MLB rankings

[calsnowskier]

So I suppose the target for this thread is who's got the best team. I think Stanton makes the Yankees the team to beat now. Not Houston. Not LA.

The two top teams in te AL last year were the Yanks and ‘Stros. Yanks added an uber-slugger, and lost a mid-level starting 2B. The ‘Stros added a solid #3 SP. The Dodgers have shuffled some contracts, in the end really only weakening their SP depth, but they had a LOT to begin with, so big whoop.

Based solely on that analysis (as in-depth as I think was), I think you still gotta give the edge to Houston. But it isn’t a clear edge.

 

[obxyankeefan]

The two top teams in te AL last year were the Yanks and ‘Stros. Yanks added an uber-slugger, and lost a mid-level starting 2B. The ‘Stros added a solid #3 SP. The Dodgers have shuffled some contracts, in the end really only weakening their SP depth, but they had a LOT to begin with, so big whoop.

Based solely on that analysis (as in-depth as I think was), I think you still gotta give the edge to Houston. But it isn’t a clear edge.

Short series (7 games) pitching wins. With that I think the Yankees win the most games during the regular season only to lose the ALCS to the Astros again.

 

[navamind]

I think the Astros will finish with the best record in baseball though idk if they'll top 100 wins. AL West should actually be pretty tough with no really bad teams (Rangers are projected to be the worst team at 77-85) and the Angels look like one of the top WC contenders going into 2018. Dodgers offense could be better than last year's, but the pitching might regress a little. Astros look like the most well rounded team though if I had one concern for them, it's durability in the rotation. But even then, they have several solid backup options (Morton/McHugh/Peacock).

The only divisions I really see coming down to the wire are the AL East and NL Central (which could be a three team race if the Brewers grab an arm or two imo). I think the Jays will finish above .500 and and be in the WC race throughout the season, but I don't think they have the pitching to really challenge the Sox/Yanks for the division. I could see the Angels making the AL West interesting, but I think they need a fair amount to go right with the rotation's health and Ohtani panning out.

 

[calsnowskier]

I think the Astros will finish with the best record in baseball though idk if they'll top 100 wins. AL West should actually be pretty tough with no really bad teams (Rangers are projected to be the worst team at 77-85) and the Angels look like one of the top WC contenders going into 2018. Dodgers offense could be better than last year's, but the pitching might regress a little. Astros look like the most well rounded team though if I had one concern for them, it's durability in the rotation. But even then, they have several solid backup options (Morton/McHugh/Peacock).

The only divisions I really see coming down to the wire are the AL East and NL Central (which could be a three team race if the Brewers grab an arm or two imo). I think the Jays will finish above .500 and and be in the WC race throughout the season, but I don't think they have the pitching to really challenge the Sox/Yanks for the division. I could see the Angels making the AL West interesting, but I think they need a fair amount to go right with the rotation's health and Ohtani panning out.

Yea...

Between the Astros and Dodgers, I don’t know who will take the division...

 

[obxyankeefan]

Yea...

Between the Astros and Dodgers, I don’t know who will take the division...

I think he meant for the best record during the season.

 

[Voltaire26]

I think the Astros will finish with the best record in baseball though idk if they'll top 100 wins. AL West should actually be pretty tough with no really bad teams (Rangers are projected to be the worst team at 77-85) and the Angels look like one of the top WC contenders going into 2018. Dodgers offense could be better than last year's, but the pitching might regress a little. Astros look like the most well rounded team though if I had one concern for them, it's durability in the rotation. But even then, they have several solid backup options (Morton/McHugh/Peacock).

The only divisions I really see coming down to the wire are the AL East and NL Central (which could be a three team race if the Brewers grab an arm or two imo). I think the Jays will finish above .500 and and be in the WC race throughout the season, but I don't think they have the pitching to really challenge the Sox/Yanks for the division. I could see the Angels making the AL West interesting, but I think they need a fair amount to go right with the rotation's health and Ohtani panning out.

Common Sense would dictate that the Cleveland Indians would have the best record in baseball, because their division appears real weak and the amount of game they pay against division foes.

 

[navamind]

I think he meant for the best record during the season.

Yeah, I just constructed that post like an idiot.

 

[JohnU]

Common Sense would dictate that the Cleveland Indians would have the best record in baseball, because their division appears real weak and the amount of game they pay against division foes.

It is possible that the 2nd-best team in the AL-C is the White Sox and they might win 76 games.
That is, unless we think the Twins weren't a one-night stand.

 

[Voltaire26]

It is possible that the 2nd-best team in the AL-C is the White Sox and they might win 76 games.
That is, unless we think the Twins weren't a one-night stand.

The White Sox have a buttload of talent ... but they're young ... however, they are young enough to not know they're not suppose to be good ... the White Sox could be real dangerous.

 

[navamind]

ZiPS likes the Cubs.

2018 ZiPS Projections – Chicago Cubs | FanGraphs Baseball

Every position projects to be above average and the rotation projects to be quite good though there isn't a lot of depth.

 

[JohnU]

ZiPS likes the Cubs.

2018 ZiPS Projections – Chicago Cubs | FanGraphs Baseball

Every position projects to be above average and the rotation projects to be quite good though there isn't a lot of depth.

There is every reason to believe that the Cubs front office is aware of its pitching needs and its ability to address it. The Cubs were able to pluck Quintana last year, Chapman in -16 and they'll get somebody again this year. If they wanted Arrieta, they'd have kept him.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

the only guy to legitimately hit 50 HR in a season in decades?

Conjecture.

 

[nynasty]

The two top teams in te AL last year were the Yanks and ‘Stros. Yanks added an uber-slugger, and lost a mid-level starting 2B. The ‘Stros added a solid #3 SP. The Dodgers have shuffled some contracts, in the end really only weakening their SP depth, but they had a LOT to begin with, so big whoop.

Based solely on that analysis (as in-depth as I think was), I think you still gotta give the edge to Houston. But it isn’t a clear edge.

Yup. They're the champs, and they lost no one of importance. They added Cole, and they get a full season of Verlander. Major upset if they're not the #1 seed in October, IMO.

 

[Voltaire26]

Yup. They're the champs, and they lost no one of importance. They added Cole, and they get a full season of Verlander. Major upset if they're not the #1 seed in October, IMO.

The Angels have loaded up as well ... the AL West could be interesting

 

[JohnU]

Conjecture.

It's also not relevant and was overstating a point, which was about the best teams in the league, not who hit 50 home runs in 2009 or 1999 or 4 years ago. Stanton played in an airport in Miami. That makes 58 HR a very LEGITIMATE NUMBER.

Adding him to the Yankees mix was the point. 58 home runs or one a week, he makes them a very strong team.
I didn't expect a debate over whether his home run totals mattered. He adds a power bat a team that already has a 50 HR guy.
Sorry for the interruption.

 

[nynasty]

The Angels have loaded up as well ... the AL West could be interesting

Angels will be fascinating this year, I agree. Consensus best player in the game, and now the proud owners of the "Japanese Babe Ruth". I've read they've already decided on a 6 man rotation. Will be really interesting to see how they use Otani on the days he's not pitching.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

It's also not relevant and was overstating a point, which was about the best teams in the league, not who hit 50 home runs in 2009 or 1999 or 4 years ago. Stanton played in an airport in Miami. That makes 58 HR a very LEGITIMATE NUMBER.

Adding him to the Yankees mix was the point. 58 home runs or one a week, he makes them a very strong team.
I didn't expect a debate over whether his home run totals mattered. He adds a power bat a team that already has a 50 HR guy.
Sorry for the interruption.

My point was that I wouldn't assume he's not on PEDs.

 

[JohnU]

My point was that I wouldn't assume he's not on PEDs.

Well he ain't been caught. Either way, if I'd left the word "legitimate" out of it, the point was that this is a thread about MLB ratings, and if the Yanks have 2 guys worth 100 plus home runs, I think they need to be ranked in the top 2 in baseball.