The article that was pulled from, fyi: http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a...tros-first-in-al-west-bullpen-surprise-060115 (posted in teaser-form on fangraphs)
The Good 1) Our division lead is greater than any other division leader other than STL. 2) Our brain trust has shown recently an aggressive approach to improving the team. At least in terms of farm promotions. 3) Along with 3), a willingness to part with guys not cutting it. 4) This team is young, and getting younger at the moment. The future looks bright. The Bad 1) We have only two guys (not counting Lowrie) with a OBP above .320 2) We have only one starter we can count on. 3) While our middle relief has been solid, not so sure about our closer. 4) Short of selling the farm, I am not sure this 2015 squad can be reshaped into whats needed to hold our division lead. Thoughts We have more than enough power. Sure could help to trade some of it for some guys who can get on base. Basically, we have become much too dependent on HR's to score. On the other hand, a balanced roster can also become a mediocre one. One that has no glaring weaknesses, but lacks any great strengths as well. After so many abysmal years in the near past, this 2015 team inspires hope. Its easy to want it all now after having nothing. I feel this team will be a force to reckon with. But it may not be 2015.
We project to have (5) guys with over 20 HR's. Valbuena - 39 Gattis - 30 Springer - 27 Carter - 27 Rasmus - 22 Castro - 16 Should it happen, has it ever? (for the Astros)
Happened in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004. In 2001, they were actually just 1 HR away from having 6 players with 20+ HR's (Hildago had a "disappointing" 19).
Never had (6) though. Maybe Castro can pick up the pace :grin: Additionally, our team pace is to hit 235 HR's. That would rank 2nd all time. Not far from the 249 that the 2000 squad hit.
I'd rather look and see where those guys rank in the AL given era differentials. When was the last time, if ever, we had 4 in the top 20 in our league, or 5 in the top 30? 2015: 4 in top 20, 5 in top 30 2001: 2 in top 20, 3 in top 30
We gave up 234 HR that season LOL If this team is up over 230, that will be decidedly more impressive than what that 2000 team did. MMP was a joke in its first year. 249 Is the NL Record 264 by the 97 Mariners is the target for the AL. If we can get that than we will have the record for both leagues. :grin: With Correa up and Springer heating up, I think we can do it.
While, true, there was still a substantial difference. # of 20+ HR hitters: 1985: 59 1986: 60 1999: 103 2000: 102 2013: 70 2014: 57
Yea the heart of the steroids era was crazy HR numbers from those years can't be compared equally to before and after
Sure; but there are additional factors beyond *just* steroids - newer parks were smaller, more homer-friendly - they built nine between '90-'99 (including Colorado), for instance. And, of course, baseball expanded twice: 20+ HRs in 1992: 37 20+ HRs in 1993: 62 20+ HRs in 1997: 80 20+ HRs in 1998: 85 I'm just overly sensitive to the idea that the late 90's power surge could ONLY be steroids. It's a factor, of course... but the idea it's the *only* factor fuels a lot of the ignorant steroid chatter about that era (and, by extension, kills guys like Bagwell's reputation in the process).
