2020 MLB Playoffs

[hotshot]

I'd say Randy Arozarena was a pretty darn good acquisition by TB. Along with a handful of other TB signings. We could use a few of those scouting coups ourselves.

[Elvir Ovcina]

I'd say Randy Arozarena was a pretty darn good acquisition by TB. Along with a handful of other TB signings. We could use a few of those scouting coups ourselves.

Sure, but they guy they traded for him was a 1st round pick who already handled A ball well at 19.  Hard to judge that trade yet unless TB wins the whole thing.

[varoadking]

Sure, but they guy they traded for him was a 1st round pick who already handled A ball well at 19.  Hard to judge that trade yet unless TB wins the whole thing.

That's a lot to lay on one player's plate...he's done his part, and more...much more...

[varoadking]

MLB Network discussing the "prospect" that Correa and his boys may sill be cheating.  His postseason OPS is 560 points +/- higher in the postseason vs the regular season...

[Natsinpwc]

MLB Network discussing the "prospect" that Correa and his boys may sill be cheating.  His postseason OPS is 560 points +/- higher in the postseason vs the regular season...

Small sample size.

[hotshot]

Cardinals are probably gun shy about trades now what with Arozarena, Donovan Solano and Luke Voit all looking VERY good, for other teams!

The Cards always seem to have a "glut" of minor league players at one position or another. Like the Dodgers, suspect their GM has his phone blowing up more than most. A good StL farm system goes back to Branch Rickey days.

[imref]

Freaking astros

[DCFan]

Freaking astros

Tampa blew it and they’re going to let the freaking Astros go onto the Series.

[sixthree175]

Tampa blew it and they’re going to let the freaking Astros go onto the Series.

This just might be the year that puts Dusty into the HOF. Is there any chance that the Rays could win tomorrow?  They might as well forfeit the game. 

[DCFan]

Is there any chance that the Rays could win tomorrow?

Not since they’re burning up their pen tonight on a meaningless game.

[Natsinpwc]

Not since they’re burning up their pen tonight on a meaningless game.

They’ve got 14 pitchers. They have Morton and Glasnow both ready to pitch tomorrow.  They will win game 7. Book it.

[DCFan]

With no fans in the stands you can hear the Astros buzzer clear as day. Still didn’t help Chick Correa.

[sixthree175]

With no fans in the stands you can hear the Astros buzzer clear as day. Still didn’t help Chick Correa.

Whip out your buzzer, Jose!

[Mathguy]

Is anyone rooting for Dusty ?

Tampa blew it and they’re going to let the freaking Astros go onto the Series.

[hotshot]

Pulling hard for TB tonight. Still, I'm not one who attributes the Astros past accomplishments totally (even all that substantially) to the detestable cheating.

In that 2017 WS, the Astros went 2-2 in Dodger Stadium (where no cheating occurred); including winning Game 7 there! The Dodgers won one in Houston (and lost another 13-12). The NYY, in the ALCS, had the much more legit beef in terms of getting robbed, losing all four games in Houston.

Bottom line: the Astros were and are a very good team. They'll forever have their WS and personal careers tainted badly and, the irony is, they probably didn't need that edge. MLB should still be eternally grateful that the Nats saved them in 2019.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

That should be on the 2019 banner at Nats Park:  We Saved Baseball.  Right next to he 1994 Expos Flag ("You screwed us out of one!")

[Elvir Ovcina]

That's a lot to lay on one player's plate...he's done his part, and more...much more...

No, I mean that if they win the whole thing, the trade is a win pretty much no matter how good Liberatore turns out to be.   Not the converse: they don't have to win it for the trade to possibly still be a win. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

No, I mean that if they win the whole thing, the trade is a win pretty much no matter how good Liberatore turns out to be.   Not the converse: they don't have to win it for the trade to possibly still be a win. 

just kind of remarkable that the immediate and biggest get for the Rays in the trade was Jose Martinez.  Reading back at MLB trade rumors write up seems Arozarena could hit in the minors but had not established himself in the majors.  I wonder how much of his performance is that teams haven't figured out how to attack him yet, and whether there will need to be a cycle of him adjusting to different pitching before we figure out how he will be in the long run.  It does seem the deal was structured to give the Rays 2 pieces plus a significantly improved draft choice while the Cards got a PP (from TINSTAAPP) and a hitter who could be an asset down the road if he can stick at catcher.

[Elvir Ovcina]

just kind of remarkable that the immediate and biggest get for the Rays in the trade was Jose Martinez.  Reading back at MLB trade rumors write up seems Arozarena could hit in the minors but had not established himself in the majors.  I wonder how much of his performance is that teams haven't figured out how to attack him yet, and whether there will need to be a cycle of him adjusting to different pitching before we figure out how he will be in the long run.  It does seem the deal was structured to give the Rays 2 pieces plus a significantly improved draft choice while the Cards got a PP (from TINSTAAPP) and a hitter who could be an asset down the road if he can stick at catcher.

Pretty much, and to get Martinez to the AL where he could DH.  I doubt the Cardinals would have made that trade if they knew they could have DHed Martinez.   He's a remarkable guy: looks like he has the body and skills to play either 1B or a corner OF, yet he's laughably abysmal at any defensive position. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Pretty much, and to get Martinez to the AL where he could DH.  I doubt the Cardinals would have made that trade if they knew they could have DHed Martinez.   He's a remarkable guy: looks like he has the body and skills to play either 1B or a corner OF, yet he's laughably abysmal at any defensive position. 

Martinez absolutely bombed this year.  He's in arb-3 status, according to sportrac, so there's a good chance the Cubs let him go.  32 years old.  OTOH, would $2MM he's cost really kill them? 

[Natsinpwc]

Great catch by Betts to bail out Ferris.

[Elvir Ovcina]

Martinez absolutely bombed this year.  He's in arb-3 status, according to sportrac, so there's a good chance the Cubs let him go.  32 years old.  OTOH, would $2MM he's cost really kill them?

He's at $2.2 for this year (unadjusted), so they could theoretically offer him as low as $1.76m (20% cut).  He'd take that, though (even if he lost arbitration, he'd be more than happy with that) and tie up a spot on the 40.   Dude's 32, can't play anywhere in the field, and hasn't hit enough to put up a positive WAR since 2018.  The other factor here: while he was bad this year overall, he literally had zero hits for the Cubs.  Zero.  That's a pretty easy non-tender in my book. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He's at $2.2 for this year (unadjusted), so they could theoretically offer him as low as $1.76m (20% cut).  He'd take that, though (even if he lost arbitration, he'd be more than happy with that) and tie up a spot on the 40.   Dude's 32, can't play anywhere in the field, and hasn't hit enough to put up a positive WAR since 2018.  The other factor here: while he was bad this year overall, he literally had zero hits for the Cubs.  Zero.  That's a pretty easy non-tender in my book. 

sounds like a release, then he finds someone who will give him a two way contract and a spring invite.  Most teams do not like tying up the DH slot in one guy.  That's what TB learned.  Also, that doesn't bode well for Howie, other than the fact he hits.

[Slateman]

Pablo Sandoval has entered the chat

[Natsinpwc]

Two game sevens. Nice.