Corey Brock Mailbag with my comments

[bpj]

Another year of progression from one of the youngest rosters in MLB.

Plus an added bat and an ace will push us across, just like if we had had an extra bat and ace this year.

Get a grip.

Jesus. You listened to the national media talk at the trade deadline, you read the comments from our own players, statements from guys like John Smoltz, who just might know a thing about winning organizations....and you feel that I am the one that needs to get a grip. It blows me away that many of you in here think you know more than guys that get paid to cover the sport, or better yet, a freaking HOFer like John effing Smoltz!

Fine, ANOTHER year of progression. That means NO ONE signs this off season...because we need another year of progression. And to top it off, we are minus 20 to 35% of our doubles, homers, rbis, runs and walks from last year. BUT, we will again be in a position to contend at the deadline? How?

Certainly not by signing free agents or trading expiring contracts, that obviously sets you loons off.

"They traded Graveman! The timing! The timing!"

Loons.

National media said we would win 70 and have no chance to begin with. Yeah, let's eat up what they've got to say

[Michael K.]

Another year of progression from one of the youngest rosters in MLB.

Plus an added bat and an ace will push us across, just like if we had had an extra bat and ace this year.

Get a grip.

Jesus. You listened to the national media talk at the trade deadline, you read the comments from our own players, statements from guys like John Smoltz, who just might know a thing about winning organizations....and you feel that I am the one that needs to get a grip. It blows me away that many of you in here think you know more than guys that get paid to cover the sport, or better yet, a freaking HOFer like John effing Smoltz!

Fine, ANOTHER year of progression. That means NO ONE signs this off season...because we need another year of progression. And to top it off, we are minus 20 to 35% of our doubles, homers, rbis, runs and walks from last year. BUT, we will again be in a position to contend at the deadline? How?

Certainly not by signing free agents or trading expiring contracts, that obviously sets you loons off.

"They traded Graveman! The timing! The timing!"

Loons.

Again, I will take the word of the guys actually in the locker room, or someone who has actually played on a winning organization. I mean, unless you were a member of the Big Red Machine, not sure you would know more. BUT, maybe you are?

What Free Agents did they sign that "set us loons off"? Good Lord, aren't we know discussing whether they will ever even have the chance? Sorry, there is money EVERYWHERE. No one is coming here.

[D-train]

Cruz just take a decent offer, he isn't going to be in high demand

Agreed, I'd put the chances of Cruz to Seattle about 99% higher than any top free agent. What, they need a better look at Torrens?

Did watching Haniger whiff last night make anyone think, "Gee, why don't we just DH him when he isn't in the field!"

No. We need Cruz as much as he needs a suitor. I'd fill his contract with incentives based on plate appearances with a vesting option for 2023 at 500 plate appearances.

Want a spot on a team fighting for the playoffs? Here ya go.

So you think JD is going to change his mind??? He literally brings up Cruz as the opposite of what he is thinking in terms of the position. I guess we are back to a 5 man rotation so there's hope.

“We actually think (having those four outfielders) is a great outcome and some of that is actually just the evolution of the modern day DH,” Dipoto said. “As I mentioned with Ty France, I think what you wind up seeing going forward with the designated hitter position is less fundamental I guess (than) ‘This is our DH and it is a Nelson Cruz or Edgar Martinez.’ I think you’re going to see more teams using the designated hitter as a rotating position that effectively allows for nine everyday players to all play positions and you continually rotate one of them through the DH to provide days off on defense to keep legs fresh and frankly maximize the athleticism of your team, which is what we envision doing.”

[Captain 97]

My only concern on Cruz is that He will be 42 and the wheels are going to fall off at some point. There are only 7 hitters in the history of the game who managed to have at least 400 Plate Appearances in a season where they were 42 or older. With our luck we would sign him and it would be a Paxton repeat with him out for the year after a few games.

Honus Wagner 1916
Luke Appling in 1949
Carl Yastrzemski 1982 &1983
Pete Rose 1983, 1984 & 1985
Carlton Fisk 1990 & 1991
Rickey Henderson 2001
Barry Bonds 2007

[bpj]

No, I'm sure Dipoto is still an idiot.

They need to do something, spending $150M on a 2B isn't it, imo.

[bpj]

My only concern on Cruz is that He will be 42 and the wheels are going to fall off at some point. There are only 7 hitters in the history of the game who managed to have at least 400 Plate Appearances in a season where they were 42 or older. With our luck we would sign him and it would be a Paxton repeat with him out for the year after a few games.

Honus Wagner 1916
Luke Appling in 1949
Carl Yastrzemski 1982 &1983
Pete Rose 1983, 1984 & 1985
Carlton Fisk 1990 & 1991
Rickey Henderson 2001
Barry Bonds 2007

He's still a top 20 OPS, he has a long way to fall where he would still be a positive over whatever bum they throw at DH now.

[bpj]

Jesus. You listened to the national media talk at the trade deadline, you read the comments from our own players, statements from guys like John Smoltz, who just might know a thing about winning organizations....and you feel that I am the one that needs to get a grip. It blows me away that many of you in here think you know more than guys that get paid to cover the sport, or better yet, a freaking HOFer like John effing Smoltz!

Fine, ANOTHER year of progression. That means NO ONE signs this off season...because we need another year of progression. And to top it off, we are minus 20 to 35% of our doubles, homers, rbis, runs and walks from last year. BUT, we will again be in a position to contend at the deadline? How?

Certainly not by signing free agents or trading expiring contracts, that obviously sets you loons off.

"They traded Graveman! The timing! The timing!"

Loons.

Again, I will take the word of the guys actually in the locker room, or someone who has actually played on a winning organization. I mean, unless you were a member of the Big Red Machine, not sure you would know more. BUT, maybe you are?

What Free Agents did they sign that "set us loons off"? Good Lord, aren't we know discussing whether they will ever even have the chance? Sorry, there is money EVERYWHERE. No one is coming here.

Just talking about signing them sets you loons off.

"Why would he sign HERE??"

[Michael K.]

So, you can talk about signing them, but we can't counter? I have given you my reason for why they won't. You counter with "another year of progression". So, if it will take another year to prove it is worth it, how do we contend next year without the two bats, and all of that production I mention? Instead of answering that, I am a loon. Got it.

[bpj]

So, you can talk about signing them, but we can't counter? I have given you my reason for why they won't. You counter with "another year of progression". So, if it will take another year to prove it is worth it, how do we contend next year without the two bats, and all of that production I mention? Instead of answering that, I am a loon. Got it.

You're confusing "another year of progression" with "throwaway year to see how the kids turn out".

Progression year just means they're expected to improve next year, which, with a key signing (two), they will be easily better than they sit now.

You're nonstop with the complaining. Can't sign a free agent because they won't come here. But Dipoto's a fool for trading two months of a reliever to avoid having to sign a free agent by trading for Toro.

You're being a troll. Give up on the team, fine, nobody cares, but bitching about everything they do from both sides is a waste of everybody's time.

Can't sign free agents because they won't come here. But Dipoto's an idiot for filling a hole with a trade move. For the TIMING of the trade nonetheless, because some frantic fans think the window- which is just opening, which they've been waiting for for 3 years now has finally arrived- is now somehow closing before it starts!? The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Get a grip.

[Michael K.]

So, you can talk about signing them, but we can't counter? I have given you my reason for why they won't. You counter with "another year of progression". So, if it will take another year to prove it is worth it, how do we contend next year without the two bats, and all of that production I mention? Instead of answering that, I am a loon. Got it.

You're confusing "another year of progression" with "throwaway year to see how the kids turn out".

Progression year just means they're expected to improve next year, which, with a key signing (two), they will be easily better than they sit now.

So, what you have seen from all but France, with the kids they had in the system this year, you believe next year will be a ton of progression, and that a Vet will see that? Don't you think that is a little bit of wishful thinking?

You're nonstop with the complaining. Can't sign a free agent because they won't come here. But Dipoto's a fool for trading two months of a reliever to avoid having to sign a free agent by trading for Toro.

It isn't complaining. I am telling you this organization hamstrung itself with that trade....because wether Toro turns out to be a stud next year? Current players and people around the league know that the organization gave up, one game out. Not only that, the two most productive bats in the middle of the lineup are probably gone. Progression? How? Sorry, I don't see what you see.

You're being a troll. Give up on the team, fine, nobody cares, but bitching about everything they do from both sides is a waste of everybody's time.

How am I bitching from both sides? I have one very clear side. These players deserved an organization that would take a shot one game out. These fans, who have watched this shit longer than any other fan in North America? Deserved it too.

Can't sign free agents because they won't come here. But Dipoto's an idiot for filling a hole with a trade move. For the TIMING of the trade nonetheless, because some frantic fans think the window- which is just opening, which they've been waiting for for 3 years now has finally arrived- is now somehow closing before it starts!? The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Get a grip.

He filled a hole....but I suppose he KNEW we would get THIS Toro? No chance. This move was made with both eyes towards the future, and you have even admitted that. I think that is a bad look for an organization that is going to need to convince players to come here to compete. At the time of the deal, his own players revolted, baseball snickered and guys that know what they are talking about spoke poorly of it. But, what would they know, right?