NBA OFF TOPIC THREAD

[dtgold88]

I didn’t say they wouldn’t be better.

But I don’t think they would be a contender!

Also, injuries are always going to happen with a pitching staff. Always.

That is why the best pitching staffs go 6 or 7 guys deep with a couple guys ready to step in when someone goes down.

That was where Cleveland was a couple years ago.

You know, when they actually had a contender quality pitching staff.

Yeah...the Indians have been pretty good in that area so how about that? adding guys we never thought we'd see when they were needed in the rotation like Civale, Plesac, Mckenzie and Quantrill.

How about we make it a yes/no question. Do you think the Guardians could contend if Dolan allowed the FO to add $70 mil+ to the payroll?

 

[bksballer89]

Thoughts on Brown suspension?

 

[WiggyRuss]

so go by predicted future numbers over what guys actually have done?

FYI, I didn't even say they were the best as Wiggy did. Just that with even decent hitting it's a good enough rotation to contend. Spend league average and they could acquire better than just decent hitting.

Bieber is the best pitcher in the AL. Cole was close- but Cole really struggled after the rule change- and plays in a park that is a hitters paradise.

Plesac, Civale, Quintrell do not do well in sims because they dont strike out 10 guys an inning.

the only rotation I will say is on the level with Guardians is the Astros- and thats if Verlander comes back and plays well. Greinke is gone- not that he was that great anymore. Blue Jays have a chance if Gausman can transfer his limited success to the AL East- which is a big IF if you ask me. Manoah will prob. be good (though might have some innings restrictions), and Berrios is prob. better than he was last year.

while McKenzie has the best pure stuff beside Bieber- I would still put him at #5 in the rotation because of his relative youth and inconsistency thus far (though he did start to figure it out very well the back third of the season).

Civale, and Quintrell just know how to pitch. Once Quintrell got in the rotation and got going- in July, August, September he was phenomanal and had a great WHIP- as did Civale at 1.12.

as for the Central- the White Sox lost Roberts and Eloy for huge parts of the season- both are arguably top 10 position players in the AL. Vaughn is only going to improve.

The Royals and Tigers have a ton of great young pitching- prob. the best young pitching in baseball.

Tigers have Manning, Skubal and Mize. Tigers might have the best prospect in baseball coming up soon to play 1st base as well. If I could pick one prospect off any team in baseball for the Tribe it would be Torkelson (though Riley Greene on the Tigers isnt far behind). Mize was the top rated pitching prospect in baseball not long ago. Skubal and Manning were both top 5 pitching prospects. They just signed ERod and Baez too.

One of the only other guys id consider over Torkelson is Bobby Witt. Lacy and Lynch are extremely talented pitchers.

Point is- KC and the Tigers are definitely on the way up. White Sox- with Eloy and Roberts healthy and Vaughn developing are only going to get better. Crochet and Koepech and crazy talented. ITs why ESPN has CHW as the #2 team on their power rankings right now.

Having siad that- the best player in the AL Central is Jose Ramirez. The second best player in the AL Central is Shane Bieber. The best closer in the AL Central is....well- maybe Hendricks actually- but both him and Clase are among the best in baseball.

 

[thunderc]

Thoughts on Brown suspension?

They got no choice when he turns in falsified data. Honestly should affect him more than that in my opinion.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I would love if the Tribe could trade for Sean Murphy of the A's. A's are going to have a firesale once business opens back up. Olsen, Murphy--- probably one of Bassit and Montas are gone. Chapman prob. gone. Laureano prob. gone.

If the Guardians can get a Reynolds or Conforto or Schwarber, etc.....and a decent 1B--- like a Voit....theyd be right there.

there is a reason why the Indians/Guardians have the most wins in the American League over the last 10 years.

it took a slashed payroll during COVID, tons upon tons of injuries, and Francona getting sick to get them to 80-82.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

some interesting stuff, @Stakesarehigh @Shanemansj13 @WiggyRuss

Not gospel, but this HOF QB could know what he's talking about. His coach who helped make him what he was (Martz) was on our local station here and said Baker could take a team to a SB. Again, not sure he can but he is at least as believable as Rex Ryan who never made a QB much of anything.....

Ike Shane said it's a busted season in terms of evaluating him. He has next season to play for his extension. There is no way he gets it as is.

 

[tlance]

Yeah...the Indians have been pretty good in that area so how about that? adding guys we never thought we'd see when they were needed in the rotation like Civale, Plesac, Mckenzie and Quantrill.

How about we make it a yes/no question. Do you think the Guardians could contend if Dolan allowed the FO to add $70 mil+ to the payroll?

This year?

No.

70 million is 2 stars or 4 good players.

I don’t think adding that puts them anywhere close to where the top teams in baseball are in terms of talent.

 

[bksballer89]

 

[Stakesarehigh]

It's amazing Antonio brown is STILL doing this shit to people. He deserves every bit of that karma.

 

[tlance]

I have to laugh at the Cowboys right now.

They are probably going to win this game. But watching Ezekiel Elliot limp around the field while Tony Pollard watches from the sidelines is pretty hilarious.

Pollard is one of the best backs in the league right now. Zeke is banged up and not close to what he once was. He should be inactive tonight and the short yardage specialist / short side of the committee moving forward

 

[DJ]

Yoda aka Fraser Macdonald passed away from stage 4 cancer @Mecca, @Wamu. Guy we all knew from SI's now defunct Fan Nation.

Sucks big time.

 

[tlance]

That dude is better than Zeke when they are both 100%.

With Zeke banged up, it isn’t close.

 

[thunderc]

I have to laugh at the Cowboys right now.

They are probably going to win this game. But watching Ezekiel Elliot limp around the field while Tony Pollard watches from the sidelines is pretty hilarious.

Pollard is one of the best backs in the league right now. Zeke is banged up and not close to what he once was. He should be inactive tonight and the short yardage specialist / short side of the committee moving forward

Good call

 

[bksballer89]

Saints had some momentum then the refs called some bogus blind side block on what would have been a first down lol

 

[bksballer89]

 

[bksballer89]

Saints really dropped the ball by never finding a solid #2 wr.

2nd half of the season been such a disaster

I went from expecting a win before every game while he was here. Since his injury i been expecting the complete opposite

 

[bksballer89]

Jameis would have won this game. Probably would have won at least 3 of these 5 games...if not 4 of 5

 

[thunderc]

Saints really dropped the ball by never finding a solid #2 wr.

2nd half of the season been such a disaster

I went from expecting a win before every game while he was here. Since his injury i been expecting the complete opposite

They might as well go to the wildcat and never pass

 

[bksballer89]

 

[bksballer89]

They might as well go to the wildcat and never pass

Nah just lose the rest of the games hopefully and get a top 10 pick.