How McDonald's Became an International Empire: THE FOUNDER is a Smart, Underrated Film

When I recommended The Founder (on Netflix) to my father-in-law, I said, "It's about McDonald's rise to prominence."

To which he said, "Ray Kroc."

"Oh, you've seen the movie?" I asked.

"No, but a lot of people know about Ray Kroc. He was the founder of McDonald's."

Or was he?

That's an intriguing question at the heart of The Founder, John Lee Hancock's (The Blind Side, Saving Mr. Banks) 2016 semi-biopic starring Michael Keaton as Kroc. After back-to-back award winners, Birdman and Spotlight, Keaton continued his hot streak by portraying Kroc as a very interesting character, an entrepreneur driven by his own sense of self-worth. He was a struggling salesman for many, many years, but never felt like a loser at heart. He was driven by a deep, internal desire to win.

In his travels as a salesman, Kroc stumbled upon McDonald's No. 1, the original establishment, efficiently run by Mac and Dick McDonald, affable brothers played by John Carroll Lynch and Nick Offerman, respectively. Lynch and Offerman are two of the best character actors in the game, and here they do not disappoint. Both brothers are stuck in their old-school ways, with Mac as the jolly customer service expert, and Dick as the ultra-conservative business end of the company.

Lynch plays the heart-and-soul of the original McDonald's (and you might say the story itself) while Offerman plays the brains of the operation with ingenious business ideas and unfortunately, stubbornness. These two established wonderful chemistry, which reminded me of Matt Damon's voiceover line from Rounders, "We fall into our old rhythm like Clyde Frazier and Pearl Monroe." Lynch and Offerman have that kind of pitter-patter rhythm to their shared scenes.

The McDonald brothers' "speedy system" catches Kroc's eye (along with other, concealed points of interest). Traveling the country, as other drive-ups kept him waiting or delivered the wrong order, Kroc quietly wondered if the industry was running as efficiently as it could. Then he saw McDonald's No. 1 in action, and he was immediately hooked. Kroc weaseled his way in with Mac and Dick, and the rest is legendary business history.

Laura Dern gives an unbelievably understated performance as Kroc's wife, Ethel. She's a nice lady and supportive wife, even as Kroc travels the country, failing time and time again while paying very little attention to her.  Screenwriter Robert Siegel's script paints Dern as an average American who just wants to sit down on her couch and enjoy the American dream -- house, white picket fence and all.

Kroc has a far different vision of the American dream -- he's in his mid-50s and he's tired of coming in second, third or last, for that matter. It's time for him to grab something special. Time for him to finally make his name.

So he convinces Mac and Dick to franchise McDonald's; but the brothers aren't too interested in that end of the work. They continue to focus solely on their baby -- the original Micky D's -- as Kroc runs around representing himself as the man behind the magic. The McDonalds brothers came up with the speedy system and initial concept of "fast food," but Kroc pushed it across America. As Dick focused on inventory for one location and the general idea of "taking things slow," Kroc pumped confidence into a number of new franchisees on the west coast. And from there, it spread. McDonald's began to become the phenomenon we know today.

The key to the film is its two-act structure: In Act 1, we root for Kroc. Sure, he could pay more attention to his wife and be a little less crass in his delivery of certain comments, but mostly he's just trying to make good. We understand his motivations, and if you've seen The Blind Side or Saving Mr. Banks, you might think you know exactly where Hancock is headed with The Founder. 

But this is no feel-good story. In Act 2, Kroc is a shark who smells blood in the water. I won't give too much away, but, remember Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network? You may find some similarities, here.

In the end, we wonder what we are supposed to think about The Founder. Were the McDonald brothers small-town American heroes? Did they represent the best America had to offer? Or was Kroc the hero? The visionary who saw more than a simple, one-stop mom-and-pop restaurant.

I'm not quite sure. I guess...find out for yourself. When the closing credits roll, you may think differently about those golden arches in the distance.

** Frascella's Score: 8.5 out of 10 **

MY UP-TO-DATE ARCHIVE OF ALL REVIEWS AND SCORES

(The Top 200 series will continue, but the list below includes ALL of my past reviews and scores.)

1. Up in the Air (9.5/10)
2. Steve Jobs (9.5/10)
3. No Country for Old Men (9.5/10)
4. The Wrestler (9.5/10)
5. Kramer vs. Kramer (9.5/10)
6. Margin Call (9/10)
7. Hannah and Her Sisters (9/10)
8. Mystic River (9/10)
9. L.A. Confidential (9/10)
10. Lady Bird (9/10)
11. Stay (9/10)
12. Gone Girl (9/10)
13. Nocturnal Animals (9/10)
14. 45 Years (9/10)
15. The Edge of Seventeen (9/10)
16. Tape (9/10)
17. A Perfect Murder (9/10)

18. War Dogs (8.5/10)
19. The Founder (8.5/10)
20. In Bruges (8.5/10)

21. Split (8.5/10)

22. Bad Moms (8.5/10)

23. Basquiat (8.5/10)

24. Moonlight (8/10)
25. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (7.5/10)

26. The Revenant (7.5/10)
27. The Good Shepherd (7.5/10)

28. The Shallows (7.5/10)
29. Focus (7.5/10) 

30. The Night Before (7.5/10)
31. The Walk (7/10)

32. 10 Cloverfield Lane (7/10)
33. Loving (7/10) - No review available
34. A Most Violent Year (6.5/10) - No review available
35. The Shape of Water (6/10) - discussed in this review
36. The Boy (6/10) - No review available

37. Joy (5.5/10)
38. Taking Lives (5.5/10)

39. La La Land (5.5/10)
40. The Visit (5/10) - discussed in this review
41. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (5/10)
42. Make Love Great Again (5/10) - No review available
43. Molly's Game (5/10)
44. Set It Up (5/10)
45. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (4.5/10) - No review available
46. Brooklyn (4.5/10) - discussed in this review, and this review
47. Ocean's 8 (4/10)
48. Why Him? (3.5/10) - No review available
49. The Program (3/10)
50. Pitch Perfect 3 (2/10)
51. Shut In (2/10) - No review available
52. Premonition (2/10) - No review available

53. Rings (1.5/10)
54. Mother's Day (1.5/10)

Grading MLB Free Agent Signings, Part II: Lefty Love for Brantley, Miller & Murphy

A very quick recap of Part I before we get started:

Patrick Corbin, Nationals: B-

Nathan Eovaldi, Red Sox: C-

Andrew McCutchen, Phillies: F

J.A. Happ, Yankees: B

Jeurys Familia, Mets: B

All right, let's roll right into Round 2...

Michael Brantley, OF: 2 years, $32 million from the Astros
Grade: B

It's one less year, a little less per season and Brantley is a better hitter than McCutchen at this stage in their respective careers. Plus, Brantley is a tiny bit younger. This is a solid move for the Astros, who have leaned heavily upon right-handed hitters in recent years: Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel, to name a handful.

Brantley brings a veteran lefty bat, coming off an all-star season in which he hit .309 with 17 HRs, 36 2Bs and the third-best OPS of his 10-year career, .832. He's a calming influence and professional hitter; the one issue, of course, has always been his health. He played just 11 games in 2016 and 90 in '17. I would have given the Astros an A-, if not for my long-term concerns about Brantley's ability to stay on the field.

Charlie Morton, SP: 2 years, $30 million from the Rays
Grade: C+

I don't know how to write about Morton without talking about his "unusual" career trajectory. Was nearly out of baseball, throwing in the low 90s with zero success, then years later returns to the bigs with a vengeance, averaging around 95-96 with a power sinker and touching 99 consistently in the postseason. Must have been a "special workout regimen."

Whatever it was/is, Morton is 35 years old now. This seems like a very un-Rays like move; unless they know something we don't. I generally trust their braintrust, so I'm taking the conservative route with this grade. Somewhere in the middle.

Lance Lynn, SP: 3 years, $30 million from the Rangers
Grade: B-

I featured Lynn in my 10 Free Agent Sleepers earlier this offseason, and mentioned that I expected him to hang in limbo like last year. The Rangers had no intention of sitting around, apparently. They've grabbed Lynn for a very reasonable pricetag, but I still think Lynn could have protected his own long-term stock by signing with a National League club.

Financially, this is a low-risk move for Texas -- especially considering that Eovaldi got $17 million per season, yikes! -- but it doesn't seem like the right landing spot for either side. It's a B- play on this pitchers' market, but Lynn will probably be over 4.00 in the ERA column. We know Globe Life Park in Arlington is where hitters go to pad their stats.

Andrew Miller, RP: 2 years, $25 million from the Cardinals
Grade: B+

We all kind of feel like Miller is due to break down, right? Fifty-three appearances in 2012, 73 in '14, 60 in '15, 70 in '16 and 57 the year after that. He breaks off slider after slider after slider after slider. He's thrust into high-leverage spots, time and time again with two runners on or the bases loaded. Thirteen years in the bigs for Miller; he started as a highly-touted starter and transitioned into one of the game's elite all-around relievers.

Injuries understandably crept in last season, leaving him with just 37 appearances and an abnormally-bloated 4.24 ERA. Miller hadn't been above 2.04 since 2013 (still impressive at 2.64). So now might not exactly be the "right" time to ink him as a free agent, but he still has to be considered one of the best left-handed relief pitchers in the MLB. Off the top of my head I think of Aroldis Chapman, Felipe Vazquez and Zach Britton; Miller has to be somewhere in the top five. Ultimately, if Miller isn't feeling as healthy and thinks his pure stuff may decline, he made a smart decision by escaping the perils of the American League.

Daniel Murphy, 2B: 2 years, $24 million from the Rockies
Grade: B+

This is essentially the same scenario as Miller -- after some scorching seasons, "Murph" finally began to break down last season. The Rockies are buying at a low point, but D.J. LeMahieu ain't comin' back, and we're talkin' about Coors Field, here. Murph should enjoy the hitter's dream park, surrounded by star sluggers Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon and Trevor Story.

Physically, this may not be the right time to sign Murph, but it's a much better two-way fit than say, Lynn to the Rangers. This move makes complete sense for both Murphy and the Rockies. If he stays healthy (enough), I think both sides will end up rather pleased, here.

Stay tuned for Volume III...coming soon!

NFL Top 50 QBs, The Conclusion: Is Magical Mahomes Already the Best in the World?

In Volume I of my three-part QB series, I ranked refreshing rookies like Sam Darnold, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen.

In Part II, we changed gears to hit-or-miss gunslingers like Jameis Winston, Eli Manning and Derek Carr, as well as exciting youngsters Mitchell Trubisky and Baker Mayfield.

Now it's time for the cream of the crop. The absolute best quarterbacks in the world. Let's find out who they are, and how they rank...

TIER 3: Big Arms and Mixed Results

15. Carson Wentz, Eagles - 2017: 8th, 2016: 33rd

Anyone else starting to seriously worry about this kid? Torn ACL last season, and now fractured back vertebra?

Halfway through the 2017 campaign, Wentz was the runaway MVP of the league. He looked fresh, poised and confident as all hell. Then, of course, a devastating ACL injury changed everything. He worked his way back into a decent level of play this year, before giving way to the debilitating back injury.

Do I even have to ask the obvious...will he be able to stay healthy long-term?

14. Matthew Stafford, Lions - Frascella's 2017 Rank: 7th, 2016: 12th

It's very difficult to evaluate Stafford this year -- Golden Tate was traded to the Eagles, Marvin Jones went down for the season and rookie head coach Matt Patricia is defensive-minded. It's been a season to forget for the Lions and their fans, but Stafford remains a naturally-gifted quarterback to build around for a mid-level team. He's a steady pro; just not a superstar. In terms of tools, Stafford features one of the best, pure arms in the game. 

13. Kirk Cousins, Vikings - 2017: 6th, 2016: 11th

Cousins is kind of a stat-rat. He looks great on paper and on the field with a big, strong arm, but something about his team's performance always feels a bit off. Why were the Vikings better and more energized with Case Keenum calling the signals? Cousins again has very solid stats, but why aren't the Vikings as threatening as they were last season? Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, Dalvin Cook and Kyle Rudolph are still very much in the mix. That's a lot of surrounding talent. 

Cousins is going to have to start winning postseason games for me to truly believe in him. 

12. Cam Newton, Panthers - 2017: 11th, 2016: 7th

We all know about his scrambling and brash overall behavior, but is Cam Newton actually a star quarterback? He's a tier-1 QB in terms of raw arm strength, but what about the rest of his passing game? He continues to struggle with touch passes and corner window throws, and the Panthers appear to be plateauing as a team. Christian McCaffrey has been one of the most dominant players in football, but Carolina has been unable to parlay that into team dominance. 

I think Newton deserves some of the blame. He's 19th in Total QBR (behind Andy Dalton, Joe Flacco and Ryan Fitzpatrick) and 18th in "regular" QB rating. The only QBs with more interceptions are two rookies, Darnold and Rosen, and over-aggressive Ben Roethlisberger. The Panthers have to stick with Cam going forward -- because a legit NFL QB is one of the hardest things to find -- but they may have a ceiling on success, unless he improves as a pure passer and decision-maker. 

11. Jared Goff, Rams - 2017: 15th, 2016: 61st

Like Cousins, I have to see it before I believe it with Goff. He's clearly one of the most improved players in the NFL over the course of the past two seasons (duh, in 2016 I ranked him 61st), but he didn't look good in his first playoff game last year. The regular season and postseason are completely different animals; once we approach the top 10 in the world, playoff make-up matters. 

In terms of analysis, we generally know the pros and cons with Goff: PRO - he knows how to listen to superstar head coach Sean McVay and translate his teachings into statistical success on the field. CON - cold, road games don't seem to be his thing. Do we know if he can beat a top team away from sunny Los Angeles? Those are just two quick examples, but you get the idea. Goff is a great kid and improving football player, but do we really know if he's elite, yet?

10. Deshaun Watson, Texans - 2017: 18th (rookie season)

Within the context of these rankings, Watson has many similarities to both Wentz and Goff. Like Wentz, after a roaring start, he went down with a torn ACL last season. Like Goff, Watson is a young talent who still has to prove himself in the postseason. 

But Watson does seem to have a bit of that necessary "magic" factor. His stats haven't been as jaw-dropping as last season, but his Texans are winning. After a disastrous 0-3 start to the year, Watson's health improved and Houston started piling up victories. Even without Will Fuller, Watson has found ways to keep the Texans in each-and-every game. I don't think they can make a long run in the playoffs without Fuller's explosiveness opposite megastar DeAndre Hopkins, but Watson will do his absolute best to make shit happen. He's a fun kid to watch. 

9. Matt Ryan, Falcons - 2017: 5th, 2016: 4th

Among our Fro Zone team, my Hot-Takes Team and famous professional handicapper Matt Zylbert, "Matty Ice" is a source of great controversy. 

Is Ryan a generational quarterback? He's 10th all-time in QB rating, ahead of undisputed greats like Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Brett Favre and Troy Aikman. No one questions those guys, right? 

Or is he a "soft", "fake" superstar whose inconsistent results have hindered the development of the Falcons as a team? 

I'm gonna be honest with you on this one -- I don't have a clue at this point. Ryan thrived when offensive-guru Kyle Shanahan was calling the plays for Atlanta, but the former's production has dropped off significantly under much-maligned Steve Sarkisian. Ryan is the type of veteran quarterback who has the freedom to take control over things at the line; should the offensive coordinator matter this much if the QB is a supposed star? Of course the OC matters in a vacuum, but the Falcons have been downright awful this season. 

Sure, Atlanta's horrifying defense deserves more of the blame, but you get the idea -- this Falcons' offense isn't what it used to be. Can Ryan, Julio Jones and company turn it around next year with a different coaching staff? Who the hell knows. 

8. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers - 2017: 10th, 2016: 3rd

As I mentioned earlier, the picks are really starting to pile up. We know "Big Ben" is a talented gamer who is always going to leave it all on the field, but he's aging and his performance has been erratic. We know we can (mostly) trust him in the playoffs, though. We'll see which version of Ben we get in the playoffs this year. 

TIER 2: Fantastic Franchise QBs

7. Andrew Luck, Colts - 2017: 13th, 2016: 10th

This guy just might be my MVP this season. 

I've had a tumultuous history with Luck, including a long-winded debate about his inferiority to the great Russell Wilson, but ya know what? That gap is narrowing these days. 

I didn't like Luck when he was over-hyped because of his backbreaking turnovers in big spots. I never felt he was a particularly bright quarterback -- yes, I know he went to Stanford, but that was more about football than his brains -- and I didn't like that his superstar status came so quickly, and without enough merit or substantiation. I wanted him to earn it more. I disliked that everything was being given to him. It's never worked that way in my career. 

But I'm also completely fair to all players. There was a time when I bashed LeBron James to no end. But when he became the first player to lead an NBA Finals series in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, what else could I say? LeBron and Kyrie Irving's Cavs took down the almighty Warriors and I had to tip my cap. LeBron had clearly made some major adjustments -- he was always the best all-around player in the world, but in the clutch, he became more dedicated to relentlessly attacking the rim than ever before...and obviously, it worked. So now I'm a LeBron supporter. I've adjusted, in fairness. 

Same goes for Luck this season. He's back from a couple injury-riddled campaigns, and he's meshing beautifully with new head coach Frank Reich. I mean, let's get real -- Chuck Pagano was just a motivator. He wasn't the type of football coach who gives you a strategic edge. Reich is just the opposite -- the defending-champion Eagles have clearly missed his tactical skills this season. Reich is the kind of X's and O's head coach who takes you to the next level. Luck has embraced Reich's breakneck offensive pace, and the results have been astonishingly good. Luck even performed well in games missed by T.Y. Hilton, Eric Ebron and/or Marlon Mack (Indy's top-three skill players). 

And, in the end, there's much to like about Luck: (1) He's a great kid. Just a sweetheart and absolute class act. (2) He's a positive, convincing leader of teammates. (3) He has fun at the quarterback position, which leads to some wonderful (and successful) improv plays. (4) He's big, strong and surprisingly mobile -- he has all the tools. 

So, again, my hat's off to Andrew Luck for an incredible comeback season. 

6. Philip Rivers, Chargers - 2017: 9th, 2016: 13th

It's crazy the way things even out in the NFL -- the Saints had three consecutive 7-9 seasons, then exploded the past two years as top playoff teams. Rivers and his Chargers are treading in similar waters, here -- they were bouncing around between 7-9 and 8-8 in recent years, and then poof! Everything comes together beautifully this year. 

This happens to teams that lose an abnormal amount of close games. If you have Hall of Fame quarterbacks like Drew Brees and Rivers, and you surround them with offensive talent like Alvin Kamara, Melvin Gordon, Michael Thomas and Keenan Allen, eventually things will turn themselves around. You can't lose those close ones forever. The Chargers are getting what they deserve this season. 

And, of course, Rivers is a legit MVP candidate. He's also one of the greatest QBs in NFL history. 

I'm serious. Check the stats. 

5. Russell Wilson, Seahawks - 2017: 3rd, 2016: 8th

I feel like I always ask this question...is Russell Wilson the most underrated athlete in all of professional sports? 

I mean, can the Seahawks ever get him any legitimate weapons, or what? Why does he always have to grind to get the absolute most out of his average teammates? 

Well, I guess the last two are questions for a different day, but the fact remains that Russ maximizes what he has around him. He's an A+ scrambler. He throws scarily-accurate deep balls. He makes money window throws on the move. He's just an all-around stud and inspiring, undersized pro athlete. 

If you don't like Russ, you don't understand the definition of the word winner. Look it up. 

TIER 1: The Top Four Quarterbacks in the Universe

4. Aaron Rodgers, Packers - 2017: 2nd, 2016: 2nd

In one iteration of this list, I decided to rank Rodgers first. At the time, I saw 23 TDs and only one INT and thought, this is what he does in a down year? He has to be the best and most efficient QB in the game. 

But then I thought about what's been going on in Green Bay. 

Sure, former head coach Mike McCarthy got the ax for questionable decision-making and poor performance, but how come the other top duos stick together? 

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick don't seem to agree on anything these days, but you don't see them literally running one another out of town, do you? Brees and Sean Payton are stronger than ever. Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin stick together through thick and thin. Same for Wilson and Pete Carroll. Andy Reid and Pat Mahomes are developing something magical in KC. Ditto for Goff and McVay in L.A. 

But, in spite of a past that includes a Super Bowl victory, Rodgers essentially ran McCarthy out of town. He showed him up every chance he could. He made cryptic comments about McCarthy's ineptitude. 

Is that the mark of a leader? Is that the mark of a collaborator, someone who can develop a winning culture with another in a position of power?

Rodgers scares me right now. This ranking isn't about talent...it's about attitude. 

Is Aaron Rodgers too much of a dick to win anymore? 

3. Drew Brees, Saints - 2017: 4th, 2016: 5th

2. Tom Brady, Patriots - 2017: 1st, 2016: 1st

We are really splitting hairs, here. 

Brady is undoubtedly the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL -- and probably the greatest football player of all time, at any position -- but his age is finally starting to show, and the Patriots' personnel is falling apart around him. It's hard for him to be the best of the best with Rob Gronkowski struggling through the worst season of his career, Josh Gordon quitting and Belichick refusing to care about skill players with talent. Brady is panicking against the rush, and he simply doesn't have the proper weapons to get the ball out to quickly. An old pocket QB with zero mobility needs legit weapons. Especially if he wants to be THE best player at his position. 

Then again, come Super Bowl time, I still might take him over anyone else. He's 41 years old with a suspect surrounding cast, but he's also Tom F***king Brady. 

As for Brees, after a rip-roaring start where another MVP award looked like a foregone conclusion, he's taken a step back in recent weeks. Not to the point where he's fallen out of the top two or three candidates, but to the point where a runaway is no longer a consideration. 

But again, we're talking about one of the top three or four quarterbacks of all time. One of the greatest football players of all time. I'm not going to argue with you about either of these guys, you know? They have completely valid arguments for the No. 1 spot. But...

1. Pat Mahomes, Chiefs - 2017: 46th (rookie season, played one game)

..."Showtime" Mahomes is otherworldly. 

I know, I know...earlier I talked about having to prove it in the postseason, but how could Mahomes possibly do that yet? He hasn't had a chance to show us what he's made of in the playoffs, so I should punish him for that?

I simply don't think that is fair. Not when it comes to a kid like this, whose magical skills, in my eyes, can only be compared to Michael Jordan's. When Mahomes switched to his left hand and connected on a critical first down -- on national TV, no less -- chills shivered my body. I have the chills right now, thinking about it. 

How about when he rolled left, got chased by the entire 49ers' defense, then rolled left again -- back across the entire field like freakin' Barry Sanders -- and fired a bullet TD on the money to Chris Conley in the right corner of the endzone?  

And what about throwing the ball over 100 yards in the air...with ease? 

So yeah, Mahomes has the oh shit-clips to get everyone's attention, but what about the pure substance of his stats?

First in total QBR. Second in standard QB rating. First in yards and first in touchdowns...by 11 more than the next best man! 

Skillset summary: hyper-athletic and smart with the best arm in the league. Can it get any better than that?

Well, I guess Pat Mahomes will let us know if it can. 

NFL Top 50 QBs, Part II: Stuck in the Middle with Eli, Flacco, Jameis & Fitz

In Volume 1, I ranked a few intriguing rookies in Sam Darnold, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, as well as solid backups Nick Mullens, Chase Daniel and Teddy Bridgewater.

Now it's time for the big boys.

You know me -- I hate intros -- so let's just get this party started...

TIER 5: No Man's Land

31. Tyrod Taylor, Browns - Frascella's 2017 Rank: 19th, 2016: 21st

At this point it's a foregone conclusion -- kids like Darnold, Jackson and Josh Rosen are going to bypass Tyrod within the next couple years. 

However, in the interim, Taylor is still coming off a season where he led a weak Bills team to the postseason, despite an inexplicable benching by head coach Sean McDermott (in favor of Nathan Peterman, no less!). Taylor bounced back from his one-game benching and finished off a solid year in which he threw only four interceptions, with an 89.2 QB rating which placed him ahead of Derek Carr (who made the Pro Bowl) and Cam Newton. Tyrod's no world-beater, but he's been an effective scrambling QB in this league. Obviously now, injury and Baker Mayfield have derailed his season. 

30. Jameis Winston, Bucs - 2017: 26th, 2016: 18th

I just don't think he's sustainable as a long-term starting quarterback. His decision-making hasn't gotten much better with time -- perhaps it's even gotten worse? -- and the rest of the league is limiting turnovers like never before. Winston has top-20 talent at his position, but in the big leagues you have to put it all together. We haven't seen that from him, yet. Perhaps he is best off as a high-upside backup QB. 

29. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bucs - 2017: 37th, 2016: 37th

One guy is 36 years old, and the other is 24. One guy is white, and the other is black. One guy is 6'4", 227 lbs, and the other is dramatically over-listed at 6'2". 

And yet, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jameis Winston are essentially the same player. Both can wow you with high-scoring, lights-out individual performances. Both can also make you want to smash your smart TVs into a million little pieces. Those are the swings with gunslingers -- and trust me, both Winston and "FitzMagic" are gunslingers. It's like Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday out here. 

28. Marcus Mariota, Titans - 2017: 17th, 2016: 9th

Just isn't getting any better. Maybe he's getting worse, too. Eleven touchdowns to eight interceptions is an embarrassingly bad split these days. And yet, somehow, Mike Vrabel's Titans keep finding ways to be very competitive, game to game. 

27. Joe Flacco, Ravens - 2017: 29th, 2016: 17th

Apparently "Joe Cool" is going to be a highly "coveted" free agent this offseason? 

Joe Flacco will likely be a huge free agent target this upcoming offseason https://t.co/EJKwkM4MfQ

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 17, 2018

I find that rather interesting. I don't think he has much left; apparently neither do John Harbaugh and the Ravens. I suppose the Jaguars, Giants or Raiders could be potential landing spots. I don't expect Flacco to ever get back into my top 20, though. Injuries and lazy play; bad combination.

TIER 4: Stuck in the Middle with You

26. Dak Prescott, Cowboys - 2017: 16th, 2016: 15th

Just kind of a boring guy to write about. We all know he is limited. The Cowboys' offensive coaching staff does a nice job hiding Prescott's many flaws and protecting his confidence, but the fact remains that he isn't a franchise-caliber quarterback. To me, he's just a placeholder until someone more talented comes along. 

25. Andy Dalton, Bengals - 2017: 20th, 2016: 20th

Do any of us actually feel like the Bengals are going somewhere with "The Red Rocket," long-term? I know I don't. He's good enough to be a starter in this league, but he'll never be a consistent top-tier guy. If Dalton is your No. 1, your franchise is just treading water. 

24. Alex Smith, Redskins - 2017: 12th, 2016: 16th

Prior to his devastating broken leg, Smith's statistical drop-off once again validated the world-class coaching talent of Andy Reid. Not to mention the fact that it helps to have Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill around. Not sure if we'll ever see Smith as a starter again; probably unlikely. 

23. Nick Foles, Eagles - 2017: 49th, 2016: 39th

I mean, is there any doubt that this guy is the best backup quarterback in the world?

"Philly Special" baby! Philly Special!

What Foles did last postseason still sends chills up my spine. Let's just look at the cold, hard numbers:

NFC Divisional Round win over the Falcons: 23-30 (76.7%) for 246 yards and no picks in freezing-cold, barely-playable conditions.

NFC Championship Game, 38-7 beatdown of the Vikings: 26-33 (78.8 percent!!) for 352 yards, 3 touchdowns and zero interceptions. Like...what? Where did that come from??

Super Bowl victory over the Pats, 41-33: 28-43 for 373 yards!! Three touchdowns and one pick. And oh yeah, he was named Super Bowl MVP.

Don't think I need to say much more. Nick Foles is a superhero in my book.

22. Case Keenum, Broncos - 2017: 21st, 2016: 38th

Hasn't been as impressive as he was with Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs in Minnesota, but Keenum has, at the very least, established himself as a back-end starting quarterback in this league.

21. Derek Carr, Raiders - 2017: 14th, 2016: 6th

Who knows what to make of this guy at this point? Did you know he was a Pro Bowler for three straight seasons before this? Jon Gruden, Carr and the Raiders have been a laughingstock this season, but apparently Carr was a stud in the past?

I forgot already. Doesn't really seem like Gruden wants to move forward with Carr, either. He's done an awful lot of talking about A.J. McCarron and now Nathan Peterman. Hell, "Chucky" was even talking up Christian Hackenberg at one point. Anyone but Carr, I guess.

Carr's mental toughness seems to be in question this year. Even his teammates don't appear to be completely behind him. He's clearly at a crossroads in his enigmatic career.

20. Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins - 2017: 24th, 2016: 22nd

Continues to show flashes of potential, but lacks the football IQ and pure QB skillset to be a top-tier player at his position. Tannehill is athletic and looks the part, but he's injury-prone and his performance is inconsistent.

19. Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers - 2017: 31st (pre-starts for SF), 2016: 25th

Clearly has the talent to be a top-15 QB, but we'll have to wait and see if he can thrive after a return from ACL surgery. Some players simply don't come back the same. Time will tell, in this case.

18. Eli Manning, Giants - 2017: 22nd, 2016: 14th

Garoppolo is probably better than Eli at this point, but durability matters. Garoppolo has a nearly non-existent track record as a starting quarterback, whereas Eli started 210 consecutive games at one point.

Eli has been a central point of discussion in New York this season. Did the Giants make a franchise-crushing mistake by passing on Sam Darnold with the No. 2 pick in the draft? Eli bullied the franchise around when he was crying about his benching last season; were GM Dave Gettleman and new head coach Pat Shurmur worried about similar shenanigans this year? Did they think, eh, Saquon Barkley is a stud -- we'll just let Eli keep his job?

I guess we'll never really know what went on behind the scenes, but the fact is that Eli has been serviceable -- at best -- this season. He's 11th in the league with 3,689 passing yards, but his 92.1 QB rating has him behind Carr, Prescott and even Nick Mullens. Eli's 18/9 TD-INT is below-average, and his overall performance has been up and down. He should be a year or two away from retirement.

17. Mitchell Trubisky, Bears- 2017 (rookie season): 39th

Trubisky's a tricky one -- a layperson would look at the Bears' surprising success and think wow, their young, franchise quarterback has really emerged this season. But that really isn't the story of Chicago's superb season -- rookie head coach Matt Nagy has maximized the talent on his roster. He has been positive, innovative and completely effective. Of course, Chicago's D has been one of the best in the league, as well.

On the bright side, Trubisky has improved. He's athletic and often showcases a strong arm, but he misses easy throws and remains a bit raw. Hopefully for Bears fans, Nagy will continue to bring him along. For now, in terms of size, skillset and athleticism, Trubisky reminds me a little too much of Blaine Gabbert and Tannehill. He's already better than those two, but I'm not sure he'll ever be a superstar (which is the goal when you draft a kid No. 2 overall).

16. Baker Mayfield, Browns - Rookie

From the beginning, Mayfield has distanced himself from his talented rookie counterparts. His draft class was initially thought to be a two-horse race between Darnold and Rosen, with Allen as the "upside gamble" (kind of like Trubisky). But Baker impressed everyone in interviews. He didn't miss a throw in high-pressure workouts. He always showcased superior knowledge of the inner-workings of the most difficult position in pro sports.

So, the Browns pulled the trigger with the No. 1 overall pick. I have no problem admitting this: I vehemently disagreed with them. Prior to the draft, I personally compared Mayfield to Prescott, Jared Goff, McCarron and Brian Hoyer. I know that's quite a mixed bag, but I wasn't crazy high on Baker. You can tell from my comparisons that I saw him landing somewhere in the 20s in my QB rankings, long-term. I felt the Browns should have drafted Barkley first, then Darnold or Rosen fourth (assuming the Jets took Baker at 3).

Nevertheless, Baker has done what he's always done -- exceed expectations. Those of us who watched Hard Knocks knew he was better than Tyrod without ever taking a snap in an NFL regular season game, and once the rambunctious rookie got his chance, he grabbed it and never looked back. Baker Mayfield knows what he wants to do with the ball. He has natural instincts at the quarterback position. He makes decisive reads and delivers the ball on time.

He has the "magic," otherwise known as the "IT" factor.

Can you believe it? Things are finally looking up in Cleveland.

Stay tuned for my top 15!

NFL Top 50 QBs, Part I: Ranking Refreshing Rookies & Serviceable Backups

This is an exhausting process.

Every year I rank the NFL's top quarterbacks, and I absolutely dread writing the intros. So much goes into this. There are so many attributes, stats and variables to consider. This year I've decided to forego the exhaustive explanation, and simply let my rankings speak for themselves. For past intros with more insight into my process, please go here:

2017 QB Power Rankings
2016 QB Power Rankings

All right, it's that time ladies and gentlemen...

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The vast majority of this piece was written on Friday, December 14, so some statistics may have changed.)

TIER 7: Spot Starters with Little Upside

50. A.J. McCarron, Raiders - Frascella's 2017 Rank: 50th, 2016: 57th

It's been a bizarre season for the former Alabama standout. Prior to the '18 campaign McCarron signed a two-year deal with the Bills, and it looked as if he'd have a legitimate shot to compete for the starting job. Ultimately, Buffalo selected Josh Allen with the No. 7 overall pick in the draft, and head coach Sean McDermott again favored Nathan Peterman (inexplicably). That left McCarron out in the cold; though the Bills did a nice job picking up a 5th-round pick from the Raiders in exchange. Perhaps Jon Gruden, the "QB Whisperer," thinks he can whisper McCarron into a better pro player than he is. In reality, he'll probably stick in the 45-to-65 ranking range in coming years. 

49. Trevor Siemian, Vikings - 2017: 45th, 2016: 32nd

Siemian showed some flashes as John Elway's chosen starter in the past, but the former is too inaccurate and football-dumb to sustain a No. 1 job. He's mobile, athletic and has a decent arm, so he makes for a very serviceable NFL backup. 

48. Blaine Gabbert, Titans - 2017: 42nd, 2016: 46th

I guess he's kind of the same thing as Siemian. Both are mobile QBs who struggle with accuracy. However, Gabbert will move to scramble, whereas Siemian generally moves to create throwing lanes. Again, neither guy can be leaned upon as a full-time starter. They are simply security blankets. 

47. Jacoby Brissett, Colts - 2017: 27th, 2016: 75th

A run-heavy QB who did an admirable job filling in for Andrew Luck last season. Brissett will never be a trusted pocket quarterback. 

46. C.J. Beathard, 49ers - 2017: 55th, 2016: DNP

Not much to say, here -- Kyle Shanahan has coached him well in his opportunities. Sometimes Beathard makes surprisingly good throws, but those instances are spread out. He's just a backup. 

45. Colt McCoy, Redskins - 2017: 40th, 2016: 44th

What a gruesome injury. What a shame. He's a great kid and professional backup. Not sure if he'll come back from this. 

44. Cody Kessler, Jaguars - 2017: 34th, 2016: 28th 

I've always felt he got a raw deal from Hue Jackson in Cleveland, but now I'm starting to wonder -- maybe he just isn't any good. In flashes I've liked his spunk and competitiveness, but Doug Marrone seems petrified to let Kessler loose. Marrone is a ground-and-pound conservative coach by nature, but this has been rather extreme. Almost seems like Kessler is a clone of former starter Blake Bortles. 

TIER 6: Decent Backups or Works in Progress

43. Jeff Driskel, Bengals - 2017: 93rd, 2016: DNP

He hasn't looked terrible since Andy Dalton went down; Driskel has decent mobility, a loose-looking arm and admirable aggressiveness. He looks like a nice, little backup thus far. Who knows? Maybe he'll challenge Dalton in mini camp next season.

42. Chase Daniel, Bears - 2017: 57th, 2016: 55th

Did a fine job holding down the fort while Mitchell Trubisky was out. Outstanding head coach Matt Nagy gets most of the credit, though. Some of his tricky schemes led to wide-open targets, but Daniel wasn't always on the money during his starts. Nagy should undoubtedly be Coach of the Year.

41. Matt Barkley, Bills - 2017: 56th, 2016: 41st

When is this guy gonna get some love? Barkley started one game for the Bills this season, a 41-10 romp over my wildly inconsistent Jets. In his first start in quite some time, and his first ever start as a Bill, Barkley tossed for 232 yards and two touchdowns without a single turnover. He always responds when given an opportunity. During an extended stint with the Bears, he was about as impressive as a fill-in quarterback can be. The kid can play. I'm a fan.

40. Brock Osweiler, Dolphins - 2017: 44th, 2016: 45th

A serviceable NFL backup -- though his laughingstock reputation would suggest otherwise. He really isn't that bad.

39. Josh Allen, Bills - Rookie

Pre-draft, everyone kept saying "raw" and "arm strength" -- and don't get me wrong, both of those things are true about Allen. But not as many were talking about his scrambling ability, which has been superb. At this early stage in his NFL career, he's more of a playmaker than quarterback. He throws every ball 170 MPH with zero touch. His passing game is a project, but at least he's big, strong and athletic. Much better than we can say about Peterman (unranked).

38. Blake Bortles, Jaguars - 2017: 28th, 2016: 31st

He lost his job to Cody Kessler, so, ummm, yeah. In all honesty, though, the Jags are better off with Bortles under center. Kessler has essentially been invisible. In a vacuum, Bortles is probably a solid backup in this league.

37. Brian Hoyer, Patriots - 2017: 30th, 2016: 26th

A pro's pro. Has played well in stints as a starter throughout his career. Prepares well, gets rid of the rock quickly and lets his playmakers do the work. If Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels and Bill O'Brien trust you, you definitely have something to offer at the QB position.

36. Teddy Bridgewater, Saints - 2017: 36th, 2016: 27th

Hopefully he'll get one last chance to start elsewhere in the future. He fought hard to come back from a gruesome leg injury. Teddy looked sharp during the preseason with the Jets. Wishing him the best, going forward.

35. Josh Rosen, Cardinals - Rookie

As expected, it's been an up-and-down rookie campaign for Rosen. The Cardinals organization wasted some of his time with Sam Bradford calling the shots early, but it hasn't made too much of a difference in Rosen's development. He's a nice touch passer and a ballsy kid, but his lack of mobility is concerning, and the Cardinals seem to be a ways away from winning. Gonna have to be patient, here.

34. Lamar Jackson, Ravens - Rookie

He may not have much freedom to toss the rock around, but Lamar is making things happen with his fresh legs. He's clearly one of the fastest quarterbacks of all time -- already in the same breath with Michael Vick, Randall Cunningham and Colin Kaepernick -- and when he does pass, he's been connecting on some key third-down conversions. Jackson has given head coach John Harbaugh the spark his club needed. Maybe Baltimore will keep Harbaugh around, after all.

33. Nick Mullens, 49ers - 2017 and 2016: DNP (undrafted)

Nicky Mullens, huh? This kid has been super impressive filling in for "The Greek God" Jimmy Garoppolo. Some of Mullens' success can be attributed to Kyle Shanahan's crafty offensive playcalling, but most of it goes to Mullens' moxie, surprising talent and poise. Impressive victory over the veteran Seahawks Sunday, and Seattle needed that win. Mullens out-dueling Russell Wilson - how about that? I love an underdog story like this. I mean, who doesn't?

32. Sam Darnold, Jets - Rookie

Ah Ahh Ahhh...Ah Ahh Ahhh...Ah Ahh Ahhh Ah Ahhhhhhh.

That was my attempt at duplicating the music that symbolizes a Golden Boy. It's also that majestic sound you hear in the movies when someone has a dramatic epiphany. It also kind of sounds like church music.

Darnold appears to have it all -- the looks, the demeanor, the all-around ability and the youth (he's still just 21). But, again as expected, the rookie's on-field results have been mixed. Here at The Fro Zone, we've covered him extensively thus far -- I wrote an all-inclusive report card, and Raj Leventhal assessed the handling of Darnold's injuries in the context of the Jets' overall relevancy as a team -- but in a way, we can toss those pieces out the window, now.

Something changed this week.

In a magical all-around performance against a very tough Texans team, Darnold threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns without turning the ball over. He also scrambled for 35 yards, many of which came during critical junctures of a tight ballgame.

Now, 253 yards may not knock your socks off, but remember that Robby Anderson is the Jets' best offensive "weapon" and Isaiah Crowell wasn't available to balance the run-pass attack. The Texans have two of the best defensive players in the world in J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney, and they were chomping at the bit against a depleted Jets squad. Yet, after the game, they paid direct respect to Darnold:

Watt to Darnold: "You're gonna be a great pro."#HOUvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/wEcUg6zdXz

— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 16, 2018

After a handful of extremely shaky starts and missed games due to injury, two major things changed for Darnold: (1) He ran when nothing was there (which fellow rookies Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen have done plenty of) and (2) He checked down to his backs when nothing was available downfield. In his worst starts, Darnold held on to the ball too long, missing many opportunities to pick up three-to-seven yards on dump offs to Crowell, Elijah McGuire or Trenton Cannon. Making that adjustment against Houston, Darnold was able to open up cleaner downfield looks for Anderson and improving tight end Chris Herndon.

So, everything considered, things are looking up for Darnold and his fans. Of course, we'll have to see if he can repeat this type of clean, smart effort. Something tells me he's feeling a lot better about himself.

Be on the lookout for Part II of my QB rankings later this week!

Grading MLB Free Agent Signings, Part I: Was McCutchen a Major Mistake?

Before I get into my MLB FA signing report cards, we invite you to take a look back at the first three installments of our free agency series. And thank you all for the incredible response thus far!

1. Top 50 Free Agents
2. 10 Free Agents to Avoid
3. 10 Free Agent Sleepers

Okay, let's get right into it...

Patrick Corbin, SP: 6 years, $140 million from the Nationals
Grade: B-

Corbin is coming off the second breakout season of his up-and-down career -- if that makes any sense -- and of course I like the fact that his strikeout rate was higher than ever before. In five preceding seasons, he had never K'd more than a batter per inning; yet last year he woke up to the tune of 246 Ks in 200 innings.

The question is...how did he do it? According to FanGraphs, his fastball velocity dropped from 92.4 to 90.8. I'd be worried about that if I were considering dropping $140 mil on a pitcher who already had serious arm trouble.

I guess GM Mike Rizzo is making his plan very clear -- if we can't keep Bryce Harper, we're going to focus on winning low-scoring games behind Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Corbin. Personally, I don't like the plan. Corbin worries me long-term, and I'd rather spend on a few solid hitters to replace Harper and Daniel Murphy over the course of a long season. I wonder if Rizzo will lose his job within the next two or three years.

Nathan Eovaldi, SP: 4 years, $68 million from the Red Sox
Grade: C-

Eovaldi's really never been very good. For a guy who throws in the upper-90s, his strikeout rate is alarmingly poor. It's reassuring that he pitched well in a Boston uniform -- Fenway is generally a pitchers' nightmare -- but it was a small sample size. I'd be worried about injury and poor performance, here. Would never have given Eovaldi more than two years, especially at $17 mil a pop.

Andrew McCutchen, OF: 3 years, $50 million from the Phillies
Grade: F

This has been a bizarre offseason. Harper, Manny Machado, Nelson Cruz and Craig Kimbrel remain unsigned (obviously for monetary reasons), but Corbin quickly gets $140 mil and McCutchen grabs 50.

This is an atrocious move by Phillies GM Matt Klentak. McCutchen is 32 years old and has gotten smaller, weaker and less productive over the years. With the Yankees, he looked like a scrawny little leaguer at the dish, hitting .253 in the regular season and .111 in the playoffs. He simply looked overmatched by a number of big, strong flamethrowers.

Of course, Klentak is aware of what Citizens Bank Park can do for a hitter's confidence -- it's a banbox. Once you get cranking there, you can really start to roll; but I just don't see it from McCutchen. Certainly not for this price, or this amount of years. Maybe I would have done one year for $10 or 11 million.

J.A. Happ, SP: 2 years, $34 million from the Yankees
Grade: B

This could potentially become a three-year deal if Happ throws 165 innings or makes 27 starts in 2020; I guess he trusts Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone and the Yankees' organization. They could potentially just manage his starts and innings in year two.

Either way, Happ pitched very well after being acquired by the Yanks mid-season, going 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and essentially a K per inning. Happ has always been a mellow cat on the hill. He's very difficult to rattle -- and unlike many others, he's been quite successful pitching in the AL East. Between the Yankees and Red Sox's payrolls, and the hitter-friendly parks in New York, Boston, Baltimore and Toronto, the AL East can be a place where pitchers go to die.

But not Happ. In 2016, he was a serious Cy Young contender with the Jays, and last season with the Yanks, he was one of the best pitchers in the league throughout the second half. He's 36 years old, so I'm not ecstatic about the deal, but it's a solid move nonetheless. Hard to get completely burnt by such a steady guy.

Jeurys Familia, RP: 3 years, $30 million from the Mets
Grade: B

I'm not so sure about the pricetag, but I can't really knock this move by rookie GM Brodie Van Wagenen. "BVW" has come in swingin' for the fences, and Familia is clearly intended to be an insurance policy for young, mercurial closer Edwin Diaz. Familia has already shown that he can pitch under pressure in New York, saving 43 or more games twice. He's still only 29 years old, and of course he features that hard, heavy, darting sinker. Familia gets his way into and out of jams as much as anyone. That sinker induces many weak groundballs.

Yes, Familia is a reliever, but this move isn't too dissimilar from what the crosstown rival Yanks did with Happ. You know what to expect from these two veteran pitchers. The contracts are reasonable enough. Both teams should get what they paid for.

Be on the lookout for Volume II...coming soon!

Was "Linsanity" a Fluke? Jeremy Lin's Numbers Beg to Differ

PART I: "Linsanity" Takes Over the Nation

At the time, we had never seen anything like it.

As a matter of fact, we haven't seen anything like it, since -- "Linsanity" was a magical time in NBA history.

In the winter of 2012, Jeremy Lin took over New York basketball. Actually, he took over the entire NBA. No one has risen to legendary status as quickly as the unassuming 6'3" guard out of Harvard University.

Undrafted out of an Ivy League school, Lin was never considered a legit NBA prospect; but when the Knicks were struggling and then-head coach Mike D'Antoni was looking for a spark, Lin responded with some of the most inspired basketball the world's ever seen.

Lin's career scoring average had been a measly 2.6 points per game, when D'Antoni surprisingly turned to him on February 4, 2012, against the local rival Nets. Seemingly out of nowhere, Lin exploded for 25 points, seven assists and five rebounds, while shooting over 50 percent from the floor. Had to be lightning in a bottle, right?

Nope. Lin was ready for his opportunity. He had been chomping at the bit. He wasn't about to become a one-game wonder.

He immediately responded with consecutive games of 28, 23, 38, 20 and 27 points. Six consecutive games of 20-plus points for a guy whose previous career-high was 13. Lin was on a mission. He was totally willing to put the entire Knicks team on his back. New York won all six of those games, and naturally, Lin became an instant major-market celebrity.

From then on, he didn't disappoint, scoring over 20 points on five more occasions. He also nailed a dramatic game-winner against the Raptors. Quite simply, Lin could do no wrong.

Of course all good things come to an end, and when they do, Carmelo Anthony is usually there  standing in the rubble. Melo returned to steal Lin's thunder, and D'Antoni's Knicks were unable to maintain their winning ways. But Lin's legacy was already cemented. He earned himself a regular spot in the NBA. Was his tremendous success repeatable?

PART II: A Closer Look at the Numbers

In the 2011-12 NBA season, Lin was 23rd in usage rate, ahead of big names like LaMarcus Aldridge, Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard and Tim Duncan. He was tied with "The Truth" Paul Pierce, and fractional points behind Kyrie Irving and Tony Parker.

That's pretty astonishing given the fact that, prior to the Linsanity explosion, he was playing about six minutes per game. Lin had eight games below seven minutes played, yet for the season he posted a hefty 27.1 usage rate (Kobe Bryant led the league at 34.5).

Point being, in actuality (adjusted for common sense), Lin's usage rate was right around 30, placing him with the big dogs like Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. No team has allowed Lin that kind of freedom, since. Could he have continued his superstar level of production?

Not too long ago, in the 2017-18 season, Lin averaged 18 points per game in just 25 minutes. Injury ultimately derailed his season, but had he been at his Knicks' usage rate, he would have been averaging close to 23-25 PPG (very similar to Linsanity).

Maybe that's who Jeremy Lin really is -- if you give him the ball and get out of his way, he gives you close to 24 PPG. That's pretty damn good.

This year, with the rebuilding Hawks, Lin has been a steady force, averaging 11 PPG in just 18 minutes a night. He's shooting a career-high 51.2% from the floor, utilizing his craftiness and experience to manipulate his way into easier opportunities around the rim and in the mid-range.

In recent years, his three-point percentage has suddenly skyrocketed. For much of his career, Lin shot around 35% from beyond the arc, but in the past three seasons he's been at 37.2, 50.0 and 41.3 respectively. As a result, Lin has been using his three-point shotfake to open up drive-and-kick opportunities for his young Atlanta teammates. The youthful Hawks aren't winning, but Lin has been leaned upon to aid in the development of rookie franchise point guard Trae Young.

In the end, Lin is a very good NBA basketball player. Could he have sustained long-term success as a superstar? I guess we'll never know.

No matter what, the legend of Linsanity lives on. 

Diamonds in the Rough: 10 MLB Free Agent Sleepers

Last week our free agents to avoid were headlined by Dallas Keuchel, Andrew McCutchen and a handful of shaky veteran pitchers. This week we'll take a look at the other side of the coin -- the top sleepers on the market.

(Editor's note: This piece was written on Monday, December 3, and player free agent status is subject to change.)

Lance Lynn, Starting Pitcher

Lynn sat on the market until the bitter end last year, and he could be headed for a similar situation this time around. At the eleventh hour he was signed by the Twins for one year, $12 million, and was eventually traded to the Yankees with the Twins going nowhere fast. He missed all of 2016 after Tommy John surgery, and that was likely what scared potential suitors away.

Now, though, I like Lynn for a National League team. In six seasons in the NL, he never had an ERA over 4.00. He also had three superb seasons of 3.12 or less. And, most importantly, according to FanGraphs, his velocity increased in 2018. Some guys do come back stronger from Tommy John. Lynn should be a strong No. 4 starter for an NL team, or perhaps a middle-of-the-pack No. 3.

Gerardo Parra, Outfielder

In today's MLB, full of platoons and matchup-based lineup decisions, Parra can be extremely valuable against right-handed pitching. In his 10-year career he's never really been treated as an everyday player, and that will likely continue with his next club. He rakes against righties, and is coming off back-to-back seasons with BAs over .280 and OBPs above .340. Aging like fine wine.

Devin Mesoraco, Catcher

The stat sheet doesn't give you all the details -- Mesoraco knows how to call a game, and he's wonderful with young pitchers. He still has pop in his bat and is particularly good late in games, when the score is close. He is an elite backup catcher.

Adeiny Hechavarria, Shortstop

This is strictly for defensive purposes. For a club that is already strong offensively, Hechavarria can provide a defensive boost at shortstop or third base. He clearly isn't recommended as a full-time player, but he can be a quality, reliable reserve at a very reasonable pricepoint. At 30 years old he's been around, but isn't as old I initially thought. There are good years left with his glove.

Joe Kelly, Relief Pitcher

His 4.39 ERA will scare you. His 1.35 WHIP will also scare you; but Joe Kelly throws freakin' flames. FanGraphs had him averaging 98.1 with his fastball last season.

Here's another guy who should transition back to the NL. He's the type of pitcher you cultivate by repeating just pound the strikezone with your fastball. Don't nibble so much. Attack the zone and trust your stuff. As a matter of fact, Mickey Callaway and Dave Eiland brought Zack Wheeler and Steven Matz along that way. Maybe rookie GM Brodie Van Wagenen should take a look at Kelly.

Yangervis Solarte, Utility

You'd be catching him at the right time, here. Solarte's a guy who had been averaging around .265-.275 with 15-18 homers and 65-70 RBI, before plummeting to .226 (with a frightening .277 OBP) in '18. He should bounce back at age 31, with the valuable ability to play 2B, 3B and short. Remember, Solarte put up solid power numbers while playing just 109-122 games, on average.

Brandon Maurer, Relief Pitcher

What the hell happened to this fireballer? Maurer was once a decent closer for the Padres, standing tall at 6'5", 225, and pumping in the mid-to-upper 90s. He's saved 36 games in his enigmatic career, and I think he could potentially be a useful setup man. The issue, of late, has been walks. Like Kelly, Maurer could benefit from reckless abandon. Just split the plate, big fella.

Derek Dietrich, Utility

Not all that dissimilar from Solarte. Dietrich is a high-energy utilityman who pads his OBP with HBPs. He can adequately play both infield and outfield, and his power production is trending upward in the past two seasons. Good, solid bench player.

Jake Diekman, Relief Pitcher

An electric left-handed reliever who easily strikes out more than a batter per inning. Diekman has a live arm and put-away stuff, so he's probably the most coveted player on this list. Still, I wouldn't call him a household name. He's a relative sleeper who can help virtually any team in the bigs.

Daniel Descalso, Utility

I know I'm getting carried away with the utilitymen, here, but I LOVE Descalso. He has an incredible eye at the plate and can always be counted on in big spots. He's abnormally good with RISP, and of course, defensively, he can play anywhere in the field.

Simply put: Daniel Descalso is a winning player. Any team would be lucky to have him.

Mets Blockbuster! Our Team Debates the Pros and Cons of the Cano Deal

For the past few days, the Twitterverse has been flooded with speculation regarding potential trades between the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners. The big names in the projected deal are infielder Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz, both of whom are (supposedly) on their way to Flushing. Possibly heading across the country to Seattle, are veteran OF Jay Bruce, RP Anthony Swarzak, 19-year old CF prospect Jarred Kelenic, 23-year old SP Justin Dunn and raw reliever Gerson Bautista.

Other names that have been thrown around in speculation are OF Mitch Haniger, SS Jean Segura and 2B Jeff McNeil. 

Last night, shit got crazy. The Fro Zone staff was engaged in heated debate about this potential deal. Here's the way it went down:

#Mets-#Mariners blockbuster involving Cano and Diaz is close, sources tell The Athletic. No announcement expected tonight, possibly tomorrow.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 30, 2018

Tim Cappetta: Fire up those reactions!

John Frascella: I can't react unless we know if Jeff McNeil is involved. I'd like to know about Diaz and/or Haniger, too.

Dan Tancredi: No Haniger. Not sure where his name came from.

David Rothman: There was an update earlier this week that had him in it. Overall, my reaction: The Mets did something stupid again.

Cappetta: I don't know...if they get a top-flight closer and second baseman I'd say that's a good trade.

Raj Leventhal: Cano is not a "top-flight" 2B.

Rothman: Agreed. Not even close.

Leventhal: Four years ago? Yes. At 36 coming off PEDs? Yikes.

Nick Caputi: Cano is a good 2B at this point; not top-flight. Diaz will 100 percent be coming back in this deal.

Leventhal: Flip Diaz. No use for him on a 70-75 win team.

Caputi: Not happening. Why give up prospects for him, then?

Frascella: I'd like to have Segura in the deal.

Billy Valeriano: John, come back to earth. Mets have zero assets and aren't willing to absorb salary.

Caputi: There are talks about Segura actually being in it, and if he is, then Dunn, Kelenic and McNeil are all gone.

Rothman: Explain to me why we're eating money on Cano, rather than using it on useful players?

(Crickets.)

Valeriano: Segura will not be in this deal. It ain't happening.

Caputi: Billy, the Mets do have some assets.

Valeriano: Nick...wake up!

Caputi: They have a middle-of-the-pack farm system.

Valeriano: Segura or not, the Mets need to make this deal. F**k the prospects. They need to re-energize the franchise.

Frascella: Whenever talks heat up like this, people go nuts about prospects -- especially in the New York area.

Leventhal: If you're going to spend $15 million net on Cano, why not sign players who are younger than 35? It's classic Mets.

Valeriano: Heard the Mets are looking to trade Noah Syndergaard at the winter meetings, then sign a free agent starting pitcher.

Rothman: Only Leventhal thinks the Mets are trading Thor.

Leventhal: If they make this Cano deal, they won't trade Thor.

Tancredi: From what I've gathered, the trade is Bruce, Swarzak, Kelenic, Dunn and McNeil for Cano and Diaz.

Caputi: Nah, not gonna trade Kelenic, Dunn AND McNeil.

Rothman: That would be suicidal.

Caputi: Likely Dunn and Kelenic with Bruce and Swarzak.

Valeriano: So, Kelenic and Dunn are pretty much straight up for Diaz. Other two would be for Cano. Sounds fair to me.

Caputi: When it plays out, the Mets will probably be paying Cano like $14 million per year. To be honest, I'd like to keep Kelenic, who looks like a top prospect in the system.

Leventhal: So they are moving the No. 6 pick in last year's draft? Why?

Valeriano: Yeah, why trade the prospects? There are a ton of good closers out there. I think this is a fair deal, but I'd rather keep my prospects. Sign Craig Kimbrel, David Robertson or Andrew Miller.

Caputi: I think they will bring in Miller, as well.

Valeriano: Diaz only had one great year. Keep your prospects. Look at the Red Sox -- position players win you the World Series. Homegrown, cheap position players.

Frascella: Diaz had three dominant years. He's the best strikeout reliever in baseball; three years ago he struck out 88 in 51 innings. 89 in 66 the year after.

Valeriano: John, stop...I don't care about Ks.

Frascella: Ks are the key to being a dominant reliever. You want as few balls in play as possible.

Valeriano: John, you're losing credibility.

Frascella: Diaz was a top-three reliever this past season. Everyone has been saying that, so I know I'm not alone on this one.

Valeriano: All I'm saying is I don't want my closer to have a 3.50 ERA.

Caputi: He had a 3.27 ERA in 2017.

Frascella: 1.96 this past season. Regardless of whether or not we get Diaz, I do NOT want to trade McNeil. Professional approach; plays the same position as Cano. Seems superfluous to me.

Caputi: McNeil can play third, John.

Frascella: Yeah, I'd be happy to keep McNeil and get Cano. No swap.

Caputi: Yeah, Cano played first and third when he returned from PED suspension.

Can report this more definitively: As of now, the not-yet- official Mets Mariners trade on the table is Cano/Diaz for Bruce/Swarzak/Kelenic/McNeil/Dunn

Medicals have not been reviewed. Remember Wilmers’ tears.

— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) November 30, 2018

Frascella: All five of those guys from the Mets???

Caputi: Martino then said that one of the young guys may be pulled.

Frascella: I would imagine so. Brodie Van Wagenen would get crucified. That would be pure insanity.

@GMBVW Kelenic and Dunn? I wouldn’t, but okay. McNeil too? No chance in hell. McNeil is a 2b who hits for average; #Cano is a 2b who hits for average but is more than a decade older. Brodie, it’s ass backwards to lose McNeil in any deal for Cano. Just play Cano at 1b or Mc at 3b.

— John Frascella (@The_Fro_Zone) November 30, 2018

Frascella: I woke up this morning and McNeil magically wasn't in the deal. Guess I'm running the Mets, now. 

AL Rookie of the Year OUTRAGE: Did Andujar & Torres Get Robbed?

When I use the term "outrage," I'm referring to local Yankee fans, of course.

But did Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres really get robbed in the AL Rookie of the Year voting? Or was Shohei Ohtani truly deserving of the award?

Let's take a closer look...

PART I: Comparing Torres to Ohtani

The Yankee fans keep harping on games played, but there isn't much of a disparity, here. Torres played in 123 games for the Yanks, whereas Ohtani hit in 104 for the Halos, while pitching in 10. If you count the rest required after pitching, that nullifies the games played argument. 

At the dish, Ohtani homered once every 14.8 at bats. Once every 17.9 ABs for Torres. Despite not being an everyday hitter, Ohtani homered 22 times, nearly matching Torres' 24. Torres has the slight edge in RBI, but Ohtani's BA was 14 points higher. Ohtani's OBP was also 21 points higher. Essentially, their offensive stats were comparable -- if I'm being kind -- but Torres isn't a two-way player. 

Ohtani whiffed 63 batters in 51 innings of work, to go along with a very solid 3.31 ERA. Considering his pitching in combination with comparable offensive stats, Ohtani clearly deserved the ROY vote over Torres. No contest, here. 

PART II: Comparing Andujar to Ohtani

This is where things get a bit more difficult. Andujar played in 149 games, to Ohtani's combined 114. Andujar was a steady offensive force for a Yankee team that won 100 games and reached the postseason.

On the other hand, Ohtani's Angels were again a disappointment, falling apart after a quick start and finishing with just 80 wins. As a frame of reference, the Angels had a $173 million payroll, compared to Oakland's $80 million. Billy Beane's A's finished with 17 more wins than the Angels, and made the playoffs.

So, as a voter, it's up to you if you want to consider the relative impact on winning. Andujar and Torres played for a successful team, and you know what? These weren't the dominant, runaway Yankees. Aaron Judge went down for a long stretch of time. Giancarlo Stanton suffered through a slump that seemed to last half the season. The inconsistency of New York's starting pitching was a problem throughout the year.

Torres and Andujar were key players; particularly the latter, who batted .297 with 27 HRs and 92 RBI. Andujar's 47 doubles were third-best in the MLB, tied with some guy named Mookie Betts -- the dominant AL MVP.

Andujar put up big-boy stats. He certainly didn't look like a rookie at the plate.

PART III: Johnny Fro's Vote

When Yankee fans were complaining around the office this week, I was agreeing with them. I would have voted for Andujar, I echoed. Reviewing everything with a fine-toothed comb, the verdict is more elusive. It's not so easy. 

Important peripheral stuff to consider: (1) The sheer WOW factor of Ohtani pitching and hitting so well. Jeff Passan, one of the most well-respected baseball writers in the world, wrote that Ohtani looked over-matched in the preseason. I think we were all surprised by Shohei's .285 BA and 22 HRs despite limited opportunities at the dish. 

I mean the kid pitched, and yet he was still the Angels' second-or-third best hitter behind Mike Trout (the other being Justin Upton). Hard not to be super impressed by that. 

And (2) Andujar was atrocious in the field. One of the worst defensive third basemen in the game. Growing pains of a young player; but the fact remains: he hurt the Yankees in some big spots, defensively. 

But, in fairness, there's a strong argument to be made that Andujar, as a rookie, was the Yankees' offensive MVP. Stanton's inconsistency was uber-frustrating, and Judge only had 413 at bats. 

So, Ohtani most certainly has the enticing wow factor, but Andujar was steady. He was there, day in and day out. He stayed healthy, en route to contributing in a major way to 100 wins. 

We're splitting hairs, here...but I'm going with Andujar. The Ohtani win can easily be justified, but I would have voted him second. But hey, what do I care?

My Jacob deGrom won the NL Cy Young. Go Mets!