2016 MLB Regular-Season Thread

They are the picture of an eating disorder. They starve themselves of homegrown talent (Kurt Suzuki, drafted in 2004, was the last position player of note they drafted) and go bare-bones on payroll. They purge their proven talent -- Swisher, Haren, Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill, Donaldson, Cespedes, Kazmir -- in return for lesser-known, cheaper replacements. The 2012-14 playoff teams defied the odds with these methods, which are clearly meant for only short-term success (three winning seasons since 2007).

 

OK. This is boring.

 

http://deadspin.com/this-is-not-the-home-run-derby-lineup-mlb-says-1781554541

 

Prince Fielder finally hits home run, breaks a millennial's cell phone:

http://deadspin.com/prince-fielder-...source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

 

It was the tattoos.

 

The A's are particularly adept at keeping their good players until it becomes time to pay them, at which point they flip them for prospects who largely bear fruit. When it's time to pay those guys, the cycle repeats itself.

 

Ventura misses 2 starts. Thought he'd miss one.....I'm fine with it.

 

Fear not young Hope. A couple of extra routines at Pleasure's off of I-35, and you'll have that new iPhone in no time flat.

 

I know y'all don't all follow the MLB draft as closely as I do, so allow me to let you in on the highlight of the MLB Network broadcast:

 

God that's awesome. Thanks!

 

That's just not sustainable. Beane's star has faded because the generations of player acquired in successive trades get progressively worse. He hit the jackpot in 2007-08, when three successive deals brought in Chris Carter, Brett Anderson, Carlos Gonzalez (for Dan Haren), Gio Gonzalez (Nick Swisher) and Josh Donaldson (Rich Harden).

Since then, one could argue the best players to arrive via trade -- Matt Holiday, Jeff Samardizja, Jon Lester, Ben Zobrist -- were all short-term rentals. The caliber of players who get traded stays high. The same can't be said of those who arrive.