Aroldis Chapman hit in face by line drive
There was a scary moment in last night's Reds game, as Aroldis Chapman was hit in the face by a line drive. Trainers from both teams rushed to the mound immediately (and his father too from the stands), and he was taken off the field in a stretcher. Reports say he never lost consciousness and could move his limbs and speak as he was being treated. Medical tests indicated that he has a broken nose and fractures above his left eye. That sounds like what happened with Marlon Byrd a few years back, though I'd have to guess that Chapman got hit a lot harder considering it was the turnaround from a 99mph fastball that got him.
Hopefully it turns out better for Chapman than it did for Cardinals OF Juan Encarnacion, who was hit in the eye by a foul ball while standing in the on deck circle. I can't find too many details of the aftermath, but it caused severe damage to his optic nerve and ended his career.
I hope he's okay, baseball is better with Chapman in the game. I remember seeing him warming up in the minors years ago before he made the bigs. His name wasn't on the back of his jersey so I had no idea who he was, but even an idiot like me could tell he had special talent.
Javier Baez doing Javier Baez things
Baez had a strange night last night. He collided with LF Anthony Giansanti (who?) on a shallow pop-up to LF and may have banged up his knee or wrist, but the trainers decided he was okay to leave in. No word on whether Giansanti was immediately given his walking papers after the game. Baez later hit a HR that may have just settled into stable orbit around the Earth.
I can't seem to find reference to it now, but as I was shutting off my computer last night people were joking that Baez got four strikes in his final PA.
Other updates from the game
Carlos Villanueva looked good, striking out eight batters in four innings. He only made one major mistake but it was a costly one, as Carlos Gonzalez hit a HR that's probably in a synchronous orbit with Baez's. There was lots of other weird stuff in this game too. Emilio Bonifacio showed off his wheels again by advancing all the way to third on a missed pickoff throw at 1b. Former Cub DJ LeMahieu scored on a balk called on Jose Veras. Valbuena homered, and it looks like his spot on the roster is secure even with the emergence of Mike Olt and Bonifacio's strong spring.
Olt to see time at 3b in today's game
After much hemming and hawing in the last week about Olt's shoulder, he's in the lineup today at 3b for the first time this spring. Expect lots of HRs and strikeouts if he wins the regular season gig.
Muskat guesses the opening day roster
Carrie Muskat took a stab at the opening day roster the other day (not literally, no one is hospitalized with knife wounds). No real surprises on the pitching front, as she agrees that Rusin is going to get the 5th starter gig for now. She does not have Olt on the roster and does have Donnie Murphy and Bonifacio, but left a spot open for '25th man'. I'm still guessing Olt gets in at the expense of Murphy, and Kalish grabs the last OF spot.
A lipreader breaks down umpire-manager arguments from last year
(dying laughing). Via Evan Brunell at Baseball Prospectus.
In case you missed it
Brett did an impressive bit of research/reporting on the Cubs current debt, payroll, business, and baseball plans. Now we know who owns the Cubs. Check it out if you haven't already. It's long, so grab a coffee before you sit down to read it. Or don't. I can't tell you what to do. 424 and I had some in depth discussion of the piece in our aside from yesterday.
My biggest takeaway was this, in response to the 2012 CBA's changes to some of the debt/income ratio obligations that the Cubs have to satisfy
That CBA keeps finding new ways to screw this team.
Don't forget to finalize your brackets before 11:15 today. aOSU kicks off the real tournament (sorry, Iowa) against Dayton.
Comments
Like You Care wrote:
Good point, I was just thinking of the lazy size/running comparison.
Speaking of lazy comparisons, you violated the first rule of sports comparisons by comparing guys of two different races. (shakes head).
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
This might be a little bit of an off topic question, but is Zeke DeVoss basically a non-prospect at this point? I just wish the Cubs had at least one prospect who had an OBP tool as exciting as some of the Power tools they seem to have.
EdwinQuote Reply
I swear I get New Shit Upped every time…
@ Edwin:
Amazing how that works, isn’t it? I maintain that losing the shell of Randy Moss caused the dip in SF’s offensive production last season.
Offencive DVOA by year…
2011: -3.9% (Alex Smith, no Randy Moss)
2012: 16.5% (Smith/Kaepernick, Randy Moss)
2013: 9.1 % (Kaepernick, Anquan Boldin instead of Randy Moss)
Just the threat of Randy Moss running deep keeps at least one safety back and opens the rest of the field.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect:
I did that on purpose. Trying to be a pioneer. (dying laughing)
It really is unbelievable. Draft time is the worst because of the comparisons for the casual fans. Even when an interracial comparison is so apparent, the media never makes it.
Teddy Bridgewater is a great example of this. This fucker ran the 40 in 4.8 and ran for 170 yards TOTAL in three college seasons. A quick search on the internet yields the following comparisons: Russell Wilson, RG3, Randall Cunningham. Other than being a good runner (which Bridgewater really isn’t) and at least partially black, it’s hard to think of three more different players.
Like You CareQuote Reply
Encarnacion never played a game again. I think he wanted to, but I was left with the impression that he lost vision in that eye. I wonder if detail is sketchy on him because he got treatment back in the DR.
joshQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
People do that all the time. Everytime there’s a a big heavy RB, he’s Bettis. Or a white MLB, he’s Urlacher. They are too lazy to do their own research and actually watch these guys play so they just compare them to a similar looking player.
MuckerQuote Reply
josh wrote:
Detail is sketchy because I was too lazy to look beyond wikipedia (dying laughing).
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
@ Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect:
All right, well according to Wikipedia, his eye socket caved in like a crushed ice cream cone and his optic nerve was severed. It sounds like the ball hit him square in the eye.
joshQuote Reply
Also, it was Aaron Miles who hit the foul.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
i would think that a pitcher would be much less affected by vision problems than a batter?
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Someone asked earlier about PITT QB Tom Savage. After his combine, I wanted to go back and watch some film on him. Thanks to http://draftbreakdown.com/, I watched Savage against Notre Dame.
Some team should draft Savage…and possibly as soon as Day 2. Watching Savage was like watching Carr. They look REALLY similar, except that Carr is a bit more athletic. They both have big arms and make big throws. They both have the same mechanical breakdowns under pressure. Savage missed a few open throws too.
Basically, I think Savage (physically) is an NFL QB. Easily. He needs coaching, but I could see him running just about any offense in the NFL.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Savage has great size. He’s an interesting prospect.
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
It just doesn’t make sense. Let’s try to be accurate.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
Great arm too. When he ran as fast as Garoppolo at the combine, I wanted to go back and see how well he moved. I had him pegged as a Bradyesque statue, but he’s not nearly that bad.
I still hope my team picks Logan Thomas, but Savage looks like a good value pick to me.
Like You CareQuote Reply
The Reds are estimating that Chapman will be out 6-8 weeks, but my guess is that they have no idea when he’ll be ready.
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
Baez last night. First ST game I’ve watched on tv in years.
Home run. Then collision in field. He clearly didn’t here Giansanti yelling. Giansanti was moving his lips at least so I assume he was yelling. In the 9th with men on Baez was given a foul in strike three because the ump thought he tipped the ball into the ground but the ball clearly never touched the ground.
Just plain BVSQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
I think at some point, the Bears are going to get Trestman a “project QB”. I’m fine with them spending a late round pick on one but would like to see them get better on defense before they do.
MuckerQuote Reply
Edwin wrote:
DeVoss could have a future as a 4th OF, but the bat is far too toothless to start at the major league level. Great discipline is important only if you can hit a ball hard enough for pitchers to fear you in some way. Major leaguers will just shove it down his throat (see what happens to Tony Campana).
A good way to measure these things isn’t just looking at ISO (which, in DeVoss’ case, is relatively mediocre at .100 – even if he kept it there, he’d be among the very most anemic 20% of OF in the game), but at BABIP. As he climbs the ladder, it’s continually falling – this is a sign that he’s not hitting his pitches and spraying LD, but that he’s having regular PA with regular outcomes. If A+ pitchers have evened him up, and he doesn’t have enough power to translate to the majors, it just isn’t going to happen.
Look at a guy like Albert Almora. His ISO isn’t particularly high (.137), but his BABIP at A ball last season was .362. His plate discipline appears to be worse than DeVoss’, but I seriously doubt it. Instead of laying off pitches and taking walks, he’s just diagnosing the pitches he can drive, and driving them. That’s why his BABIP is so high.
All of that being said, DeVoss looks to be a 24-year old in AA this year. That’s not so old that you can just forget about him. I just don’t have high hopes for a speed guy who can’t get enough hits in A+ to turn it on. You’re looking at a .230/.350/.320 guy as a realistic ceiling; there’s no comp in the majors to that because that’s not good enough to start in the majors. You could get lose and say something like Gregor Blanco but even he out slugs his OBP.
MylesQuote Reply
Myles wrote:
Any reference to Tony Campana requires posting of this gif
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
@ Myles:
Thanks.
EdwinQuote Reply
Since the Muskrat did a 25-man roster, I’ll do one.
1B
Rizzo 90%
Olt 10%
2B
Valbuena 60%
Barney 30%
Bonifacio 10%
SS
Castro 95%
Barney 5%
3B
Olt 60%
Murphy 30%
Valbuena 10%
C
Castillo 65%
Kottaras 35%
LF
Sweeney 70%
Lake 30%
CF
Lake 60%
Kalish 30%
Bonifacio 10%
RF
Schierholtz 60%
Bonifacio 30%
Kalish 10%
Positional Overall
Castro 95%
Rizzo 90%
Lake 90%
Valbuena 70%
Olt 70%
Sweeney 70%
Castillo 65%
Schierholtz 60%
Bonifacio 50%
Kalish 40%
Barney 35%
Kottaras 35%
Murphy 30%
Samardzija
Wood
Jackson
Hammel
Villanueva
Veras
Strop
Russell
Wright
Parker
Rondon
Cabrera
Pimentel
MylesQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
I think that most teams should bring in at least one new QB every year through the draft of UDFA.
Trestman’s probably looking at guys like Garoppolo, Connor Shaw, Brett Smith, David Fales and Aaron Murray.
Like You CareQuote Reply
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
I agree. I think drafting an offensive lineman every year is a good practic too. But I’m a Bears fan so that might not be true for all teams.
MuckerQuote Reply
You should draft a QB every year (or every other year), an OL every year, and a DL every year. 3 most important positions on the field, 2 of which have pretty extreme turnover or rotational requirements.
MylesQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Wow….he had a poor 40 at the combine but an insane 3-cone. Bears met with him yesterday before his pro day…..he’s probably going to be their pick.
MuckerQuote Reply
I go back and forth on Ealy/Donald for CHI. Donald is special and a bigger need, but Ealy is pretty good too and the talent level at DE takes a huge drop after the first round.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
@ Myles:
Yes.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
I was surprised by his slow combine time, but I didn’t expect anything in the 4.5s.
I was looking at Trestman’s career to try to get an idea of how he’d draft and I came across this tidbit: In 2002, he was OAK’s OC and his QB coach was Jim Harbaugh. /coolstorybro
If I’m CHI, my draft board in the first is Ealy/Donald. There’s a good chance they’ll have their pick of the two. If neither is there, one of the 11 elite players in the draft will. CHI’s in a good spot.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
I agree. You can count on at least one team to do something stupid and reach in the Top 10. Bears should have a very good selection of players to choose from. I can’t see both Donald and Ealy gone at 14. If they are, they can go S/CB and get Easley in the 2nd possibly.
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
If both are gone, a better player (though probably not at a position of immediate need) will be there. Take that player or trade back.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Myles:
No Ruggiano?
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect wrote:
Couldn’t fit him, Bonifacio, and Kalish in at the same time. If Ruggiano makes it as the 4th OF, and you assume Bonifacio and Kalish also make the team, that means Olt isn’t on the team. Basically, the 2 options (to me) are Olt starts at 3B and Ruggiano is minor league depth, or Valbuena starts at 3B and Olt is minor league depth (Bonifacio is more of a IF UTIL and Ruggiano is the 4th OF). The former seems more likely to me.
MylesQuote Reply
Murphy, Bonifacio, Ruggiano, Kalish, Olt. Pick 4 of the 5, and you can basically make any logical permutation as to who starts where. Bonifacio can play IF/OF, which makes these permutations possible.
MylesQuote Reply
@ Myles:
Ah, I thought Bonifacio had a lot less experience in CF than he actually does. My first eyeball of your roster was that it had a billion infielders.
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
@ Myles:
That said, I still have the feeling that Murphy will be the one to get the axe.
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
Something happened with Trevor Gretzky and the Angels according to one of the Flowbros.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/mock-drafts/daniel-jeremiah/195602?campaign=Twitter_nfl_cb
That’s crazy. Bridgewater at No. 26.
IF he somehow made it past STL at 13 and ARI at 20, teams would be falling all over themselves to draft him before CLE’s second first.
Like You CareQuote Reply
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect wrote:
I’d love for that to be the case. He’d be my personal preference for AAA depth guy, but I just don’t think they’ll send him down.
MylesQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
It’s unbelievable how ridiculous people are. If teams don’t draft him because of his pro day, then the GMs for those teams should be fired.
MuckerQuote Reply
Vogelbach playing agent, apparently. More likely, a “prank.”
MylesQuote Reply
Rice Cube wrote:
He realized he’s playing the wrong sport?
Like You CareQuote Reply
Idk Myles. I don’t see a scenario where Ruggiano doesn’t make the team. They need his right handed platoon. I don’t think Thoyer traded for him to not be on the 25 man.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
Immediately.
If you see something you don’t like at the pro day, go back and review the tape. I’m not sure what you’d see that would cause you to drop a guy that much, though. Same thing with the combine.
Like You CareQuote Reply
[img]http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/vulture/2014/03/12/frank-side-eye/Frank-3.o.jpg/a_560x375.jpg[/img]
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Myles:
I don’t think they can send Murphy down. Or at least he would probably have the option of becoming a FA instead.
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
I bet you he doesn’t drop though. The media does a good job of creating controversy with this shit. Seriously, what GM in his right mind would throw Bridgewater’s tape out the window becaue of his pro day?
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
Aisle424Quote Reply
JonKneeV wrote:
I could Sweeney not making the team before Ruggiano doesn’t make it.
Dude is having a terrible Spring, and he’s a total place-holder player. If both Olt and Baez start in the minors, I’m going to be seriously fucking pissed.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect:
[img]http://usatthebiglead.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/jim-harbaugh-was-not-happy-with-the-49ers-defense.gif[/img]
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
I assume the thinking is that NFL teams were never that high on him. Who knows what to believe this time of year, though.
In 2005, SF reportedly flipped a coin (basically) between Smith and Rodgers. The thought at the time was that the other would go to TB at 4 or whatever. The other dropped to 26. Geno Smith last year was thought to be a top-15 pick. Brady Quinn. I’m sure there are more.
Like You CareQuote Reply
(dying laughing) I’d been periodically refreshing the last thread throughout the day wondering why the blog was so dead. Turns out I’m just a fucking idiot.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
Fred Phelps finally died. About fucking time that piece of shit died. Apparently some of his family members want the world to know that even though his father was a hateful piece of shit who should have been aborted that he was the father and family member to others. Go fuck yourselves.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
I’m going to donate money to an LGBT organization in his name so Westboro gets a thank you letter in the mail from them.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
Thats a dumb way to determine Sweeneys future. Why would they ignore the 0.266/.324/.448 slash line he put up last year in 212 PA in meaningful games because of 30 meaningless PA. Stats in Spring training are garbage, two words: Joe Mather. Ruggiano is also gonna make the team, look at every projection for him, he is actually good. Maybe it’s just media hype but everybody in the FO and manager seems to be in love with Kalish too, so I’m guessing he makes it. Bonafacio, Olt and Murphy are duking it out for the last 2 infield spots unless there is some sort of trade involving schierholtz and/or Barney. Personally I’ll be pissed if Olt doesnt make it. He can see, he can field, might as well just try him out. Bonafacio’s ability to play OF too helps since that will be platoon heavy, I think he’s in too and murphy is odd man out.
AndrewQuote Reply
Bonafacio needs to make the team. Between him and Murphy, EB has way more upside and might bring in a prospect at deadline time. Speed won’t slump. He’s going to have more value than I could ever see Murphy having.
Trade Barney to the Tigers already. It makes too much sense. Just take a 3rd round pick for him. Oh wait…
JQuote Reply
@ Andrew:
I’m not saying Spring is a reason to cut him, but he’s a roster filler. He literally does not matter in the slightest little bit for this team. If he plays well, he’s still untradeable and he will never ever be anything worth having on a roster that is actually halfway competent. So, IN ADDITION TO THAT, he has been hot garbage all Spring.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
I don’t understand this at all.
Last year Sweeney had a 1.1 WAR season in only 212 plate appearances. And he did it while having a below average (for him) BAPIP of .288. He is an excellent defender who can play centerfield. Even though he was generally platooned last year his R/L splits are not all that pronounced. He has enough speed and enough power that he can fit into many different spots in the batting order to fill various types of needs. If he stays healthy and gets 450-500 ABs it is not unreasonable to expect him end up with 2.5-3.0 WARP next year (something he has done in the past).
All that for the extremely low price of $1.5 million in 2014. (Also $1.5m in 2015 and $2.5m with a $0.5m buyout in 2016)
He has been filler not because his talent is questionable. He has been filler because his health has been questionable. No matter how good or bad the rest of the roster is or isn’t, it is always worth having above replacement value talent at extremely low cost.
I know Sweeney is considered worthless and untradeable because the Cubs were able to pick him up off the scrap heap for nothing, but Sweeney offers essentially the same production as Nate Schierholtz (perhaps even better) and people seem to think we will be able to get something for him. Sweeney also does it for less than a third of the price.
JimLQuote Reply
Morning all! Long time since Bubbs has been around these parts. Couple quick thoughts:
1. Bubbs loves Javy Baez irrationally. Bet he takes John Danks deep today. Also would bet that if he started season at majors he would lead the team in WAR.
2. Might have been a mistake on the Rizzo Cashner swap. Cash looks like a straight beast.
3. Bubbs guess on 25 man (this assumes olt can play 3B):
IF: Beef, Kottaras, Rizzo, Barney, Valbuena, Castro, Bonifacio, Olt,
OF: Nate, Rugg, Lake, Sweeney, Kalish
SP: shark, Wood, Jackson, Rusin, Hammel
RP: veras, strop, wright, russell, cabrera, villanueva, parker
Basically this team is lucky to win 65. And when midesason sell off happens might be closer to 60. If shark were to get traded in next few days I assume villanueva starts and then rondon comes up
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
Cory Wootton —-> MIN
Like You CareQuote Reply
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect wrote:
False
WaLiQuote Reply
@ JimL:
He gets on base OK, he has very little power, he can’t run, and he hasn’t had more than 350 plate appearances since 2009. And he’s now 29 so he’s about to start declining. It should not be very hard to find a player better than him to put on the roster.
There is nothing about him that is valuable other than that he is alive and the Cubs need 25 alive players in the majors while the guys with actual talent play in Iowa and Tennessee.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
He was apparently excommunicated awhile back. Don’t quite understand that, but there’s nothing about that family that I understand.
I know people throw “cult” around a lot, but I don’t think people not from this area quite understand. That place, the church and where their members lived, is behind a wall. You can see in it a bit. It’s not a huge wall or anything, but it’s a walled in complex. If you knew nothing about Westboro and its members and drove by, you’d be freaked out.
That place is a cult and it looks like a cult from the outside. Part of me feels bad for celebrating someone’s death, but I couldn’t be happier that that piece of shit died.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
I don’t feel the least bit bad about it. He was using up valuable oxygen.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:I thought I read that he was kicked out very recently, like a couple weeks ago, for moderating his views or some shit. Perhaps it was the opposite of a death bed conversion.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Matt Schaub–> Oakland.
You think this means HOU will trade down with someone who is desperate for a guy like Clowney?
akabariQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
I thought it happened about 6 months ago and I think it was his son who long ago left the church that revealed it. I doubt we’ll ever know why, but I think it’s highly unlikely there was any conversion.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
Reading comment 63 and 64 back to back, for a second I found myself wondering “Why does Dmick hate Sweeney that much?”
EdwinQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
He probably got kicked out because his sons that he fucked as children finally got strong enough politically to do so. And, yes, I mean that literally.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Aisle424 wrote:
fred phelps: ineligible for cubs MLB roster (barely)
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
@ akabari:
That’s a good move for OAK. They need a QB, but so do at least three of the four teams picking before them in the draft. Plus, only one or MAYBE two of those QBs are worthy of the No. 5 pick.
With Schaub, OAK doesn’t have to sit there an hope a QB falls to them or trade up for one. They can go bpa at No. 5 or trade down with a team looking to jump up and grab an elite player.
Schaub might not be a great QB, but he’s good enough to make this a good move for OAK.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
If the pick they give up is higher than a fourth, forget what I just said.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Aisle424:
Health is a question for him, but he also is a genuinely decent ballplayer. he doesnt just take space, that is what a replacement level player does. Look at his fangraphs page, every available projection has him around 1 WAR for next season. If I had to choose the best player between Sweeney, Schierholtz, and Kalish, Sweeney is clearly the best of the three
AndrewQuote Reply
http://deadspin.com/dodgers-pr-boss-says-mlb-com-writers-spin-news-the-way-1548072328
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Andrew:
Even at 1 WAR, i don’t care about Ryan Sweeney. He’s 29. By the time having a 1 WAR guy (and I think that’s generous since he was .4 last year on BRef) on the bench he’ll be 32 and there is nobody trading anything other than younger roster filler for him between now and then.
He is a warm body that is a better warm body than Joe Mather. if that is “valuable” then sure, Ryan Sweeney is valuable.
Aisle424Quote Reply
Mike Olt doubles. Now they just need to duct tape his shoulder together so he can play third regularly.
Aisle424Quote Reply
Baez pop-up with 2 on and nobody out. Bust.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Yeah I would just think that HOU might be able to trade down a spot or two as well for someone who is desperate for Clowney — it worked for the Rams and RG3. I’m not super familiar with the Texans, but Football Outsiders has their Pass Defense ranked pretty poorly, and their offense as just…bad. Stockpiling a lot of picks may be a good strategy for them here now.
akabariQuote Reply
Kalish beats out a double play ball to keep the inning alive. His speed and age alone make me want to keep him over Ryan Sweeney.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ akabari:
I’m not sure what HOU wants to do. They’re not far removed from being one of the top teams in the AFC and they started last season pretty well, iirc.
Clowney and Robinson are amazing prospects. Easily Nos. 1 and 2 for me. HOU needs a QB, and “they” always say to take a franchise QB (Bridgewater is, imo) ASAP. For me, it’s between Clowney and Bridgewater.
But it’s all about how HOU evaluates itself. Do they think they’re the 13-3 team from 2012 that’s just 1-2 players away? If so, they should take Bridgewater. Do they think last season wasn’t a fluke? If so, they should definitely trade down.
Like You CareQuote Reply
Like You CareQuote Reply
Valbuena with a 3-run bomb. Olt was on base again. Javy struck out ahead of the Valbuena HR.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Yeah for a 6th rounder that’s a steal.
I think HOU is further away from 13-3 than a player or two. Arian Foster is getting older and the division is way stronger than before. Even Jacksonville probably won’t be so easy to beat up on this year. I would say their year last year was what the bears’ season could have been worst case scenario. Not quite a rebuild but more than 1-2 players away.
akabariQuote Reply
NEAT!
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
Didn’t look too bad live. They pulled him though precautionarily.
WaLiQuote Reply
WaLi wrote:
Seriousific?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
I dunno, Hawk and Stone were pretty convinced within 10 seconds that he must have a bone bruise that will nag him for the rest of his career.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
That’s true. But they said Mark McGwire had a bone bruise too and lived with it for a year. So Baez = McGwire.
WaLiQuote Reply
Gordo wrote:
Suburban kidQuote Reply
So if Baez makes the roster right from the start (and I still think that is a longshot based on past Thoyer comments), then he becomes one of the few star prospects recently where a team hasn’t waiting til May to play the arb clock game, right? The way the CBA works now, if he’s good he’ll get a long term contract before the start of the arb years anyway, so the 2 mo wait is moot.
Does that give the Cubs a leg up in negotiating with draftees? They can play the “If you are really good we won’t play the arb-clock game, see what we did with Baez” card.
Just plain BVSQuote Reply
Kershaw takes the early lead in the Cy Young race.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Just plain BVS wrote:
The extensions started before the new CBA did and yes, if he’s good, he’d sign an extension fairly early like Castro and Rizzo. That’s why this arb-clock stuff is just silly IMO
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
new mini-shit: http://obstructedview.net/news-and-rumors/javier-baez-ok-after-leaving-yesterdays-game.html
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ Just plain BVS:
I will make the Cubs’ Opening Day roster before Javier Baez does if he does nothing but hit homeruns in all of the rest of his Spring at-bats. He’s going to AAA.
Aisle424Quote Reply
http://voices.suntimes.com/sports/inside-the-cubs/cubs-sent-top-prospect-javy-baez-to-minors/
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
I think this comment 95 —> 96 thing was a cheap set up.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[img]http://f1.thejournal.ie/media/2014/03/poor-2-561×500.jpg[/img]
Suburban kidQuote Reply
dmick89, Sweatpants Guru wrote:
Is mini-shit the same as an aside? I’m confused which thread is the current one.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
I didn’t see the new shit. So the new shit is the current shit. This shit is old and busted shit.
Aisle424Quote Reply