Each of these teams is much like the other,
Each of these teams is really strong.
Can you guess which teams I'm talkin', brother,
Before I finish this song?
Team A:
Hitting: Led the league in runs, hits, triples, home runs, walks, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, and total bases. Second in doubles.
Pitching: Led the league in ERA, shutouts, fewest hits, fewest runs, fewest earned runs, fewest home runs, fewest walks, FIP, WHIP, and Double Dip (all right, I made that last one up). Second in complete games, saves, and strikeouts.
Fielding: Led the league in defensive efficiency (percentage of balls in play converted to outs), total chances, and putouts.
WAR (What is it good for?): Led the league with a total of 33.4, over the next highest team at 9.6. Led in pitching, starting pitching, relief pitching, and non-pitchers. First at first base, second base, shortstop, left field, right field, and total outfield. Second in center field.
Team B:
Hitting: Led the league in runs, home runs, walks, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, and total bases. Second in batting average.
Pitching: Led the league in ERA, complete games, shutouts, saves, fewest hits, fewest runs, fewest earned runs, fewest home runs, WHIP, tuck and nip (just want to be sure you're still reading). Third in strikeouts, third fewest walks allowed.
Fielding: Led the league in defensive efficiency, fewest errors, double-plays, and fielding percentage.
WAR: Led the league with a total of 28.9, over the next highest team at 8.1. Led in relief pitching and non-pitchers. First at catcher, second base, third base, left field, center field, total outfield, and pinch-hitting. Second in all-pitching, and in right field. Third in starting pitching.
Team C:
Hitting: Led the league in runs, stolen bases, walks, on-base percentage, and OPS. Second in hits, batting average, slugging, and total bases. Fourth in home runs.
Pitching: Led the league in ERA, complete games, shutouts, fewest hits, fewest runs, fewest earned runs, fewest home runs, FIP, and WHIP ("Whip it good!"—Devo). Second in saves. Fourth in strikeouts.
Fielding: Led the league in defensive efficiency. Third in total chances, third fewest errors made.
WAR: Led the league with a total of 25.7, over the next highest team at 11.7. Led in starting pitching and non-pitchers. First in right field and pinch-hitting. Second at catching, third base, total outfield. Third in all-pitching and center field.
Team D:
Hitting: Led the league in walks, fewest strikeouts, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, and total bases. Second in doubles. Third in runs and home runs.
Pitching: Led the league in fewest hits, fewest runs, fewest earned runs, fewest walks (did not issue a single intentional walk), strikeouts, and WHIP. Second in ERA, shutouts, and FIP ("That's 'Pip'!"—Charles Dickens). Third in saves.
Fielding: Led the league in defensive efficiency, fewest errors, fielding percentage. Third in total chances.
WAR: Led league with a total of 31.7, over the the next highest team at 14.9. Led in all-pitching, starting pitching, and non-pitchers. Second at second base, shortstop, third base, left field, total outfield, and designated hitter. Third in right field and at pinch-hitting. Fourth in relief pitching.
Have you guessed which teams we're talkin' about here?
Have you guessed which team, is it real clear?
Did you guess which team it is we should fear?
For that team'll win it this year!
off the top of my head...
ReplyDeletea) LA
b) Minn
c) Oakland
d) Houston
Doug K.
Well, you got one right. The last one. Which is why Houston will win.
ReplyDeleteAnybody else wanna guess the others?
A hint: none of them are from this season.
a) 1998 Yankees?
ReplyDeleteBrett
a) 1963 Mets
ReplyDeleteb) 1965 Twins
c) 1967 Ford Fairlane
Doug K.
Last four WS winners.
ReplyDeleteswag
No, no, and no...although, close enough, Brett: Team C is the 1998 Yankees.
ReplyDeleteNone of them were 1967 Ford Fairlane?
ReplyDeleteHow about 1960 Ford Falcon?
More like the years of the Model T and the Lincoln Zephyr.
ReplyDeleteBut never mind that:
You've gotta have hope!
Mustn't sit around and mope
Nothing's half as bad as it may appear
Wait'll next year and hope!
So, Team A has to be the 1917 Detroit Tigers.
ReplyDeleteTeam B....1980 KC Royals?
EVERYTHING HAS GONE AGAINST US ALL SEASON.
ReplyDeleteYET WE WON A LOT.
EVERYTHING IS STILL GOING AGAINST US.
RAYS LOOK LIKE THEY WILL WIN AND OAKLAND WAS MY BIG HOPE TO KNOCK OUT HOUSTON.
WE STILL HAVE INJURIES GALORE LEADING UP TO THIS MINNESOTA SERIES, NOT KNOWING WHO IS AT FULL CAPACITY AND WHO ISN'T.
ALL THE ELEMENTS AND EXCUSES ARE ALREADY "BUILT IN" FOR US TO GO HOME DISAPPOINTED AND SAY. "IT WAS THE INJURIES".
COOP AND HAL DID NOT DO THEIR JOB WHEN IT CAME TIME TO ADD THE PITCHER WE NEEDED.
NOT GETTING DALLAS KEUCHEL KILLED US, AND IT WAS DO-ABLE.
THIS IS KILLING ME.
I'M JUST WAITING TO BE DISAPPOINTED.
Fun facts:
ReplyDeleteTampa Bay DEVIL Rays had a winning record against the Colt 45s this year.
The Athletics had a losing record against the Colt 45s this year.
Not by a lot, but there it is.
First on the agenda is beat the Twinkies.
You and me ALL CAPS you and me. (Regarding Oakland).
ReplyDeleteWell, Let's get past Minn if we can and see who's left.
I'm done predicting because I had Oakland winning the World Series. Then again, I had a C note on the Washington Generals beating the Globetrotters in Springfield tonight. They're due dammit!
Doug K.
I know I should have given my predictions earlier, but (and please trust me on the Wild Card games already played):
ReplyDeleteWild Cards:
Washington over Brewers
Tampa Bay over Oakland
American League:
Twins over Yankees in 3 or 4
Astros over Rays
Astros over Twins
National League:
Dodgers over Washington
Atlanta over Cardinals
Dodgers over Atlanta
World Series:
Astros over Dodgers in a long series
Also sprach Österreich!
Hey, I'm now 2-0 in playoff "series". Woo-hoo!
ReplyDeleteAnd okay, to turn over all the cards:
ReplyDeleteTeam A is the 1927 New York Yankees.
Team B is the 1939 New York Yankees.
Team C is the 1998 New York Yankees.
Most noted baseball authorities consider one of these teams to be the greatest in baseball history. All crushed the competition in the Junior Circuit, all went on to four-game sweeps in the World Series.
Me, I go with the 1998 Yanks—even though they were somewhat less statistically dominant over their league—because I don't think you can have a "greatest" team before people of color were allowed to play. And because the 1998 Yanks were (ALMOST undoubtedly) non-juicers playing in an already highly juiced AL. Which is a remarkable accomplishment.
But the scary part? This year's Houston Astros—Team D—dominated the AL almost as much as those other, all-time greats did, in the most important ways.
I'm not saying that they're as good. But they will win handily.
I fear the Rays as much as I fear the Astros, honest.
ReplyDeleteYanks' record vs. Houston: 3-4.
ReplyDeleteYanks' record vs. TB: 12-7.
And that's even counting the 4 games against the Rays in which we didn't really compete because, you know, guys need rest before the All-Star Game, and such.
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