I should have known. The man who asks about trading every October would have of course answered all his damn Jargon Sports Network questions and then go make a big deal.
I had asked him about the outfield of Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez.
Robert and Eloy combine for 70 homers and 220 RBIs, tell me I'm right?
That's what I wrote.
Crox responded: "You're wrong. They combine for over 70 and 220."
Well, you're wrong, Crox. You're wrong.
And yet, you somehow made the most of being wrong.
Crox thought this would be a huge setback in his 2021, too, but then the offer came in. And the next.
Apparently the Sloth was the most cherished injured outfielder in JLB history.
Tanker, I mean Parker, sent Stephen Strasburg, Kumar Rocker and Joc Pederson in this deal that I will maybe delve into more later. This is about Crox.
So, let's start over here.
Luis Robert and Joc Pederson combine for 70 homers and 220 RBIs. Tell me I'm right?
"Same answer," he said days later.
I have to say, I don't think that's too crazy of a bold projection. Is it a lot to ask? Yes. But I can make an argument for why it would be true.
And if that happens, Crox will have pulled off quite the coup.
It will be even worse for the American League if Christian Yelich bounces back to MVP form in 2021.
"I think Yelich bounces back," Crox said. "His pedigree is too good not to. There’s the whole hoop-la about in-game video and the impact it had on him last year, and while hopefully there’s truth to that, hitters don’t forget how to hit. See: JRam 2019. But when it comes to OF, I think Castellanos is primed for a big year. I gave up a lot in Jose Abreu to get him, in an effort to get younger, but I think the production should be close between the two of them."
And Crox was forward-thinking enough to know that the loss of Abreu could be nullified by the call-up of Bobby Dalbec.
The Red Sox slugger could be a Rookie of the Year candidate. He's certainly earned that designation this spring.
"Bobby Bombs hits moonshots," Crox said. "Yes, he’ll strike out a ton, but the most underrated part of his game is his plate discipline. His Ks are swing-and-miss, not chases. And once he moves up in the order, there’s no way to pitch around Bogey, JD, Devers, and, yes I’ll call my shot, the AL Rookie of the Year, Bobby D."
Part of the effort to get younger included sending away Jack Flaherty, and although some injuries have Crox looking at a different rotation in 2021, he still feels good about it.
I'd feel better if it were 2017 with guys like Stephen Strasburg, Corey Kluber, Jake Arrieta and Madison Bumgarner.
But hey, he can perhaps get some surprise comebacks from any one of the latter three pitchers, and I still think Strasburg is a good arm to have in 2021. If that happens, he'll forget all about Jack.
"Jack who? That bum in St Louis?" Crox said. "I love Jack as a player and more a person for baseball, but he’s a Choo so he’s dead to me."
Perhaps Walker Buehler or another young pitcher also helps ease the pain of the loss.
"Call me crazy, but it’s Gonsolin," he said. "The man I tried so hard to get rid of just makes you fall in love with his luscious flowing mane each time he takes the bump. Bold prediction: Better stats for Tony G than Julio Urias at the end of the year."
Bold predictions.
Crox seems to be all about them.
Now it's my turn: Call me crazy, but I think he is one of the three teams hanging on the AL playoff wall at the end of the year.
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