Post by Commissioner Erick on Dec 24, 2017 18:45:07 GMT -5
1) New York Mets
2017: 102-60, NL East Champions. Defeated Chicago Cubs 4-1 in NLDS. Defeated San Francisco 4-2 in NLCS. Defeated Cleveland 4-1 in World Series.
Who They Were: For those who forgot, Nigel Laverick steered the New York Mets to the Championship last year. The Mets were second in pitching behind a deep staff and exceptional bullpen last season. Zach Wheeler was the only starter with an ERA over 3.57 and a WHIP over 1.16. They bombarded teams with pitching and were second in walks and home runs.
Offseason Review: Nate Taylor inherits a unique situation, taking over as the manager of a championship team. He's already made a splash, moving on from Stephen Matz for a pair of excellent prospects, one of whom may be able to work in the majors this year. It's the kind of move not often seen from a championship winner, one where a young, affordable phenom is swapped for prospects. However, New York's depth of young, explosive arms is still second-to-none, even with Matz sent away. The offense has a lot of parts that are either pretty old or not quite ready, which creates a weird dynamic with position players that Taylor will have to resolve.
On the Farm: Robert Gsellman and Jose de Leon would be mid-rotation pitchers in most staffs. On the Mets, it's likely one or both start the year in Triple-A or the bullpen. That's depth. Meanwhile, Nick Senzel who was acquired in the Matz trade, teams with Ahmed Rosario to form a dynamic left side of the infield that may see time as early as this season. Not only did the Mets win the World Series, but they have four impact players ready to contribute as early as this season, which is remarkable.
Best Case Scenario: Dynasty.
Worst Case Scenario: Facing Clayton Kershaw or Madison Bumgarner in a Wild Card Game.
Key Questions: There are so many pieces in play for who is making the roster, let alone starting at second base, third base, and shortstop. Do you know who is getting the nod at those spot?
Cameron Maybin was pretty awful for the Angels last year. What do you see in him that made you sign him?
2) Washington Nationals
2017: 87-75, 2nd Place NL East
Who They Were: The Nationals were Bryce Harper's team first and foremost. A 10 win player, Harper led the league in home runs, runs scored, and each component of the standard triple slash. He had a .343 average, 49 home runs, and a 1.159 OPS, meaning he had a season that will render him immortal. The Nationals finished first in offense, as Harper was flanked by solid players in Ryan Zimmerman, Matt Wieters, Anthony Rendon and Daniel Murphy. However, injuries sabotaged Stephen Strasburg's season and the Nationals couldn't replace him. The bullpen was second worst in baseball, and their defense was terrible. The Nationals simply couldn't do the little things needed to win games, despite their talent.
Offseason Review: The Nats had a spectacular offense and a shaky staff and defense, so naturally they traded Gio Gonzalez for Andrew McCutchen. Washington's bats will be lethal again without question. Nick Vincent and Tony Watson had solid seasons last year and should add depth to the bullpen. They aren't world beaters, but mere competence will be big. They're dealing with Strasburg coming off an injury, however, and a hole left by Gonzalez. Even If Strasburg comes back fine, there's no depth in their staff.
On the Farm: Victor Robles is likely to be a difference-maker next season. There's some variance on his ultimate profile, but he has offensive skills, great wheels, and sharp instincts in center field. Outside of Robles, it's a barren system with the most exciting players unable to play full season ball.
Best Case Scenario: The bullpen improves, the staff stays healthy, and the team outslugs everybody.
Worst Case Scenario: The pitching staff is bottom four in the league, topping the Nationals out in the mid 80's in wins.
Key Questions: Who is the fifth starter on this team and what do you expect out of that position?
Dusty Wathan had a good year managing the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. What made you spend a bunch of money to make him specifically, your bench coach?
3) Atlanta Braves
2017: 71-91, 4th Place NL East
Who They Were: Atlanta was basically only good at playing defense last year. Below average in most other aspects of baseball, they struggled to a 71-win campaign. Simply put, Atlanta had too many bad players. They went double figures in position players who recorded negative WAR, and only two pitchers on the club had a WAR greater than 1.0. They had strong seasons from a few hitters, including a stellar 127 RBI campaign from Freddie Freeman, but essentially, they lacked depth of talent.
Offseason Review: The Braves let a lot of spare parts go over the offseason, bringing in younger spare parts in the process. Atlanta didn't do anything to improve their talent base, though. They have several exceptional players but little to support them. They have no pitching. They have little in the upper minors. They have star power, but didn't add anything else.
On the Farm: It's a bleak system, and what little talent there is needs years to develop. Ronald Acuns could be great someday, and Wes Parsons may develop into a fifth starter.
Best Case Scenario: Their star players produce and the rest of the division underachieves, getting Atlanta to third.
Worst Case Scenario: A hundred losses.
Key Questions: With a bleak roster, are there any thoughts of trading Freeman and Votto and starting over?
You have some studs on the infield, but aside from Ender Inciarte, not too much in the outfield. Who get your other two outfield positions this season and why?
4) Philadelphia Phillies
2017: 68-94, Last in NL East.
Who They Were: Bad in hitting, and terrible in starting pitching, the Phillies were not a factor in 2017. The offense wasn't completely moribund. Maikel Franco hit 35 home runs with a .284 batting mark, removing doubts that he could hit for both average and pop. Odubel Herrera stole some bases, bashed some doubles, and played a strong center field on the way to a 4.0 WAR season. Dylan Cozens mashed double digit home runs in only 210 at bats, hinting that his presence can juice a lineup. However, only two players hit over .300, and one, Howie Kendrick, is now a free agent. Outside of Aaron Nola, however, the pitching was dreadful. Philadelphia just didn't have the impact arms to stay in many games.
Offseason Review: Given that the Phillies are young and aren't contenders, it didn't make too much sense to hold on to outgoing free agents like Kendrick, Jeanmar Gomez, and Clay Bucholz. However, some of those veterans were moderately productive and the Phillies will be asking a lot of unproven players to fill the void. The Phillies didn't bring in any major league free agents over the winter. That means more time for prospects like Cozens, JP Crawford, and Jorge Alfaro. It also means that the team has no depth to fill holes plug in gaps. It's possible to imagine that not being an issue with a potentially dynamic offense. Outside of Nola, the rest of the staff either hasn't pitched in the bigs, or had an ERA in the stratosphere. Only Vince Velasquez qualifies as a supporting player who can grow. The bullpen is Edubray Ramirez and a host of career minor leaguers, so the ERAs will be ugly.
On the Farm: The Phillies minor league system is strong with a lot of talent bursting onto the Majors this year. Crawford, Cozens, and Alfaro graduated up to the majors, and there's a lot of high end outfield talent in A-ball. In between, there's back end starting pitching depth in the high minors, pitching may be better than what's in Philadelphia now.
Best Case Scenario: The offense clicks and the pitching holds up. There's enough upside for 84 wins.
Worst Case Scenario: The pitching simply isn't big league caliber and the offense can't bail it out. That's 95 losses.
Key Questions: You didn't do much this offseason. What kept you from pulling the trigger on anybody?
How do you plan on getting to a top-half pitching staff in the next three years?
5) Miami Marlins
2017: 77-85, 3rd Place NL East
Who They Were: Trading away Giancarlo Stanton and Dee Gordon, the Marlins looked towards the future and sent away their best players last year. Miami still had a respectable year thanks to Christian Yelich' .281/.363/.440 campaign leading a team that hit for average, got on base, and didn't strike out. Marcell Ozuna showed that he can play a part, with a .275 average that nobody expected allowing his less unusual 26 home run year to shine through. Good seasons from Trevor Bauer, Adam Conley, and a strong bullpen allowed the pitching to be okay despite little front-end starter talent.
Offseason Review: The Marlins let most of their veteran depth pieces go, and a few minor leaguers, in an offense geared towards getting younger. The pitching staff may not be very good, though, with many solid veterans sent away between last June and now. Among their position players, Tyler Naquin has some potential, but he was dreadful last year in 124 plate appearances with Cleveland, and will be 27 soon. Steady bats like Martin Prado and Justin Bour were sent away, meaning there isn't much depth in the lineup to fill around Yelich, Ozuna, and JT Realmuto. Jeren Kendall and Stuart Fairchild will provide reinforcements soon, but not this year, and even they aren't bat-oriented players who can really boost Miami's lineup.
On the Farm: Miami's early picks in last year's draft will reach Triple-A this year if not the bigs. Jeren Kendall was 21 for 21 on stolen bases in the minors last season and has the wheels to provide terrific value just with his defense and base stealing. He projects to be a decent hitter too, making him a potential WAR monster. Fairchild projects to provide more value with the bat, while also playing good defense and stealing some bases. Miami has a bunch of young pitchers in the upper minors, and some should provide depth this year and going forward.
Best Case Scenario: Naquin rebounds and the pitching staff is solid again, leading the Marlins to 81 wins and a bright future.
Worst Case Scenario: Ozuna regresses, nobody but Yelich hits, the pitching is awful and the Marlins lose 100 games with a bright future.
Key Questions: While you promoted aggressively with a talented draft class last year, you still acquired a center fielder off a bad year in Tyler Naquin. What do you hope he can offer you?
You're aggressive with your minor league promotions. Where did that philosophy come from?
2017: 102-60, NL East Champions. Defeated Chicago Cubs 4-1 in NLDS. Defeated San Francisco 4-2 in NLCS. Defeated Cleveland 4-1 in World Series.
Who They Were: For those who forgot, Nigel Laverick steered the New York Mets to the Championship last year. The Mets were second in pitching behind a deep staff and exceptional bullpen last season. Zach Wheeler was the only starter with an ERA over 3.57 and a WHIP over 1.16. They bombarded teams with pitching and were second in walks and home runs.
Offseason Review: Nate Taylor inherits a unique situation, taking over as the manager of a championship team. He's already made a splash, moving on from Stephen Matz for a pair of excellent prospects, one of whom may be able to work in the majors this year. It's the kind of move not often seen from a championship winner, one where a young, affordable phenom is swapped for prospects. However, New York's depth of young, explosive arms is still second-to-none, even with Matz sent away. The offense has a lot of parts that are either pretty old or not quite ready, which creates a weird dynamic with position players that Taylor will have to resolve.
On the Farm: Robert Gsellman and Jose de Leon would be mid-rotation pitchers in most staffs. On the Mets, it's likely one or both start the year in Triple-A or the bullpen. That's depth. Meanwhile, Nick Senzel who was acquired in the Matz trade, teams with Ahmed Rosario to form a dynamic left side of the infield that may see time as early as this season. Not only did the Mets win the World Series, but they have four impact players ready to contribute as early as this season, which is remarkable.
Best Case Scenario: Dynasty.
Worst Case Scenario: Facing Clayton Kershaw or Madison Bumgarner in a Wild Card Game.
Key Questions: There are so many pieces in play for who is making the roster, let alone starting at second base, third base, and shortstop. Do you know who is getting the nod at those spot?
Cameron Maybin was pretty awful for the Angels last year. What do you see in him that made you sign him?
2) Washington Nationals
2017: 87-75, 2nd Place NL East
Who They Were: The Nationals were Bryce Harper's team first and foremost. A 10 win player, Harper led the league in home runs, runs scored, and each component of the standard triple slash. He had a .343 average, 49 home runs, and a 1.159 OPS, meaning he had a season that will render him immortal. The Nationals finished first in offense, as Harper was flanked by solid players in Ryan Zimmerman, Matt Wieters, Anthony Rendon and Daniel Murphy. However, injuries sabotaged Stephen Strasburg's season and the Nationals couldn't replace him. The bullpen was second worst in baseball, and their defense was terrible. The Nationals simply couldn't do the little things needed to win games, despite their talent.
Offseason Review: The Nats had a spectacular offense and a shaky staff and defense, so naturally they traded Gio Gonzalez for Andrew McCutchen. Washington's bats will be lethal again without question. Nick Vincent and Tony Watson had solid seasons last year and should add depth to the bullpen. They aren't world beaters, but mere competence will be big. They're dealing with Strasburg coming off an injury, however, and a hole left by Gonzalez. Even If Strasburg comes back fine, there's no depth in their staff.
On the Farm: Victor Robles is likely to be a difference-maker next season. There's some variance on his ultimate profile, but he has offensive skills, great wheels, and sharp instincts in center field. Outside of Robles, it's a barren system with the most exciting players unable to play full season ball.
Best Case Scenario: The bullpen improves, the staff stays healthy, and the team outslugs everybody.
Worst Case Scenario: The pitching staff is bottom four in the league, topping the Nationals out in the mid 80's in wins.
Key Questions: Who is the fifth starter on this team and what do you expect out of that position?
Dusty Wathan had a good year managing the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. What made you spend a bunch of money to make him specifically, your bench coach?
3) Atlanta Braves
2017: 71-91, 4th Place NL East
Who They Were: Atlanta was basically only good at playing defense last year. Below average in most other aspects of baseball, they struggled to a 71-win campaign. Simply put, Atlanta had too many bad players. They went double figures in position players who recorded negative WAR, and only two pitchers on the club had a WAR greater than 1.0. They had strong seasons from a few hitters, including a stellar 127 RBI campaign from Freddie Freeman, but essentially, they lacked depth of talent.
Offseason Review: The Braves let a lot of spare parts go over the offseason, bringing in younger spare parts in the process. Atlanta didn't do anything to improve their talent base, though. They have several exceptional players but little to support them. They have no pitching. They have little in the upper minors. They have star power, but didn't add anything else.
On the Farm: It's a bleak system, and what little talent there is needs years to develop. Ronald Acuns could be great someday, and Wes Parsons may develop into a fifth starter.
Best Case Scenario: Their star players produce and the rest of the division underachieves, getting Atlanta to third.
Worst Case Scenario: A hundred losses.
Key Questions: With a bleak roster, are there any thoughts of trading Freeman and Votto and starting over?
You have some studs on the infield, but aside from Ender Inciarte, not too much in the outfield. Who get your other two outfield positions this season and why?
4) Philadelphia Phillies
2017: 68-94, Last in NL East.
Who They Were: Bad in hitting, and terrible in starting pitching, the Phillies were not a factor in 2017. The offense wasn't completely moribund. Maikel Franco hit 35 home runs with a .284 batting mark, removing doubts that he could hit for both average and pop. Odubel Herrera stole some bases, bashed some doubles, and played a strong center field on the way to a 4.0 WAR season. Dylan Cozens mashed double digit home runs in only 210 at bats, hinting that his presence can juice a lineup. However, only two players hit over .300, and one, Howie Kendrick, is now a free agent. Outside of Aaron Nola, however, the pitching was dreadful. Philadelphia just didn't have the impact arms to stay in many games.
Offseason Review: Given that the Phillies are young and aren't contenders, it didn't make too much sense to hold on to outgoing free agents like Kendrick, Jeanmar Gomez, and Clay Bucholz. However, some of those veterans were moderately productive and the Phillies will be asking a lot of unproven players to fill the void. The Phillies didn't bring in any major league free agents over the winter. That means more time for prospects like Cozens, JP Crawford, and Jorge Alfaro. It also means that the team has no depth to fill holes plug in gaps. It's possible to imagine that not being an issue with a potentially dynamic offense. Outside of Nola, the rest of the staff either hasn't pitched in the bigs, or had an ERA in the stratosphere. Only Vince Velasquez qualifies as a supporting player who can grow. The bullpen is Edubray Ramirez and a host of career minor leaguers, so the ERAs will be ugly.
On the Farm: The Phillies minor league system is strong with a lot of talent bursting onto the Majors this year. Crawford, Cozens, and Alfaro graduated up to the majors, and there's a lot of high end outfield talent in A-ball. In between, there's back end starting pitching depth in the high minors, pitching may be better than what's in Philadelphia now.
Best Case Scenario: The offense clicks and the pitching holds up. There's enough upside for 84 wins.
Worst Case Scenario: The pitching simply isn't big league caliber and the offense can't bail it out. That's 95 losses.
Key Questions: You didn't do much this offseason. What kept you from pulling the trigger on anybody?
How do you plan on getting to a top-half pitching staff in the next three years?
5) Miami Marlins
2017: 77-85, 3rd Place NL East
Who They Were: Trading away Giancarlo Stanton and Dee Gordon, the Marlins looked towards the future and sent away their best players last year. Miami still had a respectable year thanks to Christian Yelich' .281/.363/.440 campaign leading a team that hit for average, got on base, and didn't strike out. Marcell Ozuna showed that he can play a part, with a .275 average that nobody expected allowing his less unusual 26 home run year to shine through. Good seasons from Trevor Bauer, Adam Conley, and a strong bullpen allowed the pitching to be okay despite little front-end starter talent.
Offseason Review: The Marlins let most of their veteran depth pieces go, and a few minor leaguers, in an offense geared towards getting younger. The pitching staff may not be very good, though, with many solid veterans sent away between last June and now. Among their position players, Tyler Naquin has some potential, but he was dreadful last year in 124 plate appearances with Cleveland, and will be 27 soon. Steady bats like Martin Prado and Justin Bour were sent away, meaning there isn't much depth in the lineup to fill around Yelich, Ozuna, and JT Realmuto. Jeren Kendall and Stuart Fairchild will provide reinforcements soon, but not this year, and even they aren't bat-oriented players who can really boost Miami's lineup.
On the Farm: Miami's early picks in last year's draft will reach Triple-A this year if not the bigs. Jeren Kendall was 21 for 21 on stolen bases in the minors last season and has the wheels to provide terrific value just with his defense and base stealing. He projects to be a decent hitter too, making him a potential WAR monster. Fairchild projects to provide more value with the bat, while also playing good defense and stealing some bases. Miami has a bunch of young pitchers in the upper minors, and some should provide depth this year and going forward.
Best Case Scenario: Naquin rebounds and the pitching staff is solid again, leading the Marlins to 81 wins and a bright future.
Worst Case Scenario: Ozuna regresses, nobody but Yelich hits, the pitching is awful and the Marlins lose 100 games with a bright future.
Key Questions: While you promoted aggressively with a talented draft class last year, you still acquired a center fielder off a bad year in Tyler Naquin. What do you hope he can offer you?
You're aggressive with your minor league promotions. Where did that philosophy come from?
