2016 MLB thread. THE CUBS HAVE BROKEN THE CURSE! Chicago Cubs are your 2016 World Series champions

[cedric ceballos 1995 lakers]

Originally Posted by SCuse7

i like what weaver did, im sure hes fine with 17 million a year

glad to see him resign.  call me crazy but if the angels can manage to win the al west which is doable, i could see them reaching the world series this year.   weaver, harren, and santana is a very decent starting 3 pitching wise and if their on and the bats can get a few key hits i can see them being similar to last years giants.  i don't think they could beat philly but if they get in their rotation would be the best in the AL in my opinion.

 

[cedric ceballos 1995 lakers]

Originally Posted by SCuse7

i like what weaver did, im sure hes fine with 17 million a year

glad to see him resign.  call me crazy but if the angels can manage to win the al west which is doable, i could see them reaching the world series this year.   weaver, harren, and santana is a very decent starting 3 pitching wise and if their on and the bats can get a few key hits i can see them being similar to last years giants.  i don't think they could beat philly but if they get in their rotation would be the best in the AL in my opinion.

 

[proshares]

You still need to score runs to win games in the playoffs though. And when that team goes cold they go ICE cold. I see what you're saying with the pitching but both Boston and the Yanks hit all kinds of pitching (Boston more so).

By the way, why the hell is Baltimore making such a big deal out of playing the game on the 8th? Then Showalter wants to bring up we're disrespecting Flanagan? Come on man, I get you draw like $$+% when your home team plays other teams and you need the money but the Yanks have already lost 4 days off this year for make up games and don't wanna lose one of their remaning two for a game with Baltimore.

 

[proshares]

You still need to score runs to win games in the playoffs though. And when that team goes cold they go ICE cold. I see what you're saying with the pitching but both Boston and the Yanks hit all kinds of pitching (Boston more so).

By the way, why the hell is Baltimore making such a big deal out of playing the game on the 8th? Then Showalter wants to bring up we're disrespecting Flanagan? Come on man, I get you draw like $$+% when your home team plays other teams and you need the money but the Yanks have already lost 4 days off this year for make up games and don't wanna lose one of their remaning two for a game with Baltimore.

 

[cedric ceballos 1995 lakers]

Originally Posted by Proshares

You still need to score runs to win games in the playoffs though. And when that team goes cold they go ICE cold. I see what you're saying with the pitching but both Boston and the Yanks hit all kinds of pitching (Boston more so).

By the way, why the hell is Baltimore making such a big deal out of playing the game on the 8th? Then Showalter wants to bring up we're disrespecting Flanagan? Come on man, I get you draw like $$+% when your home team plays other teams and you need the money but the Yanks have already lost 4 days off this year for make up games and don't wanna lose one of their remaning two for a game with Baltimore.

buck showalter is annoying and has said dumb stuff throughout his career. i remember he got mad at griffey for "disrespecting the game" because he wore his hat backwards.

regarding the angels your right, the bats need to step up and perform well.  if they can get in though, i think they have the potential to be similar to last years giants but the bats will need to get some clutch hits since the pitching can only do so much.
  

 

[cedric ceballos 1995 lakers]

Originally Posted by Proshares

You still need to score runs to win games in the playoffs though. And when that team goes cold they go ICE cold. I see what you're saying with the pitching but both Boston and the Yanks hit all kinds of pitching (Boston more so).

By the way, why the hell is Baltimore making such a big deal out of playing the game on the 8th? Then Showalter wants to bring up we're disrespecting Flanagan? Come on man, I get you draw like $$+% when your home team plays other teams and you need the money but the Yanks have already lost 4 days off this year for make up games and don't wanna lose one of their remaning two for a game with Baltimore.

buck showalter is annoying and has said dumb stuff throughout his career. i remember he got mad at griffey for "disrespecting the game" because he wore his hat backwards.

regarding the angels your right, the bats need to step up and perform well.  if they can get in though, i think they have the potential to be similar to last years giants but the bats will need to get some clutch hits since the pitching can only do so much.
  

 

[proshares]

I think if they get hot at the right time, they could pull it off.  Hunter and Wells have been hot lately, gotta figure they crash soon.  Both the Angels and Tigers shouldn't be taken lightly TBH (Rangers too before Dirk comes in here

).  Wouldn't shock me at all if both Boston and NYY are out in the ALDS.

AJ Burnett, relief pitcher.

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler [+]

Spoiler

What’s there to say about A.J. Burnett?  He’s having an incredibly tough time right now, and this after looking like he’d made improvements from his career-worst 2010 campaign. These days, his ERA and FIP are both within a tenth of a run of his 2010 totals.  The Yankees’ “too many starters

 

[proshares]

I think if they get hot at the right time, they could pull it off.  Hunter and Wells have been hot lately, gotta figure they crash soon.  Both the Angels and Tigers shouldn't be taken lightly TBH (Rangers too before Dirk comes in here

).  Wouldn't shock me at all if both Boston and NYY are out in the ALDS.

AJ Burnett, relief pitcher.

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler [+]

Spoiler

What’s there to say about A.J. Burnett?  He’s having an incredibly tough time right now, and this after looking like he’d made improvements from his career-worst 2010 campaign. These days, his ERA and FIP are both within a tenth of a run of his 2010 totals.  The Yankees’ “too many starters

 

[proshares]

The Pitching Rich Get Richer.

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler [+]

Spoiler

With a starting rotation that already boasts the likes of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, and Jonathan Sanchez, the San Francisco Giants organization debuted yet another impressive starting pitcher over the weekend. Southpaw Eric Surkamp made a one-and-done appearance against he hapless Houston Astros but there is no doubt that he’ll be back after being optioned back to the minors after this start. Prior to the season, I ranked as the 11th best prospect in the Giants system.

Surkamp allowed just one run in six innings of work. He showed outstanding poise with 52 of his 87 pitches going for strikes (60%). He walked three batters but also struck out four. In his career, Surkamp has shown a tendency to induce fly-ball outs but six of his 10 in-play outs were recorded on the ground.

At double-A this season, the 24-year-old has a 10.43 K/9 rate and over-powered hitters with his plus command of a repertoire that includes an 86-90 mph fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. He showed good control, as well, and posted a walk rate of 2.78 BB/9. After missing some time in 2010, Surkamp showed good durability for 142.1 innings of work with a FIP of 2.37 (2.02 ERA). If there is one knock against him it would be his fly-ball tendencies.

Surkamp does not have a high ceiling but the North Carolina State grad has an excellent pitcher’s frame, solid mechanics and above-average command and control for his experience level. His easy-effort, low-three-quarters pitching action, four-pitch mix and strong build should allow him to provide plenty of innings. The pitching-rich Giants have a perfect No. 4 starter in Surkamp, which will allow them to focus their money on improving the limp offense, rather than throwing money at 30-something retread to provide less value for much more money than the league minimum.

There is nothing “sexy

 

[proshares]

The Pitching Rich Get Richer.

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler [+]

Spoiler

With a starting rotation that already boasts the likes of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, and Jonathan Sanchez, the San Francisco Giants organization debuted yet another impressive starting pitcher over the weekend. Southpaw Eric Surkamp made a one-and-done appearance against he hapless Houston Astros but there is no doubt that he’ll be back after being optioned back to the minors after this start. Prior to the season, I ranked as the 11th best prospect in the Giants system.

Surkamp allowed just one run in six innings of work. He showed outstanding poise with 52 of his 87 pitches going for strikes (60%). He walked three batters but also struck out four. In his career, Surkamp has shown a tendency to induce fly-ball outs but six of his 10 in-play outs were recorded on the ground.

At double-A this season, the 24-year-old has a 10.43 K/9 rate and over-powered hitters with his plus command of a repertoire that includes an 86-90 mph fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. He showed good control, as well, and posted a walk rate of 2.78 BB/9. After missing some time in 2010, Surkamp showed good durability for 142.1 innings of work with a FIP of 2.37 (2.02 ERA). If there is one knock against him it would be his fly-ball tendencies.

Surkamp does not have a high ceiling but the North Carolina State grad has an excellent pitcher’s frame, solid mechanics and above-average command and control for his experience level. His easy-effort, low-three-quarters pitching action, four-pitch mix and strong build should allow him to provide plenty of innings. The pitching-rich Giants have a perfect No. 4 starter in Surkamp, which will allow them to focus their money on improving the limp offense, rather than throwing money at 30-something retread to provide less value for much more money than the league minimum.

There is nothing “sexy

 

[champcruthik]

Everyone's top 3 ballots for NL and AL MVP?
I like to be unconventional, even controversial.

NL:

1) Justin Upton

2) Prince Fielder

3) Matt Kemp

AL:

1) Justin Verlander

2) Jacoby Ellsbury

3) Curtis Granderson

Joey Bats 

 

[champcruthik]

Everyone's top 3 ballots for NL and AL MVP?
I like to be unconventional, even controversial.

NL:

1) Justin Upton

2) Prince Fielder

3) Matt Kemp

AL:

1) Justin Verlander

2) Jacoby Ellsbury

3) Curtis Granderson

Joey Bats 

 

[osh kosh bosh]

I'm trying not be a homer but why is Joey Bats not the MVP again...one of the best offensive season in a while, am I missing something?

 

[osh kosh bosh]

I'm trying not be a homer but why is Joey Bats not the MVP again...one of the best offensive season in a while, am I missing something?

 

[champcruthik]

^ I hear you man but everyone is gonna hit you with the losing team argument. It's the same reason Matt Kemp won't win the NL MVP despite gaudy individual numbers. 
In your defense, I feel like if Bautista and Kemp are penalized for their respective teams' records then Ellsbury/Gonzo/Granderson should be handicapped by their strong lineups in Boston and NY. Bautista and Kemp have little to no protection in their lineups. 

I think the whole pitcher can't win the MVP argument is flawed as well. Detroit would not be leading the division without the strong emergence of Verlander as a dependable, true #1 ace. Miggy always produces at the plate, but Verlander puts the Tigers into any type of contention for the division/league/WS. It's plausible he ends up with 25 wins on the year, which would be impossible to ignore. 

 

[champcruthik]

^ I hear you man but everyone is gonna hit you with the losing team argument. It's the same reason Matt Kemp won't win the NL MVP despite gaudy individual numbers. 
In your defense, I feel like if Bautista and Kemp are penalized for their respective teams' records then Ellsbury/Gonzo/Granderson should be handicapped by their strong lineups in Boston and NY. Bautista and Kemp have little to no protection in their lineups. 

I think the whole pitcher can't win the MVP argument is flawed as well. Detroit would not be leading the division without the strong emergence of Verlander as a dependable, true #1 ace. Miggy always produces at the plate, but Verlander puts the Tigers into any type of contention for the division/league/WS. It's plausible he ends up with 25 wins on the year, which would be impossible to ignore. 

 

[proshares]

I can't put Prince over Ryan Braun. As crummy as his defense is, I think the other tools easily make up for it.

If I had a ballot, it'd be like this:

AL:
Bautista
Granderson
Verlander
Pedroia
Cabrera

NL:
Braun
Kemp
Upton
Votto
Tulowitzki

I feel like the NL is really clustered because McCutchen, Victorino, Fielder and Berkman have all been solid as well. I can't see not giving it to Bautista unless he has an epic collapse or Granderson hits another 12 HR's and somehow gets to 35-40 steals (which has become extremely underrated in MVP voting nowadays). I think WAR is a good indicator for who should be up there but it relies on seasonal UZR which is a stat that IMO should only be used in 2 to 3 inning intervals instead of just one. Granderson isn't a bad CF but he's rated terribly this year. Partly because Gardner also tracks down a ton of balls that Curtis usually would. I honestly believe team records should go the way that RBI's, batting average and runs scored have gone. Take it almost completely out of the equation for MVP voting. I think the pitching of Verlander AND Scherzer have kept them afloat (another underrated kid). Plus, his season is taking away from how great Miggy has been again, how good Victor has been and how Avila has somehow managed to maintain a .380 BABIP and carry them at times. I'm not against a pitcher winning the MVP but I do think that it should be a hitters only award in the future. Give it a definitive meaning so we can avoid this debate.

CY Young, barring a collapse by Verlander he should win but he's not that far ahead of CC IMO. NL CY, I think it's between Kershaw (who'd be #1 right now) and Halladay with IPK in 3rd.

 

[proshares]

I can't put Prince over Ryan Braun. As crummy as his defense is, I think the other tools easily make up for it.

If I had a ballot, it'd be like this:

AL:
Bautista
Granderson
Verlander
Pedroia
Cabrera

NL:
Braun
Kemp
Upton
Votto
Tulowitzki

I feel like the NL is really clustered because McCutchen, Victorino, Fielder and Berkman have all been solid as well. I can't see not giving it to Bautista unless he has an epic collapse or Granderson hits another 12 HR's and somehow gets to 35-40 steals (which has become extremely underrated in MVP voting nowadays). I think WAR is a good indicator for who should be up there but it relies on seasonal UZR which is a stat that IMO should only be used in 2 to 3 inning intervals instead of just one. Granderson isn't a bad CF but he's rated terribly this year. Partly because Gardner also tracks down a ton of balls that Curtis usually would. I honestly believe team records should go the way that RBI's, batting average and runs scored have gone. Take it almost completely out of the equation for MVP voting. I think the pitching of Verlander AND Scherzer have kept them afloat (another underrated kid). Plus, his season is taking away from how great Miggy has been again, how good Victor has been and how Avila has somehow managed to maintain a .380 BABIP and carry them at times. I'm not against a pitcher winning the MVP but I do think that it should be a hitters only award in the future. Give it a definitive meaning so we can avoid this debate.

CY Young, barring a collapse by Verlander he should win but he's not that far ahead of CC IMO. NL CY, I think it's between Kershaw (who'd be #1 right now) and Halladay with IPK in 3rd.

 

[kevin cleveland]

Trevor Bauer tonight: 1.2 innings, 8 hits, 10 runs, 1 hit batter, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts, 1 home run, 73 pitches. Yikes.

 

[kevin cleveland]

Trevor Bauer tonight: 1.2 innings, 8 hits, 10 runs, 1 hit batter, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts, 1 home run, 73 pitches. Yikes.

 

[champcruthik]

Pro, care to explain the absence of both Ellsbury and Gonzo in your ballot?
You know I like both Kemp and Upton, but in terms of MVP voting Justin has to be above Matt for me. The D-Backs are impressively fending off the defending WS Champs. Yes credit can be given to IPK and Hudson's stellar pitching, but Upton is the centerpiece and sole of that offense and Arizona team overall. 

 

[champcruthik]

Pro, care to explain the absence of both Ellsbury and Gonzo in your ballot?
You know I like both Kemp and Upton, but in terms of MVP voting Justin has to be above Matt for me. The D-Backs are impressively fending off the defending WS Champs. Yes credit can be given to IPK and Hudson's stellar pitching, but Upton is the centerpiece and sole of that offense and Arizona team overall. 

 

[proshares]

That's my bad, I meant to put Ellsbury next to Cabrera for 5th. A-Gone having a good year but if the only reason he's front running is because of his BA and high RBI's, then I'm not buying it. Those two fantasy stats don't really cut it for me in MVP voting. I don't have the stats in front of me but he's behind all 4/5 of them in most categories.

Matt'll get near 40/40 playing out of position in CF which will hurt his value in the eyes of voters and saber voters. That and the high K%. Upton is great but I think you're underrating the staff a bit. Those two carried them through a good amount of rough patches and the rest of that lineup is really underrated as well. Hopefully the last month puts some separation in the races because I feel people will argue about this year for a long time

 

[proshares]

That's my bad, I meant to put Ellsbury next to Cabrera for 5th. A-Gone having a good year but if the only reason he's front running is because of his BA and high RBI's, then I'm not buying it. Those two fantasy stats don't really cut it for me in MVP voting. I don't have the stats in front of me but he's behind all 4/5 of them in most categories.

Matt'll get near 40/40 playing out of position in CF which will hurt his value in the eyes of voters and saber voters. That and the high K%. Upton is great but I think you're underrating the staff a bit. Those two carried them through a good amount of rough patches and the rest of that lineup is really underrated as well. Hopefully the last month puts some separation in the races because I feel people will argue about this year for a long time

 

[champcruthik]

I'm admittedly partial towards Ellsbury so I won't get into that debate, but Upton deserves that NL MVP with Fielder a close second. Justin proved it tonight with leadership and his bat, I'm confident he'll continue to do so as Arizona looks to lock up the division from SF's grasp.