[Mick]

Next 12 to deadline. 5 vs Dodgers (4 at LA after break and Aug 1 to begin 4 game set in SF). 3 at AZ. 4 vs. Cubs.  

Deadline always brings changes.  Pads, Cards Brewers, Phillies. Those are the other teams I’m focusing on. I know Dodgers will add - they will get a starting pitcher, I suspect.  Can’t think Gonsolin and Anderson will continue first half pace.  May might be back in August.  But who knows what to expect after 1 1/2 out from TJ.  Buehler maybe Sept.  

Zaidi has his work cut out.  If they buy (as I suspect) I think it will be depth pieces.  No big splash.  Realistically this team can slip into playoffs.  But even with Rodon and Webb at front end, it’s hard to see them getting deep.  Dodgers, Mets and to a slightly lesser extent, Braves just have too much.  And will have more. Especially the Mets if and when Scherzer and DeGrom are healthy enough to pitch.

I suspect that Zaidi's attitude is a bit like that of Lynch/Shanahan...if they can slip into the playoffs as a wild card (like 2014) and get everyone healthy, they're a very good team, and maybe magic happens.  But in the 27 years since the introduction of wild cards, the Wild card team has won just seven times, including the Giants in 2014. The best wild card team loses the matchup against the division winner about half the time (13 times), then loses the league championship series an additional 1/3rd of the time.

Odds are even longer in the NFL.  In the 52 Super Bowls, only 7 wild card teams have won the Super Bowl and five of those seven were in a 13 year span between 1998 and 2011.

[Mick]

Next 12 to deadline. 5 vs Dodgers (4 at LA after break and Aug 1 to begin 4 game set in SF). 3 at AZ. 4 vs. Cubs.  

Deadline always brings changes.  Pads, Cards Brewers, Phillies. Those are the other teams I’m focusing on. I know Dodgers will add - they will get a starting pitcher, I suspect.  Can’t think Gonsolin and Anderson will continue first half pace.  May might be back in August.  But who knows what to expect after 1 1/2 out from TJ.  Buehler maybe Sept.  

Zaidi has his work cut out.  If they buy (as I suspect) I think it will be depth pieces.  No big splash.  Realistically this team can slip into playoffs.  But even with Rodon and Webb at front end, it’s hard to see them getting deep.  Dodgers, Mets and to a slightly lesser extent, Braves just have too much.  And will have more. Especially the Mets if and when Scherzer and DeGrom are healthy enough to pitch.

I suspect that Zaidi's attitude is a bit like that of Lynch/Shanahan...if they can slip into the playoffs as a wild card (like 2014) and get everyone healthy, they're a very good team, and maybe magic happens.  But in the 27 years since the introduction of wild cards, the Wild card team has won just seven times, including the Giants in 2014. The best wild card team loses the matchup against the division winner about half the time (13 times), then loses the league championship series an additional 1/3rd of the time.

Odds are even longer in the NFL.  In the 52 Super Bowls, only 7 wild card teams have won the Super Bowl and five of those seven were in a 13 year span between 1998 and 2011.