MLB Playoffs

[Freeport Warrior]

RIGHT FIELD SUCKS!

LOL - They started that for about 5 seconds and everyone was so frickin' nervous it never took off.

[NavinRJohnson]

Not only are the Cubs good, but they are playing spectacular baseball right now. Not sure they have the rotation depth to win two more series, but they keep hitting like this, they have a shot.

[wadesworld]

Not only are the Cubs good, but they are playing spectacular baseball right now. Not sure they have the rotation depth to win two more series, but they keep hitting like this, they have a shot.

That's all that matters when it gets to October.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Brutal.

A
B
C

Anyone but the Cubs

3 down, 8 to go. 

I'd worry more about the massive rebuild necessary eight miles south if I were you. 

[🏀]

Right field does suck

[MUsoxfan]

3 down, 8 to go. 

I'd worry more about the massive rebuild necessary eight miles south if I were you.

I'm worried about that too. My concern is spread out

[🏀]

I'm worried about that too. My concern is spread out

Worried? I wish they started the rebuild by dealing Sale for an entire farm system.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I'm worried about that too. My concern is spread out

Fair enough.

[GGGG]

The Sox problem isn't just the massive rebuild, but the Reinsdorf tradition of hanging onto "his guys" too long.  Kenny Williams should have been let go a few years ago.

[CTWarrior]

Congrats to the Cubs fans!

I suspect they will be the favorites against either the Mets or the Dodgers.  They look very sharp right now and can set their rotation for the next series.

[LAZER]

Worried? I wish they started the rebuild by dealing Sale for an entire farm system.

When you look at the other major hauls big pitchers have gotten, it seems like there's a point where Sale's contract will get diminishing returns.  Typically you see teams empty their farm systems for 2 years of control on aces, and Sale has 4 left, so I wonder how much more teams will be willing to unload.

But I do agree with you, a total haul on Sale and a couple more Top 5-10 draft picks and the Sox can get there in a few years.

[🏀]

When you look at the other major hauls big pitchers have gotten, it seems like there's a point where Sale's contract will get diminishing returns.  Typically you see teams empty their farm systems for 2 years of control on aces, and Sale has 4 left, so I wonder how much more teams will be willing to unload.

But I do agree with you, a total haul on Sale and a couple more Top 5-10 draft picks and the Sox can get there in a few years.

Very true, there has to be a top-end limit. If Sale stays in Chicago (White Sox at least), ugh. Waste of talent.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

When someone slides feet first into a base they almost never touch the base with their foot.  It's almost always their calf or something in that region.  You would see a lot more sprained ankles in baseball if your foot is required to touch 2nd base before any other part of your body when you slide.

The pop-up slide has apparently become a lost art.

[buckchuckler]

Very true, there has to be a top-end limit. If Sale stays in Chicago (White Sox at least), ugh. Waste of talent.

Really?  Would you call Felix Hernandez a waste of talent?  Seems a bit silly.

Anyone watching this AL game?  This is the weirdest inning I can remember seeing. 

[jesmu84]

What do the unwritten rules say about a bat flip like that?

[buckchuckler]

When you look at the other major hauls big pitchers have gotten, it seems like there's a point where Sale's contract will get diminishing returns.  Typically you see teams empty their farm systems for 2 years of control on aces, and Sale has 4 left, so I wonder how much more teams will be willing to unload.

But I do agree with you, a total haul on Sale and a couple more Top 5-10 draft picks and the Sox can get there in a few years.

The thing is, they don't need to necessarily trade Sale.  They could get a haul for Quintana.  They have a lot of pitching depth to trade from.  Heck, the centerpiece in the Tulo trade was a pitcher ranked just below Frank Montas (Jeff Hoffman).  They have other very high end arms in Spencer Adams and Carson Fulmer.  They have a wealth of guys that could be mid rotation guys, like Erik Johnson, Chris Beck, and Tyler Danish. 

Maybe all this depth makes it more palatable to trade Sale.  Maybe they deal from minor league pitching depth for minor league hitters, though they haven't had a great eye for that, but the new regime seems a bit more adept there.  Maybe they trade minor league pitching for Major league hitting. 

The one thing they have in the minors on the offensive side is speed.  Lots of speed.  It could show a new philosophy for the team.  They have guys like Anderson, May and Engel that were among the top basestealers in baseball.

I don't think it is as bleak as a lot of people make it out to be.  But then, I am an eternal optimist.  I am also a believer in pitching.  Great pitching can carry mediocre offense.  The problem is, they have a way to go to get to mediocre, and to great.  The top 3 look to be what they need, but the back of the rotation needs work.  Break in Montas and Johnson next year, have Fulmer on deck for the next.  Who knows. 

I guess I just don't think you need to trade Sale now.  You have him locked up for cheap.  You can still get a haul of prospects next year, and the year after.  No need to rush into anything, unless someone completely blows you away. 

[buckchuckler]

What do the unwritten rules say about a bat flip like that?

They say no one is getting drilled in a deciding playoff game unless it gets out of hand. 

[🏀]

Really?  Would you call Felix Hernandez a waste of talent?  Seems a bit silly.

No, mostly because Seattle has continuously tried to go for it via free agency, just horribly. CHW, not so much, and they'll waste his contract without getting value

[wadesworld]

What do the unwritten rules say about a bat flip like that?

It says he'll get plunked a few times next season.

[HouWarrior]

The Sox problem isn't just the massive rebuild, but the Reinsdorf tradition of hanging onto "his guys" too long.  Kenny Williams should have been let go a few years ago.

Cant Jerry bring in MJ to DH? lol

[buckchuckler]

No, mostly because Seattle has continuously tried to go for it via free agency, just horribly. CHW, not so much, and they'll waste his contract without getting value

Ok, well you obviously missed last off season for the Sox.

But beside that, what is the difference in going for it via free agency or another way.  If the avenue fails, it would still seem to be a waste of his talent, if winning championships is the only measuring stick for the proper use of his talent as you seem to be making it out to be. 

[buckchuckler]

Cant Jerry bring in MJ to DH? lol

MJ couldn't hit AA breaking stuff.  He's K too much, not have enough power and his lagging speed would be a detriment on the basepaths. 

Seems like a perfect Sox move actually. 

[CTWarrior]

Really?  Would you call Felix Hernandez a waste of talent?  Seems a bit silly.

Anyone watching this AL game?  This is the weirdest inning I can remember seeing.

I don't recall ever having seen a throw from the catcher to the pitcher deflected by the batter, let alone it leading to a go-ahead run in the 7th inning of a winner-take-all playoff game.

I have lots of respect for Cole Hamels keeping it together as Elvis Andrus decided not to catch anything in the bottom half of the inning.  The Jays winning four-run rally was routine grounder to short, routine grounder to first, easy play on a bad bunt to third, routine grounder to first, routine pop-out to second, home run.  4 runs on one hit with no walks or hit batsmen.  A Little League rally.

[buckchuckler]

I don't recall ever having seen a throw from the catcher to the pitcher deflected by the batter, let alone it leading to a go-ahead run in the 7th inning of a winner-take-all playoff game.

I have lots of respect for Cole Hamels keeping it together as Elvis Andrus decided not to catch anything in the bottom half of the inning.  The Jays winning four-run rally was routine grounder to short, routine grounder to first, easy play on a bad bunt to third, routine grounder to first, routine pop-out to second, home run.  4 runs on one hit with no walks or hit batsmen.  A Little League rally.

No kidding.  It is a little odd that they team that had the super weird play benefit them is the one that collapsed.  That was one wild inning of baseball. 

Now we get DeGrom-Greinke tonight.  It's the most wonderful time of the year. 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Ok, well you obviously missed last off season for the Sox.

But beside that, what is the difference in going for it via free agency or another way.  If the avenue fails, it would still seem to be a waste of his talent, if winning championships is the only measuring stick for the proper use of his talent as you seem to be making it out to be.

I simply don't see the Sox trading Sale yet unless an offer is so utterly outrageous that it can't be turned down.  And with the success of the Cubs and Astros and the youth of those teams, I don't see other teams willing to part with the pieces it will take to get Sale.