Since I'm batting 1000% on my preseason predictions, time to try my hand at playoff predicitions. FEDERAL LEAGUE Kansas City Royals versus Cincinnati Reds Season Series: 6-6 Hard to believe calling a 99 win team "human looking," but given the last several years, this is the most "normal" Kansas City team we've seen. Cincinnati is a tough matchup for them in the first round - although a wild card team, hard to imagine if the Reds didn't play...
Your favorite DBL writer is not infallable when it comes to his work, although my ego suggests otherwise. Before the season, I put together nine thoughts looking ahead to the season that was. Here's my unbiased view on how I did:1. One of the Big Boys Goes Bust Correct. The Chicago Cubs are this year's team under the microscope - while they were perhaps the hottest team in the second half of the season, they dug themselves a hole early and...
As the trade deadline comes closer in just a few short days, the murky and cloudy trade market starts to come into focus. Trading has picked up of late, with smaller deals (the swapping of minor league pitchers between New York and Florida) and larger deals (Tim Salmon for a kings ransom). As we near the end, here are a few tiers of teams: Most Active Chicago White Sox - feels like all trading goes through them. Active early in the season...
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Montreal is in an interesting spot - started the season red hot, they had a below .500 record in June and are 6-6 so far in July. 1.5 games behind the Senators, they’re first in most major pitching categories (4th in home runs allowed) and hitting, while not 1st, are 2nd and 3rd in most categories. This isn’t a bad team with glaring holes or issues. Need: Bench Depth It’s really tempting to put starting pitching here. ”But Graham, you...
The Florida Marlins sit atop the Federal League East Division after a hot June. With the recent addition of power threat Matt Williams, nearly every player on their team is starting at a different position than they did when the season began. Overall it’s a decent squad that excels in some areas (tied for first in extra base hits and first in hits allowed and opponent batting average, while struggling in other areas. This team can use some...
Orlando has been an interesting team this season. Fighitng for the division crown, they had a rough June (13-14), great May (19-9), and strong start to July (7-3). Their pitching staff should be the envy of most teams, with a rotation and bullpen who are respectively ranked 2nd in ERA and anywhere between 2nd and 4th in every major pitching category. The hitting has been a more complicated tale. The good news? 1st in slugging, 1st in extra-base...
The Cardinals have made one major move already, ditching top 20 hitter in Matt Williams and acquiring Jay Bell and Steve Finley. Cardinals are leading the Federal League in batting average and hits, but are only 5th in runs. Tim Raines leading off with his -0.7 WAR isn’t helping, but Cardinals ownership is loyal, even when it’s blind and hurting this team. That being said, outfield doesn’t seem to be the biggest need. Need: Catcher Dan...
After a .500 start to the season after one month, all things have started to click for the Senators, who find themselves atop the United League as of this publication. The recently drafted pieces are playing well and are following the undisputed leader of this team - Alex Rodriguez. Hard to look at a team like this and encourage it to shake up what isn’t necessarily broken, but despite sitting atop their league, that doesn’t mean there...