Again Manning said time and time again Stephan is not controlling his fastball. Fastball command not there - so he is always behind in the count.

Until that comes back he is useless.

But we have signed for how many years? so we're sort of stuck with him

As you know it doesn't mean he will NEVER command his fastball.

There's a procedure for this - you move him into situations with less leverage and have him work on stuff. If/when he improves that command (and he had it all last season) then he goes back to higher leverage.

Bullpen guys are volatile - on every team. They just are - the ones that are not are the superstar relievers.

Aaron Civale allowed six runs over three innings on Wednesday in a loss against the Angels.

Civale was a bit too hittable against the Angels. Three base hits and a groundout brought two runs in against him in the first inning. With two outs in the second, a single, hit batter, and a double brought another run in before Brandon Drury homered for a six-run lead. Civale struck out the side in the third before his day was done at 74 pitches.

The 28-year-old right-hander holds a 3.43 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 113/31 K/BB ratio across 120 2/3 innings. He lines up for a possible final start against the Red Sox in Boston next week.

Remember his numbers with Cleveland?

It's a reverse Josh Bell. He tanked when Tampa grabbed him.

In general he is a very average mlb starter. You would trade him every time for a young, controllable hitter. Probably your #1 prospect.

Everyone saw what Civale was worth in the playoffs. Meatball after meatball. Then started throwing the ball no where near the plate because his stuff is bery hittable if you wait him out and do not chase the slow curve.

Josh Bell was top notch in August. He's back to the Cleveland-era Bell in September

August: 280/346/550 8 homers
September: 233/282/370 7 rbi in 78 plate appearances 21k 5bb 2 homers

Kahlil Watson in return is an extremely talented IF; volatile personality; inconsistent hitter.

in his 23 games for Lake County:
233/306/442 5 homers 11/12 steals 24K 8bb
that means 29% strikeouts
9.5% walks
1 homer per 16 AB

Potential is vast. Likelihood of reaching it is pretty low but he's only 20 and just completed a season in High A, 2.2 years younger than average at that level; if he has to repeat Lake County to start 2024 that's not a sign of failure

Manzardo is finishing his season in high style for Columbus; see Minor Matters. Could be a very good return for a No, 4 starter.

Amed Rosario is a platoon 2nd baseman for the Dodgers. Unlikely to score big as a free agent
Will probably be viewed as a fairly equivalent exchange for Noah Syndegard who will be awfully hard to remember as ever on the Guardians

Pointing out that KC, after giving us fits, then went to Houston last night and took them out. Yes, defending champ Houston.

It happens.

Allen gets to go home a litle early on the IL with a minor injury.
Clearing space for McKenzie.

I suppose Gabriel Arias' insane splits have been noted before; Note that he is a right handed hitter

vs Right Handed Pitchers he's a good hiter: In 205 at bats, 270/335/463 14 doubles 8 homers 18 walks 57 strikeouts [that's 24% strikeouts, high but not outrageous]
vs Left handed Pitchers he sets a standard: in 108 at bats 083/168/148 1 double 2 homers 10 walks 54 strikeouts [that's 46% strikeouts, that's outrageous]

so Arias is hitting 6th tonight gainst a tough right hander with those amazing stats.
Maybe he can only hit righties who throw 100 mph like Greene?

Note also his strikeout rate is insanely bad.