2017 AL CENTRAL DISCUSSION

[Iffster]

Interesting article by MLB sports "writer". His AL Central predictions has Clev winning with 98 wins. TWINS second with 81. Detroit third with only 78, KC with 74 and CHI with 68. Obviously he sees four teams in the AL Central as patsies for the rest of the AL - and Clev!

 

[Good_Code]

As for the opinions that KCs rotation only has one quality arm in Duffy and the rest are crap, I disagree. Kennedy, Vargas, Hamel, and Karns are all experienced starters proven they belong in big league rotations. Kennedy can pass as a #2 guy if he is on his game. Hamel can pass as a #3. The rest are 4 or 5 ish. I don't think the rotation is a team strength but they are middle of the road. The bullpen is in way worse shape with Soria and Chris Young.

 

[Good_Code]

Interesting article by MLB sports "writer". His AL Central predictions has Clev winning with 98 wins. TWINS second with 81. Detroit third with only 78, KC with 74 and CHI with 68. Obviously he sees four teams in the AL Central as patsies for the rest of the AL - and Clev!

Grossly miscalculated. Pecota picked the Royals to win 74 in 2015 and they won 95. All prognosticaters can't do any better than me. I wouldn't even concern myself with any predictions except individual fans opinions.

 

[Howie115]

But WHAT will Mahtook, Collins, and Jones bring to the table? Hopefully it is more than .230 BA with little power and only average defense.

As for Castellanos batting #2...that puts McCann in the #6 spot behind Upton. Followed by Jones, Collins, and Iggy. Pretty weak bottom half of order, at least power-wise.

Mahtook and Jones both have decent power. Mahtook has good speed, Jones has excellent speed. As you stated, both are at least average defenders, which puts them leaps and bounds above Moya. It's a sad commentary on the Tigers farm system that Moya was once considered a top prospect.

As for Castellanos batting in the 2-hole, I didn't say it is a great idea, only that Ausmus seems intent on trying it. I do think that Casty should hit 5th or 6th until JD returns

 

[Good_Code]

I think the biggest argument for the Royals this year is that so many guys are in there walk year and will perform above there averages. Hosmers capable of batting .300 with 28 HR. Cain is capable of bating .300 as well. Moose can put up good numbers. Escobar is mostly a defensive talent but his numbers will go up in his walk year as well.

 

[Good_Code]

Does anyone except Detroit and Royals fans participate in this section?

 

[Voltaire26]

Predictions for AL Central.

Cleveland 94 wins
Detroit 85 wins
KC 85 wins
Minnesota 74 wins
Chicago 70 wins

I think a little light on Chicago, but good intelligent predictions. The road through the AL Central goes through Cleveland.

 

[Voltaire26]

Does anyone except Detroit and Royals fans participate in this section?

You get a fair amount of Indians fans ... this thread seems to drift off point a lot.

 

[osubuckeye89]

I think a little light on Chicago, but good intelligent predictions. The road through the AL Central goes through Cleveland.

On paper certainly. I'm very cautiously optimistic though. The last few times we've had a good amount of preseason hype it's turned into a disappointment. I do feel this team is "different" than those though. But we will see.

 

[Wamu]

Glorious days are right around the corner for doug. On April 3 his Tigers will wrap up the ALc title.

 

[Wamu]

By April 5 Verlander will win the Cy Young.

 

[Wamu]

April 6 Brad Ausmus will win Manager of the Year.

 

[dougplayer]

Cleveland 94 wins Bawwwwhaaaa.
You homers kill me. Last year was a fluke. Look for indians to win about 85 games. Nu.bers prove me right

 

[Iffster]

Cleveland 94 wins Bawwwwhaaaa.
You homers kill me. Last year was a fluke. Look for indians to win about 85 games. Nu.bers prove me right

WHAT numbers doug? You never provide numbers. I don't recall you ever listing any stats of any kind. Hot air cannot be considered numbers.

 

[Iffster]

Cleveland 94 wins Bawwwwhaaaa.
You homers kill me. Last year was a fluke. Look for indians to win about 85 games.

Doug...when are the Tigers going to have a ''fluke'' season?

 

[dougplayer]

Avila thought Perry was turning the corner. He was wrong. It's a good start getting him off the roster.let some kid have a shot. Or take a chance on a FA pick up. Just. No more relief pitchers from minnesota...nathan. pelfrey. Oivay!!

 

[dougplayer]

Pelfrey...turn t.he cornering .dam word spell. Plus this galaxy 7 is so small. Hate it. Only had it 2 months. Going back to my Note edge. Or galaxy 8. Samsung galaxy 7 sucks!!

 

[Good_Code]

I don't mind Dougplayer telling fantasy tales about his Tigers. He's a homer just like me. He's off base but maybe so am I cuz my heart says the Royals win 90 games this year. Keep dreaming Doug.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Does anyone except Detroit and Royals fans participate in this section?

We have a large contingent of Indians fans actually. We have pockets of Twins and Royals fans and a whopping 1-3 Sox fans that post inconsistently. Always has been a large amount of Tiger fans since I have been lurking on CBS.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Grossly miscalculated. Pecota picked the Royals to win 74 in 2015 and they won 95. All prognosticaters can't do any better than me. I wouldn't even concern myself with any predictions except individual fans opinions.

It's less so they're inaccurate so much as the Royals happen to have been an outlier. It's an odd phenomenon I wholeheartedly approve of however; PECOTA has less than zero faith in defensive metrics and anyone with eyes can tell you the Royals have a pretty good defense despite whatever nitpicking there is.