For the purposes of this post, a surprise is a good thing, where a player or team does better than expected. That being said, here are the top 3 surprises of 2015
3. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs have been stockpiling talent for the past five years, and in 2015, they finally put it together. The reason this pleasant surprise isn't higher on the list is that it isn't as much of a surprise that the Cubs were good, just that it happened as early as it did. Nobody expected Kris Bryant to be as good as he was, and no one expected Jake Arrieta to have an ERA under one in the second half. The fact that a team went from worst-to-third-best-in-baseball is surprising enough to make it onto this list, the rest is icing on the cake.
2. Bryce Harper
People have known Bryce Harper was a star for a long time. However, nobody expected this. Harper led baseball in more than half of the offensive categories. He was unanimously voted MVP, and he carried a dead Nationals offense on his shoulders for the second half of the season. Without him, the Nationals would have had a record under .500. Last year, Mike Trout was the best player in baseball. Now it is Bryce Harper.
1. Houston Astros
Think about this. Since 2012, the Astros haven't had a winning record. In 2015, they won the wild card. The mere fact that they managed to win more than 60 games is astonishing, but they didn't stop their. They clinched the playoffs, and managed to give the champs a run for their money. That was by far the biggest shock of the year. What do you think are some others?
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Top 5 Biggest Let Downs of 2015
For the purposes of this blog, a "let down" is a player or team that did not live up to expectations. It is not a heart braking loss in the playoffs. That being said, here are the top 5 biggest let downs of 2015.
5. John Lester
When the Cubs decided it was time to win now, they made a lot of big moves. Among those was the most hyped move of the entire winter, the signing of ace John Lester. However, Lester struggled early on, wound up getting out shined by fellow ace, Cy Young Jake Arrieta. All in all, Lester had a pretty good year, helping the Cubs make it to the postseason for the first time since 2009. Still, Lester did not perform to standards, and was a let down.
4. Seattle Mariners
Take the best lefty-righty 3-4 punch on paper in the game and cross it with a former Cy Young award winner and what do you get? A championship bid, right? RIGHT? Nope, you get one of the bigger let downs of 2015. Robinson Cano was just as abismal as the rest of the Mariners line up, and the bullpen had one of the higher ERA's of the Major Leagues. For a team that was supposed to go to the World Series, finishing in fourth behind a team that was last in baseball for the past four years is a major let down. Thus, the spot on this list.
3. Hanley Ramirez & Pablo Sandoval
While the Red Sox were never going to win the East with their pitching, their two major offensive signings, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, were supposed to at least somewhat offset the odds. However, Ramirez proved upon entry that it would be unwise to leave him in the field, playing simply terrible defense, and not making up for it with his average hitting. While the other Red Sox signing, Pablo Sandoval, was the opposite. He played average defense, but hit terribly. So bad was Sandoval's hitting that he gave up switch hitting in favor of hitting lefty all of the time. The two guys that were supposed to carry the Sox let them down.
2. San Diego Padres
For a team that "won the winter," the Padres must be really disappointed in themselves. They traded for aging former stars that couldn't play defense, screwing up their team in the present and the future. Matt Kemp didn't hit for the first half of the season, and all throughout didn't play defense. Justin Upton was also mediocre, and ace James Shields rode an ERA over four to the end of the year. Will Myers, who was supposed to be center field, proved he couldn't handle it, and was moved to first base. You know you let your fan base down when you were supposed to go to the World Series and you finish behind the Arizona Diamondbacks.
1. Washington Nationals
Another team that was supposed to go to the World Series, yet the only thing that worked out for the Nationals was Bryce Harper's surge to star hood. Max Scherzer, the Nats' beg signing, was average, with a bad second half. Jason Werth and Denard Span both got injured, leaving only one man to tend to the Nats' dying offense. Two of the Nationals pitcher' were terrible, Stephen Strasburg and Doug Fister, both of whom were former Cy Young candidates. All in all, no one except for Bryce Harper performed to standard, and the Nationals let down everyone.
5. John Lester
When the Cubs decided it was time to win now, they made a lot of big moves. Among those was the most hyped move of the entire winter, the signing of ace John Lester. However, Lester struggled early on, wound up getting out shined by fellow ace, Cy Young Jake Arrieta. All in all, Lester had a pretty good year, helping the Cubs make it to the postseason for the first time since 2009. Still, Lester did not perform to standards, and was a let down.
4. Seattle Mariners
Take the best lefty-righty 3-4 punch on paper in the game and cross it with a former Cy Young award winner and what do you get? A championship bid, right? RIGHT? Nope, you get one of the bigger let downs of 2015. Robinson Cano was just as abismal as the rest of the Mariners line up, and the bullpen had one of the higher ERA's of the Major Leagues. For a team that was supposed to go to the World Series, finishing in fourth behind a team that was last in baseball for the past four years is a major let down. Thus, the spot on this list.
3. Hanley Ramirez & Pablo Sandoval
While the Red Sox were never going to win the East with their pitching, their two major offensive signings, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, were supposed to at least somewhat offset the odds. However, Ramirez proved upon entry that it would be unwise to leave him in the field, playing simply terrible defense, and not making up for it with his average hitting. While the other Red Sox signing, Pablo Sandoval, was the opposite. He played average defense, but hit terribly. So bad was Sandoval's hitting that he gave up switch hitting in favor of hitting lefty all of the time. The two guys that were supposed to carry the Sox let them down.
2. San Diego Padres
For a team that "won the winter," the Padres must be really disappointed in themselves. They traded for aging former stars that couldn't play defense, screwing up their team in the present and the future. Matt Kemp didn't hit for the first half of the season, and all throughout didn't play defense. Justin Upton was also mediocre, and ace James Shields rode an ERA over four to the end of the year. Will Myers, who was supposed to be center field, proved he couldn't handle it, and was moved to first base. You know you let your fan base down when you were supposed to go to the World Series and you finish behind the Arizona Diamondbacks.
1. Washington Nationals
Another team that was supposed to go to the World Series, yet the only thing that worked out for the Nationals was Bryce Harper's surge to star hood. Max Scherzer, the Nats' beg signing, was average, with a bad second half. Jason Werth and Denard Span both got injured, leaving only one man to tend to the Nats' dying offense. Two of the Nationals pitcher' were terrible, Stephen Strasburg and Doug Fister, both of whom were former Cy Young candidates. All in all, no one except for Bryce Harper performed to standard, and the Nationals let down everyone.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
The Top Three Worst Moves of the Offseason
3. Giants sign Jonny Cueto to six years, with an opt out after two
While the Dodgers made a similar deal with Kenta Maeda , a deal with a lot of years for someone you know is going to get hurt, that one was for not nearly as much money. This deal is bad because if Cueto injures himself, which he probably will, the Giants are stuck paying a guy around 20 million a year to sit on the bench. It's a hell of a risk for the Giants, especially if they want to contend in the suddenly competitive NL west. That being said, it's only really two years, as they signed him expecting that he would opt out, which is why it's not #1, but it's still way to risky, and it could set the Giants back a long way in two or three years.
2. Diamondbacks sign Zack Greinke to six years, 205 million
To the casual fan, letting go of Zack Greinke seemed stupid. The guy almost won the Cy Young! But when you look closer at what the Diamondbacks payed to get Greinke, you can see why the Dodgers were reluctant. The Diamondbacks gave up so much money to a guy who is going to spend the majority of his contract over the age of 35, that if they don't win within the next two or three years, they're screwed. They're giving Greinke too much money. End of story. But they're also giving him way too many years. Six is a long time for a thirty two year old. The proportions of this deal are so out of whack that it was almost number one, but the stupidity of the following deal will leave you speechless.
#1 Diamondbacks trade Ender Enciarte and Dansby Swanson to the Braves for Shelby Miller
Hey, these guys again! As you may not know, the Diamondbacks had the first pick in this year's player draft. They selected Dansby Swanson, only to trade away the ultimate potential of a shortstop for two or three years of a #2 starter. Let that sink in. On top of that, they're trading away fan favorite Ender Enciarte, who can play defense, hit, everything. Now Shelby Miller is great, but he gives up a lot of fly balls, which is not good for the D-Backs stadium. You'll only Miller for two years, when you could have Enciarte for more. Also, six years of the number one prospect of 2015 doesn't sound too bad either. Look, I understand that the D-Backs signed a TV contract so they need to win now, but it will severely, I mean cripple, their future.
While the Dodgers made a similar deal with Kenta Maeda , a deal with a lot of years for someone you know is going to get hurt, that one was for not nearly as much money. This deal is bad because if Cueto injures himself, which he probably will, the Giants are stuck paying a guy around 20 million a year to sit on the bench. It's a hell of a risk for the Giants, especially if they want to contend in the suddenly competitive NL west. That being said, it's only really two years, as they signed him expecting that he would opt out, which is why it's not #1, but it's still way to risky, and it could set the Giants back a long way in two or three years.
2. Diamondbacks sign Zack Greinke to six years, 205 million
To the casual fan, letting go of Zack Greinke seemed stupid. The guy almost won the Cy Young! But when you look closer at what the Diamondbacks payed to get Greinke, you can see why the Dodgers were reluctant. The Diamondbacks gave up so much money to a guy who is going to spend the majority of his contract over the age of 35, that if they don't win within the next two or three years, they're screwed. They're giving Greinke too much money. End of story. But they're also giving him way too many years. Six is a long time for a thirty two year old. The proportions of this deal are so out of whack that it was almost number one, but the stupidity of the following deal will leave you speechless.
#1 Diamondbacks trade Ender Enciarte and Dansby Swanson to the Braves for Shelby Miller
Hey, these guys again! As you may not know, the Diamondbacks had the first pick in this year's player draft. They selected Dansby Swanson, only to trade away the ultimate potential of a shortstop for two or three years of a #2 starter. Let that sink in. On top of that, they're trading away fan favorite Ender Enciarte, who can play defense, hit, everything. Now Shelby Miller is great, but he gives up a lot of fly balls, which is not good for the D-Backs stadium. You'll only Miller for two years, when you could have Enciarte for more. Also, six years of the number one prospect of 2015 doesn't sound too bad either. Look, I understand that the D-Backs signed a TV contract so they need to win now, but it will severely, I mean cripple, their future.
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