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4 Comments (2 conversations)
Bob MCH
Great article Rich. My thots: Let’s start with pitching as that matters most in baseball, especially a short playoff series. 1) Suarez has shown his body cannot handle a starter’s load. So, move him to the bullpen where he pitches 70 innings or so. Instantly we have a drastically improved bullpen. Braves did it years ago with John Smoltz. Phis did it with Brett Meyers. Sometimes it has to be done. 2) Dombo has to drop Walker from the conversation. He is done. Sunk cost. 3) Dombo has to find three more major league very good starting pitchers. Painter could be one of them, let’s hope. But no more kidding ourselves, he needs at least two more very good starters. Probably going to have to come from Middleton’s checkbook in FA. Has to happen. 4) Hoffman and Estevez proved they cannot handle big game relief pressure. That characteristic is as important as a good arm. Sooo, Dombo has to go find a couple of stud relievers to round out the pen. Has to. Whether clever trades or Middleton’s checkbook, has to happen. Ok, onto the lineup. 1) They have to go get a big time home run bopper, right handed bat to hit behind Harper, for Left field. Need a 35 homer guy who has good bat control like you said, Hoskins had. I agree, they really missed Hoskins type of hitting. It has to come in LF. That may require a trade. Maybe moving Crawford and Abel can get it done. But hays is not the answer. Include him in a trade. 2) I agree, the days of Rojas as starting centerfielder have to end. Maybe he and Marsh can platoon in CF if they can land a stud power hitter for left field. 3) I agree, gotta get a better backup catcher who can handle 80 games a year, as Realmuto is showing his age. Someone pretty darn good. 4) Explore moving Turner to CF and finding another shortstop who can hit. Lots of work needed and Dombo is going to have to do his best work in a long time to get what they need done.
Erik Hilliard
You’re not going to get all these things. Every team has holes, even the Dodgers. For example, if you move Ranger to the pen, you get Walker in your rotation, at least penciled in ST. And Ranger is complicated because he has to be resigned and he won’t take bullpen money I’m guessing.
Need an anchor in the back of the pen and need to extend the lineup but that isn’t going to happen with stars. We’re not getting Soto.
Rhys Hoskins seems like a great dude. People seemingly forget how hot and cold he ran. He’s just like a lot of the rest of the lineup. I’ll take a platoon in one of the outfield spots and call it a day.
Bob MCH
Its a tall order, but that’s what they have to do to win the WS. If Suarez does not agree to the pen, trade him, as he cannot handle 160 innings as a starter. That dog don’t hunt, is fantasy, as proven again and again. He probably has lots of value, so put him on the block to find better fits. Walker is not on my team next year. Cut him and eat the money. Then go get 3 starters to go with Wheeler, Nola and Sanchez. Painter could be one of those three. This is the reality of it all.
donny five
Love a handsome Rich article.