Pickles

Oh, I don't think he's promised any starting spot. Or anything much at all.

Oh, I don't think he's going to start playing well again. But that is still there. Even if he doesn't achieve it. And he almost certainly won't.

I'm actually good with this. He's got upside and he's undoubtedly cheap.

Which I know is technically balls in play, but it's not exactly.

More balls in play, or just more walks and balls in the air?

I mean if you can raise it I could see moving it a little. But I don't see how that solves the problem. The problem isn't an imbalance between offense and defense. The problem is both offense and defense are seeking to do the same thing. Which is boring.

Agreed. And the correct players will be expensive and thus correspond closely to when the team is truly ready to compete of the playoffs.

Yeah, how do you get more balls in play- when BOTH pitchers and hitters are trying to reduce them?

Isn't it smart to increase your margin for error?

They're always messing with the game conditions, generally to enhance offense as an appeal to the average fan. I'm not sure the way out of this current iteration of MLB though. I do know it isn't nearly as fun to watch.

Steroids or the lack thereof. That's a huge factor for this phenomena in MLB the last decade+.

But then those are your free agents. For the whole Rutchsman and crew run. Will it kill you? Maybe not. Is it ideal?That's were the objections come in. Both for particular players and the particular timing.

I'll finish reading the rest but I have to chime in here: 1) I had to come here and see the reactions to the Rangers' signings, in particular. 2) I hate Jon Daniels. He's a grade-A moron that made one good trade in his life- and it was the direct result of the fact they did continue to develop- far better than he ever has- in that time period. Michael Young, Hank Blalock, and Mark Texiera, Travis Hafner would all debut for the Rangers within 2 years of Rodrguez signing. Looks like a pretty good core without A-Rod. As someone who lives in North Texas two more to think about: 1) This spending spree is financed by the taxpayers of the region who got gauged to build two stadiums in less than 30 years; one of which was a billion dollar monstrosity that has all the charm of a sound stage. (That's just for the Rangers. Not even mentioning the Cowboys. 2) They will stick stink. They will be lucky to go .500 next year, and both of these contracts are awful and will hamstring this franchise for years into the future.

I thought my sarcasm was pretty clear too.

Really? Tell me more. You are clearly an expert on sarcasm.

Lighting 15% of your payroll on fire, carrying dead weight on the roster, and blocking potential replacements, is not detrimental in way. Be realistic and logical, moron.

I'm not saying this is fun.

Doing stupid things is stupid. Are you under the impression MLB issues participation trophies?

Give out a bunch of stupid contracts so in three years when they actually might be competitive they're saddled with people like Sieman at 35 years old making 25 million dollars to be terrible.

Well I guess I have higher standards. Trying while doing something stupid doesn't impress. I don't want the Orioles to do stupid things. That doesn't improve their competitiveness. That isn't difficult to understand unless you have an illogical horse you need to beat.

Good one.

Your position then is basically the O's should ahve given E-Rod a blank check. That's a reasonable position that is in touch with reality.

That's because your position is inherently illogical and when someone speaks logic to it, you can't get over the cognitive dissonance. So once again, the Rangers did something "good" by making a "bad" signing? That is oxymoronic.

OK, so I understood it pretty f-ing well then, and your snark was more than misplaced. Got it.

Isn't that convenient?