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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2012 21:39:11 GMT -8
Pardon the ramble, criticism, spelling and grammar I am shooting from the hip. Here is the rundown girls from top to bottom...
1. A's: the offense is sick good top to bottom with a good balance of speed and power. Although durability questions lie within Sandoval/Kinsler/Tulo/CarGo, this team was clearly built around offense. The pitching starts with an expensive ace in Lester and follows by some real solid guys. Looking for Moore/Beachy to become aces will be a big help. I love the bullpen, unmatched IMO with great ratios and solid K's. Call it cockiness, call in confidence but I believe that this team will be staring a first round BYE right in the face.
2: Red Sox: Built around a great infield, especially if Lawrie does what most think he will do. The outfield gets a little dicey and injury prone. Good/healthy seasons from Heyward/Jennings/Hamilton are crucial. Pitching is what is has been, solid and deep which is what a true contender is made off. 3 closers on the back end, Clippard/Brothers could be elite setting up. Playoff lock barring injury or quitting, both are 50/50.
3: Indians: Very good offense top to bottom. Utley/Youk need to stay on the field because there isn't much depth at 2B/3B. Love the staff, top 4 is elite, love nicasio and follow with a solid capuano/dempster/stauffer. Bullpen could be average, 2 average closers and 2 guys who could earn jobs. Team should be in the playoffs as long as he doesn't try to upgrade at the deadline again.
4: Rangers: I dig the offense. Miggy is great but needs good health from Cruz/Reyes/Beltre. Staff is top heavy with solid fillers, good enough to get the job done. 2 closers just what you need, holds will come through moves. Better team than he started with last year, chances are it willy only get better. Can't keep him out of the playoffs.
5: White Sox: Offense is steady from top to bottom, outside of Upton nothing flashy but just steady. Four infielders with 30HR bats don't go on trees. Pitching gets a little dicey, Latos/Kennedy/Marcum studs but question marks about health with Cueto/JJ/Huddy/Peavy. 3 closers? followed by Romo's ratios very nice. Steady, steady, steady call this guy Steady Eddie. Odds say playoff lock.
6: Phillies: Well balanced lineup from top to bottom here. Choo bounces back but Crawford injury is scary. Greinke/Wilson staff anchors but don't sleep on Sanchez/Niese/McDonald. 3 closers, fill your holds cheap. My sleeper for 2012, much improved and a team I think has a great shot to make a step forward.
7: Giants: I like the offense starting with Hanley/Bats/Posey but the rest is marginal for me. Lacks speed and average but with a couple breakouts the big bats might carry the load. SP really hinges on Wainwright/JJ and them throwing 200 innings, flip a coin for either. But Cain/Ubaldo are solid, could use a little depth there. Bullpen, good. 2, possibly 3 closers, Wilson a stud but just average holds guys. A lot of what-ifs for this team to be playoff bound, but if some hit then it could happen.
8: Mets: Above average lineup from top to bottom. Healthy seasons from Wright/Mauer could really fuel things. Rotation is fairly deep, Gio on the brink of fantasy stardom and Carpenter is a steady option when healthy. 2 rocks at closer but holds guys lack skills. A much improved team, on the outside looking in from the top 6 but could change with key moves.
9. Rockies: Pujols and Stanton pick ups provide mass power. Wieters/Upton/Gordon are budding stars. Can ARod/Weeks stay on the field is the question, if so the team could get back to the promise land. Haren is the rock of the rotation and Hanson is elite when healthy but guys like Liriano/Chacin/McCarthy are very scary to follow. Just 1 closer but what could be elite setup in Hernandez/Bastard/Broxton. If all the cards fall right, this team could get back to the promise land but there are questions.
10: Astros: First thing that pops out to me, Santana is a STUD. But nothing else offensively stands out to me. 2B/SS/3B looks good but questions elsewhere. Top 4 in the rotation is above average, but there are injury concerns there. Best pitcher is Strasburg but chances of him seeing north of 160IP are minimal. A couple moves could put him on the cusp but if your ace is shut down during a playoff run things could get dicey.
11: Nats: I look at the offense and I see 4, Tex/Konerko/McCutch/MYoung. Outside of Tex/Konerko, lacks any real power. Outfield has a chance to provide average results at best and lacks a starting catcher. BIG-4 SP great but 5/6 deep isn't going to cut it. Bullpen is OK. Lots of prospects for 2014 clogging up depth, maybe in season moves can change things but I am not seeing right now.
12: Brewers: Braun/Zimm/Hart/Alexei/catchers look good on offense, but gets very week after that. Although I do like Encarnacion as a sleeper. Love, love Luebke and Norris/Danks/Pineda/Baker are nice to follow. No real depth or star power in the rotation though. Pen could use work, Santos could join elite. Really a team tailored for 2013 here but if got in contention could mortgage the farm to have a chance.
13: Pirates: Ellsbury/Cano/McCann/Bruce, the rest of the offense is replacement level. Gaby has good upside, but how good? Outside of Bumgarner/Lewis/Feliz, the rest of the rotation is speculative. Bullpen, maybe the strength? Robertson might be best setup in bigs. Tough to compete when you spend half your roll on 2 players. Questionable moves has pulled this team out of contention and into a rebuild.
14. Cubs: Votto is elite, Jones/Phillips borderline elite. Morneau is a cheap former MVP who if healthy could give this team a boost. Can Cespedes look as good in Oakland as he does on YouTube? Gallardo is elite but after that I don't like what I see. Bullpen very shaky. Can only play the hand you are dealt, but remaining active could change a lot of things.
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