Let's take a break from watching the latest porn star revelations about that pig in the White House and think about something more pleasant.
NL East: Washington has the best team--but the Nationals have been the best team for a few years now, and have next to nothing to show for it. Bryce Harper will hit many home runs and Max Scherzer will strike out many batters, but somehow they always find a way to fail in the playoffs. And that gets old, after awhile. So, let's go with the Mets, who have superior pitching (if they can stay healthy) and an interesting collection of proven (read "old") players, and some castoffs trying to prove their former teams wrong. Whichever team finishes second should have a good shot at a Wild Card. Philadelphia and Atlanta are both works in progress, with loads of young talent, but still a couple of years away. Miami is a complete dumpster fire. Derek Jeter was a sure fire Hall of Fame player, but as an executive, right now he's in the Rookie League.
In the Central it should be the Cubs, and rather easily, too. I don't think they're going to miss Jake Arrieta too much, but if they do, that might just open the door enough for another team to sneak in. The Cardinals are always competitive--they just don't have the same level of talent as Chicago. Their best hope is a Wild Card slot. The Brewers and perhaps the Pirates could also be in the Wild Card race, with a few breaks. Milwaukee is the more likely of the two. They added two very good outfielders to an already competitive team. Pittsburgh can put a pretty strong starting 8 on the field every day, but they have to hope that a mostly untested pitching staff is ready for the big leagues. The Reds have Joey Votto and, uh, well...Cincinnati will try not to lose 120 games. We all need goals in life.
And finally, the West will be wild. The only team that definitely won't be in the chase are the Padres, and apparently they have a loaded minor league system, so, as they say, wait until next year, San Diego. In the meantime, enjoy some fresh seafood and a walk on the beach. The Dodgers could possibly repeat, but they've already had one key injury, and beyond Clayton Kershaw, L.A.'s starting pitching isn't particularly reliable. San Francisco fell apart last year, after Madison Bumgarner's injury. So they went out and got a couple of reliable, if older, bats...and Bumgarner gets hurt again. Who knows what will happen until he gets back? If the Giants haven't dug themselves a deep hole--like last year--they may be a long shot for a Wild Card. Colorado was a Wild Card last year, and could conceivably be one again. Strange things have been known to happen in that thin Denver air. I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Diamondbacks look like the team to beat. Arizona puts a solid team on the field every day and if their pitching holds and they can get through the year without any major injuries, they should be the class of the West.
Monday, April 23, 2018
Friday, April 13, 2018
Signor Baseball's 2018 AL Preview
Baseball is unique among the team sports in that you only put your best team on the field every 4th or 5th game.
That's when your "ace" pitches. The next 3 or 4 games you will start, by definition, an inferior pitcher.
Now, on the better teams, the drop-off from your number 1 starter to your number 2 starter may not be that great. And the same thing applies between your 2 and 3, 3 and 4, and 4 and 5.
But on the bad teams, the drop-offs will be precipitous and calamitous.
So, yeah, it is a cliche, but it does almost always comes down to pitching...
AL East: the Yankees will hit 300 home runs...and they will strike out well over 1000 times. They seem to be overloaded with right handed bats, and there will be games they look like the reincarnation of the fabled Murderer's Row and games where they strike out 15-20 times. They have a great bullpen--on paper, though I'm not entirely sold on Aroldis Chapman as a closer. He ain't no Mo Rivera. Their starters also look superior on paper--but again, I'm not sure they can stay healthy for the entire year. Add in a new manager, who's never managed before, and a pennant begins to look problematical. I suppose they could figure it all out, have everything fall into place, and win 115 games...but, no. So let's go with the Red Sox to repeat, with New York and Toronto close behind, with at least one Wild Card coming from this division. Boston is loaded with big bats, too. And for some reason, their starting pitching doesn't worry me as much as the Yankees. Toronto will score many runs and hope for the best from their starters. Baltimore's window seems to have closed, and God only knows what they're thinking in Tampa.
AL Central: even though they fell apart in the playoffs, Cleveland is still by far the class of the Central. They can hit, they can field, and even though the bottom part of their rotation is sketchy, they still have enough to run away with this division. Chicago, Kansas City and Detroit all look very mediocre. The Tigers are in complete tear down mode, the Royals are attempting to rebuild and still stay relevant, and if anyone can figure out what the White Sox are doing, please drop me a line. Minnesota isn't mediocre, but the Twins aren't anywhere close to Cleveland, at this point. Slight chance for a Wild Card coming out of this division.
AL West: the Angels are now in possession of the Babe Ruth of Japan! And honestly, he's looked pretty good so far, both on the mound and at the plate. However, it is a long, long season, and if you have a weakness as a hitter or pitcher, your opponents will figure out a way to exploit it. So we shall see if Mr. Ohtani really is the Babe Ruth of Anaheim. Even with the Sashimi Bambino and Mike Trout, the Angels aren't the best team in this division. That would be the Astros. You know, the World Champions? Houston has added pitching to an already strong staff. They're loaded with hitters, too. Everyone else is playing for second, with the Angels and Mariners having the best shot at a Wild Card slot. However, Seattle has disappointed everyone the last couple of years, so why pick them to do anything? Texas doesn't look to have enough starting pitching, besides Cole Hamels, to keep up and Oakland may be the worst team in the majors. That small market, small payroll, overachieving thing seems to have hit a wall.
That's when your "ace" pitches. The next 3 or 4 games you will start, by definition, an inferior pitcher.
Now, on the better teams, the drop-off from your number 1 starter to your number 2 starter may not be that great. And the same thing applies between your 2 and 3, 3 and 4, and 4 and 5.
But on the bad teams, the drop-offs will be precipitous and calamitous.
So, yeah, it is a cliche, but it does almost always comes down to pitching...
AL East: the Yankees will hit 300 home runs...and they will strike out well over 1000 times. They seem to be overloaded with right handed bats, and there will be games they look like the reincarnation of the fabled Murderer's Row and games where they strike out 15-20 times. They have a great bullpen--on paper, though I'm not entirely sold on Aroldis Chapman as a closer. He ain't no Mo Rivera. Their starters also look superior on paper--but again, I'm not sure they can stay healthy for the entire year. Add in a new manager, who's never managed before, and a pennant begins to look problematical. I suppose they could figure it all out, have everything fall into place, and win 115 games...but, no. So let's go with the Red Sox to repeat, with New York and Toronto close behind, with at least one Wild Card coming from this division. Boston is loaded with big bats, too. And for some reason, their starting pitching doesn't worry me as much as the Yankees. Toronto will score many runs and hope for the best from their starters. Baltimore's window seems to have closed, and God only knows what they're thinking in Tampa.
AL Central: even though they fell apart in the playoffs, Cleveland is still by far the class of the Central. They can hit, they can field, and even though the bottom part of their rotation is sketchy, they still have enough to run away with this division. Chicago, Kansas City and Detroit all look very mediocre. The Tigers are in complete tear down mode, the Royals are attempting to rebuild and still stay relevant, and if anyone can figure out what the White Sox are doing, please drop me a line. Minnesota isn't mediocre, but the Twins aren't anywhere close to Cleveland, at this point. Slight chance for a Wild Card coming out of this division.
AL West: the Angels are now in possession of the Babe Ruth of Japan! And honestly, he's looked pretty good so far, both on the mound and at the plate. However, it is a long, long season, and if you have a weakness as a hitter or pitcher, your opponents will figure out a way to exploit it. So we shall see if Mr. Ohtani really is the Babe Ruth of Anaheim. Even with the Sashimi Bambino and Mike Trout, the Angels aren't the best team in this division. That would be the Astros. You know, the World Champions? Houston has added pitching to an already strong staff. They're loaded with hitters, too. Everyone else is playing for second, with the Angels and Mariners having the best shot at a Wild Card slot. However, Seattle has disappointed everyone the last couple of years, so why pick them to do anything? Texas doesn't look to have enough starting pitching, besides Cole Hamels, to keep up and Oakland may be the worst team in the majors. That small market, small payroll, overachieving thing seems to have hit a wall.
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Why Are You So Afraid Of Russians?
This will take a little getting used to...
See, we've never had a President, or #FakePresident in this case, who was scared shitless of Russia.
Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, the fraud Reagan, Clinton, both Bush's, Obama--even dear Jimmy Carter, who is usually depicted by the Right as a weakling, all of them stood up to Mother Russia, when necessary.
But not Donald J. Trump. He just can't summon the necessary backbone.
That's right, the Commander-in-Chief of the strongest military the world has ever seen, and the most economically powerful nation the world has ever seen, gets all wobbly kneed when it comes to Russia.
Talk about a snowflake...
The White House is currently occupied by a pustule in an ill fitting blue suit, with a clownish red tie hanging down to his dimpled, flabby thighs, who positively melts when it come to Vladimir Putin, that two bit gangster, and his country of kleptocratic billionaires and scared serfs.
So, the $64,000 question is "WHY?"
What does your boyfriend Vlad have on you, Donnie?
See, we've never had a President, or #FakePresident in this case, who was scared shitless of Russia.
Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, the fraud Reagan, Clinton, both Bush's, Obama--even dear Jimmy Carter, who is usually depicted by the Right as a weakling, all of them stood up to Mother Russia, when necessary.
But not Donald J. Trump. He just can't summon the necessary backbone.
That's right, the Commander-in-Chief of the strongest military the world has ever seen, and the most economically powerful nation the world has ever seen, gets all wobbly kneed when it comes to Russia.
Talk about a snowflake...
The White House is currently occupied by a pustule in an ill fitting blue suit, with a clownish red tie hanging down to his dimpled, flabby thighs, who positively melts when it come to Vladimir Putin, that two bit gangster, and his country of kleptocratic billionaires and scared serfs.
So, the $64,000 question is "WHY?"
What does your boyfriend Vlad have on you, Donnie?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)