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Ronin

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Ronin

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DWKB

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It’s no secret that we here in The Ringer’s baseball department love us some Jerry Dipoto. The 50-year-old former Colorado Rockies closer has been baseball’s fidgeter-in-chief during his three years running the Seattle Mariners, pulling off a frenetic series of trades that made him one of the select few sports figures (along with Carmelo Anthony) that this publication has immortalized in song. But while many of those trades have just been tinkering around the edges, one has the Mariners in position to make the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. That deal: pitcher Taijuan Walker and shortstop Ketel Marte to Arizona for pitcher Zac Curtis, shortstop Jean Segura, and outfielder Mitch Haniger. It’s Dipoto’s magnum opus, and perhaps the single biggest reason we’re on track to see Seattle in the playoffs.

https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2018/...poto-trade-jean-segura-mitch-haniger-playoffs
 

Dback Jon

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It’s no secret that we here in The Ringer’s baseball department love us some Jerry Dipoto. The 50-year-old former Colorado Rockies closer has been baseball’s fidgeter-in-chief during his three years running the Seattle Mariners, pulling off a frenetic series of trades that made him one of the select few sports figures (along with Carmelo Anthony) that this publication has immortalized in song. But while many of those trades have just been tinkering around the edges, one has the Mariners in position to make the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. That deal: pitcher Taijuan Walker and shortstop Ketel Marte to Arizona for pitcher Zac Curtis, shortstop Jean Segura, and outfielder Mitch Haniger. It’s Dipoto’s magnum opus, and perhaps the single biggest reason we’re on track to see Seattle in the playoffs.

https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2018/...poto-trade-jean-segura-mitch-haniger-playoffs


It is interesting to speculate what would have happened if that trade hadn't been made. Walker and Marte were keys in making the playoffs last year. Walker is out this year, and his inning-eating is sorely missed, while Marte has contributed with both bat and glove, but not to the level of Segura.
 

ajcardfan

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What the Oakland A's have done in the last month is getting to be almost beyond words. The number of comebacks are at a crazy level. Last two games? They trail 10-2 going into the seventh yesterday, and trail 5-1 going into the 7th tonight. They win yesterday 13-10 in 10 innings, and today 6-5. Both on homers by Khris Davis. Tonight's winning shot was a mammoth 2-R home run into the opposite field 2nd deck, with a count of 2-2 and 2 outs. Oh, and that was his sixth homer since SUNDAY.

Their bullpen is lights out. the offense is coming from 1 to 9, lots and lots of power. Starting pitching is competitive, but has been the weakness so far. But, at one point four of their five first day starters were out. Beane has bubble gummed it, its been just good enough. And, now, they are getting those guys back.

Sorry, for this on the DBacks board. But I got on the field for an Oakland A's spring training game and got to throw with a rookie named Ricky Henderson. As physically talented as anyone I have ever personally seen in MLB. They first caught my attention in the 70s with those crazy uniforms and crazy players they won some World Series with.
 

Phrazbit

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JD Martinez hit his 32nd homer today... but it was wiped out by rain. That trade for him last year was brilliant and that contract for Tomas is such a killer. I think JD would have gladly stayed if we'd been able to make a comparative offer.

Sadly, I supported that contract for Tomas, I was thrilled to see the team being proactive and because the recent big money foreign free agents had produced for their clubs. But man... it sucks that we won that bidding... and that he was a massive flop. His numbers in the minors stink, they're actually worse than his production at the big league level, and in the PCH, where, as far as I can understand it, the parks are about 280 feet in the corners and the pitchers throws underhand. Seriously though, it seems as though he was glad to agree with the big league club's assessment that he wasn't major league material and he's content to get fat(ter) on the money owed to him.

If we had JD Martinez, Pollock and Peralta... that's an offensive outfield that is as good as any in baseball.

Anyway, I'm bumming myself out, this is still a good squad, if they can make the playoffs they've got a punchers chance.

Also, screw the Dodgers.
 
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