MLB 2009 Season

Known for their awesome charts that detail win probabilities and stats like “value wins,” FanGraphs is wrapping up their ranking of all of the organizations in baseball. And while we can’t always nab the high-priced free agent, Indians fans should be glad to see their team in the top five.

Each team has been graded on four different areas of the organization: ownership, front office, major league talent and minor league talent. All of those in the top five have at least an overall grade of an A-. Coming in fourth overall, the Tribe finished with just that. But the biggest bright spot comes in at the front office level.
Not bad at all. The other grades are as follows:
Ownership: B
Major League Talent: B
Minor League Talent: B+

It is worth mentioning that the three teams ranked above the Indians are all in the AL East: New York Yankees at third, Tampa Bay Rays at second and the Boston Red Sox as tops overall. FanGraphs says that our mid-market payroll is the only thing keeping us from the top tier. That is somewhat contradicted by putting the Rays ahead of us, but that is easily countered by their across-the-board talent. Regardless, the fact that we’re in the AL Central is definitely a plus and here’s hoping that the team can capitalize on their position.

The rest of the rankings:

#30: Washington Nationals
#29: Florida Marlins
#28: Houston Astros
#27: Kansas City Royals
#26: Pittsburgh Pirates
#25: San Diego Padres
#24: Cincinnati Reds
#23: Colorado Rockies
#22: Detroit Tigers
#21: St. Louis Cardinals
#20: Toronto Blue Jays
#19: San Francisco Giants
#18: Minnesota Twins
#17: Chicago White Sox
#16: Baltimore Orioles
#15: Seattle Mariners
#14: Philadelphia Phillies
#13: Los Angeles Dodgers
#12: Texas Rangers
#11: Oakland Athletics
#10: Los Angeles Angels
#9: Arizona Diamondbacks
#8: Atlanta Braves
#7: Chicago Cubs
#6: Milwaukee Brewers
#5: New York Mets
#4: Cleveland Indians
#3: New York Yankees
#2: Tampa Bay Rays
#1: Boston Red Sox

Well that's it; the Tigers can just hang it up, the Tribe are going to win the AL Central. It says so right here.:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: You hang on to this Matt. this and a dollar won't buy a cup of coffee. This chart doesn't mean sh*t.
 
Yeah last year USA Today said the Atlanta Falcons would finish worse than the Lions and guess what, they made the playoffs! I think everyone knows how the Lions finished!
 
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Do you see the AL West being another runaway?

No. Oakland has improved and they are starting out hurt as are the Angels. When everyone is healthy (hopefully) come May things will start to fall into place. (I've been watching the Rangers lately and they have quite a bit of "pop" also. Their pitching will dictate their season for them.)
 
No. Oakland has improved and they are starting out hurt as are the Angels. When everyone is healthy (hopefully) come May things will start to fall into place. (I've been watching the Rangers lately and they have quite a bit of "pop" also. Their pitching will dictate their season for them.)

As any other team, for that matter.
 
Tigers in a rain delay :(

Why is baseball the only sport with rain delays? Be a man and play, you're not going to melt!

Since you cross-posted this, so will I!:rolleyes:

You want a bunch of pulled groins, torn ligaments, broken ankles and the like in a senseless spring Training game a week out from Opening Day??????
 
Check out last year's Opening Day roster and see where Big John was....wanna guess?

on the DL ;)

'Tis a long long season, my friend!

Very true. In the meantime, those Halo bats should be able to carry the load. :up

BTW, Westbrook is already pitching off the rubber from 60'. According to the Tribe beat reporter, he's throwing 88mph fastballs already. I know it's still VERY early, but Westy is shooting for a June 12th return (his 1 year Tommy John surgery anniversary).

If Westy can come back then and the Tribe's flame throwers can tread water in the meantime, this pitching staff will suddenly look a lot more deep.
 
Very true. In the meantime, those Halo bats should be able to carry the load. :up.

Very true. I am thrilled to see the power coming from "unknowns" like Aybar, Sean Rodriguez (who will probably start off in AAA), and Brandon Wood. Plus we have yet to see how Abreu will fit in on the team since he's been away @ the WBC for so long. But he has been hitting nicely so far.

Gary Matthews, Jr. is bitching about reagular playing time, so when he gets in the game, hopefully his anger will translate into hits, too.
 
Very true. I am thrilled to see the power coming from "unknowns" like Aybar, Sean Rodriguez (who will probably start off in AAA), and Brandon Wood. Plus we have yet to see how Abreu will fit in on the team since he's been away @ the WBC for so long. But he has been hitting nicely so far.

Gary Matthews, Jr. is bitching about reagular playing time, so when he gets in the game, hopefully his anger will translate into hits, too.

Which reminds me, the other day when the Halos were playing the Tribe in a spring training contest, the Angels had back-to-back-to-back homers. This was my very own personal taste of how powerful this lineup actually is!

I tell you one thing. That 3 man combo of Bobby Abreu, Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter makes for one scary heart of a batting order!
 
Which reminds me, the other day when the Halos were playing the Tribe in a spring training contest, the Angels had back-to-back-to-back homers. This was my very own personal taste of how powerful this lineup actually is!

I tell you one thing. That 3 man combo of Bobby Abreu, Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter makes for one scary heart of a batting order!

I was gonna give you a hard time about that game but it was such a crazy, windy game that it didn't really warrant it. BTW, that was the 1st time the Angels ever went B-to-B-to-B in Spring Training history.:eek:
 
When do the Halos and Tribe first play?

Your friendly banter makes me long for the start of the season.

Unfortunately, not till mid-season which is wierd. The Tribe usually comes out here for some late Spring warmth each season; but this year we trade visits within weeks of each other in July and August.

One good thing is that that Red Sox and Angels are through with each other early this season. You'll have to deal with Bill and me early on this year!:D
 
Unfortunately, not till mid-season which is weird. The Tribe usually comes out here for some late Spring warmth each season; but this year we trade visits within weeks of each other in July and August.

One good thing is that that Red Sox and Angels are through with each other early this season. :D


The Sox and Halos meet two weekends hence in Anaheim (Easter weekend).

I'm looking forward to the Friday night late game. There's nothing like staying up late on a weekend night....watching the Red Sox play on the West Coast!!! :)
 

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