Results tagged ‘ offseason (sort of) ’

Washington Nationals Offseason Recap and Preview

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The image of the year and perhaps the decade for the Nationals. Though they hope not.

 

Grade: B

 

Notable Additions:

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Jayson Werth, Matt Stairs, Rick Ankiel, Chad Gaudin, Adam LaRoche, Jerry Hairston Jr., Tom Gorzelanny, Todd Coffey, and Alex Cora.

 

Notable Subtractions:

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Adam Dunn, Lastings Milledge, Josh Willingham, Scott Olsen, Miguel Bautista, and Willy Taveras.

 

Why?: Now I know that the Jayson Werth deal was excessive and I would not have done it. To put it in perspective, they could have gotten Adam Dunn and a fourty million dollar pitcher or Adam Dunn and two twenty million dollar pitchers. I factored this into the grade, which is why the grade is not a B+ instead of a B.

 

What I saw though, was a team that is MUCH improved on defense (Adam Laroche, Rick Ankiel, and Alex Cora). Remeber that in the last few years this has been a problem. They also *improved* their lineup despite the loss of Dunn’s power bat with the signings of Adam Laroche (25 HRs a year) and Werth (who knows in the National’s line-up). They also got some bullpen and rotational stability with Gorzelanny, Coffey, and Gaudin acquired.

 

Predicted Record Range: 70-75 wins. Out of the Cellar baby!! I think that this number can actually be higher because of the stability they have now that they are a bit older and will be more consitent instead of many players that should be in AAA botching plays and pitching on hot and cold streaks.

 

Up Next: Cinncinati Reds

New York Mets Offseason Recap and Preview

Normally I provide a picture at the beginning of an entry to describe the team’s last season. The Mets are no exception:

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Grade: B-

 

Notable Additions:

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Chris Young, Chris Capuano, Boof Bonser, Chin-lung Hu, and Scott Harriston.

 

Notable Subtractions:

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Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo, Pedro Feliciano, Hisanori Takahashi, Sean Green, Henry Blanco, John Maine, and Fernando Tatis.

 

Why?: Had I done this entry when I planned, I would have given them a C. With the subtractions of Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo they actually did not hurt their chances of winning this year by that much. It also set them up for the future rather well not having to worry about the contracts of those two.

 

The only thing that it could be interpretted negatively as is, as a declaration of defeat by the Mets (that would be Mets fans that say this). Yes, it is a declaration of defeat, but come on, did Mets fans really expect them to get to the playoffs this year (some do).

 

Maybe this is just my talk radio trained ear overreacting to Mets fans expecting their team to do well. I wish them well for all the Mets fans in New York (Although, a worse team does mean more empty seats) but I just don’t see it this year… at all.

 

Predicted Record Range: 65-70 wins maybe they go on more extended versions of the tears last year because of injured players coming back but I also see two players in contract years that could act as trade bait. This number is assuming either Calos Beltran or Jose Reyes gets traded mid-season. If not, see this number go up maybe even by double digits.

 

Up Next: Washington Nationals

 

To try and hide this entry (as to not get hate mail from Mets fans) quickly I will try and get the Nationals Recap and Preview up ASAP.  

Florida Marlins Offseason Recap and Preview

For those who know the Marlins, you know that they build up their team every few years to do well and break it apart the next year:

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2010 was not a built up year:
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Grade: C-
Notable Additions:
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John Buck, Javier Vasquez, Omar Infante, Greg Dobbs, and Randy Choate.
Notable Subtractions:
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and his name is… Dan Uggla, Cameron Maybin, Jose Veras, and Andrew Miller.
Why?: They did add two good players in Buck and Vasquez and replaced the hole left by Uggla at Second base with Omar Infante, but I still think that losing a person who could possibly become the best power hitting Second Baseman of all time outweighs this. Maybe I’m crazy to think this but I think that Dan Uggla will leave the Marlins in a rebuilding stage for more time than they thought.
Other than this there is not much else. I can’t see their rotation or bullpen being affected by the departure of a minor piece in each (Miller and Veras). Not much to report other than the Uggla trade.
Predicted Record Range: 75-80 games. Like I said, not much of a loss considering the compensation but the Uggla trade will put a dent in the Marlin Fan Van.
Next Up: Mets
I will not be getting the Saturday ballhawking entry up until AT LEAST wednesday because even though I smartly toook my camera with me to take pictures of FP games I stupidly did not bring the cord needed to upload pictures.

Baltimore Orioles Offseason Recap and Preview

Baltimore Orioles 2010: 

 1. Badness in the first half. 
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 2. Buck in the second. 
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 Grade: A+ 
 
 
Notable Additions:
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Mark Reynolds, Derrek Lee, Kevin Gregg, JJ Hardy, Jeremy Accardo, Justin Duchscherer, Randy Winn, and Vladimir Guerrero.
 
Notable Subtractions:
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Ty Wigginton, Sean Henn, Corey Patterson, and Garrett Atkins.
 
 
Why?:  Why do the Orioles have a higher grade than the Red Sox? That is because the Orioles gained players that will make more of a impact wins wise than the Red Sox. They also didn’t lose as many impact players as the Red Sox did.
 
The Orioles gained an impact player at every position besides that which they already had settled, Brian Roberts at Second. In doing this they also, solidified the middle of their line-up. They have a difference making hitter at each spot in the line-up now: DH Vladimir Guerrero, C Matt Wieters, 1B Derrek Lee, 2B Brian Roberts, 3B Mark Reynolds, SS JJ Hardy, LF Luke Scott, CF Adam Jones, RF Nick Markakis.
 
I think that this lineup will be one of the best in the Majors. It’s like a discount version of the Yankee’s line-up (no holes in it). Can anyone argue with me that the only influential player they lost is Ty Wigginton? They really lost near nothing this offseason.
 
But who cares about hitters (And never begin you sentences with a conjunction)? It’s pitching that wins championships. Here the names are not as abundant nor are the names as big. The weak pont of this team is still starting pitchers but they did  get some bullpen guys.
 
 
Predicted Record Range: 70-75 they might have a vastly separated this year’s line-up from that of last but they still have to pitch and probably won’t repeat their post break record from last year.
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