In my AL preview, I said every team but KC had a chance to win at least half their games. So far, the difference between the best and worst (except for the Royals) is just 3 games.
The Blue Jays looked like a big red-light injury report to me, at the beginning of the year. Of all the teams in the AL, I have a feeling the Blue Jays will be the biggest disappointment at the end. What in the name of Mike Hampton/Denny Neagle/Russ Ortiz were the Blue Jays thinking when sigining A.J. Burnett to such a big money, long-term contract?
For the teams that have played so many of their games in cold weather, it's really hard to gain any knowledge from their stats. Watching games played in bruttally cold weather you quickly discover that pitchers have a big advantage, unless you are a ground-ball pitcher, as fielding suffers some.
Nine teams have a slugging percentage under .400, while 8 teams have an OBP of .320 or below.
The Devil Rays pitchers must be the only people in Tampa who wish they could have spent April in Cleveland, as their ERA is 6.43.
One stat at this early juncture that looks about right is the top strikeout pitchers. Here are the names of 1-9 in this category. Santana, Kasmir, Harden, Sabathia, Cabrera, Beckett, Hernandez, Lackey, Bedard. If they stay healthy, I wouldn't be surprised if they all keep their spots in the Top 10 in K's.
I will admit that I know nothing about the Devil Rays Akinori Iwamura and had no idea that he currently has an OBP of .529 and overall OPS of 1.094.
The Tigers young pitchers are showing no effects of being worn out from pitching so many innings in 2006. This one is definitely under the category of "being too early to tell", though.
Kenny Williams has thumbed his nose at the sabermetrical world in the past, but the stubborn use of Darin Erstad in the number 2 spot (.236 OPS on the road) has been killing the Sox. As expected, Hawk Harrelson has raved about Erstad being a great addition to the team.
The Indians bullpen looks really poor for a team which is seen as a favorite by many. The amount of postponed games they will have to make up will not help Cleveland's achilles heel.
Just how brutal would the A's be on offense, if they hadn't have picked up Mike Piazza? Will the A's win more than 5 games this year where the 9th inning won't qualify as a save situation?
Last night's A's game almost qualified, but Chad Gaudin ran out of gas one batter too soon. Still, I'm sure the A's will win some games when the score is tied going into the ninth.
Actually, I keed. This happens every year to the A's, though, and I don't know why. Every year, about six guys in the A's lineup start of the season hitting about their 10% percentile PECOTA or less, well into May. But somehow, by September, they're all back around their 50% projections. They won't be this bad all year.
Actually, I keed. This happens every year to the A's, though, and I don't know why. Every year, about six guys in the A's lineup start of the season hitting about their 10% percentile PECOTA or less, well into May. But somehow, by September, they're all back around their 50% projections. They won't be this bad all year.
No congrats to a certain south-side southpaw though?
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