Appreciate all the research, and there is a strong Gyorko argument to be made in the chat because he's already made it on the field. There are many people around and within the Cardinals who believe that Gyorko will emerge with as many at-bats as the "starters" at the position he plays. He'll see time at third. He'll see time at second base. There's even a sense that he'll take over third base at some point during the season because he'll go on a power jag and Matheny will play, play, play the hotter bat. All that is fair. And you bring up a good point about the contract. Gyorko and Wong both have security. They're going to make a guaranteed amount of money that, say, Grichuk and Piscotty don't have at this point, or Michael Wacha does not have at this point. Gyorko sees that as comfort but he has to earn playing time. Wong would benefit from seeing it the same way, which is something that last year Gyorko did talk to him about.
Affirmed, not altered. Still a second-place team that needs to be built around pitching, and if that pitching stays healthy and cranks out quality starts then that's the way it will contend with the Cubs.
Sure. By any team. Always a chance.
I think Joe Maddon brings value to the Cubs, absolutely. He's a good manager -- of a clubhouse, of the message, of the media, of the lineup, of the game. He's a five-tool manager, I guess.
Diaz. That doesn't mean Kolten Wong doesn't have the chance to be an All-Star. Someday. Somewhere.
Yes, if the Cubs' starting pitching falters has a mean regression, and the Cardinals plays above the expectations, gets some strong season from a pitcher that right now cannot be predicted. (See: Wacha, Michael.)
I'm not sure. They'd be negligent to explore. Just like the other 25, 26 teams with room for him and the financial ability to consider it. I don't have a read on whether the Cardinals are over the moon for Harper. For example, there is interest in Nolan Arenado, but the likelihood of getting him is minimal, maybe non-existent. There are other third baseman that come up when it comes who the Cardinals could get and how they could do it, and a free-agent Machado just makes the most sense because the Cardinals seem so reluctant to part with the necessary prospects to pull off the rare mega-deal. They'd rather spend money than the prospects, and that tells you about their view. That's why Machado comes up. Transformative infielder who can play a premium position and hit in the middle of the order. I may be in the minority here, but that to me is a player with more impact-per-dollar (and at high dollars!) than Harper.
Just to make sure I wasn't completely missing something I just looked up the WAR leads from 2014 to present and there's Mike Trout up top 27.8. Arenado is right ahead of Machado at 16.3 and 16.1, respectively. Harper is down at 31st, at 12.6.
There isn't a Cardinal in the top 50.
Adam Eaton is 15th.
We'll find out. It is an entirely fair and interesting question. Just impossible to know at this point. What I do know is that playing time has always been valuable to Molina. He wants to be the starter. He wants to have that opportunity and he wants to lead the league in innings. He, however, is also pragmatic and competitive enough to know that innings are earned with health and production.
They don't see Siegrist and Cecil in that same way. I asked about that recently, and they see them as setup lefties, good for the full innings and four outs but not doing the Miller thing.
They have six years of control remaining when gets to the majors. His clock has not run much.
I've checked with two teams who are not the Cardinals and they, like the Cardinals, claim to have zero idea. None. They insist they're waiting for word just like everyone else, with no inside info. Eager to see what spills out of his tryout on Thursday.
I have, yes. When there is something lost in translation. Even this spring, we ran into a situation where a player said something in Spanish that did not quite translate the same way in English. Had we used the direct translation it would not have fairly represented what the player was actually trying to say. I knew enough to understand that. And so I did what I could to go back to the player and explain how something in Spanish translated into something not quite right in English, and we all were able to find a way to convey his meaning more truthfully, fairly. The goal is to be accurate. We cannot ignore culture differences or phrases that have unexpected nuances and ramifications.
I don't understand it either, to be honest. But then I'm not really accustomed to be offered millions for a singular skill I can and must do in front of 40,000 or so daily. Maybe if I did, I would have a better appreciation of why someone coming to me with an offer of millions I would want to ignore and just focus on my job. Like I said, I don't understand it when I hear it either, but I'm not in the cleats. I have to trust that I've heard it enough from athletes there must be something to it.
I wouldn't want the uncertainty.
The uncertainty would be a bigger distraction to me, personally, than the negotiations.
I did not hear anything from the Cardinals about the Posey article. I read it. It was interesting. It was by a thoughtful writer who I enjoy reading.
Game over. Tie, 3-3. Must go report. Please be patient.
Carson Kelly can still be that.
So did we. This is the year Survivor didn't work. The schedule right from the start threw most players out of contention, and with the length of spring training there wasn't the consecutive appearances right from the start, even to the young guys. It will return in 2018.
No. It should be read as a weather forecast and concern that game may not be played.
Not a surprise at all. That speed could come in handy.
Rare. So the wins are rare, too. But this is a "bidding" war without the traditional big bidders. They feel it's their chance.
