2015: The Back To The Future Season

[Tonker]

I know that FIP is kind of on the outs in some SABR circles but the Cubs still have 4 starters in the top 25 in the NL.  That seems pretty good.

Of course The Pirates have 3 in the top 10.

For all the bitching we've done about the periodic struggles of Lester & Hendricks, for the rest of this season, there aren't many NL rotations I'd take over the Cubs.

Definitely the Nationals, and probably the Mets although Exploding Arm Syndrome is always a concern.

The Dodgers have an amazing top two, but not sure if I trust Anderson & Bolsinger to keep it up.

Cole is a flat out stud, but Burnett is due to regress and Locke & Worley are just guys.

As for the Cardinals, Martinez has pitched 104, 108 and 100 innings the last 3 years, and he's already at 100 this year. Wacha has been stretched out a bit more but still the same general issue. And fuck John Lackey on general principle.

I've never really been worried about Jon Lester long term. Hendricks scares me and will probably scare me every time he ever pitches because his stuff is just so hittable when he's off.  He's still been good more often than not so I'm sure the amount of bitching about him will always be disproportionate to the actual number of bad days he has. The biggest concern has been the revolving #5 spot of Wood/4 Innings of Wada/Clayton Richards, etc. but I think we're all fairly confident they're going to trade for a starter to fill that spot, no?

I think they'll trade for a guy. Also, every team deals with crap at the 5th starter spot - I'm guessing the list of teams with 5 SPs with 1+ WAR so far is about the same size as Chuck's GM datase.

Yeah, every fanbase thinks their team's 5th starter is garbage, most of them are right. They can make the playoffs with the rotation as is, I'd just like to see them get a guy like Kazmir if possible so that Kyle Hendricks is not part of the four man playoff rotation.

Spahn and Sain and pray for rain.  (referring back to the 3 pitcher rotation days)

[SKO]

I know that FIP is kind of on the outs in some SABR circles but the Cubs still have 4 starters in the top 25 in the NL.  That seems pretty good.

Of course The Pirates have 3 in the top 10.

For all the bitching we've done about the periodic struggles of Lester & Hendricks, for the rest of this season, there aren't many NL rotations I'd take over the Cubs.

Definitely the Nationals, and probably the Mets although Exploding Arm Syndrome is always a concern.

The Dodgers have an amazing top two, but not sure if I trust Anderson & Bolsinger to keep it up.

Cole is a flat out stud, but Burnett is due to regress and Locke & Worley are just guys.

As for the Cardinals, Martinez has pitched 104, 108 and 100 innings the last 3 years, and he's already at 100 this year. Wacha has been stretched out a bit more but still the same general issue. And fuck John Lackey on general principle.

I've never really been worried about Jon Lester long term. Hendricks scares me and will probably scare me every time he ever pitches because his stuff is just so hittable when he's off.  He's still been good more often than not so I'm sure the amount of bitching about him will always be disproportionate to the actual number of bad days he has. The biggest concern has been the revolving #5 spot of Wood/4 Innings of Wada/Clayton Richards, etc. but I think we're all fairly confident they're going to trade for a starter to fill that spot, no?

I think they'll trade for a guy. Also, every team deals with crap at the 5th starter spot - I'm guessing the list of teams with 5 SPs with 1+ WAR so far is about the same size as Chuck's GM datase.

Yeah, every fanbase thinks their team's 5th starter is garbage, most of them are right. They can make the playoffs with the rotation as is, I'd just like to see them get a guy like Kazmir if possible so that Kyle Hendricks is not part of the four man playoff rotation.

Spahn and Sain and pray for rain.  (referring back to the 3 pitcher rotation days)

I like that Steve Rain was so shitty and obscure that if you search his name on B-Ref he's the second name that pops up, after Steve Trout (because his nickname was Rainbow).

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Can't find the actual besmirching quote, and am too lazy to start a Montero Splooge Thread so I'm a just gonna leave this here:

FYELI

[Dan]

Hey everybody,
I've been away from this message board for about 6 years. What'd I miss?

[Saul Goodman]

Hey everybody,
I've been away from this message board for about 6 years. What'd I miss?

The visibility is ok.

[SKO]

Since Jorge came back Saturday they've scored 5 or more runs in 4 of the 6 games. Sure, they faced some crap pitchers in Lyons and Cooney but then they scored 5 off of Wacha. Hoping they can at least get to Quintana and Rodon this weekend and make the Sox use their shitty middle relief, then hopefully Lester can beat Sale 1-0.

Either way it does feel like the lineup is just more dangerous when Jorge is in there, even if he hasn't done a lot of the damage himself. Pitchers certainly respect him, the lineup is deeper, and they have Denorfia or Coghlan suddenly as their top pinch hitter and not Mike Baxter or Mack Seizure.

Also Addison had a lot of encouraging at bats the last two games, driving a lot of balls hard the other way.

Joyful positives. 

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Hey everybody,
I've been away from this message board for about 6 years. What'd I miss?

Chuck's still wrong.

[InternetApex]

Hey everybody,
I've been away from this message board for about 6 years. What'd I miss?

Not now, Paul.

[Brownie]

Hey everybody,
I've been away from this message board for about 6 years. What'd I miss?

The Ricky Renteria, Dale Sveum and Mike Quade eras?

[CBStew]

Hey everybody,
I've been away from this message board for about 6 years. What'd I miss?

Did you get time off for good behavior?

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Okay we've had a heartbreaking nut-punch loss followed by a frustratingly slap-dick loss yesterday and now they face Sale.  

Doom?

Fuck that.  I'm going on record as saying they're gonna pummel the Machinist today.  I know this makes no sense but I give zero shits.

WHO'S WITH ME?

[Tinker to Evers to Chance]

Okay we've had a heartbreaking nut-punch loss followed by a frustratingly slap-dick loss yesterday and now they face Sale.  

Doom?

Fuck that.  I'm going on record as saying they're gonna pummel the Machinist today.  I know this makes no sense but I give zero shits.

WHO'S WITH ME?

I'm with you.

The BP cup is as good as ours!

[flannj]

Okay we've had a heartbreaking nut-punch loss followed by a frustratingly slap-dick loss yesterday and now they face Sale.  

Doom?

Fuck that.  I'm going on record as saying they're gonna pummel the Machinist today.  I know this makes no sense but I give zero shits.

WHO'S WITH ME?

Psychotic but absolutely right!

[CBStew]

Okay we've had a heartbreaking nut-punch loss followed by a frustratingly slap-dick loss yesterday and now they face Sale.  

Doom?

Fuck that.  I'm going on record as saying they're gonna pummel the Machinist today.  I know this makes no sense but I give zero shits.

WHO'S WITH ME?

Ignorant TV executives aren't broadcasting this in my area!

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Okay we've had a heartbreaking nut-punch loss followed by a frustratingly slap-dick loss yesterday and now they face Sale.  

Doom?

Fuck that.  I'm going on record as saying they're gonna pummel the Machinist today.  I know this makes no sense but I give zero shits.

WHO'S WITH ME?

Ignorant TV executives aren't broadcasting this in my area!

Consider yourself lucky.