The addition of Sabathia is excellent, but you may be slightly understating the difference in quality between the two teams. Chicago is 3.5 games ahead, but Milwaukee has overachieved in W-L record in terms of how may runs they’ve scored and allowed. Chicago is, today, a significantly better team, so for Milwaukee to not only play as well as Chicago but overtake them, they’ll have to play significantly better than they have so far. Sabathia helps but he’s only one guy, and he’s not replacing anyone really awful.
What the Crew really needs is for its hitters to pull up their socks and do what they’re capable of. They’re hitting homers, but don’t get enough guys on base.
I am starting to be convinced that they are definitely better than St. Louis, though… which means it might not matter if they catch Chicago. As of today they’re in the playoffs anyway. A wild card’s as good as a division title.
I wouldn’t say they’ve overachieved.
Maybe the stats you’re looking at have something to do with the meltdown of Gagne.
He blew five saves early on in the season and Torres had to step in and repair the closer’s role. The hitting has been streaky too, but they’ve been torrid lately. Better to push into the second half on all cylinders then to start out like they did last year where they were on fire for the first two months then coasted, cooled off and got caught from behind by the rest of the division.
This season is setting itself up to be something special.
And the way I look at it Sabathia is more than just one guy. He’s three or four. If he can go deep consistently he’ll be resting the quality set up guys (one guy) he’s putting one of our current starters in the pen (two guys) and he can swing the bat (third guy).
This is more than just a one dimensional move. Plus it tells the other players that the team management is serious about winning NOW.
It’s possible, but every team has a turkey. And Gagne only lost two games.
I’m just going my their so-called “pythagorean projection,” which is a terrible (but sadly widely accepted) term for the normal relationship between a team’s runs scored/allowed and their wins and losses. A team scoring and allowing the way the Crew has (406 scored, 395 allowed) would normally be 45-43, not 49-39. By comparison, the Cardinals, who are tied in game (but a percentage point behind, which makes them third place) are also a bit lucky, but not as much; they project to 47-43.
Teams that under- or over-perform their projection will, in the great majority of cases, see their records slide down (or rise up, as the case may be) towards their projected record, because in the long haul breaks start to even out.
Adding Sabathia is a big deal, though, and the Crew has some hitters who may improve in the second half. They need more baserunners but if they can get them, the Wild Card’s there for the taking.
Speaking of being lucky, a lot may depend on the DL: who goes on it, who comes off it, who’s healthy and who’s not. All it takes is one or two freak injuries to key players to put a potentially fatal dent in a team’s chances.
Well, the upside for this whole CC debacle is that he’s not only going to the NL so we don’t have to face him but he’s also going to our “sister team” in Milwaukee. Cleveland has a soft spot for the Brewers, so I hope he does them well.
The Sox paid Atlanta something like $8m to take Renteria. They can afford to pay Toronto to take Lugo. Just as long as the next SS can actually field the ball once in a while. Even though it would be 6 shortstops in the last 5 years for them.
Actually, I was thinking about how Jed Lowrie looked pretty much ready when he was up earlier. Maybe the Sox minor-league development people, who have definitely proven themselves, see something there.
Well, the Oakland A’s decide that their season is over and trade Harden and Gaudin to the Cubs. Guess they need prospects for the 2010 Las Vegas/Portland/some San Jose suburb A’s. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Wow, look at the NL Central this year. Will the Cards do something to try an match?
The Cubs gave up 3 major leaguers and a single A Catcher.
P Sean Gallagher Birthdate: 12/30/1985 R/R
OF Matt Murton Birthdate: 10/03/1981 R/R
OF Eric Patterson Birthdate: 04/08/1983 L/R
C John Donaldson. Age 22 R/R I assume they mean Josh Donaldson
I was genuinely shocked. The A’s are a legitimate contender, and just traded away two very good arms… and Harden isn’t even a free agent at the end of the year.
If I was the A’s Minister of Propaganda, the only way I could defend the trade is that the A’s probably aren’t going to make the playoffs. Anaheim will take the AL West and the wildcard will probably go to one of the Tampa/Boston/NY trio. Even by doing well this year, the A’s still don’t draw fans.
I hate to say it, but the A’s probably need to look at relocating. I’m not sure the Bay Area can support two teams. The Giants have their beautiful park, the A’s have a football stadium in a bad neighborhood.
The A’s may still finish second if the Rangers do their typical August fade out. The Mariners aren’t going anywhere this year.
Sadly, probably not. The GM said in an interview last night that the Cards would “make a move if it makes sense” but won’t “jeopardize the future”. In other words, no. He went on to say Wainright is due back soon and we’re starting Mark Mulder tonight. :eek:
Mulder has had a very poor showing in his minor league rehab and has totally changed his pitching motion. I’m afraid to watch what the Phils might do tonight.
Still, we’re past the halfway point and still hanging in there and won last night against a good hitting team.
Sadly, probably not. The GM said in an interview last night that the Cards would “make a move if it makes sense” but won’t “jeopardize the future”. In other words, no. He went on to say Wainright is due back soon and we’re starting Mark Mulder tonight. :eek: