Click here to read a transcript of this week’s chat with MLBTR’s Steve Adams.
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I really appreciate saying when the next two chats are.
“Any one of the Cubs, Brewers, Reds or Cardinals could step up and absolutely seize it, and instead the Cubs are shedding payroll, the Cards are hemming and hawing about whether they can afford to pay two franchise icons, the Reds are salary dumping their bullpen and the Brewers are just sitting in idle.
That division is a microcosm of the competitive issue that is really hurting the game more than anything else, in my view.”
Thats some good stuff there Steve even if you had time to drum it up in an article- Even more impressive is Im assuming these are all pretty much off the cuff responses-
My Question to that would be – Do you think that will take some divine intervention from baseballs front offices or is it possible/plausible to occur organically after more time separation from Covid/etc
The 20’s cant survive a decade of only 8~10 teams investing year to year.
“The optics of moving a former top pick, top prospect, rookie of the year and MVP in exchange for primarily salary relief are poor.”
In order to be a (good) GM you have to COMPLETELY tune all of that out.
{yawn} It wouldn’t be a Steve Adams chat without a few snide comments about the Cleveland Indians. I suppose their on-going success despite his constant grousing has to get under his skin. He can’t wait for them to stink like they deserve to. Too bad, this isn’t going to happen this year either.
As far as his laudatory comments about Liam Hendriks–as if a full effort, hard-throwing 31 year old has no risk at all–he creates a double standard, chiding a commentator for ignoring what-he’s-done lately, and saying that, like Trevor Bauer, the earlier part of his career is no longer relevant, because–after all–it takes time to develop major league skills.
At the same time however, Adams waxes loquaciously over Francisco Lindor, despite his slow, but perceptible decline as an offensive player in what should be the prime of his career. Anyone who has watched Lindor closely over his last 200+ games knows that this is not the same guy who created the superstar reputation he somehow still retains. But that’s Adams for you…always creating the narrative that’s necessary to support his biases.
I think he’s just generally annoyed by the noticeable drop in the number of teams willing to spend to improve, and CLE happens to be at the forefront of that. You’ll notice he’s also attacking teams like the Cubs and Cardinals, both of which could and should be adding talent with dollars. As you said, CLE has had on-going “success” if you consider success to be an agonizingly long World Series drought. You really can’t argue against the fact that ANY kind of decent investment in a MLB-level outfielder would have gone a long way in making the club so much better. They chose to let Brantley walk and subsequently spent two seasons doing nothing to replace his production. If Steve has a “bias” as you say, it’s only because the owners are clearly more concerned with pocketing money rather than investing it in a winning product.
The Indians have the 3rd best record all-time in the American League behind NY and Bos, much of it due to overall excellence over the last 30 years. I don’t think this small market team in a poor region needs to be chided by Mr. Adams. Relatively speaking, every big market team is “cheaper” than the Tribe, Cleveland is just an easy target.
Cleveland didn’t let Brantley “walk.” They had no control over him unless you feel he would have accepted a qualifying offer. Criticizing the Tribe for not wanting to pay $18m for a guy who couldn’t answer the bell for the playoffs the previous two seasons isn’t a reasonable judgment, unless you think small markets can afford to take risks like that (hint: they can’t).
As for the team’s “failures” over the last few years (they haven’t been) if you want to criticize anyone, how about leveling your sights at the star players in recent years (we’re looking at YOU, Francisco Lindor) who have come up small in big situations. The next thing you’ll be saying is, “but, but, but…he needed more around him!”
Yeah, go try that on someone else. It’s between the lines where our big guns have fallen short time and again, not the front office or ownership. Fly that flag over the many big market teams who have little to no excuse.
Not sure how Story ranks at the bottom of Lindor, Seager, Baez, and Correa in earning power. He’s no worse than third and has a case as the best of that group full stop.
Baez has had 1 good offensive season, Correa can’t stay on the field, Lindor’s bat is declining, and Seager has been up and down performance and health wise and may not actually be an SS. Story was on pace for his 3rd straight 5 fWAR season.
He’s probably the best of that group right now even unless we all think Lindor’s bat will bounce back.