BREAKING - Arrieta to Philadelphia (huge collective sigh)
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I think if there was one thing the M's fan was looking for right now, other than a Stanton-for-Motter deal, was for Jake Arrieta to go someplace other than to the pesky rodent Anaheim Angels.
Word has it that he and Philly agreed to a THREE (3) year deal at $25 mill per, which was precisely what we'd hoped Dipoto would dangle. Quite remarkable to Dr. D that Arrieta would come all the way down to 3 years after an initial (report that he) demanded 7 years and that 6 would represent the "cave-in" on his camp's side.
So, again, Dipoto insisting that he does not need free agent resources of any* kind to bring Seattle A World Series, and from this point forward apparently he doesn't need many minor league trade resources, either. ;- )
....
Assuming Boston is in good shape that leaves a zany type of 11-team scramble for 1 playoff spot -- a "pennant race" among the also-rans for the last playoff spot.
This is actually familar to EPL fans (as Fungineer knows) when Man Citeh, Chelsea and the other big team of the year (this year Tottenham, though Man United seems to have swapped out Chelsea for a year) lock in 3 top spots and the rest of the league scrambles for that 4th spot which brings Champions League play in Europe (against the Barcelonas, Dortmunds, etc.)
The proper attitude to such a situation is not to hope that everyone in the American League (except NYY, Bos, Cle, Hou) loses 82 games and drops back to your mediocrity. The proper attitude is to get your own thing going strong so that you win 90 games and properly earn the 5th spot as a real contender in the AL.
....
But for now: no Arrieta in Anaheim - or in the league, for that matter. Banzai!
(Free-associating "Bansai!", Ichiro looks like he's seeing the ball well today and having a good first day process-wise, if not in the box score. Dan Vogelbach continues to look like the second coming of Kevin Youkilis and Dr. D continues to percolate as to his freezeout.)
And don't think I won't be savoring Albert Pujols' at-bats All. Year. Long. Hey Bill was asked what he'd do with Pujols for 2018? "Have him bronzed." Another time, "What do you think he'll do this year?" Reply: "I wasn't aware he played last year."
Don't think the Pujols watch is an empty threat, I'm warnin' yer here and now.
Enjoy,
Jeff