Bogart
Footballguy
It still hurts, still hurts bad. But pitchers and catchers will be here before we know it. A huge benefit of long playoff runs is that the off-season is that much shorter.
My completely useless quick thoughts as the haze begins to lift from my brain:
1. Good bye Christopher John. I'm not as high as I once was on Ceej, but I don't hate him as much as a lot of people do right now. 200+ innings with 200+ strikeouts from a pitcher, especially a lefty, don't just fall off trees. That said, he won't be here next year. Texas will make a competitive smart offer, but it won't be enough. The free agent market simply sucks this year and C.J. is at the top of the list. He won't give Texas a hometown discount, because he really does not want to be here. He wants California or NY. He wants to hit, so I think the Dodgers are his first choice. But that is fine. I don't want to pay stupid money for a "number one" who is not an ace and not a leader of your team. C.J was neither of these.
1a. Stay away from C.C. Please just let NY overpay to keep him. I know he is an ace. I know he is a stud. He is everything C.J. is and everything he wants to be. But I just don't trust that body to hold up.
2. The elephant in the room (or more like on the field) was the production from first base. I joked all year that our lineup was so solid that our first baseman was batting ninth. You can't have that. I love Moreland, I really do. The guy battles and makes a pitcher work, but you just didn't see results. I think Texas lands a big fish here. Yes, I know, every team wants Pujols or Fielder, but I think Texas gets one of them. Or puts up a very attractive deal for Joey Votto. One way or another, Texas will fill their most pressing issue offensively.
2a. If you get a big stick at first base, the need for Young to play there decreases quite a bit during the season, and is eliminated during the playoffs. He will still get games at every infield spot to give guys a break, but baring injury you won't see 91 games with Face in the field. We worry about the playoffs if we get there.
3. Take care of your own. There are several guys that have to be resigned (Cruz, Napoli, etc) but I think that all gets done, and gets done without too much headache. Wilson is the only guy I see jumping this ship.
4. The time is now for Leonys Martin. The goal of keeping Hamilton healthy in the outfield was fairly successful this year (on the basepaths and at home plate, not so much). I think you do this again next year, waiting until the playoffs to play him in CF. This leaves an opening there for the regular season and I think it's Martin's job to lose. No offense to Endy, but I think the Rangers are going to see what they have with Martin and I think he wins the job in ST.
5. Napoli will be your starting catcher, and the 61/98 split between him and YT will be reversed.
Your opening day lineup:
Kinsler - 2B
Young - DH
Hamilton - LF
Pujols/Fielder/Votto - 1B
Beltre - 3B
Cruz - RF
Napoli - C
Andrus - SS
Martin - CF
Bench - Murphy, Gentry, Blanco
If you get the left handed Fielder or Votto, Beltre might move up one spot to split up the leftys in the lineup.
Your opening day rotation:
Holland
Ogando
Lewis
Harrison
Feldman
Bullpen:
Feliz
Adams
Uehara
Scheppers
Tateyama
Lowe
Perez
Reclamation project ala Webb
Yes, the rotation is not a strong starting out as it was last year, but I just think the money is not there to be spent on pitching this year.
My completely useless quick thoughts as the haze begins to lift from my brain:
1. Good bye Christopher John. I'm not as high as I once was on Ceej, but I don't hate him as much as a lot of people do right now. 200+ innings with 200+ strikeouts from a pitcher, especially a lefty, don't just fall off trees. That said, he won't be here next year. Texas will make a competitive smart offer, but it won't be enough. The free agent market simply sucks this year and C.J. is at the top of the list. He won't give Texas a hometown discount, because he really does not want to be here. He wants California or NY. He wants to hit, so I think the Dodgers are his first choice. But that is fine. I don't want to pay stupid money for a "number one" who is not an ace and not a leader of your team. C.J was neither of these.
1a. Stay away from C.C. Please just let NY overpay to keep him. I know he is an ace. I know he is a stud. He is everything C.J. is and everything he wants to be. But I just don't trust that body to hold up.
2. The elephant in the room (or more like on the field) was the production from first base. I joked all year that our lineup was so solid that our first baseman was batting ninth. You can't have that. I love Moreland, I really do. The guy battles and makes a pitcher work, but you just didn't see results. I think Texas lands a big fish here. Yes, I know, every team wants Pujols or Fielder, but I think Texas gets one of them. Or puts up a very attractive deal for Joey Votto. One way or another, Texas will fill their most pressing issue offensively.
2a. If you get a big stick at first base, the need for Young to play there decreases quite a bit during the season, and is eliminated during the playoffs. He will still get games at every infield spot to give guys a break, but baring injury you won't see 91 games with Face in the field. We worry about the playoffs if we get there.
3. Take care of your own. There are several guys that have to be resigned (Cruz, Napoli, etc) but I think that all gets done, and gets done without too much headache. Wilson is the only guy I see jumping this ship.
4. The time is now for Leonys Martin. The goal of keeping Hamilton healthy in the outfield was fairly successful this year (on the basepaths and at home plate, not so much). I think you do this again next year, waiting until the playoffs to play him in CF. This leaves an opening there for the regular season and I think it's Martin's job to lose. No offense to Endy, but I think the Rangers are going to see what they have with Martin and I think he wins the job in ST.
5. Napoli will be your starting catcher, and the 61/98 split between him and YT will be reversed.
Your opening day lineup:
Kinsler - 2B
Young - DH
Hamilton - LF
Pujols/Fielder/Votto - 1B
Beltre - 3B
Cruz - RF
Napoli - C
Andrus - SS
Martin - CF
Bench - Murphy, Gentry, Blanco
If you get the left handed Fielder or Votto, Beltre might move up one spot to split up the leftys in the lineup.
Your opening day rotation:
Holland
Ogando
Lewis
Harrison
Feldman
Bullpen:
Feliz
Adams
Uehara
Scheppers
Tateyama
Lowe
Perez
Reclamation project ala Webb
Yes, the rotation is not a strong starting out as it was last year, but I just think the money is not there to be spent on pitching this year.
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