Aristotelian

Urias has a career 103 OPS+. Had two hits and a walk today plus another squared up ball for an out. I feel like Urias is a bit of a forgotten man, but he is a very solid defender and an average bat. That's probably not good enough for us but that is because we are spoiled with plus guys at basically every position. I agree on Westburg though, if Mayo doesn't end up with 3B, Westburg is adequate there and so far his bat can play for a corner IF. Hitting on Westburg and Gunnar the way we have really pushes our system over the top. These are guys we weren't necessarily counting on but they are turning into bona fide stars. Only question is how to find room for them all. Westburg 3B makes Mayo the heir apparent at 1B. Somehow he needs to push Mountcastle but he's not a FA until 2027. Maybe he takes Santander's spot and Kjerstad keeps waiting.

5/5 O's complete sweet @CIN, 11-1: I snubbed Kremer the last time through the rotation, so Kremer gets it this time for six shutout innings. Santander's grand slam was nice but the game was already out of reach.

Also we are #3 in runs scored and #6 in ERA, both of which are incremental improvements over last year. We really are a world series contender IMO. Only thing standing in our way is health.

Yes. We lost Felix but added Burnes and Kimbrel. Plus Cowser and Westburg have a year more experience, Gunnar is taking an incremental step forward, and we could add to the core with Holliday or Mayo. Bradish is a question mark but Bradish/Means will give us as much or more than Bradish/Gibson.

Just bumping this thread for an update. As a team we are still 3rd in runs scored and 3rd in OPS at .751. Looking up at the Dodgers and Brewers, with Braves right behind us. (Last year we were #7). We are also #6 in ERA, up one spot from #7 last year (#3 in WHIP and tied for #1 in BB allowed). Sports Guy will be disappointed we are only #11 in K's. The teams ahead of us are BOS, SEA, NYY, DET, and PHI, so we are the only team in MLB in the top six in runs scored and ERA. Unlike previous years where we have had to outperform our run differential, this year we are +45, second only to the Dodgers. At a high level, this is a very, very good team.

It was weird, at the beginning of the spring they said he hadn't had any further setbacks, he was just a month behind in his progression. I guess if they didn't have a chance to do a rehab assignment it carries over to the next year?

Is it possible the whole missing spring training/IL thing was simply a smokescreen to manage innings?

Only problem with Cano closing is he can be so valuable getting high leverage outs in the 7th-8th. Ideally we would have another arm.

That is the post of the year?

I think Cano should be our closer and that will allow us to manage Kimbrel's innings and protect him from back to backs.

5/4 2-1 win @CIN: John Means gets the gameball for a masterful performance. First start of the season after missing the spring and an up and down rehab, could not have gone any better. 7 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 8 K. Nod to Mateo for a big HR and Cano for bailing out Kimbrel, but what a performance by Means.

I agree with OP, the trade ideas really don't merit a new thread for each crazy idea. Either have one trade megathread or a separate forum.

He did look fantastic Friday and he is (or was?) our closer. I didn't like Kimbrel there either but I am glad Hyde had him on a tight leash.

Cano is clutch! Ballgame.

God I hate umpires.