In some ways, Paxton might be the most desireable pitcher to have in all of baseball. Not that he's Kershaw (yet) or Felix, mind you: But that he's likely pretty close to those guys and he costs us about a buck ninety-eight, which leaves us with a loose $20M to throw at Cano or, say, the real Felix. After the '15 season I'm doing the Seager extension with Paxton. That would take me about 3 seconds to get done. I might do it tomorrow. Guys can't even hit a fly ball against him, for goodness sake.
Scene from opposing teams dugout, as another emasculated enemy batter meekly schlumps down the dugout steps.
Hitting Coach: "Hey stud, that was a durn fine at bat!"
Shell-shocked Orc batter: (with a Thousand Yard Stare, in near slow-motion turns to respond, clearly dazed and confused) "Huh?"
HC: "Durn fine at bat! You ripped that pop up to 2nd!! Flat out killed it! First ball in the air against him all day! Practically a line drive!"
Orc: "It ain't fair, coach. It just ain't fair!"
HC: (Pointing at the destroyed and broken batter bodies littering the Orc dugout) (Oh....and quoting Monty Python, btw) "Look at the bones, mon! Look at the bones!"
Doc, that's our Jimmy! Boy howdy I'm glad he's ours!
When both Elias (my goodness I love what he's about to become) and Walker aren't even in the conversation about who your best young starter type pitcher is (because of the presence of the BC Express), and when Hultzen isn't even in your top three, then you have something pretty ducky as far as young MLB-starter type arms are concerned.
I'm pretty much with you about Taylor: He's got "skills," as they say. There's some Ozzie Smith in his bat. Check it out guys, The Wizard was a fine offensive player. In the 9 seasons from '84-'92 (when he was winning 9 GG's) he was below 95 OPS+ only once. He did it with a bag full of doubles and the ability to walk 70-80 pts. If Taylor has that + glove, and he has that Ozzie bat....then you pencil him in for the next 10 years at SS. There is a bit of an "if" there.....but more and more the M's are behaving as if that "if" can be discounted. Me, too.
And, of course, you're dead on about our Zummie. Feel free, folks, to roll your eyes at his wild swings.....but the dude is a superb receiver and terrific handler...AND he hits 20+ taters. Remember Jerry Grote, Doc (of course you do)? He hit 39 homers in his entire 16 year career!!! His career averages were about ,250-,316-,326, with a homer about every 3 months. He was a heck of a catcher, however. In fact he was a heck of a MLB'er. Some of those Seavers and Koosmans sure liked him. Fans want Piazza's bat behind the plate. Manager's want Bench's (and Grote's) pitch calling, receiving and staff handling skills behind the plate. Zunnie gives us a whole bunch of that. I know there is a current of thought that says he wasn't ready to be a prime-time player, needing more farm club seasoning. I will respecfully disagree. He would always have to go through an MLB learning curve, anyway. Now he's through it...and our young pitchers are all the more well off for it.
Let us agree to partially disagree, however, on Ackley. I am HOPEFUL but that isn't quite CONFIDENT that he's fixed here. I'll take HOPEFUL, I suppose, because he's ours and is going to get 60+ games to show he's real. Last July I wan't anywhere close to hopeful! Go get 'em kid. Find the NC hero that's buried inside. Oh...and shave off that stupid House of David beard! What are we, the Orcs?
Merry Christmas all.
You guys are the best!
Moe
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