08-11-2023, 11:26 AM
Let’s hope Krall & Co.’s “eliminating peaks and valleys” strategy isn’t just a nice way of saying “expect .500 baseball, minimal additions, do just enough to keep the fans coming”.
This upcoming offseason should be a real eye opener. They did little to nothing (added Wil Meyers who is no longer on the team) FA-wise this year. The same FO that wasted money on Mike Minor the season prior is the same FO who knew this pitching staff would need some help this year, and did nothing to add to it. There wasn’t a better option than Luke Weaver out there to sign? C’mon maaaaan! There wasn’t more than one Luke Weaver-tier signing to be made out there? Even if you don’t foresee the success this team saw pre-ASB, you have a young, largely untested SP staff, made up of guys who haven’t pitched a lot of innings yet, you HAVE to plan for that and this FO thumbed their noses at the notion of doing more than barely bare minimum. If they do that again, this offseason, with money to spend, there should be a full-on revolt in the fanbase.
They don’t need to spend big. They need to spend SMART. The IF is generally set. Marte in the wings for 3B, CES getting valuable time at 1B this year, EDLC and McClain up the middle. Get a big bat to man an OF spot. I like Benson a lot and think he could be that OF power bat, but I want to see how he finishes. And even if he finishes strong, I want a back up plan there incase he regresses. Maybe a better platoon catcher than what we currently have to pair with Tyler S? Maile isn’t a bad defender but doesn’t offer a lot of pop at the plate. Tyler’s offense has fallen off, which may be due to the injuries he took last year, but even so, his pitch framing is BAD. I’m willing to give the guy another offseason to put it all together but again, I want a better backup plan in place there incase progression doesn’t happen. And finally, even if you are banking on your young SP staff to carry the load, supplement the pitching staff with a couple vets. Guys that you can count on to be spot starting / long relief at bare minimum. A Sonny Gray type.
This upcoming offseason should be a real eye opener. They did little to nothing (added Wil Meyers who is no longer on the team) FA-wise this year. The same FO that wasted money on Mike Minor the season prior is the same FO who knew this pitching staff would need some help this year, and did nothing to add to it. There wasn’t a better option than Luke Weaver out there to sign? C’mon maaaaan! There wasn’t more than one Luke Weaver-tier signing to be made out there? Even if you don’t foresee the success this team saw pre-ASB, you have a young, largely untested SP staff, made up of guys who haven’t pitched a lot of innings yet, you HAVE to plan for that and this FO thumbed their noses at the notion of doing more than barely bare minimum. If they do that again, this offseason, with money to spend, there should be a full-on revolt in the fanbase.
They don’t need to spend big. They need to spend SMART. The IF is generally set. Marte in the wings for 3B, CES getting valuable time at 1B this year, EDLC and McClain up the middle. Get a big bat to man an OF spot. I like Benson a lot and think he could be that OF power bat, but I want to see how he finishes. And even if he finishes strong, I want a back up plan there incase he regresses. Maybe a better platoon catcher than what we currently have to pair with Tyler S? Maile isn’t a bad defender but doesn’t offer a lot of pop at the plate. Tyler’s offense has fallen off, which may be due to the injuries he took last year, but even so, his pitch framing is BAD. I’m willing to give the guy another offseason to put it all together but again, I want a better backup plan in place there incase progression doesn’t happen. And finally, even if you are banking on your young SP staff to carry the load, supplement the pitching staff with a couple vets. Guys that you can count on to be spot starting / long relief at bare minimum. A Sonny Gray type.
