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The Cleveland Indians Should Be The Favorite In The AL For 2017 With Encarnacion Signing

Cleveland was one inning away from winning the World Series in 2017, knocked out the Boston Red Sox (who are the odds favorite in the AL currently) and have now added slugger Edwin Encarnacion to their lineup for 2017. Cleveland will also see AL MVP candidate Michael Brantley back to the roster for a full healthy year = after playing the majority of 2016 without his services. A great Pitching Staff, all around defense, combined with a well adjusted lineup, and cupcake Division to play in – and the Tribe should be the favorite to win the AL Pennant next campaign and not the Red Sox.
With the news that Edwin Encarnacion signing a 3 Year Deal Worth $55 MIL< and a Team Option for a 4th season that is $25 MIL – or a $5 MIL Buyout, the Indians have put themselves back into the lead as the favorite in the Junior Circuit.
So far, the oddsmakers don’t agree with that last statement, as the Red Sox are currently +475 to win the World Series – while Cleveland is listed at +700 to win the Fall Classic, but lets look at what Cleveland has going for it.
Michael Brantley is coming back (potentially fully healthy, and was a legitimate AL MVP candidate in 2014 and 2015. Now to have him as a 3/4 tandem with EE, you are talking about a great heart of the lineup.
Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor are full value to kickstart the offense. Both guys are capable of playing all world ALL – Star campaigns upcoming.
Carlos Santana had a career year for HRs (34) RBI (87) OPS (.865) and will still bring in his 100 Walks a year.
Jose Ramirez can hit 6th for me any time. Tyler Naquin held an .886 OPS in half a years worth AB en route to finishing 3rd in Rookie Of The Year Voting.
The club can fend enough offense in RF a Catcher to hit 8th and 9th. Read the rest of this entry
Boston Throws Down A Hell Of A Haymaker To The Rest Of The American League With Acquiring Chris Sale

Chris Sale has been as about as dominant as a pitcher as there has been in the American League since he entered into the rotation. He is 74 – 50 with a clean 3.00 ERA over his career thus far – wtth 5 straight top 6 Cy Young Finishes and ALL – Star Appearances. Sale set career highs in Wins (17) CG (6) and IP (226.2) during the last campaign. He is only set to earn $38 MIL over the next 3 seasons total, so the cap hit is even better news for the Red Sox, who are already nearing the Luxury Tax Threshold Limit, and are subject to a 50% penalty as 3rd time abusers in 2017.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner)
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The Red Sox have landed an ace in the winter for the 2nd straight winter. Boston has acquired Chris Sale from the White Sox in exchange for Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech – with two other prospects Alexander Basabe and Victor Diaz also heading to the Pale Hose.
This is the type of trade that brings a championship. For a MLB club that was right up against the Luxury Tax Threshold already of $195 MIL for 2017, having Sale only making $38 MIL over the next three years is the biggest plus to this pact going down.
Boston loses a young player like Moncada for sure. and he may be World Class in the future, but you have to give something up to get something. The Beantowners will still also be alright for their future with the likes of Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley JR. just kickstarting their young careers, while they also held onto other great prospects like Andrew Benintendi and Blake Swihart.
They still have plenty of colorful veterans (with plenty of postseason experience) in talking of Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez – and yes even Pablo Sandoval. Read the rest of this entry
The Milwaukee Brewers Payroll In 2014 + Contracts Going Forward

Ramirez had 786 Extra Base Hits by the age of 34 – including 80 of them in 2011 (1st in the NL) and managed another 30 XBH this past year – in just 304 AB. However the long time veteran has been battling knee problems for years, and it sidelined him for 70 games during the 2013 year. The Brew Crew desperately needs a healthy campaign in 2014 out of him, as he is the highest paid player of the club at $16 MIL next year. Ramirez has a 2015 Mutual Option for $14 MIL – with a $4 MIL Buyout, so he is looking to have a productive year for sure. At 816 Extra Base Hits for his Career – he also has an outside shot at 1000 for his time in the MLB. He may be better suited to DH in the AL going forward
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
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It wasn’t so long ago that the Brewers carried Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun and Zack Greinke on the same squad.
The 2013 season represented the worst year Milwaukee has seen since Braun entered the league. It also featured several Brewers players fighting the injury plague, or having career worst years.
I guess asking Aramis Ramirez to play consecutive healthy seasons was too much ask?
The team’s attendance also dropped another 300K+ – and finished 9th overall for the NL.
But who could blame them when their superstar took a 65 game suspension – and was drinking Pina Colada’s in Hawaii – while his team suffered in Wisconsin?
Gomez And Lohse Shine 7/24/2013
The Milwaukee Brewers Player Roster in 2013: State Of The Union Mar.10
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Ryan Braun’s 162 Game Average is scary for Pitches. .37 HRs, 118 RBI, 113 Runs Scored, 41-2B, 23 SB, 200 Hits and a .313/.374/.943 Slash Line. He will be looked upon to carry the Brew Crew for yet another season in 2013.
Ben Dobson (Brewers Correspondent): Follow @brewerpride06
Disastrous? Horrifying? Cataclysmic? Damning? Ruinous? Unfortunately for Milwaukee Brewer baseball fans this small collection of words described the 2012 version of the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen. No season in recent memory has produced as many highs, and as many lows as did the 2012 season.
The 2013 Milwaukee Brewers will thrive with an improved bullpen, an upgraded pitching staff, and the continued success of one of the best offensive lineups in baseball. That’s a lot to go right but the ingredients are in place and currently being collected to provide Brewer fans with a World Series contender.
Back to the bullpen in 2013: 29 blown saves & ERA’s of 4.67, 4.38, 4.61, 7.68, and 3.63. Yeah, those types of numbers aren’t going to get it done as a Major League bullpen. The 2012 Milwaukee Brewers bullpen was one of the worst in baseball. On a daily basis Brewer fans rode the Bullpen Roller Coaster not knowing if they would survive.
Most Brewer fans figured John Axford and Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod) would level out and perform like that had in the past. Looking at 2011 and 2012 comparisons that Brewer fans logic just didn’t pan-out: Axford 2011 (1.95 ERA, 46 saves, 1.140 WHIP, and 16 earned runs) 2012 (4.67 ERA, 35 saves, 1.442 WHIP, and 36 earned runs): K-Rod 2011 (1.86 ERA, 1.138 WHIP, and 6 earned runs) 2012 (4.38 ERA, 1.333 WHIP, and 35 earned runs). Axford has the potential to bounce back from his poor 2012 season but history is not kind to Brewer closers.
Take Derrick Turnbow for example: 2005 (1.74 ERA, 39 saves) 2006 (6.87 ERA, 24 saves) and 2007 (4.63 ERA, 1 save). Hopefully the saying “the best predictor of the future is past behavior” applies with Axford as the Brewers long-term solution at closing games. K-Rod would be a welcome addition back to the bullpen (said no one) so the Brewers will have to look elsewhere for the much-needed bullpen help.
Milwaukee Brewers Highlights 2012:
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