What division leader ends up not winning the division?

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Let's clarify. The White Sox are capable of catching the Indians.
The Giants have too much pitching depth to go into a long slump.
I don't give a fuck about the Indians.

Translation: I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about, I just like to go on the internets and act like a swinging dick.

 

[Villain]

Let's clarify. The White Sox are capable of catching the Indians.
The Giants have too much pitching depth to go into a long slump.
I don't give a fuck about the Indians.

LOL

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

2016 Starters ERA
CLE - 3.70
SFG - 3.48

2016 Bullpen ERA
CLE - 3.55
SFG - 3.94

2016 Team ERA
CLE - 3.63
SFG - 3.55

2016 Team ERA+
CLE - 129
SFG - 111

@JohnU: Giants' pitching is way too deep. I don't give a shit about the Indians. Also, I'm a half-wit.

 

[Cyder]

Going with the O's. 2 teams right on their ass and it looks like the Jays have straightened themselves out.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Going with the O's. 2 teams right on their ass and it looks like the Jays have straightened themselves out.

Yeah, I think that's the consensus pick on which is the most likely, but you can vote for more than one.

 

[JohnU]

@JohnU: Giants' pitching is way too deep. I don't give a shit about the Indians. Also, I'm a half-wit.

I doubt you are a halfwit, but the point is, even if we are right about this, ain't nobody gonna pay us extra respect or money. I just think with Cueto and Madbum, the Giants are unlikely to go into a skid of any sort in a division that has 3 pretty ordinary teams in a league that has 5 of the worst teams in MLB.

I think everyone has said the Indians have overachieved, whatever that means. I never liked their hitting this year. Brantley will help it a little.

I think KC was the odds-on until Moose got hurt. I just have a gut feeling about the Sox. Maybe the incentive is there because of the Cubs. That matters in Chicago.

 

[Loneranger]

Indians are overachieving.
Seriously, I think the White Sox can win the ALC.

I wouldn't bet 5cents on any div. leader in the AL.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

The O's, Sox and Jays are going to get into a real dick-swinging contest between now and the deadline. Should be fun.

 

[Bulletz]

Going with the O's. 2 teams right on their ass and it looks like the Jays have straightened themselves out.

Ugh. I have to agree unfortunately, though I could see Houston overtaking the Rangers too. Seems like the NL leads and Cleveland are the safest.

 

[The Q]

CLE is pretty clearly the best best team in the AL based on run differential. And that's been without Brantley or Almonte.

They still should add a bat because Almonte isn't eligible for the post season and Naquin is basically a ticking time bomb. He isn't nearly as good as his numbers indicate.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

I doubt you are a halfwit, but the point is, even if we are right about this, ain't nobody gonna pay us extra respect or money.

Spoiler

I just think with Cueto and Madbum, the Giants are unlikely to go into a skid of any sort in a division that has 3 pretty ordinary teams in a league that has 5 of the worst teams in MLB.

Seems like your reason for giving the Giants a better chance to holding their division as opposed to the Indians has less to do with the two teams' relative pitching depth (or strength) and more to do with the fact that the Giants play in a mediocre division in a shit league and the Indians don't. That's more reasonable to me.

I think everyone has said the Indians have overachieved, whatever that means.

I disagree. Most people had the Indians competing in 2016. Eleven of 31 ESPN "experts" picked the Indians to win the division and another six picked them to win a wild card, so more than half picked the Tribe to win the division or a wild card. Baseball Prospectus picked the Indians to win the division.

I never liked their hitting this year. Brantley will help it a little.

That's reasonable and I tend to agree. However, the Indians offense was only slightly below average last year, and most saw reasons to expect improvement in 2016. Add the fact that they had one of the top pitching staffs in baseball last year, and you see why some folks picked them.

I think KC was the odds-on until Moose got hurt. I just have a gut feeling about the Sox. Maybe the incentive is there because of the Cubs. That matters in Chicago.

Fifteen of the 31 ESPN guys picked the Royals to win the division. Given the fact that the Royals were a back-to-back World Series contenders and the reigning champion, I think you're going to have a fair amount of people just to phone it in and pick the Royals. Frankly, I'm surprised the count between the Indians and Royals is as close as it was.

For what it's worth, only two of the 31 picked the White Sox to win anything, and they both picked the 2nd AL Wild Card. I guess the experts don't share your thought that the White Sox jealousy of the Cubs will propel them beyond their abilities.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Baltimore. You have Toronto and Boston fighting for that division.

Possibly Washington. The Mets could get hot but injuries could be a problem.

 

[Shanemansj13]

I don't recall asking you to participate.

 

[Clayton]

Baltimore but the Nationals and Giants are really the only two I'm sold on as strong division favorites.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

CLE is pretty clearly the best best team in the AL based on run differential. And that's been without Brantley or Almonte.

It's been a couple of weeks since I did the math, but when I checked it last, they had the 2nd best run differential in baseball, second only to the Cubs.

They still should add a bat because Almonte isn't eligible for the post season and Naquin is basically a ticking time bomb. He isn't nearly as good as his numbers indicate.

Word.

 

[calsnowskier]

CLE is pretty clearly the best best team in the AL based on run differential. And that's been without Brantley or Almonte.

They still should add a bat because Almonte isn't eligible for the post season and Naquin is basically a ticking time bomb. He isn't nearly as good as his numbers indicate.

???

 

[The Q]

???

He was suspended for PEDs. Thus ineligible if the Indians make it.

I don't like the rule, it was an extreme reaction by social justice warriors and poor timing of a suspending ending for a 1 game playoff...but it is the rule now.

 

[calsnowskier]

He was suspended for PEDs. Thus ineligible if the Indians make it.

Again, ???

If a player gets popped, they are ineligible for awards and honors (MVP, ASG, etc), but not postseason play...

 

[The Q]

Again, ???

If a player gets popped, they are ineligible for awards and honors (MVP, ASG, etc), but not postseason play...

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/29/s...players-now-ineligible-for-playoffs.html?_r=0

 

[calsnowskier]

I was unaware. Thanks...