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Let's Change Some Rules!
You may have missed this last week (it didn't get as much play as you might think). MLB and the independent Atlantic League have agreed to test some rule changes during the Atlantic League's 2019 season. The commissioner's office is trying to figure out two things here: how to reduce the amount of dead time (which is to say, the amount of time with absolutely nothing going on) and how to get more balls into play. Some of the proposed rule changes are minor tweaks, some are dramatic changes in the way the game is played. Here is a breakdown of each, along with my take and a ballpark guesstimate of the chance it becomes an actual MLB rule when the new CBA is negotiated.
Implement computerized ball/strike calls:
This proposed rule change is a bit more nuanced than it might sound at first. There would still be a home plate umpire, and he would still be responsible for calling any pitches that bounce, for calling foul tips, for allowing catcher's challenges on check swings and other ball/strike duties. But make no mistake, the vast majority of balls and strikes would be called by the computer, similar to the Trackman system currently used to evaluate umpires. There would be several improvements to the game that would come from this, not the least of which would be standardization of the strike zone (as much as we all want to believe the umpires all pretty much call strikes the same, the reality is they don't). Who would be hurt by this? Pitchers who rely on spotting everything on the edges; quite a few of their pitches that a good catcher can "steal" for them will suddenly become balls. Catchers, as well, who have come to rely on the "pitch framing" metric as a bargaining tool.
Odds of rule being implemented: Better than even, call it 3:1. Yes, catchers, pitchers and agents will be unhappy. But it checks off all the reasons baseball is experimenting, and we've already seen technology take over all the controversial plays, anyway.
Change from an 15-inch base to 18 inches:
Nobody I've talked to can quite figure out the reasoning behind this proposed change. My personal take is it will mess with the intricate timing of the infield more than perhaps the Lords of Baseball realize. Think about how many plays there are over the course of the season where the batter is out by perhaps an inch at first, or where a runner is thrown out at second by an eyelash. Maybe baseball is trying to get away from needing so many replays, but it seems to me there will be a lot more safe calls as a result. If anything, I might be able to live with a larger bag at second, now that runners are forced to slide through the bag and fielders are required to stay on it until they've thrown the ball, thereby giving middle infielders a bit more protection. But there's no reason to change the base size at first or third.
Odds of rule being implemented: Since nobody knows what MLB is hoping to achieve, this is a difficult to gauge. Call it 50/50.
No mound visits except for injuries or pitching changes:
Look, I understand the casual fan doesn't understand why a tubby 55 year old dude is jogging out to the mound to talk to the pitcher. I can see them being confused by having the catcher run out to talk to a pitcher, and then the shortstop, and then the first baseman, and so forth. You know what? That's fine. But there are occasions where having a pitching coach pay a kid on the mound a visit is absolutely necessary (like, say, his mechanics are all messed up and he's about to throw his arm out). There are legitimate reasons a catcher might have a word with the pitcher (like, changing signs). And yes, sometimes, it's pure gamesmanship. But that's baseball. I get MLB is trying to cut down on dead time. But pitching visits aren't actually dead time, and only people who haven't ever played the game think it is.
Odds of rule being implemented: Of all the proposed rule changes, this one is the second most certain to become a rule. Baseball has already limited teams to 6 mound visits per game. I also suspect this one will become a former rule quickly – probably in the amount of time it takes some kid to pop an elbow on the mound and his manager to blast the commissioner's office.
All pitchers must face a minimum of 3 batters, or pitch to the end of an inning, before being replaced:
This one isn't hard to understand. I've certainly railed against the number of pitching changes, LOOGY's, ROOGY's, 6th inning specialists, and so forth. But to me, this is going about things the wrong way. If you want to cut down on the number of pitching changes, a far simpler way without messing with basic strategy would be to limit the number of pitchers each team can have on their 25- and 40-man rosters. No more than 10 pitchers on the 25-man, and no more than 16 on the 40-man, roster means managers would have to be more judicious in making pitching changes. Starters would be forced to go deeper, and teams wouldn't be able to utilize a AAA shuttle to stash relievers.
Odds of rule being implemented: I don't rate this one as having a very good chance of getting in. Maybe a 1 in 5 chance, since I can't think of any MLB stakeholder who is going to like it. The players won't. The union won't. Managers and GM's won't.
Two infielders must be on each side of second base at all times, and no infielder may position himself with either foot in the outfield at any time prior to a pitch being delivered:
The idea here is to get rid of some of more drastic infield shifts (and 4 and 5 man outfield alignments) we've seen managers employ recently. I'm not a fan of the idea of eliminating the shift entirely. After all, if the hitters were smart, they would start taking the ball the other way more often. But this is a rule change that's been discussed a lot over the past couple of seasons, so I suppose we'll see how it plays out in real life.
Odds of rule being implemented: I think this proposed change, more than any others, depends entirely on how the test plays out. If .240 hitters suddenly turn into .300 hitters, baseball is going to race to put it in. If, as the current data suggests, it only yields one more hit a week league wide, then this will die before ever seeing the light of day.
Reduce the amount of time between half innings and pitching changes by 20 seconds:
About the only people who will complain about reducing the amount of time between half innings will be beer advertisers and hot dog vendors. Reducing the amount of time during a pitching change could pose some problems for pitchers, though – especially if they aren't given ample time to warm up in the bullpen first, which is a very real possibility without the benefit of mound visits.
Odds of rule being implemented: This one is a virtual lock.
Move the pitcher's rubber from 60 feet, 6 inches to 62 feet, 6 inches from home plate:
I think this is the rule that got everyone's attention and has also been almost universally panned. We get it, ok? Pitchers are throwing harder than ever and their breaking pitches are also nastier than ever. The idea here is to allow the hitter more reaction time, thereby increasing the chance they'll put the ball in play. But of all the ways to accomplish that goal, this is probably the dumbest and whichever nerd in the commissioner's office came up with this needs to be fired and never let anywhere near a baseball field again. It would mean every pitcher would need to learn how to pitch all over again, because every angle on every pitch would be completely changed – or never be a strike again. Look, you want to even the deck between pitchers and hitters? Lower the strike zone, or lower the mound, or increase the size of the ball. Or even some combination of all three. But not this.
Odds of rule being implemented: What's a number smaller than zero? Because that's what the odds are. I think this is being tossed out there as a bargaining chip by MLB, something they know will never happen that hopefully will get some small concession back from the players in the CBA negotiations.
It's Time For Ray's Awful, Terrible Baseball Predictions (AL Edition)
Yesterday, I published my picks for the National League. While I'm writing this a couple of days in advance, I just want to let all you Cubs, Mets and Phillies fans know to keep the hate mail coming (my crystal ball works for more than baseball). Today, I'm turning my crystal ball to the American League, where I'm sure I'll upset some other fan base. So let's begin this on the left coast, shall we?
AL West
- Houston Astros
- Los Angelos Angels of Anaheim
- Seattle Mariners
- Texas Rangers
- Oakland Athletics
Look, as much as we may not want to admit it, Houston may be even better than last year and they're playing in what is arguably baseball's worst division. It is entirely plausible that not only will the Astros surpass 100 wins, but win the AL West by 20+ games. Yes, the rotation lost Dallas Keuchel, but free agent signee Wade Miley is almost a clone. The bullpen should be better with a full season of Roberto Osuna in place of Ken Giles. As for the offense, losing Marwin Gonzales and Brian McCann will hurt some, but a full season of Tyler White and the addition of Michael Brantley will more than offset those players.
The Angels hopes rest on the fragile arms of their starting rotation, which hasn't combined for even 90 starts in the last three seasons. But baseball's consensus best player, center fielder Mike Trout, a top five left fielder in Justin Upton and a much-improved defense, led by our generation's "Wizard", shortstop Justin Upton, will keep the Angels around .500 this year.
The Mariners traded away almost their entire team this winter. The rebuild is on. If you live in Seattle, you do have right fielder Mitch Haniger and the latest Japanese phenom, Yusei Kukuchi. Other than that, it's going to be a long season.
But not as long as it will be in Arlington. The Rangers are still in the midst of a rebuild seemingly designed around strikeouts. Unfortunately, those strikeouts are coming from their young hitters and not their pitchers. Joey Gallo, Nomar Mazara, Rougnod Odor and Elvis Andrus may combine for 500 strikeouts this year. Yes, they'll hit some moonshots in Texas. But the offense's propensity for leaving men on, combined with a jello pitching staff of never were's and never will be's could well mean a 100 loss season.
Oakland was a feel-good story last year. This year, reality will come crashing back on the green and gold. The A's are going to try and piece together a starting rotation from a bunch of retreads and castoffs, similar to last year, but last year every roll of the dice worked and they had Sean Manea to head things up. This year, no such luck. It's also hard to believe closer Blake Treinen will replicate an ERA below 1 again. Yes, they have possibly the two best corner infielders in the league in Matt Chapman and Matt Olson, and Khris Davis will likely hit 40 bombs again. But the rest of the team is pretty meh. Last year's team shocked the world and won 97 games. This year's version will shock the world again, but by losing 90+ games.
AL Central
- Minnesota Twins
- Cleveland Indians (WC)
- Chicago White Sox
- Kansas City Royals
- Detroit Tigers
Yes, I'm going out on a limb and picking the Twins to unseat Cleveland in the Central. But I like every move Minnesota made this offseason. They rebuilt their infield, adding Jonathon Schoop, CJ Cron, and Marwin Gonzalez. They added an ageless hitting machine in Nelson Cruz to be their primary DH. The starting rotation features young aces Jose Berrios and Kyle Gibson, and perhaps the most quality depth in the junior circuit. The biggest area of concern will be their bullpen, but this is a team with the depth to make a move at the deadline if they need a reliever or two. 90+ wins for this team is a distinct possibility, although in this weak division 85 might get the job done.
No team had a worse winter than the Indians. They went into November needing outfield help and maybe a second baseman. They arrived in March needing outfielders, a second baseman, a starting catcher, a first baseman, and middle relief help. Yes, the 1-2-3-4 punch of Kluber-Bauer-Carrasco-Clevinger in the starting rotation is the best in the league. But outside of Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez, there really isn't much on hand. Hall of Fame candidate and manager Terry Francona is going to be hard pressed to keep the Tribe from finishing under .500 this year.
The rest of the division is kind of a toss-up, but I'm going with the White Sox simply because some of their young talent looks ready for the major leagues. Finishing with a winning record is probably beyond their ability, but watching Eloy Jimenez, Yoan Moncada, Yolmer Sanchez and Adam Engel will at least make the ChiSox exciting to watch.
Kansas City will lead the league in stolen bases. GM Dayton Moore has stockpiled a team full of speedsters, led by possibly the best second baseman in the game, Whit Merrifield. He'll have plenty of competition for the stolen base crown from teammates Adelberto Mondesi, Billy Hamilton and Brett Phillips, provided that trio can actually get on base.
Detroit is waiting on trading right fielder Nick Castellanos and watching first baseman Miguel Cabrera add to his Hall of Fame resume. Other than that, the Tigers will battle Baltimore for the worst record in the league.
AL East
- New York Yankees
- Boston Red Sox (WC)
- Toronto Blue Jays (WC)
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Baltimore Orioles
The division last year featured two 100 win teams, in the Yankees and Red Sox. This year, the Yankees set about improving their weaknesses while Boston suffered some big player losses. Those two factors will give the Bronx Bombers a slight edge for the division title this year. New York added starting pitcher James Paxton, re-signed JA Happ to be the fourth starter and brought back CC Sabathia for one final go-round in his Hall of Fame career. An offense that set the major league record with 269 home runs last season has a legitimate shot at topping 300 dingers, with full seasons from Aaron Judge, Greg Bird and Gleyber Torres, valuable additions Troy Tulowitzki and Luke Voit, and bounce back years from Gary Sanchez and Clint Frazier. But the key to New York's season will be their bullpen, possibly the most dominant in history with All-Stars Dellin Betances, Adam Ottavino and Zack Britton setting up closer Aroldis Chapman.
Boston returns much of the same team from last year, but is missing two key members of that team's bullpen: setup man Joe Kelly is now a Dodger and closer Craig Kimbrel is (unbelievably) still a free agent. Boston hopes to fill their spots from within. Otherwise, they'll continue to a rely on well above starting pitching, paced by Chris Sale and David Price and abundant offense, led by the game's best right fielder, Mookie Betts and DH JD Martinez. The Red Sox and Yankees will be in a dogfight until the last week of the season, and the possibility of both teams eclipsing 100 wins again remains a real possibility.
The Blue Jays were one of last year's most disappointing teams, but will be one of this year's pleasant surprises. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr may start the season at AAA, but by May he'll be in Toronto, solidifying a deep lineup that includes Lourdes Gurriel at short, All-Star first baseman Justin Smoak, Brandon Drury at second and Randall Grichuk in right field. But the biggest improvement will be in the pitching, with Marcus Stroman reclaiming his spot among the games best, Aaron Sanchez finally over his blister problems and Matt Shoemaker leaving the injures that largely sidelined him the past two years in California. Volatile closer Ken Giles may cost this Jays team a couple of wins, but they should still be good enough to sneak into the second Wild Card slot.
Tampa Bay surprised everyone last year by winning 90 games. They'll still be decent, but not 90 wins decent. No team relied less on their starters last year than the Rays, as they sprang the concept of the "opener" on the baseball world. Despite that, Ian Snell won the AL Cy Young, turning in one of the best seasons by a starting pitcher in recent memory. Additions Charlie Morton and Tyler Glasnow will lend support, but Tampa looks primed to use an opener and their deep, if unproven, bullpen two to three times a week. The offense will be anchored by left fielder Tommy Pham and catcher Mike Zunino, while a cast of youngsters (Austin Meadows, Brett Duffy, Yandy Diaz and Willy Adames being the most prominent) tries to acclimate themselves to the major league game.
Baltimore lost 110 games last year. It's possible this year's team will be even worse. The most exciting thing will be to see if former All-Star first baseman Chris Davis descent into being the worst player in the major leagues continues. Beyond that, buy a scorecard if you go to an Orioles game, because otherwise you won't know the players.
It's Time for Ray's Awful, Terrible Baseball Predictions
We're less than a month away from meaningful baseball games beginning and that can only mean one thing. Yes friends, it is time once again for my predictions. Last year, I picked 3 of 6 divisions correctly. But the Braves were a shocker to almost everyone, I didn't miss on the Brewers by much (I had them in the Wild Card game), and the Red Sox were much better than pretty much anyone expected last Spring. Anyway, here's this year's picks, beginning with what should be baseball's most interesting division.
NL East
- Washington Nationals
- Philadelphia Phillies (WC)
- Atlanta Braves
- New York Mets
- Florida Marlins
This division should be a dogfight until the last game of the season, but I'm picking the Nationals for one reason: their pitching staff should be the best in the division, if not all of MLB. Yes, they lost Bryce Harper to the division rival Phillies, but if healthy, Adam Eaton will add more athleticism in right field, while Victor Robles in center will be a contender for Rookie of the Year. There are still plenty of big bats, led by Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, and Juan Soto to make for a top-notch lineup.
The Phillies made multiple significant additions besides Harper. Catcher JT Realmuto and shortstop Jean Segura are a pair of All-Star caliber players obtained in shrewd trades, and veteran free agent Andrew McCutcheon was an equally shrewd signing. They added another proven veteran to their bullpen in David Robertson. In fact, the Phillies could have a really good bullpen, if second-year man Seranthony Dominguez can replicate last season's success and old pros Tommy Hunter and Pat Neshek can stay off the injured list. Combined with what should be one of the league's best offenses, that will be enough to contend for a Wild Card berth. The one thing holding this team back is their starting rotation, which right now is Aaron Nola, a declining Jake Arrietta and a cast of hundreds.
The Braves added third baseman Josh Donaldson, who will want to prove he has more left in the tank. Added to perennial MVP candidate Freddie Freeman and last year's Rookie of the Year, left fielder Ronald Acuna and super-utilityman Johann Camargo, Atlanta will be another high scoring team that will only go as far as their pitching can take them. The Braves are relying on a bunch of unproven kids, led by All-Star Mike Foltynewicz. That bodes well for 2020, but not so much for 2019.
The Mets are another team that has made wholesale changes. New GM Brodie van Wagenen brought in the ageless Robinson Cano to play second base, Jed Lowrie to play everywhere, All-Star Wilson Ramos to catch and last year's best closer in Edwin Diaz. However, age and injuries will once again be the New Yorker's biggest problem and will end their season by mid-August. Still, the Mets have two intriguing rookies in first basemen Peter Alonso and Dominic Smith. Look for one of them to be traded at the deadline for a nice return.
Finally, the Marlins, whose best player is either Starlin Castro or Neil Walker. Yep, enough said.
NL Central
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Chicago Cubs
- Cincinnati Reds
The Cardinals quietly had one of the better offseasons of any team in baseball. They added first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, which automatically improved their defense and offense. That shifted Matt Carpenter back to third. The offense, led by Goldschmidt, Carpenter, left fielder Marcell Ozuna and shortstop Paul DeJong, will be among the league's best. The Cards have been done in by bullpen woes the past couple of seasons, but the addition of Andrew Miller will help settle that unit down, and only the Dodgers have a deeper rotation.
Still, St. Louis isn't going to run away with the division. The defending division champion Brewers return the bulk of their team from last season, including MVP right fielder Christian Yellich and Mike Moustakas trying to make the switch to second base. And like last year, the Milwaukee will try to ride a mix-and-match rotation and dominant bullpen to another division crown. Unlike last year, that rotation instability will leave them just short of both first place and a Wild Card berth.
Pittsburgh remains a team that seemingly will never spend on players. Despite that, they'll still be in contention when the calendar turns to September, led by a young and excellent rotation, headed by Chris Archer and Jamison Taillon. A middling offense, paced by Cory Dickerson and my candidate for this year's breakout player, Colin Moran, will score just enough runs to power the Bucs to a winning record and respectable third place finish.
Is there any team with more internal turmoil than the Cubs? While that formula worked for the Yankees of the late 70s, it usually spells doom. So it will be for the North Siders this year. The talent is certainly there to contend, with an offense led by Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber and Ian Happ. But the rotation is far from settled, with Yu Darvish and Tyler Chatwood looking to make good on their untradeable contracts, an aging Jon Lester and Jose Quintana wondering if he should have stayed on the South Side. The bullpen may be a strength – or a weakness if last year's injury woes repeat. Add in the drama around shortstop Addison Russell and manager Joe Maddon's contract status, and Chicago looks set up for a fourth place finish and their first losing season since 2015.
Cincinnati made a lot of moves this offseason and definitely improved their team. They still have first baseman Joey Votto and second baseman Scooter Gennett, and imported outfielders Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig along with pitchers Sonny Gray, Alex Wood, and Tanner Roark. The Reds won't be dreadful and if they catch a few breaks could even finish above .500. But they are in the wrong division to have dreams of competing.
NL West
- Los Angelos Dodgers
- Colorado Rockies (WC)
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- San Diego Padres
- San Francisco Giants
The Dodgers biggest addition will be the return of young shortstop Cory Seager, who should cement their offense. Free agent center fielder AJ Pollock has some serious injury history, but LA's habit of mix-and-matching players should keep him rested enough to avoid those. As always, everything in Tinseltown begins and ends with their starting rotation, which goes ten deep with quality options. That rotation is backed by a top-five bullpen, still headlined by Kenley Jansen.
The Rockies may play in a hitter's paradise, but their team didn't really take advantage of it last year. This year, with the addition of Daniel Murphy (who will slide from second to first base), the promotion of promising rookie Ryan McMahon and David Dahl getting a full-time slot in right field, that looks to change. Provided young starters Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, and Tyler Anderson continue to give the team quality innings, a 90 win season and Wild Card berth is likely.
Arizona is a team that can't quite transition to rebuild mode, so long as ace Zack Greinke and his $34 million salary are in the desert. They traded away perennial MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt and slid Jake Lamb over from third to man his spot. They also lost AJ Pollock. In short, the Snake's offense and defense will be dramatically worse than last season. While getting to .500 will be a struggle for team, this division is so weak that a third place finish is likely.
San Diego has Manny Machado and some of the best young talent in baseball. Those storylines alone will make the Padres one of the more interesting teams to follow, but the Friars are still a couple of years away from contending.
The Giants have Buster Posey, Madison Bumgardner and the memories of championships past. They also have a cold, foggy baseball stadium, which will be a fitting venue for one of baseball's dreariest teams this year. 100 losses is a distinct possibility for this historic franchise.
Tomorrow, I'll turn my sights on the American League.
Out of Left Field…
I haven't written a baseball post in a while, so I figured it was time to get one out there. Today's submission is for a trade that would definitely take baseball by surprise, although if you stop to think about it, it shouldn't.
So far, the media and fans have been concentrating on the top of the free agent market: Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, Patrick Corbin, etc. Or they're focused on the big-name pitchers that have found themselves on the trade block: Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, James Paxton, and Zack Greinke. It's understandable. Those are some of the biggest stars in the game and the chance that any of them will change uniforms before Spring Training is bound to get attention.
But the best trades are the ones that make sense for both teams, but still seemingly come from nowhere. Then everyone sits back and says, yeah, why didn't I think of that. It's rare that both teams come out of a trade where you're forced to admit everyone wins. The one I'm about to propose fits that bill.
New York Yankees get Carlos Santana, Philadelphia Phillies get Sonny Gray
Now, here's why this works out for both teams.
From the Yankees perspective, first base has been a black hole ever since Mark Teixeira retired, and to be honest, Teixeira's last couple of seasons weren't why he has an outside shot at the Hall of Fame. Here's a list of everyone who has started at first over the past two seasons:
- Chris Carter
- Greg Bird
- Chase Headley
- Garrett Cooper
- Austin Romine
- Tyler Austin
- Matt Holliday
- Ji-Man Choi
- Rob Refsnyder
- Gary Sanchez
- Neil Walker
- Luke Voit
- Brandon Drury
As the saying goes, if you have 13 first basemen, you don't have any first baseman. I know the Yankees are still saying that Voit is getting first crack at cementing himself as the everyday guy, and that they still think Bird has a high ceiling. But when your goal is surpassing the Red Sox, can you really afford to go into the season with a major question mark at one of the premier offensive positions on any team? Especially given the unsettled nature of the middle infield?
Santana is not a guy who is spectacular. He is, however, as steady a player as they come. You know what to expect from him: somewhere in the neighborhood of a .250 average, 25-25 homers, 80 RBI, 100 walks, an OPS+ of around 110, somewhere around 2.5bWAR. Right now, a steady and slightly better than league average switch-hitting bat sounds pretty good. Add in that Santana has postseason experience, and this begins to look even better.
The Phillies rolled the dice by signing Santana to a 3 year, $60 million contract last offseason and came up snake eyes. It's not a knock on Santana. He did what he always does. But the fanbase was thinking more Joey Votto for that kind of money. To make matters worse, the signing forced up-and-coming slugger Rhys Hoskins to left field, where he proved to be the league's worst defensive outfielder. It took at-bats away from young outfielders Nick Williams and Aaron Altherr (particularly from Altherr), setting their development back.
Simply unloading the remaining 2 years and $40 million owed Santana makes this a win for the Phils, who've made no secret they want out from that contract.
Unloading the contract for the much maligned Yankee starter also shores up a need for the Phillies: a reliable starting pitcher. Yes, Gray stunk when he took the bump at Yankee Stadium. But he still managed a 3.17 ERA away from the Bronx. He still has the tools that made him an All-Star in Oakland, but like many before him (Hello Ed Whitson? Carl Pavano?) he could not get past Yankee Stadium. The change of scenery might be all needs to turn his career back around. If not, then the Phils are only on the hook for one more year.
See? Everyone wins this trade!
Fire Up the Hot Stove!
The Boston Red Sox have won the World Series, claiming their 4th championship since 2004. Congratulations to them. But now begins the long winter of baseball's offseason, and every other team's jockeying for position to knock them off.
The Yankees had a good season. Despite a rash of injuries to key players and underperformance from others, they still won 100 games and the wild card. Unfortunately, Boston won 108. So how do you improve what is already a really good team by 9 more wins? That's the question that Brian Cashman will have to answer over the next 5 months.
It's no secret where the Yankees need to improve. The principal difference between the top two teams in the AL East (and Houston, who won 103 games in the West) is the starting rotations. Boston and Houston had much better starting pitching than the Yankees all season, and the result showed in the final standings and in the playoffs. What's more, the Yankees are looking at losing 3 of their starting pitchers to free agency. Boston has 1 and Houston has 2 pitchers set to hit the market.
But the offseason challenges don't end there. Those 3 pitchers are part of at least 11 players (and possibly 12) who could leave the Bronx for other green pastures. It also doesn't include the fate of SP Sonny Gray, an ace pitcher who has proven to have Ed Whitson disease. In other words, Cashman & Co. could well be looking at replacing 52% of the roster over the winter, while maintaining relevancy. Now add in injuries to SS Didi Gregorius, an uncertain situation at first base, an overcrowded outfield and perhaps the best free agent class in history, and this has the making of being one of the most entertaining hot stove seasons in a long, long time.
Starting Pitching: Only two starters are guaranteed to return, Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka. Despite Severino's well-documented struggles in the second half last season, I believe he will bounce back perfectly fine next year. His issues stem from two sources, I think: first was a hangover effect from the increased workload in 2017 (it isn't an uncommon occurrence in baseball). The other is that multiple other teams said Sevy has a habit of tipping his pitches. I don't care what you throw, if the other guy knows what's coming he can hit it. Tanaka has managed to pitch his entire career with an elbow ligament that threatens to snap apart on every pitch. Will this be the year it finally does? Suffice it to say, the Yankees need at least 5 more quality starting options before breaking camp.
The most intriguing possibility is the Giants' Madison Bumgarner. The Giants look poised to engage in a total rebuild, and Bumgarner is a quality ace with a proven record of pitching his best when the lights are brightest. If they make him available, the Yankees should go all in on him. Sonny Gray could be the centerpiece of this trade. Even though he demonstrated a severe case of the yips when pitching at Yankee Stadium, he did pitch to a 3.17 ERA and 1.155 WHIP on the road, and his best years came across SF bay in Oakland. Both Bumgarner and Gray are 29 years old, and both remain under team control through 2019. On paper, it's a good match.
Other trade targets could include Zack Greinke, Tyler Chatwood, Jacob DeGrom, Noah Syndergaard, and Zach Wheeler. As for free agents, everyone expects the Yanks to go hard after Patrick Corbin, an NY kid who had a breakout season in 2018. Also, expect the team to work hard to resign JA Happ, and if that fails, then to turn to beg CC Sabathia to come back. The other top FA options include Dallas Keuchel, Charlie Morton, Nathan Eovaldi, and Gio Gonzales. There's also the possibility Clayton Kershaw opts out of his contract, and Cole Hamels will probably be bought out of his. There is also a bevy of kids in the high minors who can serve as either trade or depth pieces. There will certainly be plenty to choose from, which means none of us should ever be subjected to the "Luis Cessa Experience" again.
Bullpen: The Yankees rode a historic bullpen to those 100 wins last season. The "four closers" (Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances, Zach Britton, and David Robertson) combined for 211 innings, 44 saves, a 1.066 WHIP and 320 strikeouts. Now, Robertson and Britton are both scheduled to hit free agency, and it seems likely that given the dearth of good closers in MLB these days, both will be able to find jobs as the closer for a new team.
Fortunately, quality bullpen arms seem to be the one constant the Yankees farm system churns out. Look for kids like Chance Adams, Tommy Kahnle, Steven Tarpley, JP Feyereisen, Cole Coshow, and Ben Heller to get a chance to fill in. At the same time, you can expect Chad Green and Jonathan Holder to move up in the pecking order. All in all, this is the one part of the team the Yankee brain trust doesn't need to think too hard over, nor do they need to worry about allocating lots of money to fix it.
Catching: The Yankees know they'll be returning the same catchers as in 2018. Gary Sanchez will be the starter, backed up by Austin Romine. The good news is that Romine has rounded out into a quality backup backstop, the kind of guy you can play 85-90 times a year and not get a headache from it.
The bad news is Sanchez was one of the most disappointing players for the Yankees last year. A combination of injuries, bad luck, and attitude contributed to what was easily the young catcher's worst season. If he can turn it around (and the talent that nearly won him a ROY in a half season is still there), the Yankees have a building block. If not, they have a decision to make. But that looks to be something for next offseason, not this one.
Infield: Perhaps no area of the team will require more attention than the infield. As mentioned, Didi Gregorius injury in the last playoff game will have him sitting until at least September of 2019, leaving a huge hole at shortstop. Miguel Andujar may well win this year's ROY, but his defense was among the league's worst at 3B. Gleyber Torres was as good as advertised at second base, but Greg Bird disappeared among more injuries and anemic production and may be facing the end of his road. Luke Voit, former St. Louis castoff, came over and provided a needed boost at first base – but can the Yankees count on him to be the answer? They tried to build Bird's career from a cameo in 2015 – and three years later we're still waiting.
Of course, the name on everyone's list of infielders is Manny Machado. The erstwhile Oriole and Dodger may have played his way out of the Bronx with his postseason antics, though. Nobody argues with the talent, but Manny has demonstrated that he is very much a selfish player. That's an attitude that simply will not mesh with the Yankee way. One thing this generation of Steinbrenners does not want is a return to the Bronx Zoo days of the 1970's.
So, what to do? I suggest the Yankees get bold. The other mega free agent available is Bryce Harper. I suggest the Yankees sign Harper, but not for the outfield. To play first. Yes, you heard that right. his left-handed bat will help balance the lineup, his dynamism will add an athletic component that was largely missing last year and while there have been questions about his maturity in the past, his down year last year came largely from him not trying to put up huge numbers but help his decimated team win. Next, I would move Andujar into a 3B/OF role with the idea of him taking the bulk of LF reps by the next All-Star break. Then, I would go after this year's Swiss Army knife player, Marwin Gonzalez, primarily to play short, but also to get reps at 3B and as needed elsewhere. Once Gregorius is back, Gonzalez moves permanently to third and Andujar becomes the regular left fielder.
Those moves also free up Bird and/or Voit to become available in a trade for a starting pitcher, where they might have more value to the Yankees. Depth would also be improved, as the Yankees have plenty of well-regarded utility types down on the farm, led by #16 overall prospect Thairo Estrada, along with Tyler Wade and Ronald Torreyes.
Outfield: What do you do when you have 5 former All-Stars, and a consensus top 50 prospect, for three positions?
That is the dilemma facing the Yankee brass when it comes to the outfield. Suffice it to say none of Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, or Giancarlo Stanton are going anywhere. Look for all three to reprise their roles in right field, center field and as the primary DH, respectively.
That leaves at least three (and if the Yanks adopt my Andujar plan, four) players to squeeze into one spot. So how to do this?
First is through attrition but in different ways.
Brett Gardner has patrolled left field for the Yanks since 2008. He is the last of the 2009 champions still on the team, but the Yankees have until Wednesday to decide whether to exercise the buyout or renew the contract for $12.5 million. Here's the thing: how much do you pay for intangibles, like leadership, hustle, and grit? Because that's about all Gardy has left in the tank. He still wants to play – and he thinks he still can – but the results are no longer showing up on the field. My guess is we've seen the last of Gardner in Pinstripes until a future Old-Timer's Day.
The other player whose time has passed is Jacoby Ellsbury, the incredibly disappearing and enigmatic center fielder. I realize the Yankees don't want to admit signing him was a terrible mistake, and I know they don't want to eat the remaining $47.5 million on his contract. But here's the thing: the guy can't stay healthy enough to even take batting practice, he can't play anywhere but center (and that poorly), can't throw, can't steal bases anymore. His contract is a sunk cost. Better to pay him to go away then pay him to take up an even more valuable roster spot, especially now that the team is finally under the salary cap.
That leaves Clint Frazier as the fourth outfielder. The uber-prospect suffered through a dismal season last year, stemming from a concussion suffered near the end of Spring Training. In limited action (54 games) in the minors, Frazier didn't show too many ill effects, hitting .305 with a .950 OPS. He should be fine in 2019.
So, here's my projected (wished for?), waaaay-too early Opening Day 2019 roster:
CF: Aaron Hicks
RF: Aaron Judge
1B: Bryce Harper
DH: Giancarlo Stanton
C: Gary Sanchez
3B: Miguel Andujar
SS: Marwin Gonzalez
LF: Clint Frazier
2B: Gleyber Torres
UT: Tyler Wade
UT: Ronald Torreyes
IF: Luke Voit
SP: Luis Severino
SP: Madison Bumgarner
SP: JA Happ
SP: Masahiro Tanaka
SP: Patrick Corbin
CL: Aroldis Chapman
RP: Dellin Betances
RP: Chad Green
RP: Jonathon Holder
RP: Tommy Kahnle
RP: Chance Adams
The Problems with Baseball Are Really Just One Problem
Two issues have dominated this offseason. First, and the one most fans are paying attention to, is the number of quality players that remain unsigned. Second is the commissioner office's attempt to address professional baseball's slowing pace of play, most startlingly by adding a clock to a game that's never had one. What everyone is missing is that both those problems are children of one problem that nobody is talking about: zombie franchises.
What is a zombie franchise? A zombie franchise is an organization that seems forever stuck in baseball purgatory. Never quite good enough to contend for a championship, these teams become the homes of what were once called "AAAA" players, but are today usually referred to as "replacement level players." They're identified by keeping their major league payroll low, the quality of play only slightly better than a good AAA team and for shipping out their decent players in the continual rebuild. The people who own these teams are not to be blamed for this; after all, like any business they need to turn a profit. The players union isn't responsible for the situation, either – after all, it's sole reason for being is to protect the jobs of those men lucky enough to call themselves professional baseball players.
But zombie franchises slow the pace of play down by fielding inferior teams. Seriously, try to watch a game between, say. the Reds and Marlins. You'll need massive doses of caffeine just to make it to the third inning. Most of the pitchers on these teams would either be toiling in the minor leagues or out of pro ball entirely. The same goes for many of the position players. Either they simply lack the talent to compete with their peers, lack the seasoning that comes with proper time in the minor leagues or were once capable major league players just playing out the string. The result is pitchers who cannot throw quality strikes and hitters who can't hit quality pitches (or lay off bad ones), fielders who make ridiculous mental errors and teams in general that need tons of in-game coaching just to play nine innings. No wonder the games are not only taking longer, the amount of time between each play is taking longer. Now throw in a lot of time where nothing is happening (after all, what is less exciting than a two out, bases empty 6 pitch walk?), and the commissioner is right to be concerned.
This is also affecting the current free agent and trade markets. Players who were king dogs on their old teams are discovering that they just aren't good enough to justify the type of money they were led to believe they deserve. Mike Moustakas is a nice player. Lefty bat, some home run power, solid if unspectacular defender. Same goes for his former teammate, Eric Hosmer. JD Martinez? Good hitter, lousy defender, slow as molasses runner. They are all universally regarded as good, but complimentary, players. If your team is only going to win 70 games without them, none of those guys is going to to suddenly turn you into a pennant contender. For a pennant contender, they play positions that aren't needed. But these guys have heard for two or three years now that they're "franchise players" in the media, from their agents, from their former teams. So it's understandable that a Martinez is looking for 6 years at $25 million each. It has to be hard for him to hear from teams now that he isn't that good.
The same goes for the free agent pitchers. The reason teams loaded up on middle relievers at the beginning of free agency is simple: the starting pitching market isn't very good. The top two available, Jake Arrieta and Yu Darvish, are good pitchers but hardly great. Neither would be called an "ace" on a contender. Arrieta has been around for 8 years. In that time, he's posted two very good seasons (the last three seasons ago), two slightly better than average years – and four seasons that wavered between bad and horrendous. As for Darvish, he can strike guys out. But when he isn't striking out hitters, they're hitting him and hitting him HARD (see his postseason history). Again, both guys aren't bad, but neither is worth 7 years and $200 million.
Part of the problem for these guys is they get so many opportunities against zombie franchises, which lets them pad their stats. Darvish got to pitch 22 times against a zombie franchise in 2017, going 8-7 with a 3.49 ERA, and 83 OPS+ allowed, while averaging almost 7 innings per start – good (although not exceptional) stats. He made 9 starts against actual contenders, going 2-5 with a 4.86 ERA and 131 OPS+ allowed. Not surprisingly, he was generally gone before the 6th inning in those games. As for Moustakas, he batted .283/.317/.537 in 347 at bats against zombie franchises, while hitting .248/.291/.489 in 251 at bats against contenders.
If I'm a GM, I'm looking a lot more closely at those numbers against contenders than against the zombie teams. Why? Well, as we saw in the postseason, Darvish is much closer to the 4.86 ERA pitcher in terms of talent than the 3.49 ERA. Moustakas is closer to the .780 OPS talent than a .850 talent. And that's how I'm going to pay them.
So how does baseball solve this problem? It seems the best way would be to contract the size of the leagues, probably by four teams. We've seen for almost two decades now that teams in Florida just do not work. The Marlins and Rays have never drawn fans. Oakland hasn't been able to for over 30 years. How can baseball honestly say having teams, especially bad teams, in those cities is doing anyone any good? Other teams ownership groups probably need to be looked at closely, those for the New York Mets, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, San Diego and Baltimore. Teams that have not indicated an interest in actually trying to contend for a title, despite being in markets that historically have supported their teams.
This would obviously get tons of pushback. For starters, the players would hate it, because going from 30 to 26 teams would mean 100 fewer jobs for their number. The owners would hate it, because it's essentially telling people who have been successful in their other endeavors that they've failed in the most public of forums.
But, there might be an easier way to address this problem – one that appeases the players and let's some owners realize nobody's ego can be greater than the health of the game. Baseball has a de facto salary cap, the "competitive balance tax." The payroll level at which the tax applies was negotiated in the most recent collective bargaining agreement (for this year, it's $197 million. Next year, $206 million). The reason this is acting in the same fashion as a hard salary cap is that every dollar over that limit is taxed at increasing amounts, depending on how many years a team has been over the limit – up to 50%. Now, this hurts players who might be targets of the teams that traditionally spend large amounts – the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, White Sox – because those teams not only don't think that Todd Frazier or Eduardo Nunez is worth $13 million a year, they especially don't think paying a Frazier, et al., a 50% premium adds any value to their team.
What the players should have done was bargained for a payroll floor. I think it could be established along the same lines as the competitive balance tax. Require every team to have a payroll that is at least 50% of the tax threshold (for this year, that would be $98.5 million) and for every dollar they are below that lower limit, fine them a sliding scale amount based on how many consecutive years they've been below that level. Do it over a three year period: 20% of the difference in the first year, 50% for year two and 100% for years three and on. Now here's the thing: those "for the good of the game" clauses the commissioner is threatening to use to install a clock are the same ones he can use to install a payroll floor.
Why is this important? This season alone, 10 teams are currently projected to have payrolls below $98.5 million. Only one – Minnesota is expected to be a contender, and they're less than $2 million below the proposed payroll floor. The other 9 teams are not only pretenders, they're not even pretending that they're anything other than pretenders. If you think otherwise, ask yourself who's a better player, Mike Moustakas or Maikel Franco. Ask yourself if you would rather have Jake Arrieta or Tim Adelman anchoring your rotation. While we've established that guys like Moustakas and Arrieta are not the franchise cornerstones worthy of their contract demands, they are infinitely better than some of the players who do have jobs.
So, some of the marginal players currently employed for no reason other than they're really cheap would be forced out of the game, or back into the minor leagues. Fans in cities that are lamenting their teams dumping quality players because they make too much would have some hope. Pace and quality of play improves, simply by having better players on the field. And the insanity of trying to turn baseball into basketball with wooden clubs ends.
For ownership, it would force a reckoning. Any fanbase can understand a season or two of mediocrity in the event a total rebuild is needed. They've looked around baseball and seen the Astros, Cubs, Yankees, Rockies and Diamondbacks do just that and field high-quality teams. What no fanbase should expect is that the owners of their team will continually put subpar talent on the field in the name of controlling costs. Quite frankly, in an industry that shares profits and raked in over $9 billion, there is no excuse for any ownership group not to be able to make a profit with a $98.5 million payroll.
If they can't – they don't deserve to own a team.
Do the Yankees Need Another Infielder?
As a result of the Brian Cashman's moves in December (trading Starlin Castro for Giancarlo Stanton; trading Chase Headley for Jabari Blash), the Yankees find themselves without a credible veteran presence at second and third base. The current starters would likely come from a trio of rookies: Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar and Tyler Wade, along with the possibility of utility player Ronald Torreyes of earning a starting shot in Spring Training. The question is, can a team hoping to reach the World Series in October live to get there while playing multiple rookies?
Last season, the team won 91 games with Castro and Headley playing regularly. In addition to breakout seasons from the two Aarons (Judge and Hicks), it has to be noted that the Yankees received above normal production from both of the since departed infielders. Headley posted a 100 OPS+, an advance over the 94 he had posted over the previous three seasons. Castro provided a 106 OPS+, even more substantially above the 97 aggregate for his previous three years than Headley's sudden offensive output. Yet, despite those improvements in offense over previous years, both players were essentially league average. Defensive metrics weren't kind to both players, either: Headley posted a -11 DRS at third, while Castro limped to -8 DRS at second. Really, replacing these two former Yankees with simply league average production, both offensively and defensively, would actually mark an improvement from 2017.
Another factor to consider is the Yankees well and often stated desire to drop below the $197 million salary tax threshold and how any available veterans would fit into that framework. Let's take a look at some of the names who've been rumored to possibly heading to the Yankees.
- Josh Harrison, Pirates: Harrison provides adequate defense at both second and third, along with the ability to play both outfield corners. He also brings better than average contact skills, striking out in only 15% of his plate appearances over the past three seasons. He's also in the last year of his contract, owed a little under $12 million (including team buyouts of options), which might be doable. But he's only managed a 95 OPS+ over the last three years, and Pittsburgh will want a decent prospect return for one of their more valuable players.
- Todd Frazier, Free Agent: The Yankees have familiarity with Frazier, having swung a deadline trade for him last year. I think many Yankee fans would love to see Frazier return, as he proved to not only be an excellent defender, but gave the team a much needed lift in both the clubhouse and the lineup. He also brings some defensive versatility, although metrics aren't kind to his glovework at first base. But Frazier is looking for a multi-year contract, will be entering his age 32 season and while he has averaged a 110 OPS+ and 34 homers over the last three seasons, his production is already declining. It's hard to see him agreeing to take a pay cut from the $15 million he earned last year on a short term contract, and I doubt the Yankees are looking to make a long term commitment to a player who's shown declining production.
- Mike Moustakas, Free Agent: By all accounts, Moustakas would bring many of the same team leadership traits as Frazier. He's also three years younger and profiles as better offensive threat than Frazier, having averaged a 117 OPS+ over the past three years with his production on an upswing. No doubt his lefty power would play well in Yankee Stadium and provide a valuable counterweight to the Yankees predominately right handed line-up. While his defense isn't quite the caliber of Frazier or Harrison, nor does he provide any defensive versatility, he also isn't a liability with the glove at third. In short, he would be a massive upgrade over Headley. But he is represented by Scott Boras, the one agent who's known for extracting maximum contracts for his players. A 6 year, $120 million contract for Moustakas seems reasonable, but such a contract would blow apart the Yankees budget.
- Manny Machado, Orioles: This one strikes me as far-fetched. It's arguable that he is the best third baseman in the game today. Even if the Yankees could somehow convince the Orioles to trade their best player within the division, there are a couple of additional roadblocks. First, Machado wants to return to shortstop, his original position – but the Yankees already have an all-star caliber shortstop, who also happens to be a team leader, in Didi Gregorius. Second, Machado is in the last year of his contract and is widely expected to receive a contract next year that would dwarf Giancaralo Stanton's. While I suspect the Yankees could make Machado a very happy third baseman by giving him a 10 year, $400 million contract extension (not unreasonable, no matter how crazy that sounds), that would absolutely blow away any hopes of getting back under the salary cap this year.
- Jed Lowrie, A's: To me, giving up prospects for Lowrie would be a waste of resources. The veteran is entering his age 34 season, has had trouble staying on the field and only sports a league average bat (102 OPS+). While he is capable of playing third, second or short, the only position he's played decently over recent seasons is second. The only positive he brings to the conversation is that he's only owed $8 million on an expiring contract.
- Yangveris Solarte: Solarte broke into the majors with the Yankees in 2014 and became an immediate feel-good story. The he was traded (ironically, for Chase Headley) midseason and since then has been, well, Chase Headley. While Solarte can play third, second or first, his glovework hovers between statuesque and terrible while only wielding a 105 OPS+. The only positive he brings to the equation is he won't reach free agency until 2020, but that seems like something that would be more useful to a team like the Marlins than the Yankees.
So, back to the Yankees in-house options. Torres is the big name here. He is currently the second-ranked prospect in all of professional baseball and, despite only being 21 years old, seemed ticketed to making his major league debut last year. Nobody has much doubt about his talent level. The questions regard seasoning; he only has 96 AAA at bats and 139 in AA. Not even 300 professional at bats in the two highest major league levels would mean a lot of learning in the major leagues. Not that a player with Torres' talent level is incapable of making that jump; after all, the Red Sox Rafael Devers played extremely well with similar minor league experience before coming up. A bigger question might be his defense, and again strictly from an experience standpoint. To date, Torres only has 83 professional innings at second base, which would be his presumed position in the Bronx. Again, it's not a question of talent. But a second baseman who has only turned two double plays in his life poses a lot of questions about how well he can handle the position.
Andujar may be the most intriguing player in the bunch. Originally signed in 2012, he finally started to put it all together in 2016. Last year was something of a breakout year for him. Most scouts aren't worried about his ability to hit major league pitching (in a one game call-up, he went 3-4 with 4 RBI). Rather, the questions surround the third baseman's ability to field his position. However, it isn't a question of physical tools. Andujar has above average arm strength and range. Rather, he has a troubling tendency to make mental errors and rush plays, which have contributed to a subpar .917 career fielding percentage. It should be noted that his defense has been steadily improving over each of the past three seasons.
Wade rode the Scranton Shuttle more than any other Yankees prospect last season, managing to get into 30 games with the big club. He is the most versatile player on this list, able to play 7 positions. While he undeniably flopped in the majors last year, it should also be noted he entered the season as the Yankees #17 prospect and was scheduled to play his first full season in AAA. He brings an interesting mix of offensive skills to the table, with consistent doubles power (that might translate into a few more homers with experience) and blinding speed.
Finally, there's Torreyes. He's spent the last two seasons as the Yankees utility player, playing second, third, short and taking a few turns in the outfield. While he's one of those guys you love to root for (and the shortest man to play baseball not named Altuve), there's a reason he's been a utility player and not a starter. While he plays numerous positions passably, he isn't terrific at any of them. As for his offensive skills, that career 81 OPS+ says about all you need to know.
My guess is that while a veteran infielder certainly makes some sense, it isn't an area of absolute need for these Yankees. If something falls into their laps, terrific. But I don't see them jumping into a bidding war for any of the available free agents, and I don't see them going crazy to make a deal for any of the trade candidates. I suspect the season will open with Andujar at third, Torres at second and Torreyes retaining his utility role, with Wade in Scranton to work on his game. By midseason, should either of the youngsters find themselves floundering, the same resources the Yankees have available now will be available then. And odds are, the same cast of available options will be there, as well.
Thoughts on Jacoby Ellsbury's Future
It was safe to say that at the end of the 2017 season, Jacoby Ellsbury had become the major league's all-time highest paid 4th outfielder. The emergence of Aaron Hicks, who finally began to fulfill the promise that made him a first-round draft choice of the Twins, the MVP caliber season of Aaron Judge and the continued steady play of Brett Gardner had relegated Ellsbury to the bench. During the magical playoff run, Ellsbury became little more than an afterthought.
Still, Ellsbury did make some important contributions with his legs down the stretch, so you could sort of understand his refusal to waive his no-trade clause. Better to be on a potential World Series winner, even in a bench role, than starting for a team going nowhere.
Then, the Yankees did the most Yankee thing of all: they traded for the
NL MVP. Just like that, Ellsbury went from the 4th outfielder to a player without any clear role. A very well paid player without any role, who still insists on not waiving his no-trade clause. And…I do mean no role. I suppose he would be useful as a pinch runner in the late innings. But really, how often are the Yankees going to find themselves with Greg Bird or Gary Sanchez standing on second in a tie game in the 8th or 9th inning?
Let's face it, as fans we all feared Ellsbury's decline at the end of that massive contract he signed prior to the 2014 season. We just had no idea how quickly that decline would come, or how dramatic it would be. Over the past three seasons, he has struggled to an 89 OPS+, while injuries have held him out of 114 games. Even what was once his best asset, an ability to swipe bases seemingly at will has slipped. He's totaled only 63 steals and watched his steal percentage drop from 85% to 74%. Defensively, he's lost some range but can still be a serviceable center fielder. He would probably be better suited to left, because of his throwing issues. We don't know because he's refused to even try playing there.
At the same time, his presence on the roster is making it impossible for the Yankees to get an extended look at several of their top outfield prospects, kids like Clint Frazier and Billy McKinney. In other words, Ellsbury has become a luxury item that you might have found a spot for on a National League team in the 1970's. But not an American League team in the 2010's.
I think it's fair to say that Ellsbury has reached Mark Teixeira/Alex Rodriguez territory: an overpriced, aging player that the Yankees will pay to make go away. Already there are reports that Yankees are willing to eat a substantial amount of the money owed him, as much as $40 million of the $68.5 million on his contract. If I were Ellsbury, I would be on the phone with my agent daily, finding me a place to play. Because while Ellsbury can probably force his way onto the 2018 roster by means of his contract, I doubt he'll be in the Bronx past that. In fact, he would be the best paid unemployed man in America next offseason. And he shouldn't be under any illusions about this. After all, the Yankees paid A-Rod $42 million to go home – and Ellsbury isn't half the player he was.
The Yankees Next Big Move…
…should be to dump Jacoby Ellsbury and as much of the $68.5 million he's owed, for whatever they can get. A big of peanuts would be acceptable. And then after that? Nothing.
This might sound like something of a letdown to my fellow Yankee fans. After all, the stated goal is to win the World Series. But that's the stated goal every year, and by doing nothing else this offseason, the team would be primed for a five or six year run. The type of run reminiscent of the 1996-2001 team.
Let's review: this past season, the Yankees rode a home-run happy offense, a strong starting rotation and dominant bullpen to within one game of the fall classic. Youngsters Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird, Aaron Hicks, Didi Gregorius and Clint Frazier powered the offense. Jordan Montgomery, Sonny Gray, Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka and Chad Green anchored the pitching staff. Those 11 players, all under 28 years old, provide a strong core to build around for both the present and the future. Now, this offseason, the Yankees stunned the world by acquiring the NL MVP, Giancarlo Stanton (age 28) and his 59 home runs in exchange for Starlin Castro.
Before that move, the favorites in the American League were the Yankees and the Houston Astros and that remains the case now. Yes, the Red Sox and Indians remain strong contenders, but both of those teams have enough questions that they do not appear ready to challenge the top two teams. Given that dynamic, I can understand the Yankees fan desire to maybe grab a third baseman and another starting pitcher. If one falls into their laps, okay – but here's why I wouldn't go crazy looking right now.
With an eye to the present and the future, the Yankees have a trio of rookies they can try at second and third in Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar and Tyler Wade. While it would be atypical of the "Yankee Way," I would play Torres and Andujar on opening day and let Wade fill a super utility role. Based on their minor league careers and pedigrees, it's a little hard to imagine all three turning into major league pumpkins. Since they would likely hit at the bottom of the order, any offensive struggles wouldn't impair the juggernaut the Yankees have assembled throughout the rest of the lineup. If they can excel, then the Yankees have found some diamonds and next offseason can be spent on luxury items (Bryce Harper? Clayton Kershaw?). If they look as lost as lambs, then the Yankees can use their payroll flexibility to go after necessities (say, Manny Machado and DJ LeMahieu). If they're simply better than average players, they can be spun for value in trades for other pieces, while going after superstar talent to replace them.
Therein lies the biggest reason for dumping Ellsbury. Whether the Yankees go into next offseason looking for extra goodies or to address vital needs, they'll probably look to add somewhere north of $50 million in AAV. When you add in the salaries for their existing core, there really is no room to pay a 5th outfielder $23 million, while retaining enough flexibility to make further moves as the years go by. Again, this isn't just about winning in 2018. It's about winning in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 – and so on.
As far as 2018 goes, the Yankees lineup (even with two rookies starting daily) is every bit as potent as Houston's, and decidedly better than Boston or Cleveland's. The starting staff, including the minor league depth, lines up favorably with Boston and Cleveland and is a step above Houston's. The key is to maintain that position this year and see how far we can go, while setting up to get a talent base that eclipses everyone else by 2019.
Aaron *bleeping* Boone?
Last night, word broke that the Yankees have chosen Aaron Boone as their next manager. My first reaction, like so many others (based on what I saw on Twitter) was that Brian, Hal and the gang had their holidays mixed up and thought yesterday was April 1. My reactions after seesawed between amazement and anger. If the most critical factor was that Brian Cashman can trust him because he came clean about tearing up his knee in a pickup basketball game 14 years ago, the team's standards have dropped precipitously since George died.
Aaron Boone could turn out to be the next Casey Stengel. I truly hope he is. Like Boone, the Ol' Perfessor was amiable, handled the press well and built a managing career from a bonehead move as a player.
Or, he could turn out to be the next Bucky Dent. Casey, of course, is in the Hall of Fame. Bucky, like Boone, was a middling player who is most remembered for one improbable home run. The Yankees gave him a chance to manage in 1989. It was a disaster, a debacle, an absolute horror show. And Dent had one thing Boone lacks: actual experience managing a professional baseball team.
Boone might also turn out to be the next Bill Dickey. Like Stengel, Dickey is in the hall of fame and has his number retired in Monument Park. Unlike Stengel, it was for his career as a player that he is enshrined. Dickey was the last player-manager the Yankees hired, and also the last manager the Yankees hired without any prior coaching experience. He took over a talented, young Yankee team (with future Hall of Fame players Joe DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto, Joe Gordon and Yogi Berra) when Joe McCarthy decided he'd had enough of the front office's meddling and quit 5 weeks into the 1946 campaign. Dickey only managed a third place finish, despite the talent he had on the team, and when owner Larry McPhail made it obvious Dickey wouldn't be asked back in 1947, he quit with two weeks left in the season.
Hal Steinbrenner is trusting his general manager implicitly with this choice, and both he and Cashman are betting against all logic and history with Aaron Boone. The last rookie manager to win a World Series title was Bob Brenly in 2001, with Arizona. The Diamondbacks weren't a young team, though. In all of baseball history, only 4 men have won a title in their first year managing: Brenly, Ralph Houk in 1961, Eddie Dyer in 1946 and Bucky Harris in 1924. By the way, Harris is the only man to ever win a World Series despite having never managed or coached a game in his life.
Make no mistake here: Cashman, who never met a statistic he couldn't recite, knows everything I wrote above and probably a whole lot more about those failures, about how rookie managers tend to struggle even with experienced teams and coaching staffs. He isn't betting so much that Aaron Boone is somehow magically imbued with enough baseball intelligence to overcome that history and lead this team to a championship.
No, Brian Cashman is betting that his own baseball intelligence and his faith in sabermetrics will win the Yankees their 28th World Championship. What Cashman needed was a mouthpiece, a stooge and (if everything falls apart) a potential fall guy. Boone checks off all those boxes beautifully. Anyone who has actually listened to Boone's inanity during a broadcast will realize he's a gleeful idiot. The writers know it; the fans know it. If the Yankees win, it will vindicate Cashman's belief that systems win, not people. If systems are no better than the people running them… Well, Boone was hired to be a patsy.
Compounding the problem is that the Yankees are, by and large, a very young team. Their projected starting nine will average less than 3.5 years of major league playing experience. Communication with the media is undoubtedly an important skill in New York, and that's the one area where Joe Girardi was severely deficient. But it isn't the most crucial aspect of managing. The Yankees are gambling the development of their talented, young core on a guy who has never developed anything except the ability to eat hot dogs at the Little League World Series. But again, Boone isn't being hired to manage this team. He's being hired as little more than a pre- and post-game announcer. You can bet everything from line-up decisions to pitching changes will be phoned in from the front office on a daily basis.
Yes, Yankee fans. George Steinbrenner certainly engaged in some serious power tripping when he was alive. But not even George never went on a power trip like the one Brian Cashman is embarking on now.


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What is Tecfidera? Tecfidera is a prescription medication used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Tecfidera belongs to a group of drugs called Nrf2 activators. It is thought to work by decreasing inflammation and preventing nerve damage that can lead to symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Tecfidera dosage. Take Tecfidera exactly as your doctor tells you to take it.
- The recommended starting dose is one 120 mg capsule taken by mouth 2 times a day for 7 days
- The recommended dose after 7 days is one 240 mg capsule taken by mouth 2 times a day

subset: commoncrawl


text: Mickie James had done a number of pornographic photoshoots before becoming a wrestler in the indies. On one occasion she parodied the very profession of pro wrestling, by posing for shots in which she grappled with a male porn star. This goes beyond sexy, some of this stuff was plain dirty. There's face sitting and everything going on. James was certainly no prude. Some of James' porn shoots were pretty hot, but the wrestling one may have been that little bit too dirty.


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Interracial Marriage - Part 2
Thursday, December 18, 2008
I remember when I first told my family I was bringing my fiance with me to our family reunion in Mississippi. I had been out of law school for a year and had just passed the 3 day long torture session known to the general public as the "bar exam." I was thrilled to finally be done with school and just get to sit back, eat some BBQ, and hang out with relatives I hadn't seen in years. My fiance was nervous, but looking forward to meeting my family.
We got there and everything went smoothly. My family quickly accepted my fiance, but one of my aunts did express some dismay over my selection. As I stood in line waiting for another burger, she said (loudly and in front of everyone):
"Well, I'm glad she is black. I figured since you had went to law school you was gone bring home one of them white girls."
Everyone laughed. I was a bit stunned shook my head a bit, not only because of what she had just said. But also because a few weeks earlier the same thing had happened to another of my law school classmates. And a year earlier, the same thing had happened to another friend of mine who went to med school. A part of me thought the question was wrong. What did it matter what color she was? At the same time, I understood what my choice of spouse represented to my family. It sent them a signal that I hadn't turned my back on the little town that I had come from and the community I grew up in.
That was not the last time I heard that sentiment.
So as I sit here typing, I honestly am at a bit of a loss for words on this whole issue. Over the last few days, much has been made (including on this site) of the problems facing some black coaching candidates because of their decision to marry white women. Even Charles Barkley had to take the time to weigh in on the issue of Turner Gill not getting the Auburn coaching job with his wife being a factor. While some of us immediately find that to be reprehensible. Others give it the Kobe Bryant treatment - that's what you get for messing with them white girls.
Right off the top, I believe we have to acknowledge and admit that we don't understand the feelings that obviously go through the mind of a black woman when she sees that brother cuddled up with a woman of another race. It's personal. Also, we often forget the historical perspective of this issue. From white slave owners raping black women to it being illegal not so long ago, there is very painful history of interracial relationships in our country.
Yet as I close in my one year anniversary, I just have to say that if you find someone who is willing to be around you 24/7, forever, you should grab that person and hold on for dear life no matter what they look like. Cliche, but true. Marriage is tough at times, period.
Yet, the problem I think most people have, at least from a black point of view, is that black men get good jobs and then immediately search for a woman of another race to validate their success and turn their backs on the community. I can't lie. I have met brothers who fit that mold.
BUT, I have met far more who just simply fell in love with someone. And that's what marriage is all about.
At the end of the day, Grandma Esquire pretty much nailed my feelings on the matter. "Focus on keeping your own house in order and don't worry about what going on next door unless its a criminal or child molester or something."
Regardless of personal feelings on this subject, there is simple fairness. A person should not be denied a job because of who they married. Period. The fact that people are being told they would NEVER get a head coaching job because they married white women is just ridiculous and sad. It's also not a validation of the thought that people shouldn't marry outside of their race.
It's racism. End rant.


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"Under pressure…your faith…shows." Jas 1:3 TM
The one thing we can count on in life—is change. We try to resist it but it says, "Ready or not, here I come." In order to grow stronger through change we must: (1) Give up. Don't be an escape artist, trying to avoid the stress that accompanies change. There is no escape; change is inevitable. Stop regarding it as an enemy and make it your friend. Only when you decide to ride the horse in the direction it's going, will you get to where you need to be. (2) Wise up. When we're hit with sudden change, our "fight or flight" instincts aren't very good at handling it. But there's a solution. By entrusting our lives fully into God's care and asking for His wisdom, "he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into…change" (Ro 2:4 TM). God loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way. (3) Toughen up. Somebody quipped, "If it wasn't for stress, I'd have no energy at all." Stop and take inventory. Are you making it harder on yourself than it needs to be? Are you speaking faith or fear? Are you convincing yourself you can't handle the changes? Are you ready to give up without even trying, or trusting God? If you're struggling to make sense of the situation you're in, read these words: "Under [the pressure of change], your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed" (Jas 1:3-4 TM).
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Rumor has it: Teaser for first Adele album in years
In a commercial break during U.K. reality show X Factor on Sunday evening, a black screen appeared with Adele's voice singing the following lyrics.
"Hello, it's me / I was wondering if after all these years / you'd like to meet to go over everything / they say that time's supposed to heal ya / but I ain't done much healing …".
The snippet was presumably a teaser of her upcoming album which is set to be released in late November.
Adele's album last album "21", which was released in 2011, saw huge success, selling 8.3 million units globally in 2012 and 18.1 million in 2011, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. The album was the first to top the global albums chart for two consecutive years. Adele won six Grammy Awards and two Brit Awards for the album.
While the short clip did not give much away, it was enough to get social media excited, with pop band One Republic even tweeting their delight.


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Now, let's tackle this month's Defunct Local Band Profile, as we again spotlight a randomly selected local metal, hard rock, or punk band that (while no longer active) deserves a modern spotlight for current SMS readers! This month, we're looking at a notable Sault Michigan band that definitely thought outside of the box during their run in the early 2010s, and featured many familiar faces, so here's what you should know!
The Highest of Fives
Genre: Hard/Alternative Rock
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Members: (Note that member fluidity after their 2012 relaunch was common, allowing for frequent member absences and instrument role changes as a result, though at last public word, no credited band members ever left the group before falling inactive. Also, some official sources credited Marcel Grengs & "Crusty Puck" as two separate band members during their run, as they appeared separately in their short film clips, though his alter ego wasn't a secret.)
Mitch Goetz (415E, Intrepid, Hoist the Sails), vocals/guitar
Travis Theel (Hoist the Sails), vocals/guitar
Marcel "Crusty Puck" Grengs (Hoist the Sails, Analog Deficiency), guitar/bass
Devin Anderson (The Balsam Brothers, Free Refill, 415E), guitar/drums
Jack Slater (415E, Unleashed, 7/47), bass
Mike Pascoe (Free Refill, 7/47), drums
Audio/Video: An unusually ambitious group during their local run, The Highest of Fives once had a number of comedic videos, musical performances, and teasers for a linked debut EP and short film, though after their demise, most of their material was deleted for unannounced reasons. What little surviving media there is can primarily be seen at Travis Theel's YouTube channel, aside from Devin Anderson's copy of their studio song "Take My Time". Travis posted numerous performance videos on his channel, some with H.O.F. bandmates, and some featuring songs intended for the group. Here's the band's sole publically surviving music video, for their song "Look How Far We've Come" from September 2013!
Info/Analysis: Formed by Guitar Studio rock camp alumni (initially sans Travis & Marcel) and named after a "How I Met Your Mother" reference, The Highest of Fives first came onto our radars with hard rock cover performances at the Sugar Island Music Festival and Relay For Life in the summer of 2011. After taking a 6 month hiatus, the guys returned in March 2012 as a fluid six-piece collective, and changed to a wider focus beyond live concert sets, planning to release an EP and comedy short film (each titled "Bang!"). Released music videos, particularly with material sung by Travis, also took on a softer tone than the guys had previously performed. Despite likeable teasers and segments from the "Bang!" film being posted over a 2 year period, and a June 2014 release date being announced, Highest of Fives updates ceased by the fall of that year, and many members later moved from the area, though Mitch Goetz still plays live locally as a bassist with 415E.
With a lot of clear talent, imagination, and chemistry, it is a shame that The Highest of Fives' best laid plans never fully got off the ground in their three year run! I can't speak musically for their 2011 shows, but from what I saw and remember of their late era music, they were a solid group with a lot of varying styles, often led by Travis' quality clean singing, though hard rock fans will have preferred their earliest gigs. The collective approach of the guys as multimedia artists really set
them apart in the local scene of the early 2000s, and their "Bang!"
teaser videos were often genuinely funny, but hopefully the final
product can be posthumously released!
I hope you guys liked this month's Defunct Local Band Profile! Next month in this series, we're heading back to Sault Ontario for our first in a three band run from this side of the border, and our 100% random selection has given us T-Rex Manning, the early 2010s punk/metal quartet that begat Stegadeth and Jack Spades! Look for that on or around July 10th, and stay tuned for more news this week! Thanks everyone!


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Vietnam's coffee exports fell sharply in FebruaryThis article is powered by The Public Ledger
Coffee exports in February 2018 totalled 129,983 tonnes (2.166 mln 60-kg bags), down 35.3% on the month, customs data show.
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Coffee exports in February 2018 totalled 129,983 tonnes (2.166 mln 60-kg bags), down 35.3% on the month, customs data show.
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"In order to arrive at what you do not know
You must go by a way which is the way of ignorance.
In order to possess what you do not possess
You must go by the way of dispossession.
In order to arrive at what you are not
You must go through the way in which you are not.
And what you do not know is the only thing you know
And what you do own is what you do not own
And where you are is where you are not."
~ T. S. Eliot, "Four Quartets"


text: Maryam Nawaz, while recording her statement in the accountability court in Islamabad on Monday, once again distanced herself from Avenfield properties as well as the British Virgin Islands offshore companies Nielsen and Nescoll that were linked to the former premier's daughter in the Panama Papers.The Panama Papers released in April 2016 by law firm Mossack Fonseca described Maryam as "the owner of British Virgin Islands-based firms Nielsen Enterprises Limited and Nescoll Limited, incorporated in 1994 and 1993".While recording her testimony under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), Maryam said: "I am not and I have never been the beneficial owner of Nescoll, Nielsen companies or the Avenfield properties, nor have I derived any financial benefit from either company or the said property in any way whatsoever."She challenged the authenticity of a Mossack Fonseca letter dated June 22, 2012, and the financial investigation agencies' claim that she was the beneficial owner of the offshore companies that owned London properties.Maryam testified before the court that the Panamagate joint investigation team did not produce the original letter, in response to which Mossack Fonseca had stated that Maryam was the beneficial owner of the contentious offshore accounts."These documents were not certified as required by the applicable law nor were they subjected to cross-examination by me so that I could test the veracity of the contents of these documents," she said.Therefore, she stated that the said document could not be used as evidence against her since it would be tantamount to denying her the right to fair trial.Maryam also denied any involvement "in any transaction of the sale of 25 per cent of Gulf Steel Mills in 1980 and with the subsequent investment."She further said that the response to the request for mutual legal assistance was not a credible document and hence "not admissible evidence".Election 2018 code of conduct targets PML-N: NawazFormer PM Nawaz, during an informal chat with reporters at the court, claimed that by barring political parties from projecting their governments' work in the upcoming general elections, his party had been targeted.He termed the code of conduct for the upcoming polls as "unfair" and said that the PML-N would officially express its displeasure against it.Nawaz recalled the projects initiated during his tenure and indicated that his party stood to gain the most by projecting progress.He criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and claimed that the Imran Khan-led party could not deliver anything worthwhile in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa."Their five-year performance was disappointing," he said. "Imran Khan can hardly point out any single project in the public sector, social sector, communications or related to energy that the KP government has delivered in their five years."Nawaz also questioned the nomination of Manzoor Afridi as the caretaker chief minister of KP."He is the brother of an incumbent senator belonging to the PTI," he said, adding that it appeared to be a case of "billi ko doodh ki rakhwali pe bitha dia hai (a person with vested interest being put in charge)" and "andha bantay rewrian (A blind person distributing sweet treats)".Nawaz claimed that his current legal battle is identical to the 1999 hijacking case in which he was convicted and awarded 27 years of imprisonment.


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Cultural criticism about the representation of different kinds of people in fiction is not, by any stretch, a new phenomenon. It was old when I was a college student, but then (as now), I and my peers found it a fascinating subject. Why were the lion's share of the protagonists in novels, films, and television shows white, straight males? What does that say about us as a society?
The world is perhaps a bit different now, but this particular strain of criticism is still strong, as demonstrated by #OscarsSoWhite or a stroll through Vox, or Slate, or really any cultural criticism website. People who don't subscribe to the theory will rightly point out that television, at least, is as diverse as it's ever been, which is certainly true. Critics maintain that our most popular properties are almost entirely white, male, and straight. (See the Marvel Cinematic Universe, even though that may be getting less true by the day.)
Why not have stories that draw from all different kinds of experiences, the critics ask, rather than this one specific vein?
I don't think anyone would dispute the actual reason for a lack of diversity: most writers and decision-makers in the entertainment industry are white, straight men. By default, stories generally get written in a way that reflects the experience of the writer.
I myself am not immune to this phenomenon. I'm just lucky enough to have a bit more diverse background than most writers. In other words, as a gay writer who's been all over the world, it's not that surprising that I would write a novel with multiple gay characters of different races and backgrounds. I didn't set out to make a novel that would, say, fulfill the requirements of the Bechdel test. If it does, that's merely a happy accident borne of the way I imagined my story.*
The real problem, then, is that too many writers and content producers looks the same (i.e., white, straight males). That's not to say these people can't produce amazing works of art–they unquestionably can–but it indicates that the problem is more of a root-level creative one rather than one of conscious choice.
Someone might postulate, for example, that some of the difficulties I experienced in getting Future Imperfect to print involved the fact that its main character is gay. I'm not sure whether that's true, because I think it's just hard to get any book by a first-time author published. It probably didn't help, though, and some of the reactions I got from potential agents could potentially be explained that way.
All of that's very nice, I suppose, but the question remains: what to do about this issue? All I can offer is advice based on my own experience. Storytellers, keep looking for a way to tell your story. Don't give up, and do the best job you can. The current cultural shift in diversity tells us that we can use art to explore multiple perspectives in a way that improves the integrity and quality of the media. It's just not going to happen overnight.
The Backlist
* After having given the matter some consideration, I think Future Imperfect does pass the Bechdel test, albeit in a strange way. The Bechdel test requires at least two female characters who meet each other and talk about something other than a man. Without spoiling anything from the novel, I think a scene from the last chapter qualifies rather dramatically. Anyway, those who want a more feminine installment of the story will likely be happier with Judgment Day.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
Home Uncategorized Diversity in Fiction: a Writer's Perspective


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Write the first paragraph of your page here.
Early LifeEdit
Euphrasie is the result of a sexual relationship between Aro, the leader of the Volturi, and a human woman named Avery, with whom he had an unknown kind of contract.
She was born on the first of February, 2014, in the evening. Her mother died immediately after her birth, and since then, she had been mostly raised by her aunt Asami.
Physical AppearanceEdit
As a full grown hybrid, Euphrasie has extremely dense, thick curly black hair that reaches just above the center of her back. It has the tendency to be unruly and frizzes occasionally, but she has taught herself some tricks to be able to make it look sleek and extremely attractive.
Her eyes are a shockingly bright shade of blue, though they turn an odd shade of purple if she has recently hunted, due to the color of the blood mixing with the pigment in her irises.
Personality and TraitsEdit
Due to the rapid growth that she experiences as a hybrid, even at a very young, Euphrasie understood things that would be incomprehensible to a child her age. She is very inquisitive, and she always asks a billion questions before she forms her own opinion on a subject. She is also very perceptive, seeing through her own father's manipulative ways and to his true cruelty when she learned of the torture and capture of two vampires that had since left the coven.
Powers and AbilitiesEdit
Euphrasie has the ability to predict the feature. However, like all with a similar ability, it is impossible for her to see the absolute future. When a vision occurs, it consumes all of her mind, and she is unable to pull herself out of the vision until she has drawn out a vision medium for what she has seen.
Though she first adored her father, and strained to get his attention, she soon came to realize the corruption of the coven that she had been born into. She saw through her father's facade, and to the manipulation lying underneath his cheery disposition.
-Though she never met her mother after her birth, it is clear that she misses, admires, and loves her late mother. She often asks her father about her mother, and is always disheartened when he refuses to answer.
-Euphrasie came acquainted with Alec after her father, Aro, had incidently let her know about the two former members that had been taken captive. She went down to the dungeons to meet him, and offerered her assistance to help heal his injuries. She was also the one who went to see how his mate was, though she was unable to give him a full answer, out of the fear that she would damage him more than he already was.


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Parineeti shares first look of 'Jabariya Jodi', starts shooting
Mumbai: Actors Parineeti Chopra and Sidharth Malhotra have commenced shooting for their upcoming film "Jabariya Jodi". Parineeti on Monday tweeted the film's first look.
In the image, the "Ishaqzaade" actress and Sidharth are standing on two sides of a wedding chair, while a man dressed as a groom is sitting on it, but his face is not visible.
ANNOUNCEMENT – shooting begins!! @S1dharthM @balajimotionpic pic.twitter.com/LGoKRHB1pK
— Parineeti Chopra (@ParineetiChopra) August 20, 2018
She captioned the poster: "Announcement – shooting begins! Sidharth Malhotra."
Also Read
Directed by Prashant Singh, "Jabariya Jodi", is set in Patna, Bihar. The film is co-presented by Balaji Telefilms and Karma Media Entertainment.
SHOOTING BEGINS!! Back with Siddo ❤ @S1dharthM @balajimotionpic pic.twitter.com/5LSxZIQxiy
— Parineeti Chopra (@ParineetiChopra) August 20, 2018
Producer Ekta Kapoor wrote: "Yeh jodi zabardast bhi hai aur jabariya bhi (This couple is the best)! Presenting the first look of 'Jabariya Jodi'."
Sidharth and Parineeti had earlier shared screen space in the 2014 film "Hasee Toh Phasee".


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Why Instagram Is A Nice Marketing Platform
Many businesses have turned to Instagram to market their businesses, and professionals from any Social Media Agency will advise you to do the same. But why Instagram instead of other social media platforms like Facebook? The following are the reasons why Instagram is a nice marketing platform.
1.Fast growth
Instagram has hit 800 million active users. Comparing to other top social network apps, Instagram comes in the sixth place surpassing Twitter, and Snapchat whose growth has now reached a plateau level. Twitter, for instance has 330 million users. Source: http://www.businessofapps.com/data/instagram-statistics/. Considering the stats, one can see the significance of using Instagram to promote their brands and businesses, it is because it has a steady growth since its inception in 2010 and it has now acquired the highest number of users.
2. Higher engagement rates
Aside from a skyrocketing user base, Instagram also shows a high user engagement. This means that many users that have this app check it daily and they interact with each other a lot through the likes and comments. This is a healthy tradition that will see people advertise their businesses with ease.
3. Visual character
Instagram is based on videos and photographs so it is easy for brands to achieve more visibility form the use of uploading appealing pictures of their products gaining more prospects and enhancing brand loyalty form the consumers. A picture is worth a thousand words so by the use of pictures and videos in this app, the consumers feel more connected to the visuals than reading texts in text-based social media platforms like Twitter.
4. Mobile Platform
It is mostly because Instagram is an app that works on mobile phones that has made it so popular. Many people own mobile devices that they use to access this app. This means that once you have an android device and an internet connection, you can access Instagram anywhere at any time. Internet will be more accessible in the near future so apps like Instagram have every reason to smile since their growth will likely grow.


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Raphael Mazzucco seems to have inherited Hugh Hefner's mantle.
The photographer — who used to specialize in swimsuits and lingerie — also specialized in models before shifting to fine art.
In his upcoming book, "25 Years of Portraits," Pamela Anderson calls him "the modern Helmut Newton" and rhapsodizes:
"You know he's no good. And with his sly thoughts and wicked surprises, we share an eternal bond, entranced as we are by pure mischievousness."
Alessandra Ambrosio recalls a shoot with Gisele Bündchen and other models in Barbados when a hurricane forced them to evacuate.
"I was so scared, but [Raphael] kept me and the rest of the crew calm until we arrived at our destination," Ambrosio said. "As soon as we were out of harm's way, he started a slumber party, and we found ourselves jumping on beds and having pillow fights."
Expect some supermodels at a show of Mazzucco's mixed-media works opening Thursday at the Louis K. Meisel Gallery on Prince Street.


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A square is inscribed inside of a circle with radius 4. If the perimeter of the square is P, what is P^2 ?
Weekly Math Problems
Math Problem of the Week #17
George rolls a random die and flips a random coin. What is the probability that George both rolls a prime number and flips tails?
Math Problem of the Week #16
John has a fair two sided coin and Jennifer has a fair six-sided die. John flips the coin and Jennifer rolls the die. What is the probability that Jennifer rolls a perfect square and John flips a heads?
Math Problem of the Week #15
Starting January 2, 2017, Jeanie saves one dollar on Monday, three dollars on Tuesday, five dollars on Wednesday, and so forth until Sunday, when she saves eleven dollars on Sunday. Then she starts over on Monday and does it again. If she continues this pattern, how much money will she have after saving her money … Continue reading Math Problem of the Week #15
Math Problem of the Week #14
What is xy if x-x2=y-y2, y does not equal 1, and x=1/y ?
Math Problem of the week #13
Is it possible for there to be a perfect square which is 10 times another perfect square? If so, what is the smallest perfect square which has that property?
Math Problem of the Week #12
How many whole numbers between 1 and 100 have 5 factors?