Well, At Least David Schoenfield Likes Us

There is some interesting intra-division comparative stuff (position-by-position, player-by-player) in this ESPN analysis by David Schoenfield. I'll tease you with Schoenfield's conclusion (in two parts, bolds mine):

Intangibles

1. Royals
2. Indians
3. Tigers
4. White Sox
5. Twins

I like the youthful exuberance of the Royals, plus the likelihood of improvement from the young players and the possibility of some midseason reinforcements from the minors. The depth of the bullpen will help bolster a shaky rotation and this just feels like an organization finally starting to believe in itself. The Indians are riding last year's positive results and enter the season knowing they might get better production from Choo and Sizemore and full seasons from Kipnis and Chisenhall. I'm not knocking the Tigers here, but they do lack depth in the pitching staff and the pressure is on them.

The final tally

1. Tigers, 65 points
2. Royals, 55 points
3. Indians, 54 points
4. White Sox, 46 points
5. Twins, 35 points

No surprise here: The Tigers will be heavy favorites to win the division with a lineup that should score a ton of runs. I don't think it's a lock that they'll win -- Verlander, Avila, Peralta and Valverde will all be hard-pressed to repeat their 2011 campaigns, for example. But the Royals and Indians appear to have too many questions in the rotations, the White Sox have serious lineup issues and the Twins have a beautiful ballpark to play their games in.

I both like Schoenfield's optimism and appreciate his cautions. It does indeed feel like a year where we're about to turn the corner. Will it be this year or next? - TL

4 months ago timlacy 17 comments 0 recs |

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Next year for serious contention in post season play

We won’t be last this year… But we just may squeak into first but it will be close and dependent on our sophomore players and the pitchers from AAA mode season. IMHO

"Stay Classy Kansas City"

by Mas Cervezas on Jan 26, 2012 1:16 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Are those points as in Ron Polk Points?

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 26, 2012 1:22 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

That would be even more fun

as these are just based on positional rankings. The position players, designated hitters, starters one through five, closers, and collective bullpens are ranked 1-5. Five points per #1 ranking, 4 for #2 rankings, etc.

by 2X2L on Jan 26, 2012 1:26 PM EST up reply actions

So our 5 in SP was only counted once.

WIN

Doubting Thomas, the patron saint of sabermetrics

by Jeff Zimmerman on Jan 26, 2012 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

No, unfortunately I wasn't clear about that

Each position in the rotation was ranked separately.

Anyway that’ll teach me for wasting time trying to explain silly ranking systems. You just wind up having to explain them even more.

by 2X2L on Jan 26, 2012 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

Love the way he mentions the Twins.

They’re truly irrelevant and that’s comforting.

by hawkinscm87 on Jan 26, 2012 1:42 PM EST reply actions

So basically Hosmer 2nd best First Baseman in division.

If Hosmer improves his walk rate and defense and Konerko declines, Hosmer could climb past him.

Yep, both of those things are going to happen. Yes, it’s an opinion, but there are a lot of reasons to think so (minor league stats, scouting reports, etc.).

by hawkinscm87 on Jan 26, 2012 1:46 PM EST reply actions