AL Central Smack Talk

[navamind]

The only new additions the Tribe has is David Murphy will be the starting right fielder, Shawn marcum is our 5th starter, and Cody Allen has moved to the permanent closer.

Looks like the Indians just got a little better and more experienced. Hopefully it will be a good season!

If Marcum can stay healthy, that could end up being a bargain by the Indians. He was a good pitcher before an injury-riddled 2013.

But yea, I don't see how they finish behind the Twins and White Sox. They're just plain awful right now (though at least the Twins future looks bright). I like what Hahn's done for the White Sox so far, but it's gonna be a few years until the ChiSox can compete.

 

[dougplayer]

Can't really see Indians getting with in10 games of the tigers.
Royals have better chance to sniff tiger tail than any body.
Twins and Indians will have brutal seasons. White Sox can only go up.
Let's face it, tigers just have to throw there mitts out there to win the central.

 

[dougplayer]

Miggy. healthy, verlander healthy.

Looks like more hardware coming to Detroit.
Maybe even some rings.

 

[dougplayer]

People are starting to call. Michigan. That Basketball school.
B HOke wont let people forget football. Did. You see how tough he got with that kicker? Kicked him out of the program

 

[navamind]

dougie trolling aside, I still don't see how anyone other than the Tigers take the division. Even without Fister, they still have a very impressive rotation. Verlander-Scherzer-Sanchez is as good as any 1-2-3. I don't think Porcello will ever live up to the hype that was around him when he came up, but he has shown improvement over the years. I expect that to translate to better results, especially with an improved defense behind him. I like Smyly a lot.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Unlike last year, I think the Royals are at least in a reasonable striking distance to get in the playoffs this year if some things roll their way. They definitely improved the TTL of the team, the question is if that will translate into additional wins though. Does the Hosmer that posted at least a 130 Wrc+ every month after May show up? Or does something else happen. Will Moustakas ever figure it out with the bat? Will his wizardry with the glove (+14 DRS in 2012 compared to -3 in 2013) return?

 

[Shanemansj13]

Can't really see Indians getting with in10 games of the tigers.
Royals have better chance to sniff tiger tail than any body.
Twins and Indians will have brutal seasons. White Sox can only go up.
Let's face it, tigers just have to throw there mitts out there to win the central.

I will put this in the dugout for all the Indians to see. Like I said they are basically the same team with more depth and more experience.

Tigers lost their 2 best power hitter. 10 games is a stretch, but you said the same thing last season amd the Tribe proved you wrong again.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

I will put this in the dugout for all the Indians to see. Like I said they are basically the same team with more depth and more experience.

Tigers lost their 2 best power hitter. 10 games is a stretch, but you said the same thing last season amd the Tribe proved you wrong again.

Um, Kazmir and Ubaldo were big parts of Cleveland's team last year.


Edit:


Ubaldo: 3.2 fWAR
Kazmir: 2.5 fWAR


5.7 fWar just went poof for the Indians.

 

[Shanemansj13]

People are starting to call. Michigan. That Basketball school.
B HOke wont let people forget football. Did. You see how tough he got with that kicker? Kicked him out of the program

A kicker! That's BIG statement!

 

[Fountain City Blues]

A kicker! That's BIG statement!

Dougy is a riot, isn't he?

 

[Shanemansj13]

Um, Kazmir and Ubaldo were big parts of Cleveland's team last year.

I forgot about Kazmir but like navamind said Marcum if healthy is just as good if not close. And Ubaldo was good at times just wasn't consistent and had a high ERA. I like Mccalister much better, but he was hurt for some time last season.

Rotation looks potentially good, young, and talented:

Masterson
Mccalister
Salazar
Kluber
Marcum

 

[Shanemansj13]

Dougy is a riot, isn't he?

 

[dougplayer]

I stand by my evaluation. Tigers just to strong in the central.
Spring training is so long.
I am going to puke if the papers tell us how happy asmus is the tigers put there uniforms on just right

 

[dougplayer]

I don't think I like this. Asmus. Glad Leyland is gone. But he is to rah rah for me

 

[Fountain City Blues]

I forgot about Kazmir but like navamind said Marcum if healthy is just as good if not close. And Ubaldo was god at times just wasn't consistent and had a high ERA. I like Mccalister much better, but he was hurt for some time last season.

Rotation looks potentially good, young, and talented:

Masterson
Mccalister
Salazar
Kluber
Marcum

The Royals rotation is a bit on the old side, but it should get younger as the year goes along.

My guess is it will start like this:

Shields
Vargas
Guthrie
Chen
Duffy


Ventura should be called up in early May to replace Chen. Zimmer should hopefully be ready (Biceps tendinitis not forbidding) to fill in for X starter who sucks or gets injured.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

By the way, isn't it a rule to lock a thread once it hits 10,000 posts?

 

[Shanemansj13]

Um, Kazmir and Ubaldo were big parts of Cleveland's team last year.


Edit:


Ubaldo: 3.2 fWAR
Kazmir: 2.5 fWAR


5.7 fWar just went poof for the Indians.

I did like Kazmir a lot. He did have an over 4 ERA but was solid at the 5. That was the best Ubaldo was since he came to Cleveland with close to 2 atrocious years so not that disappointed but he was a big part last year.

Kluber 11-5 3.85 ERA
Mccalister in limited action 9-9 3.75 ERA

 

[Shanemansj13]

By the way, isn't it a rule to lock a thread once it hits 10,000 posts?

I don't know, but shhhh.

We can break a record!

 

[navamind]

I forgot about Kazmir but like navamind said Marcum if healthy is just as good if not close. And Ubaldo was good at times just wasn't consistent and had a high ERA. I like Mccalister much better, but he was hurt for some time last season.

Rotation looks potentially good, young, and talented:

Masterson
Mccalister
Salazar
Kluber
Marcum

Jimenez had a 2.61 ERA from April 29 to Sept 29, spanning 28 starts and 165.2 innings.

/selectiveendpoints

I like Kluber and Salazar a lot. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they had one of the best rotations in the AL (maybe all of MLB) this year.

 

[Shanemansj13]

The Royals rotation is a bit on the old side, but it should get younger as the year goes along.

My guess is it will start like this:

Shields
Vargas
Guthrie
Chen
Duffy


Ventura should be called up in early May to replace Chen. Zimmer should hopefully be ready (Biceps tendinitis not forbidding) to fill in for X starter who sucks or gets injured.

I'm interested to see what KC does this year. They suprised everyone last year, but how can they repeat that season??