AL Central Discussion

[fightinfunbags]

I think Bregman was overpaid too but he has looked pretty fucking good thus far. Im just glad the Tigers didnt get him.

He has. And I originally heard he was looking for 6-7 years. I didn’t want my roster to be so dependent 5 years from now on Harper Turner Bregman Nola Wheeler all being mid to late 30s.

I think the Phillies will likely try and deal for Arenada. He was on the block last summer and the Cards never pulled the trigger. I could see the Phils doing something with him and maybe a reliever like Halsely for 3-4 prospects. Then trading Bohm in a different kind of deal for a low A guy or something similar.

 

[WiggyRuss]

He has. And I originally heard he was looking for 6-7 years. I didn’t want my roster to be so dependent 5 years from now on Harper Turner Bregman Nola Wheeler all being mid to late 30s.

I think the Phillies will likely try and deal for Arenada. He was on the block last summer and the Cards never pulled the trigger. I could see the Phils doing something with him and maybe a reliever like Halsely for 3-4 prospects. Then trading Bohm in a different kind of deal for a low A guy or something similar.

who is that really good CF prospect you have that last winter (not the past- but the one before) the Guardians were asking about in a potential Clase deal? I guess he has really looked good? Crawford maybe?

 

[fightinfunbags]

I think Bregman was overpaid too but he has looked pretty fucking good thus far. Im just glad the Tigers didnt get him.

Enough about my team…

I’m jealous of your baseball team. They are a pleasure to watch. They pitch well. They have young talent. They play defense. They hustle and take extra bases. They can execute small ball baseball. Just a pleasure to watch and from afar probably a fun team to follow and support.

 

[fightinfunbags]

who is that really good CF prospect you have that last winter (not the past- but the one before) the Guardians were asking about in a potential Clase deal? I guess he has really looked good? Crawford maybe?

Yes Crawford. He’s up to .319 at AAA. 13 stolen bases but no slug. An OPS like .780ish. The Crown Jewels of the system though are Painter, Aidan Miller, and Edmundo Tait

 

[WiggyRuss]

Yes Crawford. He’s up to .319 at AAA. 13 stolen bases but no slug. An OPS like .780ish. The Crown Jewels of the system though are Painter, Aidan Miller, and Edmundo Tait

yah I have patiently stashed Painter in my fantasy baseball league minors for years now. He is a monster--- him and Eury Perez of the Marlins seem like potential future aces. Always tough to tell with pitching. Skenes is obv. the most talented but I think Perez and Painter are right behind him.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Enough about my team…

I’m jealous of your baseball team. They are a pleasure to watch. They pitch well. They have young talent. They play defense. They hustle and take extra bases. They can execute small ball baseball. Just a pleasure to watch and from afar probably a fun team to follow and support.

yah.....its interesting how they are just about always competitive despite the payroll. Trading Civale for Manzardo was a great move at the deadline a couple years ago. He is a power bat they desperately needed. Last year seemed almost early in some respects- there is going to be so much turnover with this team. For the first time since the mid 90's, the strength of the minor leagues is hitters and not pitchers--- 3-4 really good hitting prospects in Bazzana, DeLauter, Chourio and Velasquez. I think its actually a pretty decent bet that all 4 hit to a certain extent.

The bullpen is where they are just loaded. Trevor Stephen was out all last year with Tommy John, and was their 2nd best reliever behind Clase, and he is due back sometime relatively soon. Walters was awesome last year when he was called up and he will be up soon. I think Nic Enright- who has been in our system forever, but had a cancer diagnosis he is now clear of, will be up soon. Sabowski- a lefty- was awesome when he was called up last year but has been battling non-arm injury.

As for the major league team, its crazy they have the record they have and it seems so much stuff has gone wrong. Clase struggled early. Lane Thomas has been bad and then hurt. RF has given them nothing with the Noel, Jones platoon. Rocchio is a mess right now at SS. Bibee and Williams have started really slow. Ortiz is hit or miss. Their most consistent pitcher is Lively who barely throws 90. Fry has been out all year but will be back in June or July- he is very underated.

Like you said- they just play pretty good fundamental baseball and find wins somehow-- a very very good bullpen helps. Smith is a monster. Gaddis and Herrin are really good.

Kwan is such a throw-back prototypical leadoff man and plays amazing defense.

I think that when Thomas comes back and gets going, when Bibee and Williams get sorted out, when Bieber comes back sometime in late June or July, when Stephen and Walters are called up, when Fry gets back, they have another level.

 

[fightinfunbags]

ESPN with a great segment on Jose Ramirez likelihood for the Hall of Fame. As long as he stays healthy, he’s likely in.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

ESPN with a great segment on Jose Ramirez likelihood for the Hall of Fame. As long as he stays healthy, he’s likely in.

I think he needs to get to 400 hrs

 

[fightinfunbags]

I think he needs to get to 400 hrs

They were saying he’s on pace to have 2,000 hits 350 HRs and 350 stolen bases and that the only other player in MLB history to do that was Barry Bonds. I think he hits that. Also, he plays 3B which isn’t a stacked position. He ranks pretty well in comparisons to Manny and Arenada. He doesn’t have their defense. I think he gets in (if he stays healthy)

 

[navamind]

He's already at 52.6 career WAR and 31.9 WAA. As long as he doesn't fall off a cliff and can put up another 15-20 WAR, I think he's in decent shape. I feel comfortable saying he's been a top 10 player since 2016.

edit: he's 4th in fWAR in that span:

Major League Leaderboards - 2016 to 2025 - Batting | FanGraphs Baseball

www.fangraphs.com

 

[fightinfunbags]

Kyle Schwarber 3 Guardians 0.

Good series fellas. Good luck to the Guardians going forward.