AL Central Discussion

[mr.hockey4242]

Hes gonna make a run at the Cy if he keeps at his current pace and Cole has anymore blow ups.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

6 game lead now. Guardians on life support.

Tigers might finish 2nd

 

[fightinfunbags]

6 game lead now. Guardians on life support.

Tigers might finish 2nd

I think the division was over when the Guardians sold at the deadline.

 

[catman]

Keuchel looked pretty good today. Julien came up big.

 

[VikingFan2k2]

I think the division was over when the Guardians sold at the deadline.

You underestimate the Twins' ability to keep teams alive. 2 with Milwaukee, 7 with Texas and 6 with Cleveland in the next 17 days. A 5-10 or 4-11 mark is not out of the question. And if that happens, The Guardians are right back in the thick of things competing for a division that might be won by a below .500 team.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I think the division was over when the Guardians sold at the deadline.

true- though it was really probably over when Bieber got hurt.

they will be in good shape next year...I really do not think they were expecting last year to happen- they almost traded Jose at the beginning of last year.

Maybe they trade Bieber- maybe they don't. Hopefully McKenzie and Espino get healthy. They should have some money to spend. So important that Williams, Bibee and Allen look like 3 guys to go forward with in the rotation.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I think the division was over when the Guardians sold at the deadline.

it was the right decision. They had the hardest schedule in baseball winning % wise in the 2nd half. Even if they somehow squirmed into the playoffs it was highly unlikely they could have even made a run like last year when they beat the Rays and pushed the Yanks to a game 5 winner take all.

Its a good core. Hopefully Francona will be back but he has had some health issues of his own. I think he likes the core though and knows the roster really wont even come into its prime for another year or two for the most part and better times are ahead.

Not all the young guys will work out- but they have had so many top 100 guys- Kwan, Gimenez, Arias, Rocchio, Naylor, Valera, Williams, Espino, Allen, Bibee, etc...some will work out- some wont- but the building blocks are there.

It will definitely be a team built around pitching and defense - contact hitting, running, not striking out- but I think they will have some money to spend (especially if they deal Bieber).

They need an OF that is legit and they need a 1B/DH/OF type bat. Other than that just need internal development. Maybe a veteran reliever.

 

[WiggyRuss]

despite all the injuries, etc. Guardians Team ERA is still 3rd best in baseball. Pitching is going to be just fine. Need Manzardo to be legit- and hopefully Rocchio and Bo Naylor take some steps.

 

[WiggyRuss]

a bummer of a day- one of our 2 family dogs died today. He was a havaneese...13 years old. When I moved home for law school he was my buddy for a few years. Always tough.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

You underestimate the Twins' ability to keep teams alive. 2 with Milwaukee, 7 with Texas and 6 with Cleveland in the next 17 days. A 5-10 or 4-11 mark is not out of the question. And if that happens, The Guardians are right back in the thick of things competing for a division that might be won by a below .500 team.

We will have to go like 1-5 or 0-6 in the head to head games for them to gain any real ground. Guardians schedule is still mostly brutal as well. They have the Dodgers this week. They still have a series with the Rangers as well.

 

[fightinfunbags]

it was the right decision. They had the hardest schedule in baseball winning % wise in the 2nd half. Even if they somehow squirmed into the playoffs it was highly unlikely they could have even made a run like last year when they beat the Rays and pushed the Yanks to a game 5 winner take all.

Its a good core. Hopefully Francona will be back but he has had some health issues of his own. I think he likes the core though and knows the roster really wont even come into its prime for another year or two for the most part and better times are ahead.

Not all the young guys will work out- but they have had so many top 100 guys- Kwan, Gimenez, Arias, Rocchio, Naylor, Valera, Williams, Espino, Allen, Bibee, etc...some will work out- some wont- but the building blocks are there.

It will definitely be a team built around pitching and defense - contact hitting, running, not striking out- but I think they will have some money to spend (especially if they deal Bieber).

They need an OF that is legit and they need a 1B/DH/OF type bat. Other than that just need internal development. Maybe a veteran reliever.

What did they actually get back at the deadline though for punting on the season?

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Michael A Taylor has more homeres then all Guardians outfielders combined. Thats crazy haha.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Keep getting younger. The youth is what stirs the drink on this team.

 

[broncosmitty]

a bummer of a day- one of our 2 family dogs died today. He was a havaneese...13 years old. When I moved home for law school he was my buddy for a few years. Always tough.

Sorry to that man.

Never easy to say goodbye to friend.

 

[VikingFan2k2]

a bummer of a day- one of our 2 family dogs died today. He was a havaneese...13 years old. When I moved home for law school he was my buddy for a few years. Always tough.

I'm really sorry to hear that. Dogs are always there for us through whatever bullshit that life throws at us.

 

[WiggyRuss]

What did they actually get back at the deadline though for punting on the season?

2 pretty good prospects and some financial flexibility and the ability to open up positions for younger guys to develop that will be with the team long term.

 

[VikingFan2k2]

2 pretty good prospects and some financial flexibility and the ability to open up positions for younger guys to develop that will be with the team long term.

Is the new ownership with Blitzer as a partner prepared to open the purse strings up next year or is that years down the line?

The idea of your farm system with a big payroll is quite scary.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Is the new ownership with Blitzer as a partner prepared to open the purse strings up next year or is that years down the line?

The idea of your farm system with a big payroll is quite scary.

It is a good question.

My initial response is to say- yes- I think they wil lrun bigger payrolls with the minority ownership- that I think everyone believes will someday turn into majority ownership--- but the thing is- the amount of $ you need to spend in order to get a solid veteran is just so much nowadays. Bell was cheap for 2 years 35 million or whatever it was. Michael Conforto got a 2 year 36 million deal.

Can I see the Guardians spending that when they have a pretty highly rated prospect like Valera? I dont know. Obviously a real veteran is better but the type of money you need to spend to get a solid veteran is justs so much nowadays and so often they do not work out.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

I thought Laureano was a solid pick up and worth the shot for Cleveland.

Eric Haase though?? Now that is dumpster diving in desperate times.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

Torkelson is now tied for 5th in the league in Home Runs since June. He is starting to figure it out.