A.L. Central Discussion 2016

[broncosmitty]

Early in the season, sure.

Baseball Prospectus | Baseball Therapy: Is Oakland's Run Differential for Real?

That 2014 A's team is just bizarre. Their lineup fell off a cliff in the 2nd half. They weren't able to replace Cespedes' production, but it's not like he was lighting it up in Boston. Moss fell off a cliff after his hip injury. Donaldson was one of the few players on the team that hit in the 2nd half.

Sparky Anderson used to say something along the lines of "you don't know what you got until your 40 games in."

That's easy to buy into.

Run differential being tied to future wins and losses, not so much for me. But I agree with most of the generalities the author made. Especially the ending.

 

[broncosmitty]

A corelation is obvious but the type of team is in play. Good pitching but weak hitting makes for close games and in KCs case a lot bullpen wins. In the end one game at a time is all that matters. You just want that W.

This series was an odd one for the Tigers bullpen. As they did really, really well. That won't last.

Guessing the run differential takes a hit on Saturday. As Sanchez is back to starting.

But hopefully it's 1 or 2 better before Saturday's game than it is right now. As I'm going tomorrow. And don't want to be a jinx.

 

[Good_Code]

This whole division is very freaky. I'm in no position to predict anything without more sustained evidence of consistency.

 

[Good_Code]

I meant streaky, but freaky works, lol

 

[navamind]

This whole division is very freaky. I'm in no position to predict anything without more sustained evidence of consistency.

Welp

 

[Good_Code]

I really think the Royals should be buying a SP, but they already bought the hell out of Kennedy and Ventura. It just doesn't seem like there will be enough good ones available for all the buyers.

 

[dougplayer]

I know a guy. That knows a guy that heard .
Royals are looking to get big game james back..

 

[dougplayer]

Indians starting pitching is going to get exposed.
Early season wins .....that's all it was. Hot weather now. 2nd and 3rd time around. Tigers will rake

 

[Good_Code]

Divisional games will be big

 

[Good_Code]

I know a guy. That knows a guy that heard .
Royals are looking to get big game james back..

You joke but the Tigers need pitching too. Good pitching I mean.

 

[Voltaire26]

Between iffy, doug, and bronco, this thread is known to produced headaches among readers

This is not a thread for your division ... feel free to GTFO!!!

 

[Voltaire26]

Sparky Anderson used to say something along the lines of "you don't know what you got until your 40 games in."

That's easy to buy into.

Run differential being tied to future wins and losses, not so much for me. But I agree with most of the generalities the author made. Especially the ending.

I used to believe that, but I can't figure out the Tigers this year!!

 

[Howie115]

I don't give a hoot about run differential. The thing that bothers me most about the Tigers is the number of games this year where they score 5+ runs and lose.

 

[Iffster]

I used to believe that, but I can't figure out the Tigers this year!!

Not to be negative...but to me, they seem pretty consistent. They have stayed roughly between 4 games over and 4 games under .500. Short winning streaks and short losing streaks. As they approach the half way mark....I feel comfortable in calling them a .500 club. (Luckily for them, that keeps them in the running in the AL Central)

 

[Iffster]

Doug...you may be right. The Tribe's starting rotation might "be exposed" in the second half. Sadly...the Tigers rotation was exposed in the first half. Three pitchers and then a black hole. (pssst. whispering to only doug - Fulmer is on an innings limit, so he won't likely be around come September.)

 

[Howie115]

Not to be negative...but to me, they seem pretty consistent. They have stayed roughly between 4 games over and 4 games under .500. Short winning streaks and short losing streaks. As they approach the half way mark....I feel comfortable in calling them a .500 club. (Luckily for them, that keeps them in the running in the AL Central)

Good post, and accurate. When you have good hitting but mostly crummy pitching, it is tough to have a team that will be a whole lot north of the .500 mark.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Indians @ Tigers. Three games. One week avi bet.

Any of you soft tossers in?

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

I know a guy.

Biblically?

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

I feel comfortable in calling them a .500 club. (Luckily for them, that keeps them in the running in the AL Central)

81 wins won't be in the running for the Central title.

 

[dougplayer]

Doug...you may be right. The Tribe's starting rotation might "be exposed" in the second half. Sadly...the Tigers rotation was exposed in the first half. Three pitchers and then a black hole. (pssst. whispering to only doug - Fulmer is on an innings limit, so he won't likely be around come September.)

Psssstttttfffttttt to iffy.
Fulmer is on a inning limit so he CAN BE AROUND come September. . Dude. That's why they resting him.