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AJ Minter
7:53
Are Holds are a statistic MLB evaluators use, or are Holds just fantasy baseball fodder?
Mark P
7:53
They're ultimately a fairly meaningless counting stat.  Evaluators use tons of other metrics to gauge relievers before even considering "holds."
Walter
7:54
Another poor outing by McKenzie. Are the Guardians considering DFA him since he is out of options.  Or does he become their 5 starter?
Mark P
7:56
The Guards could try converting him to relief if things aren't working in the rotation.  Despite his struggles and the injuries, I suspect McKenzie would get snapped up pretty quickly on the waiver wire, since everyone needs pitching.
N A T S NatsNatsNats
7:56
do you think the Nationals are being overlooked as a potential sneaky team that can disrupt the balance of the NL East? Even with all the young talent and the unwillingness to pay high priced free agents at needed positions. Do you think they sell for more assets?
Mark P
7:58
The NL seems too deep for the Nats to make a real playoff push, but as I wrote last week, getting to .500 would represent a nice achievement.  Rizzo made his offseason moves with some built-in flexibility towards selling the short-term veterans at the deadline if the team isn't contending.
Mike dickinson
7:58
Hendriks hasn’t been good for the Red Sox this spring. Who’s the closer? Personally, I’d like to see Garrett Whitlock get the job. His stuff is filthy.
Mark P
8:00
If the 2021 version of Whitlock returns, having him as a multi-inning shutdown fireman is more valuable than having him as strictly a closer.  Cora's stated preference is to have a set closer, and the Sox will give Hendriks a shot in the regular season before turning to a Plan B if necessary.  Chapman's also there with tons of closing experience, if Boston fans can handle the high-wire act.
Keyser Söze
8:01
When a player like Gerrit Cole has an injury that takes them out of action for a season plus and the team has an insurance policy in place shouldn't there be some sort of mechanism in place that allows for the team's "tax" number to be adjusted downward so they could redirect money to a replacement from say a trade? Cole gets his money so the MLBPA shouldn't have any issue and if the team is get money from insurance then it would be a push money wise for the team.
Mark P
8:02
I feel like the league might cast a suspicious eye if teams tried to leverage this towards phantom injuries or something, though obviously Cole's situation is legit.  

I'm by no means an expert on NBA salary cap rules, but I think the NBA has some kind of injury-related exemptions that allow teams to carve out extra cap space in the event of major injuries.  It's possible something similar could be discussed in the next CBA, since I'm sure plenty of teams would love to have ways to reduce their tax number by any means necessary
Astro
8:06
What stops Cam Smith from being an opening day starter? He's been tearing it up in spring training and I read he will get every chance possible to earn the right field job.
Orbit
8:06
Should Chas McCormick be worried his job?
Mark P
8:07
Chances are Smith starts the year in the minors, if for no other reason than so he can get more reps as an outfielder.  He's certainly on the radar for a call-up, and possibly an early one if the Astros aren't getting much production from the outfield
C
8:07
Do you realistically believe the Mariners might score more runs this season with Edgar / Seitzer as hitting coaches?
Mark P
8:09
This is the big X-factor of Seattle's season, since it was a night-and-day difference once the M's changed their hitting coach last year.  Whether that sticks over a full season remains to be seen, and I'd be more bullish about the situation if the Mariners did more to actually add to their lineup.  

That said, Rodriguez, Arozarena, etc. all having bounce-back years would more than make up for some holes elsewhere
Robert
8:09
Hey Mark, I petition that you change your Arrested Development quote to “and baby you’ve got a stew going”
Mark P
8:09
Hmm, this seems like it can be more cleanly used in baseball-related conversations, too.  Let's give it a shot.
Adam
8:10
# of games played with Buxton/Correa/Lewis in the same lineup for the Twins this year? Believe it was 20 something last year
Mark P
8:10
The poor Twins couldn't even get through ST without an early major injury.  I feel bad for Lewis, who is such a talent but he keeps getting hurt.
Brad from Wisconsin
8:13
What about the Brewers who at 3rd or do they go out sided the organization?
Mark P
8:13
Seems like it'll be Dunn/Durbin in a platoon, or maybe Dunn/Capra in something of an upset.
Sleepless in Flushing
8:14
Actually why though haven't the Mets signed one of the available starters on the market? Quintana wanted to come back and didn't sign for much, and pitchers like Gibson may have some low ceilings but they're at least serviceable. This just seems like a big misstep from a historically competent Baseball Ops.
Mark P
8:15
The Mets' rotation plan had some question marks even before the injuries started hitting, so I tend to agree that more could (or should've) been done.
Alan53
8:16
Is there any chance that everybody's wrong and Kyle Tucker won't be very good for the Cubs this season?
Mark P
8:17
Tucker's been pretty mediocre this spring, but I'd be shocked if he doesn't have an All-Star caliber year
Nate
8:17
Poll: Will Skenes win Cy Young
Mark P
8:17
Will Paul Skenes win the 2025 NL Cy Young?
Yes (36.8% | 220 votes)
 
No (63.2% | 378 votes)
 
Total Votes: 598
Keeps Getting Injured
8:18
Social media, 1950s: That Mantle guy might be something if he could ever stay on the field.
Mark P
8:19
It's one of the craziest scenarios in sports history that we probably got only the B+ at best version of Mickey Mantle, and he was still one of the best players ever
Jim
8:20
Why can't the Rays build a stadium in Tampa proper, instead of geographically inconvenient St. Petersburg? Also, Jeff Beck is the greatest guitarist.
Mark P
8:21
This is pretty much what everyone said as soon as the Rays announced their plans for a new ballpark in basically the same spot as the Trop.  Perhaps Sternberg had some second thoughts, and that's what has fueled this whole dispute (beyond the obvious hurricane damage, of course)
Patrick
8:23
Am I crazy for believing that the Rays could win 90 games this year and win the East?
Mark P
8:23
I would never count out the Rays.  Even playing in a minor league ballpark, and with questions about their lineup, this team has a heck of a pitching staff.
Peter Griffin
8:24
What do you think is the main reason that Mariners didn't add to their offense? Does it really just come down to the owner being cheap and not wanting to spend any money?
Mark P
8:24
Three central reasons....

a) lack of payroll space, naturally
b) Dipoto didn't want to trade from that elite rotation
c) seemingly every team asked for one of the five starters in trade talks, and wasn't willing to budge on anything else.
Ryan S.
8:25
Why are people calling Arenado a "bad contract"? Just ignorance? He's still a very good defender, and if his bat bounces back in the slightest, I'll take him over 90% off other 3rd baseman in baseball.
Mark P
8:27
He's been slightly over a league-average hitter in the last two seasons, and as Arenado is about to turn 34, odds are greater than he's entering a decline rather than on the verge of a bounce-back.  You're not wrong that even a 103 wRC+ version of Arenado still brings a lot to the table, but just not at the salary owed to him over the next three years
Dave
8:28
Is Roden going to make the Jays as a CF?  How long do you think he'd have before roster crunch forces him down?
Mark P
8:29
Assuming Varsho starts the year on the IL, Roden is my choice to make the Opening Day roster.  I'd take Roden's upside over, frankly, at least three or four guys on the Jays roster even with a healthy Varsho.
Leave it to Rijo
8:30
Do the Reds go outside for catching help or go dumpster diving as usual?
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