2016's Around Major League Baseball

[beckdawg]

Just to follow up my previous comments, sure is getting testy in NYC with the media and harvey as you can see here

http://nypost.com/2016/05/24/silent-matt-harvey-confirms-hes-the-phony-mets-have-enabled/

and

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...-leaves-mets-teammates-flat-article-1.2649039

His fastball velocity is down a tad(94 vs 95). He's also been walking more people than usual. Those two things appear to have lead to a lower strike out rate and harder hit balls and thus the discontent with him. I'm not a doctor and I don't have access to his medical records but if the Mets would consider dealing him and if he checks out medically he could be a rather interesting buy low candidate. Given his years of control he still wouldn't come cheap but cheaper with his upside and given Bosio another guy with TOR talent to work with intrigues me.

I don't particularly want to throw out names but I imagine Candelario and Vogelbach might intrigue them given their need to replace Duda now and given that David Wright is 33 and not exactly a bastion of health. They also don't have any 3B in their top 10 prospects. Probably would require one or two more top 100 types to get a deal done though. The cubs starters have been fantastic thus far and given Harvey's struggles I'm not sure you'd want him starting games but having him work from the bullpen with an eye toward 2017+ wouldn't be a terrible idea and if he does fix whatever is wrong then you would have a great problem.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Just to follow up my previous comments, sure is getting testy in NYC with the media and harvey as you can see here

http://nypost.com/2016/05/24/silent-matt-harvey-confirms-hes-the-phony-mets-have-enabled/

and

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...-leaves-mets-teammates-flat-article-1.2649039

His fastball velocity is down a tad(94 vs 95). He's also been walking more people than usual. Those two things appear to have lead to a lower strike out rate and harder hit balls and thus the discontent with him. I'm not a doctor and I don't have access to his medical records but if the Mets would consider dealing him and if he checks out medically he could be a rather interesting buy low candidate. Given his years of control he still wouldn't come cheap but cheaper with his upside and given Bosio another guy with TOR talent to work with intrigues me.

I don't particularly want to throw out names but I imagine Candelario and Vogelbach might intrigue them given their need to replace Duda now and given that David Wright is 33 and not exactly a bastion of health. They also don't have any 3B in their top 10 prospects. Probably would require one or two more top 100 types to get a deal done though. The cubs starters have been fantastic thus far and given Harvey's struggles I'm not sure you'd want him starting games but having him work from the bullpen with an eye toward 2017+ wouldn't be a terrible idea and if he does fix whatever is wrong then you would have a great problem.

My fear is the Cardinals are having this conversation right now. Still, I don't think Harvey has the kind of character and makeup that the Cubs like. Dude ducked out of the postgame presser last night. Sorry but when you struggle part of it is owning up to it.

 

[beckdawg]

My fear is the Cardinals are having this conversation right now. Still, I don't think Harvey has the kind of character and makeup that the Cubs like. Dude ducked out of the postgame presser last night. Sorry but when you struggle part of it is owning up to it.

Perhaps about the cards but do they have the prospects? They have 2 top 100 guys in Reyes and Jack Flaherty and the match up doesn't seem particularly great. Might be able to work a 3 team deal or something but doesn't seem that straight forward as a lot of their top guys are pitchers and presumably with Wheeler taking over for Harvey in this scenario, doesn't seem like you'd want pitching if you're the mets.

As for Harvey and character, I get the thought but I really don't think you can make that judgement until you have the guy in a different setting. For one thing, in NYC he's supposed to be one of *THE* guys. Assuming he's dealt, he's no longer *THE* guy. He'd be just another guy. For example, even if you immediately threw him into the cubs starting rotation which as I mentioned I'm not sure you would, he'd be what the #4 starter after 3 vets(Arrieta/Lester/Lackey)? That seems like substantially less pressure.

To me it's kind of similar to how Castro was never going to get a fair shake in chicago again. The NYC media seems to have made their mind up that Harvey is a paper tiger just like the Chicago media largely had made up their mind on Castro. Seems like a needed case of changing the scenery. And while I do sorta side with your comments about owning up to it in the postgame, I'd question the leadership in the Mets organization that apparently let him do that.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Perhaps about the cards but do they have the prospects? They have 2 top 100 guys in Reyes and Jack Flaherty and the match up doesn't seem particularly great. Might be able to work a 3 team deal or something but doesn't seem that straight forward as a lot of their top guys are pitchers and presumably with Wheeler taking over for Harvey in this scenario, doesn't seem like you'd want pitching if you're the mets.

As for Harvey and character, I get the thought but I really don't think you can make that judgement until you have the guy in a different setting. For one thing, in NYC he's supposed to be one of *THE* guys. Assuming he's dealt, he's no longer *THE* guy. He'd be just another guy. For example, even if you immediately threw him into the cubs starting rotation which as I mentioned I'm not sure you would, he'd be what the #4 starter after 3 vets(Arrieta/Lester/Lackey)? That seems like substantially less pressure.

To me it's kind of similar to how Castro was never going to get a fair shake in chicago again. The NYC media seems to have made their mind up that Harvey is a paper tiger just like the Chicago media largely had made up their mind on Castro. Seems like a needed case of changing the scenery. And while I do sorta side with your comments about owning up to it in the postgame, I'd question the leadership in the Mets organization that apparently let him do that.

I'd worry about him actually being OK with being a 3 or a 4. He's said many times that he thinks of himself as an ace. Not my favorite guy, but I don't see him being bad long term either. Also, yes Mets leadership did fail in allowing that to happen.

 

[beckdawg]

I'd worry about him actually being OK with being a 3 or a 4. He's said many times that he thinks of himself as an ace. Not my favorite guy, but I don't see him being bad long term either. Also, yes Mets leadership did fail in allowing that to happen.

Well presumably any team taking a chance on trading for him would have had a window to discuss such things with him/his agent. That being said, what he thinks of himself and where he would be on say the 2016 cubs aren't really mutually exclusive. He'd be a #4 right(maybe not even that) now because he's been playing like shit. However, assuming the cubs managed to get him and assuming he and Bosio turned things around he'd arguably be the cubs second best pitcher and that's only because Arrieta has been 2000's era Pedro Martinez for the better part of a year today being excluded. I think Lester and Harvey are similar but I'd probably give pure talent edge to Harvey and Lester is getting older.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Mike Moustakas with a torn ACL for KC. Lots of bad injuries this week. Better knock on some wood.

 

[DanTown]

Just to follow up my previous comments, sure is getting testy in NYC with the media and harvey as you can see here

http://nypost.com/2016/05/24/silent-matt-harvey-confirms-hes-the-phony-mets-have-enabled/

and

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...-leaves-mets-teammates-flat-article-1.2649039

His fastball velocity is down a tad(94 vs 95). He's also been walking more people than usual. Those two things appear to have lead to a lower strike out rate and harder hit balls and thus the discontent with him. I'm not a doctor and I don't have access to his medical records but if the Mets would consider dealing him and if he checks out medically he could be a rather interesting buy low candidate. Given his years of control he still wouldn't come cheap but cheaper with his upside and given Bosio another guy with TOR talent to work with intrigues me.

I don't particularly want to throw out names but I imagine Candelario and Vogelbach might intrigue them given their need to replace Duda now and given that David Wright is 33 and not exactly a bastion of health. They also don't have any 3B in their top 10 prospects. Probably would require one or two more top 100 types to get a deal done though. The cubs starters have been fantastic thus far and given Harvey's struggles I'm not sure you'd want him starting games but having him work from the bullpen with an eye toward 2017+ wouldn't be a terrible idea and if he does fix whatever is wrong then you would have a great problem.

You think if Matt Harvey was on the block he'd go for a top 75 3B prospect who has a suspect glove and a decent 1B? There's no reason for the Mets to do that deal.

 

[beckdawg]

You think if Matt Harvey was on the block he'd go for a top 75 3B prospect who has a suspect glove and a decent 1B? There's no reason for the Mets to do that deal.

"I don't particularly want to throw out names but I imagine Candelario and Vogelbach might intrigue them given their need to replace Duda now and given that David Wright is 33 and not exactly a bastion of health. They also don't have any 3B in their top 10 prospects. Probably would require one or two more top 100 types to get a deal done though"

Maybe what I said wasn't clear. Those 2 + 1 or 2 more top 100 types.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

"I don't particularly want to throw out names but I imagine Candelario and Vogelbach might intrigue them given their need to replace Duda now and given that David Wright is 33 and not exactly a bastion of health. They also don't have any 3B in their top 10 prospects. Probably would require one or two more top 100 types to get a deal done though"

Maybe what I said wasn't clear. Those 2 + 1 or 2 more top 100 types.

I heard the suggestion that it might make sense for St. Louis to trade Alex Reyes and Matt Adams to the Mets for Harvey and one of the Mets position player prospects. With Wheeler coming back the thought was that it would make both teams better. If the Cardinals climbed back within 2-3 games of the Cubs by early July that might make some sense, but I don't see it if for no other reason is why would you strengthen a possible playoff opponent even if it was making you better? Plus I don't think the Cardinals get any closer than 4 games back the rest of the season.

 

[SilenceS]

AL Central heating up. White Sox came back down to Earth. Tigers are going to hit, but can they pitch enough. The Indians look like the most complete team to me.

 

[beckdawg]

I heard the suggestion that it might make sense for St. Louis to trade Alex Reyes and Matt Adams to the Mets for Harvey and one of the Mets position player prospects. With Wheeler coming back the thought was that it would make both teams better. If the Cardinals climbed back within 2-3 games of the Cubs by early July that might make some sense, but I don't see it if for no other reason is why would you strengthen a possible playoff opponent even if it was making you better? Plus I don't think the Cardinals get any closer than 4 games back the rest of the season.

I'm not sure I buy that idea either. I mean I get the concept that Harvey at his best is one of the top 15-20 pitchers in baseball and who knows what Reyes is. However, at the present moment you're not trading for Harvey at his best. That's quite the gamble. The reason I think the cubs are one of the few teams that it might make sense for is because parts like Vogelbach and Candelario and to a lessor extent say McKinney are redundant. And all 3 of those players are near the majors and are all probably top 15ish prospects at their respective positions yet all 3 probably don't fit into the cubs long term plans. Reyes and Adams seems like robbing peter to pay paul.

If we're going the mets need a 1B route though I sorta think Chris Carter or Mark Reynolds would be the move they make before either the cubs or cards and they probably wouldn't deal Harvey. At this point it's selling low on him and Sandy hasn't exactly been easy to deal with in the past. With that being said, it's plausible that plays against him. I've heard some rumors that other GM's don't love working with him because he's difficult to deal with. Additionally, they likely need multiple bats not just a 1B replacement. That's sort of why I see the cubs having some chance of making sense for them because Theo and company are quite creative and are one of the few teams that can fill their need at 1B and still have enough bats to fill their other needs.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I'm not sure I buy that idea either. I mean I get the concept that Harvey at his best is one of the top 15-20 pitchers in baseball and who knows what Reyes is. However, at the present moment you're not trading for Harvey at his best. That's quite the gamble. The reason I think the cubs are one of the few teams that it might make sense for is because parts like Vogelbach and Candelario and to a lessor extent say McKinney are redundant. And all 3 of those players are near the majors and are all probably top 15ish prospects at their respective positions yet all 3 probably don't fit into the cubs long term plans. Reyes and Adams seems like robbing peter to pay paul.

If we're going the mets need a 1B route though I sorta think Chris Carter or Mark Reynolds would be the move they make before either the cubs or cards and they probably wouldn't deal Harvey. At this point it's selling low on him and Sandy hasn't exactly been easy to deal with in the past. With that being said, it's plausible that plays against him. I've heard some rumors that other GM's don't love working with him because he's difficult to deal with. Additionally, they likely need multiple bats not just a 1B replacement. That's sort of why I see the cubs having some chance of making sense for them because Theo and company are quite creative and are one of the few teams that can fill their need at 1B and still have enough bats to fill their other needs.

Alderson is notoriously difficult to trade with and I see zero chance he trades with the Cubs who appear to be one of their top competitors for the NL pennant over the next couple of years. Of course the Cardinals could be too which is why I don't think that sounds right. To me the perfect fit for them right now at 1B is James Loney who is tearing up AAA in the Padres organization, is a proven veteran and a very good defensive player at 1B. Nearly all veterans that sign minor league deals have a clause allowing them to bail of a major league opportunity presents itself so I'm actually surprised he's not in NY already. Seems like a no brainer.

 

[beckdawg]

Alderson is notoriously difficult to trade with and I see zero chance he trades with the Cubs who appear to be one of their top competitors for the NL pennant over the next couple of years. Of course the Cardinals could be too which is why I don't think that sounds right. To me the perfect fit for them right now at 1B is James Loney who is tearing up AAA in the Padres organization, is a proven veteran and a very good defensive player at 1B. Nearly all veterans that sign minor league deals have a clause allowing them to bail of a major league opportunity presents itself so I'm actually surprised he's not in NY already. Seems like a no brainer.

I'm not sure I ever buy the idea refusing to trade with a team that is your competition. When you're looking to trade there's only 29 other teams. And of those maybe half have excess at an area you may need and of those maybe half have the right parts for a trade to happen. Then the question is do they have the motivation to move the player you need?

Whether or not that matters to the cubs, like I said I think they would shoot for lower hanging fruit. But if we move this back to the cubs, does Harvey actually change the 2016 cubs if you are Sandy? The cubs lead the majors in starter ERA at 2.59. And while sure Matt Harvey has more talent than the majority of the cubs staff, you're talking about diminishing returns. Of course it makes sense for the Cubs longer term but if we're talking about the improvement to the 2016 cubs vs the improvement you could in theory get in return for a player like Harvey, chances are the Mets get more improvement wins wise than the cubs would in 2016.

 

[chibears55]

@TheCCO: ICYMI: #Cubs One of Several Teams Linked to #Yankees LHP Andrew Miller bit.ly/1sd8mqr #MLB

I brought this up in ST and got booed..lol

Probably not the reason but they did just clear a 40 man spot

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[chibears55]

AL Central heating up. White Sox came back down to Earth. Tigers are going to hit, but can they pitch enough. The Indians look like the most complete team to me.

NL central heating up too, as Pirates are only 4 back now

I said before, Cubs can't sit on their hot start and think that what their going to do all year..
Eventually their going to have to strengthen their weak links for the dog days to stay ahead of the Pirates

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[TC in Mississippi]

NL central heating up too, as Pirates are only 4 back now

I said before, Cubs can't sit on their hot start and think that what their going to do all year..
Eventually their going to have to strengthen their weak links for the dog days to stay ahead of the Pirates

Sent from my LG-V495 using Tapatalk

I think the Pirates are a good team and I'd rather they be 6 or 7 games back instead of 4.5 but I still think the Cubs are a significantly better team with more room to improve even without making deals. The biggest improvements the Pirates are going to make is to bring up Jameson Taillon probably pretty soon and Tyler Glasnow a bit later. Both are TOR type prospects and both could have an impact bu how much? The Pirates are still going to struggle some on defense and even adding the two youngsters I like Cubs pitching better top to bottom and they should a lefty pen arm at some point and a LH OF for the bench. The Cubs can't get complacent but they are the more talented team. The Pirates play a very talented Texas team this weekend although damn is Prince Fielder bad all of a sudden. Should be a great series.

The Cardinals play the Nationals which should also be interesting. I think Washington is a much better team and coming off some tough losses to NY could be a bit red in the ass. By mid June the Cards could find themselves in a hole they can't climb out of.

 

[SilenceS]

Pirates have also had the easiest strength of schedule in the whole majors.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Pirates have also had the easiest strength of schedule in the whole majors.

I hadn't realized that. Still I'd like them to lose a little bit. 4.5 games makes me nervous.

 

[Diehardfan]

Pirates have also had the easiest strength of schedule in the whole majors.

Didn't know that either. Same division....playing roughly the same teams, eventually they have to hit some obstacles.

 

[chibears55]

Difference between Cubs and Pirates

Pirates went 8-2 against Braves Rockies Dbacks
Cubs went 4-4 against them

Cubs are able to keep their lead by going 5-1 against Pirates


Difference in schedule against teams played

Pirates has played the Tigers and Rangers

Cubs has played Nationals Angels Mets Giants and Dodgers

So, yes the Pirates had a easier road so far and still have some tough teams to play that the Cubs already played.

Cubs do need to do better against the lesser teams then they have to date..






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