I am rooting hard for the D'Backs this year

[Warner2BruceTD]

Only because these smarmy baseball writers won't stfu about this whole "gritty" thing.

I like stats. A lot. But I don't feel the need to be condescending about it every second.

I believe building a team around advanced numbers is the best way to go. But i'm not naive enough to believe that things like chemistry & grit & playing hard don't matter. Just because you can't measure something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. All things being equal, who the fuck wouldn't want players who play hard or get along well?

Go D'Backs. Win the World Series and let's see Gibson gives a long speech about GRIT and CHEMISTRY and PLAYING HARD, and make sure Harold Reynolds praises it and lots of people get annoyed. Starting with Law & Sheehan.

[Woy]

I think the majority of the baseball crew will be rooting for Arizona purely because of the McCarthy factor.

But in all seriousness, they're a very easy group to root for because they still have a lot of talent, and reside in the same division as the defending champs and the NL Yankees. Nothing will be better if they break through and win the division over those two powers.

[Matt]

I like the foundation of the DBACKS, but I can't respect a team that plays in the Mall of America type stadium.

[NAHSTE]

It's annoying, yeah.

The Calcaterra-level endless snark is insufferable, but I think there is some merit to the D'Backs being criticized for their comments over the offseason. They did not handle the Bauer or Upton things well, at all, and the "GRIT" thing is just compounding that issue.

Anyway, I am also rooting for the D'Backs because they have a pretty likable group despite Kevin Towers doing everything in his power to make it seem otherwise.

[Villain]

Go Dodgers. Win the World Series and let's see Donnie give a long speech about GRIT and CHEMISTRY and PLAYING HARD, and make sure Harold Reynolds praises it and lots of people get annoyed. Starting with Law & Sheehan.

Man the Dodgers have the triple crown of grit! Mark Ellis! Skip! The Shredder! They can all play second base!

Don't forget these other unsung heros of hustle:



And TEAM FIRST players!




The NL West is leading the bigs in scrappiness.

[Warner2BruceTD]

You can't be #scrappy & #gritty & #hardworking when you outspend everybody, including the Yankees.

[Villain]

You can't be #scrappy & #gritty & #hardworking when you outspend everybody, including the Yankees.

But those guys are the glue that makes it all work. #SteveLyons

[NAHSTE]

You can't be #scrappy & #gritty & #hardworking when you outspend everybody, including the Yankees.

The best part is, the Dodgers can't outspend anyone because nobody is hitting free agency anymore. Teams are getting smarter about locking up their own talent.

The DOYERS "plan" this whole time was to sign Votto, Cano and Hamels ... and look where that got them.

[Villain]

The DOYERS "plan" this whole time was to sign Votto, Cano and Hamels ... and look where that got them.

You keep saying that. What's it like to be involved in all these internal meetings?

[NAHSTE]

You keep saying that. What's it like to be involved in all these internal meetings?

Worst kept secret in baseball, but you can keep convincing yourself otherwise.

[Villain]

Worst kept secret in baseball, but you can keep convincing yourself otherwise.

I'm not denying that the Dodgers would've wanted to sign those guys, but it's lazy to say that was the new owners' entire plan. Rumors fly every direction all the time and things change constantly. Sure, I'm sure if the opportunity was there, the Dodgers would make a run at acquiring Hamels... Is that a bad idea or something? What about Votto? Are you saying that the Dodgers are dumb to want to put him on the payroll?



Obviously you are also talking about rumors from a year ago and they clearly aren't going to be going after those guys. Rotation is set and so is first base.

Cano still hasn't signed an extension and if he were to hit Free Agency, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Dodgers go after him. I personally wouldn't love it since he'd be getting signed for his mid-30s, but he is still the best 2B looking to be available and why wouldn't you want the best player available if you have the chance to get him?

[Villain]

 

Man the Dodgers have the triple crown of grit! Mark Ellis! Skip! The Shredder! They can all play second base!

Don't forget these other unsung heros of hustle:



And TEAM FIRST players!




The NL West is leading the bigs in scrappiness.

If you can't tell that I'm being facetious in this post then you're dense.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Went over my head until the next one, tbh.

[Villain]

Went over my head until the next one, tbh.

My avatar is the Dodgers owner clapping as money is raining around him.

[Rudi]

I can support the DBacks wagon. Big fan of Parra and Prado.