Around Baseball 2022

[jaysblue]

All of this, plus Acuna was healthy

 

What about Albies?

 

You're completely ignoring and not acknowledging other factors that made the 2021 Braves team successful during the Postseason.

 

Yes the 2022 Braves team overall is way superior on paper, not arguing about that. Though I don't think the 2021 team heading into the Postseason was all that bad.

[Brownie19]

The 2021 team was relying on turds like Soler and Duvall too. It's night and day.

 

Exactly - this really shouldn't be a conversation.

[Terminator]

The 2021 Braves were garbage and one of the worst teams to ever win the World Series. Look at what they trotted out there to clinch it in game 6.

 

1. Eddie Rosario

2. Jorge Soler

3. Freeman

4. Austin Riley

5. Adam Duvall

6. Joc Pederson

7. Ozzie Albies

8. Travis d'Arnaud

9. Dansby Swanson

 

Max Fried threw 6 innings followed by Tyler Matzek and Will Smith.

 

I don't even know if Rosario, Soler and Duvall are in the league still. If they are they might not deserve to be. Fried is good but Matzek and Smith are pretty mediocre late inning relievers.

 

That team got lucky as hell.

[glory]

Yeah, the Phillies actually resemble a good team, even if their regular season record doesn't stack up (though post Girardi they were very good). The Braves roster that won the World Series in 2021 was far more egregious due to injuries and clearly overachieving middling talent (Rosario, Duvall, Soler, etc). They won the division by 6.5 games with 88 wins. The Phillies finished 3rd in the division with 87 this season. Not even a comparison, IMO.

[wilko]

Yeah I'm going for the Astros.

 

The new playoff format seems to be good for casual fans but it does kind of suck that 85-89 win teams will seemingly be playing deep into the postseason almost every year now. Hopefully the Jays can at least get in on that in the future.

 

I'm hoping the schedule shuffle will help the Jays out.

[Jimcanuck]

The 2021 Braves were garbage and one of the worst teams to ever win the World Series. Look at what they trotted out there to clinch it in game 6.

 

1. Eddie Rosario

2. Jorge Soler

3. Freeman

4. Austin Riley

5. Adam Duvall

6. Joc Pederson

7. Ozzie Albies

8. Travis d'Arnaud

9. Dansby Swanson

 

Max Fried threw 6 innings followed by Tyler Matzek and Will Smith.

 

I don't even know if Rosario, Soler and Duvall are in the league still. If they are they might not deserve to be. Fried is good but Matzek and Smith are pretty mediocre late inning relievers.

 

That team got lucky as hell.

 

2015 Royals much worse:

 

Salvador Perez

Hosmer

Infante

Alcides Escobar

Moustakas

Alex Gordon

Lorenzo Cain

Alex Rios

Kendry Morales

 

Luck and randomness are indeed often the #1 determinant of MLB post season success.

 

Apologize in advance for the emotional duress from this post.

[Terminator]

How good are the Yankees going to be next year?

[Stangstag]

2015 Royals much worse:

 

Salvador Perez

Hosmer

Infante

Alcides Escobar

Moustakas

Alex Gordon

Lorenzo Cain

Alex Rios

Kendry Morales

 

Luck and randomness are indeed often the #1 determinant of MLB post season success.

 

Apologize in advance for the emotional duress from this post.

 

f*** thanks for ruining my day. 2015 should’ve been the Jays

[Stangstag]

How good are the Yankees going to be next year?

 

Well they’re probably losing Judge and Rizzo, 2 guys that will be extremely hard to replace at their 2022 salary cost… gonna assume Nestor won’t be nearly as good next year. They’ll have money to spend, I expect them to finally address their shortstop hole but they will be missing 2 key bats from 2022. They need to be smart with who they sign.

[BTS]

How good are the Yankees going to be next year?

 

They owe Stanton, Donaldson, and Hicks 71.5M next season lmao

[Stangstag]

They owe Stanton, Donaldson, and Hicks 71.5M next season lmao

 

Yeah that Donaldson 20 million is looking real bad for them

[glory]

How good are the Yankees going to be next year?

 

They'll have Bader in CF all season, and presumably IKF will be gone and replaced by Cabrera (or Peraza). My guess is they'll trade Torres and put DJ back at 2B. So if they bring Judge back, then I think they'll still be good. Probably closer to a WC team than running away with the East like this season though. If they lose Judge, then it's probably going to get ugly.

[BTS]

Yeah that Donaldson 20 million is looking real bad for them

 

21M + an 8M 2024 buyout, unless Minny picked that up. And Urshela outplayed him this year. What a terrible trade.

[wilko]

21M + an 8M 2024 buyout, unless Minny picked that up. And Urshela outplayed him this year. What a terrible trade.

 

You can't put a price on veteran presents.

[Terminator]

[Terminator]

If they do lose Judge they'll use that money on other pieces. Not sure that makes them any better though.

 

They will reload and I'd imagine they will spend quite a bit. They have in house options to replace SS so that will save them money. Depending on how the offseasons go the Jays could come into the season as the AL East favorites but we'll see.

[wilko]

How good are the Yankees going to be next year?

 

[BTS]

If they do lose Judge they'll use that money on other pieces. Not sure that makes them any better though.

 

They will reload and I'd imagine they will spend quite a bit. They have in house options to replace SS so that will save them money. Depending on how the offseasons go the Jays could come into the season as the AL East favorites but we'll see.

 

I will now pump the Rays' tires: I think they'll do something to address their offense and look like ALE favourites come April.

 

Their rotation right now is

 

McClanahan

Glasnow

Springs

Rasmussen

Patino

Beeks/Chirinos/Romero

 

They need to consolidate pitching/prospect capital into a star bat who can hit in the middle of their lineup.

[Terminator]

Yeah they are going to be good. Kiermaier coming off the books is like when Stanton finally comes off the Yankees books.

 

Looks like a 3-team race with the Orioles possibly able to make some noise as well. Red Sox a last placed team but probably pretty good for a last placed team.

[Carlos Danger]

I will now pump the Rays' tires: I think they'll do something to address their offense and look like ALE favourites come April.

 

Their rotation right now is

 

McClanahan

Glasnow

Springs

Rasmussen

Patino

Beeks/Chirinos/Romero

 

They need to consolidate pitching/prospect capital into a star bat who can hit in the middle of their lineup.

 

I think you should be able to add Cole Wilcox as an SP or Springs type guy to that list by mid season 2023.

[jaysblue]

The 2021 Braves were garbage and one of the worst teams to ever win the World Series. Look at what they trotted out there to clinch it in game 6.

 

1. Eddie Rosario

2. Jorge Soler

3. Freeman

4. Austin Riley

5. Adam Duvall

6. Joc Pederson

7. Ozzie Albies

8. Travis d'Arnaud

9. Dansby Swanson

 

Max Fried threw 6 innings followed by Tyler Matzek and Will Smith.

 

I don't even know if Rosario, Soler and Duvall are in the league still. If they are they might not deserve to be. Fried is good but Matzek and Smith are pretty mediocre late inning relievers.

 

That team got lucky as hell.

 

I don't think the 2021 Braves were "garbage" and "one of the worst teams ever" to win the World Series. They weren't the favorites or best team heading into the 2021 Postseason sure but they had the right mix of talent and luck regarding some players they brought in at the trade deadline. Things clicked for them at the right time.

 

- Rosario hit .383/.456/.617 in the 2021 postseason. Had some solid years with the Twins before, nothing special. Posted a 4.0 WAR season in 2018.

 

- Soler hit .242/.342/.606 in the 2021 postseason. 48 HR's in 2019.

 

- Duvall sucks I know, though he still hit 38 HR's in 2021 and posted a 2.7 WAR.

 

- Pederson didn't do much with the Braves, though had some big hits in the Postseason. I recall a lot of posters on this message board wanted the Jays to acquire Pederson at this past trade deadline.

 

- Matzek was decent in 2021 (2.57 ERA, 3.20 FIP, 11 K/9 and 1.1 WAR). In the postseason he had a 1.72 ERA, 0.87 FIP and 13.79 K/9 in 15.2 innings. Better lefty than Tim Mayza! Will Smith wasn't that good, will admit. Braves had a far superior bullpen during the 2022 regular season and heading into the 2022 Postseason.

 

The Braves in 2021 weren't that bad of a team, even without Acuna. AA did a great job acquiring some bats with previous success at the trade deadline to fill in for the injuries they had. Sure those turds got lucky and were productive, though they also had previous success at the MLB level before. Freeman, Riley, Albies, and Swanson were still solid. Yes, Riley and Swanson were better in 2022, though they still were solid in 2021 and progressed even more as you would expect with young players with their skillsets. Albies put up 3.9 WAR in 2021 while Acuna wasn't even at his best in 2022 posting a 2.0 WAR.

 

Obviously, the 2022 Braves team is far better than the 2021 Braves team was on paper. Though I don't think the 2021 Braves were "garbage" at all. They had some solid young pieces who broke out, Freddie Freeman, some solid young pitching to go along with Morton, and got lucky on some trade deadline acquisitions that did an adequate job replacing Acuna and Ozuna.

[jaysblue]

I will now pump the Rays' tires: I think they'll do something to address their offense and look like ALE favourites come April.

 

Their rotation right now is

 

McClanahan

Glasnow

Springs

Rasmussen

Patino

Beeks/Chirinos/Romero

 

They need to consolidate pitching/prospect capital into a star bat who can hit in the middle of their lineup.

 

Yeah Rays need a star bat or two for their lineup. Starting pitching is more than fine if they stay healthy.

 

If the Yankees have a bad offseason, I think you can have a three way race between the Rays, Blue Jays and Orioles (if they spend money this offseason to complement their young core).

[jaysblue]

21M + an 8M 2024 buyout, unless Minny picked that up. And Urshela outplayed him this year. What a terrible trade.

 

Was it a terrible trade at the time though? Money doesn't matter for the Yankees as it does other teams. Donaldson did put together a 5.2 WAR and 3.0 WAR season in 2019 and 2021 respectively. Whereas Urshela posted a 2.8 WAR and 0.7 WAR in 2019 and 2021. I think we can all agree that Donaldson was an upgrade over Urshela at the time of the trade. Obviously, the trade didn't work out for them given Donaldson's rapid decline in 2022.

[Laika]

I will now pump the Rays' tires: I think they'll do something to address their offense and look like ALE favourites come April.

 

Their rotation right now is

 

McClanahan

Glasnow

Springs

Rasmussen

Patino

Beeks/Chirinos/Romero

 

They need to consolidate pitching/prospect capital into a star bat who can hit in the middle of their lineup.

 

You must understand...

 

Patino's stuff is gone.

Beeks/Chirinos/Romero suck.

Rasmussen remains a 5 IP SP.

Springs is a flash in the plan. Like Yarbrough in years past. League will adjust.

Glasnow is a glass cannon.

McClanahan is a glass cannon who had a troubling end to the season, health-wise.

[jaysblue]

They owe Stanton, Donaldson, and Hicks 71.5M next season lmao

 

Blue Jays owe Springer, Ryu and Kikuchi $55M next season. If Springer, who we all know is made of glass, misses significant time with an injury, not good.

[Laika]

Was it a terrible trade at the time though? Money doesn't matter for the Yankees as it does other teams. Donaldson did put together a 5.2 WAR and 3.0 WAR season in 2019 and 2021 respectively. Whereas Urshela posted a 2.8 WAR and 0.7 WAR in 2019 and 2021. I think we can all agree that Donaldson was an upgrade over Urshela at the time of the trade. Obviously, the trade didn't work out for them given Donaldson's rapid decline in 2022.

 

I dunno, I thought it was more about dumping Gary Sanchez for IKF at the time anyway.

 

The Yankees probably saw Donaldson as a mild upgrade at best over Urshela. Maybe projected slightly better but he is way older...

[Laika]

Blue Jays owe Springer, Ryu and Kikuchi $55M next season. If Springer, who we all know is made of glass, misses significant time with an injury, not good.

 

Springer alone had more WAR than Stanton + Donaldson + Hicks in 2022 though

 

Springer contract actually looks perfectly fine right now. It's going well despite his recurrent injuries.

[jaysblue]

You must understand...

 

Patino's stuff is gone.

Beeks/Chirinos/Romero suck.

Rasmussen remains a 5 IP SP.

Springs is a flash in the plan. Like Yarbrough in years past. League will adjust.

Glasnow is a glass cannon.

McClanahan is a glass cannon who had a troubling end to the season, health-wise.

 

A lot is riding on McClanahan and Glasnow staying healthy.

 

Springs I could see regressing.

Rasmussen is meh but still a solid No 4-5 starter.

Patino I still like, but he's a lottery ticket and can't be relied on.

Beeks is better as a reliever. Chririnos isn't anything special but could give them innings. Romero sucks.

Not having Shane Baz healthy sucks.

 

I actually feel safer with Gausman/Manoah more than McClanahan/Glasnow. Though far way more upside with McClanahan and Glasnow if they both stay healthy.

[jaysblue]

Springer alone had more WAR than Stanton + Donaldson + Hicks in 2022 though

 

Springer contract actually looks perfectly fine right now. It's going well despite his recurrent injuries.

 

Yeah I'm okay with the Springer contract, always have been. Though he is made of glass and a significant injury risk. As long as he stays somewhat healthy even with the odd recurring injury, he'll be fine.

[jaysblue]

I dunno, I thought it was more about dumping Gary Sanchez for IKF at the time anyway.

 

The Yankees probably saw Donaldson as a mild upgrade at best over Urshela. Maybe projected slightly better but he is way older...

 

Yeah maybe the Yankees thought Donaldson could have aged like Beltre did with the Rangers. Urshela had the better year obviously, though I don't think the Yankees care about losing him unless he becomes a 4-5 WAR guy which I highly doubt.