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Messages - moriartp

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1
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Baseball Prospectus Top 10
« on: November 15, 2019, 09:21:04 pm »
1. Forrest Whitley
2. Jose Urquidy
3. Jeremy Pena
4. Abraham Toro
5. Bryan Abreu
6. Korey Lee
7. Rogelio Armenteros
8. Freudis Nova
9. Cristian Javier
10. Jairo Solis

2
Talk Zone / Re: The Void (transacations)
« on: November 05, 2019, 09:53:00 pm »
Multi-year makes sense, something like Pineda’s deal in Minnesota but with smaller numbers. It’d have to be a non-tender & re-sign. Sanchez should be open to it—what better place to turn himself around?

3
Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series, Game 5, October 27, 2019
« on: October 27, 2019, 08:16:28 pm »
I think of that old OfficeMax (or whatever office supply store it was) commercial.

Same here.

4
Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series, Game 4, October 26, 2019
« on: October 26, 2019, 11:00:14 pm »
Won game four doo do do do do do

Nice

5
Talk Zone / Re: Latest Controversy
« on: October 24, 2019, 10:03:23 pm »
No doubt.  I'm sure he was working his ass off to minimize it.

This whole thing still seems bizarre to me.  Could he have been the point man on the Osuna deal?  Taking the fallout personally and dealing with it in such an immature fashion would fit that to me.

This seems very likely to me.

6
I’m glad Buck shut up and let the celebration play out. It makes re-watching the clip that much more enjoyable.

7
Pressly says it was just some scar tissue coming loose & he’ll be good to go for the WS.

8
My pulse still hasn’t come down. Holy shit. Holy shit.

9
Talk Zone / Re: Sunday’s game
« on: October 12, 2019, 10:45:13 am »
Jackson St. is close to the stadium, and it's not bad. It should be rowdy pre-game, which would be fun.  There's better Texas BBQ nearby, at the Pit Room on Richmond and Pinkerton's on Airline. I once had a Frito pie at the Pit Room, but it was unhealthily large.  I suspect Truth on Washington is also very good, but I haven't been.

The Truth location in Brenham is real good. Haven’t hit the Houston one yet but I imagine it’s the same.

I also second the Pit Room recommendation. It’s not far from where I live, so it’s become my go-to.

10
Talk Zone / Re: Ex-Astros News 2019
« on: October 10, 2019, 12:50:10 pm »
Agreed.  I don't think we would have won without him.  It still blows my mind that he wasn't discussed at length in Astroball.

Or Morton. I’m still mad about that.

11
Let's not forget the immortal Rusty Kuntz.

Nobody’s ever going to forget this moment.

12
Talk Zone / Re: NLDS
« on: October 10, 2019, 05:38:23 am »
I need, NEED the Nats to win this series.  And the next.  Need them to.

!!!!!!!!

13
JV tomorrow.

14
Knew I shouldn't have turned on the game.

15
Aaaaand exfuckinghale. Whew.

16
God dammit Girardi his name is Harris. Will Harris. Not Will Smith.

17
I love having Machete on this team.

18
Deja vu from that Correa AB.

19
Will someone tell Yordan to hit the fucking ball.

Nicely done.

20
Oh, what a gift.

21
That at bat was absolutely embarrassing.

You'll have to be more specific.

22
Talk Zone / Re: Post Season
« on: October 02, 2019, 10:16:28 am »
With Braun it was not so much his juicing or lying about it, it was when he tried to deflect blame by implicating the innocent sample collector.

I’ll never understand how a person can lie like that. He’s Lance Armstrong–lite. A rotten human being.

23
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: September 27, 2019, 01:09:29 pm »
They’re expected to call Barr and Giuliani.  Good.  I’ll be in my bunk.

yikes

24
Talk Zone / Re: Stretch run
« on: September 27, 2019, 12:31:51 pm »
Fuck the Rangers and CB Bucknor, but the Fenway Fuckwits stand out as the biggest assholes in that story.

25
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: September 26, 2019, 03:48:16 pm »
Fear leads to the dark side. I don't have fear but legitimate questions. The left has not sufficiently answered those questions.

Here are some proposed solutions to doctor shortages along with an honest look at the political challenges of making those solutions happen.

There's a lot that goes into the cost problem: shitty insurers, MD protectionism, hospital monopolization, prescription patent abuse, etc., etc. I do get frustrated with the politicians who oversimplify things (e.g. focusing entirely on the insurance companies) because it makes M4A seem like a half-baked idea. But there is a lot of good work being done behind the scenes, and I think the best thing we can do as voters is commit to the goal of M4A but demand more details about how our representatives are going to do it right.

26
I think the double.negatives confused you.

Yeah I missed that the last clause was quoting HH.

27
With health care...No, I do not think that if you don't have health insurance it's you own fault, you'll just have to live or die with whatever health problems you have.

I don’t think a person who believes this can be called a “centrist.”

28
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Angels @ Astros - 9/21/19
« on: September 22, 2019, 01:01:10 pm »
Perhaps it's naive, but I have confidence in Urquidy. He just seems bulldog tough.

I’m right there with you.

29
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Royals- September 14, 2019
« on: September 14, 2019, 08:51:30 pm »
Mchugh’s reaction to that baseball annihilation was on point.

Joyful disbelief

30
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Royals- September 14, 2019
« on: September 14, 2019, 08:25:14 pm »
As Blum & Kalas google where Nori Aoki’s playing right now (he plays for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows), I saw him play in Tokyo a week or so ago. It was a lot of fun. I’ll write up a longer post about the Japanese baseball experience sometime, but the short version is that I highly recommend it if you’re able to go.

31
Except that I've heard him say it since Greinke was acquired.

The point is that nothing they say is binding on their future decisions. I think it’s unlikely they go over the salary cap, but the statements themselves don’t mean much.

32
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)
« on: September 04, 2019, 02:31:13 pm »
Is there a reason warning track width shouldn’t be standardized?

33
Talk Zone / Re: Skaggs autopsy
« on: September 03, 2019, 04:51:13 pm »
I have no problem with a memorial.  My problem is with the over the top tributes.  If you watched or listened to the coverage on the MLB Network and MLB Network Radio, Skaggs was a saint.  So maybe be a little more circumspect.

Why would it make a difference? Does he now mean less to his teammates, family, or anyone else who knew him and spoke so highly of him? Addiction isn’t a stain on his character. It doesn’t make him a worse person. If the tributes were deserved without the drug use, they were still deserved with it.

34
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Brewers - 9/2/19
« on: September 02, 2019, 05:34:58 pm »
Am I the only one that doesn't like the song Sweet Caroline?

Far, far from it.

35
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Fayetteville 2019
« on: August 28, 2019, 03:23:28 pm »
BA’s list also says Ivey is going.

36
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Fayetteville 2019
« on: August 28, 2019, 03:16:23 pm »
If he's assigned to the AFL this fall then the Astros have a good feeling about his future.

Kaplan reports Pena is indeed going, along with Whitley, Matijevic, Shaver, Torres, and Sanabria.

37
Talk Zone / Re: Tucker In August
« on: August 27, 2019, 11:45:39 am »
The Astros might have to pay down some salary to make it happen, but someone will take him.

38
Talk Zone / Re: white uniforms
« on: August 24, 2019, 02:06:15 pm »
Let me get this straight - Players weekend is to help player's personalities shine so let's make the players totally indistinguishable from each other by putting them in all white or black. 

They could learn a thing or two from the Korean all-star game.

39
Fenech also reported that the Astros had offered Bregman for Michael Fulmer at the 2017 deadline, something that no one else seems to have known of or can make any sense of.

I did a double take here because I thought he must have said 2016 deadline. Nope! Batshit.

40
I've seen a lot of reporters sharing this story and their thoughts on it. Still waiting to see one dig to find out what the actual beef was.

Vague description from this Athletic story: "Verlander tweeted that his issue with Fenech stemmed from “his unethical behavior in the past,” which is believed to be an innocuous conversation the veteran righty was having that Fenech used as Twitter fodder. Verlander felt it was eavesdropping, not reporting. Fenech, who has been the Tigers beat writer since 2015, clearly felt otherwise. Several smaller incidents over the years kept the relationship strained, and it’s unclear if that incident — from several years ago — or something else was what ultimately set things off."

41
The AstrosCounty dude is wondering if Verlander just lost the CY the other night.

Shit, I bet that's right.

42
The question is whether the snub was justified.  I'm guessing it was.

Right, Verlander probably has a very good reason for not wanting to be around the guy. But that doesn't mean the Astros can violate the contract between MLB and the BBWAA to exclude a credentialed reporter from the clubhouse.

43
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Round Rock 2019
« on: August 22, 2019, 09:45:47 am »
Toro called up, according to Kaplan. No corresponding 25 or 40 man move yet.

Bad news coming on Correa?

44
Talk Zone / Re: Lunch today
« on: August 19, 2019, 02:44:38 pm »
You know, I hear that sometimes.  Not often but sometimes.  I like all fried chicken, even that neutrino-fired stuff Banquet puts in a TV Dinner.  But, there is just something about a 3-piece spicy with a side of red beans & rice and a side of mashed potatoes with that jalapeno gravy sludge that makes a bad day good or a good day great.  No other place does that for me.

Amen.

45
Talk Zone / Re: Lunch today
« on: August 18, 2019, 06:05:58 pm »
I couldn't swing Frito pie today,  but I did try the new spicy chicken sandwich from popeyes.

I just tried one for lunch and I’m considering another for dinner. Popeyes is going to take over the world with that sandwich.

46
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at White Sox 08/14/2019
« on: August 14, 2019, 01:47:26 pm »
jesus

47
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ O's 8/10
« on: August 10, 2019, 07:02:15 pm »
Extra outs, bases juiced.

7 runs up, can't find the zone.

48
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rugged Mountain Range @ Vastness of Space 8/7
« on: August 07, 2019, 03:32:05 pm »
What a play by Story to keep that ball on the infield.

We were so close to never having to hear Rodeo Clown’s name again.

49
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk
« on: July 31, 2019, 06:58:49 pm »
On a related note,  I hope this indicates that Springer will get his deal this off season.   I worried they were keeping Fisher around as his replacement.

Fisher being Springer’s planned replacement would have been worrisome for many reasons.

50
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk
« on: July 31, 2019, 06:40:04 pm »
So do I have this right: Luhnow got two big leaguers for Derek Fisher and two minor leaguers for Max Stassi?

Two big leaguers *and* a minor leaguer for Fisher.

51
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk
« on: July 30, 2019, 09:40:53 pm »
Holy hell. Amir Garrett ran over and took on the entire Pirates dugout.

That was so fucking cool

52
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk
« on: July 30, 2019, 09:29:45 pm »
Screwball for screwball

Puig hasn’t been pulled from tonight’s game yet and he got into a fight on the field a minute ago. I am howling.

53
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk
« on: July 30, 2019, 09:26:48 pm »
To get a sense of what the clubhouse thought of trading for Bauer, McCullers just tweeted a “hallelujah” gif.

54
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk
« on: July 30, 2019, 09:14:22 pm »
Bauer and Puig on the same team?

Please let it be so.

Alas, no. Puig to Cleveland.

55
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk
« on: July 30, 2019, 09:10:03 pm »
Bauer to Cincinnati in a three-team deal with San Diego. Phew.

56
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk
« on: July 30, 2019, 02:09:52 pm »
There's so much I don't get about trading for Bauer. In no particular order:

• He's got no emotional control on the field
• He harasses women online, in full public view
• He does shit like writing "Bush did 9/11" on the mound during games
• He's notorious for refusing to listen to his teams' coaching staff, dating at least back to his college years
• He and Cole despise each other from their UCLA days
• He called out the entire Astros organization for doctoring the ball last season
• He's enough of a cancer that Cleveland is thinking about trading him when they're 3 games up in the Wild Card and 2 games out in their division

Is a wicked spin rate really that valuable? I just can't see it happening.

57
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk
« on: July 29, 2019, 04:06:36 pm »
Jason Vargas to the Phillies.

Joe Sheehan: "Maybe the Mets really are going for it."

58
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk
« on: July 28, 2019, 05:07:41 pm »
I guess the good news is, we won’t have to face him in the playoffs now.

Might also change their demands for Syndergaard now that they've got some MLB-ready pitching.

59
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros vs Cards 07-28-19
« on: July 28, 2019, 03:32:44 pm »
What a turd Bauer is.

https://twitter.com/fskansascity/status/1155571432845279232?s=21

After the game I hope his teammates mock him til he cries. What a dipshit.

60
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Database Hackers, 7/26
« on: July 26, 2019, 09:24:57 pm »
6 IP 4 hits 1 run 2 BB 6 K
The kid did great!!!

Shame he won’t get the W.

61
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk
« on: July 26, 2019, 07:33:39 pm »
One executive who has communicated with the Mets said, “They are definitely trading Syndergaard.”

...

The Astros have most fervently pursued Syndergaard, but the Mets’ current stance is that only the Braves and Padres, both with stacked systems, are ideally positioned to obtain the righty.


Link

62
Talk Zone / Re: Tony Kemp
« on: July 26, 2019, 05:29:25 pm »
Gonna miss the hugs. I hope he lands somewhere he likes and has a long career in MLB.

63
Talk Zone / Re: Tyler White traded to the Dodgers
« on: July 25, 2019, 12:39:51 pm »
Welcome back, Carlos Correa.

Kaplan reports Kemp will be DFA when Correa returns tomorrow.

64
Talk Zone / Re: What I hate to hear
« on: July 23, 2019, 09:28:34 am »
Omar Narvaez is a lefty whom I’d love to have from a hitting standpoint. Don’t know anything about his defense.

It’s very very bad.

65
Talk Zone / Re: Astros just DFA’d Tyler White
« on: July 20, 2019, 07:36:36 am »
Exactly. I hope he catches on somewhere where he gets another shot at the big leagues.

I think he will. If there’s room for Reed in the majors, there’s gotta be room for White.

66
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros Without Pitchers at Angels, 7/16/19
« on: July 17, 2019, 05:02:36 pm »
Ramirez catches a 3-game suspension, Ausmus gets 1. Didn't expect that.

67
Beer and Queso / Re: Apollo 11
« on: July 16, 2019, 09:21:18 am »
Somewhat related... HBO's amazing From the Earth to the Moon miniseries is finally once again available, at least on their streaming platforms (guessing On Demand as well). I've watched every episode a half-dozen times, at least, but not in many years.

Finally!!

68
Talk Zone / Re: Our info source
« on: July 15, 2019, 02:13:22 pm »
Wheeler to the IL

Shit. He’d have been a good pickup.

69
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk
« on: July 14, 2019, 04:14:41 pm »
Trout got pulled from the game....

"We got fucked on Bailey. Time to get the next best thing."

70
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk
« on: July 14, 2019, 12:47:48 pm »
One of my sources says that the team is on the verge of acquiring Homer Bailey and will DFA Kemp.

Bailey's been scratched from his start today.

71
Talk Zone / Re: World Class Selig Fluffing by Pinwheel
« on: July 11, 2019, 03:14:54 pm »
If only I were his funeral director.

“He requested a closed casket, but we’re forcing him to leave it open.”

POTW

72
Talk Zone / Aches and Pains (2019)
« on: July 11, 2019, 02:55:51 pm »
Jake's appealing, he'll play tonight. I bet it gets knocked down to one game on appeal.

Edit: meant to say he’s available to play tonight, not that he’s in the lineup.

73
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Whitley
« on: July 10, 2019, 10:22:29 am »
Not much else of substance in the article. The only other bit worth reading is this quote from a scout backing up the paragraph you posted:

“His stuff was way down. In spring training, I saw a lot of stuff to like,” one scout said. “He looked great and like he was ready, and the kid I saw yesterday was a kid."

74
Talk Zone / Re: All Star Game
« on: July 08, 2019, 03:06:05 pm »
Wow, 4 of 10.  Is that an Astros record?

Sure is.

75
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Angels at Astros- July 7, 2019
« on: July 07, 2019, 06:01:18 pm »
Wow, that's a big break. Saved by the replay angle, I think.

Review taketh away, and review giveth back.

76
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Angels at Astros- July 7, 2019
« on: July 07, 2019, 05:11:46 pm »
Fair to call him out there.

77
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)
« on: July 05, 2019, 12:21:20 pm »
Astros announce Corbin Martin had Tommy John surgery yesterday.

78
Talk Zone / Re: Tyler Skaggs has passed away
« on: July 04, 2019, 03:27:02 pm »
What? A broken leg is similar to Kile's death? I'm missing something here.

Skaggs' death, not the Dye injury.

79
Talk Zone / Re: Urquidy called up to start
« on: July 02, 2019, 06:08:02 pm »
I guess we’ll see if anyone still wants to see what he can do on the mound.

80
Beer and Queso / Re: URGENT: Deadwood Fans
« on: July 02, 2019, 02:57:59 pm »
There are a few loose ends tied but more are left dangling. I don't want to spoil anything.

Yeah, fair amount gets left unresolved. But I think it succeeded in giving most characters (and the audience) emotional closure.

81
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Seattle v. Houston; June 29
« on: June 29, 2019, 07:33:49 am »
Pound for pound, I think these are the best Astros caps they have ever worn. I know many others disagree and that is just fine. But I like these the best and for me it's not really close.

Best caps and best unis in my book. I would switch to these full time and never look back.

82
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)
« on: June 25, 2019, 10:34:51 am »
I'd guess Armenteros goes down as well then.

2 for 2. Those are indeed the moves.

83
Talk Zone / Re: Tucker in June
« on: June 16, 2019, 03:24:11 pm »
This time last year, everything you said about Tucker was how he was special. Then he struggled and now everytime you talk about him is in reference to trading him. Is that not considering him a failure? If you're just hoping to trade him, kind of a failure for a guy who had star potential.

Seeing Tucker as a trade chip doesn't make him a failure. A good player can still have more value as a trade chip than as a callup.

84
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Brewers @ Astros, June 12, 2019
« on: June 12, 2019, 10:32:35 pm »
I thought James might be asked to pitch two. I do hope his arm isn’t hurting

Chandler Rome says a trainer was examining him in the dugout.

85
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Orioles at Astros June 9, 2019
« on: June 09, 2019, 02:33:01 pm »
I literally love Robinson Chirinos

86
Talk Zone / Re: Ex-Astros News 2019
« on: June 06, 2019, 09:08:59 pm »
$20 million, prorated to $13 million.

88
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners - 6 Jun 2019
« on: June 06, 2019, 04:13:53 pm »
RELEASE TYLER WHITE TODAY!

This would be a great time. They're probably past the Super 2 line for Alvarez, coming home tomorrow, and facing a AAA-level pitching staff to ease the new guy into the bigs.

89
Great stuff. I pre-ordered the book a while back, can’t wait to read the rest.

90
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Round Rock 2019
« on: May 29, 2019, 05:01:21 pm »
I talk to an informed opinion regularly. Injury aside, could be he simply was not yet ready for AAA. He has been moved along quickly and lost a lot of time to suspension and injuries.

Sounds spot on. Luhnow just said after he’s done rehabbing he’ll get back out to “one of our affiliates.” He was asked specifically whether Whitley would go back to AAA and he wouldn’t commit to it. Merely said he’s talented enough to pitch in AAA but that they’d want to build him back up and build his confidence back up. Translation: they realized they rushed him to AAA.

91
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)
« on: May 29, 2019, 03:05:56 pm »
Whitley has been placed on the minors IL.

Right shoulder fatigue.

Three times in this thread now and once in the Bus Ride. What’s the Cabrera record?

92
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Round Rock 2019
« on: May 29, 2019, 02:31:57 pm »
McTaggart says Whitley is being placed on the IL with shoulder fatigue and is being sent to Florida for rehab.

93
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)
« on: May 29, 2019, 11:30:00 am »
Chandler Rome: "More to come, but Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said Carlos Correa's fractured rib occurred at his house before he came to Minute Maid Park on Tuesday. Luhnow said he was not at liberty to specify what exactly happened"

McTaggart: "Luhnow said he's comfortable with the Astros' organizational depth, but said he will look externally to see if there are any options that make sense."

94
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Cubs @ Astros, May 27, 2019
« on: May 28, 2019, 08:58:15 am »
Exceptions may be granted depending on one's ability to play baseball well for the Astros.

Sometimes I think about how much we’d all hate Bregman if he played for another team.

95
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Cubs @ Astros, May 27, 2019
« on: May 27, 2019, 04:17:29 pm »
6-5 now...Osuna getting hammered, crowd going wild

There’s so much blue in the stands it almost looks like Milwaukee.

96
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Red Sox @ Astros, May 25, 2019
« on: May 26, 2019, 12:57:05 pm »
Thomas and Bagwell basically had the exact same career over the exact same time frame.

Born on the exact same day, too.

97
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)
« on: May 25, 2019, 08:18:47 am »
Fisher up, says Kaplan.

98
Talk Zone / Re: On Michael Brantley...
« on: May 22, 2019, 09:45:02 am »
Shades of '17 Beltran in those quotes.

99
Talk Zone / Re: Morning Lineup MLB Podcast
« on: May 22, 2019, 09:26:22 am »
Thanks for the link. Also very interesting to hear Luhnow thinks they’ll go to an automated strike zone “soon.”

100
Talk Zone / Re: Alvarez
« on: May 21, 2019, 03:45:43 pm »
I guess if they were considering going back to a 12-man staff they’d have taken the opportunity with McHugh hitting the IL (especially with the bench being so thin right now). Shows what I know.

101
The appeals court judge who will hear Trump”s suit to keep his taxes from congress - and many other fights between Trump and Congress is....

Merrick Garland.

That’s not really true. It’s going up to the DC Circuit, but it’ll be a random panel of three judges. Garland may or may not end up being one of those three, and he has no control over who gets selected.

102
Talk Zone / Re: Alvarez
« on: May 21, 2019, 12:16:57 pm »
They're at 13 now.  They started with 12 because of all the off days in the first few weeks of the season and didn't need the extra pitcher.

Right, but they still don't need 13. They do need a DH who can hit, and they have Goliath waiting in AAA.


Also what a great problem to have.  We're only worried about what happens to players 24 and 25 on the roster.

Amen to that.

103
Talk Zone / Re: Alvarez
« on: May 21, 2019, 12:04:08 pm »
Why go to 13? They started the year intending to have a 12-man staff, and they will be just fine without, say, Framber. But they need to improve at 1B/DH. Alvarez should be up in the next few weeks to give them time to evaluate him before the trade deadline. They can make another move if he stumbles.

104
Talk Zone / Re: Alvarez
« on: May 21, 2019, 10:29:49 am »
Would Luhnow move Kemp for less than a top prospect? I think that Kemp’s versatility, speed and clubhouse presence make him someone the Astros need to keep unless the offer is too good to pass up.

I think this overstates his value. He’s valuable, but there are other guys who can do what he does.

105
Beer and Queso / Re: Game of Thrones Season 8
« on: May 21, 2019, 07:01:45 am »
Bran and nobody are both correct answers, IMO. I’d give credit to anyone who guessed either.

106
Game Zone 2019 / Re: White Sox at Astros- May 20, 2019
« on: May 20, 2019, 10:00:49 pm »
Luhnow on the clock for 1 more starter.

Syndergaard would be a nice #3.

107
Beer and Queso / Re: Apollo 11
« on: May 20, 2019, 03:27:53 pm »
I paid a few bucks to stream it on Amazon. Well worth it.

108
Beer and Queso / Re: Game of Thrones Season 8
« on: May 20, 2019, 01:46:57 pm »
Lost's ending was more sensical and satisfying.

I wouldn’t go that far, but this sure was a turd.

109
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Red Sox, May 17th*, 2019
« on: May 18, 2019, 09:08:59 pm »
Jesus.

110
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Red Sox, May 17th*, 2019
« on: May 18, 2019, 09:02:53 pm »
Smoltz, translated: “White’s dodge was a pretty good move for a fatty.”

111
Talk Zone / Re: Alvarez
« on: May 18, 2019, 08:56:01 pm »
Alvarez hit a single off Josh Fields tonight.

112
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Red Sox, May 17th*, 2019
« on: May 18, 2019, 08:51:56 pm »
Rules question.

So, on Correa’s dribbler up the line his bat flew out there just as far as the ball and came to rest near the foul line. What is the rule if the ball had started to roll foul but hit the bat and stayed fair??

No idea, but that reminds me of this goofy article investigating whether hitters strategically drop their bats to get in the way of throws to the plate.

113
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Red Sox, May 17th*, 2019
« on: May 18, 2019, 08:34:10 pm »
And exhale.

114
Beer and Queso / Re: Apollo 11
« on: May 18, 2019, 01:55:53 pm »
Watched it last night because of this thread. I don’t know what it was like to experience it in 1969, but I imagine this is as close as I’ll ever get. What an amazing tribute to everyone who worked in the space program.

115
Talk Zone / Re: Tucker
« on: May 17, 2019, 09:36:27 pm »
Not necessarily. The Astros have three good outfielders through 2020. They could use another starting pitcher. You can think Tucker has great value but think the team is best served by converting that to value at another position.

116
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Red Socks, May 16th*
« on: May 17, 2019, 09:24:36 pm »
When that ball came off of Betts's bat, I thought we were in real trouble. I'm glad it was hit right at Brantley.

Didn’t they used to run a commercial where a fan pulls up some quick stats, takes a seat at the stadium, puts his glove in the air, and a dinger flies right into it?

Anyway, that’s how this team’s positioning feels sometimes.

117
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Red Socks, May 16th*
« on: May 17, 2019, 08:53:54 pm »
These guys are really putting on a show this season on defense.

118
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Corpus Christi 2019
« on: May 16, 2019, 05:21:31 pm »
Seth Beer promoted to Corpus today.

119
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Tigers-May 14, 2019
« on: May 15, 2019, 07:49:24 pm »
Detroit’s left side determined to give the Astros a chance to blow this one open.

120
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Tigers-May 14, 2019
« on: May 15, 2019, 07:46:53 pm »
That was a study in unnecessary drama.

Starting with not locating a 2 strike FB to a .158 hitter.

Savvy veteran move to give up the walks *after* the triple.

121
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Tigers-May 14, 2019
« on: May 15, 2019, 07:43:47 pm »
DIAZ

122
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Tiggers, 5/13/19
« on: May 14, 2019, 08:17:41 pm »
Goodrum gets back at the Astros with a pretty good catch of his own.

123
Talk Zone / Re: Ex-Astros News 2019
« on: May 14, 2019, 08:37:24 am »
Ask me if I care. He plays for the Twins. I loved him in Houston and am grateful for all he accomplishments, but he chased money, turned us down, and did not stay. In 2019 he is a JAG on another team.

Did the Astros ever make an offer for him to turn down? I don’t remember one being reported. They traded for Diaz very early last offseason to replace him, so I guess it is possible he didn’t engage in discussions and the team quickly moved on. But I do not remember anything like that being reported.

124
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Tigers, May 12, 2019
« on: May 13, 2019, 08:57:05 pm »
KC, Miami, Detroit, someone shitty like that could claim him. But if he’s bad enough to DFA he’s not good enough to worry about losing.

125
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rangers at Astros- May 11, 2019
« on: May 11, 2019, 09:38:15 pm »
I love watching Brantley hit.

Sometimes I wonder how he ever makes an out.

126
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rangers at Astros- May 11, 2019
« on: May 11, 2019, 09:35:11 pm »
His career started spectacularly, but it’s been a steady decline from there.

127
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rangers at Astros- May 11, 2019
« on: May 11, 2019, 07:29:56 pm »
My fiancée seeing Pence hit for the first time: “He looks like a malfunctioning robot up there.”

128
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: May 11, 2019, 04:22:23 pm »
From @Chandler_Rome:

Collin McHugh is going to the bullpen. The Astros are expected to recall Corbin Martin to make his major league debut tomorrow against the Rangers.

A.J. Hinch is “not optimistic” that Jose Altuve will avoid the injured list. He described the injury as a “slight strain” of his left hamstring.

129
Talk Zone / Re: Miley
« on: May 10, 2019, 10:07:45 am »
Geezerdonk said it first, but what a great acquisition Mile has been. Better stuff than Keuchel at times but is essentially the same pitcher without the huge price tag and mouth.

Miley being the fastest worker in the league is also a nice bonus. Really good pickup.

130
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rangers @ Astros - 5/9/19
« on: May 09, 2019, 08:55:49 pm »
What was the Sesame Street character someone photo shopped onto Pence's dome?

Beaker

131
Talk Zone / Re: Ex-Astros News 2019
« on: May 08, 2019, 02:39:59 pm »
Exactly, and it's not like he was released.  They acquired RP, Brandon Bailey for him.  I do not know what Bailey will amount to, but they had to move some players and took a shot on him.  We are still a year or two away from really figuring out how the Astros/A's make out on this trade, and whether or not it was a good idea to send him away.

Yep yep yep. Bailey is interesting. He's another guy they targeted for spin—they have a pretty solid track record with pitchers like that. Book's still open on this one.

132
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Royals at Astros May 7, 2019
« on: May 07, 2019, 10:19:14 pm »
White pitches clean 9th.

A leadoff walk,  a strikeout and 2 flyballs.

The crowd went nuts at the strikeout.

133
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Royals at Astros May 7, 2019
« on: May 07, 2019, 09:28:24 pm »
I picked the wrong night to come to the ballpark.

134
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Royals at Astros May 7, 2019
« on: May 07, 2019, 08:27:22 pm »
Fuck, what a stinker.

135
Talk Zone / Re: Keuchel - The Principled Social Warrior Of Fairness
« on: May 07, 2019, 01:32:33 pm »
Were it me, I'd insist on some sort of salary floor, tied to revenue and would accept a cap to get it.  But the players won't hear of it.

They’ve already accepted a de facto cap, so getting ownership to agree to a floor might be an even bigger hurdle.

136
Talk Zone / Keuchel - The Principled Social Warrior Of Fairness
« on: May 07, 2019, 12:19:14 pm »
They absolutely should. And I think the approach that the Astros took with Bregman is a good example of what the model should be. Compensate the prime years. The model of over-paying for what a player has already accomplished doesn't make any sense.

+1000. The old bargain that emerged along with free agency—“get underpaid today and overpaid tomorrow”—is a very bad way to handle things in a market where performance peaks at age 27 or earlier. This whole mess is avoidable if the sides are willing to approach CBA negotiations in good faith.

137
Beer and Queso / Re: Infinity War (Spoilers)
« on: May 07, 2019, 10:01:38 am »
I was cool with it, especially as they Back to the Futured themselves into the earlier movies which was fun (even Dark World).  Of course, not undoing the snap back to its origin - thus saving Stark's daughter - meant that they created a whole heap of heartache and trouble for the snapped and unsnapped alike.

Imagine coming back after 5 years - not having aged a second - and trying to piece your life back together that you didn't know had been gone!  Imagine getting back friends, family, husbands, wives, kids, when you are 5 years older and have moved on to make a new life for yourself without them!  How many of the unsnapped killed themselves in grief and horror at surviving?  How many of the snapped will kill themselves because they cannot deal with where their world is now?  How is Spider-Man: Homecoming going to deal with all this?*

* By the looks of the trailer, not at all, which is the tangled web they weave when first they practice to time travel.

Imagine the resource crunch caused by instantly doubling the population after 5 years of adjustment to the lower demand level. Half the oil production, half the electricity production, half the food production. We’re talking mass starvation here.

And what do you do with housing? Sure, there’s a lot of empty houses. But there was probably a lot of post-snap movement from shittier units into nicer, empty housing. So the units immediately available to the unsnapped probably won’t be the ones they lived in, and they’ll be way worse to boot (lower end of the market *plus* five years’ dilapidation). Does title to everything just revert to the previous owners? And goodness, what about snapped renters?!?

Way to go, Avengers. You had limitless power, and you used it in the worst possible way.

138
Talk Zone / Re: Alvarez
« on: May 04, 2019, 10:50:40 am »
Maybe he just had a bad month.

139
Talk Zone / Re: Alvarez
« on: May 03, 2019, 09:54:00 am »
In the meantime they're allowed to add a 26th player (non-pitcher) to the roster for these games in Mexico. Luhnow said it will be somebody already on the 40 man. Straw? Fisher?

Fisher DNP yesterday, maybe to allow travel to join the big club. I’d rather see Straw.

140
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Twins - May 2, 2019
« on: May 02, 2019, 01:52:53 pm »
Yuli had Martin frozen between third and home, and farted around long enough to get neither the DP nor the run at home.

It’s one of those days where everybody sucks.

141
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Twins - May 2, 2019
« on: May 02, 2019, 01:22:33 pm »
Come the fuck on.

142
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Twins - May 2, 2019
« on: May 02, 2019, 01:17:04 pm »
This escalated quickly.

143
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Twins - May 2, 2019
« on: May 02, 2019, 01:10:02 pm »
JOSH

144
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Corpus Christi 2019
« on: May 01, 2019, 08:23:54 am »
So both guys got suspended for things they don’t punish in the majors?

145
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Twins- April 30, 2019
« on: April 30, 2019, 10:14:43 pm »
Hinch says Altuve is fine.

146
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Twins- April 30, 2019
« on: April 30, 2019, 09:59:52 pm »
Jake wants this one over with.

147
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Twins- April 30, 2019
« on: April 30, 2019, 09:12:51 pm »
I personally thought he was running a little odd, too, but who knows.

I thought the same.

148
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Twins- April 30, 2019
« on: April 30, 2019, 08:40:03 pm »
Nice little vaunt here.

149
Talk Zone / Re: Last nite
« on: April 30, 2019, 04:21:09 pm »
Cold weather? A late night the night before? Some kind of gypsy curse?

I think watching GoT Sunday night encompasses all three.

150
Talk Zone / Re: Alvarez
« on: April 29, 2019, 04:06:54 pm »
I know he's been throwing simulated games every 5 days, but after not facing MLB hitters, could he jump straight into the rotation? Effectively?

There are lots of reasons this would never happen, but it'd be hilarious if he played for the Skeeters to keep himself fresh until someone signs him.

151
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Indians @ Astros - April 28, 2019
« on: April 28, 2019, 06:49:00 pm »
MLB sure is pushing Vlad Jr. I'll never understand why they haven't done the same thing for Trout.

They really should. It can't be that hard to build a campaign around "think of any baseball player you've ever heard of, now go watch Mike Trout be better than all of 'em."

Then again, Vladito is breaking into the league with sky-high name recognition from his pops. Add that to his insane talent and he's a marketer's dream.

152
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Indians at Astros, April 27, 2019
« on: April 27, 2019, 05:02:11 pm »
Y’all just made me realize I can give a future kid the initials CFM.

153
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Indians @ Astros, April 26, 2019
« on: April 27, 2019, 12:43:46 pm »
Josh James will be in RR soon.

He needs it. Who comes up?

154
Talk Zone / Re: Boras and Free Agency article in The Athletic
« on: April 26, 2019, 07:25:59 pm »
No, but along the lines of seeing that all their hitters have a certain approach.

Kyle Boddy and Eno Sarris were tweeting about that the other day. It was literally “they all set up the same.” They were having a great time laughing at that.

155
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Twins at Astros, April 23, 2019
« on: April 23, 2019, 07:27:30 pm »
This battle is long since lost, but I really wish the broadcast would get rid of the strike zone box.

156
I'm not crying, I was just chopping onions.

Ahhh fuck I’m just crying

157
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Round Rock 2019
« on: April 18, 2019, 05:56:06 pm »
I’d forgotten this, but they’ve finally started using MLB balls at AAA this season. And early returns show the ball—by design or not, no need to rehash that here—is flying farther and faster than ever. Expect some AAA hitters and pitchers to put up career high home run totals.

Of course, because it’s the MLB ball now, I guess those “inflated” AAA numbers should be ever-so-slightly more indicative of that we can expect when guys reach the bigs.

Link


158
Beer and Queso / Re: The Last Jedi [spoiler alert]
« on: April 18, 2019, 11:16:14 am »
With all my fanboi might, I was never able to reconcile in my mind how that happened.  Best I could come up with was Yoda and the other deceased Jedi braintrust willed it to happen to wake up the slumbering Luke. It’s a pretty unsatisfying rationale though.

It's so inexplicably stupid. There were a thousand better ways to do the map thing.

159
Talk Zone / Re: Ryan Pressly
« on: April 17, 2019, 02:40:07 pm »

160
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners, April 14, 2019
« on: April 15, 2019, 09:32:22 am »
Despite the sweep,  Seattle looks like they'll need to be reckoned with the rest of the season.

Maybe, but Mariners twitter sure is enjoying the ride while it lasts.

161
Talk Zone / Re: Tucker
« on: April 14, 2019, 06:56:59 am »
Hit one last night? Stat sheet had him with 5 Friday.

Yep, saw some tweets saying it was 485’.

162
Beer and Queso / Re: The Last Jedi [spoiler alert]
« on: April 12, 2019, 04:30:34 pm »
A form of it - I think they change it closer to the end.

It’s definitely “trailer music”–ified like they did with the Force theme in the Force Awakens trailer and Rey’s theme in the TLJ trailer.

163
Beer and Queso / Re: The Last Jedi [spoiler alert]
« on: April 12, 2019, 02:27:50 pm »
If I understood correctly what I saw it's more like Retcon of Last Jedi.

That’s how I saw it too. Looks like a complete 180.

164
Talk Zone / Re: Tom Hamilton
« on: April 11, 2019, 06:30:42 pm »
Do you think Bregman or Correa would not be major league players on other teams?

I guess I'm crazy so I'll shut up.

It’s not just whether they make the majors. It’s about how much of their potential gets realized. I think they are both better for being with the Astros than they would’ve been elsewhere.

165
Talk Zone / Re: Tom Hamilton
« on: April 10, 2019, 03:52:47 pm »
I think someone might’ve linked to these comments a couple months back—Kyle Boddy (the Driveline guy) has said lots of teams wrongly think the Astros organization is somehow cheating, because those teams have no idea just how far ahead of the curve the Astros are at player development.

Link

Link

166
Talk Zone / Re: I have been waiting for this
« on: April 05, 2019, 10:35:33 am »
I kept waiting for a Morton chapter that never came. He’s mentioned three times in the whole book, never more than in passing.

167
Talk Zone / Re: It’s Opening Day!!!!
« on: March 28, 2019, 09:02:33 am »
I'm trying out this fubo thing.

168
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Round Rock 2019
« on: March 28, 2019, 06:24:43 am »
That really is a fantastic roster. They might come third in the AL Central this year.

169
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: March 23, 2019, 02:06:06 pm »
Framber beats out Guduan for the last spot in the ‘pen.

170
Talk Zone / Team Payroll 2019
« on: March 23, 2019, 01:37:30 pm »
Rosenthal/Heyman/Passan et al. now confirming the deal is done at the terms Feinsand reported yesterday.

Having trouble putting the excitement I’m feeling into words, but I imagine y’all get it.

171
Talk Zone / Re: Team Payroll 2019
« on: March 22, 2019, 09:38:22 pm »
Report: JV nearing extension. 2 years, $66 million

Oh fuck yeah


Crane/Luhnow can do anything they want

That's all that matters right there. Crane can afford as much as he pleases. All I care is that he does his best to bring more trophies home, and right now that's what he's doing.

172
Talk Zone / Re: Team Payroll 2019
« on: March 22, 2019, 03:45:57 pm »
Cole speaks:

"Since the parties involved in what has been called a 'contract negotiation' like to air out the laundry, I guess I'll bring everyone up to speed," Cole told The Chronicle on Friday, noting he "typically doesn't talk about business in the press."

"There have been no contract negotiations," Cole said.

Cole is represented by Scott Boras. Cole said the Astros approached him and "asked if it would be OK to contact my representatives about an extension."

"I told them they are free to call Scott whenever they want," Cole said. That was the extent of the conversation and since then, Scott has not been contacted by anyone from the club. This seems more like a phone call negotiation involving the media than anyone else."

173
Talk Zone / Re: Team Payroll 2019
« on: March 22, 2019, 03:15:56 pm »
We saw just the other day with Maldonado that this is not true.

FWIW, Boras says the Astros signed Chirinos without ever making an actual offer to Maldonado. He did acknowledge they'd discussed a deal in line with the reported numbers, though.

The only reason I even think Boras' side of the story is worth mentioning is that Maldonado's new agent, Dan Lozano, is at least as big a POS as Boras and would not be above sharing some massaged facts with a reporter to make his competitor look bad. There's also a dispute over Maldonado's contract with KC—both agents claim to have negotiated that deal and are squabbling over the commission. Expect plenty of poo-flinging between them.


174
Talk Zone / Team Payroll 2019
« on: March 22, 2019, 12:00:24 pm »
Chris Sale is signing an extension with Boston, 5 years/$150 mil. That'll take him to right about the age Verlander is now.

Edit: Rosenthal says it’s 5/$145m.

175
Beer and Queso / Re: Podcasts
« on: March 20, 2019, 04:07:09 pm »
The Dropout is a very good telling of the Elizabeth Holmes & Theranos saga.

I'm starting this one immediately, thank you. That story fascinates me.

176
Beer and Queso / Re: Podcasts
« on: March 20, 2019, 09:42:53 am »
Yeah, I was devastated when Sam left. Jeff Sullivan’s verbal butterfly makes me want to scratch my ears out.

Miller's back. Sullivan got hired by the Rays. The setup is now Lindbergh as host, with Miller and Meg Rowley (of Fangraphs) as alternating co-hosts. Today's episode has the Astros season preview—nothing all that enlightening, but a decent recap of where the team stands (or stood before the Pressly & Bregman extensions).

177
Talk Zone / Re: Team Payroll 2019
« on: March 20, 2019, 07:41:42 am »
Both extensions are really fantastic news. Some teams get built to fit a narrow contention window and fall into rebuilding after a couple years. This team is built to last.

As for the salary cap effects, does today count as opening day because of the game in Japan?

178
Talk Zone / Bryce Harper
« on: March 19, 2019, 09:21:35 am »
And Harper’s record is demolished. The Angels are extending Trout’s contract for 12 years, $430 million.

Edit: this actually adds ten years, as it replaces the two years remaining on his current deal.

179
Talk Zone / Re: Spring Training 2019
« on: March 15, 2019, 05:38:30 pm »
@HunterAtkins35: A.J. Hinch was ejected one pitch into tonight's game. Unclear why (no TV feed in here). He barked in the face of the HP umpire, spent minutes arguing, had to be restrained by a coach and George Springer, got tossed, then slowly walked to the left field exit to make a spectacle


(yes, it was Angel Hernandez)

180
Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??
« on: March 14, 2019, 04:26:33 pm »
Well, it won’t be fun if it happens to us and Osuna is the one ready to go standing in the bullpen watching.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Then I’ll be mad Pressly didn’t make his pitch, not that Osuna couldn’t come in.

181
Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??
« on: March 14, 2019, 10:44:01 am »
Here's the list of changes from MLB.com. In addition to the ones I mentioned above:
  • 2019: Inning breaks for local games shortened from 2:05 to 2:00, national games from 2:25 to 2:00
  • 2019: Mound visits reduced from 6 to 5
  • 2019: If the All-Star Game goes into extras, each extra inning will start with a runner on 2B
  • 2020: Aside from extra innings or blowouts, certain designated two-way players will be eligible to bat and pitch:
    • "A player can only qualify for this designation if he accrues at least 20 Major League innings pitched and at least 20 Major League games started as a position player or designated hitter (with at least three plate appearances in each of those games) in either the current or the prior season."
  • 2020: Minimum time off the roster for optioned or injured players extended from 10 days to 15 days (this one is basically "fuck you, Dodgers")

My first thought is the Angels might have to rush Ohtani back to the mound to qualify him as a two-way guy for 2020 unless MLB makes an exception.

182
Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??
« on: March 14, 2019, 09:03:08 am »
They have probably captured when it would happen, but why the hell do they care when a position player takes the mound?

If they're eligible to pitch all the time, the pitcher limit is unenforceable because teams will just designate relievers as position players and bring them in whenever they like.


FIFY

Whoops, yes. Important correction.

183
Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??
« on: March 14, 2019, 08:32:16 am »
Come gather 'round people, wherever you roam:
  • 2019: No August trades (as noted above)
  • 2019: All-star "election day" runoff between the top 3 vote-getters at each position
  • 2019: Cash bonuses for home run derby participants ($2.5M total, $1M to the winner)
  • 2020: 3-batter minimum
  • 2020: 26-man rosters (limited to 28 in September)
  • 2020: not yet officially determined, but sure looks like there'll be a 13 pitcher maximum (14 in September), and position players could only pitch in extra innings and or when leading or trailing by at least 7 runs
And they're going to start negotiating the next CBA early to avoid a stoppage.

184
Talk Zone / Re: Team Payroll 2019
« on: March 13, 2019, 03:35:28 pm »
I do see another challenge to the Anti-trust exemption brewing on the horizon...

The antitrust exemption is basically irrelevant here. It was repealed by statute for matters relating to labor issues. This is just a bad CBA for the players.

185
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: March 13, 2019, 11:57:45 am »
So, given that, I'll take back my "heir apparent" to Marwin because it probably confused many of you.

I think we were confused because heir presumptive is the more apt analogy.

186
Talk Zone / Ex-Astros News 2019
« on: March 13, 2019, 09:03:20 am »
Tony Sipp signs a major league deal with the Nats, $1.25 million with a $250k buyout on a 2020 mutual option (option is for $2.5 million).

187
Talk Zone / Re: Spring Training 2019
« on: March 12, 2019, 08:00:38 pm »
Verlander gave up two dingers to Nats prospect Carter Kieboom. I had a flashback to when Edwin Maysonet hit two off Halladay in the same game one spring.

188
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: March 12, 2019, 04:31:57 pm »
He has 51 days of service time now.  If he spent the entire 2019 season on the Major League roster, he'd be a free agent in 2025.  To push that back to 2026, he'd have to spend roughly 140 days in the minors this year.  Most of it.

Thanks for the math. Sounds like it almost certainly won’t be a factor in their roster decisions.

189
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: March 12, 2019, 01:34:16 pm »
Today's cuts: Tucker, Armenteros, Whitley, Martin, Bukauskas, Bielak, DeGoti.


Anyone know how long would Tucker have to spend in the minors for the team to recoup that extra year of control?

190
Talk Zone / Re: Ex-Astros News 2019
« on: March 10, 2019, 05:17:04 pm »
Game 2.

Oh of course, I confused him with Morrow in G5.

The great thing about mixing up two of the best games of your life is that the remedy is re-watching two of the best games of your life.

191
Talk Zone / Ex-Astros News 2019
« on: March 10, 2019, 04:35:48 pm »
The Dodgers released Josh Fields.

Yordan Alvarez says hi.

Between Alvarez and Game 5, that’s really one of the better trades in franchise history.

Edit: son of a gun, wasn’t quick enough on the draw.

192
Talk Zone / Re: Ex-Astros News 2019
« on: March 08, 2019, 04:11:47 pm »
Rosenthal reporting it was for 2 yrs/$12MM.

Holy hell, what was he thinking turning that down?

193
Talk Zone / Re: Ex-Astros News 2019
« on: March 08, 2019, 09:45:15 am »
Boras is going to lose clients a whole lot bigger than Maldonado if he keeps producing results like he has the past 2 years.

194
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2019 Rule 5 Draft
« on: March 07, 2019, 01:33:31 pm »
Bailey could definitely get popped.

195
Talk Zone / Re: Spring Training 2019
« on: March 05, 2019, 09:52:59 am »
Reed has zero value.  He is a AAAA hitter who can't hit in the major leagues. 

Even corner guys who can hit don’t have that much of a market these days. He will probably be a waiver claim for someone who wants to try him back on the mound.

196
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)
« on: March 03, 2019, 12:21:28 pm »
Stroman should still be available. I don’t know how low Keuchel’s price would have to drop for Luhnow to give up that draft pick, but I bet it’s “pretty damn low.”

197
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: March 02, 2019, 11:45:28 am »
Salvador Perez likely headed to TJS.

Martin Maldonado casually strolls by Royals camp, whistling and whistling at a continuously increasing volume.

198
Should’ve nominated Kathaleen Wall smdh

199
Talk Zone / Re: Bryce Harper
« on: March 01, 2019, 09:01:25 am »
The Phillies also added J. T. Realmuto, Jean Segura and Andrew McCutchen.  Last year they were 80-82 in a division where 90 wins ran away with it.  They were already contenders.  Then they added Harper.

Plus David Robertson, which I'd completely forgotten. Incredible offseason.

200
Talk Zone / Re: Preseason Panic
« on: February 28, 2019, 09:43:10 pm »
I admit I’ve made a few of these mistakes on accident.

201
Talk Zone / Re: Bryce Harper
« on: February 28, 2019, 02:11:39 pm »
I think a lot of the reaction will be "lol they'll be paying a 39-year-old Harper $25 million," but the length of the contract benefits the Phillies by keeping their annual budget (and, importantly, their luxury tax figure) lower. And like Noe says, the lack of opt-outs also favors the team.

So Harper gets his record guarantee, but in a generally team-friendly way.


ETA: reports also saying Harper gets a full no-trade clause. Not surprising I suppose, but makes the deal a little less team-friendly.

202
Talk Zone / Re: Bryce Harper
« on: February 28, 2019, 01:56:58 pm »
Finally signed. Harper to Philly. $330 million over 13 years. No opt-outs. Sets an overall record, but nowhere near the AAV record.

203
Talk Zone / Re: Preseason Panic
« on: February 27, 2019, 05:49:43 pm »
Irregardlessly, you guys are idiots.

It’s a deep-seeded problem.

204
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)
« on: February 27, 2019, 01:44:24 pm »
Peacock would already have been in most (if not every) other teams’ rotation plans. They have built incredible depth in this organization.

205
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)
« on: February 27, 2019, 01:41:43 pm »
not to insult  any bb gods but may this be the beginning and end of the list

McHugh was scheduled for two innings but came out after one due to back soreness.

206
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)
« on: February 27, 2019, 10:38:53 am »
Shit. He'll be extremely fun to watch out of the bullpen, but shit.


@Chandler_Rome: A.J. Hinch on the fifth starter competition without Josh James: “The kids that everyone will immediately go to — Whitley, Martin, Bukauskas — those guys are not options to break out of camp. They’re not ready to jump into a rotation.”

Candidates remain Peacock, Valdez, Rodgers


Rome also adds Perez & Armenteros are candidates as well.

ETA: But see McTaggart—"The fifth starter competition is essentially down to Peacock and Valdez."

207
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: February 25, 2019, 11:07:21 am »
The problem is that it's not a free market when most of the players are under club control. I agree with MM that most likely every front office arrived at the same conclusion, but systemic issues regarding how player mobility is tightly restricted at the early (and usually most productive) stage of a player's career are why everyone arrived at the same conclusion. The problem isn't going to go away, and a work stoppage seems pretty likely if the equities don't get balanced out before the expiration of the current CBA.

Bingo. "Free market" is a bad description of a 30-member cartel with antitrust protections purchasing organized labor under collectively bargained rules that limit spending on the high end, require spending on the low end, redistribute wealth from richer organizations to less-rich organizations, restrict new entrants into the labor pool, restrict labor from moving from one employer to another, etc, etc, etc. But it is a market, and teams are following their incentives within that market.

208
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: February 25, 2019, 10:57:45 am »
Steve Phillips might have been a shitty GM, but I completely agree with his simplistic take on Free Agency:  "The owners were doing stupid things.  The owners have quit doing stupid things.  The players demand that the owners continue to do stupid things".

And the players stupidly bargained themselves into a position that relied on the owners doing stupid things. They'll try like hell to correct that mistake next time. Odds of a stoppage are very high.

209
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: February 22, 2019, 03:06:53 pm »
I'd be surprised if the owners are pulling a repeat of the 1980s. Collusion isn't necessary to explain the current market. The terms of the CBA incentivize against spending for big- and small-market teams alike. The luxury tax suppresses payrolls on the high end, while revenue sharing (plus long-term TV deals and BAMtech sale proceeds) guarantees even shitty teams are profitable—so why throw money down the drain on free agents?

210
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: February 22, 2019, 11:50:07 am »
Marwin to Minnesota. 2 years, $21 million.

211
Talk Zone / Re: Bryce Harper
« on: February 20, 2019, 03:14:22 pm »
GM: “Sure, Manny got ten years, but he has an opt out after five so he can pursue another FA deal. Here is a five year deal for you at $X. At its end, you are free to go after the next big deal too without having to fight over the opt out clause now.”

Harper: "Do you think I am fucking stupid or only ordinary stupid?"

212
Talk Zone / Re: Bryce Harper
« on: February 20, 2019, 02:58:08 pm »
Did not say he would. If Manny intends to opt out, he only has s five year deal.

Machado has a 10-year guarantee. He may intend to opt out after 5, but if his left leg falls off in 2023 he can still collect every penny of his $300 million. If Harper takes a 5-year deal, he doesn’t get that same protection. The annual salary would have to be sky high to get him to take a deal like that.

213
Talk Zone / Re: Bryce Harper
« on: February 20, 2019, 02:33:52 pm »
Why not say to Harper: “Sure, Manny got ten years, but he has an opt out after five so he can pursue another FA deal. Here is a five year deal for you at $X. At its end, you are free to go after the next big deal too without having to fight over the opt out clause now.”

Why would Harper take a lower guarantee?

214
Talk Zone / Re: JV and Cole
« on: February 20, 2019, 02:00:58 pm »
I hope he means it. I don't want to see JV finish his career anywhere else.

215
Talk Zone / Re: Bryce Harper
« on: February 19, 2019, 11:33:32 am »
Machado signed with San Diego. 10 years, $300 million.

216
Talk Zone / Re: Ex-Astros News 2019
« on: February 16, 2019, 06:01:49 pm »
Maybin going to San Francisco as a non-roster invitee.

217
Beer and Queso / Re: Dating App
« on: February 16, 2019, 07:10:51 am »

218
Talk Zone / Re: Arb-Eligible Players 2018
« on: February 14, 2019, 03:53:52 pm »
Bauer has apparently clarified that the "character assassination" was done by the MLB Labor Relations Department representatives, not Cleveland's people. "Labor relations" indeed.

219
Talk Zone / Re: Arb-Eligible Players 2018
« on: February 14, 2019, 02:08:57 pm »
I am legitimately interested to see how his “I’ll never sign a multi-year deal” plan works out. He could do pretty well for himself if his arm doesn’t fall off.

220
Talk Zone / Re: Arb-Eligible Players 2018
« on: February 13, 2019, 01:37:45 pm »
When is the announcement of Cole's win expected?

Today, apparently. He gets his $13.5 million.

221
Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??
« on: February 08, 2019, 02:28:43 pm »
Manfred says they'll wait until the next CBA to decide on bringing the DH to the NL. So 2022 at the earliest.

222
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Top Prospect Lists 2018-2019
« on: February 08, 2019, 09:37:38 am »

223
Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??
« on: February 08, 2019, 09:30:01 am »
I heard someone say yesterday that they need to find a way to bring back the steroid era without the steroids. Probably right, but how to do it??


They juiced the ball instead of the players.

224
Oh trust me, I know that his base is as solid (and as dumb) as a rock.  However, he cannot outrun Congress - if it chooses to do its job - and he cannot outrun the SDNY because he has no authority over a state entity.  Schultz can fuck up the 2020 election (or Democrats can do it all by themselves - see the nonsense already starting with Klobachar), but the legal process is - at this point - a homing glacier that's coming for Trump.  There is just far too much illegal shit that's far too obviously and stupidly perpetrated for his criminal liability not to be substantial and provable.

SDNY is a Federal entity.

225
Russians are already promoting Tulsi Whatsherface just for shits and giggles.

So is David Duke. What a time to be alive.

226
Talk Zone / Re: Surely this will please the BBGs
« on: February 06, 2019, 08:18:51 pm »
Looks like a great big moldy shit.

227
Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??
« on: February 06, 2019, 06:24:45 pm »
Let's pretend Devo comes into a game with the Astros up 6 - 1 in the top of the 8th to relieve Peacock who has just loaded the bases with no outs. Devo throws three balls and then gives up a grand slam to make the score 6-5. Next batter hits a rope to LF for a single. Then Hinch says to no one in particular, "Damn, Osuna hasn't pitched in three days and is ready to go. Too bad Devo has to face another batter before I can make a change." 

That is not the kind of magerial handcuffing I want to see.

On the other hand, it forces a different strategic decision: do you go straight to Osuna instead of Devo, knowing the stakes are raised by the 3-batter minimum?

228
Talk Zone / Re: Fondest Memory of Meeting a HOFer
« on: February 06, 2019, 06:22:15 pm »
I obviously don't know the exact years he played and don't know for certain all of the teams he played for, but some of that time was during the teens because Ruth stopped pitching around 1919. Maybe I'll do some sleuthing. I should have asked my Dad his name, but Dad's gone.

I took a crack at it this morning to see if there was an obvious answer. Didn’t find anyone who jumped out, but another data point or two could probably solve the mystery. Baseball Reference has some really good search tools. You can even search for players who died in a given state, if you happen to have a hunch that the guy lived out his days in East Texas.

229
Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??
« on: February 05, 2019, 11:23:21 pm »
I have no problem with any of those proposals except expanding rosters to 26, and even that is a minor thing.

I would also just ban mound visits entirely.

230
Talk Zone / Re: Arb-Eligible Players 2018
« on: February 05, 2019, 02:24:45 pm »
Correa won his case.

231
Talk Zone / Re: Team Payroll 2019
« on: February 03, 2019, 08:16:05 pm »
Per Rosenthal, Devo settled his arb case:

Chris Devenski settled his arbitration case with #Astros at $1.525M. Deal also includes club option at $2.625M for 2020. Base in ‘20 can increase to $2.725M if 50G in ‘19, $2.825M if 60, $2.925M if 68. Had asked for $1.65M. Team had offered $1.4M.

232
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Top Prospect Lists 2018-2019
« on: February 03, 2019, 01:36:16 pm »
As FG rolls out their updated team prospect lists, they're publishing this data. You can see that info here for the already-released teams & players. The Astros' info should be out in a couple of weeks.

Very, very cool shit.

Hot damn! Thanks Nate.

233
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Top Prospect Lists 2018-2019
« on: February 03, 2019, 01:00:02 pm »
Quick 2018 BU calculations for Astros pitchers, including some recent departures and new arrivals. These are for 4-seamers only, so don't read into the numbers for guys like McCullers/Harris/Keuchel/Miley who rely on other fastballs:

27.56 Verlander
27.26 Harris
26.78 Pressly
25.58 Deetz
25.24 Osuna
25.13 McCullers
25.02 McHugh
24.98 Guduan
24.87 Peacock
24.81 Devenski
24.73 Martes (2017)
24.65 Cole
24.50 Valdez
24.38 Giles
24.38 Smith
24.33 James
24.31 Miley
24.12 Keuchel
23.35 Morton
23.12 Perez
21.08 Rondon

Small sample size warnings also apply for many of these guys, obviously. I wish we had MiLB data to help supplement these numbers. I'd sure be interested to see spin data for Whitley, Bukauskas, Martin, etc.

Also keep in mind almost all these guys are above league average—the Astros have been on the spin train for a long time.

234
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Top Prospect Lists 2018-2019
« on: February 03, 2019, 12:05:00 pm »
Thankfully, Nate defined “Bauer units.”  Is it supposed to a good quality, as in more Bauer units (BUs) are better than less BUs?  My immediate reaction is that if it’s named after Bauer, the answer is no, but really, “who the hell knows.”  With the same spin, increasing velocity has to be good (my assumption), but it decreases the BU.

I had the same thought. These articles at Driveline explain the velo–spin relationship pretty well. They also help explain a bit of why Giles’ fastball seemed so hittable.

235
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: February 01, 2019, 04:00:30 pm »
I’d be real uneasy with a 40 year old pitcher at 30 million plus on my roster, even if it is JV. I haven’t researched it, but among active pitchers, he has to have thrown more pitches than almost anyone in the show.

He is superhuman though.....

What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arm?

236
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: February 01, 2019, 09:00:59 am »
His contract (see Nate’s post in the payroll thread) is interesting in that the incentives are for games started and for relief appearances. Miley clearly thinks there’s a chance he’ll be in bullpen for a good chunk of the season. Sounds like the club wouldn’t guarantee him a rotation spot, which could mean they’re still considering adding another starter. And there’s still plenty of payroll space available.

237
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 31, 2019, 05:15:49 pm »
In actual 2019 Astros roster news, they've signed LHP Wade Miley to a 1-year, $4.5 million deal. No option or anything.

238
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Top Prospect Lists 2018-2019
« on: January 30, 2019, 04:54:33 pm »
I saw he said Alvarez has an “overrated bat” in his chat earlier today.

Heck of a ranking for Martin.

239
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 28, 2019, 10:44:43 am »
Let's assume for the moment that Marwin is a better hitter than Tyler White, I'd still rather have Tyler White because Marwin is going to cost a bunch of money that could be better spent on starting pitching.  And Tyler White is basically playing for nothing.  (And don't tell me that money isn't an issue).  But if the Astros were going to go out and get a free agent DH, I'd rather get Moustakas.  Much more power than Marwin.  I also think that Moustakas will sign for less years and less money than Marwin.  As for White's posteason, yeah, he had a crappy series against the Red Sox (as did a lot of the Astros), but he had a good series against the Indians.

Money isn't an issue, but you're still right.

240
Talk Zone / Re: Astros Hall of Fame
« on: January 26, 2019, 09:36:25 pm »
Is this just so they can sell tickets to the Berkman & Oswalt induction days?

241
It’s funny how fast these dipshits fold once the workers stand up to them. The air traffic controllers and flight attendants and TSA just handed Trump his ass. And kudos to the Dems for holding the line.

242
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 HOF Ballot
« on: January 25, 2019, 02:30:38 pm »
I think it's odd that Mussina and Halladay will have blank caps on their plaque. Is there anyone else with a blank cap (excepting those who played before there were team logos on caps)?

Maddux, I think.

243
Disagree on branding. "Wealth tax" is way better than "income tax." How many voters consider themselves wealthy? Branding it a wealth tax signals it doesn't apply to most people.

Enforcement is obviously a nightmare, but the real problem is constitutionality. IMO it's nothing more than a way of signaling "I'm an enemy of the rich."

ETA: it also might be a way of bringing Bernie people into her camp. Her odds go down if he gets into the race, so she's got to try to box him out.

245
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 24, 2019, 11:41:07 am »
Dodgers just signed AJ Pollock. Could be 5 years @ 60 range.

My first thought was "I guess they're out of the running for Harper," but you never know with them.

246
That’s Bull Run according to his base.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Other way around actually.

247
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 HOF Ballot
« on: January 23, 2019, 04:20:15 pm »
Good grief.  What a terrible notion.

Sorry Babe Ruth,  your plaque needs to be moved for the unanimous Jeter display.

YEAH JEETS

YEAH JEETS

248
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 HOF Ballot
« on: January 23, 2019, 03:08:04 pm »
Go easy on Buster. He’s out of a job if he doesn’t keep coming up with inane BS like that.

249
yeah, this is a bullshit made-up excuse, but it was becoming evident over the last weeks if you listed to Lanny Davis closely.  Personally, I've never trusted Cohen to be a viable snitch and I just don't trust Davis, so I've been skeptical of hanging much on Cohen.  I distrust him so much, that I almost wonder if compelling him through a subpoena might be stepping into a trap.  But, I'm often wrong on these things.

Good instinct, imo.

250
$400k is the inflation-adjusted figure.  98% of households make less than that.

Nice. Anyone in the 2%, feel free to vote against. But I feel like the numbers are probably on our side.

251
Eisenhower taxed income above $400,000 at 72%.

I'd do this today, but I guess I'd have to settle for it being inflation-adjusted.

252
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 HOF Ballot
« on: January 23, 2019, 09:17:45 am »
What do we do with Pete Rose then?

Put him in. I don’t think exclusion from the hall makes sense as a punishment. I find his being on MLB broadcasts way more distasteful than including him in the HOF.

253
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 HOF Ballot
« on: January 23, 2019, 08:57:06 am »
Eventually Bonds, Clemens will be recognized even if there is a special designation such as a cheaters wing.

I hope that’s not how it happens. Seeing the “asterisk” ball in person at the HOF put it all in perspective for me. People trying to keep Bonds & Clemens out of the hall, or to somehow mar their memorabilia there, are just trying to insert themselves into history. It’s so selfish, so petty. There I was, looking at the record-setting HR ball, realizing there’ll forever be a big asterisk carved into it because some rich asshole wanted to write himself into the story. It sucked.

Let them in and trust the fans to make their own judgments on the history.

254
You're defending usage and display of that flag? How does a book that discusses the two decades leading up to the Civil War and the war itself and not the 150+ years of racism and terrorism since make you feel comfortable with said iconography?

If I read the book, am I supposed to feel differently about slavery afterwards?

Exactly the opposite—I meant if anyone feels the way jbm described ("it's not racist to me").

255
Talk Zone / Re: Astros-centric article on Analytics
« on: January 21, 2019, 12:02:22 pm »
Good article. It’s dead wrong about the luxury tax, but the main point about analytics is correct.

256
Should? Did he pinky swear? Well, then it doesn't count.

The government shutdown is not about money.

“But he said Mexico would pay!” is the dumbest fucking line. I think about it this way: if some Democratic candidate ran on “we’re doing Medicare for All and we’ll make the health insurance CEOs pay for it,” would I give half a shit about the second part? Of course I wouldn’t.

257
Do you think Trump's supporters will care if the wall is built and Mexico doesn't pay for it?

Not a whit.

258
To me, the wall is like the confederate flag, some people might honestly say that it’s not a racist symbol to them, but certainly can’t convince me that it’s not a racist symbol to many.


I encourage anyone who feels this way about Confederate iconography to read Battle Cry of Freedom. Actually, I encourage everyone to read Battle Cry of Freedom.

259
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 20, 2019, 04:16:40 pm »
One other quibble, if I may: opt-outs favor the player. If Harper gets an opt-out it's a safety net for him, not the team.

Thanks for bringing that up—these are often misunderstood as being at least somewhat team-friendly because they might clear up future payroll. But they're just like any other player option: if the player performs poorly enough that he can't beat the option on the market, he'll exercise it. He'll opt out if he can beat it, but that means he's likely to be worth more than the option priced him at. All an opt-out does is shift risk to the team.

260
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 19, 2019, 08:47:31 pm »
Heyman says Reds are “finalizing” a deal for Gray. One more option off the board. Stroman?

261
Talk Zone / Re: Bryce Harper
« on: January 19, 2019, 01:20:24 pm »
If I had to choose, I’d choose Harper.

262
Nah. Good outlets are still going to get things wrong. Even the most careful ones. I promise you, there is no level of “careful” that will convince the other side that a media organization is credible if it reports a story critical of Trump.

An outlet gets a story wrong and “we” decide “ah fuck, can’t trust them ever again.” An outlet in a different media bubble reports shit like prayer rugs in the desert and its readers think “yes, this is the truth.” This is a losing game.

263
Beer and Queso / Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: January 18, 2019, 09:30:45 pm »
Ronan Farrow?  Never knew he was viewed as knowledgeable on this.

At any rate, Mueller’s statement is pretty damn vague and can be read various ways, at least by a non lawyer like me. Breaking those clauses out into separate sentences would help. Does “regarding MC’s Congressional testimony” apply to both of the things preceding it?  For that matter, after finally reading the article, I’m having trouble squaring just what part of it would fit as “specific statements to the SC’s office.”

At any rate, concluding that Mueller is saying “Trump didn’t direct MC to lie” might be an erroneous conclusion to draw from this statement.

It’s intentionally vague. “Some of the BuzzFeed report is wrong, but we’re not saying which parts.”

ETA: it also pretty clearly means substantial parts of the report are incorrect. I don’t think they’d put out this statement over a minor inaccuracy.

265
Talk Zone / Re: AL West News 2019
« on: January 18, 2019, 03:21:25 pm »
Demonstrate to who? I'm sure Harper already knew about it. Demonstrate to Astros fans that they tried to do more at the deadline but were foiled by another team's owner, sure, we've seen that PR move employed before.

I'm not sure he would—Rizzo & ownership might well have kept that quiet. And he might not have known the destination even if he knew a trade had been nixed.

It could just be to let the fans know they tried. But the information clearly came from the Astros, who don't leak a drop unless they mean to. So I figure there's purpose behind it when something does get out.

266
Beer and Queso / Re: The Last Jedi [spoiler alert]
« on: January 18, 2019, 11:52:06 am »
Same. I’ve always thought Palpatine was bullshitting there.

Here I am in 2019 talking Star Wars theories on a forum. It’s 2004 all over again. Time is a flat circle.

267
Beer and Queso / Re: The Last Jedi [spoiler alert]
« on: January 18, 2019, 11:38:32 am »
When was that implied within the movies?

Some people see the “Darth Plagueis the Wise” scene that way. It’s a fair theory, but I don’t subscribe to it myself.

268
Beer and Queso / The Last Jedi [spoiler alert]
« on: January 18, 2019, 10:55:16 am »
It’s always been clear the Force isn’t purely a matter of inheritance. I’m just saying Johnson was trying to reiterate the theme expressed in Luke’s little speech: “[the] Force does not belong to the Jedi. To say that if the Jedi die the light dies is vanity.”

ETA: this is perfectly consistent with Lucas’ stories. A central premise of the prequel trilogy is that the Jedi Order was a decaying institution and was out of touch with the nature of the Force.

269
Talk Zone / Re: AL West News 2019
« on: January 18, 2019, 10:40:31 am »
I'm not amazed that teams are planning on lower cable money in the future and want to reign in big contracts.

This isn’t really a threat in the timespan of any contract signed in 2019. Revenue growth is still far outpacing payroll growth.

Not offering big contracts to chunky 32-year-old sluggers is smart. Not offering them to 26-year-old phenoms is dumb.

270
Talk Zone / Re: AL West News 2019
« on: January 18, 2019, 10:11:40 am »
What exactly would be the reason?

I think it was to demonstrate that they’re serious about wanting him in Houston. I don’t expect him to sign here, but I think the Astros do want him.

271
Talk Zone / Re: AL West News 2019
« on: January 18, 2019, 10:08:53 am »
I’ve thought all along that we could be in on Harper but that it would only be a short 3 or 4 year deal with a very high AAV.


Or even one year at a very high value.

272
Beer and Queso / Re: The Last Jedi [spoiler alert]
« on: January 18, 2019, 10:06:38 am »
I still don't understand why schtable boy (love that) was shoved at us so hard.

I’m in the camp that doesn’t think he has anything to do with the other trilogy. I think it was Johnson putting theme ahead of story again (the Force is eternal, it doesn’t belong to the Skywalker clan or the Jedi, and it can emerge where you least expect it). It was, of course, hamfisted. And it actually pisses me off because I thought the ending on the Falcon was perfect.

273
BuzzFeed’s news division is (shockingly) pretty good—they’re not McClatchy—but waiting for a second outlet to confirm the story is wise.

274
Talk Zone / Re: AL West News 2019
« on: January 18, 2019, 07:20:26 am »
Buster Olney reiterated on today’s podcast that he believes the Astros could be the mystery team for Harper.

I’ll keep saying it until Harper signs somewhere else: the Astros leaked that trade story to Rosenthal for a reason.

275
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 17, 2019, 03:59:47 pm »
Jon Heyman  @JonHeyman 11s ago
#SFGiants interesting new entrant in Sonny sweepstakes. It does make sense; Giants prez Farhan Zaidi, who knows Sonny from A’s days, is said to be fan. It appears some other linked teams — A’s, Brewers, Braves, M’s, Pads, Reds — don’t appear to be at forefront of talks at moment.

That'd be an interesting move. Risky, but it's very possible they could flip him for more at the deadline than they'd give up today.

A's are also said to be in. Or not. Conflicting reports. Lots of disinformation out there.

276
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 HOF Ballot
« on: January 17, 2019, 02:03:55 pm »
Oswalt and Berkman are both going to drop off the ballot. That's pretty surprising.

277
Beer and Queso / Re: The Last Jedi [spoiler alert]
« on: January 17, 2019, 11:53:05 am »
Yep.  Stupid casino part.

Rose just struck me as "off" when I first watched it, and still more when I watched it again.  The romance angle with Finn seemed forced at first, and this doesn't get better.  The whole casino sub-plot appears to have been manufactured just to put Finn and Rose together when, in actuality, it was an entirely irrelevant to the plot in the end.  Even Rose stopping Finn from suicide-bombing the battering ram didn't change anything.  It's all just pointless filler.

Johnson started with his preferred arc for each character (Finn transforming from self/Rey-interested to committed freedom fighter, Poe transforming from cocky pilot to actual leader) and developed extremely clunky plots around them. As much as I like the Luke/Rey/Kylo plot, I don’t have a whole lot to say in defense of the rest. Rose is an afterthought created just because Finn needed someone to talk to. The romantic aspect is dumb as hell.

278
The shutdown is eroding Trump’s base.  In an NPR simple approval  poll, the difference between last month and this is:

-7% among Republicans
-6% among white men w/o college degree
-7% among white evangelicals
-9% among suburban men
-11% among white women w/o college


Holy hell, those numbers are astounding. What's the way out of this? Keep up the fight and continue to bleed support? Take the loss and come away with nothing?

I have no doubt those numbers will find their way back to normal before the next election, but damn.

279
Beer and Queso / Re: The Last Jedi [spoiler alert]
« on: January 16, 2019, 08:31:20 pm »
If Luke senses the dark how could he have not sensed the conflict and as with Vader appealed relentlessly to his light side.

If the rumors of JJ backtracking 8 in episode 9 are true fans of 8 are going to be disappointed.

IMO, it’s because Ben is fundamentally bad. Anakin was a troubled but good person. Ben has attachments to family, etc., but deep down he’s rotten. Even the worst people might love their mothers. Not every conflicted soul is a good soul. Luke tells Leia (and Ben himself) as much.

I think Abrams would be wrong to backtrack on Ben being a true villain. I’m not interested in a redemption arc for him. But this question (and the Luke debate) are part of why I like what TLJ did with the Skywalker story.

280
Beer and Queso / Re: The Last Jedi [spoiler alert]
« on: January 16, 2019, 06:54:55 pm »
From risking the whole galaxy because he saw a sliver of good in Vader (and being right) to killing Ben Solo in his sleep because he’s a bit naughty (and being so wrong he created the new worst person)?

You mean when he saw the destruction of the galactic order and everything he had devoted his life to, and then didn’t actually try to kill him even though he should have?

It’s a tragic recursion. It’s a lot like Anakin having a disturbing vision of Padmé’s death in EIII and, in trying to prevent it, causing it to happen. Just one of those things that happens to the Skywalker boys.

281
Beer and Queso / Re: The Last Jedi [spoiler alert]
« on: January 16, 2019, 05:12:57 pm »
I really enjoyed The Last Jedi, and thought it was exactly how Luke would have evolved.

+1

282
Beer and Queso / Re: The Last Jedi [spoiler alert]
« on: January 16, 2019, 03:47:25 pm »
I really just have no desire to see it so I'll take your word for it.

You’re not missing anything. It’s not horrible, it’s just completely unnecessary.

283
Talk Zone / Re: Ex-Astros News 2019
« on: January 14, 2019, 01:02:41 pm »
Just end the slotting system already. Let teams pay as much as they’re willing to pay.

284
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 12, 2019, 06:21:42 pm »
I'd do that in a heartbeat but you might have to throw JBB into the deal as well to entice the Indians and make it a 4 for 1. And I think I'd do that deal also.

I would too, so I assume Cleveland would do neither.

285
Talk Zone / Re: Arb-Eligible Players 2018
« on: January 11, 2019, 04:37:40 pm »
Has Correa actually accepted any contract from the Astros since agreeing to his draft bonus? He’s made them renew him each year, right?

286
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 11, 2019, 12:49:24 pm »
Perhaps he will, but would you give up top tier prospects or James?

Definitely not James. Bukauskas maybe. Even with the upside, he's still too risky to get into a bidding war over.

287
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 11, 2019, 10:53:44 am »
He was damn good (not just lucky) away from Yankee Stadium last year. Not sure I’d pin my hopes on him, but it’s easy to imagine him returning to form.

288
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 10, 2019, 06:47:15 pm »
Really weird fit for the Mets, but Lowrie’s a bargain for anyone at that price.

289
Not to open a can of worms, but I think JBM is referring to the American mainstream media's (almost) universal support for making war on Iraq (which was true of the Democratic party as well).

The supposedly liberal American mainstream media has had war fever at least since Hearst and the Spanish-American war. That doesn't mean your left-leaning, muckracker reporters don't exist, just that they are the exception and have a much smaller platform within the larger MSM.


Extremely true. See also the MSM’s slobbering response when Trump ordered the missile strike in Syria. They get off on that shit.

290
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 10, 2019, 06:37:11 am »
Grandal to the Brew Crew on a one-year deal ($18.25 million, essentially the QO).

291
The major media outlets are all owned by mega-corporations.  The suggestion that they are liberally biased is laughable.

Their real preference is for finance/monopoly-friendly Democrats, but they’ll take Republicans if they have to. Anyone who doesn’t threaten the bottom line.

292
Which in itself is likely unconstitutional (Lawrence Tribe is a Harvard Law Professor and one of the preeminent constitutional scholars in America).

I haven't looked at this in particular, but Tribe has gone off the deep end the past couple years. It's best to take him with a grain of salt these days.

294
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 06, 2019, 12:23:01 pm »
Quote from a BP prospect writer who thinks the Mets gave up too much:

“I mean seriously if the Astros start calling you on dudes below full season A you should just hang the fuck up”

295
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 06, 2019, 11:56:30 am »
Astros and Mets close to a deal involving JD Davis per reports.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Reports say Lugo not involved. Speculating, maybe just Davis for a low-level minor leaguer?

296
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 05, 2019, 03:30:41 pm »
Dreaming. The rumor mill is dead quiet, as far as I can tell.

297
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 05, 2019, 02:28:15 pm »
Piggybacking on both of yall’s points, what jumps out at me is Gio only throws that high-spin curve about 20% of the time. Definitely seems like someone who could be Strommed quite effectively.

298
I don't think that's going to happen.

0.0% chance. DJT is, as usual, talking straight out of his ass.

299
Also, the shutdown has shut down E-Verify, which actually WORKS to fight illegal immigration.


*repeatedly smashing a mallet into my own testicles* ARE YOU OWNED YET? ARE YOU OWNED YET, LIBS?

300
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: January 01, 2019, 03:31:20 pm »
So what are the Mariners up to?

Seems like a weird signing in the middle of what looked like a fire sale.

They’ve cleared a ton of money, but they’re not bad enough to “compete” for a top pick in the draft. Makes sense to add a decent starter to keep them respectable in 2019. And they plan to contend relatively soon, so there’s an outside chance he could be part of their next postseason team.

301
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)
« on: December 31, 2018, 10:27:13 pm »
Heyman says he has a deal with the Mariners


Sooo traded in 5... 4... 3...


(I actually think the Ms are going to be decent next season)

302
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 29, 2018, 02:27:06 pm »
Astros looking at the Mets' Seth Lugo.

https://twitter.com/MarcCarig/status/1079068066632421376


For those wondering like I was, yes, his curve does have a crazy high spin rate.

303
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 29, 2018, 07:25:50 am »
Dammit Pedro, there are a thousand reasons he could be in town.

304
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 28, 2018, 06:52:32 pm »
LA Times reports Grandal rejected 4/$60mm from the Mets earlier this offseason. I hope to have that kind of confidence in myself someday.

305
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 28, 2018, 02:31:58 pm »
Anyone but the Rangers.


It’s a match made in heaven.

306
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 27, 2018, 02:48:19 pm »
Agree, but what is the plan?

At this point it's probably trade for a starter (Stroman?) and ride into the season with the lineup they have (but maybe add Realmuto if the price drops).

307
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: December 27, 2018, 11:41:18 am »
Pee tape real, yall.

308
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 27, 2018, 09:39:01 am »
Shit. Twins are getting Cruz at a very reasonable price. One year deal for $14 million. $12 million option for 2020 with a $300k buyout.

309
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 22, 2018, 10:32:32 am »


As for who the Astros might get for the rotation.  I heard a discussion on the MLB Network that the Astros were less interested in free agent pitchers and more interested in making trades.


Looking more and more likely with each FA signing. This time it's Fiers back to Oakland for 2 years, $14–15 millionish. Wouldn't have expected him back in Houston anyway, but he was one of the only halfway decent options remaining.

310
Talk Zone / Re: Is Reddick calling out Bregman
« on: December 22, 2018, 10:26:58 am »
I think it's just ribbing based on the rest of their comments. Bregman responded kiddingly and Reddick posted some laughing emoji.

Somehow that's a thing I actually thought and wrote instead of a line from American Vandal, but 2018 gonna 2018.

311
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 20, 2018, 10:04:07 pm »
I know the Giants are inclined to keep him until the deadline, but I still think Bumgarner makes sense.

312
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 20, 2018, 08:25:05 pm »
Well-reasoned on all points.

313
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 20, 2018, 06:14:07 pm »
Anibal Sanchez to the Gnats, Daniel Murphy to the Rockies. Sanchez was another guy, like Cahill, I thought the Astros might've been interested in to round out the rotation.

314
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 19, 2018, 06:02:27 pm »
I don't want to be a downer—I want to keep Cole as long as possible—but isn't Scott Feldman's contract still the largest/longest Luhnow has given a pitcher? I can't see him giving any pitcher the kind of contract Cole will get.

315
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 19, 2018, 04:02:38 pm »
Josh James/JB Bukauskas/JD Davis and Max Stassi.

I'd agree to that if I were Luhnow.

316
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 19, 2018, 02:59:52 pm »
Okay TTB, you keep saying I'm wrong and yet it still gets reported:

Here's what it will take to get Realmuto Read it and quit calling me wrong. There was early speculation that Houston was asked for Whitley and Tucker and Houston countered with Tucker and JBB. Miami said no. Go ahead and fool yourself about the price.

I have a bridge to sell you.

317
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 19, 2018, 02:57:20 pm »
And Tucker alone is worth more than the package offered for Harper.

318
Talk Zone / Re: Talk me off the ledge
« on: December 19, 2018, 10:29:16 am »
Absolutely is great for the Astros to have this reputation. Luhnow will attract and find all the geniuses he needs.

Bingo. He's already made two GMs under him. What could possibly be better for recruitment?

319
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 18, 2018, 10:27:21 am »
The first person I'd ask is Gerrit Cole.
Then Brent Strom, assuming Bauer was referring to him in this tweet.

320
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 17, 2018, 07:19:23 pm »
Some folks out there seem worried about Brantley's injury history. That's reasonable enough, but I think the Astros are as good as it gets at evaluating that kind of risk. If they're convinced he can stay on the field, that's good enough for me.

321
Talk Zone / Re: Bryce Harper
« on: December 17, 2018, 06:27:34 pm »
Seems extremely unlikely with Brantley in the fold.

322
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 17, 2018, 06:19:06 pm »
Great move.  Brantley is the kind of hitter this lineup needed.  Left handed (to add balance to the lineup), and is an outstanding contact hitter that will take a walk.  Very tough at bat for an opposing pitcher.

And with Brantley willing to play 1B/DH, it lets them keep their options open with Tucker and Reddick for the time being. Very solid signing.


And no QO attached, of course.

323
Beer and Queso / Re: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
« on: December 17, 2018, 10:27:52 am »
I like that DDL and the director chose not to hold back with it. They took their weird shit to 11. The problem is the movie seems to take itself so seriously that if you don't buy in 100%, it plays as almost comically bad.

I think of it as a "fun" movie. I'm pretty sure that's not what they were going for, but it's enjoyable if you approach it that way.

324
Talk Zone / Re: Talk me off the ledge
« on: December 14, 2018, 06:03:36 pm »
This void sucks.

325
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 14, 2018, 12:35:07 pm »
The flyers that they'll take are on guys with velocity and high spin.

Is there a breakdown out there of FAs spin rates?

I'm having trouble finding a good leaderboard, but Trevor Cahill seems to have pretty crazy spin on his curve when he's healthy enough to take the mound. Not a hard thrower, though.

326
Talk Zone / Re: Talk me off the ledge
« on: December 13, 2018, 01:22:12 pm »
There's still a lot of talent available. Waiting out the market a bit isn't the worst idea this year. Not sure that's what they're trying to do, but things should all work out regardless.

327
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 13, 2018, 11:06:30 am »
They should've made him the damned QO. He'd probably still be an Astro.

328
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 12, 2018, 06:02:31 pm »
On the flip side Luhnow drafted Lance Lynn while he was with the Cardinals.

He just got $30 million over three years from the Rangers. Wow.

329
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 12, 2018, 03:43:51 pm »
The report I saw was that the Astros offered one year plus an option. I loved having CFM in Houston, but I cannot possibly be upset with him if he was offered a significantly greater guarantee elsewhere.


On the plus side, I guess the Rays probably won't have the money to sign Cruz after this (I'm going to keep banging this drum until it happens).

330
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 12, 2018, 03:05:50 pm »
The Astros' apparent lack of interest and the weird option on his Rays deal makes me think something might be up with Morton's arm. I sure hope not, but it's the only way I can make sense of this.

331
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 12, 2018, 03:01:37 pm »
Fuck fuck fuck, fuck fuck, fuck fuck, fuck.

332
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 12, 2018, 01:28:40 pm »
Grandal would cost Luhnow his first round draft pick and the money flexibility associated with it.  Not going to happen.

Would not cost a first round pick. It'd be the second-rounder plus $500k in international spending money.

333
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 12, 2018, 12:52:12 pm »
MLBTR posted a Q&A with Nelson Cruz's agent, who says making the postseason is Cruz's top priority. It's hard to see any NL team signing him, and most other AL contenders are set at DH.

No qualifying offer attached. Not much competition for him. I want this to happen.

334
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 12, 2018, 09:44:59 am »
Edit: never mind. I didn't realize Kluber has two more option years on his deal.

335
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 11, 2018, 03:23:16 pm »
Your English teacher’s should be fired retroactively.
Subtle joke or autocorrect?

336
Talk Zone / Re: Tucker article in Chronicle
« on: December 11, 2018, 03:22:34 pm »
My guess is whoever told The Athletic Luhnow offered Tucker for Realmuto is full of shit.

337
Talk Zone / Re: Tucker article in Chronicle
« on: December 11, 2018, 10:48:17 am »
If I were a betting man, I would put good money against Luhnow dealing Tucker for Realmuto.

338
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 10, 2018, 02:23:53 pm »
I would be entirely on board with that.

339


Maybe my worldview is too simplistic, but if there were impeachable crimes committed then impeachment should follow.  Although, as an Independent I’m not looking at this from the standpoint of what’s best for a Democrat or Republican.  IMO, if crimes were committed then what is best for the country should precede what is best for a political party that serves the country.  I see too much harm coming from allowing a potentially criminally guilty President to continue to direct the affairs of the nation, no matter the optics that happen to any of the political party’s.  I agree with Limey, following suit with impeachment hearings would allow truth to be aired and that is important.


I hear you. To me, the political concern and the concern for the greater good of the country are aligned. The only realistic way Trump gets ejected from office is if the voters oust him themselves, and I think impeachment significantly reduces the chances that happens. I also think impeaching him lessens the chance he resigns, knowing how he hates to "lose."

Believe me, I'd be all for impeachment if there were a chance he'd end up being removed.

340
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: December 10, 2018, 09:10:23 am »
Not impeaching him, like not locking up bankers after 2008, makes it ok for someone to do it again.  It’s one of the reasons we put people injail(or to death), to show to others thinking about it that it’s not worth it.

It doesn’t matter that Republicans won’t convict; they’ll end up wearing that.  Impeachment in the House will lay bare all Trump’s crimes, which is a goal unto itself. 

This is just so, so wrong. Impeachment is political suicide for Democrats. I get that it's the right thing to do in the abstract, but it's also the biggest gift they could hand the GOP for 2020. Democratic candidates for House, Senate, and POTUS need to be able to make a positive case for their own policies. In particular, they need to keep the conversation on health care. Do you honestly think anyone will be able to break through with a positive message on health policy while everyone is screaming "IMPEACHMENT IMPEACHMENT IMPEACHMENT" on the airwaves 24/7? It's nonsense.

You have to offer an alternative to the circus. Offer a return to normalcy. Offer people a chance to go a day without being bombarded by the latest absurdity from Washington. Impeachment would do exactly the opposite.

341
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 HOF Ballot
« on: December 10, 2018, 08:30:57 am »
Also, I hate being reminded that Kenny Lofton dropped off with less than 5% on his first ballot. That was some bullshit.

342
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 HOF Ballot
« on: December 10, 2018, 08:22:53 am »
Jay Jaffe agrees that Smith is acceptable, Baines is hot nonsense. Interesting to see the names on the 16-person committee:

Hall of Famers: Roberto Alomar, Bert Blyleven, Pat Gillick, Tony La Russa, Greg Maddux, Joe Morgan, John Schuerholz, Ozzie Smith, Joe Torre

Executives: Al Avila (Tigers), Paul Beeston (Blue Jays), Andy MacPhail (Phillies), Jerry Reinsdorf (White Sox)

Media: Steve Hirdt (Elias Sports Bureau), Tim Kurkjian (ESPN), Claire Smith (ESPN)


Smith got all 16 votes, Baines got 12.

343
Talk Zone / Re: ‘86 NLCS
« on: December 09, 2018, 05:15:21 pm »
Some number of years ago, Footer tweeted out something J.D. said as he re-watched Game 6 during one event or another. More than twenty years after the fact, his reaction was simply "I still can't believe we lost that game."

344
Talk Zone / Re: Car accident claims lives of Valbueana, Castillo
« on: December 07, 2018, 08:27:26 am »
Awful news. I had forgotten Castillo's brief stint with the Astros in '08.

345
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 06, 2018, 03:58:58 pm »
Of the (realistic) options still available, I think the one I'd like the most would be Nelson Cruz.

346
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 05, 2018, 04:06:56 pm »
Not the shitbirds.
Heyman says it's the shitbirds.

347
Talk Zone / Re: Shift-Banning Proposal Gaining Momentum
« on: December 05, 2018, 02:54:29 pm »
Counterproductive nonsense. I guess a simple "two infielders each side of second" rule wouldn't cause too much of a problem, but that's mostly because it wouldn't make too much of a difference.

But really, it's hard to express how dumb this is. If you want more action on balls in play, un-juice the ball. When you make it too easy to hit a home run, everyone swings for a damned home run.

348
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 04, 2018, 05:51:51 pm »
I find it hard to believe we would pay Grandal the kind of money they say he’s asking for.

I have always felt that Realmuto was a pipe dream. I have felt all off season that we would spend our money or trade our assets for a starting pitcher and a bat. Today may be somewhat of a hint that thinking could be correct. I just think if you were going to go cheap on a catcher that there could’ve been better defensive options.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
What is Grandal asking for? The $$ predictions I've seen for him look pretty reasonable for a guy of his talent.

349
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 04, 2018, 04:54:26 pm »
I don't get this at all unless they're about to include Stassi in a deal for another catcher.

350
Talk Zone / Re: Oakland Stadium Plans
« on: December 03, 2018, 08:20:04 am »
Portland has stadium plans too, kinda. Now they just need an MLB team to go with it.

351
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: December 01, 2018, 12:26:37 pm »
Had they traded for him, the Astros probably would've non-tendered him yesterday too.

ETA: referring to Garcia.

352
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: November 30, 2018, 08:20:49 pm »
Lots of notable non-tenders around the league.

353
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: November 30, 2018, 04:44:16 pm »
Another catcher off the market. Natinals are reportedly getting Yan Gomes from Cleveland.

354


What if Trump decided he wanted Putin to bust a load of jizz upon his head as he played banjo with Johnny Cash's and Elvis's desiccated corpses on national TV, while wearing only a stylish sun dress made of human ears from everyone in states with populations less than the city of Portland Oregon--who had cut off their own damn ears and sent them by UPS to the White House where they were delicately hand stitched together by Paul Ryan into fashionably new presidential garments? Still not too far?


Johnny Cash and Elvis were Antifa

Jizz is the antidote to soy, Putin's is especially high-T

lol hey lib does my ear hole trigger you

355


Do you think he would still get support from the Republicans if he hanged an opiate addicted black nun on the white house lawn while simultaneously raping a blind twelve year old gender dysphoric youth in the oval office during which he would be raising his right hand in a Nazi salute and flipping the bird with his left? Just trying to gauge how far is too far.


"I don't agree with the President on everything, and I wish he'd tone down his rhetoric, but..."

356
Talk Zone / Re: Oakland Stadium Plans
« on: November 29, 2018, 10:23:04 am »
I wonder what it'll look like with a batter's eye.

357
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: November 27, 2018, 01:00:35 pm »
I'm really hoping the Goldschmidt thing happens.

These windows don't stay open forever.

Me too. Given the reports that there aren't many other contenders in the hunt for Goldy, this looks like a rare opportunity to get an elite bat without paying through the nose.

358
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Fall & Winter Leagues 2018-2019
« on: November 26, 2018, 08:56:08 pm »
On another teams bus again but Kyle was added to the Fish 40 man roster.   Our family is pretty pumped for him.
Huge step! Congratulations to all of you.

359
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Under the Knife 2019 & Prior
« on: November 26, 2018, 08:48:40 pm »
Labrum surgery per his comment. No idea what the recovery time is, but here's hoping he can finally get back on the field before long.

360
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: November 26, 2018, 01:36:05 pm »
Looks like two more 1B/DH options are off the market. The Twins claimed CJ Cron from the Rays, and the Braves are close to signing Josh Donaldson (according to Steve Phillips, anyway).

ETA: Rosenthal says Donaldson to Atlanta is done. 1 year, $23 million.

361
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: November 26, 2018, 01:01:42 pm »
We all knew he wasn't coming back, but Brian McCann signed with the Braves.

362
Talk Zone / Re: Warm stove
« on: November 20, 2018, 10:00:35 am »
Rosenthal has written that he thinks Cle may make Gomes available. That's a pretty good catcher.

Reports are Kluber and Carrasco available too. I get that they can probably take their division with 75 wins next season, but actively attempting to do so seems like questionable strategy.

363
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 HOF Ballot
« on: November 20, 2018, 09:40:24 am »
I also read he still leads MLB in complete games since 2009. There's probably a lot of nostalgia for that kind of workhorse with today's starters throwing so few innings.

364
Talk Zone / Re: Warm stove
« on: November 17, 2018, 12:31:03 pm »

365
Talk Zone / Re: Recapping front office changes
« on: November 16, 2018, 04:19:12 pm »
Elias, having passed his physical, has now officially been named GM in Baltimore.

366
Talk Zone / Re: Some seriously bad shit going down in Seattle
« on: November 14, 2018, 11:47:35 am »
I know fuckall about specific attitudes in the Seattle front office. But I'd love someone in any front office to offer an explanation for the continuing lack of American-born black catchers in MLB. I hope a good writer takes this opportunity to do a piece on that.

367
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: November 12, 2018, 11:40:50 am »
Continuing to reach out to people even when you know they won't vote for you also shows authenticity. It shows you don't turn your back on people. That plays well everywhere, so things like the rural county tour can help you in the cities & suburbs as well.

368
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: November 12, 2018, 09:36:10 am »
The county-by-county tour was a big part of building Beto's publicity. It probably helped him more than it hurt—how many votes do we really think he lost by spending time outside urban areas? And more importantly, writing off/abandoning your constituents is a terrible thing to do regardless of electoral outcomes. Get out there, keep making the case, and let the other guy get caught taking those votes for granted. You never know what might happen over the long run.

369
Talk Zone / Re: Bryce Harper
« on: November 10, 2018, 05:21:30 pm »
The article also says they pursued Avisail Garcia after Harper but backed off because of a knee problem (Martes was going to be the return). Garcia's under contract another year—makes me think they'll go get another outfielder this offseason.

Now that I think about it, I wonder if sharing this info with Rosenthal is a signal of interest in Harper...

370
Talk Zone / Re: Bryce Harper
« on: November 10, 2018, 02:48:26 pm »
I don't have a subscription to the Athletic. Is the article saying that Luhnow and Mark Rizzo had an agreement to a trade of Harper and the owners overruled this?
Yep.

372
Are you implying that ex-cons are most likely to vote Democrat?
Yes.

373
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: November 07, 2018, 07:35:47 pm »
We're excited to announce that we've hired Dave Hudgens as our Bench Coach.

Most recently, Dave served as the @Astros' Hitting Coach & won a World Series Championship in 2017.

Welcome to the #BlueJays, @dmhudgens!

Per Bluejays twitter

Dammit. Jeff Albert presumably would've replaced him if he hadn't taken the STL job a week or so ago. Now both are gone.

374
Talk Zone / Re: McCullers
« on: November 07, 2018, 04:43:07 pm »
They'll probably agree to a deal before arbitration, but I don't think it'll look that different from what he'd get if he were healthy.

375
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: November 07, 2018, 09:46:17 am »
Jim Bowden at the Athletic proposes Josh James and Tony Kemp for Realmuto. If I’m Luhnow, I jump all over that.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
In a heartbeat. Bowden is delusional.

376
In local news, it was a Dem rout in Harris County. Not even Ed Emmett survived.

377
Talk Zone / Re: Recapping front office changes
« on: November 04, 2018, 09:42:27 pm »
Following in Mike Fast's footsteps, Sig Mejdal has quit (says McTaggart).


Edit: I give up.

378
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: November 03, 2018, 05:43:39 pm »
Dammit. The MLBTR post was timestamped to early this morning, so I didn't look back farther than that. Come to think of it, you having a time machine would explain how you stay on top of everything....

379
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: November 03, 2018, 12:43:10 pm »
MLBTR's guesses are up. It's pure speculation on players' landing spots, but I find things like this useful for contract expectations. For instance, their guess for Marwin seems pretty reasonable in dollars & years.

380


I don’t know the answer, but there has to be a better way to put people on the bench. I’d be curious what Texas lawyers think.


Still a year away from being a lawyer, but I'd be fine with Texas adopting the Missouri Plan.

381
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: November 02, 2018, 05:49:27 pm »
I would be really surprised to see him match the Zobrist deal, though I'll be thrilled if he does. 3/$30MM or so seems realistic. But who the hell knows.

382
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: November 01, 2018, 11:29:21 am »
The Marlins traded the all-star outfield of Stanton, Yelich and Ozuna and managed to not acquire any prospect in MLB's top 100.

I was so hopeful when it came out Loria was going to sell the team. There was no reason the franchise had to be such a clusterfuck. Then Jeter & Co. took over, and somehow it's gotten worse. At this point I would vote to contract them and let the Rays move into their stadium.

383
The Chronicle endorsements are a pretty good guide on judges, at least the ones I'm personally familiar with. Certainly not perfect but way way better than going by party alone. I'd say if they rate a judicial candidate four or five stars, not that there are many, you can feel comfortable voting for that candidate regardless of party.

384
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: October 29, 2018, 05:48:12 pm »
Boras always wants to reject the QO and take his client to the open market. To consider accepting, he'd really have to think the market for Marwin will be weak.

385
Talk Zone / Re: Recapping front office changes
« on: October 29, 2018, 01:33:09 pm »
Assistant hitting coach Jeff Albert hired as hitting coach for the Cardinals. Former Astros' minor league manager Stubby Clapp named StL's first base coach.
He's a real loss. I spent a long time reading his twitter feed last year—the guy really knows his stuff.

386
Talk Zone / Re: WS: Dojers vs Blosox
« on: October 27, 2018, 09:23:13 am »
I read that that game was longer than the 1939 World Series.
I thought you were kidding until I hopped on twitter.

387
Talk Zone / Re: Recapping front office changes
« on: October 26, 2018, 11:09:26 am »
In non-Astros front office news, NYM are reportedly leaning toward agent Brodie Van Wagenen as their new GM (over longtime Rays saber-exec Chaim Bloom). This would be a very steM decision but not a very STEM decision.

388
Talk Zone / Re: ALCS
« on: October 21, 2018, 03:24:33 pm »
I was typing out a snarky reply starting with "I don't care if it's the damned mascot calling the pitches," then I realized if this shit keeps escalating some team is eventually going to get caught using its mascot to steal signs.

389
Talk Zone / Re: Ex Astros News 17-18
« on: October 21, 2018, 01:07:58 pm »
LAA have named Ausmus their next manager.

390
Talk Zone / Re: ALCS
« on: October 21, 2018, 09:22:43 am »
Of course, the visitor bullpen at MMP is completely enclosed.  Either the original tweet is a misquote, or at some point Kelly changed his story because he now says that the official was sitting in the bullpen.
Seems like the reporter was paraphrasing and may have interpreted "behind us" as "behind the bullpen" or something.

I don't know what to make of any of this, and I don't care too much about sign stealing one way or another, but why not just give the catcher & pitcher & manager little earpieces and be done with it? It'd cut down on sign stealing, crossups, and maybe even mound visits.

391
Talk Zone / Re: ALCS
« on: October 20, 2018, 06:29:56 pm »
Cora is saying he might play Betts at second in the NL park during the world series.

I love the crazy* shit managers are pulling this postseason.

*Creative might be a better word, Betts' experience at 2B is more recent than I thought.

392
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: October 20, 2018, 02:13:42 pm »
What’s Whitley’s timeframe?

Pretty ready. Luhnow considered calling him up in late 2017.

393
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster
« on: October 19, 2018, 01:03:05 pm »


McCullers (as was noted in the other thread) is arb-eligible. If he does go under the knife, what does Luhnow do? Pay Lance $4.6MM (MLBTR's estimate of his 2019 salary) to rehab the entire season at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches?

That will be an interesting call.

ETA:
Perhaps not such a tough call after all.  Prior to the non-tender date, a deal simply gets worked out and Lance gets a chunk o' change that will be nowhere near the above amount.


I don't know what the history is on arb guys facing TJS, but I think it would clearly be worth it to put a $4.6 million down payment on his 2020 & 2021 seasons unless his arm is totally shot.

As always, the not-my-money caveat applies.

394
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains 2018
« on: October 19, 2018, 08:47:26 am »
Good source or not, McCullers' quotes aren't encouraging.

395
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ACLS Game 5: Red Sox at Astros, October 18 2018
« on: October 18, 2018, 11:10:53 pm »
Despite the shitty end, this was a really good team and a really good season overall. Here's to more good seasons. And to all of you.

396
Talk Zone / Re: Joe West is a Dumbass
« on: October 18, 2018, 02:14:46 pm »
I agree.

I seem to remember low wall being touted as a feature so that exciting plays like that could happen.

They could preserve the leaping catches by setting back the first row of fans a couple feet and leaving the wall at its current height. Not sure if the club has any interest in changing the RF setup at all, though.

397
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #2: Astros @ Red Sox, October 14, 2018
« on: October 14, 2018, 08:54:08 pm »
Bookie Mets, I say.

398
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #2: Astros @ Red Sox, October 14, 2018
« on: October 14, 2018, 08:46:47 pm »
Imagine being as scared of anything as the Red Sox are of Alex Bregman.

399
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #2: Astros @ Red Sox, October 14, 2018
« on: October 14, 2018, 08:32:41 pm »
Radio guys are saying this is not reviewable.
And yet.

400
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #2: Astros @ Red Sox, October 14, 2018
« on: October 14, 2018, 08:15:44 pm »


Is defensive WAR just stupid or something?

Yeah.

401
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #2: Astros @ Red Sox, October 14, 2018
« on: October 14, 2018, 08:10:13 pm »
We're lucky to have Bregman.

402
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #2: Astros @ Red Sox, October 14, 2018
« on: October 14, 2018, 07:48:03 pm »
How has this only been four innings?

403
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #2: Astros @ Red Sox, October 14, 2018
« on: October 14, 2018, 07:40:49 pm »
As long as both teams are playing in the same park, there shouldn't be any bitching about the park. But also fuck Fenway.

404
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #2: Astros @ Red Sox, October 14, 2018
« on: October 14, 2018, 07:35:36 pm »
The joke ballpark giveth and the joke ballpark taketh away.

405
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #1: Astros @ Red Sox, October 13, 2018
« on: October 13, 2018, 11:26:15 pm »
Oh...my...god!

The post game team are worse than the booth guys.  This is all about Boston and they fucking lost.  A lot of steroid-damaged brain cells on display. 


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I'm good with Pedro, but holy shit the rest of them...

406
Talk Zone / Re: Frito Pie
« on: October 13, 2018, 07:04:45 pm »
About slam a frito pie burger at Hubcap. Let's get it on.

407
Talk Zone / Re: NLCS
« on: October 13, 2018, 04:35:30 pm »
It's ok. I'm sure Wade Miley will shut down the Dodgers tonight.
Well I'll just go fuck myself.

408
Talk Zone / Re: NLCS
« on: October 13, 2018, 12:52:22 pm »
Is he aware there are 6 more?

Is he also aware that losing game two at home just to win game one at home is a dumbass strategy?
It's ok. I'm sure Wade Miley will shut down the Dodgers tonight.

409
Talk Zone / Re: NLCS
« on: October 13, 2018, 09:44:24 am »
Wearing down as many relievers as possible while giving the opposition looks at all your guys in the first game sounds like a great plan to me.

410
Talk Zone / Re: Arb-Eligible Players 2018
« on: October 10, 2018, 06:27:05 pm »
It's a bet I'd make. Neither one faces a huge chance of getting bumped off the roster, especially with Marwin and Gattis hitting free agency. League-minimum guys will be more valuable with a big chunk of the team getting arbitration raises, too. And I think both have the talent to hold their roster spots all year. No doubt Luhnow would trade either if the right deal appeared, but I don't think he'll be looking to move them.

411
Talk Zone / Re: Arb-Eligible Players 2018
« on: October 10, 2018, 09:58:44 am »
Those guys strike me as the type more valuable to the Astros than what they would bring back in deals.

I agree. I guess I could see White getting traded if they acquire a more established 1B/DH, but I'd bet on both guys being on the OD roster next year.

412
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALDS Gam 3: Astros @ Indian s, October 8, 2018
« on: October 10, 2018, 09:55:55 am »
I'm sure Keuchel's contract expectations are sky-high, but what do people mean by "discount" here? As a benchmark, do yall think he'll do better or worse than Arrieta did last offseason?

413
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Fall & Winter Leagues 2018-2019
« on: October 10, 2018, 09:23:49 am »


He has thrown a total of 137 innings in pro baseball. Most innings in a season is 92.   He pitched 26 innings in 8 starts at AA last year.  Considering the other options, assuming Keuchel is gone, I don’t see them breaking camp with him on the MLB roster.


He'll spend at least two weeks in the minors, that's for sure.

414
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALDS Gam 3: Astros @ Indian s, October 8, 2018
« on: October 08, 2018, 04:03:13 pm »
Still 6 more outs to go.  There's lots of baseball to be played yet.

The 2015 ALDS lives on in all our memories.

415
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALDS Gam 3: Astros @ Indian s, October 8, 2018
« on: October 08, 2018, 03:44:53 pm »
GERORGE

416
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALDS Gam 3: Astros @ Indian s, October 8, 2018
« on: October 08, 2018, 03:22:12 pm »
Almost surprised Pettis didn't send him there.

417
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALDS Gam 3: Astros @ Indian s, October 8, 2018
« on: October 08, 2018, 03:18:37 pm »
HAH. I thought that was foul off the bat. I dropped an f-bomb before realizing it'd turn out better than taking the walk.

418
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALDS Gam 3: Astros @ Indian s, October 8, 2018
« on: October 08, 2018, 02:35:15 pm »
Fucking knew that was coming after the jabbering about how Keuchel keeps the ball in the yard.

419
Fucking Manchin. 

You know him and Collins planned this to give each other cover.  Trouble is, you can’t punish Manchin at the ballot box because it just hands a Senate seat to the Republicans.
With Collins voting yes, I'm fine with him taking the chickenshit route to keep his seat. It is insane that the Dems have a WV seat at all. Fuck him, agreed, but the alternative is worse.

420
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALDS Game 1, Indians at Astros October 5, 2018
« on: October 05, 2018, 04:18:12 pm »
Sure looked to me like the ball was tailing away from the catcher so hence the cutoff.
That's how it looked to me. Pettis is the best kind of crazy.

421
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALDS Game 1, Indians at Astros October 5, 2018
« on: October 05, 2018, 01:47:21 pm »
Had to switch to radio last inning. Much better experience.

422
I'm surprised Doug Jones isn't more of a question mark.

That seat is gone, gone, gone in 2020. He's better off staying in Democrats' good graces to get himself some kind of appointment in the next administration.

423
She knows she's going to lose her seat so she's free to vote as she wants.

If Manchin votes yes then he's signalling a real attempt to keep his seat when his term expires.

Yep.

424
Talk Zone / Re: NLDS
« on: October 04, 2018, 07:54:00 pm »
Mike Foltynewicz not off to a great start against LA tonight.

425
Warning: eleven months later, reliving that game will still stress you the hell out.


Fantastic read, though. Thanks for sharing.

426
Talk Zone / Re: Astros just acquired Osuna
« on: October 03, 2018, 05:47:30 pm »
Makes you wonder if MLB assigns these suspensions at random or if Osuna’s deeds really merited nearly double the time.
I imagine timing has something to do with it. Abuse coming to light well after the fact might get treated differently. After reading Russell's wife's story, I would be horrified if Osuna did something to merit twice the suspension.

427
I'd love to know what amount the average voter thinks the estate tax kicks in at.

428
Talk Zone / Re: The National League
« on: October 03, 2018, 09:12:42 am »
Heck of a start to the postseason. I'm irrationally excited for NYY-OAK tonight.

429
Talk Zone / Re: Postseason tickets
« on: October 02, 2018, 11:18:13 am »
I love the 400s for regular games when I want to relax with six rows to myself. No problem with the views. But being up there in a crowd sucks, imo, so I'd rather have SRO tickets for the postseason.

430
Talk Zone / Re: The National League
« on: October 01, 2018, 03:16:51 pm »
FTC!!!

431
Talk Zone / Re: The National League
« on: October 01, 2018, 02:57:03 pm »
Someone here said that one by product of the Hader trade turned into the Bregman draft pick.

Is that right?

Bregman was compensation for not signing Aiken.

The Norris trade to Baltimore got us Hader, LJ Hoes, and a draft pick that became Derek Fisher.

432
Talk Zone / Re: Ex Astros News 17-18
« on: October 01, 2018, 10:42:04 am »
Did he announce his retirement?

Just read on MLBTR that he wants to play next year and plans to change his swing "completely" this offseason.

433
Talk Zone / Re: Postseason roster questions
« on: September 30, 2018, 10:45:27 pm »
My ALDS 11 for the pitching staff:

Osuna, Sipp, Rondon, Verlander, Cole, Keuchel, Morton, McCullers, McHugh, James, and Devo.
Pressly, my good man, Pressly.

434
Talk Zone / Re: Ex Astros News 17-18
« on: September 30, 2018, 07:38:11 pm »
Great moment in Minnesota.   Thanks for sharing it.

Here's the video of his actual (one pitch) appearance behind the plate. OWA folks will want to pay attention to who's pitching.

435
Talk Zone / Re: Ex Astros News 17-18
« on: September 30, 2018, 05:48:43 pm »
We're getting so old. I could've sworn Pence was just crushing the ball in Kissimmee and gunning to make the OD roster. Such a fun player to watch, maddening and exciting all at once. And two WS rings on top of that $125 mil. Good for him.


While we're talking retirements: check out this video of what'll surely be Joe Mauer's last appearance.

436
Talk Zone / Re: Team Milestones 2018
« on: September 30, 2018, 05:30:01 pm »
That's the fewest errors by any team in MLB since 2013. Sure helps that the pitching staff only allowed 2-3 balls in play per game.

437
Talk Zone / Re: The National League
« on: September 30, 2018, 05:01:28 pm »
All four teams now winning: Dodgers 12-0 after 4, Rockies 7-0 in the 5th, Brewers 3-0 in the 5th, Cubs 4-2 after 3.

It’s happening?!?

Dodgers won, and all the other teams' leads have grown. The outs are dwindling. It's happening.

438
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Astros @ Orioles, Regular Season Finale
« on: September 30, 2018, 01:36:08 pm »
Starting all G162s at the same time remains one of the better decisions MLB has made.

439
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Astros at Orioles, 9/29/18 (Game #2)
« on: September 29, 2018, 10:18:23 pm »
It's hard to believe that, after all the GZ angst (much of it justified), this year's team set the franchise win record. Our expectations have gotten so high. The organization has come so far so quickly. What a remarkable time to be an Astros fan.

440
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: September 28, 2018, 01:39:01 pm »
Very brave of Flake to give Collins & Murkowski cover to look at a few days' worth of polls before they all vote to confirm. I will be thrilled if it turns out I'm being overly cynical here.

441
Bet the dems are regretting using a filibuster on Gorsuch.
Wouldn't have made a lick of difference.

442


Oh, no, that's why I think it's Kavanaugh and not any one of the demonstrably more conservative judges on Heritage's list.  But we are going to have a 5-4 conservative majority for a decade at least, with a majority that will turn itself into a pretzel to be pro-business (e.g. Citizens United).


Federalist Society, not Heritage.

443
Talk Zone / Re: Road to the Postseason 2018
« on: September 26, 2018, 09:46:45 am »
So, in Drayton McLane speak, the winner of the game between the Yankees and A's will be the 2018 Post Season Playoff Wild Card Champions?

The Postseason Playoff Wild Card Champions of Anaheim.

444
Talk Zone / Re: Road to the Postseason 2018
« on: September 26, 2018, 09:00:53 am »
Jeff Passan  @JeffPassan 8h ago
Cubs 91-66
Brewers 91-67
Braves 89-68
Dodgers 88-70
Rockies 87-70
Cards 87-71

Cool: Real possibility of Game 163s Monday in Chicago and LA for NL Central/West titles.

Cooler: Three-way tie where Cards host NLW Game 163 loser for second WC.

Coolest: Six-way tie with 91 wins.

#TeamEntropy

445
Talk Zone / Re: As
« on: September 26, 2018, 08:40:50 am »
How many times will that play be shown during the wc game?

Just enough to really piss me off but not enough to keep me from tuning in.

446
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Angels at Astros, September 22, 2018
« on: September 22, 2018, 09:44:46 pm »
Luhnow's going to have to decide if this is just one of those years where the bullpen is weird, or if the pen needs a complete overhaul. He's going to have a lot of thinking to do in the offseason.
My money's on the former.

447
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: September 21, 2018, 12:41:13 pm »
I assumed through this whole process, even after the accuser agreed to testify, that confirmation was basically a sure thing.

Ed Whelan just doused that assumption in gasoline and tossed a hand grenade on it for good measure.

448
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Mariners @ Astros, September 19, 2018
« on: September 19, 2018, 09:48:00 pm »
I think the context of this season and last season is a significant difference.
Very true, easy to forget how common games like this used to be.

449
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Mariners @ Astros, September 19, 2018
« on: September 19, 2018, 09:44:38 pm »
One of the shittier games I've seen in person. Off the top of my head, only the Jason Jennings game tops it.

450
Talk Zone / Re: What are Massholes?
« on: September 19, 2018, 03:52:12 pm »
Thanks for recommending the video. That was great.

451
Yeah, I know. I'm just saying I'm skeptical that the party leaders would be happy about an overturn. I could be wrong.
Could go either way. They might go the "thousand cuts" route and never explicitly overturn Casey. All they'd have to say in each case is "nope, no undue burden here," without ever saying "Roe and Casey were wrong when decided and are wrong today." From a purely hackish political perspective, that's their best move.

452
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Round Rock in 2019
« on: September 18, 2018, 04:05:07 pm »
I hope the Rangers end up in Fresno. Poetic.
Rangers to Nashville for 4 years. Nats to Fresno, almost 3000 miles from D.C.

453
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Round Rock in 2019
« on: September 18, 2018, 11:16:21 am »
Tags and others saying the agreement with RR will be announced Thursday. The Brewers are officially going to San Antonio, meaning the Rangers AAA team won't be in Texas for at least two years.

454
Talk Zone / Re: CFM
« on: September 17, 2018, 03:54:27 pm »
MLBTR speculates quite reasonably that the Astros will extend a QO (~$18 million?) and Morton will accept. That'd be a happy outcome for all, I think.

455
Talk Zone / Re: Nelson Cruz in 2019
« on: September 17, 2018, 01:39:52 pm »
I just can't get past Cruz's age. He'll be 38 next season, and he's going to start sucking sometime soon. White is a good option—he's younger, cheaper, and he's been better than Cruz this year. If it's my money, I spend it somewhere other than DH.

456
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Ex-Bus Rider News 17-18
« on: September 14, 2018, 09:27:33 am »


Pudnit hindsighting is ridiculous.

He was dealt because there was no room for him.  The Astros have Springer and Reddick through the 20 season.  Tucker is perceived to have the brighter future.  Alvarez had just stepped forward as a very young and very promising upcoming player.  Laureano had not demonstrated that he could be in either of the other two's class of hitter.  They have Marisnick through at least 2020 as a defensive player as well.  For the current window no one saw him as a right now, fills a need, guy.  So why have him hold a 40-man spot for nothing until at least 2021?


See also Teoscar Hernandez. Pretty clear they felt set in the outfield and were willing to use their depth to shore up other areas.

457
Kathaleen Wall would've been an embarrassment in Congress, but Litton would've had a better shot against her. Crenshaw is a really good nominee for the GOP there.

458
Beer and Queso / Re: Hurricane Florence
« on: September 12, 2018, 02:08:39 pm »

459
If this is true, then The NY Times has just scored an own goal against the world.  For all our sakes, it has to be someone properly senior; like cabinet senior.
This is the paper that gave Louise Mensch an op-ed. There's no reason to have faith in their judgment.

460
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: September 05, 2018, 10:59:55 pm »
Decent argument in this twitter thread and a few subsequent posts that it's some asshole named Andrew Bremberg.

461
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: September 05, 2018, 06:36:15 pm »
I'm sure everyone here is registered, but in case you aren't (or would like to share with others who might not be), the last day to register to vote in Texas is October 9th. Early voting starts October 26th.

462
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains 2018
« on: September 05, 2018, 06:25:53 pm »
LAA fucked this up, imo.


After LA signed him, reports came out that his UCL was already damaged and that he'd had platelet-rich plasma injections a couple months before signing to try to heal it. Garrett Richards did the same thing in 2016 and 2017, only to get hurt again and finally have TJS this season.

If LA's medical staff is less inclined toward surgery than other teams', it makes sense that Ohtani would go there hoping to avoid TJS altogether. Other team docs might've taken a look at his medicals last offseason and recommended immediate surgery.

463
Talk Zone / Re: Ex Astros News 17-18
« on: September 04, 2018, 10:53:29 pm »
The Angels released SS Nolan Fontana, who is still doing very Nolan Fontana things like hitting .234 with a .397 OBP this season at AAA.

464
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Twins @ Astros, Labor Day 2018
« on: September 03, 2018, 03:06:09 pm »
I’m sure this has been discussed somewhere already, but why did Keuchel tattoo the howitzer or whatever on his right arm?
Because the left is into gun control.


I'll see myself out.

465
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Angels @ Astros, Sept. 1, 2018
« on: September 01, 2018, 08:13:11 pm »
Imagine that you're Jeff Luhnow, and the Angels call you this off-season and offer a straight-up trade, Simmons for Correa. Do you do it?

lmaoooooooo

466


The Democrat Party is the party of Planned Parenthood, Antifa, gun control and the socialist resistance movement.


Man, if only they were that cool.

467
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Tri-City 2018
« on: September 01, 2018, 12:03:29 pm »
The Astros and ValleyCats have extended their PDC through 2020.

468
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains 2018
« on: August 31, 2018, 04:17:34 pm »
It's James.
In the words of Carson Cistulli (and everyone else at Fangraphs by now), "Josh JAMES."

469
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains 2018
« on: August 30, 2018, 06:31:03 pm »
He should retire. To continue to play at such a poor level is tarnishing his otherwise fabulous career.

His contract is heavily backloaded (he made well below market his first couple years in LA), so retiring now would cost him $87 million. The Angels can release him or try to work out a restructuring of his contract if they decide he's a waste of a roster spot.

470
Talk Zone / Re: Todd the Bod
« on: August 30, 2018, 01:50:49 pm »
I totally forgot Paulino got shipped off to Toronto along with Giles.

471
Talk Zone / Re: Ex Astros News 17-18
« on: August 29, 2018, 12:11:27 pm »
WTF.

"His numbers would be good enough to put him in his first all-star game in July."
He's a time traveling Nazi, there is no other explanation for any of this.

472
Talk Zone / Re: - NEVER MIND
« on: August 28, 2018, 02:27:00 pm »
I think I saw the hypothetical was McCutchen.

473
The QAnon loons are now claiming that McCain committed suicide to avoid facing a military tribunal.....

I mean, obviously

474
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Astros @ Angels August 25, 2018
« on: August 26, 2018, 02:26:50 pm »
Here’s what I found interesting:

They hit our best guy. Typically, given the chance, you go after their best guy.

Osuna bypassed Trout and hit Ohtani. Respect for Trout, Ohtani, or both?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Trout just returned from a DL stint prolonged by the death of his brother-in-law/best friend (Aaron Cox, former LAA minor league pitcher). I'm not sure if it was on their minds—the game situation alone explains why they'd hit Ohtani instead—but I'd feel like a dick if I threw at a guy who just came back from that.

475
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Fresno 2018
« on: August 26, 2018, 12:32:22 am »
Good gracious.

476
This is all just so goddamn skeezy. I suppose soon enough Vince McMahon will be involved somehow.

Oh please oh please oh please please please

477
Game Zone 2018 / Re: 8/22 Astros @ Sea Hags Day Game!
« on: August 22, 2018, 08:07:22 pm »
He's pretty much trying out for/ winning the full time DH spot next season,  and a good chunk of what remains of this season.
He's sure convincing me.

478
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains 2018
« on: August 22, 2018, 10:11:20 am »
Total insanity.

And even if you thought you could build a stronger roster without him, trading him after this season would be selling low in the worst possible way.

479
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains 2018
« on: August 21, 2018, 10:29:56 am »
Great post. I wouldn't have guessed that. Maybe he deserves a full-time job?

Could see Yuli getting traded this offseason.

481
Beer and Queso / Re: Podcasts
« on: August 09, 2018, 09:23:34 am »
I have a love/hate relationship with Effectively Wild, a daily baseball podcast, in that there are two hosts and one of them I love and the other I hate, but it’s generally worthwhile.

I’ve stopped listening to it for the most part, but I still think On The Media is an extraordinarily well-done, information and analysis rich weekly hour.
I stopped listening to EW after Sam Miller left. Just isn't the same without him.

Wouldn't be a podcast thread without someone recommending Mike Duncan's History of Rome (long since ended) or Revolutions, so I'll toss those out there.

I'll also recommend The Age of Napoleon for the history buffs out there. It's a good biography, but it's also an interesting exploration of the circumstances allowing for Napoleon's rise. I think it's the guy's first podcast, so the narration and recording aren't professional grade, but it's very good overall.

482
Talk Zone / Re: Fiers to As
« on: August 06, 2018, 04:07:22 pm »
Beane typically goes all in whenever he thinks they have a shot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The Lester-Cespedes trade is one of my favorite deadline deals of all time.

483
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains 2018
« on: August 01, 2018, 08:58:27 am »
Alex Bregman vs. The A.L.
There are times I'd bet on Bregman.

484
Talk Zone / Re: Astros just acquired Osuna
« on: July 31, 2018, 05:13:23 pm »


So because it's said now there's no way to know if that is what they were really thinking all along.  Not that they were going to give away any value he might have had in trade by saying they'll never play him again ahead of trade time.

Also it seems their management made some comments some time ago about him being their closer upon reinstatement.

I think you're right on the money here.

485
Talk Zone / Re: Trade Deadline(s) 2018
« on: July 31, 2018, 03:10:54 pm »
McTaggart says no more moves.

486
Talk Zone / Re: Trade Deadline(s) 2018
« on: July 31, 2018, 02:30:10 pm »
Archer to Pittsburgh, Gausman to Atlanta, and Dozier's a Dojer.

487
Talk Zone / Re: Trade Deadline(s) 2018
« on: July 31, 2018, 12:20:06 pm »
Rosenthal says the Astros "had been in on Pham":
https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1024306902803603457
Adding another starting-quality outfielder under team control would have created some interesting roster questions.

488
Talk Zone / Re: Astros just acquired Osuna
« on: July 30, 2018, 04:48:14 pm »
Do you think this organization did not investigate this player thoroughly? Seriously?
What do you think they investigated, and what do you think they found?

489
Talk Zone / Re: Astros just acquired Osuna
« on: July 30, 2018, 04:21:29 pm »
Hate this.

490
Talk Zone / Re: Trade Deadline(s) 2018
« on: July 28, 2018, 01:12:02 pm »
Saw this stat on Twitter, found it kind blowing:

In 1077 plate appearances, Joey Gallo has zero career sac flies.

Supposedly Cleveland and Atlanta have made inquiries about him.
As much as he hits the ball in the air, that is astounding.

491
Talk Zone / Re: Trade Deadline(s) 2018
« on: July 26, 2018, 02:00:23 pm »
Why do I think this has Sonny Gray Redux written all over it?
From your lips to the BBGs' ears.

492
Talk Zone / Re: Astros acquire Martin Maldonado
« on: July 26, 2018, 01:10:06 pm »
Luhnow's traded guys mid-breakout before (Phillips and Nottingham in '15 leap to mind). Arguably the best way of getting peak value out of your trade pieces.

493
Talk Zone / Re: Harper
« on: July 26, 2018, 12:34:59 pm »
I'd put up with some punkassery for another World Series.

494
Talk Zone / Re: Hand off the market
« on: July 21, 2018, 04:30:53 pm »
The A's are paying the rest of Familia's salary ($3mm) and kicked in another $1mm in int'l bonus pool money to boot. Mets might've had marginally better prospect offers on the table, though I'm not sure what $4mm really buys you these days prospect-wise.

495
Talk Zone / Re: Tucker
« on: July 21, 2018, 01:07:15 pm »
I'd give him 100 plate appearances.

496
Talk Zone / Re: “We will get a closer”
« on: July 17, 2018, 06:20:36 pm »
Huh. I don't think I've ever heard Luhnow make that direct a statement about a future move.

497
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Tiger at Houston 7/13/2018
« on: July 13, 2018, 07:13:29 pm »
Is this Jacoby Jones the same one the Astros tried to draft?
Yup.

498
Talk Zone / Ballpark news
« on: July 10, 2018, 07:13:45 pm »
Somehow I don't think I've seen this posted here yet. The lease on MMP, which originally ran until 2030, has been extended through 2050. I don't love everything about the facility, but I'm very happy to hear they'll be staying there. It's a great location and should remain so for decades. Now for a few renovations to get rid of the "19th century trains" aesthetic in favor of something more forward-looking...

And across the gulf, the Tampa Bay Rays have announced their plans for a stadium that's actually in Tampa. I love the idea behind the design, and I love that it's a lower-capacity park.

499
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Fresno 2018
« on: July 06, 2018, 11:07:43 pm »


Yordan Alvarez gets the call from CC.

Huh. He's been crushing it, but I still didn't expect that yet. Great sign that they're convinced he's ready for the jump.

500
Talk Zone / Re: Jose Abreu Rumor
« on: June 20, 2018, 03:29:18 pm »
[standard "if the price is right" caveat] I would be thrilled if they landed Abreu.

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