One thing about the bullpen is that Hernández doesn't have any options left. Considering he seems to be drawing trade interest, they're either going to have to roster him or likely lose him.
As far as the HOF, I'm in agreement that Damon is the only guy I might not vote for if I could vote for everyone (I might still vote for him, too, he was my first favorite player thanks to a leadoff home run at the first game I attended.) I went a different direction with the five I did vote for, though.
Yes, good point on Hernandez. I meant to include that and then saw a squirrel or something. I think he gets moved, but if he doesn't, I think it makes him a lock for the Opening Day bullpen at least.
Totally fair on why he was your favorite player. That's the joy of fandom. Danny Tartabull was my favorite player growing up.
OMG! Tartabull was my favorite, too! He hit at exactly the right time when I was listening to baseball on the radio in the tractor all summer and he just had it Going On. I actually low-key gave up on the Royals when they let him go, to the Goddamn Yankees of all teams (sure, it also coincided with me going to college and having more important things like partying to think about). I've always kind of marked that player loss as the watershed moment when the team went from good to perennial losers. I mean, it worked out fine for them because Tartabull ended up losing it with the Yanks (Ha! Ya buncha poacher jags!), but that's just always kind of stuck with me.
Yep, they had a couple flashes after he was done and really the strike and the subsequent big market/small market disparity is the reason but the timing is 100% there.
Have you hard any interest in Randal Grichuk? I know he’s right handed but him and Melendez would make for a really good platoon if somehow we could punt Renfroe.
I really haven't. It feels like there's no smoke around him at all from anyone. But that lends to what I wrote about yesterday how it's not really about the second/third/fourth tier yet.
I've mentioned him a couple of times. I'm torn. On one hand, I just don't think he's that good. On the other hand, it does seem like he made some changes that are sustainable. For the right price, I'd be in on him.
Will Carlos Beltran make it to Cooperstown? I think he should and I think he’s one of the best pure baseball players I’ve seen in person in my life but the Astros scandal has seemed to ruin his post baseball career.
I would be SHOCKED if he doesn’t. Just follow the votes he’s gotten. He went from 46.5% in his first year to 57.1% last year. He may not get there this season but it’s a super light first time ballot in 2026, so assuming another jump to 60-65% this year, he’ll be one of the top candidates along with Andruw Jones and maybe CC Sabathia if he doesn’t make it this year. Go one more year and the only real first time candidate then is Posey. If he’s not in by the 2027 induction, I’ll buy someone crown seats and give them away.
One thing about the bullpen is that Hernández doesn't have any options left. Considering he seems to be drawing trade interest, they're either going to have to roster him or likely lose him.
As far as the HOF, I'm in agreement that Damon is the only guy I might not vote for if I could vote for everyone (I might still vote for him, too, he was my first favorite player thanks to a leadoff home run at the first game I attended.) I went a different direction with the five I did vote for, though.
Yes, good point on Hernandez. I meant to include that and then saw a squirrel or something. I think he gets moved, but if he doesn't, I think it makes him a lock for the Opening Day bullpen at least.
Totally fair on why he was your favorite player. That's the joy of fandom. Danny Tartabull was my favorite player growing up.
OMG! Tartabull was my favorite, too! He hit at exactly the right time when I was listening to baseball on the radio in the tractor all summer and he just had it Going On. I actually low-key gave up on the Royals when they let him go, to the Goddamn Yankees of all teams (sure, it also coincided with me going to college and having more important things like partying to think about). I've always kind of marked that player loss as the watershed moment when the team went from good to perennial losers. I mean, it worked out fine for them because Tartabull ended up losing it with the Yanks (Ha! Ya buncha poacher jags!), but that's just always kind of stuck with me.
Yep, they had a couple flashes after he was done and really the strike and the subsequent big market/small market disparity is the reason but the timing is 100% there.
Have you hard any interest in Randal Grichuk? I know he’s right handed but him and Melendez would make for a really good platoon if somehow we could punt Renfroe.
I really haven't. It feels like there's no smoke around him at all from anyone. But that lends to what I wrote about yesterday how it's not really about the second/third/fourth tier yet.
Understandable. Then I’ll ask, would he intrigue you?
I've mentioned him a couple of times. I'm torn. On one hand, I just don't think he's that good. On the other hand, it does seem like he made some changes that are sustainable. For the right price, I'd be in on him.
Sam Long would also be a bullpen option from the 40 man roster
Yep, he’s on the list.
Will Carlos Beltran make it to Cooperstown? I think he should and I think he’s one of the best pure baseball players I’ve seen in person in my life but the Astros scandal has seemed to ruin his post baseball career.
I would be SHOCKED if he doesn’t. Just follow the votes he’s gotten. He went from 46.5% in his first year to 57.1% last year. He may not get there this season but it’s a super light first time ballot in 2026, so assuming another jump to 60-65% this year, he’ll be one of the top candidates along with Andruw Jones and maybe CC Sabathia if he doesn’t make it this year. Go one more year and the only real first time candidate then is Posey. If he’s not in by the 2027 induction, I’ll buy someone crown seats and give them away.