Agreed. Maybe Reyes can learn how to thrown a strike, grow up mentally and the 3rd time through the lineup come in for Waino. Would help keep his innings down.
You want to win or try to get some production out of money already spent at the expense of the team. You don't think other players know the best option is not out there? If this player didnt get millions, he's not out there.
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No. I was talking about a ball that was "in the gap" but it was really more right field that was just barely left and over Martinez's head and before he can get to the ball Bader came flying in from off camera to cut him off and throw it back in. I want to say it was Baez's double to lead off the 8th inning when they scored 6 runs.

It almost doesn't really matter how bad Bader's bat is because your outfield defense is so fucking bad that you need him out there if only to be the guy that gives a shit about running a ball down and getting it back in as fast as possible instead of jogging after it.
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Back in 1st place. I hope the Cubs enjoyed their stay.

In all seriousness, Miles looked sharp last night.We needed that.
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Totally on board with the 1st 2 options but I can't take Gant out of the role he's in. His stuff is playing up so much in relief whereas it's pretty average as a starter. I'd rather keep him in the bullpen and frankly I'd probably just send Hudson to Memphis to keep him stretched out and get him to focus on fastball command.

Then you see which one of him and Reyes can eventually kick Wacha out of the rotation as well.

Leone has options - no reason to cut him. Just demote him and let him figure it out. His stuff is solid and he's cheap. With the way pitchers go down, they'll need him at some point. Gregerson, OTOH, I couldn't give a fuck less about.

Bader has to start. There's just no other option. And he's not a terrible hitter he's just a flawed one. He has solid pop, has shown an increased willingness to take walks and is a good baserunner. I'd be surprised if he didn't end up being a positive offensive contributor and that's good enough for arguably the best defensive CFer in baseball.

That's because John Mozeliak is bad at this.
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Are you sure Leone has options? I read differently, but it was random internet chatter.

Regarding Gant: I understand your point, and he is great from the pen, but I wonder if the gulf between an average-slightly above average SP and Wacha is good enough to justify the move.

As far as Hudson goes, I wonder how much you can teach improved fastball command for someone who is already 24 and pitched all through HS and college.
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Should have been 4 outs already this inning
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Yeah, I was a little surprised as well. But evidently a couple of his minor league stints since being called up have been rehab stints. So he has 1 option left.

On Gant - put PDL in the rotation if you're that committed to removing Gant. Then hopefully Reyes unfucks himself and bumps PDL shortly thereafter. At that point your July rotation could look like Flaherty, Mikolas, Martinez, Reyes and Gomber.

You also have Helsley as a possibility there if you get him stretched out. Cabrera's probably pitched himself out of consideration but Woodford may well have moved himself towards the top of the heap. His big problem is gonna be that he's not on the 40 man so they'll exhaust all other options before outrighting someone off first.

Then again, they could outright that Gonzalez kid they picked up right before the season started with no real loss to be had. So if Woodford gets his walk rate dialed down a bit, he could prove himself among our better options as a 5th starter.

In either event, I think you're looking at a relatively short-term problem given that the Cards really want Reyes back in the rotation. That being the case, I just wouldn't dick around with Gant.

As for Hudson's fastball command - maybe it's less about commanding his 4-seamer and more about letting it do the work for him. Not an execution issue but an approach one. He has GOT to stop throwing it at the bottom of the zone because it's gonna run low and everyone knows that now. He needs to go full Julian Tavarez and start throwing it at the middle of the zone while letting it's natural run take over.

Because right now Hudson's the most painful start in baseball to watch, Wainwright and Wacha included. That goddamn guy has got to stop nibbling himself to death.
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DJ, this is your fault.
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You win 9/10 but then lose 6/7 your not a good team mainly because of your starting pitching.
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The team currently has zero quality starts from the pitchers.
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I knew it was bad, that is telling. I am open to renting MadBum if the Giants decide to offer him up.

He isn’t what he was, but if the cost isn’t too high he would be a great add. His WHIP still looks good and he is still getting a K an inning.
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By that time they’ll be well out of contention, I think.
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Maybe, but every team in the central has flaws.
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True, but I fear having an undead starting rotation may be a bit of a fatal flaw.
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Mikolas’s in the last 4 games has an era of 2.5 or something like that. Flaherty is a stud. He will get back on track. But, two pitchers don’t make a staff.

We need Reyes to throw some strikes and get back in the rotation. It would also be great if Martinez would get his damn head on straight. He has stud stuff. Get some mental balls dude. Take something to help you focus beyond a couple of innings.
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