OffThePost.org

Game 7, baby.

http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2016/11/2/1 ... ies-game-7

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Thanks Chuck, E.L. and Harmy!

Wow, that was one hell of a game.

That game was sports magic. Wow.

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Thanks Chuck, E.L. and Harmy!

I'm no Cubs fan, but last night was a pretty incredible finale, and a reminder of why baseball is my favourite sport.

108 years. Unbelievable.

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Never been a Cubs fan but I was pulling for them - what an amazing game. Maddon over worked Chapman. Some late inning heroics by the Indians, a rain delay, extra innings - this game had it all.

I love this clip. Bryant just can't contain the sheer joy that he knows he's going to make this play to win the World Series.

https://www.clippituser.tv/c/agazg

I haven't seen him play much. The guy's amazing.

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Thanks Chuck, E.L. and Harmy!

Offseason! Giants need a closer. Badly.

They could also use a starting LF, a veteran utility infielder and maybe a power bat off the bench.

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Smoak plays primarily first and I'm sure you could put him at 2nd/SS/3rd in a pinch. He's all yours.

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Thanks Chuck, E.L. and Harmy!

The new Rockies skip, Bud Black, is a smart dude who played at Coors a lot when he managed the Padres.

Pretty good insights into what it takes to win in Denver: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/bud-blac ... -colorado/

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Giants make a big splash, temporarily making Mark Melancon the highest paid closer in MLB history at 4 years/62M. (Chapman and Jansen will shatter that number when they sign.)

I'm glad they got Melancon over the other two. Chapman beat his wife so I didn't want him. Jansen would've cost a 1st round pick, but I do think he's the best of the 3.

Melancon might burn out after year two, but I think he'll be good next season, which is what counts. He's durable and smart on the mound, at least.

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Keeping the term to 4 years is good but $15.5 is still pretty large. But he really does have a good track record. I didn't realize he had such sustained success with the one blip year in Boston. Giants needed someone badly and went out and got it.

But yeah. Fuck Chapman.

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Thanks Chuck, E.L. and Harmy!

Huh, small world. Melancon was born in the same city as me (Wheat Ridge, so I'm guessing he was also born at Lutheran Medical) and rose to prominence at the same high school as my old man. Funny I don't recall hearing about him, and I was still living in Golden at the time he was playing for the Demons (and yes, that's their mascot).

Melancon is a durable control artist increasingly reliant on his cutter/curve combo.

I'm cautiously optimistic that his smarts will allow him to adapt as his velocity declines.

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Whoa, the Bosox deal top prospect Yoan Moncada in a package for Chris Sale.

Money in action: Red Sox paid 60M+ for Moncada, then dealt him before he could even play a full season for them in exchange for Sale at 3 tears, 30M+.

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I wonder how mad the Red Sox owners are at Theo?

Ian Desmond unexpectedly signs with the Rockies, who suddenly have a crowded OF. He'll mash in Denver, but I'm not a fan of big K, low BB hitters.

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Huh...now that is interesting. Speculation surrounding Carlos Gonzalez will not kick into high overdrive. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that he was a goner, but then management went on record saying they wanted to sign him to an extension. I guess this is either insurance in case he doesn't sign or they're looking to move someone else.

Rox tried the small ball approach and it didn't work. Problem is Dan O'Dud went way too far in that regard, from the idiotic humidor to drafting nothing but ground-ball pitchers. His successor, Jeff Bridich, appears to be trying to turn a new leaf, bringing in some actual heat and now, a guy who appears to be a pure masher (I don't know much about Desmond, I don't follow baseball much outside the Rox anymore). The Blake Street Bombers ultimately did not deliver, but it was stupid to completely turn away from that direction.

One annoying thing to note though, Bridich and management apparently sought to cut down on homers to deep center for whatever reason so they put up a butt-ugly fence in front of the bullpen at Coors. It's a real eyesore because everything else about Coors Field's design is damn near perfection.

I think the Rockies can learn from the super-powered bullpens in Cleveland, Chicago and Kansas City.

It would be foolish to expect Rox starters to consistently go more than 5 innings. Have a bullpen of two-inning relievers and swingmen who can make up the difference. Inning eaters to get you through the long season, too.

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Bullpen has been a real issue for the Rox over the years. One injury (Adam Ottavino) and it all falls apart. They need more heat, more versatility, and yeah, more innings.

I'm reading on Twitter from the Rockies' beat writers that Desmond will actually play 1B, which actually answers a question I had going into the offseason. Rox need a good option there, they haven't had one since Todd Helton retired.

Tim Raines makes the Hall of Fame! Go Expos!

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