Squirrel

I think it's a 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' situation. But man, I'm on the side of 'Get. Him. Signed!'

Graterol just drilled a batter ... ?

Wainwright is dealing ... Scherzer was taken out after 4.1 ... he looked pissed to be removed

Wow! Wainright has excellent reflexes. I'd be dead if that were me.

Anyone watching the game tonight?

This is called trolling. If you have reasons for the A+, then let's hear it, otherwise ... not a good look, detracts from the topic and actually demeans what you might really think

I mean, if they thought somehow they could sneak him through ... HUH???? I don't get it.

sheeesh ... blecht

And now I hope the Rays beat the Red Sox

Yes and no. He needs to impress at the major league level before he would be considered ready. And to do that, he needs to slot into the spot that Arraez had this year. It's not about continuing to rake in St. Paul, it's about what he will do on the Twins. And the only way to know that is to give him playing time and at bats on the Twins. I think you do that by making room for him by trading Arraez. And then when he proves ready to take over 100%, THEN and only then do you shop Donaldson. As I said, that doesn't happen, at the earliest, mid-season 2022, if all goes the best it could. Otherwise it's off-season 2022 and he's in place for 2023.

It was ... scary-ish ... for the first half of the episodes, then not. It just didn't have anything new and became predictable. If I can get through it, it's not really that bad in terms of scare.

Miranda really isn't blocked by Donaldson, though. If he's blocked by anyone it's Astudillo and/or Arraez. Most prospects need time to adjust to the majors, no matter how good they were in the minors. The time to have gotten Miranda playing time this past year was when Donaldson needed a break or was injured. Who got that time? That's who blocked him. Then we could have seen how well he would be ... or not. And, he wasn't on the 40-man ... he was not going to be added when there wasn't absolute need. This idea that he would come up and immediately replace Donaldson's production and abilities, or come close, just because he had a tremendous year at AAA ... well ... that's just fantasy. If he breaks with the team next year out of ST it will be because we traded Arraez and re-assigned Astudillo to AAA. If he shows he can truly be a full-time replacement for Donaldson at 3rd, then you look to trade Donaldson mid-season or next year off-season. But I don't see that happening immediately; and if it does at all, it will be in 2023. Just my opinion.

EVERYONE ... take a breath here and tone down the rhetoric a bit. It's a pretty simple question ... should MLB do more? Yes or no. If you have to type paragraphs to explain how some one can live on so little, you are missing the point. If you think it's a matter of players not being able to manage their finances, then fine ... perhaps MLB should be offering classes to these kids how to manage their money. They provide English classes, so why not this? So even if you think MLB pays a livable wage, the answer is still yes, they could do more to help. Whether it's providing a better wage, providing housing, providing meals, providing life instruction ... MLB obviously could do better regardless whether or not you believe a player and his family can live on $25k. And stop insinuating character on other posters.

I find it interesting that so many people want to rid ourselves of players that are actually producing. And, how great the exceptions are for prospects to immediately field openings and produce at MLB levels because they had a great year in the minors. The players to move are Astudillo and Arraez. Arraez through trade and Astudillo by removing him from the 40-man. If he doesn't get picked up, then we can assign him to AAA. Miranda comes up to spell Donaldson at third, maybe play some outfield. It's a huuuuge assumption that Miranda will just instantly become this MLB fixture. All prospects need some time. If he looks like he can take over, then you move Donaldson (or try to) mid season or next off season, but now is not the time. I mean ... we actually want to improve the team, and getting rid of Donaldson to replace him with Miranda does not do that

ooops ... and Yankees just won ... 1-0 ... so ... they are in. BOOOOOO! If the Red Sox win, then it's set ... if they lose and the Jays win ...

Bos-Wash game is tied at 5; TB-NYY are tied in the 9th at 0; Jays still crushing the O's and Mariners are lagging behind the Angels

Tune in late, you miss the fun ... sigh ...

To answer the question of the title ... yes, MLB needs to make changes to make the minor leaguers lives livable. I think the current wages should include housing and at least one meal/day. Some places do provide housing, but I'm not sure the cost, but it's not usually free. If MLB teams provide housing, however they do it, it would ease a lot of the struggles. Someone suggested that minor leaguers don't know how to budget ... well ... I think that's true of most kids entering adulthood today, but that isn't the source of their troubles. A budget only goes so far when you literally cannot cover the basic costs of living. It is NOT doable for most going through the minor leagues. I know that some teams provide classes to teach English, to help players get their hs diplomas, perhaps they should add classes in basic finances. Call it an enhanced 'home economics' course, but finances/budgeting, shopping, cooking, living ... that would help. You make the experience doable and livable, it will attract a larger pool of players which makes for a better MLB all the way around. When you weaken your supply chain, you will weaken the top results. So, enhance the MiL players experience, it will be better all around.

fyi ... I think this is the article @Trov referenced above (correct me if I am wrong): https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32172108/can-union-fix-minor-leaguers-say-poverty-level-pay-poor-housing-driving-mental-health-crisis

You're getting worse at this ...

While very unlikely, I want the Jays and Mariners to win their 3 remaining, and the Red Sox and Yankees to lose their remaining 3. While I think the Mariners could sweep the Angels, and the Jays could sweep the O's ... I don't see the Red Sox and Yankees losing all three. I don't see their opponents giving them that much, especially the Rays who have nothing to gain by going 'all out' against the Yankees. The Nationals could be spoilers, but I still don't see them sweeping the BoSox.

Man, I'm disappointed in you for going that that old relic ...

Eh, you were on the right road. Some never get there no matter what Stu writes ?

All of RandBalls Stu's articles are satire, so yes, tongue in cheek