DannyDuberstein said:

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Disco Stu said:

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Calhoun was not all they got for Darvish.

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Technically true. But one is getting lit up at A ball at Hickory and the other is basically a utility guy bouncing around the infield at A+ while also doing little at the plate.

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AJ Alexy is only 20, and "getting lit-up" is a bit of a stretch. He was touted as having a pretty high ceiling who misses bats. The downside when we got him was that his biggest fix is keeping the ball in the zone. Too many walks.

His line at A:
11 GS, 4.68 ERA, 57.2 IP, 74 SO, 37 BB. That's 11.5 Ks/9IP and 5.8 BB9.

Both in line with what they knew they got. At 20, he is among the younger SPs in the South Atlantic League. He is 2nd among SPs in K/9IP. I'm still optimistic about him.

I guess I'm not really sure where all the talk of Beltre being on the verge of retirement is coming from... Why would 2019 necessarily be his last year?

Obviously he's too old to be playing a lot more years and that big injury will eventually happen -- , but he's on pace for a 3+ WAR year this season... Unless he absolutely falls off a cliff in production in 2019 or gets injured, I don't see him hanging up the spikes when he's still capable of being a valuable player.

free_mhayden said:

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I guess I'm not really sure where all the talk of Beltre being on the verge of retirement is coming from... Why would 2019 necessarily be his last year?

Obviously he's too old to be playing a lot more years and that big injury will eventually happen -- , but he's on pace for a 3+ WAR year this season... Unless he absolutely falls off a cliff in production in 2019 or gets injured, I don't see him hanging up the spikes when he's still capable of being a valuable player.

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Several article have Beltre saying the following:

Quote:

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He has been outspoken about his admiration for the Texas organization, and is now saying that if he plays next year it'll only be for the Rangers.

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The wind must be nuts. Pop ups making professionals look silly.

"I don't think Chirinos caught that. Looked like he pressed it into the net. None of our players or coaches would have been able to see it from their angle though."

This is how delusional Stros fans are. Replay clearly shows a catch. Same bs on the ball 4 call on Gallo last night that was 2-3 inches off the plate.

Choo makes 20,000,000 and can't run

Ryno01 said:

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Choo makes 20,000,000 and can't run

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I mean he only has a 44 game on base streak and has been the offense of late.

Yes but running out a bunt and we lead

The wave

Can't overstate how good Kela has been this season. If we trade him it better be for a damn good haul.

And as a type this Maz saves his ass.

gigem1223 said:

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Can't overstate how good Kela has been this season. If we trade him it better be for a damn good haul.

And as a type this Maz saves his ass.

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Reminds me of the catch Cruz didn't make

Calling a Rougie walk off. Just because Stros fans hate him so much.

He's no Chirinos

Kela with a 12 pitch 9th and you send Martin out instead?

gigem1223 said:

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Kela with a 12 pitch 9th and you send Martin out instead?

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Another Banny decision I will never understand

Great managing there Banny. Put a guy who was just called back up against the meat of the line up in the 10th.

what a dumb choice

Banister is not a good in game or decision making manager. No reason to be surprised by stupid stuff at this point.

It's not like Kela is over worked. He easily could've come back out for the 10th.

Banny

DallasAg 94 said:

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free_mhayden said:

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I guess I'm not really sure where all the talk of Beltre being on the verge of retirement is coming from... Why would 2019 necessarily be his last year?

Obviously he's too old to be playing a lot more years and that big injury will eventually happen -- , but he's on pace for a 3+ WAR year this season... Unless he absolutely falls off a cliff in production in 2019 or gets injured, I don't see him hanging up the spikes when he's still capable of being a valuable player.

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Several article have Beltre saying the following:

Quote:

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He has been outspoken about his admiration for the Texas organization, and is now saying that if he plays next year it'll only be for the Rangers.

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I can't argue with that quote, just doesn't seem like the kinda guy that is going to walk away from baseball without even a "meh" year.

I don't see Beltre as a guy that wants a Jeter/Kobe farewell tour. I think he'll just play until he isn't meeting his own expectations and call it quits. Strictly my opinion.

Just looking at the last handful of HoF inductees and their final year:

Vlad: Barely replacement level
Chipper: 2+ WAR
Thome: Replacement level
Trammell: Below replacement level
Bagwell: Barely replacement level
Raines: Barely replacement level
Pudge: Barely replacement level
Griffey: Below repalcement level
Piazza: Barely replacement level
Biggio: Below replacement level
FThomas: Barely replacement level

Now obviously when it goes, it goes quick and long-term injuries are more likely every year... But just not a lot of guys that hang it up when they are still getting the job done.

free_mhayden said:

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Just looking at the last handful of HoF inductees and their final year:

Vlad: Barely replacement level
Chipper: 2+ WAR
Thome: Replacement level
Trammell: Below replacement level
Bagwell: Barely replacement level
Raines: Barely replacement level
Pudge: Barely replacement level
Griffey: Below repalcement level
Piazza: Barely replacement level
Biggio: Below replacement level
FThomas: Barely replacement level

Now obviously when it goes, it goes quick and long-term injuries are more likely every year... But just not a lot of guys that hang it up when they are still getting the job done.

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Just look at Pujols...

Pujols probably not a good comparison because he is getting paid a lot of money through 2021 and isn't interested in giving it up yet. He was really bad last year, but he's actually been a somewhat productive player this year.

IMO with Beltre it's more about his defensive production and his willingness to DH than anything else. He's actually been a slight defensive liability so far this year (def-WAR -1.2). If he's gonna play a few more years it may need to be as a DH. While I don't doubt that he could keep up his offensive production for a while longer, I'm not sure that he wants to do that if it means he has to give up playing the field.

Pujols 2017: -1.8 WAR
Pujols 2018: 0.5 WAR

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml

Glad to see Choo benched tonight. Veterans can't be allowed to set that kind of example.

Beltre's hands still look lightning quick; don't see why he couldn't DH for 2 more years. The hammies are the issue, I guess. He's never been great at going to his right, like Steve Buechele or Buddy Bell, but he's as good as there's been at fielding tough hops and charging the ball.

Schall 02 said:

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Pujols 2017: -1.8 WAR
Pujols 2018: 0.5 WAR

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml

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Really bad last year and somewhat productive this year. He still likely would have hung it up already if it weren't for the contract. Beltre isn't going to have that kind of long-term contract to play out.

He's gonna hang them up when he wants to hang them up, but it's just very rare to see players decide to retire when they are still not just passable but good... Especially if he's still without a ring.

94chem said:

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Glad to see Choo benched tonight. Veterans can't be allowed to set that kind of example.

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What did he Do?

Street_Cred_Norm said:

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94chem said:

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Glad to see Choo benched tonight. Veterans can't be allowed to set that kind of example.

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What did he Do?

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I dont' know for sure that he was benched because of the play.....

But, two nights ago against the astros..... 1st and 2nd with no one out. He had a sacrifice bunt that went 1-5-3. Bunted to the pitcher, who tried to get the runner going to third unsuccessfully. But Choo was slowly jogging down the line and Bregman was able to throw him out at first. By a good 3 steps.