The first thing I noticed about this season's field of HOF candidates is that we currently have a backlog of qualified guys so it is critical that we get a good showing at the polls. The next thing I noticed is that there are not many pitchers that would even be in a discussion and the only one I deemed vote worthy for this season was Ozzie Percival. So my analysis below is focused on the top position player candidates. Outside of the obvious stats and awards that you can see, I also analyzed the top HOF candidates by determining how many offensive seasons they had that I saw as “great” or “very good” relative to other players at their position. I also gave a boost to players that played GG caliber defense. My judgement of great and very good seasons appears as (# great, #very good). Here I provide you my ranking of the top 12 HOF candidates for position players.
1. J.J. Perez, C, Toronto Blue Jays (8,4): I believe J.J. Perez to currently be the greatest all-around catcher in league history.
2. Travis Murphy, 1B, Anaheim Angels (7,6): Murphy was a great player that comes at the front of the second tier of 1B, just below the Hutton/Marte pedestal. If not for the temporary management shake-up in Anaheim that affected his training regimen and hastened his decline, he may have challenged for the all-time home run record.
3. Earl Jorgensen, 2B, Charlotte Knights (6,4): If Jorgensen can actually get nominated this year (hint, hint Knights or Cubs GM), then he belongs in the HOF as someone who is possibly the best offensive 2B to this point. Being a 2-time MVP presents a pretty strong case as well.
4. Brandon Sutton, DH/1B, New York Yankees (8,4): Sutton was many times a bridesmaid, never a bride. After the first couple times getting nominated for MVP I started keeping track. He ended up with 8 MVP nominations and 6 runner-up finishes in the voting, just missing the award by 2 votes in Damian Chen’s MVP season.
5. Francisco Guillen, 3B, New York Yankees (7,5): Guillen would definitely be in the conversation of greatest 3B to date.
6. Bernard Springer, C/DH, Montreal Expos (8,4): The Mike Piazza of Kinsella. He had one of the most potent bats in league history.
7. Pascual Martin, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks (9,0): The only detractors on his resume is that he was a doubles hitter and people love to get Hrs from 1B and not getting quite enough longevity. If he had gotten 2-3 more prime seasons before the league began, he would have already been elected.
8. Miguel Pena, CF, Montreal Expos (6,4): One of only two people to win a GG in CF and hit 400 homers. The best all-around CF in NL history.
9. Pedro Garrido, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies (7,3): Great hitter who came in the league as an older IFA and had an early decline (low training budget).
10. Jose Mondesi, 1B, Charlotte Knights (5,5): Another great hitting 1B and also an excellent fielder, winning GGs, and had some speed (241 SBs).
11. Guy Cunningham, RF/1B, New York Yankees (4,10): Could be counted on annually for 30+ HR and .300+ AVG. A decent RFer early in his career, he later became a multiple GG 1B.
12. Orber Julio, LF, Tampa Bay Rays (3,8): He did one thing very well, hit HRs.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
AL Breakdown 3/25
Instead of power rankings this time around, let's dig a little deeper into FACTS instead of OPINIONS...
Currently leading the AL is the Oakland A's. There is no question that they are the unquestioned leader in the AL at this point of the season. Domi's guys have scored 642 runs (5.73 rpg) while allowing a league low 442 (3.94 rpg). With a 12 game lead at this point in the season, you can expect the A's to beat down the league and earn either a 1 or 2 seed going into the playoffs.
The other team that should walk into the playoffs is jnew's White Sox. The south side sluggers have scored 553 runs (4.93 rpg), and allowing (4.45 rpg). They hold a 9 game lead for the division. Neither Toronto or Minnesota should challenge for the division.
The AL South is a little more open than people think. Texas has led from the beginning. But akg's boys have shown occasional signs of weakness. While having a solid offense, their pitching has allowed 609 runs (5.4 rpg). The door is open for tk's Kansas City club as they rebounded from a very poor start to be only 6 games back. If their offense can pick up, they could close that gap even more. Even though the Rays have climbed out of a BIG hole to start the season, don't expect them to make a run on the division.
And now the most exciting division, the AL East. It's been a three way battle between crabman's Orioles, oe's Yankees, and jclark's Red Sox. Let's spend some time and break down the three teams:
Orioles:
Strengths: solid defense, high number of K's from pitchers, hits a lot of HR
Questions: allow a lot of HR (150), 13 blown saves, allow a LOT of walks, lowest amount of steals (10 vs 8 caught)
Yankees:
Strengths: A lot of successful steals (131 w/79% success), best fielding team in the AL (98.9% FP, 274 double plays), highest number of saves (43)
Questons: below average in hitting HR/2b, very high # of strikeouts (worst in AL), below avg OBP, 16 blown saves, lowest strikeout rate
Red Sox:
Strengths: Saved 35 of 45, worst of the 3 teams in defense (still 98.7%), Currently leading the three teams in runs scored (over Orioles by 1 run), Best OBP of the three (.342)
Questions: Most stolen bases, but not a good caught % (73%), only hit 122 hr.
Summary: the three teams mirror one another on paper. They are built the same way and very little separates them.
Wild Card Teams:
New York Yankees (would currently get 1st wc)
Boston Red Sox (would currently get 2nd wc)
Seattle Mariners - Only one game out. Better than expected offense. Potential 40/40 man Craig Frazier leads James Hunter, Rodney Magee, and Rodrigo Marin. Pitching staff questionable.
Kansas City Royals - Three games out. A team coming on strong and could even take their division. Inability to score runs consistently has been a problem. Great pitching.
Toronto Blue Jays - Six games out. Best offense outside of Texas. One of the worst pitching staffs.
Minnesota Twins - Eight games out. Pitching is a HUGE concern. Has allowed 42 more runs than they have scored.
Tampa Bay Rays - Eight games out. The ultimate dark horse. A team that played in the .300 range and had the worst...well...everything. Suddenly ranking with the best. A lot of teams stacked on top, but the talent that can overcome. Bullpen still a concern.
Currently leading the AL is the Oakland A's. There is no question that they are the unquestioned leader in the AL at this point of the season. Domi's guys have scored 642 runs (5.73 rpg) while allowing a league low 442 (3.94 rpg). With a 12 game lead at this point in the season, you can expect the A's to beat down the league and earn either a 1 or 2 seed going into the playoffs.
The other team that should walk into the playoffs is jnew's White Sox. The south side sluggers have scored 553 runs (4.93 rpg), and allowing (4.45 rpg). They hold a 9 game lead for the division. Neither Toronto or Minnesota should challenge for the division.
The AL South is a little more open than people think. Texas has led from the beginning. But akg's boys have shown occasional signs of weakness. While having a solid offense, their pitching has allowed 609 runs (5.4 rpg). The door is open for tk's Kansas City club as they rebounded from a very poor start to be only 6 games back. If their offense can pick up, they could close that gap even more. Even though the Rays have climbed out of a BIG hole to start the season, don't expect them to make a run on the division.
And now the most exciting division, the AL East. It's been a three way battle between crabman's Orioles, oe's Yankees, and jclark's Red Sox. Let's spend some time and break down the three teams:
Orioles:
Strengths: solid defense, high number of K's from pitchers, hits a lot of HR
Questions: allow a lot of HR (150), 13 blown saves, allow a LOT of walks, lowest amount of steals (10 vs 8 caught)
Yankees:
Strengths: A lot of successful steals (131 w/79% success), best fielding team in the AL (98.9% FP, 274 double plays), highest number of saves (43)
Questons: below average in hitting HR/2b, very high # of strikeouts (worst in AL), below avg OBP, 16 blown saves, lowest strikeout rate
Red Sox:
Strengths: Saved 35 of 45, worst of the 3 teams in defense (still 98.7%), Currently leading the three teams in runs scored (over Orioles by 1 run), Best OBP of the three (.342)
Questions: Most stolen bases, but not a good caught % (73%), only hit 122 hr.
Summary: the three teams mirror one another on paper. They are built the same way and very little separates them.
Wild Card Teams:
New York Yankees (would currently get 1st wc)
Boston Red Sox (would currently get 2nd wc)
Seattle Mariners - Only one game out. Better than expected offense. Potential 40/40 man Craig Frazier leads James Hunter, Rodney Magee, and Rodrigo Marin. Pitching staff questionable.
Kansas City Royals - Three games out. A team coming on strong and could even take their division. Inability to score runs consistently has been a problem. Great pitching.
Toronto Blue Jays - Six games out. Best offense outside of Texas. One of the worst pitching staffs.
Minnesota Twins - Eight games out. Pitching is a HUGE concern. Has allowed 42 more runs than they have scored.
Tampa Bay Rays - Eight games out. The ultimate dark horse. A team that played in the .300 range and had the worst...well...everything. Suddenly ranking with the best. A lot of teams stacked on top, but the talent that can overcome. Bullpen still a concern.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Power Rankings 3/16
It's about time you idiots had someone who knew what the hell he was talking about share some wisdom. You're welcome!
1. Florida Marlins: 57-32
These fishy bastards are going to make quite a run at it this season. Trading for next season's $110M man Lorenzo was a bold move. The guy is a bigtime stud on the mound, not unlike yours truly back in the day. With some pop in the lineup and another Baxter-like bullpen guy in Alicea to help as well, look out for the Marlins in October.
2. Oakland Athletics: 58-31
Are the other AL teams ever going to pull their heads out of their asses long enough to put together a team to stop these fuckers from rolling over them every year? It seems like they keep reloading with new Joses every few seasons. Is there a tunnel from Oakland to the Dominican Republic?
3. San Diego Padres: 55-34
This team is trying to test to see if there is such a thing as having too many ace pitchers. With a staff full of guys who pitch almost as good as I did, their playoff prospects look bright. I could come out of retirement and strike out most of the miserable excuses for hitters they roll up to the plate, but a few of them got enough pop to score a little and thanks to the pitchers, that is usually all they need.
4. Milwaukee Brewers: 55-34
Are they trying to win or collect former MVPs to hang out with Bobby Simmons? Sure, No Teeth Cressend is showing that his previous MVP might not have been a fluke. But dragging out Dee Dee's tired bones and thinking he still has anything left to help seems a bit desperate? Sure, this team can hit, but I don't see any Baxters on the pitching staff and that doesn't bode well for a playoff run.
5. Arizona Diamondbacks: 55-34
Led by Stone at the plate and FA pickup Ozzie on the mound, my old ball club looks like legitimate contenders. Throw in Sal Shea comin out of the pen, they just might have enough Baxter quotient to be sippin the bubbly in the end.
6. Chicago White Sox : 52-37
And my lazy mother fuckers of the year award goes to the White Sox! After four straight years of 100+ wins, 3 LCS appearances, and 1 title, these guys have been sittin on their asses this season and not getting the job done. If I was their manager (Anyone lookin for a new manager next season or sooner?), I'd be screamin at these SOBs every day until I was blue in the face and they'd be winning alot more games.
7. Baltimore Orioles: 53-36
I would fire their manager if they don't widen the gap. With a power packed lineup and decent pitching, these guys should be winning this shitty division by at least 10 games. Russ Byrne, you need to steer clear of any random testing, cause whatever you are doing this season, it is working.
8. Texas Rangers: 52-37
Runs scored: 13 million. Runs allowed: 12.999999 million. If chicks really do dig the long ball, they must be creaming their panties every night watching these games. Note to self: Time to visit Arlington.
9. San Francisco Giants: 50-39
The defending champs have been on the rise. They can't hit great but they got a bunch of speedy bastards that make things happen when they get on base. Other than that, Denny Watson is a bad ass mofo.
10. New York Yankees: 50-39
These old geezers can't hit for shit. Their pitching staff looks like a bunch of tired bags of bones. No surprise their record has been dropping like a rock thrown off a skyscraper. The only surprise here is that they ever made it up to the top of the damn skyscraper in the first place.
1. Florida Marlins: 57-32
These fishy bastards are going to make quite a run at it this season. Trading for next season's $110M man Lorenzo was a bold move. The guy is a bigtime stud on the mound, not unlike yours truly back in the day. With some pop in the lineup and another Baxter-like bullpen guy in Alicea to help as well, look out for the Marlins in October.
2. Oakland Athletics: 58-31
Are the other AL teams ever going to pull their heads out of their asses long enough to put together a team to stop these fuckers from rolling over them every year? It seems like they keep reloading with new Joses every few seasons. Is there a tunnel from Oakland to the Dominican Republic?
3. San Diego Padres: 55-34
This team is trying to test to see if there is such a thing as having too many ace pitchers. With a staff full of guys who pitch almost as good as I did, their playoff prospects look bright. I could come out of retirement and strike out most of the miserable excuses for hitters they roll up to the plate, but a few of them got enough pop to score a little and thanks to the pitchers, that is usually all they need.
4. Milwaukee Brewers: 55-34
Are they trying to win or collect former MVPs to hang out with Bobby Simmons? Sure, No Teeth Cressend is showing that his previous MVP might not have been a fluke. But dragging out Dee Dee's tired bones and thinking he still has anything left to help seems a bit desperate? Sure, this team can hit, but I don't see any Baxters on the pitching staff and that doesn't bode well for a playoff run.
5. Arizona Diamondbacks: 55-34
Led by Stone at the plate and FA pickup Ozzie on the mound, my old ball club looks like legitimate contenders. Throw in Sal Shea comin out of the pen, they just might have enough Baxter quotient to be sippin the bubbly in the end.
6. Chicago White Sox : 52-37
And my lazy mother fuckers of the year award goes to the White Sox! After four straight years of 100+ wins, 3 LCS appearances, and 1 title, these guys have been sittin on their asses this season and not getting the job done. If I was their manager (Anyone lookin for a new manager next season or sooner?), I'd be screamin at these SOBs every day until I was blue in the face and they'd be winning alot more games.
7. Baltimore Orioles: 53-36
I would fire their manager if they don't widen the gap. With a power packed lineup and decent pitching, these guys should be winning this shitty division by at least 10 games. Russ Byrne, you need to steer clear of any random testing, cause whatever you are doing this season, it is working.
8. Texas Rangers: 52-37
Runs scored: 13 million. Runs allowed: 12.999999 million. If chicks really do dig the long ball, they must be creaming their panties every night watching these games. Note to self: Time to visit Arlington.
9. San Francisco Giants: 50-39
The defending champs have been on the rise. They can't hit great but they got a bunch of speedy bastards that make things happen when they get on base. Other than that, Denny Watson is a bad ass mofo.
10. New York Yankees: 50-39
These old geezers can't hit for shit. Their pitching staff looks like a bunch of tired bags of bones. No surprise their record has been dropping like a rock thrown off a skyscraper. The only surprise here is that they ever made it up to the top of the damn skyscraper in the first place.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Power Rankings 2/29
Power Rankings 2/29
45 games
1. Brewers 28-17
The Brew Crew remains in the top spot at this point in the season. Took 3 of 4 from a very good Nats team, 2 of 3 from the Padres and Giants. Also winning 9 of last 13. Currently number two in the NL in runs scored (behind the Cubs). Bobby Simmons is leading the way with a slash line of .322/.388/.592 with 10 hr, 13 2b, 2 3b, and 10 sb.At 33 Johnny Cressend is rocking a .340/.387/.577 and 7 hr.
2. Red Sox 28-17
The Red Sox remain in the number two spot, and the current #1 in the AL. They may trail the Yankees in the AL East, and have two less wins than the A’s, but overall they a dangerous offensive team that has performed up to expectations. Adrian Ramsay is making a case for MVP with a .347/.434/.653 w/13 hr and 13 2b. Five more players have an OPS of .800 or better. Toss in 58 stolen bases and a team .371 OBP you can see this is a team to be reckoned with.
3. A’s 30-15
The A’s have, once again, proven they belong in the top echelon of teams in Kinsella teams. Despite the trade that finally brought Vic Gonzales, and subsequently landed him on the 60 day DL with a herniated disk in his neck, the team has produced. The pitching is excellent (team 1.16 whip, .288 obp against), and the offense is just as good (252 runs scored, 4th in the AL). Bonilla is another MVP candidate with his 12 homeruns and .356/.412/.583.
4. White Sox 27-18
The White Sox continue to impress despite an offense that is not performing up to expectations. Their pitching has been exceptional by only allowing 180 runs, and a .306 oOBP. The team carries a 1.23 WHIP, and the top three starters already have 40 k’s in 40+ innings. When the offense starts to click, look out.
5. D’Backs 29-16
The Diamondbacks have an average offense (209 runs) and continue to hurt themselves with their running game (27 steals/21 caught). Their OBP is a little above average at .336 and they are 3rd in all of Kinsella in doubles. Their strength is their pitching, as they have allowed only 177 runs which is 5th in Kinsella. Their biggest opportunity (other than their running game) is their defense. They are the 3rd worst in Kinsella and worst in all of the NL with a .978 fielding percentage. If they clean up a little, this team could win the NL (sticking to the original prediction).
6. Padres 28-17
The Padres are probably the hottest team in all of Kinsella. They have the best pitching staff in all of Kinsella, only allowing 131 runs. Their 1.11 WHIP is the best in Kinsella as well. It’s a good thing that their pitching is solid, because they are average everywhere else. They have a punchless offense, and a mediocre defense. But the pitching has more than made up for that. In a tough division like the NL West, anything can happen.
7. Marlins 28-17
The Marlins got off to a slow start offensively. They are average at this point and have only scored 217 runs, with a .333 team OBP. Their pitching is leading the way by only allowing 167 runs (5th in all of Kinsella) and 3rd in WHIP (1.20). Santos Lorenzo is putting on a pitching clinic with only 14 runs allowed in 81 IP, and 82 k’s to 12 bb. Dominating. And not someone you want to see in the first round of the playoffs.
8. Yankees 29-16
The Yankees are known in Kinsella as the luckiest team in the league. And in some circles the Commish has sold his soul. No matter how you look at it, the team is very lucky. But they are a TEAM. They rank 7th in WHIP, and have allowed 198 runs. They can also credit their excellent fielding, which ranks 6th in Kinsella. The offense has only scored 214 runs and nothing really stands out as above average. Can the Yankees hang on? In the end the Orioles and Red Sox will be standing in the way of this very experienced team.
9. Nationals 25-20
The Nationals have fallen off just a little, and have yet to meet the high expectations. Their offense is still solid, but only producing 233 runs this year. They continue to have the 3rd highest OBP in the league at .357, but they have only hit 113 extra base hits. Their pitching is average (giving up 216), but their WHIP is a disturbing 1.48. The Nats have the players to be very successful. But like other teams this year, just have not hit their stride.
10. Rangers 25-20
Despite a recent seven game slide that saw the Rangers come crashing back to earth, they are still an offensive juggernaut. The pitching staff really let them down as they got hammered by some of the better offensive teams (Boston/Minnesota), but rebounded to at least steal one game from the Yankees. They get another shot at the Twins then the Tigers so redemption is not far off.
Honorable Mentions: Cardinals, Dodgers, Cubs, Orioles
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