NL West Talk

[navamind]

My ideal offseason:

1) Team stays healthy

2) A bullpen. Spend ALL the money we have leftover from arbitration on the bullpen.

I still think there's no way Greinke, Miller and Corbin are ALL that bad again next season, if just even 2 of them turn it around and one of Shipley, Bradley or Ray has a breakout year (the potential is there) then we'll be in decent shape in the rotation.

Our offense (if healthy) should be one of the best in baseball led by Goldy, Pollock, Segura, Lamb, Peralta, Castillo, Tomas, Owings, etc.

3) A bullpen.


If we revamp the pen and our key guys stay healthy then who knows what can happen next year.

I'd expect some improvement from those three (particularly Greinke), but I wouldn't expect anything close to 2015 level success for Miller. His peripherals have always been pretty meh (low strikeout rate, pedestrian walk rate, fairly HR prone). I wouldn't be surprised if Ray has a very solid year (especially if he continues to post elite strikeout numbers) and Bradley continues to improve (his ERA was almost a full run above his FIP/xFIP).

I do think the D-Backs rotation will be better next year.

 

[navamind]

Just going by Fangraphs, their 2017 projections expect the D-Backs to improve from 5.49 RA/G to 4.48. A full run would be a huge improvement. Their current projections have them improving to 79-83.

Depth Charts » Projected Standings | FanGraphs Baseball

Very early, of course.

 

[navamind]

Lamb and Pollock are huge x-factors as well. Pollock was one of the most valuable players in the NL in 2015 and Lamb showed a lot of progress at the plate last season, especially in terms of power production (went from .123 ISO to .260).

 

[calsnowskier]

The Giants are looking bully. End of story.

If a LFer falls in their lap, great, but they have 2 guys ready for graduation who should be given the shot (Parker /Williamson) with 2 more guys ready to step in if needed (Slater and Duggar) and 2 journeymen who may be able step up (Blanks, Hernandez).

The Giants have publicly stated that they will get one of the big 3 closers (I am not sure why they would say that...), so you gotta assume they will get one (likely Melancon). But they need at least one additional arm to go along with the closer. They have been linked to Holland, but I would hate for them to after him with too much confidence.

 

[moxie]

Question for fans of my division rivals - what do you want from you team this winter?

@HammerDown @calsnowskier @moxie @Arizona_Sting @The Derski @dredinis21 @Bolts

Tagging a few who come to mind, no offense if you weren't included. Just trying to liven up the thread.

LOL are there any Rockies fans on this board?

MOAR PITCHING!

 

[Bolts]

DBacks add a starter, lose Segura.

 

[Montalban]

Lamb and Pollock are huge x-factors as well. Pollock was one of the most valuable players in the NL in 2015 and Lamb showed a lot of progress at the plate last season, especially in terms of power production (went from .123 ISO to .260).

Lamb really slumped in the second half though.

 

[navamind]

Dodgers have resigned Rich Hill to 3/$48M. He had like $3M in career earnings in 2015. I feel very happy for him, dude worked his ass off to get to this point. That curveball is one of the most ridiculous pitches out there.

 

[navamind]

@Arizona_Sting, @Davis_Mike and whatever Diamondbacks fans: here's the D-Backs 2017 ZiPS projections.

2017 ZiPS Projections – Arizona Diamondbacks | FanGraphs Baseball

Pretty optimistic outlook on the D-Backs rotation after last season. The Cliff Lee comp for Ray is... interesting. Ray's walk rate is like double Lee's career walk rate.

 

[calsnowskier]

Melancon to the Giants...

Giants To Sign Mark Melancon

 

[Davis_Mike]

@Arizona_Sting, @Davis_Mike and whatever Diamondbacks fans: here's the D-Backs 2017 ZiPS projections.

2017 ZiPS Projections – Arizona Diamondbacks | FanGraphs Baseball

Pretty optimistic outlook on the D-Backs rotation after last season. The Cliff Lee comp for Ray is... interesting. Ray's walk rate is like double Lee's career walk rate.

Thanks, I've been waiting for this.

Drury, who had a solid season while playing much of the time out of position in LF, a weakness? The good news for the rotation, is that outside of Greinki, they are still pretty young & should see some improvement. They addition of Mathis should help. The BP is a mess.

 

[navamind]

Thanks, I've been waiting for this.

Drury, who had a solid season while playing much of the time out of position in LF, a weakness? The good news for the rotation, is that outside of Greinki, they are still pretty young & should see some improvement. They addition of Mathis should help. The BP is a mess.

ZiPS projects Drury to hit for an 89 wRC+, which would be considerably below average for a LF. Where's he supposed to play next year?

Defensive metrics certainly didn't love him, though it's not a large sample size (469 innings in LF)

 

[Davis_Mike]

ZiPS projects Drury to hit for an 89 wRC+, which would be considerably below average for a LF. Where's he supposed to play next year?

Defensive metrics certainly didn't love him, though it's not a large sample size (469 innings in LF)

He only played LF because Pollock & Peralta were out for most of the season. So we were stuck playing Tomas, Owings & whoever was hitting, in the OF. He isn't a LF. He is a 2B/3B who will get his ABs there in 2017. He will get almost all of the LHP ABs at 3B & split time at 2B. He had a wRC+ 102 for the season as a rookie playing out of position. And I wouldn't be surprised if Owings gets traded or is the everyday SS & Drury is the starter at 2B.

 

[navamind]

He only played LF because Pollock & Peralta were out for most of the season. He isn't a LF. He is a 2B/3B who will almost all his ABs there in 2017. He will get almost all of the LHP ABs at 3B & split time at 2B.

gotcha

 

[dredinis21]

We just signed the guy on my wish list as well as Melancon spilling the beans on Giants signing Brian Morris to a minor league deal, so the re-tooling of the pen is starting to take place. Having that anchor for the 9th allows Law to slide into a set up role along with Will Smith, with Strickland and co. getting them there. There is word out here in LA that the Giants have had convos with JP Howell, who I have always liked and thought he was severely mis-used during his time as a Dodger.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Rockies sign Ian Desmond and plan to use him at 1st...

that top 7 in their lineup is the best in baseball.

1) Blackmon
2) DJ LeMahieu
3) Arenado
4) Cargo
5) Desmond
6) Story
7) Dahl

 

[navamind]

yes, let's put a guy with a career 100 OPS+ (104 last year) at 1B.











Paying him $70M and throwing away a first round pick. What a stupid signing.

 

[calsnowskier]

yes, let's put a guy with a career 100 OPS+ (104 last year) at 1B.











Just stupid.

In Colorado. That is good for about .340 and 45 HRs.

 

[calsnowskier]

And the Rox gave up the #11 pick to get Desmond.

 

[Bolts]

yes, let's put a guy with a career 100 OPS+ (104 last year) at 1B.











Paying him $70M and throwing away a first round pick. What a stupid signing.

Considering they've got interest in Trumbo as well, they could've just spent big money on him to play 1B and kept the strong OF they have. Desmond's home/road splits this year were pretty big(.865 OPS at home compared to .703 away), I'd expect more of that with the Rockies.