bbkobabe
Well-known member
OK: Spring is here, hope springs eternal, and we've had some time to see who's on our favorite team this year...
So, how many wins will your team end up with? And do they make the playoffs?
I'll Start: The SF Giants have put all their eggs into the pitching basket, and their list of hurlers is formidable. Solid defense to back them up as well. They are showing early signs of being a team that will run, steal bases, and mess with the opposing pitcher's heads. They are leading in steals during spring training and causing havoc with the new rules and the pizza box bases. It's going to be fun to watch them messing with the opposing pitcher's rhythm. That is: If they can get on base... They don't have many hitters with solid power on the roster. They will need to take advantage of "small ball" strategies to score runs. But they just don't have enough hitting to make a playoff run, and I'm seeing 87wins and just missing the final wild card spot... unless they can make a major trade or unless everything goes perfectly as it did two years ago...
Looking at the rest of the division? San Diego has bought an amazing team and are expected to run away with the division. Could happen! If they have enough pitching to hold off the contenders that is. And they have a lot of big egos and players making bad decisions with their off the field behavior so it could go south for them. I'm predicting many dramatic high scoring games... and a lot of 9-7 type outcomes. we'll see which end of those games the Pod's end up on. But with all that hitting, they should take the division... If they can all stay on the same page!
The Dodgers are in a rebuilding year, saving their money, and giving Kershaw his (expensive) victory lap. They are waiting for the end of the year to try and win the Ohtani sweepstakes. I bet they will, so watch for the Dodgers to make him the first half a billion dollar player next year. But they look like a .500 team today so at least they are out of the way. They might squeak into the wildcard slot if they do a LOT of in-season trading, and if they don't it could be the end for Roberts as manager. He has endured incredible heat from the fans over the last couple of years, despite the fact they keep winning the division. If they end up at .500 and get Ohtani, I predict the management will do a complete reset, clean house, and Roberts will be out!
The rest of the division looks like they have talent levels similar to the Giant's and the Dodgers: Lots of good players but not standouts. I see the Rockies, Arizona - which both also have talented teams lacking star power - plus the Dodgers and the Giants all playing each other evenly and ending up near .500 in the inter-divisional play. The only variable is that the schedule has the NL West teams playing each other far less this year with this new balanced scheme, so that will add a new wrinkle to the whole race. It will make things harder to predict and may lead to some unexpected outcomes.
So: Giant's at 87 wins and narrowly missing the wild card as it stands today after a very entertaining season full of tight 3-2 type games.
BTW: Did Bob Uecker ever play a ukulele? That would be hilarious... Photos, anyone?
So, how many wins will your team end up with? And do they make the playoffs?
I'll Start: The SF Giants have put all their eggs into the pitching basket, and their list of hurlers is formidable. Solid defense to back them up as well. They are showing early signs of being a team that will run, steal bases, and mess with the opposing pitcher's heads. They are leading in steals during spring training and causing havoc with the new rules and the pizza box bases. It's going to be fun to watch them messing with the opposing pitcher's rhythm. That is: If they can get on base... They don't have many hitters with solid power on the roster. They will need to take advantage of "small ball" strategies to score runs. But they just don't have enough hitting to make a playoff run, and I'm seeing 87wins and just missing the final wild card spot... unless they can make a major trade or unless everything goes perfectly as it did two years ago...
Looking at the rest of the division? San Diego has bought an amazing team and are expected to run away with the division. Could happen! If they have enough pitching to hold off the contenders that is. And they have a lot of big egos and players making bad decisions with their off the field behavior so it could go south for them. I'm predicting many dramatic high scoring games... and a lot of 9-7 type outcomes. we'll see which end of those games the Pod's end up on. But with all that hitting, they should take the division... If they can all stay on the same page!
The Dodgers are in a rebuilding year, saving their money, and giving Kershaw his (expensive) victory lap. They are waiting for the end of the year to try and win the Ohtani sweepstakes. I bet they will, so watch for the Dodgers to make him the first half a billion dollar player next year. But they look like a .500 team today so at least they are out of the way. They might squeak into the wildcard slot if they do a LOT of in-season trading, and if they don't it could be the end for Roberts as manager. He has endured incredible heat from the fans over the last couple of years, despite the fact they keep winning the division. If they end up at .500 and get Ohtani, I predict the management will do a complete reset, clean house, and Roberts will be out!
The rest of the division looks like they have talent levels similar to the Giant's and the Dodgers: Lots of good players but not standouts. I see the Rockies, Arizona - which both also have talented teams lacking star power - plus the Dodgers and the Giants all playing each other evenly and ending up near .500 in the inter-divisional play. The only variable is that the schedule has the NL West teams playing each other far less this year with this new balanced scheme, so that will add a new wrinkle to the whole race. It will make things harder to predict and may lead to some unexpected outcomes.
So: Giant's at 87 wins and narrowly missing the wild card as it stands today after a very entertaining season full of tight 3-2 type games.
BTW: Did Bob Uecker ever play a ukulele? That would be hilarious... Photos, anyone?