mtutiger

I believe you missed the part where I said I liked Mitch Haniger. But even as much as I like him and actually wish they could have signed him, I don't think he would have affected a different outcome in this series. Baseball is a team sport, there are 26 roster spots; you aren't going to win many games if only 5 of the 26 play well. Plugging and playing Mitch Hangier into one of those spots, assuming he's even healthy, doesn't really change that basic math problem. Either way, as far as pooh poohing is concerned, aside from the fact that I'm pretty sure I'm the one with the minority view here, I just think that complaining about free agency activity is the easy way out here. It's harder, and scarier, to admit that this thing rises or falls on the talent that they still had in the org in 2022 and retain today. Said it in the offseason, will say it again now. It just is what it is.

None of these players would have affected a different outcome in a series where the rest of the team plays like that

I liked Hanger a lot, though he's going through an oblique issue at the moment and isn't playing. Which in and of itself shows how free agency is a crapshoot. The discussion about strategy on free agents is a fair one to have, but in terms of assessing and reacting to what happened in St. Petersburg this weekend, its not particularly relevant given just how bad most of the team, basically everyone outside of Joey Wentz, Eduardo, and a couple others played. Nobody wants to hear it, but it's the reality. Put another way, there's a baseline that the rest of the club would need to play at for free agents to factor into wins and losses, and they failed to even meet that at The Trop.

Crazy how much we've been agreeing lately 🤣

I'm still waiting to hear an example of a "throw a bone" type vet free agent that would have made much of a difference during this series.

And even if they did, does the class of free agent hitter they would theoretically be competitive in attempting to sign (ie. Wil Myers, Brandon Drury) really change much? Would it really move the needle over these three games for instance? There really isn't a way around them needing to get more production out of their young players and their vets, or needing to get production out of players who missed time in 2022 (ie. Turnbull, Meadows, Rogers). People want a cheat code, but it's going to take time to unravel the mess left behind from the previous regime.

This is the crux of the biscuit right here. Hope we see some of that young talent show up in the remaining 159 games... Because it wasn't readily apparent through the first three games, that's for sure

No doubt... But I interpreted your comment more about specifically acquiring McKinstry. Maybe the team should have done more this offseason, but in terms of individual moves, I don't think the owner should be arbitrarily nixing trades.

Having watched too much of Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban over the years, I'm not sure a more hands-on approach is a better one. But that's just me. Not that he's gonna be a savior for this club, but Nevin coming back from the IL would be one way to rip the bandaid off

We talked about this a lot with last year's team as well, and obviously maybe it isn't the most important thing, but who is the leader in the clubhouse? Who is the guy who commands the respect of the room and helps give them an identity? Certainly in Spring, it sounded like Haase and Maton were those two guys, but in what I saw offensively this weekend, I saw a team that was sort of aimless and unable to adjust to the quality of their opponent. In that way, it felt like 2022 all over again... lack of talent is one thing, but the effort didn't seem there to me

The pitching was what it was this series, I have some faith they will get the bullpen sorted out. Fetter and Co. earned some patience last year on that front. Turnbull was bad, but he gets grace coming off TJ. More concerning is the offense, and a lot of it, to me, seems like it's between the ears. Granted that's a good staff they faced, but they are going to need to figure it out and get some sort of identity as an offensive unit before it gets even uglier. Lastly, Rogers needs to play more at catcher. Haase should get ABs, but Jake seems more trustworthy behind the plate

Finally lol

This team is significantly more talented than 2003 or even 2019.

The pitching was a disaster yesterday, but that felt like a one-off. The hitting kinda doesn't, which is scary for sure

Picked a good day to have other plans lol

And to think he very nearly didn't make the Opening Rotation lol

Cynicism is fine, I just don't think being cynical requires being reactionary

I agree with this. I just need more of a sample size to readjust priors... it's a 162 game season, not 17 like the NFL

Good Lord the hot takes are rolling on social media this morning. People have already determined this is a 110 loss team apparently off of two games

Pretty horrid showing, but it's two games against a really good pitching staff. Plenty of reason for concern, but the tough part about this time of the year is that there are a lot of reactions when there isn't much of a sample size to work with. I had them at 73 wins in the preseason, and I'm still OK with that prediction (though not OK that is where they are at). I'll need to see more games to move off of that

Somehow, they haven't scored the least amount of runs in the division so far lol

Best offensive player so far can't play the field. And you have Miguel on your roster. Great lol

The Mets will come a callin' soon lol

Alexander has struck out 7...

I would want to hear more of Cameron Maybin and Jonesy before making that call, but seeing Shep rub up Monroe's head during Game 2 is embarrassing