Washington Nats
2016 at a glance
Record: 95-67 (1st in NL East)
Hitting: 8th (4.71 R/G)
Pitching: 2nd (3.51 ERA)
Projected Lineup
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Eaton was a very solid pickup, he is legit and the Nats are a perfect fit because they needed a real CF and a lead off guy. He will get on base a ton which then Harper, Turner, Murphy will get him in. For you fantasy guys in roto's this guy should get 100 runs this year. Very good 1-4 in lineup. Bottom half of the lineup is average but decent. Overall this lineup should be fine but a lot will depend on Harper's health which is a concern.
Projected Rotation
Projected Rotation
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Rotation very similar to last years. Scherzer has a stress fracture and has a cloud over him. He should be good but who knows with things like this. I wouldn't touch him fantasy wise even though he has 200+ innings last 3 seasons. Roark made me a lot of money last year but now the secrets out. Strasburg made me a lot of money too and when he's on there is no one better but he is very inconsistent and liable to pitch 7IP 1 run ball or 5 IP 6 runs, you never know what you are going to get.
The BP is interesting. They tried getting my boy Kenley but he stayed with the Dodgers so they are going to Kelley. They have Glover , Treinen, Worley, Blanton etc so this should be a good BP , maybe not great. It will probably look a lot different than this come July.
Other than Lind, the nats don't have much coming off the bench. So if multiple Nats hitters get injured the lineup could look kinda ugly.
Nats will be solid no doubt but there are a lot of injury clouds and they don't have the depth to overcome much. My big bet last year was Nats to win the NL East +115 and that won easy. I wouldn't touch it this year.
Be careful with them.
2016 at a glance
Record: 95-67 (1st in NL East)
Hitting: 8th (4.71 R/G)
Pitching: 2nd (3.51 ERA)
Projected Lineup
| Player | POS | AB | R | HR | RBI | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | BB | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adam Eaton | OF | 587 | 90 | 12 | 53 | 15 | 0.288 | 0.355 | 0.428 | 0.783 | 51 | 100 |
| 2 | Trea Turner | SS | 571 | 95 | 15 | 60 | 46 | 0.298 | 0.342 | 0.473 | 0.815 | 39 | 117 |
| 3 | Daniel Murphy | 2B | 522 | 75 | 18 | 84 | 5 | 0.314 | 0.356 | 0.510 | 0.866 | 31 | 50 |
| 4 | Bryce Harper | OF | 520 | 99 | 32 | 96 | 14 | 0.288 | 0.401 | 0.542 | 0.943 | 97 | 104 |
| 5 | Anthony Rendon | 3B | 558 | 89 | 17 | 74 | 10 | 0.271 | 0.339 | 0.432 | 0.771 | 54 | 100 |
| 6 | Jayson Werth | OF | 364 | 58 | 14 | 49 | 3 | 0.247 | 0.328 | 0.418 | 0.746 | 42 | 79 |
| 7 | Ryan Zimmerman | 1B | 368 | 50 | 14 | 55 | 2 | 0.234 | 0.289 | 0.408 | 0.697 | 27 | 77 |
| 8 | Matt Wieters | C | 382 | 41 | 15 | 54 | 1 | 0.254 | 0.307 | 0.421 | 0.728 | 27 | 75 |
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Eaton was a very solid pickup, he is legit and the Nats are a perfect fit because they needed a real CF and a lead off guy. He will get on base a ton which then Harper, Turner, Murphy will get him in. For you fantasy guys in roto's this guy should get 100 runs this year. Very good 1-4 in lineup. Bottom half of the lineup is average but decent. Overall this lineup should be fine but a lot will depend on Harper's health which is a concern.
Projected Rotation
Projected Rotation
| Player | POS | IP | W | L | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | SwStrike | Fastball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Scherzer | SP | 193 | 14 | 8 | 2.98 | 1.01 | 235 | 47 | 15.3% | 94.3 mph |
| 2 | Tanner Roark | SP | 194 | 11 | 11 | 3.80 | 1.19 | 147 | 57 | 8.9% | 92.1 mph |
| 3 | Stephen Strasburg | SP | 151 | 11 | 6 | 2.86 | 1.11 | 183 | 38 | 11.0% | 94.9 mph |
| 4 | Gio Gonzalez | SP | 165 | 10 | 8 | 3.55 | 1.35 | 161 | 59 | 9.4% | 90.8 mph |
| 5 | Joe Ross | SP | 148 | 10 | 7 | 3.28 | 1.26 | 131 | 39 | 11.0% | 92.7 mph |
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Rotation very similar to last years. Scherzer has a stress fracture and has a cloud over him. He should be good but who knows with things like this. I wouldn't touch him fantasy wise even though he has 200+ innings last 3 seasons. Roark made me a lot of money last year but now the secrets out. Strasburg made me a lot of money too and when he's on there is no one better but he is very inconsistent and liable to pitch 7IP 1 run ball or 5 IP 6 runs, you never know what you are going to get.
The BP is interesting. They tried getting my boy Kenley but he stayed with the Dodgers so they are going to Kelley. They have Glover , Treinen, Worley, Blanton etc so this should be a good BP , maybe not great. It will probably look a lot different than this come July.
Other than Lind, the nats don't have much coming off the bench. So if multiple Nats hitters get injured the lineup could look kinda ugly.
Nats will be solid no doubt but there are a lot of injury clouds and they don't have the depth to overcome much. My big bet last year was Nats to win the NL East +115 and that won easy. I wouldn't touch it this year.
Be careful with them.
Baseball, Uncategorized
[h=1]2017 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS PREVIEW[/h]<!-- /post-header --> <figure class="post-image clear-fix">
</figure><!-- /post-image --> Date:
<!-- /post-meta --> 2016 at a glance
Record: 86-76 (2nd in NL Central)
Hitting: 5th (4.81 R/G)
Pitching: 12th (4.08 ERA)
I like the pickup of Fowler and the Cards haven’t had a true leadoff guy like this for some time. .393 OBP last season. Other than Fowler they are a very similar team to last years.
[h=4][/h][h=4]Let’s look at the lineup which is solid.[/h][h=4][/h][h=4]Projected Lineup[/h]
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The problem won’t be the lineup, the problem is the pitching which is filled with question marks.
[h=4]Projected Rotation[/h]
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Leake is ok but he barely pitches 90, doesn’t strike out much and allows more baserunners than I like. Wainwright is still a solid pitcher but not the ace he used to be. Lynn and Wacha are major question marks and I will be looking more to fade them than betting them until they proof they are back to form. Cards rotation will be allowing a lot of baserunners and that is something that could keep them out of contention if it comes to fruition.
Bullpen looks like a strength with OH who will likely dominate and Rosenthal will be a great setup guy. Cards will go as far as their rotation takes them. Pitching is so important and the rotation will be the difference between a wild card spot and being left out of the playoffs.
GABEWINS
[h=1]2017 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS PREVIEW[/h]<!-- /post-header --> <figure class="post-image clear-fix">
<!-- /post-meta --> 2016 at a glance
Record: 86-76 (2nd in NL Central)
Hitting: 5th (4.81 R/G)
Pitching: 12th (4.08 ERA)
I like the pickup of Fowler and the Cards haven’t had a true leadoff guy like this for some time. .393 OBP last season. Other than Fowler they are a very similar team to last years.
[h=4][/h][h=4]Let’s look at the lineup which is solid.[/h][h=4][/h][h=4]Projected Lineup[/h]
| Player | POS | AB | R | HR | RBI | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | BB | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dexter Fowler | OF | 515 | 89 | 14 | 46 | 15 | 0.266 | 0.359 | 0.427 | 0.786 | 69 | 115 |
| 2 | Aledmys Diaz | SS | 522 | 78 | 18 | 71 | 5 | 0.285 | 0.349 | 0.467 | 0.816 | 47 | 68 |
| 3 | Matt Carpenter | 1B | 518 | 80 | 21 | 77 | 2 | 0.272 | 0.362 | 0.483 | 0.845 | 69 | 103 |
| 4 | Stephen Piscotty | OF | 565 | 81 | 20 | 85 | 6 | 0.278 | 0.339 | 0.458 | 0.797 | 44 | 117 |
| 5 | Yadier Molina | C | 424 | 39 | 6 | 47 | 2 | 0.292 | 0.338 | 0.401 | 0.739 | 27 | 47 |
| 6 | Jhonny Peralta | 3B | 399 | 46 | 12 | 47 | 1 | 0.268 | 0.325 | 0.419 | 0.744 | 31 | 71 |
| 7 | Randal Grichuk | OF | 500 | 72 | 27 | 76 | 5 | 0.252 | 0.296 | 0.502 | 0.798 | 28 | 144 |
| 8 | Kolten Won | 2B | 495 | 66 | 12 | 51 | 14 | 0.259 | 0.322 | 0.396 | 0.718 | 36 | 76 |
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The problem won’t be the lineup, the problem is the pitching which is filled with question marks.
[h=4]Projected Rotation[/h]
| Player | POS | IP | W | L | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | SwStrike | Fastball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos Martinez | SP | 187 | 12 | 9 | 3.32 | 1.26 | 176 | 67 | 9.4% | 95.6 mph |
| 2 | Mike Leake | SP | 174 | 10 | 10 | 3.88 | 1.25 | 120 | 37 | 7.2% | 90.6 mph |
| 3 | Adam Wainwright | SP | 179 | 11 | 9 | 3.52 | 1.28 | 143 | 48 | 8.1% | 90.3 mph |
| 4 | Lance Lynn | SP | 142 | 8 | 8 | 3.74 | 1.37 | 123 | 58 | ||
| 5 | Michael Wacha | SP | 115 | 6 | 7 | 3.76 | 1.34 | 97 | 37 | 8.1% | 93.2 mph |
| 6 | Luke Weaver | SP | 75 | 5 | 3 | 3.48 | 1.21 | 65 | 18 | 9.8% | 91.9 mph |
| 7 | Marco Gonzales | SP | 58 | 2 | 4 | 4.81 | 1.48 | 50 | 31 |
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Leake is ok but he barely pitches 90, doesn’t strike out much and allows more baserunners than I like. Wainwright is still a solid pitcher but not the ace he used to be. Lynn and Wacha are major question marks and I will be looking more to fade them than betting them until they proof they are back to form. Cards rotation will be allowing a lot of baserunners and that is something that could keep them out of contention if it comes to fruition.
Bullpen looks like a strength with OH who will likely dominate and Rosenthal will be a great setup guy. Cards will go as far as their rotation takes them. Pitching is so important and the rotation will be the difference between a wild card spot and being left out of the playoffs.
GABEWINS
Baseball
[h=1]2017 Pirates preview[/h]<!-- /post-header --> <figure class="post-image clear-fix">
</figure><!-- /post-image -->
<!-- /post-meta --> 2016 at a glance
Record: 78-83 (3rd in NL Central)
Hitting: 13th (4.50 R/G)
Pitching: 18th (4.21 ERA)
Last year I predicted a bad season for the Pirates and it came to fruition. This season I don’t have a strong opinion but there could be some bounce back, how much I do not know. Let’s look at the lineup.
Projected Lineup
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This lineup is lacking power and the longball is important is today’s game. Lineup is solid and I am a huge fan of Marte and Cutch is ready for a bounceback season but again this lineup lacks the power that I’d like to see and that will limit their chances to do some big things considering that their rotation is not top notch.
Projected Rotation
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I am all in on Gerrit Cole, think he is the steal of the draft and will have a great bounceback season. Taillon was very good last season and we should expect the same this season. Their #1 and #2 are VERY VERY good and possibly underrated. Then we get to Nova batters have hit .301 vs him in road games last 3 season, lefties bat .312. ERA in the 4s. Nova can eat innings but he will give up his share of runs. Glasnow is someone I do not trust just yet and could be a bust considering some think he is going to have a huge season, the mental aspect of the game scares me a bit. Be careful with him. Kuhl allowed lefties to hit .300+ against him last season and is very young and I am expecting a pedestrian type season. Trevor Williams is an Arizona State stud who has great stuff and could be a good #5 if he gets there.
The rotation is good on the top, possibly even underrated. Nova, Glasnow and co concern me quite a bit and I think will be the reason they do not make the playoffs. No more Melancon in BP and now have Watson, Hudson, Bastardo. Not a BP that gives me the warm and fuzzies.
Expect no more than a .500 season unless Glasnow is a stud and the BP overachieves.
[h=1]2017 Pirates preview[/h]<!-- /post-header --> <figure class="post-image clear-fix">
<!-- /post-meta --> 2016 at a glance
Record: 78-83 (3rd in NL Central)
Hitting: 13th (4.50 R/G)
Pitching: 18th (4.21 ERA)
Last year I predicted a bad season for the Pirates and it came to fruition. This season I don’t have a strong opinion but there could be some bounce back, how much I do not know. Let’s look at the lineup.
Projected Lineup
| Player | POS | AB | R | HR | RBI | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | BB | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Josh Harrison | 2B | 501 | 64 | 6 | 51 | 17 | 0.289 | 0.321 | 0.405 | 0.726 | 19 | 75 |
| 2 | Josh Bell | 1B | 422 | 52 | 12 | 55 | 2 | 0.270 | 0.344 | 0.422 | 0.766 | 47 | 68 |
| 3 | Andrew McCutchen | OF | 568 | 84 | 23 | 84 | 9 | 0.276 | 0.360 | 0.463 | 0.823 | 68 | 114 |
| 4 | Starling Marte | OF | 525 | 76 | 13 | 60 | 39 | 0.297 | 0.347 | 0.448 | 0.795 | 24 | 106 |
| 5 | Gregory Polanco | OF | 529 | 79 | 16 | 69 | 21 | 0.255 | 0.314 | 0.420 | 0.734 | 47 | 103 |
| 6 | David Freese | 3B | 406 | 54 | 12 | 51 | 0 | 0.264 | 0.331 | 0.409 | 0.740 | 33 | 106 |
| 7 | Francisco Cervelli | C | 344 | 43 | 3 | 34 | 4 | 0.279 | 0.362 | 0.360 | 0.722 | 40 | 65 |
| 8 | Jordy Mercer | SS | 500 | 56 | 9 | 53 | 2 | 0.254 | 0.311 | 0.364 | 0.675 | 38 | 76 |
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This lineup is lacking power and the longball is important is today’s game. Lineup is solid and I am a huge fan of Marte and Cutch is ready for a bounceback season but again this lineup lacks the power that I’d like to see and that will limit their chances to do some big things considering that their rotation is not top notch.
Projected Rotation
| Player | POS | IP | W | L | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | SwStrike | Fastball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerrit Cole | SP | 185 | 13 | 8 | 2.82 | 1.23 | 174 | 47 | 8.5% | 95.2 mph |
| 2 | Jameson Taillon | SP | 177 | 12 | 8 | 3.05 | 1.03 | 148 | 25 | 8.3% | 94.3 mph |
| 3 | Ivan Nova | SP | 154 | 9 | 9 | 3.80 | 1.31 | 127 | 35 | 9.4% | 92.6 mph |
| 4 | Chad Kuhl | SP | 121 | 7 | 6 | 3.79 | 1.29 | 87 | 29 | 8.9% | 93.2 mph |
| 5 | Tyler Glasnow | SP | 110 | 6 | 7 | 3.85 | 1.32 | 117 | 61 | 11.6% | 93.5 mph |
| 6 | Trevor Williams | SP | 85 | 4 | 6 | 4.45 | 1.35 | 52 | 24 | 9.8% | 92.8 mph |
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I am all in on Gerrit Cole, think he is the steal of the draft and will have a great bounceback season. Taillon was very good last season and we should expect the same this season. Their #1 and #2 are VERY VERY good and possibly underrated. Then we get to Nova batters have hit .301 vs him in road games last 3 season, lefties bat .312. ERA in the 4s. Nova can eat innings but he will give up his share of runs. Glasnow is someone I do not trust just yet and could be a bust considering some think he is going to have a huge season, the mental aspect of the game scares me a bit. Be careful with him. Kuhl allowed lefties to hit .300+ against him last season and is very young and I am expecting a pedestrian type season. Trevor Williams is an Arizona State stud who has great stuff and could be a good #5 if he gets there.
The rotation is good on the top, possibly even underrated. Nova, Glasnow and co concern me quite a bit and I think will be the reason they do not make the playoffs. No more Melancon in BP and now have Watson, Hudson, Bastardo. Not a BP that gives me the warm and fuzzies.
Expect no more than a .500 season unless Glasnow is a stud and the BP overachieves.
