Low Country Bird

I think Stowers and Westburg are up this week with Phillips and Nevin out. Henderson up after next Wednesday. McKenna can go down temporarily and come right back up on September 1 (unless they hold Henderson down until 9/1). Then add another pitcher with McKenna/Henderson on September 1 (I think we get two extra players if I'm not mistaken). Be great if it was Grayson, but doubt he's ready to return by then. I think Hyde rightly or wrongly believes that Odor and Urias are huge reasons why we are in the playoff hunt. They also seem to be very popular in the clubhouse. I'm guessing Elias is trying to thread the needle by not upsetting the clubhouse (and rewarding guys who've surprisingly gotten us to this point by keeping them around), but also trying to improve the offense by bringing in the reinforcements. I guess we will find out soon enough. All of this said, I cannot figure out for the life of me why Vavra isn't playing everyday. He's one of the few guys on the team that can actually work a count. I don't recall reading reports that he was some kind of butcher in the field but they sure are treating him that way.

Strange use of the word "stars." While they are good players, I wouldn't characterize any of the players we may potentially trade as "stars." Which is why we are willing to trade them. That along with the belief/hope that the players we have behind them in the farm will become actual "stars."

I'm one of them. Yes, looks like Porter is gone to Texas but that Smith will be a Tiger, a Clemson Tiger that is.

Beavers may be but as I said earlier, I don't think Wagner has any intention of going back to Clemson. I'd be surprised if he's not at or under slot.

The Rays A team is here in Charleston. I take my boys to a few games a season and we sit down near the bullpen. Virtually all of those pitchers are from Latin America. 18-21 years old, big kids and all throw gas. So it appears the Rays also take that approach.

Benson, Koch, Vining and Matz with LeCroy and Burnham doing the damage, for me. If he makes it out of this round, I think we are good.

Porter to Texas.

Hello back. '98 for me. How about you?

Likely the ACC. That damn Grant of Rights clause is likely keeping us (and FSU and Miami) from going anywhere unless ESPN gets involved and negotiates a buy-out with the conference.

As a Clemson alum, this discussion is very interesting for both my O's and Tigers. First re Wagner, he was an absolute stud this year. Any time we needed a big hit, he seemed to deliver. Caden Grice, who we thought was our best player going into the season, was brutal this year. Max picked up where Grice left off last year and carried the offense. I don't think he's coming back to Clemson and think he will sign at or under slot. We had a coaching change a month ago and while there's a great deal of excitement for Bakich, numerous players have left/transferred. When Wagner announced he was leaving, there didn't seem to be any uncertainty. And there doesn't seem to be any from the coaches that he's not coming back. So I doubt he gives up the money (even at or under slot) to come back to a new coaching staff. I don't see how he could have a better year than this year. As to the HS pitchers, both Porter and Tristan Smith are Clemson commits so it's been interesting watching them slide a bit (Porter more so than Smith). Obviously, the hope at Clemson is that they are now priced out of any remaining slot money and will enroll in August. While it worked out for us for Will Taylor, we were burned on Bubba Chandler last year so many are prepared that Porter will be drafted today, sign an overslot deal and never step foot in a classroom at Clemson. I just hope that at this point, it's either Clemson or the O's.