2019 Modification

Modifying this a bit.  Simply because I can and would like to.

2019 Order...

LF Gardner (35)  L
RF Judge (27)  R
3B Machado (26)  R
DH Stanton (29)  R
1B Harper (26)  R
SS Gregorius (29)  L
C Realmuto (28)  R
CF Hicks (29)  S
2B Torres (22)  R

RHP deGrom (30)
LHP Corbin (29)
RHP Severino (24)
LHP Sabathia (38)
RHP Tanaka (30)

Chapman (31)
Betances (31)
Robertson (34)
Britton (31)
Miller (34)
Green (28)
Kahnle (29)
Holder (25)

Still trading Sanchez (for Realmuto straight-up?), Gray and ROY Andujar (for deGrom -- who would say no, and why?).

Harper to 1B because, if he truly would like to play here... he'll make that move knowing what it means in the long run.  Manny moves to 3B.  Ideally, Frazier (24) is on the bench -- and steps in for injuries, etc.  Or, I could envision him taking Brett's place.  But the loyal piece of me would like to see him stay with the team -- for the leadership, for the clubhouse.

Average age of line-up: 28.  With Frazier instead of Gardner: 27.
Yes, it's right-hand heavy 2-5. BUT LOOK AT THAT 2-5.  And my first version had Hicks ahead of Realmuto -- the only reason why I switched them was because it breaks up the left- and right-hand there.  But having Gleyber in that ninth spot, where he killed it earlier this year... all year long?

That line-up is attractive.

Average age of rotation: 30.  Worst case scenario (and I DO NOT think it should happen), but replace Sabathia with Sheffield (22): 27.  (But I repeat: a battling CC would be more effective than an untested Justus.  But, again, for injuries... maybe him.  Or Loaisiga.  Or... maybe... German.  We have used 11 starting pitchers this year.  So it's there.)

That rotation is attractive.

Average age of bullpen: still 30.  Robertson potentially takes a step backward, and maybe the signing of Miller comes back to bite us... but he's protected behind essentially everyone else.

That bullpen is also attractive.

That entire team scares me in all the right ways.

The Usual Suspects

A post-deadline post!  A first
This would take a strategic flurry of moves unseen since Verbal Kint... but it ends up like...

LF Gardner
RF Judge
SS Gregorius
DH Stanton
CF Hicks
1B Bird
C Realmuto
3B Andujar
2B Torres

RHP Severino
RHP deGrom
RHP Tanaka
LHP Sabathia
RHP Gray

Chapman
Betances
Robertson
Britton
Green
Kahnle
Holder
Warren

Yes, it takes a toll on the depth in our farm system.
Yes, it means we lose Gary.  (Which, admittedly, I thought was an interesting idea before last night's game.)  By the way, I attribute the deGrom and Realmuto spin to Simonetti Source.  It was his theory. It has gained traction with me as I have continued to fantasize think about it.


And then, a new 2019 Utopian order...

SS Gregorius (29)
RF Judge (27)
3B Machado (26)
DH Stanton (29)
LF Harper (26)
2B Torres (22)
C Realmuto (28)
1B Bird (26)
CF Hicks (29)

RHP deGrom (30)
RHP Severino (24)
LHP Corbin (29)
LHP Sabathia (38)
RHP Tanaka (30)

Chapman (31)
Betances (31)
Robertson (34)
Britton (31)
Miller (34)
Green (28)
Kahnle (29)
Holder (25)

Yes that means we traded Gray and Andujar (both of which are painful, in my opinion) - and maybe even Frazier - for prospects to retool the farm.  (Or maybe they go for Realmuto and deGrom from this season.)

That?  That is a lineup with an average age under 27.  With seven All-Star's.  Look at that 2-6.  My.  Good.  Ness.

Rotation lineup average age is just over 30.  Remove CC, and the average age is two years younger.  With Sheffield on the way.  (In my ideal, we don't lose him in any of the aforementioned trades.  And then factor in who else came over with Gray / Andujar / etc.)

Bullpen average age is up there... a sliver over the rotation lineup average age.  30.  Huh.
I'll take a five year stretch with this as the root.  I shiver at the thought.  Makes me feel like I'm... orca fat.

And like that... ... I'm gone.

Okay.

"This is not completely done."  So maybe it doesn't happen.

I'm okay with that.  I really am.

A couple of weeks ago, when I offered that line-up, I geeked out around it.

But in the last eleven hours, I have started to balk.

The money?  Not ideal, but whatever.

The years?  Eh.  Until age 38.  That unnerves me, especially when comparing it to the last 10-year deal we agreed to and how that finished.

The health?  Last year was his healthiest, and obviously that worked out for them.  But he hasn't necessarily been the standard of health in the years before that.  As he ages, the dependability diminishes.

Last, the sacrifice.  What we offer for him, and how it impacts the farm.  I'm not too worried about it, given the circumstances around what Miami is facing financially.  The more money we take on, the lesser level of prospects we should provide.

Which leads to our money.  Do we get under the luxury tax this year?  What happens to Ellsbury?More on that in a bit.   How does our outfield work itself out, now with two otherworldly RF's, three CF's, etc.?

But damn.  Should this unfold, the next 3-5 years should be fun to watch.

Those questions - and many more - will fester in the ethos.  We'll get to them.

I'm jumping ahead.  Let's do 2019.  Already.  (Yes, already.)

Machado (3B)

Judge (RF)

Stanton (DH)

Sanchez (C)

Bird (1B)

Gregorius (SS)

Torres (2B)

Hicks (CF)

Gardner (LF)

Kershaw (LHP)

Severino (RHP)

Tanaka (RHP)

Gray (RHP)

Adams (RHP)

I'm sorry.  I just passed out.  What happened?

(And no, I don't think Kerhsaw leaves the west coast.  Or that we want the back half of what it would take to get him.  And we have some solid pitching here.  But... well...)

I'm Staind...

... ... ... ... ... ... because it's been awhile.  (If you get it, and you're still reading... you obviously are a kindred spirit.  Shalom.)

Hard to argue with how this past year went, even if we didn't make it after being up 3-2. The stadium became The Stadium again in the postseason.  Some ghosts were revived.

We have youth and now some experience.  The biggest hope has to be that we don't become complacent in what happened last year.  While still maintaining the unique sense of fun and camaraderie that this team was able to sustain throughout the year.

The worst part?  There is so much potential and talent... I'm not entirely certain what a utopian line-up would be here.  How different would it be from what we have now?
The initial struggle comes right out of the gate.

Gardner (LF)
Ohtani (DH)
Judge (RF)
Sanchez (C)
Gregorius (SS)
Bird (1B)
Hicks (CF)
Headley (3B)
Castro (2B)


Severino RHP
Tanaka RHP
Ohtani RHP
Gray RHP
Sabathia LHP


I was not sure whether Gardner should be in on the utopian line-up.  Let me be clear: I respect and adore what Brett Gardner brings to this team.  His leadership has The Jeter Residual in it -- but he's casual enough where he can let his guard down.  Even and especially during the game.  He can be outward with his emotion, too.  He is the captain after The Captain.  There is no monetary value in that.  So he stays. In THIS version.

But that doesn't mean I am not greatly intrigued with a showy alternative.

Gregorius (SS)
Ohtani (DH)
Stanton (LF)
Judge (RF)
Sanchez (C)
Bird (1B)
Hicks (CF)
Headley (3B)
Castro (2B)


Severino RHP
Tanaka RHP
Ohtani RHP
Gray RHP
Sabathia LHP


I love Brett Gardner.  But can. you. imagine. facing. THIS. everyday as a pitcher?
I mean... I don't even know what you put up top. I had Headley there because he started and ended strong with getting on base, including the postseason.  I also would like to see Todd Frazier come back, but I just don't know how that's possible.  Then again, we get Stanton and the talk around getting under the luxury tax goes out the window.  Right?

This also would have to mean that we wouldn't go after Bryce next off-season.  How could we, right?  We would target Machado, and -- okay.  Don't go too far.  That's next year's post.
I can obviously see the value of getting under the luxury tax this year. As a set-up.  If there was a time to do it, it is this year.  Because next year, it's Full Court Press time.

Montgomery becomes a hybrid sixth guy as the plan with Ohtani DH'ing and pitching settles itself out.  And our bullpen stays intact.  Dellin course corrects in the offseason... or, worst case scenario, Cash decides that his value is as good as it is now and gets a younger, cheaper prospect.

Stanton can DH some days with Clint Frazier playing LF. And Gleyber comes up.  And... and... and...
As a fan of this team, I will say it... no, I won't.  I will not jinx this.  But... yeah.  I think it.  And I look forward come February.

Wow. That blew up in my face.

Okay. Obviously, we won't do any more utopian line-up's and rotations. (Until next year, that is.)

Pujols, here we come!!!*



* - I. AM. KIDDING.

A Year From Today...

... was my last post, and - with it - Granderson's signing.

I'll just get to it. The third annual Utopian Line-Up and Rotation. (The bullpen can and will wait. Maybe.)


Crawford RF
Jeter SS
Teixeria 1B
A-Rod 3B
Cano 2B
Posada DH
Montero C
Granderson CF
Gardner LF

Sabathia LHP
Greinke RHP
Lee LHP
Hughes RHP
Burnett RHP

(Yeah... this is with Andy retiring. And I know we won't get Greinke. But - that's why this is the UTOPIAN line-up and bullpen.)

I first had Gardner leading off, but I think Crawford makes more sense. Plus, you put Brett as your number nine hitter... and you're getting good OBP leading into the top of the line-up. Grandy and Jesus could switch, I suppose. I just like putting the speed at the bottom of the line-up. But Grandy's power to the short porch might be good coming right after Jorge.

Youth. Experience. Bucket loads of speed and power. Goodness.
And a rotation where Cliff Lee is your #3 guy? (Only because you want to break up the left-handers, but... still. I get chills when I think I could watch at least 4/5 of this group. And I'll tell you... I think A.J. has a nice bounce-back year, with Rothchild giving him direction. Eiland had unfortunately (and yet obviously) lost the connection with him.

I like to think we could keep Kerry Wood, too. I know he wants closer money... but c'mon. This line-up? This rotation (even with say Andy and not Greinke)? Why wouldn't you go for a one-year deal as the 8th inning guy... kill it... get your ring... and then go right back on the market? If anyone doesn't think the organization would do that in a heartbeat after how he performed the last couple of months (despite the occasional hitting sprees he'd allow), you got another thing comin'.

First Lee. Then Carl. Then... well... then... we just take aim for Tampa and A-Go's new Boston home. Giddy up.

well... huh.

Okay. I guess business picked up.

I still say we pick up Damon to DH and rotate in the OF.

Jeter SS
Damon DH
Teixeria 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Gardner LF
Granderson CF

... really? And - how does this... or does this... affect trading for Doc?
hmmmm. Giving up AJax, Coke, and Ian... good for the long-term? I'd have to say for Ian - yes. As Bryan Hoch tweeted earlier today, he's slipped on their depth chart. Coke could be an anomaly (and, just as importantly, may NOT be). We'll see what A-Jax does.

All in all, I like it. I like Granderson's bat, I like his overall defense, and almost most of all... I like his attitude. He's a positive guy, which only helps the synergy.

(I just used "synergy" to describe a professional baseball team. Unbelievable.)