Blog Archives
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – March 31, 2017
Harry How/Getty Images North America
ESPN evidently came up with the same line I have been saying for years. I chalk it up to parallel thinking. Meanwhile Nationals pitcher Blake Treinen is the closer and hopes to do what no Washington pitcher has ever done.
Slamming the door on this episode of Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Ranking the Worst MLB Teams From Each Season Since 2002
By the time each MLB season comes to its conclusion, there are only certain things we remember. Our thoughts are mostly dominated by who just won the World Series or how our favorite team performed. Unless it directly impacts us, we rarely remember who exactly was the worst team in baseball for any given year.
Win-loss record and winning percentage are what’s mostly used to determine who takes home this dubious honor — along with the top overall pick in the following summer’s draft — but it should go a little deeper than that.
So, while taking this particular trip down memory lane, we felt it was more appropriate to use run differential as the determining factor, which is the number of runs a team allows subtracted by the number of runs they score. After all, the whole point of baseball is to score more runs than you allow each night.
More often than not (11 out of 15, actually), the worst record in baseball was accompanied by the worst run differential, but there were a handful of times when a team didn’t accomplish both.
Below are the worst teams in terms of run differential from each season since 2002, ranked from least to most soul crushing.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – March 1, 2017
Rob Carr/Getty Images North America
The NL East will be won by the team that doesn’t break down. Meanwhile new Washington reliever Joe Blanton has turned his nice career around and could become a closer option.
Reinventing one’s self in this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Enjoy Joe Blanton’s home run in the 2008 World Series.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 26, 2017
Pool/Getty Images North America
It is Sunday and time for The Sunday Request.
@sullybaseball Sunday request. If Scherzer has 3 more top 5 Cy Young years, has he had an under the radar HOF career?
— TheStartingBloc (@thestartingbloc) February 24, 2017
Max Scherzer certainly has had a peak and highlights worthy of Hall of Fame merit.
But he needs several more years of it and some early warning signs are troublesome.
Courting immortality in this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Boston Red Sox Entire 2017 MLB Schedule On One Page Post.
ALL TIMES DISPLAYED IN EASTERN TIME ZONE
WEEK 1 (Includes Season Opener Sunday Apr 2, 2017)
INTERLEAGUE GAMES IN MAROON
APR 2017
Sunday, Apr 2 MLB OPENING DAY
DAY OFF Read the rest of this entry
Toronto Blue Jays Entire 2017 MLB Schedule On One Page Post.
Rogers Home Opener will be on Tuesday Apr 111, 2017, to kick off the 29th year the ballpark has been playing games there. Last year the Jays drew 3.4 Million Fans. and that is the biggest total since the World Series Years – or the 1st 5 years of the venue.
ALL TIMES DISPLAYED IN EASTERN TIME ZONE
WEEK 1 (Includes Season Opener Sunday Apr 2, 2017)
INTERLEAGUE GAMES IN MAROON
APR 2017
Sunday, Apr 2 MLB OPENING DAY
DAY OFF
Monday, Apr 3
Blue Jays @ O’s 3:05 Oriole Park (Camden Yards) Home Opener, Baltimore, MD (Baltimore Orioles)
Tuesday Apr 4
DAY OFF
Odds To Win The 2017 MLB League Pennants: You Will Never Guess Who May Have The Best Value
No teams in the AL would be favored against the Cubs should they face the reigning Champs, so it may be easier to bet them just to win the AL Pennant.
There is a reason why these odds value favorites are not any real difference for the Odds To Win The World Series and these will be any different.
Basically, you could just go ahead with a World Series bet for anyone you think that can win the Title, and then simply hedge when it comes to the Fall Classic.
I always say that MLB Power Rankings should have a lot to do with odds to win any type of Division, League Pennant or World Series.
The 1st thing that jumped out to me here was that the LA Angels are at 35/1 for the Junior Circuit. Should they face any of the Senior Circuit’s top clubs, they would probably all be +150 underdogs.
If you were to pick the Angels at +3500, and then parlay that into a +150 wager in the World Series, than the overall odd shoots +8750 rather than the +7500.
Personally, the Angels have had a great winter to shore up the defense – and have addressed a few roster spots with a deeper bench.
Is it that foreign to think that the Los Angeles Angels could jump out quickly if Mike Trout can carry them?
In their 1st 60 games of the season, the Halo’s effectively miss the Indians and Red Sox on the docket, and only have to play 3 games versus the Tigers as well. Yes, they play a huge chunk of their games vs the AL West, but they have improved against all of the clubs as of right now. Mike Scioscia’s squad gets to play 4 games at Tampa – and 4 games vs the Twins, 3 vs Toronto and Atlanta at home, with 3 at KC and Miami. Did I mention they play the A’s 10 times in their 1st 60 contests as well? I could see them with 34 or 36 wins at the 60 game mark In an exhausting stretch from Apr 3, to May 15, the team also plays 43 games in 46 nights, with 20 of them at home, but that is a great itinerary to kick off the campaign.
Lets say they are 8 or 10 games over at that point, I could actually see the organization spending a little bit more money in the 2nd half to acquire talent.
Also if they can withstand until Albert Pujols gets back healthy everyday as the permanent DH.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the Astros, M’s and Rangers still better for the Division, but the gap is not that much….Particularly if the Astros don’t add a Starting Pitcher, the Mariners don’t add a slugging First Baseman, and Texas is hesitant to spend more money on payroll.
The Angels did win 98 Games in 2014 and 85 games in 2015, before receding to 74 victories last campaign.
Mike Trout is due for one of those just carry the club on his back seasons, (not that he hasn’t been awesome individually in that time span.
If the Cubs make the World Series, than only the Boston Red Sox or Cleveland Indians may even come close to an even match for an opponent, with the reigning champs still holding a distinct advantage.
Boston’s +270 is a brutal look at an odd for the AL. I am not infatuated with the odd of +600 for the World Series either. They play in a tough AL East where all 5 teams could compete.
Both the Indians and Astros are fairly pitted for their odds towards the AL Pennant.
Texas continues to be the oddball 2nd favorite in the AL West despite having a poor winter thus far.
News that they will probably sign Mike Napoli should buoy some spirits, and I am willing to acknowledge that when it happens, yet I feel they still need more.
If the Rangers also swing a Jurickson Profar for a Tampa Bay starter like Jake Odorizzi, then I could par them up with Houston. As of right now, they are two players short.
I still love the odds for the Nationals even though I wish they wouldn’t have come to near Spring Training without a proven Closer.
The more we draw near to the regular season, the less I like the Yankees too in 2017. They are going to be way too dependent on Gary Sanchez setting the world on fire to contend in my opinion.
New York’s rotation does not instill confidence despite having a lock down Relief Core. Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner are in their mid 30’s now – where the speed doesn’t play as good.
Starlin Castro and Didi Gregorius clubbed 20 HRs each in 2016, but so did 116 other players last campaign.
These guys never walk either with OBP’s of .300 and .304 respectivelY. Chase Headley is average at best.
For the Bronx Bombers to duplicate even their 84 win season last year, I think Sanchez will have to destroy 40 – 50 Jacks into the seats.
Detroit has better Starting pitching and a world-class offense compared to the Pinstripers, yet are behind them in the odds?
Speaking of Detroit. For being the 2nd favorite team in the AL Central, they possess the 6th place odd out of all 2nd place listed clubs.
The Tigers can beat up the White Sox and Twins all years, and the Royals are all of a sudden not looking as good either, I am all over the Motown Boys.
St. Louis, for the record, are the 5th out of 6th 2nd place listed odds, and are fully valued at +1250.
The Cubs are the cream of the crop, but wagering the club for +180 is not worth it. You are better off wagering them to win the Fall Classic at +370 instead.
There is no AL team that Chicago would be an underdog against. Having said that, the money is not there to plunk down any cabbage for this.
I only wish you could bet the field in the NL vs the Cubs. The Dodgers are also not a good at +435, mostly because Chicago sits in their path.
If I were to bet the Mets ever to win the NL Pennant, it would be in the mid season when I could see their rotation in action and remain healthy.
Odds To Win The American League
Blue Bold Means Good Vale with #value confidence in parenthesis
Maroon Bold Means Bad Vale with # value confidence in parenthesis
Boston Red Sox +270 (3)
Cleveland Indians +445
Houston Astros +680
Texas Rangers +900 (1)
Toronto Blue Jays +960 (3)
Seattle Mariners +1250
NY Yankees +1350 (2)
Detroit Tigers +1550 (5)
Baltimore O’s +1550
KC Royals +1850
LA Angels +3500 (1)
TB Rays +3700
Oakland A’s +7000
Minnesota Twins +7000
Chicago White Sox +7000
Odds To Win The Nationals League
Chicago Cubs +180 (5)
Dodgers +435 (4)
Washington Nationals +600 (2)
NY Mets +735
SF Giants +740
St.Louis Cardinals +1250 (4)
Colorado Rockies +2400
Pittsburgh Pirates +2400
Miami Marlins +3800
Arizona D’Backs +5000
Philadelphia Phillies +6000
Cincinnati Reds +7500
Atlanta Braves +9000
Milwaukee Brewers +10000
SD Padres +10000
Follow @stokes_Hunter21 @mlbreports
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***
A big thanks goes out to our ‘Chief Writer/Part Owner’ Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s featured post.
To Subscribe and listen daily to ‘Our Lead Personality’ Sully’s 20 Minutes Daily (every day since Oct.24, 2012) Podcast click here. Guaranteed listening to the Sully Baseball Daily Podcast will be the best time you invest in online!
New York Yankees Entire 2017 MLB Schedule On One Page Post.
ALL TIMES DISPLAYED IN EASTERN TIME ZONE
WEEK 1 (Includes Season Opener Sunday Apr 2, 2017)
INTERLEAGUE GAMES IN MAROON
APR 2017
Sunday, Apr 2 MLB OPENING DAY
Yankees @ Rays 1:10 Tropicana Field Home Opener, St. Petersburg, FL (Tampa Bay Rays)
Monday Apr 3
Off Day
Tuesday Apr 4
Yankees @ Rays 7:10 Read the rest of this entry
All 2430 MLB Games Schedule In 2017 On One Page Post
ALL TIMES DISPLAYED IN EASTERN TIME ZONE
WEEK 1 (Includes Season Opener Sunday Apr 2, 2017)
INTERLEAGUE GAMES IN MAROON
APR 2017
Sunday, Apr 2 MLB OPENING DAY (3 Games):
Yankees @ Rays 1:10 Tropicana Field Home Opener, St. Petersburg, FL (Tampa Bay Rays)
Giants @ D’Backs 4:10 Chase Field Home Opener, Phoenix, AR (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Cubs @ Cardinals 8:35 (ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT GAME) Busch Stadium Home Opener, St. Louis, MO (St. Louis Cardinals)
There are no Interleague Games On this Day
Monday, Apr 3 (12 Games):
Marlins @ Nationals 1:05 Nationals Park Home Opener, Washington, DC (Washington Nationals)
Braves @ Mets 1:10 Citi Field Home Opener, Flushing, NY (New York Mets)
Pirates @ Red Sox 2:05 Fenway Park Home Opener, Boston, MA (Boston Red Sox)
Rockies @ Brewers 2:10 Miller Park Home Opener, Milwaukee, WI (Milwaukee Brewers)
Blue Jays @ O’s 3:05 Oriole Park (Camden Yards) Home Opener, Baltimore, MD (Baltimore Orioles)
Tigers @ White Sox 4:10 Guaranteed Rate Field Home Opener, Chicago, IL (Chicago White Sox)
Royals @ Twins 4:10 Target Field Home Opener, Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota Twins)
Phillies @ Reds 4:10 Great American Ball Park Home Opener, Cincinnati, OH (Cincinnati Reds)
Dodgers @ Padres 4:10 Dodger Stadium Home Opener, Los Angeles, CA (LA Dodgers)
Indians @ Rangers 7:05 Globe Life Park Home Opener, Arlington, TX (Texas Rangers)
M’s @ Astros 8:10 Minute Maid Park Home Opener, Houston, TX (Houston Astros)
Angels @ A’s 10:10 O.co Coliseum Home Opener, Oakland, CA (Oakland Athletics)
Tuesday Apr 4 (8 Games):
Yankees @ Rays 7:10
Rockies @ Brewers 7:40
Indians @ Rangers 8:05
M’s @ Astros 8:10
Cubs @ Cardinals 8:15
Giants @ D’Backs 9:40
Angels @ A’s 10:05
Padres @ Dodgers 10:10
There are no Interleague Games On this Day
Read the rest of this entry
MLB Schedule For MLB In Sept/Oct Of 2017 On One Page Post
INTERLEAGUE GAMES IN MAROON
ALL TIMES DISPLAYED IN EASTERN TIME ZONE
SEPT/OCT
Friday Sept 1 (15 Games):
Braves @ Cubs 2:20
Red Sox @ Yankees 7:05
Reds @ Pirates 7:05
Blue Jays @ O’s 7:05
Indians @ Tigers 7:10
Phillies @ Marlins 7:10
Angels @ Rangers 8:05
Mets @ Astros 8:10
Royals @ Twins 8:10
Rays @ White Sox 8:10
Nationals @ Brewers 8:10
D’Backs @ Rockies 8:40
Dodgers @ Padres 10:10
A’s @ M’s 10:10
Cardinals @ Giants 10:15 Read the rest of this entry
MLB Schedule For MLB In Aug Of 2017 On One Page Post
INTERLEAGUE GAMES IN MAROON
ALL TIMES DISPLAYED IN EASTERN TIME ZONE
Tuesday Aug 1 (15 Games)
Reds @ Pirates 7:05
Tigers @ Yankees 7:05
Royals @ Tigers 7:05
Indians @ Red Sox 7:10
Nationals @ Marlins 7:10
Dodgers @ Braves 7:35
Cardinals @ Brewers 7:40
D’Backs @ Cubs 8:05
M’s @ Rangers 8:05
Rays @ Astros 8:10
Blue Jays @ White Sox 8:10
Mets @ Rockies 8:40
Giants @ A’s 10:05
Phillies @ Angels 10:07
Twins @ Padres 10:10 Read the rest of this entry
MLB Schedule For ML:B In July Of 2017 On One Page Post
ALL TIMES DISPLAYED IN EASTERN TIME ZONE
INTERLEAGUE GAMES IN MAROON
JULY:
Saturday July 1 (15 Games):
Red Sox @ Blue Jays 1:07
Rangers @ White Sox 2:10
Twins @ Royals 2:15
Braves @ A’s 4:05
Giants @ Pirates 4:05
Rays @ O’s 4:05
Cubs @ Reds 4:10
Marlins @ Brewers 4:10
Phillies @ Mets 4:10
Indians @ Tigers 7:15
Yankees @ Astros 7:15
Nationals @ Cardinals 7;15
M’s @ Angels 10:07
Rockies @ D’Backs 10:10
Dodgers @ Padres 10:10 Read the rest of this entry
MLB Schedule In June 2017 On One Page Post
ALL TIMES DISPLAYED IN EASTERN TIME ZONE
INTERLEAGUE GAMES IN MAROON
JUNE
Thursday June 1 (8 Games):
A’s @ Indians 1:10
Brewers @ Mets 1:10
Dodgers @ Cardinals 1:45
Rockies @ M’s 3:40
Red Sox @ O’s 7:05
Yankees @ Blue Jays 7:07
D’Backs @ Marlins 7:10
Twins @ Angels 10:07 Read the rest of this entry
MLB Schedule In May 2017 On One Page Post
ALL TIMES DISPLAYED IN EASTERN TIME ZONE
MAY
INTERLEAGUE GAMES IN MAROON
Week 5
Monday May 1 (11 Games):
Blue Jays @ Yankees 7:05
Rays @ Marlins 7:10
Indians @ Tigers 7:10
O’s @ Red Sox 7:10
Pirates @ Reds
Mets @ Braves
Phillies @ Cubs 8:05
Rangers @ Astros 8:10
White Sox @ Royals 8:15
Brewers @ Cardinals 8:15
Giants @ Dodgers 10:10 Read the rest of this entry
MLB Schedule In April 2017 On One Page Post
ALL TIMES DISPLAYED IN EASTERN TIME ZONE
WEEK 1 (Includes Season Opener Sunday Apr 2, 2017)
INTERLEAGUE GAMES IN MAROON
APR 2017
Sunday, Apr 2 MLB OPENING DAY (3 Games):
Yankees @ Rays 1:10 Tropicana Field Home Opener, St. Petersburg, FL (Tampa Bay Rays)
Giants @ D’Backs 4:10 Chase Field Home Opener, Phoenix, AR (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Cubs @ Cardinals 8:35 (ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT GAME) Busch Stadium Home Opener, St. Louis, MO (St. Louis Cardinals)
There are no Interleague Games On this Day
Monday, Apr 3 (12 Games):
Marlins @ Nationals 1:05 Nationals Park Home Opener, Washington, DC (Washington Nationals)
Braves @ Mets 1:10 Citi Field Home Opener, Flushing, NY (New York Mets)
Pirates @ Red Sox 2:05 Fenway Park Home Opener, Boston, MA (Boston Red Sox)
Rockies @ Brewers 2:10 Miller Park Home Opener, Milwaukee, WI (Milwaukee Brewers)
Blue Jays @ O’s 3:05 Oriole Park (Camden Yards) Home Opener, Baltimore, MD (Baltimore Orioles)
Tigers @ White Sox 4:10 Guaranteed Rate Field Home Opener, Chicago, IL (Chicago White Sox)
Royals @ Twins 4:10 Target Field Home Opener, Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota Twins)
Phillies @ Reds 4:10 Great American Ball Park Home Opener, Cincinnati, OH (Cincinnati Reds)
Dodgers @ Padres 4:10 Dodger Stadium Home Opener, Los Angeles, CA (LA Dodgers)
Indians @ Rangers 7:05 Globe Life Park Home Opener, Arlington, TX (Texas Rangers)
M’s @ Astros 8:10 Minute Maid Park Home Opener, Houston, TX (Houston Astros)
Angels @ A’s 10:10 O.co Coliseum Home Opener, Oakland, CA (Oakland Athletics)
Tuesday Apr 4 (8 Games):
Yankees @ Rays 7:10
Rockies @ Brewers 7:40
Indians @ Rangers 8:05
M’s @ Astros 8:10
Cubs @ Cardinals 8:15
Giants @ D’Backs 9:40
Angels @ A’s 10:05
Padres @ Dodgers 10:10
There are no Interleague Games On this Day
Read the rest of this entry
1st 2 Weeks Schedule Of The 2017 MLB Season (Includes All Home Openers + Interleague)
Busch Stadium Hosts the 1st ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT GAME of the year vs the World Series reigning champs the Chicago Cubs.
ALL TIMES DISPLAYED IN EASTERN TIME
WEEK 1 (Includes Season Opener Sunday Apr 2, 2017)
INTERLEAGUE GAMES IN MAROON
APR 2017
Sunday, Apr 2 MLB OPENING DAY (3 Games):
Yankees @ Rays 1:10 Tropicana Field Home Opener, St. Petersburg, FL (Tampa Bay Rays)
Giants @ D’Backs 4:10 Chase Field Home Opener, Phoenix, AR (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Cubs @ Cardinals 8:35 (ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT GAME) Busch Stadium Home Opener, St. Louis, MO (St. Louis Cardinals)
There are no Interleague Games On this Day Read the rest of this entry
MLB Doubleheader Master Schedule In 2017
Best Source of Information for all 30 MLB Ballparks – and network of stadium afficionado’s
First off, if you have never been to one of the 30 MLB Parks, we don’t advise on doing a doubleheader as part of your initial experience with the venue. 2 Games in one day takes a lot of travel,planning, and receiving the utmost experience in a stadium requires time.
However, if you are already versed in a park, than we are giving you a list of all doable Doubleheaders for the entire 2017 Calendar MLB season,
Most of these are within 2 to 4 hours away from each other (if not a shorter distance.)
In my lifetime of ballpark chasing, I have now done almost 100 Doubleheaders as part of my journeys. The more baseball in a day, the better I feel.
In the meantime, consider visiting my buddy Craig’s website ballparkchasers.com – and for Park Guides to every cathedral in the MLN! If you have any questions about going to the park. hit my up – mlbreports@gmail.com Read the rest of this entry
MLB Interleague Master Schedule In 2017: AL Looking To Speedbag The NL For A 14th Straight Year
We go over this every season, but I am shocked to not see that much coverage on the issue. The American League has absolutely thrashed on the National League in Interleague for the last 13 years.
Don’t tell me this is an anomaly. This is a massive trend. Plus no, the answer is not to eliminate MLB Interleague to level out the playing field.
I am already not going to watch the ALL – Star Game this year because it doesn’t mean anything. Yes. I may be in the minority of the game actually being worth something in the MidSmmer Classic. For those keep scoring at home, the League that actually won the All Star Game incredibly played 3 less games than the loser thanks to MLB’s brilliant (insert sarcasm here) 2 – 3 – 2 format.
But I guess no one else remember’s guys high fiving each other in the dugout once they were lifted in the ALL – Star Game, so they could catch a plane. I will watch the HR Derby, and that is it. I digress. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2017 MLB Divisions
It is coming to that time where we all start making our predictions, and also plunk down more cabbage on the yearly bets. The 1st week of the February usually will come out with Player Prop Bets, and Teams Win Totals of Over and Under.
I don’t need to remind our long term readers that we have excelled in this foray since the beginning of introducing Gambling 101 as a category to mlbreports.com.
We look to continue our 70% best bet percentage. I am looking to bounce back in the regular season in particularly as I made up the most of the money in player props, HR Derby and World Series Odds.
Today we are focusing on the MLB Divisions.
The AL East is the strongest Division in the game as 4 clubs are at least half decent. and even Tampa Bay is not that bad. Read the rest of this entry
You Could Try To Attempt A World Record By Going To All 30 MLB Parks In 25 Days In 2017 By Driving!
So I have done about everything there is to do in for World Records in going to all the 30 MLB Parks. I was able to hit all 30 MLB Parks in just 23 Days during 2012, besting my own 2009 record of 30/24.
The only way I could have done anything more substantial was to do what my idea was in 2015. I went to 224 MLB Games in all the 183 Days of MLB Action – live at all 30 MLB Parks, spanning the entire season – and showing up at a ballpark every single day.
I am now 40 years old and don’t feel like doing this anymore, but every year I put out a schedule for all 30 MLB Parks in the forms of a record.
I honestly don’t think that I would top 30 MLB Parks in 23 Days since there is practically never any schedule that would allow that to be attempted. If someone on this globe wants to take a run at – I welcome it.
However, my buddy Josh Robbins holds the Ground Record (all 30 MLB Parks) done by land – in just 26 Calendar Days during the 2008 season.) Read the rest of this entry
All 30 MLB Clubs Ball Park Home Openers In 2017 With Starting Times
SunTrust Park will open up its gates for baseball for the 1st time ever on Friday Apr 14, 2017. It is the last home opener to have its game on the schedule for the 2017 Regular Season..
IMAGE – Ballparksofbaseball.com
We are not too far away from Spring Training folks. That also means that the majority of the clubs have posted start times for all of their home openers upcoming to start the season.
After this post is published we will continue to monitor the schedule for any changes and will have them updated.
The season kicks off with a trio of games in Tampa Bay, Arizona and St. Louis on Sunday Apr 2, 2017 – and the last home opener will be at the new ballpark in Atlanta (SunTrust Stadium) on Friday Apr 14, (7:35).
For those of you that love ballparks as much as I do, if you click on the actual stadium highlighted itself, it will take you to some of the best advice on how to gameplan your Ball Park Chasing adventures.
Odds To Win The 2017 MLB World Series:
Last time we did these odds we talked more about why clubs should be wagered on, and now I will explain how we listed our top 5 bad value bets.
The New York Yankees head the category for this one. There is no rhyme or reason this club should be parallel with their crosstown rivals the Mets – and ahead of the Cardinals, Rangers or Mariners for their odd.
Quite simply, the club is not as good as those other squads right now. The direction of the organization to the youth movement may change that scenario in the near future – however can you really bank on any of their Starting Pitchers in a playoff series?
Also if you have the Blue Jays and Red Sox already ahead of you on the list, a lot of other 2nd place clubs in each of the other Divisions may hav a better leg up on you to snare the 2nd Wild Card Spot.
I like the Detroit Tigers as more of a chance to make the playoffs the Bronx Bombers in 2017. I will say that if they are in contention, that the money is always there to acquire guys midway through the year (hopefully all on expiring contracts.) Read the rest of this entry
MLB Power Rankings: Early Win Predictions In 2017
Last Updated: Jan 24, 2017
Over the last week we have seen some factors that have changed some win totals and rankings. Unfortunately the saddening loss of Yordano Ventura will cause the Royals to lose a win or 2.
We saw Jose Bautista re-sign with the Jays, Mark Trumbo re-sign with the O’s and the Phillies sign Michael Saunders. These are significant signings for the 1st 2 – and Saunders becomes one of Phlladelphia’s best clubs.
The Marlins also traded for Dan Straily.
For the MLB Rankings, we are also factoring in the World Series chances of each club.
It is important to also recognize the 300 games of the MLB Interleague. The American League holds a 13 year winning streak, and adds to their victories in the year.
So far in 2017, we have the Junior Circuit registering a record of 167 – 133 vs the Senior Circuit. Before you throw stones at me – it was exactly this record that the AL hung vs the NL in 2015.
Going back to Kansas City….I really hope I am wrong about their pending 2017 record. Hopefully they also go and sign a Jason Gammel or Doug Fister to help the rotation.
Lets also hope that we don’t have any more deaths have to be figure out where we have teams wins at. It is awful. I hate using the Miami Marlins win total as a struggle to grip with the loss of Jose Fernandez. Read the rest of this entry
Who Will Win The 2017 National League Divisions Polls? Your Chance As A Reader To Vote
The National League is a very top heavy league with the Nats, Dodgers, Cubs Mets, Giants and Cardinals and having the best odds to qualify for the postseason in 2016. With 6 teams possibly challenging the 100 loss barrier in the Senior Circuit (Padres, Reds, Brewers, Braves and Phillies),
Since it is the middle part of January, we will offer these polls for all teams in all of the Divisions.
Washington Nationals Payroll In 2017 + Contracts Going Forward
People can throw stones on Mike Rizzo all they want- but the GM has never lost a trade ever, and he ensured the club received a Starting CF in Adam Eaton to the tune of only $38.4 MIL over the nxxt 5 years – even if it cost a boatload of prospects. This is part to compensate balloon payments on the horizon that are due to both Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. The club is projected to spend around $154 MIL on salary in 2015, but that is without a proven closer. The real question is how far the club will go in money to win in the next 2 seasons before Bryce Harper is a Free Agent?
With the rest of the MLB landscape just obliterating Mike Rizzo for the Adam Eaton trade i will defend him on the caveat that he spends the full amount of available funds saved – in order to take a run at the World Series for the next 2 years while Bryce Harper is still on the club.
At this point. it is a long shot that the DC franchise will be able to retain the 2015 NL MVP’s services as the Nationals already have Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg to historical contracts (both top 20).
Washington sees Jayson Werth finally come off the books after this next year. While he will have earned $126 MIL from 2011 – 2017 in his total contract, the club can’t point to this as the worst deal on the club currently.
Ryan Zimmerman is still owed at least $47 MIL over the next 3 years – and has seen his production slip for the last few years.
The Max Scherzer contract does pay him $210 MIL over 7 years (in which he is now in year 3) – however this is deferred over 14 years, so the club can conduct more flexibility in their contracts for the next few years.
Top 5 Projected Save Leaders For The MLB In 2017
Aroldis Chapman appeared in 31 Games for the Yankees in 2016, holding 20 Saves and a crisp 2l01 ERA and WHIP of .867. This was done in just over 3 months. With the Yankees kickstarting him up from Spring Training, and without the aid of Andrew Miller as a fallback option, I expect the flamethrowing southpaw to have one of his best seasons ever out of the pen in 2017.
What a scene it will be at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW in he District today where Aroldis Chapman and Joe Maddon will reunite to celebrate their 2016 World Series Championship.
The big Lefty Cuban should be the favorite to win the 2017 Saves Title for the entire MLB. It is not that the Yankees will lead the league in wins – heck they may finish 4th in the AL East. I just believe that with the pop gun offense (say for Gary Sanchez) that the victories will all be closely contested.
I highly thought of Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel for this honor as well, however I like their managers to give them the odd day off ans Save Opportunities.
As of today, we have the Cubs nearing the 100 in plateau again, but just like the aforementioned players above, I think Maddon will use several guys to register Saves for Chicago in 2017 – like Wade Davis, Hector Rondon and Carl Edwards JR.
The reigning World Series Champs are also a lot more prone to blow out teams in a weakened National League where 6 clubs may lose 90 Games or more.
For the sake of preserving arms and fatigue, I would also not be surprised to see a few more SVO’s going to Andrew Miller in lieu of Cody Allen for the AL Pennant winners Cleveland.
(RELATED – Top 5 Home Runs Hitters Projected For The MLB in 2017) Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2017 MLB World Series: Detroit + Seattle Best Value Right Now
I have been preaching the Mariners as a bet for a couple of months now. I was able to grab them at +2800 for a $50 bet already, and this was my 2nd bet to the $100 I plunked down on the Nationals at +1200.
Jerry DiPoto has been wheeling and dealing to the tune of 11 trades already this offseason.
With the exception of the Outfield not possessing not much power (but a ton of speed that could round out the bottom of the order with SB), and the First Base position being manned by unproven commodities, the rest of the roster is pretty solid.
We noted that the Mariners threesome of Kyle Seager, Robinson Cano and Jean Segura combined for 99 HRs and then the prime DH Nelson Cruz clubbed 43 Bolts. These guys will make up enough power to compensate for that.
While I still feel they should upgrade at 1B or another OF (Guys such as Mark Trumbo, Chris Carter or Mike Napoli) this team should have enough offense to compete in the American League.
With acquiring Yovani Gallardo and Drew Smyly in the last week, the club has added depth = and have the best 1 – 5 rotation in the AL West now.
I believe that James Paxton may also see a breakout season similar to what Danny Duffy did for the Kansas City Royals in 2916. The LHP can reach 98 – 99 MPH on his fastball, and he has great movement.
The Relief Core has also been added to with great numbers. Seattle’s brass has definitely robbed the Minor League System, yet this is the window of winning.
Houston deserves to be slightly favored in the AL West with the rosters as currently constructed – however if the Mariners pick up another big bat then I would give the nod to them as the Division favorite. Read the rest of this entry
Bold Predictions For The MLB In 2017
Every year we do an article called “Bold Predictions”. I love this concept as most of these ideas are so preposterous that none of them will actually happen. I liken it to the “Riverboat Gambler Theory” where you can really get rich quick if it were to come to fruition.
There may not be too many secrets in the National League where the clubs seems to be either really good or really bad. The American League has a lot more parity.
I suppose I could start off by saying that the NL would win the Interleague series versus the AL, but that it is probably not going to happen based on a 13 year losing streak.
Giancarlo Stanton will crack 50+ HRs
Jose Bautista will not be signed until after the June 2017 draft.
A Right Handed Pitcher will start a game for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Power Rankings: Early Predictions For 2017
The week wasn’t really putting forth any big news until Edwin Encarnacion signed with the Indians a few days ago. This changed the landscape of the favorite in the American League.
Other deals included the Phillies acquiring Clay Buchholz, the Pirates inking Ivan Nova to the a 3 Year Deal, the Angels bringing in Ben Revere, and the Tigers dotting the line with Alex Avila on a contract to be the backup Catcher in Motown.
I added a few wins to Cleveland’s win total, and added a few losses to the AL Central.
For the confidence I have in the Pirates making a new baseball deal for Major League ready talent in Andrew McCutchen, I also boosted the Bucs for a few more W’s on the season prediction, and tacked on a few more losses for the Reds, Cubs and Brewers. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2017 MLB World Series
Edwin Encarnacion would be just what the doctor ordered for the Indians lineup. A guy that can mash big Homers, drive in plenty of runs. This contract is so awesome for the timing of it all as the team could absorb the $20 MIL guaranteed AAV for the next 3 years. EE will turn 34 on Jan 07, 2017, and is coming off a year where he slashed .263/.357/.529 – with 42 HRs and a league leading 127 RBI.He is a significant upgrade over the departed Mike Napoli. His power will elevate the Cleveland lineup for the next 3 seasons at least.
The Indians were our 4th best bet of the week last Friday at +1000 to win the Fall Classic in 2017. Now with the Edwin Encarnacion contract signing, the club has jumped to +700. We have just stated in a recent article today that they should not be below the Red Sox for odds to win the title next year.
Handicappers at the top of their profession always use the Strength of Schedule in their opinions, and with good reason. One could go either way in dealing with the rosters of the Red Sox and Indians, but the biggest difference are the 76 Divisional games the Tribe plays against the Royals, Tigers, Twins and White Sox, where Boston must play the Jays, yankees,O’s and Raus 76 times.
It is also the biggest reason the Nationals will likely stay as our favorite value on the board all off season. The Mets are about the only real competition in the NL East that may provide a hindrance for the Washington franchise to reel in their 2nd straight NL East title. Then it is – do you really think the Cubs should be a 3/1 odd favorite against the Nats in a NLCS matchup – no way.
We also love the Cardinals continuing to be a thorn in Chicago’s side for the 2017 year. St. Louis was a 100 win club in 2015, and fought many nagging injuries in 2016. Now they have a lot more healthy coming back in 2017, and a full year of Alex Reyes. The Red Birds also signed Dexter Fowler away from the Cubs. +2000 is about a 6/1 odd from the oddsmakers for the Cards to win the NL Central. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Reports 
You must be logged in to post a comment.