Most teams in baseball would be very happy to win "only" 89 games two years in a row. :rolleyes:
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Most teams in baseball would be very happy to win "only" 89 games two years in a row. :rolleyes:
To add on to what I said, I also think another reason for third is because Tampa is very young and I dont think people know they havent even reached their full potential.Quote:
Originally Posted by OregonDuck1989
They also get to beat up on the rest of the American League which features two divisions full of mediocrity, plus the other two poor teams in their division. I'm confident that one of those three teams will have the most wins in the majors this year. The Rays were tied for second last year, behind the Angels who are not going to come close to 100 wins this year, and all three of the big AL East teams have improved over the winter.Quote:
Originally Posted by PotatoOfCouch13
This is true. Crawford, Upton and Longoria haven't reached their peaks yet and who knows what will happen when they do.Quote:
Originally Posted by ragecage
I don't think any team in the AL East will win 95 games because of their division strength. I think the division winner will have the best in the American but I'm not so sure about the majors.
Their division was stronger last year with Toronto also winning 86 games, and two teams won 95. With Toronto being much worse, now, I think it's a near lock that one of the top 3 wins 95.Quote:
Originally Posted by OregonDuck1989
Defense is so overrated. I mean, sure... having a good defense is always a good thing, but it definitely doesn't make or brake a team. Though, if you look at the starting pitching (Sabathia, Wang, Burnett, Pettite, Joba), 3/5 of the rotation won't really rely on the defense that much, and the ones that do rely on the defense to pick them up (Wang, and Pettite) have had plenty of success the past few years and the defense has just gotten better (though, it still isn't above average and maybe not even average).
Old age? Really?
C: Posada (37)
1B: Tex (28)
2B: Cano (26)
3B: A-Rod (33)
SS: Jeter (35, as consistant as they come)
LF: Damon (35)
CF: Gardner/Melky (25/24 respectively)
RF: Nady (30)
DH: Matsui (34)
UT: Nick Swisher (28)
SP: Sabathia (28)
SP: Wang (29)
SP Burnett (32)
SP: Pettite (36)
SP: Joba (23)
Insurance SP: Hughes (22)
CL: Mo (39)
Bullpen is all under 30 with the exception of Marte.
IMO, this isn't exactly an old team... 3 players over 35... I mean, it isn't exactly a young team, but it's not like the team is so old that they are going to be breaking down any second.
Like, I said, though, everyone has a right to an opinion, and while I respect everyone's opinion, I also just want to point out the VERY VERY VERY vast improvements this team has made from last year.
I'll agree that the AL is not as strong as last year, but if a team like Cleveland, Detroit, or the Angels can put everything together, they can easily beat up on their 'weaker' divisions and come away with more wins, just because they get only 7-10 games against the AL East's Big 3Quote:
Originally Posted by HoustonGM
I think it's safe to say that Crawford has definitely reached his peak, as has mot of the team. Upton, no, Longoria, no, but most of the team, yes. They probably even overachieved a little bit last year. Who knows if Navarro, Pena, Garza, etc.. will keep up their success... Also, last year, that pen full of a bunch of no bodies had a career year, so...Quote:
Originally Posted by OregonDuck1989
Thats a very old lineup, and that outfield is horrible. You cant realistically expect a 37 year old catcher to play 140 games this year either. Dont take it the wrong way, but you are a Yankee fan, therefore you are biased. Just to point out, how often has signing every big time free agent worked out for you guys? ;)
Didn't Baltimore have a winning record outside their division last season? Also, Toronto isn't exactly the worst team in baseball either. I'd also like to say that even though the Angels may be weakened, I think the AL West will have a better season overall this year with Oakland improving and of course the Mariners, whose record didn't reflect their talent and potential. AL Central too isn't too shabby, the Tigers have a lot of prove and the Royals, like the A's, have improved in the off-season.Quote:
Originally Posted by HoustonGM
Uh, yes, it does. Defense is very UNDERrated, it's worth about half as much as offense.Quote:
Originally Posted by koolzach1
What made the Rays go from last place to the World Series? The answer is DEFENSE. Their offense was the same as it was in 2007....but their Defensive Efficiency, the rate at which they turn balls in play into outs, went from .656 and last in the majors to .710, first in the majors. Defense MADE the 2008 Rays.
Each of those three teams has a mess of a starting rotation. It'd require a lot of luck for them to "put everything together."Quote:
Originally Posted by PotatoOfCouch13
Haha, I am not being biased... I have never said that I would expect Posada to hold up for 140+ games... I am thinking more along the lines of 120+, and I am ok with Molina playing a few games here or there with his very good defense. How is that outfield "horrible"? Damon is a VERY good LF'er... Gardner and Melky are really good defenders in CF, and overall, Nady is average-slightly above average in RF.Quote:
Originally Posted by ragecage
The Yankees have had a TERRIBLE defense for the past decade, yet they have probably been the most successful team during that time (you could also argue the Red Sox).Quote:
Originally Posted by HoustonGM
Upton hasn't reached his peak, and his peak is far above where he was last year. Longoria hasn't reached his peak. Garza hasn't reached his peak. David Price hasn't reached his peak. This is a team full of young talent that hasn't reached it's peak, and that young talent's peak is far above where they are now. Some players won't sustain their production, but it will be balanced by the increases elsewhere.Quote:
Originally Posted by koolzach1
I beleive so, too lazy to check.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slingshot
I know, but they are markedly worse than last year.Quote:
Also, Toronto isn't exactly the worst team in baseball either.
They ARE weakened. They outplayed their Pythagorean record by something in the order of 13 games last year, lost Mark Teixeira and Francisco Rodriguez, are starting the season without John Lackey for at least a month, and Ervin Santana for longer....they're a .500 team, give or take a couple wins.Quote:
I'd also like to say that even though the Angels may be weakened
I don't think they have, not after their spring training decisions. I don't think you can call any team entering a season with Horacio Ramirez and Sidney Ponson in your rotation "improved", at least not without gigantic upgrades elsewhere, which they haven't done.Quote:
and the Royals, like the A's, have improved in the off-season.
The Yankees have also had the best offense over that time. But, notice, they haven't had much playoff success, where defense takes on added importance. There was a study in the Hardball Times annual this year, which I don't have with me right now, that showed that something like 8 of the last 10 World Series teams were near the top of the league in defense.Quote:
Originally Posted by koolzach1
Defense CAN make or break a team, though, and it is most certainly not "overrated". The Rays are evidence of that. Had the Yankees defense not been terrible, they'd have been walloping the league left and right.