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Has there been any news on how the “fix it” for Baez is progressing this off season? Harris made it clear that there would be a plan to address his plate issues. Curious as to know how/if that is progressing if anyone has heard anything being this close to camp?

Nevin going back to Baltimore. A true AAA farmhand. Maybe this is the big transaction that has been holding the market up. Look for things to roll from here.

Looking forward to spring training more than usual this year. We bought tickets for three of the ST games, two games in Lakeland and one in Ft. Myers. Lots of newer faces this year should be fun to watch. It would be really nice if the injuries stay to a minimum and nothing serious through the spring. It “feels like 18 degrees here this morning. Yes, I look forward to spring training.

Devin Sweet was claimed off waivers one month ago today by the Giants.

My question(s): Did the Tigers brass and Mize’s representatives know the $$$ differences before any of this information was made public? I may be wrong, but I would imagine both sides were fully informed of the other sides offer prior to the numbers being publicly available. If someone knows differently please speak up. If the Tigers realized, at whatever point prior to this information being made public that the difference between the two sides was $25K, and still opted to challenge it without reaching out to Mize’s agent in an attempt to settle, it would just confirm my existing impression of the organization. I don’t know what the legal ground rules are here. To be sure there is an opportunity to find middle ground AFTER each side is informed of both sides offers prior to actually going to arb??? Yes, I know arb is one number or the other, no modifications. Thanks.

Agree. Frankly, this is so petty on the organization’s part not to just go the extra $25K and be done with it. $25K, seriously?

I would imagine Mize won’t forget this. According to Hinch, he busted his ass this off-season to be ready for spring training. He’s done everything they asked of him and now the org wants to have a pissing contest over $25K. What’s this, meal money saved? Cheap.

Yep, risk pissing a guy off over $25K. Says a lot about this org. It’s not like they’re spending a lot of money on upper tier free agents. Petty BS.

No doubt. However, I’d be interested in knowing if Harris even inquired. I doubt it.

I was surprised Imanaga didn’t get more as well. My take would be, if a GM has a need, involve yourself in the negotiations and go from there. If the price is too high just walk away. All things considered, this player/price would have very likely been a good fit here.

From the WSJ this morning: At least 103 people were killed in explosions in Iran near a public ceremony commemorating the death of a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officer killed by an American airstrike in 2020, the country’s state media reported. Iranian officials said the blasts were the work of terrorists. At least 170 others were wounded by the blasts, which took place as crowds gathered near the tomb of Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, according to Iran’s government-run Islamic Republic News Agency. Iran said it was investigating the cause of the explosions.

How so?

FSU had over 20 guys opting not to play today because of the draft and portal entries. Two guys were out due to existing injuries. There is no way I could get excited about college football the way it has disintegrated the last couple of years. At best, it’s a cluster****!

I considered posting the same comment you did here about an hour ago but I don’t think anybody really cares that the two leagues are, for the most part, indistinguishable now. I’ll never come around to the changes of the past several years as far as the leagues/schedules are concerned.

Longoria?

Regarding Chapman, I’m a bit surprised SF hasn’t signed him yet. Chapman played for Bob Melvin in Oakland and is a California native. The Giants are not in a good position right now. The strength of their minor league system is pitching. They have a lot of subpar position players and like a bazillion outfielders at the major league level. To bring their position players up to par they would have to deal their future pitching prospects, and they have several good ones. All the while the fan base is about to explode because other than Jung Hoo Lee, they’ve done NOTHING this off-season. They’ll overpay for what’s left at this point. Zaidi should have followed Kapler out the door.

“The first step to failure is trying.” Homer Simpson

I’m going to laugh when they don’t even get to the world series again.

If you look at the Glasnow trade, the Rays got the best of that deal. The Dodgers were unwise to trade Pepiot away at his age and where he is in his progression. There is a good chance he will step right into Glasnow’s spot in the rotation.

The Dodgers have committed a little over a billion dollars for Ohtani and Yamamoto combined.

Off topic a bit… The Tigers single game spring training tickets are on sale already. In past years they’ve gone on sale the second Saturday of January. ….back to the discussion in progress.

Can you believe SF just extended Zaidi through 2026 at the end of this season?

A couple of years ago I visited a CVS store looking for a pair of compression socks. This store was definitely not in what might be considered a bad area, fwiw. A clerk happened to be close by so I asked for a certain kind of sock. The clerk opened the first box that appeared to be the brand I was looking for and voilà! the box was empty. She opened another box and, you guessed it…empty. The third box on the rack had been spared and did have what I was looking for. She explained to me that this is borderline normal. She said that the store we were standing in budgets for an $80,000 loss annually from shoplifting. Like most all businesses the employees there have been instructed not to confront anyone in the process of a crime.

The Giants are in a tight spot right now. Their position players are all so-so or young and yet unproven. Zaidi should have been out the door with Kapler. The team has very little, if any, leverage in trade talks with other teams. Boras played Zaidi like banjo on Jung Hoo Lee.

Shooting from the hip?!?! Hear! Hear! My comments were based on interviews conducted over a full 12 month period with several of Chapman’s former team mates at every level he has ever played…including T-Ball! I also interviewed several of his former managers and coaches. Bob Melvin was very gracious to give me a few minutes of his time with all he has on his plate right now. In fact, a minor league bus driver for an unnamed minor league team on which Chapman played, informed me Chapman gave him one of the best tips he’s ever received. He stated the tip afforded his family a “real Christmas” that year. 😢 Of his present and current neighbors that responded to my inquiries, there were nothing but positive responses regarding his character and willingness to help others. Shooting from the hip indeed!