Armadillo: Sunday's six-pack
-- Villanova 95, Oklahoma 51-- Discouraging tank job by the Sooners.
-- You have to wonder if two Oklahoma assistant coaches getting head coaching jobs elsewhere during the week affected this game. Maybe not, but still......
-- North Carolina 83, Syracuse 66-- Good to play a 10-seed in national semis.
-- 49ers are going to trade Colin Kaepernick to Denver. What will they get back?
-- AJ Pollock broke his elbow sliding into home plate Friday. Big loss for Arizona.
-- Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech are both pursing Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew.
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Armadillo: Sunday's List of 13: Brief look at all the AL teams......
Orioles-- From 1998--2011, O's were under .500 every year. Under Showalter, they're 62 games over .500 since '12, thats what a great manager Showalter is. Adding Mark Trumbo should help, but their starting pitching is shaky.
Red Sox-- Shaw beat out Sandoval at 3B; Boston owes Sandoval $72.6M over next four years. Next year he'll be the DH with Ortiz retiring. They also owe Rusney Castillo $60M over next five years and he doesn't start. Adding Price/Kimbrel elevates the pitching.
White Sox-- Added Frazier/Lawrie to give Abreu protection in lineup; LaRoche retired after hitting .207. Sox are 62 games under .500 last three years-- manager Ventura somehow kept his job. 37-year old SS Rollins takes over from departed Ramirez; not sure that is an upgrade.
Indians-- One article this spring said Tribe has best rotation in big leagues. Kluber went from 18-9 in '14 to 9-16 LY; he gave up eight more HRs (22-14) LY. Francona has been over .500 all three years in Cleveland, but win totals also decreased last two years.
Tigers-- Over next four years, Detroit has $226M wrapped up in Verlander, Cabrera; when Mike Pelfrey is your #4 starter (they dealt Price LY), pitching is a concern. Justin Upton takes over in LF, Anthony Gose in CF- they've regressed a little.
Astros-- Over last four years, no Astro has played more than 105 games in any season at 1B; White beat out fellow prospect Reed at 1B this spring. Houston's 1-3 hitters are all 26 or younger, but three of five starting pitchers are 31+, with McCullers on DL.
Royals-- World Champs have new RF in rookie Fuentes, who was 5-33 in '13 cameo with San Diego. Four of five starting pitchers are 30+. LY, seven Royals were represented by Scott Boras, and their payroll went up $20M. Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
Angels-- Big $$$ team made playoffs once in last six years, were swept that one year- they've paid $852,409,866 in salaries since its last playoff win. Improved left side of infield, adding pair of SSs in Escobar/Simmons, but who will play LF?
Twins--Went 83-79 LY, first winning season since 2010; they were in playoffs three times in last decade, but got swept 3-0 in all three series. Payroll jumped $23M LY- they signed Korean DH Park this winter. have several versatile players; who will play SS?
Bronx-- Made playoffs 18 of last 21 years, but won World Series once since 2000; Bronx fans have to be wondering why owners sit back and don't make many moves, while fans get charged big $$$ to watch a team that is only 26 games over .500 last three years. Payroll spent since last World Series title: $1,273,295,558.
A's-- Bottom fell out LY, going 68-94 after three straight playoff years. Need quality starting pitching, guys who can be depended upon to 6+ innings every game- takes strain off bullpen. Oakland should score more runs this year; they've fortified the bullpen, Doubront was supposed to be #5 starter, but hurt arm Saturday.
Mariners-- New GM, new manager after going 437-535 in previous six seasons; Cano played hurt LY, should rebound this year, but after Felix/Iwakuma, how good is their rotation? Felix Hernandez has pitched 200+ innings last eight years, 190+ two years before that, so he is as dependable a pitcher as there is in the majors.
Rays-- Always do more with less; LY was second time they ever had a payroll higher than $75M, but they've been under .500 last two years, after making playoffs four of last six years. Two games in Montreal this weekend drew 106,000; could Rays relocate?
Rangers-- Been 12+ games over .500 five of last six years, came so close to winning World Series when Washington was manager. Payroll was $141M+ LY; it was $92M+ in 2011, so new owners are stepping up with financial support. Six of nine projected starters are 30+ years old, so future is now in Arlington.
Blue Jays-- This is first time since 1970 no Canadian teams will be in Stanley Cup playoffs, so focus will be on Jays early on, and the expectations are very high north of border. Jays made playoffs LY for first time since 1993; how good is rotation with Price gone?
-- Villanova 95, Oklahoma 51-- Discouraging tank job by the Sooners.
-- You have to wonder if two Oklahoma assistant coaches getting head coaching jobs elsewhere during the week affected this game. Maybe not, but still......
-- North Carolina 83, Syracuse 66-- Good to play a 10-seed in national semis.
-- 49ers are going to trade Colin Kaepernick to Denver. What will they get back?
-- AJ Pollock broke his elbow sliding into home plate Friday. Big loss for Arizona.
-- Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech are both pursing Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew.
**********
Armadillo: Sunday's List of 13: Brief look at all the AL teams......
Orioles-- From 1998--2011, O's were under .500 every year. Under Showalter, they're 62 games over .500 since '12, thats what a great manager Showalter is. Adding Mark Trumbo should help, but their starting pitching is shaky.
Red Sox-- Shaw beat out Sandoval at 3B; Boston owes Sandoval $72.6M over next four years. Next year he'll be the DH with Ortiz retiring. They also owe Rusney Castillo $60M over next five years and he doesn't start. Adding Price/Kimbrel elevates the pitching.
White Sox-- Added Frazier/Lawrie to give Abreu protection in lineup; LaRoche retired after hitting .207. Sox are 62 games under .500 last three years-- manager Ventura somehow kept his job. 37-year old SS Rollins takes over from departed Ramirez; not sure that is an upgrade.
Indians-- One article this spring said Tribe has best rotation in big leagues. Kluber went from 18-9 in '14 to 9-16 LY; he gave up eight more HRs (22-14) LY. Francona has been over .500 all three years in Cleveland, but win totals also decreased last two years.
Tigers-- Over next four years, Detroit has $226M wrapped up in Verlander, Cabrera; when Mike Pelfrey is your #4 starter (they dealt Price LY), pitching is a concern. Justin Upton takes over in LF, Anthony Gose in CF- they've regressed a little.
Astros-- Over last four years, no Astro has played more than 105 games in any season at 1B; White beat out fellow prospect Reed at 1B this spring. Houston's 1-3 hitters are all 26 or younger, but three of five starting pitchers are 31+, with McCullers on DL.
Royals-- World Champs have new RF in rookie Fuentes, who was 5-33 in '13 cameo with San Diego. Four of five starting pitchers are 30+. LY, seven Royals were represented by Scott Boras, and their payroll went up $20M. Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
Angels-- Big $$$ team made playoffs once in last six years, were swept that one year- they've paid $852,409,866 in salaries since its last playoff win. Improved left side of infield, adding pair of SSs in Escobar/Simmons, but who will play LF?
Twins--Went 83-79 LY, first winning season since 2010; they were in playoffs three times in last decade, but got swept 3-0 in all three series. Payroll jumped $23M LY- they signed Korean DH Park this winter. have several versatile players; who will play SS?
Bronx-- Made playoffs 18 of last 21 years, but won World Series once since 2000; Bronx fans have to be wondering why owners sit back and don't make many moves, while fans get charged big $$$ to watch a team that is only 26 games over .500 last three years. Payroll spent since last World Series title: $1,273,295,558.
A's-- Bottom fell out LY, going 68-94 after three straight playoff years. Need quality starting pitching, guys who can be depended upon to 6+ innings every game- takes strain off bullpen. Oakland should score more runs this year; they've fortified the bullpen, Doubront was supposed to be #5 starter, but hurt arm Saturday.
Mariners-- New GM, new manager after going 437-535 in previous six seasons; Cano played hurt LY, should rebound this year, but after Felix/Iwakuma, how good is their rotation? Felix Hernandez has pitched 200+ innings last eight years, 190+ two years before that, so he is as dependable a pitcher as there is in the majors.
Rays-- Always do more with less; LY was second time they ever had a payroll higher than $75M, but they've been under .500 last two years, after making playoffs four of last six years. Two games in Montreal this weekend drew 106,000; could Rays relocate?
Rangers-- Been 12+ games over .500 five of last six years, came so close to winning World Series when Washington was manager. Payroll was $141M+ LY; it was $92M+ in 2011, so new owners are stepping up with financial support. Six of nine projected starters are 30+ years old, so future is now in Arlington.
Blue Jays-- This is first time since 1970 no Canadian teams will be in Stanley Cup playoffs, so focus will be on Jays early on, and the expectations are very high north of border. Jays made playoffs LY for first time since 1993; how good is rotation with Price gone?
