MLB NEWS/RUMORS Thread

incredibly racist

 

hoping floro might be that guy
now if only we had a 9th inning guy

 

Feels like he's been on the trading block for 4 years lol

 

@michaeljduarte 4h4 hours ago




Multiple sources have told me that the #Dodgers have checked in on availability of Bryce Harper. #Nats are still undecided on if they want to sell, but if they do, LA is a likely destination.


Very unrealistic but it's still fun to think about

 

Man, I’d honestly entertain any trade rumor but Duarte is full of shit and I can’t beleive he has no shame to throw shit out there when he’s been so publicly wrong about stuff

 

DH should be changed from being an AL thing.
The NL does not want a full time DH.
Solution is to keep the DH as an option only during interleague play and the World Series since it is technically also interleague.
The DH becomes a new point of strategy for managers and for the way the front office handles aging veterans who can no longer play in the field but can still hit. They will still get paid but less since they will be mostly pinch hitters who only start when your team plays a team from another league.
It would alter the FA market drastically in a good way and be great for the sport.

The DH would be a big power bat off the bench who is not good defensively but can provide offense like a regular when put into the starting lineup and possibly play 1B or LF. Fading/gimpy star or big dumb former prospect who cant defend well but swings a big stick. Matt Kemp, Seager, or Turner in the future, Max Muncy now (as long as he continues to hit) because others are still better defensively than him at every position.

The PH would be a more of a contact and run type hitter who can get on base, sacrifice, steal, bunt, do the little things but not a good enough player to be a regular and possibly not a lot of range defensively but maybe a good sure glove in a very small range or a good arm, etc... Usually not enough power for a corner spot where he might be able to better hang defensively and often times ends up as a reserve 2B/3B/1B or even backup catcher. Or a solid veteran hitter who has lost some power but can still work a pitcher over and drill line drives or a full time reserve type player who has carved a nice career purely as a PH. Chase Utley and Kyle Farmer.

The UT would be a guy who can play lots of positions and do whatever you need him to do and is better defensively than the previous two but not necessarily great. He could be average to pretty good and skilled enough to be good enough at many positions. On many teams he is the defensively replacement late in games and often times the pinch runner. Guys maybe destined to be AAAA types but create themselves a niche on a team and over time become veterans fan favorites because they work for cheap and do anything you ask of them. Chris Taylor and Kike Hernandez.

This presumes that Verdugo beats Toles out for the final major part of the bench and that the organization continues to go with Barnes over Farmer and that Will Smith is not promoted when the rosters expand and steals his thunder. And that Logan is no longer on the team.

3B: Turner
SS: Machado
LF: Kemp
C : Grandal
CF: Joc
RF: Puig
2B: Muncy
1B: Bellinger

DH: Muncy
PH: Utley/Verdugo
UT: Taylor/Kike
C : Barnes

On DH days vs Righties the defense improves with UT man Taylor going to 2B and Muncy to DH.
Vs Lefties the platoon players like Joc, Puig, Bellinger and Grandal all sit and the reserves Kike, Taylor, Verdugo and Barnes come in.

3B: Turner
SS: Machado
LF: Kemp
1B: Muncy
CF: Kike
2B: Taylor
RF: Verdugo
C : Barnes

DH: Muncy
PH: Puig/Joc
UT: Utley/Bellinger

With Utley and Bellinger now taking the role of UT roles from Taylor and Kike.
On DH days vs Lefties you keep Muncy at DH so Bellinger can get back in the game at 1B the way Taylor went in for Muncy at 2B.