A.L. Central Smack Talk 2014

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I think this is the year Trout finally(yes even at 22 it's finally) gets his MVP. Damn this guy is good, and the Angels are competing.

Only guy who compares is Bautista and it isn't really close. Should be his year.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Only guy who compares is Bautista and it isn't really close. Should be his year.

Well, there is a lot of empirical data that actually disagrees, but in terms of traditional MVP voting, I suspect you are correct.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Well, there is a lot of empirical data that actually disagrees, but in terms of traditional MVP voting, I suspect you are correct.

Of course I shouldve stated that. But that is a whole different conversation...

 

[gvsulaker82]

The a's are definitely the team to beat now in the AL. They may have been before the trade. Samardzija becomes a top five pitcher with oakland with only sale, price, tanaka, hernandez better. Jason hammel is a solid contributor as well. Move allows them to put chavez back in the pen where he belongs strengthening it more. Their offense is already impressive as well.

 

[gvsulaker82]

And next year they will have parker back!

 

[da55bums]

Probably Butler. Moose gets a pass lately with the mini powersurge and decent past month or so.

Moose is number one. They need to send him down for the rest of the season or might as well nickname him kingman.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Moose is number one. They need to send him down for the rest of the season or might as well nickname him kingman.

Moose has been fine for the past month. He hasn't been a boat anchor in the lineup like Butler and Hosmer...

 

[navamind]

Moose has been fine for the past month. He hasn't been a boat anchor in the lineup like Butler and Hosmer...

Seriously. I'm not high on Moose, but of all the things on the Royals to bitch about lately, Moose isn't one of them. He has a .865 OPS over his last 20 games (and that's with a .255 BABIP). His recent performance has been encouraging.

 

[da55bums]

Moose is teasing. He needs a serious send down...or he will be the next Brandon Inge or Jeff franc our.

 

[gandydancer]

Moose is teasing. He needs a serious send down...or he will be the next Brandon Inge or Jeff franc our.

Moose really is on the DaBums shit list.

 

[gandydancer]

The a's are definitely the team to beat now in the AL. They may have been before the trade. Samardzija becomes a top five pitcher with oakland with only sale, price, tanaka, hernandez better. Jason hammel is a solid contributor as well. Move allows them to put chavez back in the pen where he belongs strengthening it more. Their offense is already impressive as well.

I felt they were the cream of AL before the trade. Jeff Samardzija going to the A's is like Fister going to Detroit. Fister was solid with no support and Jeff was same way. Not that Fister is a top 5 type pitcher.

I would throw Yu Darvish in that mix also GVSU...

 

[broncosmitty]

People seem to be valuing JS a little more than I realized. Having a very good season for sure. Not sure it affects my opinion on the As a great deal. They were very good to begin with. Still are. But we'll see if pitching in Oakland, with 9 acres of foul territory is better than pitching to pitchers.

 

[navamind]

People seem to be valuing JS a little more than I realized. Having a very good season for sure. Not sure it affects my opinion on the As a great deal. They were very good to begin with. Still are. But we'll see if pitching in Oakland, with 9 acres of foul territory is better than pitching to pitchers.

Agreed. Samardzija's best year (prior to this year) was 2012, where he had a 3.81 ERA (107 ERA+) over 174.2 innings. Considering how many innings he pitched, it was about average. Last year, he had a 4.34 ERA (91 ERA+), though he at least pitched 213.2 innings.

He has had some pretty good strikeout and walk rates over the last few years though. And this year, he's been keeping more balls in the park (only 0.6 HR/9, was 1.0 in 2012-13), and he will be moving from Wrigley to O.co, so the home runs probably won't go up (much).

 

[broncosmitty]

It's not that I don't think he's good. I do. But I need a lot more than one season over 200 innings with a mid4's ERA(and a 170's inning solid ERA season ) to view a guy as a determining factor in a division or pennant race. He a solid piece that's been added. Not even sure he's Oaklands #1 right now, might be, could be. But Gray's first full season is definitely looking better than JS's. (which im counting as last year)There certainly are a lot more than 5 guys Id rather have taking the mound for me in the AL. Three for sure in the Central in Kluber, Scherzer and Shields. But Im not going to say Id rather have him going over Vargas, Sanchez, Verlander or Quintana. (Crazy underrated)Masterson hasn't impressed at all this season, but he's capable of putting together 17 starts along the lines of what JS has done in 2014. We'll see how he does against the lineup down state from Oakland before I make any predictions on Oaklands championship chances.

 

[da55bums]

Wow...Oakland with that offense and now major upgrade in their, what, al leading pitching staff..just a ballsy go for the ring move..now they are built for the post season. Love to see a team go for it when they are close. Seems like they keep getting better every year.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

why is Alex Gordon an All Star? lol.

 

[navamind]

why is Alex Gordon an All Star? lol.

Because Gordon's an incredible defender?

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Because Gordon's an incredible defender?

So you are an all star because of that? What the fuck.

 

[da55bums]

Not sure at all on Gordon but love Salvy getting the start and Holland there.

 

[navamind]

So you are an all star because of that? What the fuck.

When you're saving your team ~20 runs with your glove (in half a season, nonetheless) and putting up a 111 OPS+? Absolutely.

Gordon ranks 5th in the AL in WAR behind Trout, Donaldson (another great defender), Kinsler and Bautista.