A.L. Central Smack Talk 2014

[Cleaves2000]

Clarkson beat the Lady Gophers this year in the NCAA Womens Hockey Championship! Just thought you'd wanna know buddy!

Everytime i might see something about ladies hockey i think of you lol


Now i do watch womens hockey in the olympics i must admit.

 

[Nosferatu]

Everytime i might see something about ladies hockey i think of you lol


Now i do watch womens hockey in the olympics i must admit.

Welcome to the darkside brother!!!

 

[dougplayer]

blackhawks close out the Wild season tonight. just saying.


Ricky Porcello 6-1 the best dam 5th starter in the league. where are all the ricky haters now????
BAAWWWWHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

 

[Howie115]

Ricky Porcello 6-1 the best dam 5th starter in the league. where are all the ricky haters now????

To be fair (and accurate), Porcello is the #4 starter this year. Smyly is #5. But yeah, Rick would be the #3 starter or better on most teams. Since July 1, 2013, he is 15-3 with a 3.39 ERA. That's not just an improvement, it's superb.

I was never a "hater", but he WAS 4-6 with a 5.21 ERA at the end of June last year and had his usual handful of godawful starts. Those starts have become fewer and farther between. But I also said (at the time) that it's a luxury to have a Rick Porcello as your #5 starter. Kid's only 25 and has 67 MLB wins.

The problem for the Tigers may be that Rick will command $13-$14 million a season over 4-5 years if his success continues. Not sure the Tigers were counting on bankrolling that!

 

[gandydancer]

Ricky Porcello 6-1 the best dam 5th starter in the league.

All these profound statements as of late from you have backfired.

Sure hope R.P. does not follow the pattern.

 

[navamind]

calling Porcello the best 5th starter in the league is defensible, though it has nothing to do with W-L (a team stat). And there is a lot of room for upside with him. Every year, he's improved his FIP/xFIP and K/BB rates. He also raised his K/9 from 4.6 in 2010 to 7.2 (about league average) in 2013, though the strikeouts are down so far this year (only 5.8, but if you look at xK% (expected K%), there's room for improvement). But he's done a great job limiting the walks so far (only 1.21 BB/9 so far). I could see him finally breaking out this year.

Granted, I thought Cahill would breakout last year and possibly be a darkhorse CYA contender (his K/9 improved from 4.53 in 2009 to 7.02 in 2012, and his GB% went from 47.8% in 2009 to 61.2% in 2012). And that hasn't worked out too well.

 

[navamind]

calling Porcello the best 5th starter in the league is defensible, though it has nothing to do with W-L (a team stat). And there is a lot of room for upside with him. Every year, he's improved his FIP/xFIP and K/BB rates. He also raised his K/9 from 4.6 in 2010 to 7.2 (about league average) in 2013, though the strikeouts are down so far this year (only 5.8, but if you look at xK% (expected K%), there's room for improvement). But he's done a great job limiting the walks so far (only 1.21 BB/9 so far). I could see him finally breaking out this year.

Granted, I thought Cahill would breakout last year and possibly be a darkhorse CYA contender (his K/9 improved from 4.53 in 2009 to 7.02 in 2012, and his GB% went from 47.8% in 2009 to 61.2% in 2012). And that hasn't worked out too well.

And even with Smyly actually being their #5, I think he could easily be the "best 5th starter" in the league. Doesn't have the upside that Porcello does, but I think he'll be good.

 

[Erie Warrior]

O's fans are discovering this.

We're hoping he's on the cusp of a hot..err.. atleast warm streak... after the April numbers he put up.

In my book, he's still our #4 starter. If we get some good stuff out of him, it's a plus. That contract we gave him though..

I am grateful the Indians didn't cough up that kind of money for him. Then again, the Indians rarely cough any money for anybody.

 

[navamind]

I am grateful the Indians didn't cough up that kind of money for him. Then again, the Indians rarely cough any money for anybody.

Should have tried to keep Kazmir though IMO.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Not many things I like more than knocking that sack of shit Peavy out of a game early.

 

[navamind]

Not many things I like more than knocking that sack of shit Peavy out of a game early.

Dozier has some very interesting stats so far this year. .240/.365/.445 and on pace for 13 doubles, 39 HR, 53 stolen bases, 153 runs scored, and 123 walks.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Dozier has a very interesting stat line this year. .240/.365/.445 and on pace for 13 doubles, 39 HR, 53 stolen bases, 153 runs scored, and 123 walks.

Yeah he can really slug it. He is not your prototypical lead off man batting there out of need right now. Wish he could improve the average but as long as the walks sustain it's ok.

 

[navamind]

Yeah he can really slug it. He is not your prototypical lead off man batting there out of need right now. Wish he could improve the average but as long as the walks sustain it's ok.

Don't see him keeping that 39 HR pace, but I could see him being a ~25 HR guy. And as long as he continues to show good plate discipline, there's a lot of room for improvement in the BA department. His BABIP is only .248, which is well below league average (granted he had a .278 BABIP last year, which was still kinda low). But even now, he's still a very productive player.

 

[navamind]

At least Ortiz is hitting now after a slow start.

edit: but who cares... FARGO TIME.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

I see Escobar and Cain hitting well, and I think "Gee, that should really give this lineup some depth."




Sees Gordon's, Butler's and Moose's OBP*

 

[Erie Warrior]

Should have tried to keep Kazmir though IMO.

For sure. They played it cheap, like usual.

 

[Howie115]

And even with Smyly actually being their #5, I think he could easily be the "best 5th starter" in the league. Doesn't have the upside that Porcello does, but I think he'll be good.

Smyly was very good today: 6 IP, 1 ER, 7 Ks. Didn't get a decision, as the Tigers waited til the 9th to score all their runs.

Ubaldo was very good, too.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Back to .500, and 1 game behind the 2nd (and maybe 1st if Seattle loses tonight) Wild Card spot.


Need Perez, Butler, and Gordon to heat up (Perez already in the process) and this offense should produce at a satisfactory level given the defensive play on this team.

 

[Nosferatu]

My heart is racing watching this damn game!!! Let's go Wild!

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Thank you, Twins for helping us catch Boston today in the standings. As for the O's... jerks