Umm....projections based on talent are entirely subjective pieces of data. Run differential is actually quantitative data. The evidence that is based on numbers that actually have value is going to win that argument every time. And if you wanted to try and go the other route - and say that maybe our win/loss record should take precedence over our run differential and that our run differential should begin to decrease to match our win/loss record (which BTW has been time and time again proven to be the other way around)....but I still can defend that by saying the run differential is a much more finite and objective piece of data considering that entails much more overall data to find it's score and is fairly evident when looking at other top teams in the league that it is fairly representative of a teams record.
Scouting and the statistics they provide will always pale in comparison to actual data gathered on performance in the long run. Numbers may skew for a while, but it is a fact that they will always be more accurate (this shouldn't be hard to understand). It's possible to project how a team might do before the season....sure. But do look towards a projection that was based on human opinion continually in the face of mathematical data is not only illogical....it's pretty ridiculous. Numbers don't always tell the whole story, but you never assume that they will start to represent human opinion. You take them for what they are worth at the time and at this time....our projections were way off. Extremely, in the matters of run differential....and rather largely in the matters of win/loss record.
You're forgetting the Rangers' day one starter in the playoffs last year, Colby Lewis. That makes the decision to pick up Oswalt even tougher, but Holland has been regressing, and I'm not sure if Nefty can be a starting pitcher long term.
Well the astros run differential is firmly negative which begs the question if a bad team has a positive run differential will their record start to approach their run differential or will the run differential approach the team.
Well? Which is it? Should they sign him for the rest of the year or sign him, and then trade him at the deadline? Oh yeah, there is that one small detail.... http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...0120529_1_neftali-feliz-rangers-disabled-list
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100927142201AApTqqL What is the worst run differential in MLB history? For a season: 1899 cleveland Spiders 529 runs scored, 1252 runs allowed (-723) Since 1900: 1932 Red Sox, 566 runs scored, 915 runs allowed (-349) Recently: 2003 Tigers, 591 runs scored, 928 runs allowed (-337) The 1939 Yankees have the best. 967 runs scored, 556 runs allowed (+411) Is this right? The 1899 Indians gave up 20+ runs per game?
Hit the wrong button on my calculator In any case, I guess we are in no danger of eclipsing that or the more recent records.
At least the Rockies' pitchers are preventing the Astros' pitchers from being the biggest sham in baseball this season
The Rockies actually have a better team ERA adjusted for ballpark. They do have a league-worst WHIP though (we're 2nd worst). We also downgraded our rotation significantly by trading Wandy, so it's probably safe to say that we currently have the worst pitching staff in baseball at the moment. The numbers will likely reflect that for the rest of this season as well as the next few years. Just wait til we get to face some of those AL bats on the regular. Gonna be ugly for a long time.
