Malike

It's also why they talk about wins and losses 'in the bank'. We don't have them and could potentially lose those 4 games, the 4 games the Rays have played are in the bank, a done deal. We don't need to debate this all night, you think it's an advantage, I don't, no harm no foul.

Again, I don't think that's an advantage when you are in the middle of a brutal schedule. Having more games off at the end of the season should not be understated.

I don't think so, having more rest toward the end of the season is always an advantage.

I mean, the team that ran into the Orioles when they were 1-7 in their last 8 games fans probably said the same thing about us, then we won 8 in a row.

I think most people figured they weren't going to play .780 ball all year.

Despite their record in July, it would be a fools errand to think that we're going to walk all over them. They are still pitching really well and they play much better baseball at home.

Those 4 less games we've played than the Rays is actually an advantage for them, I'd think.

Very close for me, I went Kjerstad. Dude has light tower power and a lot of talent.

It's almost like they don't fold after a tough loss, huh?

Not out of this one yet ourselves.

Dodgers do a great job of not swinging at bad pitches.

Solo shot here won't hurt too bad for Bautista I hope.

You had to think they thought we would counter with O'Hearn, they didn't seem too concerned with that, either.

I'd trust him more than Cano.

245 million dollars buys some nice toys.

Yoshida has the advantage of playing pro ball at a high level for 7 years before coming here. He's 30 years old and a "rookie". The main advantage he has is he plays for Boston.

Gunnar showed flashes immediately last year when he was called up. Everyone saw it. There is a difference.

I'd keep penciling him in. If he's not hitting by the end of the season, then people can stop using the excuse of "it always takes him a while to adjust to a new league". We'll see what they do at the deadline. If they don't make some impactful changes to the pitching, play the kids, punt the rest of the season, and gear up for the slaughter next year.

I always thought a SS with a 40 arm and 45 field and an overall grade of 45 wasn't elite. Turns out I don't know what I'm talking about.

Relievers are volatile and when a guy who has never had much success puts together a decent season, it's always prudent to lower expectations the following season. Perez has never been as good as he was last year. There are more instances of guys having a crazy good season, then regressing to what they've always been than could be counted on all of our fingers and toes on this board combined.

This is the key. You have to use what you're given. Unfortunately, with our bullpen, you have to pitch certain guys. I don't even have that much confidence in Cano in the 8th inning in a close game. He's not missing many bats lately and they are getting the barrel to the ball. I'd like to think the odds are good when we have leads like we did against MIA and LAD, but unfortunately, our goods are odd in the bullpen.

I don't believe that the team hangs on to losses like this like the fans do. They lose games, they shrug it off and they play again the next day. I don't know if there is a stat for a team being driven into a slump after losing a game that was winnable, but they have them for everything else.

He's not elite but his OAA is positive in CF this year, not so much in the corners.

I agree it's going to be interesting to see how the Hicks thing plays out. He has the advantage of being a better CF and a switch hitter, who also gets on base, so we'll see how he fares down the stretch.

I remember people saying that about Trout. The hubris involved in saying there is zero chance is more than I'd be able to muster, that's for sure. Edit: Your last two sentences didn't address what I asked. I didn't ask who will pay him stupid money, I asked which contenders right now, are willing to empty the farm for a 2-month rental.