[lex24]

How much has baseball changed?  Dodgers have used 32 pitchers this year. Giants 31 (not including Tauchman, Ruf and Slater).

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Numbers…

The last time the Giants won 90 of their first 140 games?  1913

LaMonte Wade Jr. is 9/15 batting in the ninth inning.  

LaMonte Wade Jr. is hitting .409 with runners in scoring position and two outs.

Wade has been unreal.  There is an argument for him being Giants MVP.  I know this, no way they are in this position without him.  I remember when they got him for Shaun Anderson.  Yawn.  Big deal, right. Well….

Zaidi finds those diamonds. I think one reason is he is so willing to grab.  Some fail and are gone.  But Yaz, Wade, Leone, Littell Estrada and I’m sure more to come.

Now, what do they do this offseason.  They have a boatload of money to spend. And a pitching staff to rebuild. Job 1 - resign Gausman.  Maybe DeSclafani and/or Wood.  Then it’s FA time. With more to burn.  I do want to see how they navigate those waters.  

Dodger payroll is $100,000,000 higher than Giants. To compete year in year out the Giants  are going to have to spend. Zaidi and Co have managed to build up the minor league system while assembling a team that has the best record in baseball.  Without anyone that is considered star status (Posey was at one time and still is IMO, but he’s older and this was not expected from him.  Ditto Crawford, who  was one of the better SS in NL but had dropped precipitously in ‘19). What they have done is incredible.  How they maintain this moving forward will be fascinating to watch.

Zaidi wins EOY.  Kapler MOY.  And boy was I wrong on him.  There’s still something about the guy that bugs me quite honestly. But he’s done a terrific job. I think a lot of it is he and Zaidi are just so in tune together that it works.  Which I’m sure is why Zaidi wanted him in first place.

Giants had hellacious 19 game stretch (A’s, Mets, Braves (road) Brewers (4) Dodgers then at Colorado (where Rockies have a terrific record). Last 16 without an off day.   I thought this could be that 5-14 stretch.  They went 12-7.

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Bryant swings and misses a lot. Should lay off high and tight.

He hasn’t got hot yet. Be good to see.  One big concern is he is showing early symptoms of Steve Sax disease.

The big unknown is the upcoming CBA negotiation.  If MLB is successful in their effort to implement a significant luxury tax increase for the big spending clubs, it is going to have a profound effect on the Dodgers, Yankees, Giants and other teams at the top of the payroll ladder.  

While the hot stove is going to be interesting this year, I suspect very little will be accomplished until after a new CBA is agreed upon.  

In the meantime, resign Buster and I’ll be happy…..

True on the CBA luxury tax issue.  Except right now, Giants are not at the top of the payroll ladder.

[lex24]

How much has baseball changed?  Dodgers have used 32 pitchers this year. Giants 31 (not including Tauchman, Ruf and Slater).

---

Numbers…

The last time the Giants won 90 of their first 140 games?  1913

LaMonte Wade Jr. is 9/15 batting in the ninth inning.  

LaMonte Wade Jr. is hitting .409 with runners in scoring position and two outs.

Wade has been unreal.  There is an argument for him being Giants MVP.  I know this, no way they are in this position without him.  I remember when they got him for Shaun Anderson.  Yawn.  Big deal, right. Well….

Zaidi finds those diamonds. I think one reason is he is so willing to grab.  Some fail and are gone.  But Yaz, Wade, Leone, Littell Estrada and I’m sure more to come.

Now, what do they do this offseason.  They have a boatload of money to spend. And a pitching staff to rebuild. Job 1 - resign Gausman.  Maybe DeSclafani and/or Wood.  Then it’s FA time. With more to burn.  I do want to see how they navigate those waters.  

Dodger payroll is $100,000,000 higher than Giants. To compete year in year out the Giants  are going to have to spend. Zaidi and Co have managed to build up the minor league system while assembling a team that has the best record in baseball.  Without anyone that is considered star status (Posey was at one time and still is IMO, but he’s older and this was not expected from him.  Ditto Crawford, who  was one of the better SS in NL but had dropped precipitously in ‘19). What they have done is incredible.  How they maintain this moving forward will be fascinating to watch.

Zaidi wins EOY.  Kapler MOY.  And boy was I wrong on him.  There’s still something about the guy that bugs me quite honestly. But he’s done a terrific job. I think a lot of it is he and Zaidi are just so in tune together that it works.  Which I’m sure is why Zaidi wanted him in first place.

Giants had hellacious 19 game stretch (A’s, Mets, Braves (road) Brewers (4) Dodgers then at Colorado (where Rockies have a terrific record). Last 16 without an off day.   I thought this could be that 5-14 stretch.  They went 12-7.

---

Bryant swings and misses a lot. Should lay off high and tight.

He hasn’t got hot yet. Be good to see.  One big concern is he is showing early symptoms of Steve Sax disease.

The big unknown is the upcoming CBA negotiation.  If MLB is successful in their effort to implement a significant luxury tax increase for the big spending clubs, it is going to have a profound effect on the Dodgers, Yankees, Giants and other teams at the top of the payroll ladder.  

While the hot stove is going to be interesting this year, I suspect very little will be accomplished until after a new CBA is agreed upon.  

In the meantime, resign Buster and I’ll be happy…..

True on the CBA luxury tax issue.  Except right now, Giants are not at the top of the payroll ladder.