and I'd rather have Merrifield, but Dee could make a strong case for a utility role/PR type, too...
Nick Castellanos. Not for third base. I like him in the OF. Good arm and a Miguel Andujar-like bat...Still young at 27 next season, finds the gaps and can park one, too...
Scooter Gennett. Getting to be a theme here. Lots of second basemen, I know...He's another guy with an Andujar-like bat and a solid though unspectacular glove. He can also play some third and back up in the OF...
Brandon Nimmo. This guy is an absolute pain in the ass. 8O BB, 22 HBP, .404 OBP and young...Left handed hitter to boot. Those 17 HR in Shea could be 25 or more in YS...
Marcell Ozuna. Just because...But he's probably the best defensive LF on the market...young...I don't think St. Louis suited his game...
In the next post, I'll bring up some of the guys that I feel we should have on the market, and why...(Hint: The defense HAS to get better in the INF)...
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