mtutiger

Best case scenario for next year to me is if Riley / Spencer make significant strides (feel decent about Riley doing that, concerned about Spencer), Meadows comes back healthy and performs and somehow adding 2-3 2-WAR position players (would likely have to be through free agency, but trade market with young starters may be possible). But even with that plus better luck on the starting pitching side? Probably enough to get them back into the high 70s in wins, but hard to see much beyond that. But may put them in a position to compete on 2024. They really can't do another rebuild, but it's not clear to me that they should or even want to. Between Chris and AJs comments, it seems like they want more to try to build off what they have as opposed to tearing down.

I see some of Whole Foods guy's lament as being about the change in the culture - this is, after all, a country that, less than 20 years ago had corporate CEOs falling all over themselves to support the Iraq War and was harsh on those that didn't properly endorse or revere the decision to go (ie. Natalie Maines). And even at one time, Chick Fil A's messaging on various social issues was more accepted in the culture at large (its no accident that they have largely muted or backed away from some of this activism as time has evolved). That isn't the case anymore... the culture has evolved, and these guys are having a fit because the public does not endorse or go along with the public airing of their views as easily as they did in the past.

I've only been into a Whole Foods once... too high end for my taste lol

Poor thing... I feel so sorry for him, what will he do with all of the millions he's made since 2009?

Listened to Friday's episode of The Athletic podcast which talked about the rebuilds of three different teams (Tigers, Athletics, Royals). What I found interesting is that when they interviewed the Athletic beat writer for the Royals and was asked about Bobby Witt, he detailed how the turnaround in his performance is closely aligned with their dismissal of Terry Bradshaw as head coach. Won't happen till the end of the year, but "Cooley" maybe needs to go.

The tough part for about being a late round guy like Carpenter is how much skepticism someone like him generates, which I doubt he's oblivious to. Which makes it natural to press in that situation of getting the call up to the big club, which in turn may make it self-fulfilling prophecy when trying to stick. My view is that he is here because he earned it. Even if it is a crappy ballclub, he earned the shot. Hopefully getting this behind him will help going forward.

Off of Liam Hendricks no less...

Happy for the family, they seem very emotional and with good reason!

First hit for K. Carpenter

He did... can't argue replays

Nice to see Javy get some infield practice this inning lol

Vest really tuned up tonight... up to 97-98

Wentz

Hence this discourse. You made a smart ass comment, I made a smart ass response. Not sure what the issue is. But let's get back to the game.

It was a joke.. lol. Sorry you aren't handling it well.

Lighten up, Francis.

Its a strike to Miguel, so....

Bingo. It's hard to see now given how collectively pathetic they are *at this moment*, but it's not that hard to see a scenario where a GM wants to make moves to overhaul a roster and how Miggy might exist in tension to that goal.

If a new GM comes in next year from outside of the org, should he have latitude to make changes that could impact Miguel's playing time / roster spot if he feels that advances the ballclub?

The thing about Miguel is that, given how absolutely crummy this offense is, you absolutely could countenance him in the lineup earlier in the year when he was in "Singuel" form. But when he's going 2-35? Really? When Spencer Torkelson has similar stretches, people were demanding he be sent to Toledo. Other players recieve heat constantly for these sorts of stretches, whether it be Baez or Candelario or Schoop or (before his trade) Grossman. But with Miguel, it's like we have to tip-toe around it or qualify it with things like "well, he's still the best hitter in the lineup" when, *at this moment*, he really isn't (even with how bad they are). I dont expect him to go anywhere before the end of the year, even with roster churn we potentially could see down the stretch, the team has signaled their willingness to let him stay active for now. But going into 2023, with a new GM and the likelihood of roster changes coming from that? A conversation should be had within the org about whether Miguel is worth carrying... certainly if I was Josh Byrnes or Pete Putila or whoever, I'd want to have it anyway.

100%

Miguel is a feature of this offense, he's not an exception.

You don't need to convince me lol

Miguel is 2 for his last 35 and can barely run. And he was thrown out on a play in the 9th that almost everyone else in the league would have at least had a chance to beat out. He's a legend obviously, but there's basically nothing exciting about his play right now. When you look at this team's body of work over the past 10 games, he's a feature of that that stretch, not an exception. Maybe Kerry Carpenter isn't ready for prime time and never will be. But at least trying different guys out when you are 28 games under .500 can engender at least a modicum of hope in the fanbase. And get used to it... I suspect the team will be doing more of it for evaluation purposes as well. I love Miguel, but there's no hope remaining there. It just is what it is.