MLB 2017 Season

[MerrittsMustache]

[WI inferiority Complexes]

[Pakuni]

Jon Lester must be a blast at parties.

http://deadspin.com/jon-lester-is-not-happy-about-the-nacho-man-1818807336

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Jon Lester must be a blast at parties.

http://deadspin.com/jon-lester-is-not-happy-about-the-nacho-man-1818807336

He's been spending too much time with Lackey.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

He's been spending too much time with Lackey.

The next time either one of them smiles will be the first.

[#UnleashSean]

Jon Lester must be a blast at parties.

http://deadspin.com/jon-lester-is-not-happy-about-the-nacho-man-1818807336

I guess I wont be seeing a plate of nachos anytime soon on his instawhat.

[Jockey]

Jon Lester must be a blast at parties.

http://deadspin.com/jon-lester-is-not-happy-about-the-nacho-man-1818807336

I understand it when it is happening during a game and a guy doesn't want his focus interrupted. If he snapped at Addison in the dugout - no problem. But to be a douche in comments AFTER the game? Says a lot about Lester.

Which reminds me of the single thing that has bugged me more than any other is sports this year. Ron Coomer calling Lester "Johnny". Not once during a game but over and over and over..... ad nauseum. Sometimes a dozen times in an inning.

[drewm88]

I understand it when it is happening during a game and a guy doesn't want his focus interrupted. If he snapped at Addison in the dugout - no problem. But to be a douche in comments AFTER the game? Says a lot about Lester.

Which reminds me of the single thing that has bugged me more than any other is sports this year. Ron Coomer calling Lester "Johnny". Not once during a game but over and over and over..... ad nauseum. Sometimes a dozen times in an inning.

To paraphrase Big Lebowski, "He's not wrong. He's just an pretty boy." Why the hell does anyone want an autograph from the guy who got his nachos knocked over?

Also, Coomer is the worst.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

That's a weird thing to get mad at Coomer for.  A Lot of people call Lester that.

"You've got to make sure that Jake's well," Maddon said. "You've got to make sure Jonny Lester's OK coming out of this, too, because last year Lester and Hendricks were pretty much Cy Young candidates. I would say Jonny Lester getting back to normalcy and that Jake is well because I think Q is throwing the ball great.

"Johnny Lackey didn't have a great start [Friday], but he's been good. Hendricks, to me, is throwing the ball as good as I've seen. He really is. That last game was the best stuff I've ever seen."

[#UnleashSean]

Does Justin Wilson even make the playoff roster at this point?

[drewm88]

Does Justin Wilson even make the playoff roster at this point?

His last week or so was promising. Hopefully this is just a blip, but he needs to prove himself in the next 5 games to be on that roster. Problem is that after Montgomery and Duensing, it's him or Zastryzny if you want another lefty in the pen.

[MUDPT]

His last week or so was promising. Hopefully this is just a blip, but he needs to prove himself in the next 5 games to be on that roster. Problem is that after Montgomery and Duensing, it's him or Zastryzny if you want another lefty in the pen.

Does Lester count as another lefty? (I kind of kid). I don't think he makes it with both Montgomery and Duensing.

[Jay Bee]

Twins have almost clinched!!!!!! We are the BEST!!! bye bye Yankees!!!

[drewm88]

Here's how I see it, assuming everyone is healthy in a week.

Locks

Position Players (12):
Rizzo
Bryant
Russell
Baez
Contreras
Heyward
Almora
Jay
Schwarber
Zobrist
Avila
Happ

Starters (4):
Lester
Arrieta
Hendricks
Q

Bullpen (5):
Davis
Strop
Edwards
Montgomery
Duensing

That leaves 4 spots that may be up for consideration. If you add a 13th position player, it's LaStella.

In the bullpen, you're looking at Rondon, Wilson, Lackey, Grimm, and maybe Uehara for 3-4 spots.

If it's me, I'll take LaStella, Rondon, Lackey, and whoever is pitching the best at the end of the weekend.

[MerrittsMustache]

[MerrittsMustache]

Too soon?

[wadesworld]

Every Cubs starter lost 1-3 MPH on his fastball this season. Hmm...

[cheebs09]

Every Cubs starter lost 1-3 MPH on his fastball this season. Hmm...

It's a relatively old staff. I would assume this is natural decline. I doubt they had a powwow saying "Hey, we won the World Series, let's get off the juice."

Or it could be a pitching philosophy change to not throw as hard to go deeper in games. Who knows. Anomalies happen all over the place. A career fringe MLB player in Scooter Gennett just picked this year to take steroids and hit almost 30 homers? I don't think steroids is the answer to every variance.

[wadesworld]

It's a relatively old staff. I would assume this is natural decline. I doubt they had a powwow saying "Hey, we won the World Series, let's get off the juice."

Or it could be a pitching philosophy change to not throw as hard to go deeper in games. Who knows. Anomalies happen all over the place. A career fringe MLB player in Scooter Gennett just picked this year to take steroids and hit almost 30 homers? I don't think steroids is the answer to every variance.

Maybe if it was 1 of their 5 starters.  All 5?  Hmm...

[MUBurrow]

I swear to god I'm going to pistol whip the next person that engages wades on this.

[MerrittsMustache]

Maybe if it was 1 of their 5 starters.  All 5?  Hmm...

[MerrittsMustache]

2003: Dwyane Wade signed his rookie deal with Miami and the Marlins won the WS.

2016: Dwyane Wade signed with Chicago and the Cubs won the WS.

2017: Dwyane Wade signed with Cleveland...

[tower912]

I swear to god I'm going to pistol whip the next person that engages wades on this.

Shenanigans

[#UnleashSean]

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Burrow and MM, solid use of GIFs