Temperature Check

[ghostrunner]

Don't think they're making the playoffs, and even if they are I don't think they add anyone significant in terms of money. Which again doesn't mean they won't add anyone. The pitching is nowhere near good enough to do anything significant this year. We didn't have it last year either, when we had Contreras and Donovan. Which is why we're in this situation. We'd be counting on the offense routinely outscoring what our rotation and bullpen give up and I don't see it happening. And we've been really lucky with injuries so far, which are trivial compared to what the Brewers have had.

I'm fine with what I think the current plan is though - "throw everything we've got at the wall for the next two years, see what sticks, and then add from outside." Right now we've got 4-6 guys in the lineup that could be locked in. Ideally we end up next season with a couple solid starters decided on, plus another piece or two in the lineup. Then they know what to go spend on. Don't know if they'll actually do that, but I think they will.

But also agree this is the most fun season I've watched in years. 2022 was pretty good, but not as fun as this group is.

Just saw this, which is unbelievable - we're 5-0 in extra innings. Definitely helps feelings when you're winning those.

[ghostrunner]

I am worried about the timeline on pitching. Wouldn't count on the owners filling out more than a couple sports in the rotation via free agency, and it doesn't seem like anyone in the farm system is an obvious candidate to come up in the next year or two and be effective in the way recent position players have been. I think they did the right thing with all the trades in focusing on pitching, but all the returns are far from locks. Seems like the strategy was more about hoping the quantity yields a couple surprises.

Curious where @phins would project any of the starting prospects we have, as of now - Hence, Mathews, Doyle, Cijntje, Franklin, Dobbins, Fitts, Hansen, Mautz, others I'm forgetting or don't know much about...

[dmarx114]

I assume the plan is to have Doyle, Mathews, and Cijnje in the rotation by 2028 at the latest. Would think all 3 are in by next year, assuming they are deserving of it. Even an outside shot for this year.

[ghostrunner]

I agree that's the plan, but of those three Doyle is the only one that seems to have high potential to be a cut above what we have now. Cijntje too, maybe, but opinion on his potential seems more mixed.

Mathews doesn't have a lot suggesting he's a big improvement and he's the closest. So far he's striking people out a bit more, but also walking more and giving up more homers. I do keep wondering what Bloom meant a couple months ago when he was on some show and when prompted he suggested among other things they could ask about why Mathews is overlooked or something like that. That was an interesting thing to suggest but they asked a different question.

[Famous Mortimer]

And against my better judgment, I buy into the whole "nobody believed in us" energy of the 2006 and 2011 teams. Yes, we're short a Pujols. But you sneak into the playoffs and, as a wise man once said, jooneverknow.

And a Rolen, and an Edmonds, and a Yadi, and a Wainwright, and a Carpenter

[Joe Shlabotnik]

And against my better judgment, I buy into the whole "nobody believed in us" energy of the 2006 and 2011 teams. Yes, we're short a Pujols. But you sneak into the playoffs and, as a wise man once said, jooneverknow.

And a Rolen, and an Edmonds, and a Yadi, and a Wainwright, and a Carpenter

Ok, but other than that?

[Popeye_Card]

And against my better judgment, I buy into the whole "nobody believed in us" energy of the 2006 and 2011 teams. Yes, we're short a Pujols. But you sneak into the playoffs and, as a wise man once said, jooneverknow.

And a Rolen, and an Edmonds, and a Yadi, and a Wainwright, and a Carpenter

Ok, but other than that?

And a Berkman. And a Holliday.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

And against my better judgment, I buy into the whole "nobody believed in us" energy of the 2006 and 2011 teams. Yes, we're short a Pujols. But you sneak into the playoffs and, as a wise man once said, jooneverknow.

And a Rolen, and an Edmonds, and a Yadi, and a Wainwright, and a Carpenter

Ok, but other than that?

And a Berkman. And a Holliday.

Yeah, but we got a Shumaker. That's worth something.

[CardsofSTL]

I am now tepid.

[Donnie Ebert]

I'm leaning towards lukewarm.