Malike

Looked like he gave up on it and doesn't know the wall. He looked at it twice I think.

*Yawn* These are the pitching leaders and the value they bring to their teams success. How far behind the contending teams are we, realistically?

He's a big K guy who walks people and gives up some HR's. He's definitely having some luck on his side in 4 starts with an ERA of 1.14.

It's likely because LHB are hitting .188/.188/.188 against Abbott. If a RHP shows up, I'm sure Cedric will get in the game.

I'm not going to do all of your research for you but lets look at the Cubs world series. Jon Lester 5.2 IP 3 ER, Jake Arrieta 5.2 1 ER, Kyle Hendricks 4.1IP 0 ER, John Lackey 5.0IP 2 ER, Jon Lester 6.0IP 2 ER, Jake Arrieta 5.2IP 3 ER, Kyle Hendricks 4.2IP 1 ER. Now, if you think those are standout performances and things our pitchers are not capable of, then I don't know what to tell you. I have no doubt the rest of the WS winners would look similar, but again, I'm not spending my day looking up stats when you just make proclamations and are shown they are wrong, stand your ground and refuse to look at any data for yourself. Starting pitching rarely puts the team out of reach, it's the bullpen that gives it away in bunches.

Don't let the proof shown in the graphic posted earlier about starters in the playoffs barely pitching 5 innings sway your crusade at all. Having a team full of 7IP starters is clearly the recipe for success in the playoffs, except they've been less than 5 IP for the past few years despite last years 5.1 IP, you know, the 5 and dives that we have.

Probably the biggest need we have right now. The middle relief corps are a shambles and unreliable as hell.

The playoffs are about the bullpen. We're making it out like every team we're going to be facing will be rolling out aces every game. The leash gets really fricking short in the playoffs and you need the bullpen arms to shut teams down.

He's also been a "5 and Dive" guy for his career and is oft injured or needs half a season off for personal reasons. He's certainly no slam dunk to continue pitching like he has and even stay healthy. I wouldn't throw the farm at him, not a chance.

I don't think we need a bonafide ace to compete in the playoffs. You need strong middle relief. Our pitchers have done a very good job of keeping us in games until we get to middle relief. If you're able to shorten the game by having reliable relievers you do not need 7 innings out of your starters to win in the playoffs.

Their 2nd best prospect is Ethan Salas, he's 17 and holding his own in A ball and a top 50ish prospect. Basallo is 19 at the same level and obviously doing a bit better but Salas has some great grades and might be a guy who gets to the majors at a young age depending on how aggressive they are with him, and 17 at A ball is fairly aggressive I suppose.

Likely, they'd be in the same position we are, too much IF/OF depth and nowhere to play it.

I'm not sure how to make that deal work. They are so stacked for an awful long time at 3B, SS, LF, RF, they have a good young 2B. I'm just not sure what we offer that would make them give up two pitchers.

I'd consider Irvin an opener.

At least your buddy is hedging his bets by using Ryan. I hope Ryan plays tonight. I hope Ryan gets a hit tonight. The odds are ever in his favor.

Too many damn Ryan's on this team to know who he's talking about lol.

Westburg has a better power profile but he's not graded very highly on his hit tool. He is a guy who will strike out 150+ times a season. I think Ortiz profiles a bit better with the hit tool. We're about to find out in any case. In my opinion, I think the FO didn't feel like the team would be this good and the kids would have been brought up to see what they can do and now that the team is exceeding anyone's expectations, they are forced to trickle them in and see how it plays out. I'd personally try to trade Mateo, Frazier, Urias for some pitching help and bring the young guys up, W/L record be damned this season.

So you'll root root root for the away team, if they don't win it's a shame! I get that literally everything you say has to be contradictory lest we forget how hipster cool and different you are from the rest of us, mouth breathers. It's 2023 and we're an inclusive community, so it's all good.

He *might* be the only guy on the Reds Irvin gets out.

Shame we don't have a lefty starter. Elly has a -33 OPS+ against LHP.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Field: 65 | Overall: 55 Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55 Doesn't seem like that massive of a gap to me.

I also expect Westburg to get more time at 2B than Frazier. I do expect Frazier would PH for him late in a game if they need a run or something, though.

While I hope you are right, strikeouts are a part of Westburgs' game. He could go 0-4 with 4K's and I doubt that moves the needle at all in the decision to give him a good look.

Very glad to see Westburg get the call-up and I hope he makes the most of it.

DL Hall got the boot from the list.