MLB News & Notes (other than Cubs or Sox)

[rok]

It really is sort of amazing how much of an afterthought the Sox are these days especially after that offseason. The summer is ours.

[funkster]

I thought their off season was pretty solid too.  I'm surprised they're as bad as they are to be honest.

[rok]

I thought their off season was pretty solid too.  I'm surprised they're as bad as they are to be honest.

I'll admit that I was impressed at the time, but given all of the veterans they added on the wrong side of 30, this doesn't surprise me either. Really only Robertson (aside from tonight) and Duke have worked out, while every other addition has been a disaster. i still sort of expect them to finish close to .500 but it won't matter and no one will care.

[funkster]

Given the nature of bullpen arms to have good years followed by really bad years, I figured Robertson would end up sucking but he hasn't.  Eaton hasn't been a very good pickup up so far either.

[rok]

Eaton was really good when healthy last year. After he signed his extension, he's been either hurt or shit. Plus, he's one of the more reckless OFs in recent memory. Probably not the type of scrappy douche you would want to invest in long term.

[Butcher]

When PECOTA and all the other simulators pretty much unanimously agreed that the Sox were average, at best, I figured there was something to that. This doesn't surprise me all that much. I could see them finishing a few games under .500, but that should put them solidly in fourth place in their division.

[VanSlawAndCottoCheese]

PECOTA had the Royals winning 72 at the season's onset.

[Butcher]

Ok

[VanSlawAndCottoCheese]

Jus' sayin'.

[rok]

But I think they projected the 1st place team to only have around 82 wins or so. The low win total projection, I think, was more a reflection of the tougher division than the team being bad. PECOTA is also notorious for being ultra conservative on that end.

[VanSlawAndCottoCheese]

Sure, but they projected about 27 teams (including the White Sox) to have better records than the Royals. Moustakas' breakout--finally--caught all projections by surprise, but it sure seems like the Royals are playing above their heads again, a la the 2012-2014 Orioles.

[Butcher]

My point doesn't change. All the projections had the Sox as average at best. So the fact that they're playing average, at best, isn't all that surprising to me. *shrug*

[rok]

The only thing that has surprised me about the Royals is that Ned Yost hasn't cost them more wins.

[vitaminB]

https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/603624705225007104

 

Rizzo and Kris Bryant need a lot of help.  Both in second in ASG voting.  Can't let Carpenter start ahead of KB.

[jstraw]

ASG balloting is a joke.