casimir

Do we need to conduct a wellness check on @1984Echoes?

So, do you want me to call Al, or are you handling it?

That just means he'll opt out after 2022. That's OK, maybe a Clemens/Kreidler platoon at 2B emerges in time to replace Schoop?

Oh, I think USC hit a home run with Riley. I think I recall hearing there was a slight fear that he might move on from Oklahoma to the pros, but the USC thing was a coup. I didn't realize he had only another season with Oklahoma.

As for the SP, using MLB trade rumors as a gauge, the prediction for Stroman is 5/$110M. They had Gausman at 6/$138M and he got 5/$110M. They had Ray at 5/$130M and he got 5/$115M with an opt out. They had Scherzer at 3/$120M and he got 3/$130M with an opt out from a jilted drunken sailor at closing time. Kick the tires on Stroman.

Same could be said about USC, although ND allows him the comfort of staying in the Midwest which is supposedly a priority for him.

I suppose. It'll be interesting to see what ND would put into the contract as a buy out from Fickell's side.

There is the 2 year opt out possibility, but the swiftness with which he signed with the Tigers is encouraging.

If you're Fickell, assuming his eyes are ultimately on OSU, what do you do? Do you grab ND while you can move up and stay in the Midwest or do you hold out hope that Day moves on sooner rather than later?

Apparently he has two dogs, named Boomer and Sooner. What happens here?

I hope its for fewer than 6. I wouldn't have wanted to sign him for more than 4, but the Rangers grabbing 2 of the SS options kind of screwed up the SS market (either via trade or free agency). I'm curious what Story would have wanted (if he were interested in Detroit at all). I wasn't interested in him at all in the beginning because of his home/road splits, but I've softened on that. I think we'll all enjoy Baez' glove and baseball acumen. It seems like he's an amped up version of Iglesias, plus power & baserunning on top of that. The free swinging is going to be annoying, but if he can settle into the 6th/7th spot of the lineup and isn't needed as a focal point of the offense, it'll be fine. They still need to find another SP, and BPs always seem to need some tinkering. Marcus Stroman?

I opted for beauty sleep. It didn't work.

Detroit Pistons (4-16) vs Portland Trail Blazers (10-11)

Meyer is a man of faith. He might see it as a calling and accept a little less than expected. And/or he’ll create another fuss in Jacksonville, get bough out, and land on his feet in South Bend. Oh good grief, how I hate Notre Fame and Urban Meyer. They are so made for each other.

Is it possible that the warp speed with some of the current top tier signings isn’t the way to go?

I guess the coaching carousel is an immediate fix of chaos.

Urban Meyer is probably already on the line with ND.

F Notre Dame and F Brian Kelly. Google the name Declan Sullivan.

Does he have the defense needed?

It sounds like Riley is taking the coaching staff with him. Probably going to take some recruits as well. Bob Stoops as interim coach for the bowl game. Just heard he has been removed from FOX' college football broadcasting. Temporary or does he have the itch back?

This could be an exciting half week of free agent signings.

I'd like to know what short term (say a season or two) and longer term (prospects) are available to be had.

Hey, they have to be agile. For all we know the remaining SSs might be asking for too much (either dollars or years), uninterested, and/or looking to return to their previous clubs. And it could be that they are just playing the negotiation game. I'm not sure about pursuing Ray. He's had two fantastic seasons and a bunch of meh. That worries me more than too many lefties in the rotation.

Right. Wrong.

Billy Napier to Florida (which is not nearly as fun as Riley to USC).