Moose Milligan

I’d rather have our season and miss the playoffs by three games instead of getting our hearts ripped out like the Jays did yesterday. Couldn’t have happened to a better franchise though. I hope it was as miserable for them and their fans as it looked.

Oh yeah, you're totally right. Got my wires crossed there. Great movie.

I don't think we need to start game threads for any of the particular playoff games as I'm not sure if there's enough interest. But if any of you guys want to talk **** while there's playoff baseball on, this is the place. Just one thread for all the games. Right now, the Guardians beat the Rays in Game 1 of their series. Phillies and Cardinals are knotted at zero. Michael Kay is the PBP guy on this broadcast and I have to say he's not nearly as insufferable as he is when he's broadcasting a Yankees game.

A @DrungoHazewoodreference guide: Don't fall asleep in any tanning beds. = Marty Cordova Don't punch any judges in Aruba. = Sidney Ponson If someone asks you to move an air conditioner, just say no. = Mark Smith, I think. Stay out of the House of David barnstorming tours. = this isn't a really bad one, so I'm not sure why it's here. But lots of players in the 20s and 30s barnstormed in the offseason for this House of David commune where they all wore long hair. Babe Ruth, Satchel Paige, etc. When a strange but beautiful woman you met on a train calls you up and asks if you're going to be the best ever in the game, run away. = The Natural. But the beautiful woman in this particular case was a young Kim Basinger so...you know, it might be okay. aka repeatable delivery.

It's actually nice to be able to read a conversation about being able to trade from a surplus of guys that other teams might *actually* want instead of overrating whatever mid-tier guys we've had in the past and thinking we can get something of value in return.

And the offseason disappointments begin. I'm kidding, I'm kidding.

I can't believe I have a GM of one of my favorite teams that I trust. But I do. That said (and I've been saying this for weeks now) but I don't believe he's going to spend an exorbitant amount of money just to say that he spent money. Or spend an exorbitant amount of money because he's got a budget that's higher in previous offseasons. I can easily see situations where, if he doesn't like the deals out there for certain free agents, he walks away. I believe he's a disciplined GM, we saw that when he traded Mancini and Lopez at the deadline, not caring how it looked or what the fans thought. Or caring what his own team thought. I think it's important to temper expectations here. Just because he's identified this offseason as one where he's got more of a budget doesn't mean we should automatically assume that we're headed into ST with some studs we picked up in free agency. But I trust him, I think he's done a really good job thus far and I don't see why he can't complete the mission. He's smart and he's disciplined and that's a tough combination to beat.

I won't be surprised if it's another Chirinos type. You know, vetronosity, etc, someone to show Adley the ropes. Even though Adley doesn't really need it, but whatever.

You've got me mixed up with @interloper

What if I don't care about you agreeing with me?

I'm assuming that the games Chirinos started were also started by the rest of the backups. Like on Sundays. A backup catcher isn't "simple as that" as to why we missed the playoffs. That said, I'd like to see someone more capable at the plate than Chirinos, but that's probably asking for a lot. A catcher who's a reasonable hitter is probably part of a platoon or maybe starting somewhere.

Great, I'm glad you agree with me Yeah, he's not nearly as good of an outfielder and he doesn't have the arm.

SG's got jokes! Who is this guy? @Frobbythank you for the breakdown.

I used to be opposed to it. Now I'm actually looking forward to it. Every time I saw one of our guys get robbed of a hit down the stretch due to the shift I thought about how it'd have been nice if that were actually a hit. I agree that banning the shift isn't going to be a big cure to get offense up but I don't think I'm going to miss it. Good article worth reading: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24049347/mlb-hitters-explain-why-just-beat-shift Some select quotes: I think the whole "WHY CAN'T THEY JUST HIT IT TO THE OTHER SIDE WHERE THE SHIFT ISN'T????" argument is a lot easier said than done.

I think Tony just spoke about his defense an hour ago:

That's right, Froberto Clemente, I am crazy. When Hays is hot, he's great. But there was a good chunk of the summer where he was pretty much an automatic out. Hacking is out, plate discipline is in. So like I said, I don't care if Vavra doesn't have any power, his on base percentage (limited sample size, I'm aware) was .036 points higher. AS A ROOKIE. Hays has been in the majors since 2017, somewhat consistently since 2019. Vavra is 0.1 and I'm assuming that has a lot to do with the lack of power. But at the very least he makes pitchers work, he's not a threat at every at bat to make a one pitch out. At most, he's not making outs as often as Hays is. I'm sorry Frob, I know you like Hays too and I do recognize that he's a very solid player but watching him hack all summer and trying to hit 8 run homers and just swinging himself into a deeper slump is just infuriating. I am so tired of seeing guys swing at stuff out of the zone and not making pitchers work and Hays is a prime offender. EDIT: It should also be noted that Hays' OBP was only .002 points lower than his superb 2021 season.

Let me put it this way: If I had to, I'd much rather give Terrin Vavra 535 at bats before giving Austin Hays another 535 at bats.

I don't care if Vavra doesn't have any power. He's arguably the 2nd best guy on the roster behind Rutschman as far as a plate approach goes. He's not swinging all over the place. 12 walks, 19 strikeouts. And that might get better. His on base percentage in his 103 plate appearances in Baltimore was .340. If he can maintain that OBP clip and play adequate defense at 2 or 3 positions we've got a guy who doesn't totally hurt us when he's in the lineup and make sense as a leadoff hitter on the days where Mullins gets a spell. I don't care if he doesn't hit a homer for all of 2023, as long as he's not a total liability with the bat, can work a count and play solid defense that's very valuable.

Most balls in play are routine outs, sure. And it does allow for more randomness. Randomness such as this: Sure, I'd prefer extra walks and homers. But I'd also prefer more randomness, too. Granted Mancini's shot off Lowe's face was an outlier but no one here's upset that I posted it.

I don't think they're going to mess with RF, especially now with Rutschman (who, in a small sample size, appears to be better from the left side) and Gunnar Henderson. And if they keep Santander, too.

Well yeah, because if they're not striking out it's automatically one bloop single, two routine ground balls and a can of corn to right field. I mean, obviously. Duh. Ah, yeah, right, right, I was just getting ready to say that in fact, I'd prefer the 1890s style of play but you beat me to it.

You're poo-pooing it and I'm not saying the peak of baseball was the 1906 White Sox but their team K rate was 3.5. and 2.6 BB rate. I have to think that a sport with more balls in play would be fun to watch. I know it was deadball so there was no power and that's fun and all but watching a team strike out 10+ times a night is tiresome.

The Diamondbacks picked up Randy Johnson, Luiz Gonzalez and Steve Finley. Pretty good offseason, I'd say.

Walking in between innings with his buttcheeks tightly clenched and a look of terror and confusion on his face? I'd go to that stadium.