A "Wild Card 2014" flag would be the saddest sight.

Totally different topic; Jarrod Dyson. Does he have trade value for a team that needs a CF. He's batting near .300 (we know it's against RHP), he can steal 2nd when everyone in the stadium knows he's going to steal 2nd, and he's made ESPN highlights a couple of times playing CF. We all know he can't hit LHP and he has no power. What's he worth?

Putting up a playoffs appearance flag is pathetic. It's the pennant equivalent of doing the wave.

Why would we trade him though?

In my opinion, he's not an everyday player because he can't hit LHP and he has no power. The Royals have an everyday CF (Cain) that can hit LHP and RHP. Eventually, he will become arbitration eligible. With his AVG being near .300 and with his speed, now might be the time to get as much as you can for him.

Will Butler retire or actually try to get in shape in the offseason to prolong his career (with a new team, obviously)?

He might bring back JP Howell :D

I doubt he'd bring back much more than a reliever or some ho hum pitching prospects. I think he has more value on team.

I'm seriously debating pulling the trigger on picking up one of these...

http://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server40...0.1280.jpg?c=2

http://i60.tinypic.com/11aec5t.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/335d45x.jpg

He's only 28 so of course he'll keep playing. What's his alternative career anyway - pediatrician? He went straight from HS to pro baseball. What's really galling to him is that he only had to get through ONE MORE YEAR to get his free agent contract and now he shat that away. He was looking at something like a 4/45 deal and now he'll likely get a 1/7 deal. He threw away tens of millions with his dreadful season.

Dyson right now is MUCH better than Aoki. Both offense and defense. There's absolutely no reason to get rid of him. Hell, he's more valuable than Billy Butler.

I've got a Bo Jackson jersey similar to those. Should I post pics? :)

The Greatest Pitcher of This Era
by Tony Blengino - July 3, 2014

It is said that a single draft selection can fundamentally change a franchise, and this was never more true than the first round of the 2006 draft. The Dodgers picked seventh overall from a class that has turned out to be less than stellar. Of the six clubs picking ahead of the them, only the Rays, who tabbed Evan Longoria in the three hole, can refrain from thinking what could have been when surveying the outcome of that early first round. The Royals selected Luke Hochevar first, the Rockies followed with Greg Reynolds, and then the Pirates, Mariners and Tigers followed up with Brad Lincoln, Brandon Morrow and Andrew Miller, respectively, with the three selections immediately preceding Kershaw.

It didn’t take long for the Dodgers – and every other organization in baseball, for that matter – to see exactly what they had in the lean 6’3″ lefty from Highland Park HS in Texas. He steamrolled the rookie level Gulf Coast League to the tune of a 54/5 K/BB ratio in 37 innings immediately after signing, and then toiled less than two years – and 210 innings, featuring 261 strikeouts – in the minors before making his major league debut in late May 2008. To say the least, he hit the ground running....
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-g...r-of-this-era/

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ucMKG0VOJ2...uicide+gun.gif

By all means

Raul Ibanez: 28 HR in his 20s . . . now 43 HR in his 40s. Amazing. Who's had a career path like this guy?

Barry Bonds?