In Greensboro last night. The big bats I came to see remained quite. Escotto another HR. The one notable pitching performance was Harbin. Sitting in the upper 90's comfortably, 6Ks 1 BB to close out the last 2 innings. Might have something there if he continues to find the plate.
I feel like the only possible way through this that would fall within the Skenes window is to trade both Keller and Heaney for actual MLB ready offensive talent and then hope these AAA starters are legit and/or that Jones and Oviedo come back fully healthy (and effective). Zero faith in the execution of any of this though.
The Orioles are kinda desperate to try and salvage their season, I think they might go for a compB and Willem for Heaney but it would have to happen soon.
Jason Mackey has done the calculation. All in, as of this off season, Cherington had traded something on the order of 67 WAR and received 13 WAR. So all he’s accomplished in the trade department is save Nutting money. Bell did very little after being traded, but Marte, Taillon, Musgrove, and Holmes were all useful players for many seasons.
The bad thing is that BC may now be in desperation mode to keep his job. When Huntington was in that mode, he dealt Glasnow, Baz and Meadows for Archer. BC needs to be fired now before he makes a desperation trade. The only possible fix is to trade pitching for hitting. Heck I would consider dealing Chandler if it gets me back a nearly ready shortstop and outfielder that have high upside. Call up Boston and see if ss Mayer and OF Anthony can be had.
With the increased injury risk that comes with every pitcher, if we could get a position player of equal upside, it might be hard to pass up.
I guess there's two ways to look at the injuries to Jones and Barco--that's either why you can't afford to trade pitching because you never have enough, or you trade them at high value before they get injured.
In any case, I would absolutely not trust Cherington to make such a deal so it's a moot point for now.
I don't disagree with that plan but have serious doubts Heaney will get us anything that will help us now. He was available for a reason and while off to a very good start, I don't see any MLB ready offensive talent being offered. He feels like a few farther away 'prospects' or some random veteran (I hate to say it - likely not a whole better than Pham types). Anybody who wants Heaney is contending in some form and isn't going to willingly give up another piece that just creates another hole in their roster. Mitch offers several years at a known cost so his return is not a rental return.
If by expert, you mean glancing at a Prospect list, I’m your man!
Looking at MLB ready or close to it talent (always a risky demographic anyway now, given the jump from minors to majors is really tough) Freeland has pop and is a guy who appears able to handle short. Hernandez sounds like a back end bullpen piece with lights out stuff.
If they’re serious about building in the next three seasons, being aggressive by trading Reynolds/Keller/Hayes/Bednar is the way to go.
Went down to Toon-Town and saw the Curve put away the Harrisburg Senators last night, 8-4, behind a couple-a homers and more weird play by the visitors than is allowed by the Comics Code.
It was a wild night for weather too, as storms threatened, even as the bright, warm sun kept breaking through, and the temps were nice and there was a mild wind blowing out to the left field bleachers.
Watched it all from seats 39 and 40 of the Rail Kings section. This is my witness report.
Senators' shortstop Cortland Lawson was in the Bermuda Triangle all night with three errors and an oh-fer at the plate, but he wasn't the only one as the Curve scored on two wild pitches as well.
On his first error, Cortland threw a not-routine grounder into pretty near the right field bullpen. Later, in a routine double play ball that was leading him straight to second, he underhanded the ball about five yards west of the second baseman and 20 yards into right field. TO BE FAIR, I thought he was going to run to the bag, which was, like, TWO steps away, but when he looked up, the second baseman was standing on the bag and so he quick like tries to shuffle him the ball and avoid running into him and it was all a cluster truck by then and Curve baserunners were running Three-Stooge style around the diamond, hats flying and arms waving.
Poor guy. I hope he has a future left.
In the first, Kervin Pichardo doinked a no-doubter off Hyun-Il Choi and then Termarr yanked one so far into the right field corner that their right fielder could not find it and Termarr ran counter-clockwise-like around the bases, hat flying and arms waving the whole way to third and there might not have been a throw. We wondered if he could have run the whole way to Johnstown.
Next batter, Choi threw it to the backstop for an RBI. I think they should credit pitchers not just with unearned runs, but also RBIs. That would be fantastic. Cause it happened again later to Chance Huff, who relieved Choi after Mike Jarvis gave one a big fat wham so hard it flew FAR over Al Tuna's front door in the left center power alley. But Huff did also score an RBI later on by throwing the ball to the backstop.
Then there was Sean Sullivan, who was the reason I finished off The World's Best Margarita and got up off the bar stool at Plaza Azteca and drove over there to begin with. Three no-hit innings with four Ks and nobody from Harrisburg was aware of even IF there was a baseball located somewhere in the flight path between the mound and the plate.
I wanna say he was all fastball-change with a sprinkling of maybe slider. But it looked either very good, or the Toon-Town atmosphere had infected the Senators' thinking (as ACTUAL senators will think crazy things) because it looked like their batters were playing wiffle-ball.
Oh, they came back late with a few runs off Nielson and Woods, but by then their OWN pitchers had done enough damage to make it a laugh-riot.
You could actually HEAR the Benny Hill Theme somewhere seeping in from these beautiful green mountains.
________________________________
"Ah HA! ... Pronoun trouble. ... Let's try that again."
Griffin’s BABIP is .404. On the one hand, I suppose that is not sustainable. On the other hand, it seems that when he hits the ball he hits rockets. Anyway, given that and his 40-6 strikeout to walk ratio, I remain unconvinced that he should be promoted any time soon, even as impressive as he’s been.
The BABIP may result from IF hits. He gets a ton of them. No grounder with him is an easy out. He’ll probably always have a high BABIP, but not like that. Defenses get better at higher levels, for one thing.
I just noticed that Indianapolis‘s lineup is basically a history of Cherrington deadline deals (imagine Nunez in there too). He’s the best general manager in AAAA.
Pretty disappointing seasons from Yorke, Cook & Harrington.
Mitch Jebb, tho
Today is the day the streak dies. Pirates explode for 9 or more runs today and win going away.
In Greensboro last night. The big bats I came to see remained quite. Escotto another HR. The one notable pitching performance was Harbin. Sitting in the upper 90's comfortably, 6Ks 1 BB to close out the last 2 innings. Might have something there if he continues to find the plate.
I feel like the only possible way through this that would fall within the Skenes window is to trade both Keller and Heaney for actual MLB ready offensive talent and then hope these AAA starters are legit and/or that Jones and Oviedo come back fully healthy (and effective). Zero faith in the execution of any of this though.
The best we could do for Heaney would probably be a lower level lotto ticket and hope that they catch fire for some future trade value imo
The Orioles are kinda desperate to try and salvage their season, I think they might go for a compB and Willem for Heaney but it would have to happen soon.
Elias doesn’t make trades like that.
I don't know, he signed Morton at $15mil to replace Burnes.
That’s not a trade
It's a reason he needs to make a trade.
I don't want Cherington making trades, he hasn't been very good at it.
Which really sucks because they need to make some moves.
Has he traded away anyone we miss?
Jason Mackey has done the calculation. All in, as of this off season, Cherington had traded something on the order of 67 WAR and received 13 WAR. So all he’s accomplished in the trade department is save Nutting money. Bell did very little after being traded, but Marte, Taillon, Musgrove, and Holmes were all useful players for many seasons.
Marte, Taillon, Musgrove, Bell, and Holmes in comparison to what he got back.
God that feels like forever ago.
It really does.
I agree...I'd rather this happen in the offseason with the new GM in place, as much as it will suck to lose 100 place games again.
Yep only guys Cherington should be allowed to trade are guys with expiring contracts.
The bad thing is that BC may now be in desperation mode to keep his job. When Huntington was in that mode, he dealt Glasnow, Baz and Meadows for Archer. BC needs to be fired now before he makes a desperation trade. The only possible fix is to trade pitching for hitting. Heck I would consider dealing Chandler if it gets me back a nearly ready shortstop and outfielder that have high upside. Call up Boston and see if ss Mayer and OF Anthony can be had.
Can’t dislike this enough. Trading Chandler would be the worst thing BC could do, only behind trading away Skenes.
With the increased injury risk that comes with every pitcher, if we could get a position player of equal upside, it might be hard to pass up.
I guess there's two ways to look at the injuries to Jones and Barco--that's either why you can't afford to trade pitching because you never have enough, or you trade them at high value before they get injured.
In any case, I would absolutely not trust Cherington to make such a deal so it's a moot point for now.
What if Detroit offered the farm say, Jobe, Clark, McGonigle, Rainer, Benicio, and compA for Skenes?
It's the only offer I think I would have a hard time turning down, but I wouldn't call them.
I don't disagree with that plan but have serious doubts Heaney will get us anything that will help us now. He was available for a reason and while off to a very good start, I don't see any MLB ready offensive talent being offered. He feels like a few farther away 'prospects' or some random veteran (I hate to say it - likely not a whole better than Pham types). Anybody who wants Heaney is contending in some form and isn't going to willingly give up another piece that just creates another hole in their roster. Mitch offers several years at a known cost so his return is not a rental return.
Sure. A package from LAD of Alex Freeland and Edgardo Henriquez for Keller?
You all are the experts on this part...probably more so than BC haha.
If by expert, you mean glancing at a Prospect list, I’m your man!
Looking at MLB ready or close to it talent (always a risky demographic anyway now, given the jump from minors to majors is really tough) Freeland has pop and is a guy who appears able to handle short. Hernandez sounds like a back end bullpen piece with lights out stuff.
If they’re serious about building in the next three seasons, being aggressive by trading Reynolds/Keller/Hayes/Bednar is the way to go.
Went down to Toon-Town and saw the Curve put away the Harrisburg Senators last night, 8-4, behind a couple-a homers and more weird play by the visitors than is allowed by the Comics Code.
It was a wild night for weather too, as storms threatened, even as the bright, warm sun kept breaking through, and the temps were nice and there was a mild wind blowing out to the left field bleachers.
Watched it all from seats 39 and 40 of the Rail Kings section. This is my witness report.
Senators' shortstop Cortland Lawson was in the Bermuda Triangle all night with three errors and an oh-fer at the plate, but he wasn't the only one as the Curve scored on two wild pitches as well.
On his first error, Cortland threw a not-routine grounder into pretty near the right field bullpen. Later, in a routine double play ball that was leading him straight to second, he underhanded the ball about five yards west of the second baseman and 20 yards into right field. TO BE FAIR, I thought he was going to run to the bag, which was, like, TWO steps away, but when he looked up, the second baseman was standing on the bag and so he quick like tries to shuffle him the ball and avoid running into him and it was all a cluster truck by then and Curve baserunners were running Three-Stooge style around the diamond, hats flying and arms waving.
Poor guy. I hope he has a future left.
In the first, Kervin Pichardo doinked a no-doubter off Hyun-Il Choi and then Termarr yanked one so far into the right field corner that their right fielder could not find it and Termarr ran counter-clockwise-like around the bases, hat flying and arms waving the whole way to third and there might not have been a throw. We wondered if he could have run the whole way to Johnstown.
Next batter, Choi threw it to the backstop for an RBI. I think they should credit pitchers not just with unearned runs, but also RBIs. That would be fantastic. Cause it happened again later to Chance Huff, who relieved Choi after Mike Jarvis gave one a big fat wham so hard it flew FAR over Al Tuna's front door in the left center power alley. But Huff did also score an RBI later on by throwing the ball to the backstop.
Then there was Sean Sullivan, who was the reason I finished off The World's Best Margarita and got up off the bar stool at Plaza Azteca and drove over there to begin with. Three no-hit innings with four Ks and nobody from Harrisburg was aware of even IF there was a baseball located somewhere in the flight path between the mound and the plate.
I wanna say he was all fastball-change with a sprinkling of maybe slider. But it looked either very good, or the Toon-Town atmosphere had infected the Senators' thinking (as ACTUAL senators will think crazy things) because it looked like their batters were playing wiffle-ball.
Oh, they came back late with a few runs off Nielson and Woods, but by then their OWN pitchers had done enough damage to make it a laugh-riot.
You could actually HEAR the Benny Hill Theme somewhere seeping in from these beautiful green mountains.
________________________________
"Ah HA! ... Pronoun trouble. ... Let's try that again."
-Wabbit
And people wonder why Milb was contracted! Way too much sloppy play!
Griffin’s BABIP is .404. On the one hand, I suppose that is not sustainable. On the other hand, it seems that when he hits the ball he hits rockets. Anyway, given that and his 40-6 strikeout to walk ratio, I remain unconvinced that he should be promoted any time soon, even as impressive as he’s been.
Fair, but I'm moving toward promotion based on what to my eye looks like continued mechanical improvements.
I mostly catch the highlights, but when he connects he looks shorter than he started this season already. Less drift, front foot set earlier.
Two more weeks of this and I could be convinced he needs better pitching to learn the discipline you correctly note is still limited.
Disagree, he's more than ready for Greensboro. And finish the season at Altoona where the pitching is better.
He's not learning much now at Bradenton.
Finish the season at Altoona? Whoa!
He needs to learn plate discipline at Bradenton.
I really don't want to take away his aggressiveness at the plate.
He'll get the discipline at the higher levels.....or not.
*one* walk in the last month is wild. At his level, like, you almost have to be trying to walk that little.
The BABIP may result from IF hits. He gets a ton of them. No grounder with him is an easy out. He’ll probably always have a high BABIP, but not like that. Defenses get better at higher levels, for one thing.
Remember Ichiro.....fastest guy to first base I've ever seen. Every routine ground ball was bang bang at first, he beat out half of them.
Career BABIP of .338, and that includes something like 1200 ABs after age 40.
I just noticed that Indianapolis‘s lineup is basically a history of Cherrington deadline deals (imagine Nunez in there too). He’s the best general manager in AAAA.
When does Dominican play begin?
June 2