A Realistic View at 2018: Part II

[Slasher9]

Tampa has the same record as Cleveland, started just a little too late to get hot.

 

impressive. he has to win manager of the year....

[moonslav59]

Tampa has the same record as Cleveland, started just a little too late to get hot.

 

Even Seattle would be just 1.5 games behind CLE in the central- probably better, since they'd have a better record by beating up on 4 doormats.

 

One could easily argue the best 6 teams in the AL come from the ALE and ALW.

 

BTW, 84-66 would be first place in the NLE and NLW. One could argue 6 of the top 7 teams in MLB come from the ALE & ALW. Only the Cubs' record is top 7, and they are just 4.5 ahead of the Rays, who play in a much tougher division and league.

[oldtimer]

Even Seattle would be just 1.5 games behind CLE in the central- probably better, since they'd have a better record by beating up on 4 doormats.

 

One could easily argue the best 6 teams in the AL come from the ALE and ALW.

 

BTW, 84-66 would be first place in the NLE and NLW. One could argue 6 of the top 7 teams in MLB come from the ALE & ALW. Only the Cubs' record is top 7, and they are just 4.5 ahead of the Rays, who play in a much tougher division and league.

 

Teams like the Yankees have been able to add players like Britton, Happ, McCutchen and Stanton to name a few because they have both the prospects and salary cap space available, while we didn't and don't. DD has done well to add those we did like Kinsler,Eovaldi and Phillips. They had a big advantage this year, yet we are still way ahead of them. We wont draft well, nor will we have much cap space so it has to be our cadre of young players to lead us forward. I believe we will lose Porcello, Kimbrel and Sale by the 2020 season. Pitchers do wear down anyway, but lets hope we are smarter with our contracts in future. No more Pablo, Pedey and Price types going forward.

[OH FOY]

Tampa got some good Prospects coming up too. Including some good Pitching. They are playing good with this team, they should get better, in next 2 years. And they will be a cheap team on payroll.

[sk7326]

Tampa got some good Prospects coming up too. Including some good Pitching. They are playing good with this team, they should get better, in next 2 years. And they will be a cheap team on payroll.

 

They figured out how to efficiently build around their ballpark. Oakland indeed shifted their own philosophy to sort of do the same thing. And of course Kansas City was one win away from 2 WS doing the same thing. Have a ballpark where fly balls go to die, have pitchers who keep the ball in play and have fielders who can run down anything.

[moonslav59]

The CWS could be a team to watch as well, and the Royals always seem to run in cycles. Watch for them to come back in a couple years.

[Bellhorn04]

The Royals always seem to run in cycles. Watch for them to come back in a couple years.

 

The Royals missed the playoffs 28 straight years from 1986 to 2013.

[moonslav59]

The Royals missed the playoffs 28 straight years from 1986 to 2013.

 

True. They only won 90 games once from '86 to 2014.

 

Maybe I confused them with the Twins.

[moonslav59]

Any word on Barnes?

[mvp 78]

Any word on Barnes?

 

https://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2018/09/matt_barnes_injury_boston_red_3.html

 

Could return next week.

[BillyWilliams]

Tampa got some good Prospects coming up too. Including some good Pitching. They are playing good with this team, they should get better, in next 2 years. And they will be a cheap team on payroll.

 

That snell kid just might be the best pitcher in the league, very impressive.

[Maxbialystock]

impressive. he has to win manager of the year....

 

I like Cora, but gotta agree this guy has been creative and done very well.

[dgalehouse]

Even Seattle would be just 1.5 games behind CLE in the central- probably better, since they'd have a better record by beating up on 4 doormats.

 

One could easily argue the best 6 teams in the AL come from the ALE and ALW.

 

BTW, 84-66 would be first place in the NLE and NLW. One could argue 6 of the top 7 teams in MLB come from the ALE & ALW. Only the Cubs' record is top 7, and they are just 4.5 ahead of the Rays, who play in a much tougher division and league.

One could argue that the N.L. is more balanced , while the A.L. is top heavy and loaded with cream puffs at the bottom. It has gone mostly unnoticed, but this year the N.L. has a slight overall edge in interleague play. First time that has happened in a while.

[moonslav59]

One could argue that the N.L. is more balanced , while the A.L. is top heavy and loaded with cream puffs at the bottom. It has gone mostly unnoticed, but this year the N.L. has a slight overall edge in interleague play. First time that has happened in a while.

 

Good points, but what is the Rays and M's records vs the NL?

[Bellhorn04]

Good points, but what is the Rays and M's records vs the NL?

 

Rays 7-13

M's 6-14

[cp176]

I like Cora, but gotta agree this guy has been creative and done very well.

 

1. Bob Melvin

 

2. Alex Cora

[moonslav59]

Rays 7-13

M's 6-14

 

Thanks.

 

Maybe they wouldn't dominate the NL like I suggested they might.

[moonslav59]

1. Bob Melvin

 

2. Alex Cora

 

Sounds right, or maybe...

 

1. Bob Melvin

 

2. Kevin Cash/ Alex Cora

[jacksonianmarch]

Cash is MOY and it isn’t close. His team gave up in May and he has a team now with the same record as the Guardians. Crazy

[Bellhorn04]

Cash is MOY and it isn’t close. His team gave up in May and he has a team now with the same record as the Guardians. Crazy

 

I would certainly have no problem with Cash winning it.

 

But the MOY award has always been kind of a weird one to me.

 

It usually goes to a manager whose team did much better than expected. If there's no team that clearly fits the bill it'll probably go to a manager with a strong reputation.

 

It's extremely difficult for a manager to win it twice in a row...

[notin]

Cash is MOY and it isn’t close. His team gave up in May and he has a team now with the same record as the Guardians. Crazy

 

Ok, but Bob Melvin’s team is easily the biggest surprise in MLB...

[moonslav59]

Since the Rays swept the Yanks back in June, they have been 50-26.

 

Since June 22:

 

53-22 Sox

 

52-25 A's

 

[sk7326]

I would certainly have no problem with Cash winning it.

 

But the MOY award has always been kind of a weird one to me.

 

It usually goes to a manager whose team did much better than expected. If there's no team that clearly fits the bill it'll probably go to a manager with a strong reputation.

 

It's extremely difficult for a manager to win it twice in a row...

 

Yes, it is a stupid award. Writers are not really in a good position to judge a good performance. It always goes to "which team did we underrate the most".

[OH FOY]

Rays play 7 games against Toronto, 4 games against the Yanks. Probably over for the Rays, 5 in loss column. If they can get it down to even 3 by end of weekend, its not over.

4 games left with the Angels, 3 with the Twins, 3 against Seattle left. Last 6 on the road, for the A's.

[Bellhorn04]

Yes, it is a stupid award. Writers are not really in a good position to judge a good performance. It always goes to "which team did we underrate the most".

 

Cash will score big points on 2 counts, narrative-wise: 1) 'Getting something out of nothing'. 2) Being an 'innovator' with the 'bullpen games' and the 'opener'.

 

He'll probably win.

[cp176]

Sounds right, or maybe...

 

1. Bob Melvin

 

2. Kevin Cash/ Alex Cora

 

I agree

[OH FOY]

Cash will score big points on 2 counts, narrative-wise: 1) 'Getting something out of nothing'. 2) Being an 'innovator' with the 'bullpen games' and the 'opener'.

 

He'll probably win.

 

Seattle did same thing last night in their game. It might be catching on, if other teams are using it. Mariners won 9-0.

[moonslav59]

2nd Half OPS

 

1.022 JDM

 

.894 Betts

.887 Pearce (w Sox)

.842 Bogey

.818 JBJ

 

.739 Nunez

.714 Holt

.693 Beni

.684 Devers

.669 Swihart

.643 Kinsler (w Sox)

 

.562 Moreland

.550 Vaz

 

.345 Leon

 

[oldtimer]

2nd Half OPS

 

1.022 JDM

 

.894 Betts

.887 Pearce (w Sox)

.842 Bogey

.818 JBJ

 

.739 Nunez

.714 Holt

.693 Beni

.684 Devers

.669 Swihart

.643 Kinsler (w Sox)

 

.562 Moreland

.550 Vaz

 

.345 Leon

 

 

Sometimes our perceptions are different than reality. Clearly the catchers have had a miserable 2nd half. Beni has hit the ball but not with as much authority and Moreland has been slumping. Be good to see the guys heat up at the right time. Be interesting to see what our homer rate has been as a team over the 2nd half versus the first. Seems like it has dropped. Beni for instance is 2 for 16 in the 2nd half and others also have marked differences.

[BillyWilliams]

Cash will score big points on 2 counts, narrative-wise: 1) 'Getting something out of nothing'. 2) Being an 'innovator' with the 'bullpen games' and the 'opener'.

 

He'll probably win.

 

I agree