2015...
So, the regular season has
ended, and the playoffs are beginning in just a few hours. It's time
to look back at the season, and look ahead to what October baseball
should bring.
First of all, I think that
the Tigers should get some credit for 'catering' the post season run
of both the Mets and the Blue Jays. Cespedes and Price sure made an
impact on their new teams.
The final power rankings
are in, and are:
- Pirates
- Cardinals
- Blue Jays
- Cubs
- Royals
- Mets
- Dodgers
- Astros
- Yankees
- Giants
The Pirates finally caught
the Cardinals for the top spot in the power rankings. They were the
#10 tam in offensive rankings, buoyed by their ability to create runs
using 'small ball'. While they were 4th in the league in
runs created, they led the league in hit batsmen, were 4th
in Sac Flies and 3rd in sacrifice hits.
The Cardinals wavered at
the end of the season, partly because they clinched the title earlier
than the other teams, and partly because they lost Yadier Molina at
the end of the season to a thumb injury. How that thumb heals will be
the question this post season.
As I see it, relying on the
formula, the playoffs should go as follows;
Astros over the
Yankees Pirates over the Cubs
Toronto over Texas Mets
over the Dodgers
Royals over the
Astros Pirates over the Cardinals
Toronto over the
Royals Pirates over the Mets
We'll see how good these
predictions are, based solely on the numbers.
I will wait a few days
before divulging whom should win what awards...Meanwhile, enjoy
October baseball!
Have a look at this book, it is one of the best I have seen and read in a long time...
Full disclosure I write this after the Pirates have lost to the Cubs. Also, given a choice I would have liked to have seen the Pirates win. My comment is the numbers are great and sensible but in a one game playoff like this I would think the numbers have to be more refined as to the starting pitchers. What were the Buccos numbers with Cole toing the rubber compared to the Cubbies with Arrieta on the hill? And even more specific the Cubs with Arrieta during the last two months?
ReplyDeleteAnd the same logic with the Mets-Dodgers which hasn't started yet. Given the possibility that Kershaw & Greinke are starting 4 out of the possible 5 games that has to skew any numbers the Dodgers way.
Something to think about.