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lasportzphan
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This team is no more capable than last years. The bullpen may be worse at this point in time, then last years. Not looking good for the stretch run.
This team is no more capable than last years. The bullpen may be worse at this point in time, then last years. Not looking good for the stretch run.
This team is no more capable than last years. The bullpen may be worse at this point in time, then last years. Not looking good for the stretch run.
I just don't understand how we have so many holes with the largest payroll in MLB history. I think the front office will learn from their mistakes and will hopefully address the bullpen. I know they have tried to fix it but they haven't. We need to spend money on the pen and spend it wisely.
At this point, the trade looks like it has done little to nothing to help us. Wood probably needs another year in the minors and Latos is finished. Our bullpen arms have not adjusted well. I appreciate the front office holding on to the kids, but I am wondering if we are over-valuing some of our prospects. The Blue Jays look to be the favorites right now but they gave up quite a bit. I seriously doubt that Urias, Seager, De Leon and Holmes all become elite All-Stars like our front office believes.
The front office must put the bullpen at the top of the list this year. It might be time to get a new bullpen coach as well. We need to do whatever the Cardinals are doing because they take the opposite approach we do and always succeed. At the end of the day, the front office has done some things well, but they have made several mistakes as well. We don't know how effective they are given the endless amount of money they have access to.
The payroll narrative is so played out.... the Dodgers took on huge contracts from the Red Sox (Agon, Crawford etc) and are paying Kershaw $30+ million per year plus another $20+million per year to Greinke. They had to pay a huge chunk of Kemp and Haren's salary as well - had they not done that there would be no Grandal. I think you are taking the wrong perspective on payroll as it has also allowed the front office to protect Urias and Seager as well as not gutting the depth accrued within the farm system.
As I have always said, there is a long term approach with Kasten that I love. That is why I think we are roughly 3 years away form competing in the World Series. Overvaluing prospects? Maybe. But trading away prospects for rentals is short term thinking that will only drive the payroll up even more.
Woods needs another year in the minors? Huh? What is that going to do for him? He would be a #2 starter a lot of MLB teams.
Latos is an issue.... I did not know much about him before we signed him. I mean, I watched him pitch (especially when he was playing for the Padres). But that lumbering, slow delivery is getting run on like wild fire. In the playoffs, that will be magnified. I'm not inspired by Latos at all. I just do not see it. Is he finished? No. Does he make us better? Well, compared to Bolsinger... no.
The Cardinal narrative is played out as well. The Cardinals are good because they do protect their farm system. You cannot expect Friedman to have this thing turned around in one season. It takes years to build what that Cardinals have developed. The Dodgers are in a much better place now then they were one year ago - but a large margin.
However, despite a great effort, Friendman and Co. were not able to polish this team to a World Series contender, at least it does not appear that way now. A good team, but not great. I stand by my prediction.
This team is no more capable than last years. The bullpen may be worse at this point in time, then last years. Not looking good for the stretch run.
We do not draft well nor we develop. Where is Zach Lee, Ethan Martin, Chris Reed, Chris Anderson?
From 2005-2009, the average player making his major-league debut was 24.4 years old
What was better about the team last year?