2017 AL CENTRAL DISCUSSION

[dougplayer]

Forget the guy/girl with two screen names ... none of the posts are worthy.

Cleveland's in charge
KC is not going away
White Sox have a brilliant future
Detroit and Minnesota ... I'm confused

White Sox bright future
NAWWWHHAAAS
VOL..you kill me. I know you like kissing up to Indian fan. Almost as much as iffy. But white Sox. Give me a break.

 

[richig07]

Forget the guy/girl with two screen names ... none of the posts are worthy.

Cleveland's in charge
KC is not going away
White Sox have a brilliant future
Detroit and Minnesota ... I'm confused

Detroit is where the White Sox were last season. They know they have to sell, but kind of balked at going all-in with it. It's going to be a long rebuild of the farm system. They're about to pay for years of neglecting it. However, it's time they finally addressed it.

Minnesota is just... still Minnesota. I don't know what else to say. We all knew they'd fade.

KC is definitely looking good to win a WC spot, so long as their pitching holds up. As far as the division, it's hard for me to imagine Cleveland not taking it.

As far as the White Sox. Rodon has had two consecutive dominant starts, and it's cool to see him looking like he may have finally turned a corner toward reaching that potential we all know he has. Moncada is struggling, but starting to come around. Not worried... and Delmonico has kind of been crushing the ball since coming up from AAA. Should be more youngsters coming up in September, and I'm looking forward to it. They're going to lose 100 games this year, but things should start to get fun next spring. When we start to get a glimpse of what the future will look like.

 

[Iffster]

Forget the guy/girl with two screen names ... none of the posts are worthy.

Cleveland's in charge
KC is not going away
White Sox have a brilliant future
Detroit and Minnesota ... I'm confused

Seriously...do you have ANYTHING more to offer? You repeat the same thing over and over.

 

[Voltaire26]

Detroit is where the White Sox were last season. They know they have to sell, but kind of balked at going all-in with it. It's going to be a long rebuild of the farm system. They're about to pay for years of neglecting it. However, it's time they finally addressed it.

Minnesota is just... still Minnesota. I don't know what else to say. We all knew they'd fade.

KC is definitely looking good to win a WC spot, so long as their pitching holds up. As far as the division, it's hard for me to imagine Cleveland not taking it.

As far as the White Sox. Rodon has had two consecutive dominant starts, and it's cool to see him looking like he may have finally turned a corner toward reaching that potential we all know he has. Moncada is struggling, but starting to come around. Not worried... and Delmonico has kind of been crushing the ball since coming up from AAA. Should be more youngsters coming up in September, and I'm looking forward to it. They're going to lose 100 games this year, but things should start to get fun next spring. When we start to get a glimpse of what the future will look like.

This is just good observation. The ChiSox have done a hellofa job rebuilding. Detroit with a new on field management team and a little luck could be back in the hunt. Cleveland has another year before they start splintering apart ... could be an interesting season next year

Moncada is going to be a beast.

 

[Wamu]

Checking the updated ALc standings looks like the Tribe's still in 1st place & the Tigers still have the 3rd worst record in the American League. To quote Nelson Muntz...

 

[dougplayer]

Checking the updated ALc standings looks like the Tribe's still in 1st place & the Tigers still have the 3rd worst record in the American League. To quote Nelson Muntz...


View attachment 164059

Wow. Pat your self on the back way. You figured the standings out all by your self.

 

[Iffster]

One of the Tiger's" closer of the future", Joe Jimenez, got clobbered today. Gave up 4 runs in two thirds of an inning. Rondon has been bad, and he is another "closer of the future" (I think he has had that title of about three years). Looks like Shane Greene has the job right now.

BTW...has anyone noticed that the AL Central is made up of mediocre (or worse) teams.

 

[richig07]

Some thoughts from today within the division...

John Hicks is a really good young player, as is Mahtook
Nick Castellanos has incredible upside
Anibal Sanchez is horrendous
Victor Martinez needs to retire
The 2017 White Sox are currently the worst major league team I've ever been alive to see, might not win 10 more games. Seriously... That's not a joke
Cleveland's offense sometimes really likes to sleepwalk through games

 

[Iffster]

Some thoughts from today within the division...

John Hicks is a really good young player, as is Mahtook
Nick Castellanos has incredible upside
Anibal Sanchez is horrendous
Victor Martinez needs to retire
The 2017 White Sox are currently the worst major league team I've ever been alive to see, might not win 10 more games. Seriously... That's not a joke
Cleveland's offense sometimes really likes to sleepwalk through games

Neither John Hicks, nor Mikki Mahtook are 'young' players....both are 27 and AAA veterans. Nick Castellanos' "upside" has been talked about for years. Tiger fans are still waiting to see it. This is his 4th year as a starting 3b. His defense STILL is among the worst in the league, he has never developed into the 30 homerun guy they hoped he would, and this year, he has had trouble getting his BA over .250. So "INCREDIBLE UPSIDE"??? I think it is about time he showed some of it. He is 25 with four years as a starter, and this year he has been treading water (if that!). As for VMart...he probably should retire. But Detroit will be paying him $18milllion next year, so I suspect he will stick around to collect those checks.

 

[richig07]

Neither John Hicks, nor Mikki Mahtook are 'young' players....both are 27 and AAA veterans. Nick Castellanos' "upside" has been talked about for years. Tiger fans are still waiting to see it. This is his 4th year as a starting 3b. His defense STILL is among the worst in the league, he has never developed into the 30 homerun guy they hoped he would, and this year, he has had trouble getting his BA over .250. So "INCREDIBLE UPSIDE"??? I think it is about time he showed some of it. He is 25 with four years as a starter, and this year he has been treading water (if that!). As for VMart...he probably should retire. But Detroit will be paying him $18milllion next year, so I suspect he will stick around to collect those checks.

Neither John Hicks, nor Mikki Mahtook are 'young' players....both are 27 and AAA veterans.

Mahtook only has 500 big league AB's, and has come along to do a lot of good things (offensively and defensively) since beginning to play every day, following JD's departure. Hicks has only 100 big league AB's, and has done an absolutely great job all year when being called up. It's fair enough to point out that they're not young. However, they're proving to be interesting guys going into a rebuilding period.

So "INCREDIBLE UPSIDE"??? I think it is about time he showed some of it.

He has... you watched much recently? He was on a tear coming out of the break. He's going to hit 20-25 HR's without breaking much of a sweat. He's a .260 career hitter, still only 25 and flashing a lot of power the past couple of months. I also watched a sit-down talk with him recently, where they talked about remodeling his swing. It was interesting. Living in Detroit and watching the Tigers everyday. One thing I must say, is that they have one of the best/most dynamic TV broadcasts/productions I've seen in baseball.

Anyway, Castellanos could be inching towards 100 HR's by the end of next season. He's pacing for a very nice career.

 

[Voltaire26]

Some thoughts from today within the division...

(1) John Hicks is a really good young player, as is Mahtook
(2) Nick Castellanos has incredible upside
(3) Anibal Sanchez is horrendous
(4) Victor Martinez needs to retire
(5) The 2017 White Sox are currently the worst major league team I've ever been alive to see, might not win 10 more games. Seriously... That's not a joke
(6) Cleveland's offense sometimes really likes to sleepwalk through games

(1) Hicks and Mahtook could be solid platoon or back ups - a good team needs players like that.
(2) I see a corner outfield spot for Nick
(3) The Tigers will buy out Sanchez's option and he will be a free agent ... there is still a good pitcher in him, he must find it
(4) Martinez might have a future as a hitting coach ... the dude can still hit, but I can outrun him and I have 4.5 speed (4.5 minutes for 40 feet).
(5) Great looking future for the White Sox, they are going to be a pain in the ass in about two years
(6) Cleveland has that luxury.

 

[Voltaire26]

Neither John Hicks, nor Mikki Mahtook are 'young' players....both are 27 and AAA veterans.

Mahtook only has 500 big league AB's, and has come along to do a lot of good things (offensively and defensively) since beginning to play every day, following JD's departure. Hicks has only 100 big league AB's, and has done an absolutely great job all year when being called up. It's fair enough to point out that they're not young. However, they're proving to be interesting guys going into a rebuilding period.

So "INCREDIBLE UPSIDE"??? I think it is about time he showed some of it.

He has... you watched much recently? He was on a tear coming out of the break. He's going to hit 20-25 HR's without breaking much of a sweat. He's a .260 career hitter, still only 25 and flashing a lot of power the past couple of months. I also watched a sit-down talk with him recently, where they talked about remodeling his swing. It was interesting. Living in Detroit and watching the Tigers everyday. One thing I must say, is that they have one of the best/most dynamic TV broadcasts/productions I've seen in baseball.

Anyway, Castellanos could be inching towards 100 HR's by the end of next season. He's pacing for a very nice career.

You will be answering him a lot ... he is very needy (two screen names is a lot of effort).

 

[richig07]

(1) Hicks and Mahtook could be solid platoon or back ups - a good team needs players like that.

Yeah, that's very fair. They both hit lefties well, and Mahtook plays a good defensive CF.

 

[Iffster]

Neither John Hicks, nor Mikki Mahtook are 'young' players....both are 27 and AAA veterans.

Mahtook only has 500 big league AB's, and has come along to do a lot of good things (offensively and defensively) since beginning to play every day, following JD's departure. Hicks has only 100 big league AB's, and has done an absolutely great job all year when being called up. It's fair enough to point out that they're not young. However, they're proving to be interesting guys going into a rebuilding period.

So "INCREDIBLE UPSIDE"??? I think it is about time he showed some of it.

He has... you watched much recently? He was on a tear coming out of the break. He's going to hit 20-25 HR's without breaking much of a sweat. He's a .260 career hitter, still only 25 and flashing a lot of power the past couple of months. I also watched a sit-down talk with him recently, where they talked about remodeling his swing. It was interesting. Living in Detroit and watching the Tigers everyday. One thing I must say, is that they have one of the best/most dynamic TV broadcasts/productions I've seen in baseball.

Anyway, Castellanos could be inching towards 100 HR's by the end of next season. He's pacing for a very nice career.

Seems like YOU have a problem with people correcting your ''thoughts''. I DID NOT say Hicks or Mahtook were BAD players, nor did I raise a comment on their amount of major league playing time. I pointed out that, at 27, they are not ''young'' as YOU stated. Voltaire's comment on these two is, by far, more to the point.

As for Castellanos....why not check Fangraphs and his rankings over the last 4 years. He has NOT performed as hoped. You can spin it all you want, but he has NOT had a NICE career. He has been listed as one of the WORST 3B every year. His defense is terrible, he strikes out too often and his power numbers, while not terrible, are not good enough to make up for those deficits. BTW...Fangraphs rank him 22 out of 25 qualifying 3b.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Cam Gallagher's defense looks impressive. Good eye. Some weak sauce batspeed as expected but that's probably ok as a backup catcher.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

As far as the WC goes, I think it is absolutely critical, assuming KC does not win the division, to be at home to take full advantage of Duffy's ability to keep the ball in the park and eat innings. I want nothing to do with the bandboxes of Fenway or YS.

 

[richig07]

Seems like YOU have a problem with people correcting your ''thoughts''. I DID NOT say Hicks or Mahtook were BAD players, nor did I raise a comment on their amount of major league playing time. I pointed out that, at 27, they are not ''young'' as YOU stated. Voltaire's comment on these two is, by far, more to the point.

As for Castellanos....why not check Fangraphs and his rankings over the last 4 years. He has NOT performed as hoped. You can spin it all you want, but he has NOT had a NICE career. He has been listed as one of the WORST 3B every year. His defense is terrible, he strikes out too often and his power numbers, while not terrible, are not good enough to make up for those deficits. BTW...Fangraphs rank him 22 out of 25 qualifying 3b.

Okay dude... I'm done talking to you like a man. I tried, lol.

Not everything is a confrontation.

For chrissake, I don't even think I disagree with anything you've said.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Also, Whit Merrifield has been a very Ben Zobrist-like-lite type player this year. Pleasant surprise.

 

[Iffster]

Okay dude... I'm done talking to you like a man. I tried, lol.

Not everything is a confrontation.

For chrissake, I don't even think I disagree with anything you've said.

I did not initially mean to attack you. Just correcting some minor mistakes on your part.

 

[Iffster]

As far as the WC goes, I think it is absolutely critical, assuming KC does not win the division, to be at home to take full advantage of Duffy's ability to keep the ball in the park and eat innings. I want nothing to do with the bandboxes of Fenway or YS.

Ah yes...AL Wild Card race. As I call it the 'Battle to the Top of Mediocre.'