JM

The guy is an unproven starter and a DOMINANT CLOSER. How many blown saves have their been this year? It's horrendous. How many closers have lost the job this year? How many teams have used more than 2 closers? It's awful. I wouldn't move him. There was a time when there were closers that were simply unhittable in baseball. How many are left? Not many.

Who's the next great closer in baseball? No one, they all try to make them starters before they have a chance to gain the fame and acclaim.

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MrMister

The next great closer is Chapman if they don't convert him. But he also could be the next top dominant ace. I don't really care if they do or not, but I do think the gamble is worth it. I was just saying it's possible he becomes a starter next year. He has the stuff.

Perfect Poster

Not both man. I love Cabby but that's two keepers there. I'd have to get something else back to even consider it and the guy would have to be a potential keeper at worst.

Chapmans blown 4 saves himself, so...

And you don't look for the next great closer unless you KNOW he can't cut it as a starter. The 200 innings you can get from a good-great starter are much more valuable than 70-80 innings from a closer especially with how they treat them nowadays. We don't know how Chapman would fare as a starter yet. But maybe he pitches close to a quality of play that he is as a closer. You don't waste those outings by only using him 3 innings a week. It just isn't smart usage of your assets.

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JM

Playoffs can be made and missed in the 9th inning. Literally. 3 innings a week? 3 high pressure innings where you secure the wins that get you in the playoffs. Closers can have more of an effect on a team than starters. GREAT closers anyway.

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Perfect Poster

It's still only 3 innings, and you can find those guys to do that job very well on the FA market every year. Joe Nathan, Rodney, Broxton all have come cheap and have done well as closers. Saves are overrated anyway because a lot of the time the 9th isn't the most high leverage situation and closers are only used for one inning (not that Chapman is, but certainly may are). So yeah, if I have a potential 1, 2, or possibly even really good 3 I'm taking that over a closer since you can get them dirt cheap on the market.

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MrMister

Eckersley v GIBSON

Seriously though, believe what you want. Don't care. And it doesn't even matter. Chapman is K'ing fools like mad in the 9th this season and that's all he'll do this season. There is no question he's more important than any other pitcher on that team right now, save maybe Cueto. Maybe (it's also that their starters are garbage). That's this season. Who knows what happens by spring training next year.

WWF

@ PP

Alright. If anything, we'll do this after the season, because I don't want an injured Mike Stanton and restricted Stephen Strasburg this season. Depends on how well McCarthy and Vogelsong play out the season, as well. If both continue to be great (namely McCarthy, when he gets healthy) then I'm not going to do it. Gio is locked in as one of my Keeper Pitchers, so if one of those two can continue to be fantastic, I'd have no need for Stras. It's pretty much impossible to upgrade my Keeper Hitters as well, so if we do a Stanton/Strasburg deal, it'll have to be because I have no confidence in my pitchers going into next season.

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Mikey Damage

JM, accept my deal.

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Mikey Damage

Done deal.

PER ESPN...

team mikey gets: Lawrie, someone?, and JM's NINTH round pick in the 2013 draft

team JM gets: Cueto, Phillips, and Mikey's EIGHTEENTH round pick in the 2013 draft


I have no idea who I will get in the 9th round, but idgaf. I'm just excited that we traded picks. UNHEARD OF. At least for me, that is.

Now, I need to cut a keeper. Who wants Heyward, or Elvis? I'd rather deal Elvis, but Heyward could be moved for the RIGHT price.

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JM

Cueto

Not having Kendrick's lack of run production in my line up should be helpful. Pretty complete team top to bottom now.

C - Santana (shut up, he's getting better)
1B - ADRIAN
2B - Phillips
SS - Castro
3B - Edwin
OF - CARGO
OF - Beltran
OF - Pence
UTL - Reddick
UTL - Joyce

Pitching, you know they're boss.

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