A Realistic View at 2019: Part I

[S5Dewey]

ftfy

 

Some folks here love trolls. That's why they keep feeding them.

[notin]

Some folks here love trolls. That's why they keep feeding them.

 

I blame Dombrowski. If he gave us better topics to talk about this off-season than Colten Brewer and Blake Swihart vs Sandy Leon, there would be less need to engage the trolls...

[moonslav59]

Cora is a madman. Get ready for an interesting season.

 

It sure should be, especially if Cora uses this as a common strategy all or most of the year.

[Slasher9]

it's kind of funny that he comes on here to talk s*** when we are coming off a parade and celebrating the ALDS series win on his infield.

see: masochist

[moonslav59]

it's kind of funny that he comes on here to talk s*** when we are coming off a parade and celebrating the ALDS series win on his infield.

see: masochist

 

At least Jacko will answer your questions and listen to reason.

[mvp 78]

Over?

 

Who thinks the ALDS is over? The Yankee bats are clicking big time. We have 4 good to great hitters they have 9 good to great hitters. After Bogarts our lineup is terrible. As far as pitching I don’t need to say anything. Price was saying after the game he knows he can win in the playoffs but his 0-10 record would say he can’t. Their bullpen is so dominant they don’t need good starting pitching. It’s just hard for me to say they’re going to win this series after what I’ve seen the last two nights. We got lit up tonight and they almost came back the night before. It feels like the last two years all over again. I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think I am.

[mvp 78]

It's hopeless trying to debate.

 

The whole idea of a sports debate is dumb. Neither side ever accepts defeat and the debates continue ad nauseam.

[BillyWilliams]

You keep talking hindsight.

 

I'll ask again, would you be happy, right now, if the yanks had just signed Sale to the same contract he just signed with the Sox?

 

I'm not sure.

 

I think he's a fantastic pitcher, but I would be concerned about his health after breaking down last season. He's built like a bean pole, I'd be worried about how he holds up given that he'll be 30yrs old in a couple of days.

[mvp 78]

https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2019/03/27/opening-day-2019-team-by-team-previews/

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

 

Boston Red Sox: Still the best team in baseball in our view. They still have the best offense of anyone and they may actually be more balanced than they were in 2018. Not that you need too much balance when you have Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez and the other stars up and down the order. The rotation is likewise a strength with a healthy Chris Sale returning, the postseason David Price renaissance hopefully carrying over and a full year of Nathan Eovaldi. Whether the rotation is strong or great depends on Rick Porcello and Eduardo Rodriguez matching past performance or best-case expectations. The big issue, as everyone knows, is the bullpen. Craig Kimbrel is gone and, presumably, not returning. Joe Kelly left for L.A. As Tigers fans recall, GM Dave Dombrowski does not have a great track record in cobbling together bullpens, and the 2019 Red Sox’ bullpen is definitely a cobble job in progress. If the Yankees catch Boston, it’ll likely be because the late innings are killing ’em.

 

New York Yankees: Like the Red Sox, the lineup is set. One can ask whether Troy Tulowitzki can really stay in the lineup and be an asset at short until Didi Gregorius comes back, but he’s had a nice spring. Aside from that the team is loaded as usual, with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar and Aaron Hicks causing all kinds of problems for opposing pitchers. And that’s before you figure that Gary Sanchez is due for a substantial bounceback. The pitching is the opposite situation from the Red Sox. New York’s bullpen is absolutely stacked with Chad Green, Zack Britton, Adam Ottavino, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman constituting the best and hardest-throwing relief corps in baseball. They’ll be needed given Luis Severino’s shoulder injury and a general lack of organizational pitching depth. If things go south early, figure the Yankees to be in the market for a starter.

[Slasher9]

Over?

 

Who thinks the ALDS is over? The Yankee bats are clicking big time. We have 4 good to great hitters they have 9 good to great hitters. After Bogarts our lineup is terrible. As far as pitching I don’t need to say anything. Price was saying after the game he knows he can win in the playoffs but his 0-10 record would say he can’t. Their bullpen is so dominant they don’t need good starting pitching. It’s just hard for me to say they’re going to win this series after what I’ve seen the last two nights. We got lit up tonight and they almost came back the night before. It feels like the last two years all over again. I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think I am.

 

hahaha. awesome.

[Slasher9]

The whole idea of a sports debate is dumb. Neither side ever accepts defeat and the debates continue ad nauseam.

 

this is simply not true. we have all agreed that clutch exists.

[Slasher9]

https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2019/03/27/opening-day-2019-team-by-team-previews/

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

 

Boston Red Sox: Still the best team in baseball in our view. They still have the best offense of anyone and they may actually be more balanced than they were in 2018. Not that you need too much balance when you have Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez and the other stars up and down the order. The rotation is likewise a strength with a healthy Chris Sale returning, the postseason David Price renaissance hopefully carrying over and a full year of Nathan Eovaldi. Whether the rotation is strong or great depends on Rick Porcello and Eduardo Rodriguez matching past performance or best-case expectations. The big issue, as everyone knows, is the bullpen. Craig Kimbrel is gone and, presumably, not returning. Joe Kelly left for L.A. As Tigers fans recall, GM Dave Dombrowski does not have a great track record in cobbling together bullpens, and the 2019 Red Sox’ bullpen is definitely a cobble job in progress. If the Yankees catch Boston, it’ll likely be because the late innings are killing ’em.

 

New York Yankees: Like the Red Sox, the lineup is set. One can ask whether Troy Tulowitzki can really stay in the lineup and be an asset at short until Didi Gregorius comes back, but he’s had a nice spring. Aside from that the team is loaded as usual, with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar and Aaron Hicks causing all kinds of problems for opposing pitchers. And that’s before you figure that Gary Sanchez is due for a substantial bounceback. The pitching is the opposite situation from the Red Sox. New York’s bullpen is absolutely stacked with Chad Green, Zack Britton, Adam Ottavino, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman constituting the best and hardest-throwing relief corps in baseball. They’ll be needed given Luis Severino’s shoulder injury and a general lack of organizational pitching depth. If things go south early, figure the Yankees to be in the market for a starter.

 

this is great and all but really....what does Dan Clark think????

[mvp 78]

this is great and all but really....what does Dan Clark think????

 

He thinks "who cares what paid shills actually think. I actually write for free. My opinion is not influenced by big baseball.

[BillyWilliams]

https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2019/03/27/opening-day-2019-team-by-team-previews/

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

 

Boston Red Sox: Still the best team in baseball in our view. They still have the best offense of anyone and they may actually be more balanced than they were in 2018. Not that you need too much balance when you have Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez and the other stars up and down the order. The rotation is likewise a strength with a healthy Chris Sale returning, the postseason David Price renaissance hopefully carrying over and a full year of Nathan Eovaldi. Whether the rotation is strong or great depends on Rick Porcello and Eduardo Rodriguez matching past performance or best-case expectations. The big issue, as everyone knows, is the bullpen. Craig Kimbrel is gone and, presumably, not returning. Joe Kelly left for L.A. As Tigers fans recall, GM Dave Dombrowski does not have a great track record in cobbling together bullpens, and the 2019 Red Sox’ bullpen is definitely a cobble job in progress. If the Yankees catch Boston, it’ll likely be because the late innings are killing ’em.

 

New York Yankees: Like the Red Sox, the lineup is set. One can ask whether Troy Tulowitzki can really stay in the lineup and be an asset at short until Didi Gregorius comes back, but he’s had a nice spring. Aside from that the team is loaded as usual, with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar and Aaron Hicks causing all kinds of problems for opposing pitchers. And that’s before you figure that Gary Sanchez is due for a substantial bounceback. The pitching is the opposite situation from the Red Sox. New York’s bullpen is absolutely stacked with Chad Green, Zack Britton, Adam Ottavino, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman constituting the best and hardest-throwing relief corps in baseball. They’ll be needed given Luis Severino’s shoulder injury and a general lack of organizational pitching depth. If things go south early, figure the Yankees to be in the market for a starter.

 

American League East: Yankees

 

Despite winning 100 games last year, the Yankees had to settle for an AL Wild Card berth and couldn't get through the eventual World Series champion Red Sox, falling to Boston in a four-game AL Division Series. With the additions of James Paxton, Adam Ottavino and Gio Gonzalez, and the re-signing of CC Sabathia, J.A. Happ and Zack Britton, the pitching staff is as deep as it gets. On the infield, the acquisitions of DJ LeMahieu and Troy Tulowitzki provide depth and solve the issue of Didi Gregorius missing the first part of the season. Among our experts, the Yanks garnered twice as many votes as the Red Sox.

 

2019 World Series predictions

WWW.MLB.COM

---

Opening Day is finally upon us, with the regular season for all clubs except the A's and Mariners (who played two games in Tokyo last week) beginning on Thursday. What does the 2019 season have in store? Will the Red Sox be able to repeat as World Series champions? Or

[moonslav59]

https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2019/03/27/opening-day-2019-team-by-team-previews/

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

 

Boston Red Sox: Still the best team in baseball in our view. They still have the best offense of anyone and they may actually be more balanced than they were in 2018. Not that you need too much balance when you have Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez and the other stars up and down the order. The rotation is likewise a strength with a healthy Chris Sale returning, the postseason David Price renaissance hopefully carrying over and a full year of Nathan Eovaldi. Whether the rotation is strong or great depends on Rick Porcello and Eduardo Rodriguez matching past performance or best-case expectations. The big issue, as everyone knows, is the bullpen. Craig Kimbrel is gone and, presumably, not returning. Joe Kelly left for L.A. As Tigers fans recall, GM Dave Dombrowski does not have a great track record in cobbling together bullpens, and the 2019 Red Sox’ bullpen is definitely a cobble job in progress. If the Yankees catch Boston, it’ll likely be because the late innings are killing ’em.

 

New York Yankees: Like the Red Sox, the lineup is set. One can ask whether Troy Tulowitzki can really stay in the lineup and be an asset at short until Didi Gregorius comes back, but he’s had a nice spring. Aside from that the team is loaded as usual, with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar and Aaron Hicks causing all kinds of problems for opposing pitchers. And that’s before you figure that Gary Sanchez is due for a substantial bounceback. The pitching is the opposite situation from the Red Sox. New York’s bullpen is absolutely stacked with Chad Green, Zack Britton, Adam Ottavino, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman constituting the best and hardest-throwing relief corps in baseball. They’ll be needed given Luis Severino’s shoulder injury and a general lack of organizational pitching depth. If things go south early, figure the Yankees to be in the market for a starter.

 

Pedey & Nunez's improved health could really lengthen our line-up. Having Pearce all year should, too. A consistent JBJ would help. No Leon has to help with line-up balance.

 

We had a pretty balanced attack last year.

 

OPS by...

 

Slot BOS NYY HOU

1) 1.028 .786 .742 (Big gaps here)

2) .759 .862 .903 (Big gap here)

3) .871 .719 .857 (Yanks were putrid, here.)

4) .968 .957 .691 (Astros putrid, here.)

5) .796 .775 .772 (Pretty close)

6) .684 .809 .755 (Sox putrid here.)

7) .667 .687 .684 (Pretty close)

8) .607 .714 .677 (Sox putrid here.)

9) .704 .702 .681 (Very close)

 

[moonslav59]

"Cool Stats" from MLB.com...

 

Red Sox: Both Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez hit exactly 26.7 percent of their batted balls last season at least 95 mph (the threshold for hard contact) and in the launch angle “sweet spot” between 8 and 32 degrees. Only the Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter made this type of quality contact at a higher rate.

 

Yankees: Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge have combined to produce each of the 13 hardest-hit home runs since Statcast began tracking in 2015. Stanton set a new Statcast record last Aug. 9 by walloping a homer with an exit velocity of 121.7 mph -- breaking Judge’s mark of 121.1 mph set the previous June.

[harmony]

While Red Sox and Yankee fans debate their rivalry, the other American League teams will go about their business.

 

In the last nine World Series, the AL Central has represented the league four times, the AL West three times and the AL East twice.

 

Over that span, an AL East team (Boston) has won two World Series titles, the AL Central one and the AL West one.

 

It should be another interesting season.

[mvp 78]

While Red Sox and Yankee fans debate their rivalry, the other American League teams will go about their business.

 

In the last nine World Series, the AL Central has represented the league four times, the AL West three times and the AL East twice.

 

Over that span, an AL East team (Boston) has won two World Series titles, the AL Central one and the AL West one.

 

It should be another interesting season.

 

I think that's because it's pretty clear who will win the ALW and ALC.

 

We're not lining up the duck boats. We're talking about the division itself you silly goose.

[Emp9]

lmfao

[Emp9]

this is simply not true. we have all agreed that clutch exists.

oops...

lmfao

[Emp9]

American League East: Yankees

 

Despite winning 100 games last year, the Yankees had to settle for an AL Wild Card berth and couldn't get through the eventual World Series champion Red Sox, falling to Boston in a four-game AL Division Series. With the additions of James Paxton, Adam Ottavino and Gio Gonzalez, and the re-signing of CC Sabathia, J.A. Happ and Zack Britton, the pitching staff is as deep as it gets. On the infield, the acquisitions of DJ LeMahieu and Troy Tulowitzki provide depth and solve the issue of Didi Gregorius missing the first part of the season. Among our experts, the Yanks garnered twice as many votes as the Red Sox.

 

2019 World Series predictions

WWW.MLB.COM

---

Opening Day is finally upon us, with the regular season for all clubs except the A's and Mariners (who played two games in Tokyo last week) beginning on Thursday. What does the 2019 season have in store? Will the Red Sox be able to repeat as World Series champions? Or

 

I like Paxton, always have. But he ain't never been the epitome of health. And the move from Safeco to Yankee stadium can't really help him, right(?). His career away era is close to whole point higher on top of all that. He's a nice pick up, don't get me wrong, but he's no savior. I swear I thought CC went out to pasture, both figuratively and literally ( he likes to graze). He back for more abuse huh?

[moonslav59]

Cora announces opening day line-up:

 

1. Beni

2. Betts

3. Devers

4. JD

5. Bogey

6. Moreland

7. Nunez

8. JBJ

9. Vaz

 

[Nick]

Cora announces opening day line-up:

 

1. Beni

2. Betts

3. Devers

4. JD

5. Bogey

6. Moreland

7. Nunez

8. JBJ

9. Vaz

 

 

22 year old that can't field his position is batting third for team that won 108 games? Yeah, he sucks. What's Cora thinking?

[moonslav59]

22 year old that can't field his position is batting third for team that won 108 games? Yeah, he sucks. What's Cora thinking?

 

LOL!

 

I like the line-up. No complaints here.

[Nick]

LOL!

 

I like the line-up. No complaints here.

 

It wasn't directed at you or anyone specific.

 

It's time to sit back and enjoy this season. I'm certain DD and Cora will address any problems that crop up.

[moonslav59]

It wasn't directed at you or anyone specific.

 

It's time to sit back and enjoy this season. I'm certain DD and Cora will address any problems that crop up.

 

I know. I didn't take it in a bad way.

 

KI'm a huge Cora and Devers supporter.

 

Bring it on!

 

[Nick]

Question for pitchers and pitching coaches.

 

Typically, how often and how many pitches will starters throw between starts?

 

Instead of bullpen session, can they just come into a game and throw 25-30 pitches between starts?

[oldtimer]

Cora announces opening day line-up:

 

1. Beni

2. Betts

3. Devers

4. JD

5. Bogey

6. Moreland

7. Nunez

8. JBJ

9. Vaz

 

 

I also like this lineup. Devers, JBJ and Nunez have been talked up as the most likely to improve over last year. Now we will see how well the lineup functions and of course we need to be patient with them. Pearce and Pedroia will add to the lineup when they return from the first road trip.

[BillyWilliams]

I like Paxton, always have. But he ain't never been the epitome of health. And the move from Safeco to Yankee stadium can't really help him, right(?). His career away era is close to whole point higher on top of all that. He's a nice pick up, don't get me wrong, but he's no savior. I swear I thought CC went out to pasture, both figuratively and literally ( he likes to graze). He back for more abuse huh?

 

My point was you can find many different predictions with a simple google search.

 

As far as CC is concerned, "more abuse"??

 

He had a lower ERA (3.65) last season than porcello (4.28) and just a few ticks higher than price (3.58) at a fraction of their respective costs.

[mvp 78]

My point was you can find many different predictions with a simple google search.

 

As far as CC is concerned, "more abuse"??

 

He had a lower ERA (3.65) last season than porcello (4.28) and just a few ticks higher than price (3.58) at a fraction of their respective costs.

 

Porcello has also pitched 142 more innings than Sabathia since coming to the Sox and crushes him in WAR.

 

Over the past three years, Price has a higher WAR than Sabathia even though he missed over half of 2017 with injuries and was limited last year.