For AL supremacy: Cleveland at Texas for four 8/25-8/28

[darrylgann]

A split is all I can expect from this. Hope our offense shows up.

 

[Bmurph]

Gotta get Beltran going again

 

[RevSader]

Gotta get Beltran going again

He's swinging the bat extremely well...Just need every ball he hits to stop going right at fielders...He's been getting robbed big time the past couple of games.

 

[Nightcrawler]

I think the offense will ignite. I'm not saying blow people out or anything, but we should and usually do get at least 3 runs per game at home. Having the DH again should help, unless Darvish is pitching, then we lose a big bat.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Alright, @romeo212000, you rat bastid, you up for the down stroke? I needs me some payback. REVENGE!

1 week avi bet
tie broken by total runs
if that's a tie we both walk away unscathed like we just kissed our sisters

Whadda you say?

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

A split is all I can expect from this. Hope our offense shows up.

I would be pleased with a split, personally. Tribe hasn't been playing well on the road lately, and for as good as Salazar was in the first half, he's got a 9+ ERA since early July.

 

[Nightcrawler]

I would be pleased with a split, personally. Tribe hasn't been playing well on the road lately, and for as good as Salazar was in the first half, he's got a 9+ ERA since early July.

Just watch Salazar will pitch a gem and shut us out. We don't seem to take advantage of struggling pitchers like other teams do and if you guys were to throw some no name guy from triple A, I bet he would dominate.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Just watch Salazar will pitch a gem and shut us out. We don't seem to take advantage of struggling pitchers like other teams do and if you guys were to throw some no name guy from triple A, I bet he would dominate.

I was just looking over some things and noticed that the Rangers have the best record in the AL and a NEGATIVE run differential?

That's pretty unique. Going 28-8 in 1-run games has been very good for them. Fucking crazy, though. I wonder if/when a negative run diff team has ever won a division? I went back through 2010, and it hadn't happened - I think 88-74 was the closest, but I wasn't pay too close attention to that.

Seems like something would have to give there, but they've got a 6.5 game lead. Crazy shit.

 

[PhantomWarrior]

I was just looking over some things and noticed that the Rangers have the best record in the AL and a NEGATIVE run differential?

That's pretty unique. Going 28-8 in 1-run games has been very good for them. Fucking crazy, though. I wonder if/when a negative run diff team has ever won a division? I went back through 2010, and it hadn't happened - I think 88-74 was the closest, but I wasn't pay too close attention to that.

Seems like something would have to give there, but they've got a 6.5 game lead. Crazy shit.

Rangers were in negative numbers through the second week of September last year. Finished the season +7 and the Division title.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Rangers were in negative numbers through the second week of September last year. Finished the season +7 and the Division title.

Wow. Presumably two straight years of the division winner having a nearly neutral run differential. So what does that say about the AL West?

 

[PhantomWarrior]

Wow. Presumably two straight years of the division winner having a nearly neutral run differential. So what does that say about the AL West?

That the Rangers find ways to win ballgames. Perhaps an esoteric factor metrics have not caught up to yet. Kinda like not knowing the make up of dark matter.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

On the MLB Daily Thread (8/22, I think), @molsaniceman just brought to my attention the 1987 Minnesota Twins. They finished the regular season with a -20 run differential, and went on to win the World Series. Remarkable.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

That the Rangers find ways to win ballgames. Perhaps an esoteric factor metrics have not caught up to yet. Kinda like not knowing the make up of dark matter.

Could be. I'm thinking there might be a bit more objective explanation out there, though.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

I'll say, though, a neutral run differential for a winning team could be skewed by some close wins and a few blowout losses.

With twenty-eight 1-run wins in 2016, that could heavily skew the diff for the Rangers.

 

[romeo212000]

Could be. I'm thinking there might be a bit more objective explanation out there, though.

I'd say it has a lot to do with some very bad losses we incurred due to some very bad pitchers who are not part of our staff any more.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

On the MLB Daily Thread (8/22, I think), @molsaniceman just brought to my attention the 1987 Minnesota Twins. They finished the regular season with a -20 run differential, and went on to win the World Series. Remarkable.

Didn't know this. Appreciate the info.

 

[saddles]

I'll say, though, a neutral run differential for a winning team could be skewed by some close wins and a few blowout losses.

With twenty-eight 1-run wins in 2016, that could heavily skew the diff for the Rangers.

We are currently the only team in the divisional era that has an overall win percentage of .550 or better with a blowout win percentage of .450 or worse. Blowouts being defined as games with a 5 run or more differential. We are currently the only team to ever do that.

 

[saddles]

Adam Morris says he would pass on both Desmond and Lucroy if they command as much as he thinks they will. At some point we are going to have to spend some big bucks on our offense though.

 

[saddles]

 

[romeo212000]

Adam Morris says he would pass on both Desmond and Lucroy if they command as much as he thinks they will. At some point we are going to have to spend some big bucks on our offense though.

I'd be more inclined to spend in Lucroy than Desmond.