Bryant
@bryantwebster.bsky.social
Occasional gardener. Recovering beertender. Formerly @woedoctor.
Came here to commend mensie on a job well done, but your post is the real winner.
November 7, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Came here to commend mensie on a job well done, but your post is the real winner.
Which is to say, if we're ignoring the rotation/bullpen, Preller will need to be extra savvy when building out the rest of the bench and targeting a 1B to build a lineup that's better overall than the one he finished the season with.
November 7, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Which is to say, if we're ignoring the rotation/bullpen, Preller will need to be extra savvy when building out the rest of the bench and targeting a 1B to build a lineup that's better overall than the one he finished the season with.
Is this an addition by subtraction argument (plus Fermin and Laureano)? I agree that the addition of those two for 2026 is a big improvement on paper over OD 2025, but I'd argue 4 of the 8 guys currently penciled into the lineup are age-based regression candidates; so it's closer than it seems.
November 7, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Is this an addition by subtraction argument (plus Fermin and Laureano)? I agree that the addition of those two for 2026 is a big improvement on paper over OD 2025, but I'd argue 4 of the 8 guys currently penciled into the lineup are age-based regression candidates; so it's closer than it seems.
"Tell me, or I'm having AJ call DePo."
November 6, 2025 at 11:55 PM
"Tell me, or I'm having AJ call DePo."
Yeah, I was going to say...
1. He knows a lot of guys in that clubhouse
2. Knows the org
3. Was here six seasons
...isn't what I'd prioritize, but it's still important and I think works in his favor.
1. He knows a lot of guys in that clubhouse
2. Knows the org
3. Was here six seasons
...isn't what I'd prioritize, but it's still important and I think works in his favor.
November 6, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Yeah, I was going to say...
1. He knows a lot of guys in that clubhouse
2. Knows the org
3. Was here six seasons
...isn't what I'd prioritize, but it's still important and I think works in his favor.
1. He knows a lot of guys in that clubhouse
2. Knows the org
3. Was here six seasons
...isn't what I'd prioritize, but it's still important and I think works in his favor.
Could argue it's a tie for 2nd, I guess.
November 6, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Could argue it's a tie for 2nd, I guess.
I'm not a fan of the hire, but it's crazy to think this is still only the third-most crazy managerial hire of the offseason.
November 6, 2025 at 8:46 PM
I'm not a fan of the hire, but it's crazy to think this is still only the third-most crazy managerial hire of the offseason.
Counsell's hiring also came at a time when hiring guys w/no coaching experience wasn't uncommon. You had Hinch, Ventura, Matheny, Weiss, Ausmus, Counsell, and Servais.
Rehashing something old that didn't yield a ton of positive results instead of meeting your industry in the present feels very AJ.
Rehashing something old that didn't yield a ton of positive results instead of meeting your industry in the present feels very AJ.
November 6, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Counsell's hiring also came at a time when hiring guys w/no coaching experience wasn't uncommon. You had Hinch, Ventura, Matheny, Weiss, Ausmus, Counsell, and Servais.
Rehashing something old that didn't yield a ton of positive results instead of meeting your industry in the present feels very AJ.
Rehashing something old that didn't yield a ton of positive results instead of meeting your industry in the present feels very AJ.
The better comp would be Counsell, and even then it's a bad one. Counsell was a special assistant to Melvin, hired mid-season because Roenicke underperformed. He managed out that season and built a rapport with the new GM, Stearns, during the rebuild.
Completely different scenario here.
Completely different scenario here.
November 6, 2025 at 7:29 PM
The better comp would be Counsell, and even then it's a bad one. Counsell was a special assistant to Melvin, hired mid-season because Roenicke underperformed. He managed out that season and built a rapport with the new GM, Stearns, during the rebuild.
Completely different scenario here.
Completely different scenario here.
Non-zero chance we get Eric and Mike Hosmer as co-hitting coaches.
November 6, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Non-zero chance we get Eric and Mike Hosmer as co-hitting coaches.
I also think it's a non-qualifier to say "he knows guys." That's boys club shit and, unless you're a real asshole, it's no different than any recently retired player. Being a quality control guy (a role Kotsay also held) like Vogt was in Seattle is different than being a yes man for the POBO.
November 6, 2025 at 6:53 PM
I also think it's a non-qualifier to say "he knows guys." That's boys club shit and, unless you're a real asshole, it's no different than any recently retired player. Being a quality control guy (a role Kotsay also held) like Vogt was in Seattle is different than being a yes man for the POBO.
Any defense of the Stammen hiring will start by comparing him to other people with minimal or no coaching experience, so I think it's important to point out Vogt was talked about as a future manager his last year in Oakland. He basically helped Kotsay manage the clubhouse his first year on the job.
November 6, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Any defense of the Stammen hiring will start by comparing him to other people with minimal or no coaching experience, so I think it's important to point out Vogt was talked about as a future manager his last year in Oakland. He basically helped Kotsay manage the clubhouse his first year on the job.
Successful managers come from different backgrounds and experiences and the most important thing is how they fit. That means that anybody could be a manager you just don't know I'm finding this out now, after my sixth hire, oh god I hope they don't realize I'm just riffing here is this thing on...?
November 6, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Successful managers come from different backgrounds and experiences and the most important thing is how they fit. That means that anybody could be a manager you just don't know I'm finding this out now, after my sixth hire, oh god I hope they don't realize I'm just riffing here is this thing on...?
These are only the ones I remember:
- Eating a popped pimple off Trout's back
- Putting on an Eagles helmet and having Calhoun rocket a football at his head
- Shaving his eyebrows
- 90 MPH ball to the body
Forgot about the bug off the floor.
- Eating a popped pimple off Trout's back
- Putting on an Eagles helmet and having Calhoun rocket a football at his head
- Shaving his eyebrows
- 90 MPH ball to the body
Forgot about the bug off the floor.
November 5, 2025 at 9:24 PM
These are only the ones I remember:
- Eating a popped pimple off Trout's back
- Putting on an Eagles helmet and having Calhoun rocket a football at his head
- Shaving his eyebrows
- 90 MPH ball to the body
Forgot about the bug off the floor.
- Eating a popped pimple off Trout's back
- Putting on an Eagles helmet and having Calhoun rocket a football at his head
- Shaving his eyebrows
- 90 MPH ball to the body
Forgot about the bug off the floor.
More goat meat stands is a legitimately great idea.
November 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
More goat meat stands is a legitimately great idea.
I'll never tell anybody how to fan, and I'd rather have optimists than toxic assholes. But I definitely don't like people insinuating that people with questions didn't think shit through.
November 5, 2025 at 12:07 AM
I'll never tell anybody how to fan, and I'd rather have optimists than toxic assholes. But I definitely don't like people insinuating that people with questions didn't think shit through.
Are there FA options? That's great! Will ownership spend and, if so, who's filling the remaining spot or two? How will they do this while replacing the RP they stretched out, as well as a 1B, DH, possibly a LF, and fortifying the bench.
The argument is always "trades" but now the cupboard is bare.
The argument is always "trades" but now the cupboard is bare.
November 5, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Are there FA options? That's great! Will ownership spend and, if so, who's filling the remaining spot or two? How will they do this while replacing the RP they stretched out, as well as a 1B, DH, possibly a LF, and fortifying the bench.
The argument is always "trades" but now the cupboard is bare.
The argument is always "trades" but now the cupboard is bare.
Just looking at the rotation, what's the convincing argument for stretching out one or more RP? Give me examples. Can it be done when their guys have known durability issues? I have doubts!
Are there KBO, CPBL, NPB options for 2026? Okay! Who? And AJ, to put it generously, has a mixed record there.
Are there KBO, CPBL, NPB options for 2026? Okay! Who? And AJ, to put it generously, has a mixed record there.
November 5, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Just looking at the rotation, what's the convincing argument for stretching out one or more RP? Give me examples. Can it be done when their guys have known durability issues? I have doubts!
Are there KBO, CPBL, NPB options for 2026? Okay! Who? And AJ, to put it generously, has a mixed record there.
Are there KBO, CPBL, NPB options for 2026? Okay! Who? And AJ, to put it generously, has a mixed record there.
I will say AJ, for all of his faults, is creative. If the argument was simply "AJ has found a way before," whatever.
But there's a reason we were talking about a window. He's not operating with the same resources as before. It's why I bristle at the "it's months before Opening Day" dismissiveness.
But there's a reason we were talking about a window. He's not operating with the same resources as before. It's why I bristle at the "it's months before Opening Day" dismissiveness.
November 5, 2025 at 12:01 AM
I will say AJ, for all of his faults, is creative. If the argument was simply "AJ has found a way before," whatever.
But there's a reason we were talking about a window. He's not operating with the same resources as before. It's why I bristle at the "it's months before Opening Day" dismissiveness.
But there's a reason we were talking about a window. He's not operating with the same resources as before. It's why I bristle at the "it's months before Opening Day" dismissiveness.