Saj, rank the following six in probability of occurence, from most to least possible, and preferably with a short explanation.
1. Beckett (7-0 in seven starts) wins 30 games.
2. Derrick Lee (.394) or anyone hits .400.
3. Alex Rodriguez (15) or anyone finishes with 62 HR.
4. Francisco Cordero (15) or anyone saves 58 games.
5. The Milwaukee Brewers win the division.
6. The New York Yankees miss the playoffs.
1. The Milwaukee Brewers win the NL Central. Not a very strong division, they've shown great starting pitching and good hitting from their youngsters, and not even Bud Selig (Snidely Whiplash himself) can keep the Chorizo off the Miller Park race track this year.
2. The New York Yankees miss the playoffs. I had a tough time picking between this one and the next two. In the end this seemed like a safer bet. There are just too many good teams in the AL. The wild card could again take at least 90 wins and the Yankees might not have it.
3. Alex Rodriguez (15) or anyone finishes with 62 homers. I could flip-flop this and number two and be fine with it, but I won't. As long as people keep pitching to ARod he has a good shot at 62, not to mention the possibility of guys like Pujols, Howard, Ortiz, or Hafner catching fire and jacking homers like Bonds pops greenies. Plus the possibility of ARod hitting 60 homeruns and the Yankees missing the playoffs is too enticing to not root for.
4. Francisco Cordero (15) or anyone saves 58 games. This is a matter of luck more than anything. Lots of guys can close out 58 games they just need the opportunities. Unfortunately I do not think any one closer will see 60 save opportunities this year.
5. Derrek Lee (.394) or anyone hits .400. I'm beginning to think that hitting .400 is becoming the most impossible single-season hitting milestone to achieve in baseball. More than Dimaggio's 56 games or Wilson's RBI record. The guy who breaks it is going to be a Jose Reyes type (infield singles, walks some) or a Barry Bonds type (only swings at pitches he can drive, walks a lot). Either way it'll take a guy who doesn't strike out a lot and the guiding hand of lady luck to let ten to twenty more hits fall.
6. Josh Beckett (7-0) wins 30 games. Simply impossible. Best case scenario, Beckett gets 35 starts this season. That means he only has five starts in which he can lose or get the no decision and there are too many variables that contribute to a W: run support, opposing pitcher, how many players were paid off by the bookies, etc.
We agree too often. The only difference in our list is that I had Yankees missing the playoffs at 3, and Arod hitting 62 at 2. If you were offered even money on the Yanks making the playoffs, which side would you bet on?
Hands down that they miss the playoffs. I'm never unbiased in bets like these, you know that.
I disagree. I still expect them to make the playoffs, even after getting humiliated by the Rangers today. Saj, you know what's going to happen. They're going to rip off 8 in a row by scoring 65-70 runs, go on a 17 out of 20 streak, and be a few games within the playoff race and with all the momentum in the world. Then everyone will take the Yanks to make the playoffs, the only question will be if they overtake Boston. It's going to happen, it's just a matter of when.
Showing posts with label Milwaukee Brewers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Milwaukee Brewers. Show all posts
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
MLB: Two weeks in
Quick little plug for my Presidential Politics blog...Much like Saj and I posting everyday in the month of March with our baseball preview, I am making nine straight days of posts during my April vacation.
Anyway, random thoughts on random teams in baseball.
Arizona - They should be pretty happy with baseball's fourth best record and Randy Johnson not yet with the big club. Brandon Webb is a nice anchor, but to get a quality #2 starter will go a long way into maintaining a solid record. Now we just have to see if Johnson can return to quality.
Atlanta - Funny how much easier things are when your bullpen is three-deep.
Baltimore - I really feel bad for these fans. At 7-6 and a game out, they must be optimistic. But how much longer can Eric Bedard and Daniel Cabrera pitch well?
Cleveland & Seattle - They've played nine and eight games, respectively, which is 50% less than many teams. Not only does this throw them off their rhythm now, but they'll be playing double headers in the dog days.
Kansas City - At 3-10, the worst record in baseball. The more things change...
LA Dodgers - Best record in baseball... and Grady Little in charge come postseason time.
Milwaukee - Awww, these guys are so cute on top of their division.
NY Mets - This lineup is scary and it will come around when the weather warms up. The starting pitching is as eclectic as it gets...we'll see if it can hold together for six months.
NY Yankees - This pitching staff is in shambles. SHAMBLES I TELL YOU! Still, it looks as if there's a chance they can line up both Pettitte and Wang for the weekend's showdown at Fenway.
Boston - Starting pitching looks great. Bullpen has been solid and has yet to be involved in a decision. The offense is consistent. The manager is experienced. This is the best team in baseball.
Anyway, random thoughts on random teams in baseball.
Arizona - They should be pretty happy with baseball's fourth best record and Randy Johnson not yet with the big club. Brandon Webb is a nice anchor, but to get a quality #2 starter will go a long way into maintaining a solid record. Now we just have to see if Johnson can return to quality.
Atlanta - Funny how much easier things are when your bullpen is three-deep.
Baltimore - I really feel bad for these fans. At 7-6 and a game out, they must be optimistic. But how much longer can Eric Bedard and Daniel Cabrera pitch well?
Cleveland & Seattle - They've played nine and eight games, respectively, which is 50% less than many teams. Not only does this throw them off their rhythm now, but they'll be playing double headers in the dog days.
Kansas City - At 3-10, the worst record in baseball. The more things change...
LA Dodgers - Best record in baseball... and Grady Little in charge come postseason time.
Milwaukee - Awww, these guys are so cute on top of their division.
NY Mets - This lineup is scary and it will come around when the weather warms up. The starting pitching is as eclectic as it gets...we'll see if it can hold together for six months.
NY Yankees - This pitching staff is in shambles. SHAMBLES I TELL YOU! Still, it looks as if there's a chance they can line up both Pettitte and Wang for the weekend's showdown at Fenway.
Boston - Starting pitching looks great. Bullpen has been solid and has yet to be involved in a decision. The offense is consistent. The manager is experienced. This is the best team in baseball.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
The Greatest Baseball Preview in America: Milwaukee Brewers
Saj, I don't think you were clear enough. Do you think the Pirates will do well this year?
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Pitching: I forgot Ben Sheets went 6-7 last year. And he's their ace. As talented as Sheets is, if the ace of a mediocre-at-best team is below .500 in an injury plagued season, they probably underperformed. The Brewers, however, seem to be an improving team, and their young pitchers are a reason why. Sheets, Capuano, and Dave Bush, though they combined for a one-game-under-.500 record last year, should all improve in 2007. The addition of Jeff Suppan gives them a pitcher that can hover around .500 as well.
The Brewers' bullpen is a complete mess. They brought in Francisco Cordero to be their savior in the 9th inning, which is kind of like bringing in Isiah Thomas to revive your struggling business. The rest of their pen is loaded with guys stiffer than Wayne Newton's face, including Derrick Turnbow, who apparently had his arm heal after a "Rookie of the Year" type season in 2005.
Hitting: There are a few pieces to like in the Brewers lineup. Richie Weeks and Prince Fielder make up a young, talented right side of the infield. (Prince Fielder is younger than me, that SOB.) Unfortunately, the young Prince hurt himself running a 60-yard-dash, which was about as predictable as Sean Hannity making no sense on a social issue.
There are other pieces to the puzzle that can do the job, like Koskie, Hall, Jenkins, Estrada, and Grafanino. The problem is this team has little power and little speed beyond Fielder and Weeks.
Miscellaneous: Every aspect of this team is average to below average. Except one thing... The sausage race!!!
Pirate-related Ridiculous Proposition Bet: Odds on the Staush winning the most amount of races this year - Exactly 5:1.
Previous Preview
NL Central
Pittsburgh Pirates
Chicago Cubs
NL West
San Diego Padres
Los Angeles Dodgers
San Francisco Giants
Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Pitching: I forgot Ben Sheets went 6-7 last year. And he's their ace. As talented as Sheets is, if the ace of a mediocre-at-best team is below .500 in an injury plagued season, they probably underperformed. The Brewers, however, seem to be an improving team, and their young pitchers are a reason why. Sheets, Capuano, and Dave Bush, though they combined for a one-game-under-.500 record last year, should all improve in 2007. The addition of Jeff Suppan gives them a pitcher that can hover around .500 as well.
The Brewers' bullpen is a complete mess. They brought in Francisco Cordero to be their savior in the 9th inning, which is kind of like bringing in Isiah Thomas to revive your struggling business. The rest of their pen is loaded with guys stiffer than Wayne Newton's face, including Derrick Turnbow, who apparently had his arm heal after a "Rookie of the Year" type season in 2005.
Hitting: There are a few pieces to like in the Brewers lineup. Richie Weeks and Prince Fielder make up a young, talented right side of the infield. (Prince Fielder is younger than me, that SOB.) Unfortunately, the young Prince hurt himself running a 60-yard-dash, which was about as predictable as Sean Hannity making no sense on a social issue.
There are other pieces to the puzzle that can do the job, like Koskie, Hall, Jenkins, Estrada, and Grafanino. The problem is this team has little power and little speed beyond Fielder and Weeks.
Miscellaneous: Every aspect of this team is average to below average. Except one thing... The sausage race!!!
Pirate-related Ridiculous Proposition Bet: Odds on the Staush winning the most amount of races this year - Exactly 5:1.
Previous Preview
NL Central
Pittsburgh Pirates
Chicago Cubs
NL West
San Diego Padres
Los Angeles Dodgers
San Francisco Giants
Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
