2. Fielder: IF the M's are still in on Fielder it would create a problem. A good problem of how to cram all this offense into the lineup but a problem nonetheless. Most people are saying, "Just let Montero catch." Even those people will admit, however, that a catching jobshare is the best situation in that regard. On his non-catching days you'd have Smoak, Fielder, and Montero for 1B and DH.
And to those who say that we just flip Smoak for something, no. His value is down and I think that most people will want to see what he does this year before giving up on talent like his. Kid can hit. Remember, Jack had the opportunity for either Montero or Smoak for Lee and took Smoak.
3. Rotation is currently Felix, Vargas, Iwakuma, Noesi, and Beavan with a chance of Hultzen making it out of Spring Training and Furbush as the spot starter. I know a lot of people are excited about our young pitching but, stop and think. Hultzen is, realistically, a mid-season call-up, Paxton is probably ready next year, and Taijuan the year after. It's a pipeline, sure, but there are 5 (really 6 or 7) rotation spots to fill. Vargas is going to be a free agent, Iwakuma's gone after this year, and Beavan and Furbush ain't lighting the world on fire. Losing Pineda hurt. Let's just hope that the big three all pan out and Erasamo, somehow, becomes Erasamo!.
4. I hope F-Gut gets back to hitting well. I really, really hope.
5. I can't think of any subject with more written about it and with less knowledge on the subject than a major-league team's payroll. Is it different for the 25-man or 40-man? Are deferments taken into account? How? Is the draft and international free agent budget considered? How? There are so so many ways that a team can fudge their numbers that you can't really trust anything that they say. Even the Forbes reports that came out a couple years ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment