It is January 3 and nothing is happening. It's freezing cold and that makes me want to hide under a blanket. Spring Training is still six weeks away and everything is dead inside. At least we have existential dread to keep us warm.
*FanGraphs' 2018 Standings Projections are out and it's so much fun! The Astros are projected to have MLB's best record at 97-65, scoring 865 runs and allowing 698. Here's how they project the AL West:
1. Houston (97-65)
2. Anaheim (88-74)
3. Seattle (81-81)
4. Arlington (78-84)
5. Oakland (77-85)
*The MLB Rookie Career Development Program is this weekend, and Derek Fisher, J.D. Davis, and Reymin Guduan will be there. Here's some background as to exactly what the heck it is.
*So maybe you want Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto. Mark Feinsand is reporting there is "nothing imminent" on the trade front, as though there is anything imminent on anything at all.
*FanRag's Tommy Stoke thinks Jonathan Lucroy makes sense for the Astros.
*San Francisco Chronicle: Yeah, MLB basically runs under a salary cap.
*Muscle Shoals producer Rick Hall passed away. If you haven't seen the documentary on Muscle Shoals on Netflix, you're missing out.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
