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2019 MLB Thread

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by Unlucky 13, Nov 2, 2018.

  1. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    The padres would do really well to just bide their time til Gore and Patino are really ready. The clevinger move is a good one as it’ll get them to the postseason I think and who knows. But they’re close, they just need those kids to contribute...patino is there now but he’s working in a limited capacity. Gore probably won’t come up til next year but I actually like him more then Mize as the best pitching prospect in baseball.
     
  2. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    Yeah one of the reason I liked their moves is they didnt give up their big gun prospects or deplete their system too much. A few organizational guys, but replaceable.

    Meanwhile, their main hauls (Clev and Nola) are multi year pickups.

    I'd be curious to see if they bring up Gore as a playoff reliever.

    Detroit has a number of good looking arms beyond Mize too, but they really need him to be a solid front line guy. They have drafted well lately imo. Riley Greene is a few years out but looks great so far, and Tork has Pete Alonso potential. Wish they could have shown more urgency in moving extraneous talent with value for younger control guys. Losing Cabrera off the books will help as well.
     
  3. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    AL Central actually shaping up now, gonna be a tough one next few years. Twins should keep being solid, Indians will need a bit of a makeover but have the pitching depth to stay afloat, White Sox are looking legit, Tigers starting to rebound. Just the Royals faffing about.
     
  4. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Its a fun division, because as long as Cabrerra is an anchor holding the Tigers down, there isn't really a huge market, high payroll team that dominates the rest of them year in and year out, and they kind of all take turns at the top and bottom.
     
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  5. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    One of those potential front line guys, Matt Manning just got shut down. He’s got ace stuff as well.
     
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  6. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    The White Sox SHOULD be a big spender in that market, even with the Cubs in the same town. Detroit's actually not a big city anymore - it's seeing a really nice revival as something of a tech hub, but the metro population is way down from 20-30-40 years ago. As well, it was more the old owner Mike Illitch was willing to spend heavily, especially near the end of his life in pursuit of a title. His kid now running things may not be as willing to keep the checkbooks open.


    Yeah he and another, Alex Faedo, had some minor injuries. As they weren't likely to make the bigs this year, they got shut down. Tarik Skubal and Mize got brought up. Mixed results so far on both, but the promise is there. Might be a fun team to see in a year or two. The really need some of their young bats to sustain to match the pitching. Honestly, it's not that different than the Mets from several years ago, looking at the growing pitching corps. Just bad luck that Harvey got injured and fell apart and that Thor and Matz were inconsistent and also dealt with injuries. Pitchers are volatile.
     
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  7. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Yeah, I'd forgotten about the ownership change with the Tigers. Its hard to tell what effect that will have long term, but they've certainly been shedding payroll since that happened.

    As far as the White Sox go, their a distant second place in the market. The Cubs drew almost 3.1 million fans last season (an average of 38,208) good for 4th in the majors. The Sox only drew 1.6m (avg 21,442) which was 21st, which was just ahead of Oakland. And while the Cubs are always in the top 12, and generally in the top six, the Sox haven't been above 20th in the last decade. The last time they were higher than 15th was back in 2006, when they were 9th. No surprise, that was the year after they won the WS. The bounce faded, and they fall back down.

    Jerry Reinsdorf is 84 years old, and there's been talk that when the team is under new ownership, they might even be a candidate to relocate somewhere else.
     
  8. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    upload_2020-9-3_9-5-13.png

    I’m not old enough to remember more then the vague recollections I have of him at the end of his career as a White Sox player but even then he was great. The highlights and games they show on occasion on SNY are a treat as was the couple of years he helped broadcast as seeing the game through his eyes was a different experience. RIP Franchise.
     

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  9. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Yeah, I don't really know anything about Seaver other than his record and stats, but its sad that he spent so much of the latter part of his life ill. He seems to have been universally beloved by most who knew him.
     
  10. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    As I was wallowing in the Fins loss on Sunday, the Cubs 7th starter threw a no hitter, so that was nice, lol.

    As it stands, the Cubs and Braves seem to be circling one another to determine who ends up as the 2 seed in the NL and who ends up as the 3. It seems unlikely that either one of them will be able to pass both the Dodgers and Padres to get the 1 seed, so in the end it might not matter much, other than who they face in the first round.

    If all four of those teams win the first round series, the Dodgers will play the Padres, and the Cubs will play the Braves in the second round, regardless of the ordering. We'll have to see if anyone gets upset when the time comes.
     
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  11. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    With most teams having about ten games left to play, its interesting that the AL is going to have at least seven teams with a losing record, so no teams with a winning record will be outside of the playoffs this year. In fact, if the Astros or the Blue Jays play just a little below .500 the rest of the way, they could even have two teams with a losing record make it in.

    The NL is less cut and dry, with five teams looking likely to have a losing record right now. The interesting thing is that the Cardinals and Brewers are both very much alive, and play five games in four days against one another to close it out. So if one of them does make it in, they could very well be exhausted, and easy pickings for whoever the face in Round One.
     
  12. AGuyNamedAlex

    AGuyNamedAlex Well-Known Member

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    Marlins world series title.
     
  13. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Well, so far they've won the WS every time they've ever made the postseason. So the history is on their side.
     
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  14. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    But will they have the traditional Marlins Post-World Series Firesale?

    Should be a fun playoff. I'm interested in some of the really young teams like the White Sox and Padres. Or whether the Dodgers will collapse on themselves for like the 194th time in a row. :chuckle:
     
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  15. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    The Cubs are doing everything that they possibly can to choke away the division, losing 4 out of 5, and scoring a total of four runs in the losses. They're lucky that the Reds and Brewers have eliminated themselves from contention and that the Cardinals have seven games left.
     
  16. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    Finally having a good night. Darvish dealing and bats awake.

    To make any kind of dent in the postseason though, they REALLY need Javy to wake up this season. Bryant being healthy and productive can't hurt either, but man he just seems to regress every year. Like a homegrown Jason Heyward, from superstar to average. I wouldn't be surprised if they let him walk for just the qualifying offer draft pick unless they can get a decent deal this winter.

    They will have a ton of work to do with the staff as well. Darvish is ace-quality again, and Hendricks is a good 2-3, but they have no consistency beyond in either Lester or any of the younger guys.
     
  17. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Lester actually has a 10m buyout vs a 25m contract, so there's a lot of talk that they'll let him walk this offseason. I would argue that when they're on, Darvish and Hendricks are 1A and 1B, but yeah, there are a lot of questions after that. Alex Mills had a no hitter this month, and has probably locked down a rotation job in 2021. He's under team control for five more years. And they'll almost certainly give their top prospect Brayln Marquez every shot to win a job too. Chatwood and Quintana are absolutely gone. We'll see how much they cry poor and whether they go after a #3 starter in free agency.

    With the bats, man who knows. How they do in the postseason could swings things in a lot of different directions. Bryant, Baez, and Schwarber are all in their last year of TC in 2021, and Rizzo Contrares the year after. They aren't extending all five of them, so some choices will need to be made. Bryant has never been the same since he hurt his wrist in the middle of 2018. His 2019 numbers look fine on paper, but there were long droughts that year where he didn't have anything. This year, he just looks like he's hitting whiffle balls. And then Baez and Schwarber have their power, but just can't put the ball in play at all. My gut tells me they reup Javy due to his overall game and popularity, and try to trade the other two. Rizzo probably plays out his 2021 option and then TBD a year from now. He's still only 30, even though this is his 9th year with the Cubs, and up until this year, had been incredibly consistent.

    Hopefully, 2020 is just an abberation with everyone hitting around .200. But I guess time will tell.
     
  18. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Look's like Sunday's games will end up deciding who plays where in the first round in the NL. The Reds and Marlins are in, while the Cards and Brewers play for the last spot, but it seems that the order of 6-7-8 is still totally up in the air. If the Red and Marlins both lose, there will be a 3-way tie.

    I also wonder if both the Cubs and Braves rest as many players as possible tomorrow, given that both are in, and the Braves have locked up the #2 seed.
     
  19. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    National League

    (8) Brewers at (1) Dodgers

    (5) Cardinals at (4) Padres

    (6) Marlins at (3) Cubs

    (7) Reds at (2) Braves

    American League

    (8) Blue Jays at (1) Rays

    (5) Yankees at (4) Indians

    (6) Astros at (3) Twins

    (7) White Sox at (2) A’s

    IMO the Braves get the toughest low seed - the Reds are hot, can hit and have Bauer. Cubs I think should match with the Marlins well and should be able to take it. Padres ... man depends on the injuries - no Clevinger or Lamet and they may not advance after a great season.

    In the AL, the Twins escape the dreaded Yankees matchup. Yanks have to take on Clevelands power arm brigade while the As draw the tough White Sox. Some good matchups.
     
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  20. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Cubs and Marlins obviously have a playoffs history. It would feel therapeutic to take them out this year.

    I had also been operating all year long under the incorrect assumption that the playoff bracket would reseed after the first round like the NFL does, but apparently not. So for example, if the Reds take out the Braves in the first round, they wouldn't play the Dodgers in the second round. The Dodgers would get the winner of the Padres/Cards series no matter what.
     
  21. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    Well the Cubbies' season ended with little more than a whimper. The big bats just never arrived, the same issue they have had since winning it all.

    It will be an interesting offseason. With their core 4 (Rizzo, Baez, Bryant and Schwarber) all due for FA after next year and Contreras also looming, they have some big choices. Clearly, what they are doing isn't working and IMO they need some shakeups. Whether that means trading a Bryant or Baez for a youth movement, or loading up the pitching staff and letting some of these guys walk I don't know, but the formula is stale and Joe Maddon wasn't the problem. Their big hitters just consistently vanish in crunch time, so even when they do get Darvish holding a team to 2 runs, they get none.
     
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  22. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    On a positive note, looks like Clevinger might be ready to toss some innings for San Diego. Good to see Tatis doing well, he's going to be a face of the league, and I am glad he and his bat flips sent the Cardinals and their "Cardinal Way" to their couches.
     
  23. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    I have no answers. The team has been getting worse and worse at putting the ball in play. Whether that's an organizational problem that's lead to the hitters being instructed in ways that have lead to the result, or whether the players just don't have the skills to make it happen, its never come together and gotten better. IN 2015 and 2016, they were saved by guys like Ben Zobrist and Dexter Fowler doing the work while the younger guys hit for power and took walks. Once those guys were gone, the others never stepped up.

    Trading Bryant and Schwarber seems to be very obvious, if they have a suitor. They just can't afford them. I think that Rizzo stays, given his leadership and extreme consistency prior to 2020. And then they have a huge question with Javy, given the extreme differences between the last two years and this year.

    There's been a lot of talk today about Theo leaving, and maybe its for the best. You need to be able to develop players who can do something other than hit home runs and take walks, and that's all the Cubs have been able to do for years now. They're great at it, but its just not enough. They need guys who can hit for average and get base hits (other than home runs) when there are runners in scoring position. They've sucked at it for years, and its been often masked by all of the other success, but its always been there, and now its killed them.
     
  24. AGuyNamedAlex

    AGuyNamedAlex Well-Known Member

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    No need to feel bad, like I said the Marlins are going to win the World Series. You lost to the champs, no shame in that.

    I'm half sarcastic btw lol
     
  25. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    As a Dolphins fan, I despise the Marlins for what they did to JRS for so many years, forcing the Fins to play on dirt, mud, and sometimes a weird turf in the end zone. So I root against them every year.
     
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  26. AGuyNamedAlex

    AGuyNamedAlex Well-Known Member

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    Eh I've always kind of thought that was a weak excuse we made as fans. If anything it should have given us an advantage after the first couple seasons since we played in it consistently.

    I dont like blaming outside forces. Both teams play on the same field in the same conditions after all.
     
  27. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    I'm a big, big believer that if the field conditions and the weather can be taken out of the equation, then you'll see the better team win the game. I hate when other things mess that up.
     
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  28. AGuyNamedAlex

    AGuyNamedAlex Well-Known Member

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    I suppose that sort of makes sense.

    I'm more of the "If you couldnt win in any conditions, you werent actually better" camp myself.
     
  29. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    Swept away the Marlins (You're welcome Cubs fans... LOL). Four shutouts in five games. A good showing this week and maybe the Braves will finally start getting a little respect from the media. Imagine having to make it to the NLCS just to get a playoff game that starts in primetime.

    Nobody thinks the Braves can beat the mighty Dodgers. They have MVP candidate Mookie Betts. Well, we have the guy who's going to win it, and two others who will be in the top 10 most likely. We're the only team in the NL who has a lineup with the potential to go punch for punch with those guys. And we're pitching now, and have probably the best bullpen in the NL. An Athletic article cited pitching as why we can't beat the Dodgers. Four shutouts in five games, hasn't been done in a hundred years. Against opponents many of those same "experts" swore would beat Atlanta. Braves in seven.
     
  30. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Oh yeah, the Braves need more attention. The team that win their division like 15 times in a row, lol.

    I guess I'm rooting for the Rays. But I despise how they've corrupted the system by adding the idea of the opener to baseball, so I'm not enthusiastic about it.
     
  31. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    I'm sure the broadcasters want that Dodgers/Astros revenge series, but personally I want to see Braves/Rays. The Rays are so good, I'm not surprised they beat the Yankees. The Braves and Rays split their in season series 2-2. I think they'd put on a really good World Series.

    As for the opener, I don't love it either. Doing things that way really puts a club in a position to have to depend on more arms staying healthy and effective too. But the Rays clearly make it work for them.
     
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  32. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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  33. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Bye bye Wilpons! Ding dong the cheap coupon clipping owners are gone!!! Welcome Steve Cohen and your deep wallet (immediately the richest owner in the league) and welcome back to the major leagues Mets!

    RIP Wilpon Ownership
    Nov 14 1986-2020
    You will not be missed! - Met fans
     
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  34. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    Now trade for Lindor. :chuckle:

    Penny pinching owners are a scourge, though at least the Wilpons had the "excuse" of actually not having money thanks to being fleeced by Madoff. How they weren't forced to sell right then is incredible. Other actually wealthy ownership (Cubs, Indians, Pirates) who just refuse to live up to their standing to save pennies is ridiculous.

    That said, as we move into the lukewarm and then hot stove season, it may be interesting. Indians already dumped Brad Hand and likely will deal Lindor, maybe Jose too. Cubs will likely make some moves, Mets might actually try and compete with the Yankees, etc.

    And the White Sox for some reason decided to roll with LaRussa as manager, while Hinch and Cora quickly found themselves back in the league. Not sure why the Red Sox even bothered to "fire" Cora last year. :crapstrom:
     
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  35. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    It’s funny but I’m in the minority here I think and would love a trade for Lindor. A lot of people seem to be hung up on Rosario who is a good player but I’m not sure will ever be the type of on base type that Alderson always liked. Using him as the centerpiece of a deal for Lindor, and then plugging in Gimenez everyday at 2B drastically improves defense, something Alderson touched on multiple times during yesterday’s press conference. Anyone who has watched a lot of the Mets over the last few years can objectively say it’s a talented team with serious flaws. I believe MLB network said we were the #1 offense. But then you look at our defense and it’s like yikes. Our SP after Jake and rookie David Peterson was atrocious. Stroman accepted the qualifying offer today helps but with Syndergaard out til the all star break presumably post TJ surgery they can really use Bauer or another high quality SP. Hand would be another good idea.

    I always said that the coupons not being forced to sell was because of Selig. Selig was the one who “suggested” Alderson to them because he’d been used to working under payroll constraints in Oakland and SD. But that turned out to be a good move.
     
  36. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    What an underwhelming class. Hudson, Hunter and Aramis were good, really good some years. But I never considered any of them HOFERS. If I had to vote for one, its probably Aramis but still...no.

    Hudson, Buehrle, Hunter among stars to debut on 2021 Hall of Fame ballot
    https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/2053145
     
  37. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    As a Cubs fan, Aramis Ramirez will always be a very special player for me. Absolutely love the guy. One of the best players on the team in my lifetime, and I wish that we had someone like him today.

    Interesting that so many of those pitchers had careers that started and ended at almost the exact same time. And of course, Zito, Hudson and Haren were all on the Billy Bean A's at the same time, so they're always connected in my mind.

    Of the holdover list, Todd Helton would be my #1 choice to get enshrined.
     
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  38. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Helton is an interesting one but not as interesting as Jeff Kent and Curt Schilling who imo are the two most deserving. Kent dominates 2b offensive numbers in a way no one in the post ww2 era has at that position. Should’ve won an MVP. Cleanup hitter on some 100 win teams. His defense was probably average but if you’re putting DH’s in the HOF I don’t particularly want to hear about his defense. You’re literally putting guys in who wouldn’t even try to play the field or were so bad at it that organizations told them not to. Of all the dumb met trades, giving that guy away is one that always grinder my gears.

    With Schilling, I’ve heard some HOF voters say they wouldn’t vote for him based on his political opinions. They should be removed immediately. You can’t say that and be unbiased in you evaluating of whether someone belongs in or not. It’s not the Hall of Twitter. He got 70% last year and no one since Jim Bunning has got to 70% and not gotten in.
     
  39. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Well, you certainly knew what you were getting from Big John.

     
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  40. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    Theo quits as Cubs President. #2 man Jed Hoyer taking over as the top guy, now. Its not a shock, though it was expected to happen after next season, not now. I guess we'll see if Hoyer is his own man with his own ideas, or whether he was just doing Theo's bidding. Fingers crossed for some drastic changes in the types of players they go after, with more focus on guys who can put the ball in play.
     
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