*** Official 2015 Royals Repository ***
In this thread: All things related to the AL Champions.
Duncan's Official Team Record prediction: 90 wins Duncan's Official Team MVP prediction: Eric Hosmer I can't wait for this season to start. The AL Central should be a very entertaining race. I'll give brief thoughts on each team the Royals must contend with to make it back to the postseason - strengths and weaknesses. Detroit Tigers: Strength: The offense is still full of powerful hitters, and Miguel Cabrera may be healthier. Weakness: Rotation is questionable after Price and Sanchez, bullpen continues to be horrible. Cleveland Indians: Strength: Great manager and a deep, versatile lineup. Weakness: The rotation is a question mark past Corey Kluber, and even he has a few questions about him. Chicago White Sox: Strength: 1-2-3 combo of Sale, Quintana and Samardzija is pretty formidable. Offense is anchored by Jose Abreu, too. Weakness: Defense still has major questions, and this team has 20 games to improve by if it really wants to make the playoffs. The Royals will be a division winner IF ... 1) Ventura and Duffy combine for 375+ innings of high-quality work 2) Eric Hosmer delivers on his potential with a FULL season of success rather than bursts 3) The deeper bullpen lessens the critical load on Herrera, Davis and Holland 4) Lorenzo Cain stays healthy 5) Either Alex Rios or Kendrys Morales bounces back to 2013 form Let's get this started! |
What We Learned, Team Grades for All 30 MLB Teams This Spring |
YESSSSSSSSSS
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How encouraging is this? I'm so ready for Monday.
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Been waiting for this thread...happy to see it when I scrolled down this morning!
I had us at 90-72, but for the sake of being different than duncan I'll go with 89-73. Division will be much tougher this year. I think everyone (lots of national guys) are somewhat prematurely jumping the Indians into favorites this year. I like their lineup, especially with Gomes emerging as a premier catcher and the addition of a "healthy" Moss. Still think the pitching is not as amazing as the credit it's getting. You would THINK Kluber would have some slight regression from last year. I actually really like Carrasco as well and believe he's finally figured it out. But after that, it's more question marks for me. I do like the back-end of the bullpen with Shaw and Allen. The Indians are who I predict we will be battling for the top of the division with. I think the Sox are scary and exciting. Shark is overrated in my opinion, but in the same breath I'd say Quintana is way underrated. And Sale. God I freaking hate him. Let's hope Rodon stays in the minors awhile or pitches in the pen if called up...his slider is virtually unhittable when he's throwing it right. I like their offense too. The Melk-Man should be a good 1-2 punch with Eaton in front of him. Abreu and adding LaRoche make this a pretty decent lineup as well. They could come out and make a giant leap and take the division, but that would be a huge step. I see them finishing with around 84-85 wins. Detroit bores me. Yeah they have Cabrera. And V-Mart. But the rest of the offense doesn't do it for me. Kinsler played out of his mind last year and is aging. No way JD Martinez duplicates his previous year either. And the bullpen/defense is still going to be below average. Throw in losing Scherzer, Porcello and Smyly and their pitching doesn't scare me at all. The Twins will be the Twins. Should have some fun young guys that might get called up mid-late season, but they will be the doormat regardless. If I had to guess, there's gonna be 4 teams in this division that finish over .500. Which means that all 4 are gonna be within about 5-7 games of first place down the wire. Should be a fun season...can't wait for Monday!! |
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IN! The country is watching us this year, let's not disappoint!
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82-80. Our rotation is a problem.
Does Eibner have the ability to platoon and crush LH? |
82-80
Alex Gordon MVP. |
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He could be a Drew Stubbs-type player if used correctly. I don't think the rotation can be classified as a "problem" unless Duffy and Ventura both are either hurt or take major, major steps back. Vargas and Guthrie will be what the are - solid inning eaters. Volquez is a question mark, but there's depth behind him should he falter. |
In. I'll go with 86 wins. Pumped to start this thing and finally have some baseball back on!
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In!
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Good news to start the Season. Locked up Ace for 5 years. And on the cheap too. 23 million.
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91-71
Division Champs! |
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