Big Al

Sammy Stewart. Durable and versatile.

Also, as a Norfolk resident, I’d like to see them extend their AAA relationship with the Tides for about thirty years.

Get a backup catcher and a left handed hitter who can play 1B. Extend Adley, Gunnar and Cedric.

I buy into this completely. Not to mention the mid season return of Means . The coaches getting DL Hall up to his potential as a starter. And possible mid season infusions from Cowser, Ortiz, Westburg, Norby etc.

Elias planted a garden. He has nurtured and watered it. Now he’s waiting for the yield before he runs to the grocery store.

Worst case scenario, he’s a bottom of the rotation innings eater who keeps the seat warm until Means is healthy and or Hall is ready for prime time, then traded for a bag of peanuts at the deadline. Best case scenario, Holt and the staff fix him and he’s a key piece in a playoff run.

A +

I don’t think Earl hated the running game. He hated giving away outs to sacrifice.

Although Aguilar had some big hits today, it still seems obvious to me we need a better option if Mountcastle should get injured or needs a break. On Tony's latest top 40 prospect list, there is not one 1B listed. If we are really going to spend some money this offseason, why not bring in someone who fills a need, is beloved by the fans and respected by the team.

That's what conventional wisdom would say, because the scenario I suggested is rarely, if ever executed. However, sometimes I wonder if this is just a case of "managing by the book". In the OP scenario, only a perfect throw by the third baseman or SS and tag are required. In my scenario, the 3B or SS must make a good throw from the left side of the infield to first. The 1B must then catch and make a perfect throw home (with a runner bearing down on him and 1Bs don't generally have the best throwing arms). Then the catcher must still make the catch and tag. It just seems like a lot more time and moving parts.

This. + If he already has a lead off third, make the fielder look at him before throwing to first. Once the fielder commits a throw to first, then break for home. Now the 1st baseman has to catch the ball seeing the runner heading for home out of the corner of his eye and then make a perfect throw to the plate.

The only inter-league games should be grapefruit/cactus and the World Series.

JJ would, however closer Jim Johnson was also referred to as JJ .

When trying to compete in the AL Ea$t, I don’t feel we’re in a position to turn away any fan$.

If D.L. Hall wins his first MLB game and no one sees it, does it really count?

I think he does a good job, and in all likelihood will get better with experience.

Is anyone else getting a bad technical feed from MASN tonight?

I do agree with his sentiment that we have to many hats. I hate the Yankees more than any team in all of sports, but they get it right in only having one iconic hat. I wish we would go exclusively to the road cartoon bird.

I would love to hear a candid response from Palmer regarding this issue.

It's cheesy, but if it gives us $$$ to compete with the big boys, I can live with it.

I agree. Basketball didn’t ban the full court press or football the blitz.

When a national institution with an antitrust exemption can't come to some sort of agreement to put a product on the field because millionaires are quibbling with billionaires, while people who actually work for a living have to fight to get a $15 an hour minimum wage, yes, I feel both sides should be punished.

This is how I feel. After the 94 strike, the only games I even watched on TV were Cal tying and breaking Gehrig's record. I finally started watching TV games again in 2001 to see the Diamondbacks beat the Yankees in the World Series. And started going back to the park in 2003. If they miss even one day, I want to punish both sides and say "the hell with you greedy bastards". On the other hand, I have been paying close attention to the rebuild (it helps living in Norfolk) and would like to witness the final results. Is there anyway we can punish these jerks without cutting off our noses to spite our faces?

Frobby for commissioner. When the commissioner job was created, the job description was to act in "the best interests of baseball". Somewhere along the line, that has morphed into "make as much money as possible for the owners". Those are not necessarily the same thing. Since Selig, the commissioner has simply been a shill for the owners. No one in power cares about the quality of the game. Frobby would.

Who were some of the consistently competitive teams in the 70's? Orioles, A's, Reds, Pirates and Royals. What do they have in common.