Tenacious D

I don't think the team has to manipulate anything--just don't think Tork is ready based on his Toledo performance (which wasn't bad). Why not stagger him and Greene into the lineup? Greene has shown he is ready, and I don't think Tork is far behind.

I don’t agree that there is a tax. In most cases, the player and his agent are going to take the best deal. I don’t think we were penalized when we signing/extending players during our 2006-2015 heyday. We gave out some excessive, borderline stupid contracts, but I attribute that to Boras’ Svengali hold that he had on Mike I.

Ha. Please don’t help legitimize that dork.

If the tradeoff is rushing Tork before they think he's ready, I can live with Schoop at 1B. I don't think we're a playoff team next year, so it doesn't matter to me. And if playing Schoop at 1B allows us to see what Paredes can do with some extended playing time, there is a benefit to that, as well. As a reminder, Isaac is only 22 years old, so we should not be giving up on him prematurely.

Kreidler is interesting. As others have pointed out, his play this past season should have zero effect on what we do this offseason to improve our SS. However, if he shows continued success this season in Toledo, we have an interesting trade piece or potential 2B/3B. Would be a nice problem to have.

my early predictions are that Greene makes the team out of Spring Training (he is already the best OF in the system) and Tork starts out in Toledo, with his play dictating how quickly he moves up--I'll go with Memorial Day weekend as my best guess.

The O.G. (RIP)

your first point is what differentiates LC pizza--it's the only pizza that you can walk in without having to order. They could likely charge $1-2 more, and it would not harm their business. Americans like convenience.

No argument from me. I don’t see how they avoid signing another reliable veteran for the rotation.

Yes, but most of that improvement came in the second half of that season.

this. this city is starved for a competent local team to get behind. Wings are showing glimmers, much like the Tigers did this past season. Pistons are on the right track, but young and inexperienced. The Lions are in perpetual rebuild mode. Fans will flock back to the CoPa if this team becomes a contender, which is not that far-fetched with a few more moves. Also, knowing that we are only paying Eduardo Rodriguez $14M next season, I don't think Paul's prediction is that far off--I can now see them signing a solid SP and elite SS.

clearly, you've never had one.

They are already $18 at the CoPa. Blows me away when I see people shell out that much for a pizza that is normally over-priced at $5.

in what is really still a rebuilding year, I'm fine with giving Paredes some extended playing time. Need to know what we have with him, because otherwise, he's not going to get any MLB AB's. I'm still hopeful that he can be at least major league average good.

wow, this deal keeps getting better.

Here are who I believe to be the starting rotation candidates: 1) Mize 2) Skubal 3) Rodriguez 4) Alexander 5) Manning 6) Wentz 7) Fulmer 8 ) TBD Free Agent Signing 9) Boyd (later in the season if they re-sign him, which looks in jeopardy) Rony Garcia could be in the discussion, though I doubt they count on him. Brieske and Olsen are unlikely to start the season--they both have little AA experience.

I won't profess to be a good evaluator of defense, but Candelario seems to be above average at 3B. Schoop is a year removed from being a Gold Glove finalist at 2B. All of the free agents that we are likely to be interested in at SS should be upgrades, as well. Barnhart, getting the majority of starts, will be an upgrade to Haase at C. Also feeling good about our OF--I'm writing in Grossman in RF, and penciling in Greene in LF, who I think makes the team out of Spring Training. I really like the combination of Hill, Cameron and Baddoo in CF. The only real question is mark is who will be at 1B? I don't see Torkelson making it right away, so Schoop will likely continue to play some 1B, with Paredes getting a chance at 2B. That combination probably isn't ideal, but also not horrible.

I think they'll go after one more--at this point, they should not count on Manning. Obviously, losing both Turnbull and Boyd will require them to pursue another veteran, though it could be a Wily Peralta-type. I doubt they give anyone more than one year.

I guess if we sign our SS this month, most of the shopping will be complete, which will make for a boring rest of the offseason. I'll take it.

I can't see how anyone can complain about this--this is an excellent signing. I had Stroman on my wish list, but this is a nice consolation prize. Now let's go get a SS.

Angels are already paying Trout, Upton and Rendon a ton. I think they’ll spend on the rotation.

He’s ripe for an international professional career—he’ll at least double his career earnings .

Creating a roster spot for The Correa signing.

I like this dude

Is that what we’re playing for—we could do a lot worse? I want to do a lot better.