SP options

Wonder if the Braves and Ozuna might just decide to run it back again on another one-year deal. Hard to see him pulling a Donaldson and re-building his value in a nonsense season like this one. The bat's still there, but the early small sample defensive numbers seem pretty ugly. Assuming the NL gets the DH full time starting this off-season, it might make sense for both sides to sign another one-year deal for similar money with the intention of transitioning Ozuna to a mostly DH role.

Yeah I think Ozuna long term is a much more likely possibility if the DH is for sure coming. Not sure if they look to get that before the new CBA or not.
 
I hope so. I haven't missed that super amazing NL strategy of hitting for the pitcher in the 6th inning once so far.

Deciding when to hit for a position player actually requires a few brain cells, and watching that strategy play out more often is far more interesting.
 
I hope so. I haven't missed that super amazing NL strategy of hitting for the pitcher in the 6th inning once so far.

Deciding when to hit for a position player actually requires a few brain cells, and watching that strategy play out more often is far more interesting.

Agree.

I love the 3 batter rule for pitchers. More strategy and more offense.

I still don't like the extra innings rule.

Very intersting to see what happens during the strike/lock out. I want universal DH. I'd also like the strike zone raised/made smaller and robot umps. I want to see the ball in play more. I don't want to see the soft tosser nibbling. I want to see guys with great stuff have to put the ball in a place where it can be hit and see where guys hit it.
 
I hope so. I haven't missed that super amazing NL strategy of hitting for the pitcher in the 6th inning once so far.

Deciding when to hit for a position player actually requires a few brain cells, and watching that strategy play out more often is far more interesting.

Gotta say I agree. I was extremely anti-DH prior to the season, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised. I guess the fact that we basically have pitchers hitting in the 7-9 spots in the order every night has made it an easier transition.
 
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Agree.

I love the 3 batter rule for pitchers. More strategy and more offense.

I still don't like the extra innings rule.

Very intersting to see what happens during the strike/lock out. I want universal DH. I'd also like the strike zone raised/made smaller and robot umps. I want to see the ball in play more. I don't want to see the soft tosser nibbling. I want to see guys with great stuff have to put the ball in a place where it can be hit and see where guys hit it.

I hate the 3 batter minimum for pitchers. It was put in place to speed up games and it’s not, in any way, shape, or form. Now, from the aspect of more offense, it’s nice, but it’s not serving the purpose it was instituted for. And it was proven before it was even introduced that pitching changes in the middle of innings was not a huge impact on the time of the game.
 
Yeah I think Ozuna long term is a much more likely possibility if the DH is for sure coming. Not sure if they look to get that before the new CBA or not.

Agree 100%.
I am shocked how bad he looks in the field. I do not want that man ever playing OF for us.

With Covid and the strike/lock out I don't see him landing a big multiyear deal. We might get to have him on a one year deal again IF the league agrees to a universal DH.

I like him as a hitter. The results do not seem to match up with how hard he hits the ball. Maybe it is a launch angle issue. But he seems worth his relatively high contract.
 
I hate the 3 batter minimum for pitchers. It was put in place to speed up games and it’s not, in any way, shape, or form. Now, from the aspect of more offense, it’s nice, but it’s not serving the purpose it was instituted for. And it was proven before it was even introduced that pitching changes in the middle of innings was not a huge impact on the time of the game.

I don't care about the speed of the game. I care about the strategy of deciding when to put in a guy on offense and at pitcher. I like more offense.

And I don't like the commercials between pitching changes. Every Phillies game last year was a nightmare. It's not faster b/c those pitching changes lead to more outs. But it's not as fun of an entertainment product, for me at least.

I also think it favors the Braves. B/c I think the Braves have about 5 guys that could be really good 1-2 inning relievers in this format. The crazy side arm LOOGYs were never interesting to me.
 
Less than 2 weeks to go until the trade deadline, time to start looking at who may be in and who may be out of the playoff race.

GB is factored on being out of the 2nd place in division.

Probable out:
Toronto - 4 GB
Boston - 8 GB
Detroit - 3 GB
Kansas City - 4.5 GB
L.A. Angels - 6 GB
Seattle - 7.5 GB
Pirates - 4 GB
Giants - 6 GB

Those are the more reasonable teams that are out based on teams in front of them.....all currently last or 2nd to last. So based on that list, here are some pitchers who would be worth kicking the tires on.

Chase Anderson (TOR) -
Tanner Rorark (TOR) -
Matthew Boyd (DET) - - currently ERA over 9+ so not likely
Daniel Norris (DET) -
Danny Duffy (KC) -
Dylan Bundy (LAA)
Julio Teheran (LAA)
Marco Gonzales (SEA)
Taijuan Walker (SEA)
 
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I don't care about the speed of the game. I care about the strategy of deciding when to put in a guy on offense and at pitcher. I like more offense.

And I don't like the commercials between pitching changes. Every Phillies game last year was a nightmare. It's not faster b/c those pitching changes lead to more outs. But it's not as fun of an entertainment product, for me at least.

I also think it favors the Braves. B/c I think the Braves have about 5 guys that could be really good 1-2 inning relievers in this format. The crazy side arm LOOGYs were never interesting to me.

I like the 3-batter rule not because of game speed or anything like that. I had just gotten sick and tired of watching a LOOGY trot in and throw crap for one hitter and then exit. It may make for more offense in the short term, but it will probably make for more well-rounded pitchers in the long term. Plus, Joe Maddon hates the rule which makes me love it all the more.
 
Cole Hamels (triceps) is "still a ways away" from throwing off a mound, per Braves manager Brian Snitker.
Hamels has been on the injured list all season with tendinitis in his left triceps, and he's running out of time to be able to contribute in any capacity this year for the Braves. The veteran southpaw signed a one-year, $18 million contract with Atlanta back in December after posting a 3.81 ERA and 143/56 K/BB ratio in 141 2/3 innings (27 starts) last season for the Cubs. He'll be a free agent again this November.

Wasn't he supposed to throw off a mound late last week?
 
I for one would not want to extend a hitter who fails badly hitting w/RISP. Ozuna now at .174 w/RISP and .167 w/RISP and 2 outs.
 

Because I don't think vastly increasing the number of ground ball outs is particularly entertaining.

Just as I don't think that bringing in a left hander for one batter is particularly entertaining.

Just because something might be smart or a sound strategy to employ doesn't make it the best thing for the entertainment value of the game, which is the thing that they are actually selling.
 
Less than 2 weeks to go until the trade deadline, time to start looking at who may be in and who may be out of the playoff race.

GB is factored on being out of the 2nd place in division.

Probable out:
Toronto - 4 GB
Boston - 8 GB
Detroit - 3 GB
Kansas City - 4.5 GB
L.A. Angels - 6 GB
Seattle - 7.5 GB
Pirates - 4 GB
Giants - 6 GB

Those are the more reasonable teams that are out based on teams in front of them.....all currently last or 2nd to last. So based on that list, here are some pitchers who would be worth kicking the tires on.

Chase Anderson (TOR) -
Tanner Rorark (TOR) -
Matthew Boyd (DET) - - currently ERA over 9+ so not likely
Daniel Norris (DET) -
Danny Duffy (KC) -
Dylan Bundy (LAA)
Julio Teheran (LAA)
Marco Gonzales (SEA)
Taijuan Walker (SEA)

Hey look, Detroit tanked the trade value of yet another SP by asking too much for him at the peak of his trade value. Well done guys!
 
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