Here we are, the night before the first pitch of the 2018 season. For the next seven months, there will always be something on TV, always a sports argument to be had, always a wish for Angel Hernandez and CB Buckner to retire gracefully instead of trying to ruin games with their awful calls. Yes, baseball is back. It also means that I have something to write about now that Syracuse has been eliminated from the tournament, and since I can't start my NFL mock draft until teams stop trading all their damn picks. And for that, for my evenings spent at Nats Park, and for getting to stay up til 1 AM to watch live games on MLB Network, I am grateful. So, in honor of the new season, here are a few predictions for the season. We will start with my division standings:
AL East
1. New York Yankees
2. Boston Red Sox
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Tampa Bay Rays
The Yankees have a new "Murderer's Row" in Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez, with capable players like Brett Gardener, Didi Gregorious, and Neil Walker around them, plus a few solid young prospects that can fill in when needed. They will be able to outscore teams easily. Furthermore, they have a rather good rotation- Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Sonny Gray, the veteran CC Sabathia, and young pitcher Jordan Montgomery. I think they will just squeak past the Red Sox to take the AL East, though the Sox will grab one of the Wild Cards
AL Central
1. Cleveland Indians
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Detroit Tigers
It is a boring pick, sure, but the Indians are so talented, it is hard to imagine them having much of a drop off from last year's stellar campaign. The Twins will keep it close though, having added quality pitching in Lance Lynn and Jake Odorizzi to what was already a playoff team. I think the big surprise this year could be the Chicago White Sox. They are chocked full of young talent, led by eventual ace Lucas Giolito, Yoan Moncada, and Avisail Garcia. While they won't be a Wild Card team, getting close to .500 will be a big accomplishment.
AL West
1. Houston Astros
2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of California...
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Texas Rangers
5. Oakland Athletics
Again, not a shocking pick. The defending World Series champions are so talented and deep, it would be shocking if they didn't win the division. They get a full season of Justin Verlander, and they added Gerrit Cole from the Pirates. The Angels, from wherever they claim to be from these days, tried to keep pace by adding Justin Upton, Zack Cozart, and "the Japanese Babe Ruth", Shohei Ohtani. I think Ohtani, at the beginning of the season, will be more of a distraction than a benefit, and the Angels fall short of the Wild Card again.
NL East
1. Washington Nationals
2. Philadelphia Phillies
3. New York Mets
4. Atlanta Braves
5. Miami Marlins
Yes, I picked my team to win. Everyone else is too, so deal with it. I would put the Mets 2nd, but they have to prove to everyone they can stay healthy for a year. I think that the Phillies, on the back of Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta, will take a big step forward, making everyone here in DC sweat until at least mid-September, if not all the way to the end of the season. The Braves are still a year or two away, and the Marlins... well, you've always got the Dolphins... Heat... The U was pretty solid this year, right?
NL Central
1. Chicago Cubs
2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. St. Louis Cardinals
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
Hey Chicago, whaddaya say. The Cubs will win the division, barring something very surprising. The Brewers will make the playoffs though, having added so much talent in their lineup, led by Christian Yelich. The Cardinals will be right there til the end of the season, and may be the team to spoil my predictions. The Reds have young prospects to go along with the Grumpy Canadian Joey Votto, but even a (spoiler) MVP season from him won't keep them competitive in a very good division. The Pirates are in full rebuild mode, whether they want to admit it or not.
NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
3. Colorado Rockies
4. San Francisco Giants
5. San Diego Padres
Talk about a talented division. This is essentially a crap-shoot of the top 4, even the Giants. Adding Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutcheon were big for the Giants. Unfortunately, Madison Bumgarner and Jeff Samardzija are already hurt, and that will mean they need to get on a big roll once they are fully healthy. The Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Rockies will compete all season like they did last year, but I think the Dodgers will just pull ahead in the last week and win the division, with the runner up Diamondbacks snagging the second Wild Card.
Now is where many writers have given their World Series picks. I am too much of a fan of the Nationals to say another team will make it, but I hope to God they at least advance to the NLCS. Whoever wins the NL, though, will be facing the Houston Astros in the World Series. Now, how about some awards?
AL MVP
There are a ton of worthy candidates in the AL. You've got the 3 Yankees sluggers, Mookie Betts, JD Martinez, Jose Altuve, Mike Trout, Jose Ramirez, etc. However, I am going to pick Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor to win the AL MVP. He finished 5th in the MVP voting last season, and will have that "best player on the best team" vibe going. I think he pushes his average closer to .300, and wins a tight, nowhere near unanimous race to take home the hardware.
NL MVP
Joey Votto. The voters have shown they are willing to award greatness, even if it isn't on the best team, or even a good team. Votto lost by 2 points to Stanton last year, and I would argue he should have won it over the former Marlin. He will beat out Nolan Arenado, the Cubs duo of Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, the Nats duo of Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon, and Paul Goldschmidt.
AL Cy Young
It is really hard to bet against Corey Kluber, right? Even with Chris Sale, the Astros trio, Severino, and others right there with him, I think Corey Kluber can pull it off again and win another Cy Young.
NL Cy Young
I am not a bold enough fan that I would pick either Max Scherzer or Stephen Strasburg, though I think they will both be in the conversation if they can stay healthy, as will DeGrom, Syndergaard, and others. But it is impossible not to bet on Clayton Kershaw, assuming his back holds out. He finished second last year even though he missed a month of the season. That is an amazing pitcher.
So there you have it. As I am typing this, we are just under 12 hours from the start of the season. Let's make it a good one, full of competition, hard play, peanuts, cracker jack, beer, hot dogs, home runs, limited mound visits, clutch hits, amazing catches, and a ton of happiness. It is America's pastime after all. Enjoy it. Play ball!
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
March Madness 2018 Weekend 1- Terriers, Nuns, and the Return of the Orange
Well, that was some kind of weekend huh? While we were all out enjoying our pints around St. Paddy's, there were some major upsets happening. March Madness doesn't even begin to define it.
- Arizona, with arguably the best player in the country, lost to Buffalo.
- Loyala-Chicago, led by a 98-year old nun, has stampeded into the Sweet 16.
- My beloved Syracuse Orange, the last team into the tournament, has already won 3 games in 5 days on its way to breaking America's hearts and brackets.
- The UMBC Terriers became the first 16-seed in the history of men's basketball to beat a #1, as it absolutely dominated UVA by 20, much to the delight of literally everyone... except UVA fans, of course.
- Xavier, Cincinnati, UNC, Miami, Aurbun- All gone. Nevada, Florida State, Kansas State- Still dancing.
So, what to look forward to next weekend?
Midwest
In what can only be called the only true blue-blood bracket remaining, Syracuse gets to play potential spoiler again as it faces arguably the most talented team in the country, ACC foes Duke. How torn the nation must be, having to decide between the team that didn't deserve to be there but wins, and the team everyone historically hates that, of course, still has Grayson Allen. The winner of the matchup gets to take on the winner of #1 seed Kansas and the upset-minded Clemson Tigers, who completely dominated #4 Auburn in the Round of 32. I'd guess that a Duke/Kansas matchup may be the result folks get on Sunday, but who knows with the way this tournament has gone so far. In the end, Duke's talent may be just too much for anyone else to handle.
East
The East bracket is the only one in which only teams that were Top 5 seeds remain, led by #1 seed Villanova. They have been dominant so far, as has their weekend opponent, the West Virginia Mountaineers. The winner will take on upstart Texas Tech, who will look to take advantage of an injury to Purdue's second leading scorer, Isaac Haas. One of these 1-seeds must make it through, and Villanova may be experienced enough to pull it off.
South
Either Nevada or Loyola will be in the Elite 8, as the two upstart Cinderellas meet in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night. The winner may have a a decent chance to get to the Final Four as well, as neither Kansas State nor Kentucky is without flaws. I'd put my money on John Calipari, though, to bring his team through to San Antonio.
West
Florida State vs Gonzaga. Michigan vs Texas A&M. What has happened to the West regional? Michigan survived by a miracle over Houston, and A&M dominated the defending champs IN CHARLOTTE! Maybe they peaked early, and Michigan is just lucky enough to advance. They'd have to take on the winner of the Noles and Gonzaga, who should be able to punch their ticket back to the Final Four if they play at their best.
So, I supposed those are my picks for the Final Four. Villanova vs Duke, and Gonzaga vs Kentucky. Of course, I had UVA, Arizona, and Michigan State in my original Final Four, so buyer beware.
Enjoy the games!
- Arizona, with arguably the best player in the country, lost to Buffalo.
- Loyala-Chicago, led by a 98-year old nun, has stampeded into the Sweet 16.
- My beloved Syracuse Orange, the last team into the tournament, has already won 3 games in 5 days on its way to breaking America's hearts and brackets.
- The UMBC Terriers became the first 16-seed in the history of men's basketball to beat a #1, as it absolutely dominated UVA by 20, much to the delight of literally everyone... except UVA fans, of course.
- Xavier, Cincinnati, UNC, Miami, Aurbun- All gone. Nevada, Florida State, Kansas State- Still dancing.
So, what to look forward to next weekend?
Midwest
In what can only be called the only true blue-blood bracket remaining, Syracuse gets to play potential spoiler again as it faces arguably the most talented team in the country, ACC foes Duke. How torn the nation must be, having to decide between the team that didn't deserve to be there but wins, and the team everyone historically hates that, of course, still has Grayson Allen. The winner of the matchup gets to take on the winner of #1 seed Kansas and the upset-minded Clemson Tigers, who completely dominated #4 Auburn in the Round of 32. I'd guess that a Duke/Kansas matchup may be the result folks get on Sunday, but who knows with the way this tournament has gone so far. In the end, Duke's talent may be just too much for anyone else to handle.
East
The East bracket is the only one in which only teams that were Top 5 seeds remain, led by #1 seed Villanova. They have been dominant so far, as has their weekend opponent, the West Virginia Mountaineers. The winner will take on upstart Texas Tech, who will look to take advantage of an injury to Purdue's second leading scorer, Isaac Haas. One of these 1-seeds must make it through, and Villanova may be experienced enough to pull it off.
South
Either Nevada or Loyola will be in the Elite 8, as the two upstart Cinderellas meet in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night. The winner may have a a decent chance to get to the Final Four as well, as neither Kansas State nor Kentucky is without flaws. I'd put my money on John Calipari, though, to bring his team through to San Antonio.
West
Florida State vs Gonzaga. Michigan vs Texas A&M. What has happened to the West regional? Michigan survived by a miracle over Houston, and A&M dominated the defending champs IN CHARLOTTE! Maybe they peaked early, and Michigan is just lucky enough to advance. They'd have to take on the winner of the Noles and Gonzaga, who should be able to punch their ticket back to the Final Four if they play at their best.
So, I supposed those are my picks for the Final Four. Villanova vs Duke, and Gonzaga vs Kentucky. Of course, I had UVA, Arizona, and Michigan State in my original Final Four, so buyer beware.
Enjoy the games!
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Where Will Kirk Cousins End Up? Part 3- Minnesota Vikings
The Super Bowl has come and gone, the Redskins traded for Alex Smith, and Kirk Cousins is a free agent. In Part 3 of this continuing story, we look at possibly the new leader for Cousins' services, the Minnesota Vikings.
The first evidence that the Vikings want Cousins, aside from the reports saying so, is that they currently have no quarterbacks signed for next year. They aren't going to put the franchise tag on Case Keenum, even though he led the Vikings to the NFC Championship game. They will be letting Teddy Bridgewater test free agency, because they are still uncertain of how he is recovering from his catastrophic knee injury. One could imagine them bringing him back for a cheaper deal than Keenum, but probably as a backup. Finally, the oft-injured Sam Bradford is an unrestricted free agent as well. Needless to say, they are in desperate need of having at least one signal-caller on the roster. Cousins could be viewed as an upgrade at the position, so he could be worth the expense for a team that was so close to the Super Bowl.
So, why should Kirk Cousins pick the Vikings? A bunch of reasons. As I said, they were one win away from the Super Bowl. They have a super-talented defense, which was #1 in total defense last season. They have a solid running game in Latavius Murray, Jerick McKinnon, and Dalvin Cook, who is coming off of his ACL injury. Their offensive line played great most of the season, allowing Keenum all the time he needed to put up Pro Bowl numbers. Kyle Rudolph is a Top 10 tight end amd fantastic Red Zone weapon. Finally, they may have the best wide receiver corp in the NFL. Stefon Diggs is an exceptional playmaker. Adam Thieland has turned into one of the best possession receivers in recent memory. If Laquon Treadwell develops like the front office hopes he does, Cousins would have a plethora of weapons to work with. Plus, he would get to play all of his home games indoors (and a road game inside in Detroit) every year, which are ideal conditions for a QB.
Another reason why it makes sense to bring in Kirk Cousins is that he is a "mid-western" guy. Born in Illinois, raised in Holland, MI, and a graduate of Michigan State, Cousins would be closer to home in Minnesota than he would be with almost any other team. I am sure that would help sell the massive contract Cousins would get to the Vikings fans.
The only hold up to making this happen, other than Cousins' own decision, may be potential salary cap implications. While the Vikings can afford him (they have over $50 million in cap space), they will have to sign Anthony Barr and Stefon Diggs to contracts following next season. Having a QB eating up so much cap space won't help matters. However, if Cousins puts them over the top and they win a Super Bowl, I don't think the fans will complain much.
The Minnesota Vikings would be a great landing spot for Kirk Cousins. They make sense from almost every aspect. They are a team that could be just one piece away. I would not be surprised at all if this is the final landing spot of the hottest free agent on the market.
The first evidence that the Vikings want Cousins, aside from the reports saying so, is that they currently have no quarterbacks signed for next year. They aren't going to put the franchise tag on Case Keenum, even though he led the Vikings to the NFC Championship game. They will be letting Teddy Bridgewater test free agency, because they are still uncertain of how he is recovering from his catastrophic knee injury. One could imagine them bringing him back for a cheaper deal than Keenum, but probably as a backup. Finally, the oft-injured Sam Bradford is an unrestricted free agent as well. Needless to say, they are in desperate need of having at least one signal-caller on the roster. Cousins could be viewed as an upgrade at the position, so he could be worth the expense for a team that was so close to the Super Bowl.
So, why should Kirk Cousins pick the Vikings? A bunch of reasons. As I said, they were one win away from the Super Bowl. They have a super-talented defense, which was #1 in total defense last season. They have a solid running game in Latavius Murray, Jerick McKinnon, and Dalvin Cook, who is coming off of his ACL injury. Their offensive line played great most of the season, allowing Keenum all the time he needed to put up Pro Bowl numbers. Kyle Rudolph is a Top 10 tight end amd fantastic Red Zone weapon. Finally, they may have the best wide receiver corp in the NFL. Stefon Diggs is an exceptional playmaker. Adam Thieland has turned into one of the best possession receivers in recent memory. If Laquon Treadwell develops like the front office hopes he does, Cousins would have a plethora of weapons to work with. Plus, he would get to play all of his home games indoors (and a road game inside in Detroit) every year, which are ideal conditions for a QB.
Another reason why it makes sense to bring in Kirk Cousins is that he is a "mid-western" guy. Born in Illinois, raised in Holland, MI, and a graduate of Michigan State, Cousins would be closer to home in Minnesota than he would be with almost any other team. I am sure that would help sell the massive contract Cousins would get to the Vikings fans.
The only hold up to making this happen, other than Cousins' own decision, may be potential salary cap implications. While the Vikings can afford him (they have over $50 million in cap space), they will have to sign Anthony Barr and Stefon Diggs to contracts following next season. Having a QB eating up so much cap space won't help matters. However, if Cousins puts them over the top and they win a Super Bowl, I don't think the fans will complain much.
The Minnesota Vikings would be a great landing spot for Kirk Cousins. They make sense from almost every aspect. They are a team that could be just one piece away. I would not be surprised at all if this is the final landing spot of the hottest free agent on the market.
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Landing Spots for Arrieta, Cobb, and Lynn
Darvish is a Cub. Hosmer is a Padre. JD Martinez finally signed with the Red Sox. Even Tim Lincecum has returned to the majors after signing with the Rangers. But, even with Spring Training in full swing, there are three big free agent pitchers left unsigned. Jake Arrieta, Alex Cobb, and Lance Lynn have yet to find teams, and I think I can help them along. Here are my suggested landing spots for each of those three, and I have even gone to the trouble to not include my Nats, who could very easily sign any of them.
Jake Arrieta- The Philadelphia Phillies
This particular rumor has been gaining a lot of steam recently, and it makes a ton of sense. The Phillies are a young team on the rise, and they could use the leadership of the former Cy Young winner to vault to contention in the NL East a year or two early. Arrieta would be able to slot right in atop the Phillies rotation along with Aaron Nola as well, giving some of the younger arms like Nick Pavetta more time to develop. If Arrieta wants to join a World Series contender for this year, he may have to take less money. The Phillies, who have a ton of cash to spend, have a solid young base though, and could be major players in the incredible 2018-19 free agent class.
Lance Lynn- The Baltimore Orioles
This is a perfect matchup, much like with the Phillies, because the Orioles don't have many quality pitchers or experienced veterans in their rotation. Lynn would instantly provide them with a top flight starter. The real question is what the O's intentions are. Are they on the verge of being a team that dismantles everything and starts from scratch? Once they lose Manny Machado, they will be without a young star to build around. I think, for the sake of the fans, the Orioles will offer Lynn a 1 or 2 year contract that will give them an instant upgrade in the rotation, and try one final time to upset the evil empires in Boston and New York.
Alex Cobb- Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers have made significant upgrades to their lineup, adding Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain. However, they missed out on both Shohei Ohtani and Yu Darvish, and their rotation could still use some help. Adding Alex Cobb would help the Brew Crew keep up with the Cubs and Cardinals in that division. Plus, the return of Jimmy Nelson from shoulder surgery would be like trading for another starter to join a solid rotation if Cobb was already there.
Jake Arrieta- The Philadelphia Phillies
This particular rumor has been gaining a lot of steam recently, and it makes a ton of sense. The Phillies are a young team on the rise, and they could use the leadership of the former Cy Young winner to vault to contention in the NL East a year or two early. Arrieta would be able to slot right in atop the Phillies rotation along with Aaron Nola as well, giving some of the younger arms like Nick Pavetta more time to develop. If Arrieta wants to join a World Series contender for this year, he may have to take less money. The Phillies, who have a ton of cash to spend, have a solid young base though, and could be major players in the incredible 2018-19 free agent class.
Lance Lynn- The Baltimore Orioles
This is a perfect matchup, much like with the Phillies, because the Orioles don't have many quality pitchers or experienced veterans in their rotation. Lynn would instantly provide them with a top flight starter. The real question is what the O's intentions are. Are they on the verge of being a team that dismantles everything and starts from scratch? Once they lose Manny Machado, they will be without a young star to build around. I think, for the sake of the fans, the Orioles will offer Lynn a 1 or 2 year contract that will give them an instant upgrade in the rotation, and try one final time to upset the evil empires in Boston and New York.
Alex Cobb- Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers have made significant upgrades to their lineup, adding Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain. However, they missed out on both Shohei Ohtani and Yu Darvish, and their rotation could still use some help. Adding Alex Cobb would help the Brew Crew keep up with the Cubs and Cardinals in that division. Plus, the return of Jimmy Nelson from shoulder surgery would be like trading for another starter to join a solid rotation if Cobb was already there.
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Yu Darvish to the Cubs: What Does It Mean?
Well, the rich got richer today, as the Chicago Cubs landed the top free agent pitcher on the market, Yu Darvish. They signed him to a 6-year, $126 million contract, which could be worth more up to $150 million with escalators, and an opt-out after 2016. So, the Cubs rotation of Darvish, Jon Lester, Jose Quintana, Kyle Hendricks, and Tyler Chatwood is easily one of the most formidable in all of baseball. The Cubs are likely the early favorite for the NL crown. But, what does this signing mean for the rest of MLB?
- The contract likely sets the market for Jake Arrieta, Lance Lynn, and Alex Cobb. Darvish was considered the top pitcher on the market, and only got $21 million a year for 6 years. That will likely be the most a player will get for years, so any higher annual salary will have to be for fewer years. A team like my Nationals could swoop in and grab Arrieta (who is represented by Scott Boras, the same agent as most of the Nats' stars), for a 3 year deal for around $65 million, minimizing the long term commitment and risk for the franchise while still giving Arrieta a nice pay day. It is more likely that, while Arrieta will get a deal like that, Lynn and Cobb may be stuck getting deals slightly under $100 million.
- The Brewers, Twins, and Dodgers were all linked to Darvish at some point. Now that he is off the market, look for those teams to get into the sweepstakes for the remaining FA's in a big way.
- This could be a loss for a team like the Orioles, who have expressed some interest in Lynn on a short term "show me" deal, but with those other teams missing out on Darvish, those scorned franchises may be more willing to offer Lynn and Cobb multi-year deals.
- An interesting note for fellow Nats fans- with this deal, the Cubs now have $144 million in salaries lined up for next season already, and that is before arbitration salaries for the likes of Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Kyle Hendricks, Javier Baez, and Addison Russell. Curiously, that may make it much harder for them to sign Bryce Harper. The Nationals, meanwhile, only have $88 million in salaries lined up for 2019 before arbitration for Anthony Rendon, Michael A. Taylor, and Tanner Roark. They will have the money to sign Bryce to a massive deal, and still have some left over to add pieces to their rotation. This, of course, assumes he would want to stay.
So, Yu has a home, the Cubs are even better, and the Hot Stove might finally heat up, all with Spring Training less than a week away. Baseball, here we come!
- The contract likely sets the market for Jake Arrieta, Lance Lynn, and Alex Cobb. Darvish was considered the top pitcher on the market, and only got $21 million a year for 6 years. That will likely be the most a player will get for years, so any higher annual salary will have to be for fewer years. A team like my Nationals could swoop in and grab Arrieta (who is represented by Scott Boras, the same agent as most of the Nats' stars), for a 3 year deal for around $65 million, minimizing the long term commitment and risk for the franchise while still giving Arrieta a nice pay day. It is more likely that, while Arrieta will get a deal like that, Lynn and Cobb may be stuck getting deals slightly under $100 million.
- The Brewers, Twins, and Dodgers were all linked to Darvish at some point. Now that he is off the market, look for those teams to get into the sweepstakes for the remaining FA's in a big way.
- This could be a loss for a team like the Orioles, who have expressed some interest in Lynn on a short term "show me" deal, but with those other teams missing out on Darvish, those scorned franchises may be more willing to offer Lynn and Cobb multi-year deals.
- An interesting note for fellow Nats fans- with this deal, the Cubs now have $144 million in salaries lined up for next season already, and that is before arbitration salaries for the likes of Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Kyle Hendricks, Javier Baez, and Addison Russell. Curiously, that may make it much harder for them to sign Bryce Harper. The Nationals, meanwhile, only have $88 million in salaries lined up for 2019 before arbitration for Anthony Rendon, Michael A. Taylor, and Tanner Roark. They will have the money to sign Bryce to a massive deal, and still have some left over to add pieces to their rotation. This, of course, assumes he would want to stay.
So, Yu has a home, the Cubs are even better, and the Hot Stove might finally heat up, all with Spring Training less than a week away. Baseball, here we come!
Thursday, February 8, 2018
The Cold Stove- Why Baseball's Best Free Agents Are Still Unsigned
Normally, right around the holidays, there is a flurry of MLB free agent moves or offseason trades. It looked like we may have been heading that way after the blockbuster trade that brought Giancarlo Stanton to the Yankees, but since then movement has been minimal. The Angels made some moves, getting Justin Upton and Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani. The Brewers bolstered their outfield with Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich. The Mets recently added Todd Frazier after bringing back Jay Bruce. After that? Not much. With the exception of the reliever market, and the continued Marlins fire sale, the Hot Stove has been extraordinarily cold.
You could field an entire team with the free agents remaining unsigned on the market, and that team could be pretty damn competitive. And here it is, your All Free Agent team:
1B- Eric Hosmer
2B- Neil Walker
3B- Mike Moustakas
SS- Eduardo Nunez
C- Johnathan Lucroy
LF- Carlos Gomez
CF- Carlos Gonzalez
RF- JD Martinez
Bench- Logan Morrison 1B/2B/LF
Bench- Lucas Duda 1B
Bench- Jon Jay OF
Bench- Carlos Ruiz C
Bench- Mark Reynolds 3B
SP- Yu Darvish
SP- Jake Arrieta
SP- Lance Lynn
SP- Alex Cobb
SP- Jaime Garcia
RP- Tony Watson
RP- Greg Holland
RP- Bud Norris
RP- Francisco Liriano
RP- Oliver Perez
RP- Trevor Rosenthal
RP- Zach Putnam
That is a ridiculous amount of proven major league talent that has yet to be signed, and pitchers and catchers report in a week. Now, I am not going to go so far as to claim collusion on the part of the MLB owners... But the agents will! Scott Boras is none too pleased with how this offseason has gone for many of his clients. MLBPA chief Tony Clark shared similar sentiments about teams refusing to spend money or be competitive. They are going as far as to set up a special spring training just for the unsigned players. What is the reason behind this super-slow market?
As Clark suggested, some teams may just be trying to hit the reset button, being as bad as they can be for a year or two, rebuilding their farm system with prospects, and then competing with mostly home-grown talent. After all, that worked for the Astros and the Cubs. However, some of these teams don't have as loyal of a fan-base of those teams, and they may not be able to keep their young talent if the rebuild takes too long, since they will be free agents eventually (this screams Marlins, who have traded away every good young player they have other than JT Realmuto, who wants to be traded).
The next reason might be teams saving up for the huge free agent class next year. Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Josh Donaldson, Charlie Blackmon, Dallas Keuchel, and maybe even Clayton Kershaw will all be available in the offseason, barring trades or extensions. Teams may be choosing to be thrifty this year so they can afford the massive contracts of these extremely talented players. The long-time rumor was that a player of Harper or Machado's caliber could sign a deal for around $400 million. But, if you don't land that player, you will have missed the opportunity to get an All Star like Hosmer, Darvish, or Martinez this year. Are teams really willing to risk the reality of being competitive now for the outside possibility of being a World Series favorite next year if they can get one of these players?
Finally, the last possibility is that teams may have started looking at the numbers on big contracts a little bit closer than they have in the past. MLB Network's wonderful Brian Kenny chimed in-
A lot of big contracts there that didn't work out. Is this, based on that performance, just a market correction? It isn't good for the players, who wanted that same money and number of years that has been there in recent years. But it might be good for a team that needs a piece or two now that could put them over the top. If a team needs a starter for one or two years, like my Washington Nationals, why not sign Jake Arrieta to a "show me" contract with a lucrative team option in the 2nd year? Bringing him in behind Scherzer, Strasburg, and with Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark, makes that the best rotation in the majors. If you are the Dodgers and see that your outfield might be the weakest part of your team, why not sign JD Martinez to a short, but lucrative, deal? It would not only bring a big bat to your lineup, but it would take him away from the division-rival Diamondbacks.
So, if it is a market correction, we may see some contracts that offer higher salaries per year, but only go for 3-5 seasons instead of 8-10. It would force the players to stay on that high level throughout their shorter contract, while still giving them the money that they wanted, just over the shorter amount of time. Personally, as a fan who doesn't get involved in that politics between the players and owners, I have no problem with that. If you tell me that I can have Bryce Harper for his age 26-30 seasons on a 5 year deal worth $200 million, I'd be ecstatic. Fans want their favorite players to stay on their teams. They want their teams to remain competitive.
At some point, the levee will break, and these players will all get signed. Some folks believe that Todd Frazier's 2-year, $17 million contract with the Mets may set the market for the mid-level players. The Twins have an offer out to Yu Darvish that could set the market for the Twins. The Red Sox have offered JD Martinez a deal over $100 million. If these deals go through, then the market should move fast as spring training begins. Until they are signed, however, we will just have to wait by the Cold Stove.
You could field an entire team with the free agents remaining unsigned on the market, and that team could be pretty damn competitive. And here it is, your All Free Agent team:
1B- Eric Hosmer
2B- Neil Walker
3B- Mike Moustakas
SS- Eduardo Nunez
C- Johnathan Lucroy
LF- Carlos Gomez
CF- Carlos Gonzalez
RF- JD Martinez
Bench- Logan Morrison 1B/2B/LF
Bench- Lucas Duda 1B
Bench- Jon Jay OF
Bench- Carlos Ruiz C
Bench- Mark Reynolds 3B
SP- Yu Darvish
SP- Jake Arrieta
SP- Lance Lynn
SP- Alex Cobb
SP- Jaime Garcia
RP- Tony Watson
RP- Greg Holland
RP- Bud Norris
RP- Francisco Liriano
RP- Oliver Perez
RP- Trevor Rosenthal
RP- Zach Putnam
That is a ridiculous amount of proven major league talent that has yet to be signed, and pitchers and catchers report in a week. Now, I am not going to go so far as to claim collusion on the part of the MLB owners... But the agents will! Scott Boras is none too pleased with how this offseason has gone for many of his clients. MLBPA chief Tony Clark shared similar sentiments about teams refusing to spend money or be competitive. They are going as far as to set up a special spring training just for the unsigned players. What is the reason behind this super-slow market?
As Clark suggested, some teams may just be trying to hit the reset button, being as bad as they can be for a year or two, rebuilding their farm system with prospects, and then competing with mostly home-grown talent. After all, that worked for the Astros and the Cubs. However, some of these teams don't have as loyal of a fan-base of those teams, and they may not be able to keep their young talent if the rebuild takes too long, since they will be free agents eventually (this screams Marlins, who have traded away every good young player they have other than JT Realmuto, who wants to be traded).
The next reason might be teams saving up for the huge free agent class next year. Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Josh Donaldson, Charlie Blackmon, Dallas Keuchel, and maybe even Clayton Kershaw will all be available in the offseason, barring trades or extensions. Teams may be choosing to be thrifty this year so they can afford the massive contracts of these extremely talented players. The long-time rumor was that a player of Harper or Machado's caliber could sign a deal for around $400 million. But, if you don't land that player, you will have missed the opportunity to get an All Star like Hosmer, Darvish, or Martinez this year. Are teams really willing to risk the reality of being competitive now for the outside possibility of being a World Series favorite next year if they can get one of these players?
Finally, the last possibility is that teams may have started looking at the numbers on big contracts a little bit closer than they have in the past. MLB Network's wonderful Brian Kenny chimed in-
A lot of big contracts there that didn't work out. Is this, based on that performance, just a market correction? It isn't good for the players, who wanted that same money and number of years that has been there in recent years. But it might be good for a team that needs a piece or two now that could put them over the top. If a team needs a starter for one or two years, like my Washington Nationals, why not sign Jake Arrieta to a "show me" contract with a lucrative team option in the 2nd year? Bringing him in behind Scherzer, Strasburg, and with Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark, makes that the best rotation in the majors. If you are the Dodgers and see that your outfield might be the weakest part of your team, why not sign JD Martinez to a short, but lucrative, deal? It would not only bring a big bat to your lineup, but it would take him away from the division-rival Diamondbacks.
So, if it is a market correction, we may see some contracts that offer higher salaries per year, but only go for 3-5 seasons instead of 8-10. It would force the players to stay on that high level throughout their shorter contract, while still giving them the money that they wanted, just over the shorter amount of time. Personally, as a fan who doesn't get involved in that politics between the players and owners, I have no problem with that. If you tell me that I can have Bryce Harper for his age 26-30 seasons on a 5 year deal worth $200 million, I'd be ecstatic. Fans want their favorite players to stay on their teams. They want their teams to remain competitive.
At some point, the levee will break, and these players will all get signed. Some folks believe that Todd Frazier's 2-year, $17 million contract with the Mets may set the market for the mid-level players. The Twins have an offer out to Yu Darvish that could set the market for the Twins. The Red Sox have offered JD Martinez a deal over $100 million. If these deals go through, then the market should move fast as spring training begins. Until they are signed, however, we will just have to wait by the Cold Stove.
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles: Super Bowl LII Champions
My friend Matt Kirk is a die hard Eagles fan. I told him that the only chance they would win is if Nick Foles became Jeff Hostetler. He did a lot better than that. Foles went 28-43 for 373, 3 TD passes, a fluke pick, and a momentum-changing touchdown catch (what a call) in an epic MVP performance, as the Philadelphia Eagles knocked off the heavily-favored New England Patriots 41-33. It was an extremely entertaining game, full of great offensive play and, thankfully, lacking controversy. The refs did a great job, especially on the calls that were reviewed. They got them all correct (much to Cris Collinsworth's chagrin). And hey, the Eagles proved a lot of people (myself included) wrong.
Foles' sterling offensive performance was coupled with a balanced rushing attack from Jay Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount. The defense made the biggest plays when they needed to, forcing a turnover with just over 2 minutes to go in the game. Brandon Graham was finally able to get to Tom Brady for the first sack of the game, knocking the ball out of his hands and setting the Eagles up to extend their lead to 8 points. After knocking down the final Hail Mary heave from Brady, the Eagles brought Philadelphia their first Super Bowl championship.
Congrats Philadelphia, the Eagles, and all my friends/family that have been waiting so long for this. Please don't burn the city down too much.
Now, let's start thinking about the Draft...
Foles' sterling offensive performance was coupled with a balanced rushing attack from Jay Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount. The defense made the biggest plays when they needed to, forcing a turnover with just over 2 minutes to go in the game. Brandon Graham was finally able to get to Tom Brady for the first sack of the game, knocking the ball out of his hands and setting the Eagles up to extend their lead to 8 points. After knocking down the final Hail Mary heave from Brady, the Eagles brought Philadelphia their first Super Bowl championship.
Congrats Philadelphia, the Eagles, and all my friends/family that have been waiting so long for this. Please don't burn the city down too much.
Now, let's start thinking about the Draft...
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