I hope so, too. As Mark indicated, there was so much to like about his start tonight. I'd like to think he will only get better from this point on. He certainly doesn't need an IL stint, even a short one, to derail that.
I agree, Butera is too cautious with the starters to a fault. My main complaint with him so far. Irvin was dealing tonight tho good to see. Mark, please pass along that we want the high socks from him 5 games from now if possible! I think that’s the good luck charm.
I really like the new regime but Boy, wonder manager did not have a great night tonight. Pulled Irvin too early, not because it didn’t work out, but because he can’t manage every game like it’s game seven. And then not challenging, though it didn’t impact the outcome, looked silly.
They had three batters reach base after the first inning. One of which was CJ getting hit on purpose, and one when Riley airmailed a throw. So dont think the decision on pulling Irvin really mattered.
Hot take: I've begun rooting for CJ to keep knocking the cover off the ball so that his trade value keeps going through the roof. I just don't see the evidence that he'll ever improve meaningfully at shortstop and it's hard to climb the mountain with Bad News Bears defense. If a GM would give Toboni a package with a couple of top-100 prospects, including pitching, pull the trigger.
So what am I missing here? If CJ has the offense and defense to be an excellent second baseman and Nunez can be an excellent defensive shortstop - why not just switch them. Why does CJ need to be traded?
Is it the fear that his offense will fade again in the second half? No way to know that. Is it because of the fear that he will reach free agency before the team rebuild is successful?
No one said he would be an “excellent second baseman” — he would be better there but still not what a rebuilding team wants. . A contender might be willing to tolerate the defense or DH him/use him as a lefty late inning bat. And he’s a knucklehead to boot (think Robles with a far better bat but a far worse glove). And you are right in that there IS also the concern that the Lerners will never pay to keep him down the road. So a lot of reasons to get what you can while you can…
We'll have to disagree on his abilities. While he wouldn't be a GG at 2nd, he wouldn't be Daniel Murphy either - and his worse defense was tolerated because of his offense. And while he has his issues, I would not put him anywhere close to Robles in the "knucklehead" category. He's entering his prime and has three more seasons before free agency. I don't see the hurry to trade him.
No, he doesn't NEED to be traded. If CJ's agent were to come to Toboni and say CJ loves DC and is willing to move to second base, and would forego free agency and sign a contract for up to 8 years at an AAV under $30 million, I'd probably say pay it, even though he'll still boot the ball and blow his share of games as a second baseman.
But that's not going to happen. He is positioned to potentially set a record for free agenct shortstop contracts in 2029. He's going to make a ton in arbitration the next two seasons no matter what, and will become a free agent after a new CBA is in place and right when Manfred has promised to boost team income via consolidated media rights. I'm sure he and his agent have done the math.
Meanwhile I agree with Jonathan that he's not a long-term championship-level shortstop. So if I'm not making the playoffs this year (and probably next), and I could get package of 3 to 5 prospects, including some top pitching talent, with a total of 20-30 years of team control, for 2 years of Abrams, yes I'd do that.
So how does having him continue to play SS add to his value if everyone knows he's not a championship team caliber SS on defense? Sure, if you could get all that in a trade, of course. But I'm not convinced of that.
... and I'm not either. The key here is that the "buyer" in a trade would NOT have to see him as a long term franchise shortstop. They don't even have to be a team that ever signs big time free agents. They just have to have a good farm system, and see themselves as being one big lefty bat short of a championship. They'd be getting a superstar bat at arbitration cost for 3 playoff runs.
So...
1) if he continues to literally play at MVP level, and
2) at least two "buyers" emerged to bid on his services,
then it's a possible opportunity not to be ignored.
Hope Jake's arm is ok
I hope so, too. As Mark indicated, there was so much to like about his start tonight. I'd like to think he will only get better from this point on. He certainly doesn't need an IL stint, even a short one, to derail that.
Noted his pitch velocity decline
I agree, Butera is too cautious with the starters to a fault. My main complaint with him so far. Irvin was dealing tonight tho good to see. Mark, please pass along that we want the high socks from him 5 games from now if possible! I think that’s the good luck charm.
I really like the new regime but Boy, wonder manager did not have a great night tonight. Pulled Irvin too early, not because it didn’t work out, but because he can’t manage every game like it’s game seven. And then not challenging, though it didn’t impact the outcome, looked silly.
When we think socks will make the team more competitive, we're doomed ....
They had three batters reach base after the first inning. One of which was CJ getting hit on purpose, and one when Riley airmailed a throw. So dont think the decision on pulling Irvin really mattered.
The fielding tonight cost us this game. Jacob young was our only notable hitter tonight. Let’s end this winning streak of Atlantas tomorrow
Hot take: I've begun rooting for CJ to keep knocking the cover off the ball so that his trade value keeps going through the roof. I just don't see the evidence that he'll ever improve meaningfully at shortstop and it's hard to climb the mountain with Bad News Bears defense. If a GM would give Toboni a package with a couple of top-100 prospects, including pitching, pull the trigger.
There’s no doubt in my mind CJ has a strong future on a contending team…at second base. Him continuing to play short is for trade value only.
So what am I missing here? If CJ has the offense and defense to be an excellent second baseman and Nunez can be an excellent defensive shortstop - why not just switch them. Why does CJ need to be traded?
Is it the fear that his offense will fade again in the second half? No way to know that. Is it because of the fear that he will reach free agency before the team rebuild is successful?
No one said he would be an “excellent second baseman” — he would be better there but still not what a rebuilding team wants. . A contender might be willing to tolerate the defense or DH him/use him as a lefty late inning bat. And he’s a knucklehead to boot (think Robles with a far better bat but a far worse glove). And you are right in that there IS also the concern that the Lerners will never pay to keep him down the road. So a lot of reasons to get what you can while you can…
We'll have to disagree on his abilities. While he wouldn't be a GG at 2nd, he wouldn't be Daniel Murphy either - and his worse defense was tolerated because of his offense. And while he has his issues, I would not put him anywhere close to Robles in the "knucklehead" category. He's entering his prime and has three more seasons before free agency. I don't see the hurry to trade him.
Will agree to disagree all around, other than with respect to CJ's offense -- which I agree is very very strong for a shortstop...
No, he doesn't NEED to be traded. If CJ's agent were to come to Toboni and say CJ loves DC and is willing to move to second base, and would forego free agency and sign a contract for up to 8 years at an AAV under $30 million, I'd probably say pay it, even though he'll still boot the ball and blow his share of games as a second baseman.
But that's not going to happen. He is positioned to potentially set a record for free agenct shortstop contracts in 2029. He's going to make a ton in arbitration the next two seasons no matter what, and will become a free agent after a new CBA is in place and right when Manfred has promised to boost team income via consolidated media rights. I'm sure he and his agent have done the math.
Meanwhile I agree with Jonathan that he's not a long-term championship-level shortstop. So if I'm not making the playoffs this year (and probably next), and I could get package of 3 to 5 prospects, including some top pitching talent, with a total of 20-30 years of team control, for 2 years of Abrams, yes I'd do that.
So how does having him continue to play SS add to his value if everyone knows he's not a championship team caliber SS on defense? Sure, if you could get all that in a trade, of course. But I'm not convinced of that.
... and I'm not either. The key here is that the "buyer" in a trade would NOT have to see him as a long term franchise shortstop. They don't even have to be a team that ever signs big time free agents. They just have to have a good farm system, and see themselves as being one big lefty bat short of a championship. They'd be getting a superstar bat at arbitration cost for 3 playoff runs.
So...
1) if he continues to literally play at MVP level, and
2) at least two "buyers" emerged to bid on his services,
then it's a possible opportunity not to be ignored.
That I agree with.
On those misplays Abrams had been perfectly positioned and barely had to move more than a step or two. It’s unfathomable. It cannot be fathomed.
So sorry to hear about Josiah Gray.