21 out of 33 games are at HOME between now and the All Star Break

[cezero]

This is the litmus test for me regarding the M's ability to play winning baseball sustainably.

Can they stay above .500 at their nemesis of a home ball park?

The last 3 games are against the A's, so that's going to be a very interesting end to the first half of the season, IMO.

 

[NWinAZ]

You have to win each series at home to be a real contender. This will be a great test.

 

[cezero]

It'll be tough.

Staying at .500 or above would be a nice accomplishment for them.

A year ago I'd say there's no chance, but that's really not the case anymore, obviously.

 

[SeattleCoug]

Agree that this stretch will determine if this team is real.
3 vs. NYY
3. vs Tex
2 vs. SD
2 @ SD
3 @ KC
3 vs BOS
3 vs Cle
3 @ Hou
3 @ CWS
4 vs Minn
3 vs Oak

As of now only 2 of those teams are over .500. The A's and Indians. I dont think going something like 18-15 is to much to ask. Puts you 8 games over .500 heading into the break and probably puts you at one of wild cards or very close to it.

 

[cezero]

oops, it's 21 out of 32 games

:wacko:

 

[cezero]

18 out of 29 now.

Really hoping that getting 5 over .500 wasn't an anomaly, but there's simply no evidence to the contrary.

FUCK this front office for not articulating a remotely decent offense to complement the pitching. Even an offense just barely in the top half of the league would probably be able to hang in there.

 

[Tapey]

I cry whenever we play at home, and I think I'm not alone.

 

[cezero]

I was hoping that they could prove me wrong, but the offensive deficits for this team are just insurmountable.

It's really a crazy anomaly that they've been able to stay at or above .500 as much as they have.

Just imagine if the offense was "only" in the bottom 10 of the AL instead of 2nd or 3rd worst.

 

[SeattleCoug]

I was hoping that they could prove me wrong, but the offensive deficits for this team are just insurmountable.

It's really a crazy anomaly that they've been able to stay at or above .500 as much as they have.

Just imagine if the offense was "only" in the bottom 10 of the AL instead of 2nd or 3rd worst.[/QUOTE]

Thats been a consistent theme in Jack Z era. The offense has ranked something like 23rd or worse in runs scored and batting average every year he he has been here. Most of the time those have been in the bottom 3. If the M's could actually crack the top 20 in either category (which they are 20th in runs going into today) then they could maybe have a season like this one which is around .500.

The fact is the offense is never built to have success in Safeco. Z is obsessed with power which wont translate here. The M's were second in the AL in homers last year, yet they were 12th in runs.

Areas such as OBP and base running need to be stressed. Their OBP is last in the AL by 15 points, tied for last in walks, 12th in steals, last in stolen base %, and 14th in sacrifice flies. Until the lineup is built to improve stats like those then scoring runs in Safeco will be a struggle.

 

[cezero]

yeah, man. very frustrating because it's obviously not a priority for the team, either. it's not even on a short list of priorities, it seems.

maybe z really did try to get free agent bats to come here, and they just don't want to no matter what. i don't know to what degree it's a lack of commitment on the team's part, or more about good hitters just not wanting any part of this team.

if they don't want to come here, the only other avenue is to trade, and that's a terrifying prospect given' Z's incompetence.

the very definition of a catch 22/kobayashi maru scenario.

maybe if somehow the m's manage to eke out a .500 record this year, they can entice some good hitters to join cano and the rest of the kiddos?

fuck if i know.

 

[EVille3]

Playoffs or not, the rest of this season is HUGE. If the M's can continue their current pace and finish at or just above .500, you'd have to think that quality bats will think they are the difference to put this team over the top with their pitching in place.

 

[cezero]

back home.

TERRIFIC series against the red hot royals.

now is the time to turn things around at home. please!

6 more series to play, total, before the AS break.

if the m's can win 4 of those series, i'll be happy.

 

[gohusk]

yeah, man. very frustrating because it's obviously not a priority for the team, either. it's not even on a short list of priorities, it seems.

maybe z really did try to get free agent bats to come here, and they just don't want to no matter what. i don't know to what degree it's a lack of commitment on the team's part, or more about good hitters just not wanting any part of this team.

if they don't want to come here, the only other avenue is to trade, and that's a terrifying prospect given' Z's incompetence.

the very definition of a catch 22/kobayashi maru scenario.

maybe if somehow the m's manage to eke out a .500 record this year, they can entice some good hitters to join cano and the rest of the kiddos?

fuck if i know.

I'll give the FO credit for pulling the trigger on Cano but that was a no-brainer. The entire franchise was on the brink and the FO needed to prove they were willing to pull the trigger on a huge deal. The contract will suck a few years from now but he's as safe of a bet as you can get as far as FA's go in the short term.

If we had a competent FO i'd say put Walker on the block to get a bat in here. But this is our FO so I hope he's untouchable right now.

 

[SeattleCoug]

Well we have managed an 8-8 record in this stretch thus far including a 5 game winning streak and a 5 game losing streak.
Before the 1st closes out with the A's we are looking at 4 series against sub .500 teams

3 vs Cleveland 38-40
3 @ Houston 34-46
3 @ Chicago 36-43
4 vs Minnesota 36-40

As inconsistent and as a tough as this team is to predict it would be nice to see an 8-5 stretch there. I don't think that's asking to much. Go into that A's series with a little momentum.