MLB: Best division?

mwitt · 02-22-2007, 11:31 PM

Originally Posted by ISUKyro

Yes

I take it your favorite team is in the NL Central?

mwitt · 02-22-2007, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Because in that hot stretch the Twins gained a total of 1 game on the Tigers and 2 games on the White Sox, making them 11.5 games behind the Tigers and 10.5 games behind the White Sox. In that 30+ game stretch. They didn't actually start making up games until late July-early August (and Liriano was out by then).

You're missing the fact that the games count the same in the standings no matter when they are won.

You say they were 11.5 and 10.5 games behind the Tigers and White Sox, respectively.

How many games back would they have been if it weren't for Liriano?

The answer is too many that the Twins could make up, and then the Twins wouldn't have had the opportunity to do a horrible job of representing the AL Central in the playoffs.

CrossCyed · 02-22-2007, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Because in that hot stretch the Twins gained a total of 1 game on the Tigers and 2 games on the White Sox, making them 11.5 games behind the Tigers and 10.5 games behind the White Sox. In that 30+ game stretch. They didn't actually start making up games until late July-early August (and Liriano was out by then).

The wins still count the same. Without him, they fall out of the race. No one the Twins have could have matched what he did.

ISUKyro · 02-22-2007, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by mwitt

I take it your favorite team is in the NL Central?

Got to go with the Cubs

Someday the stars will align and we will get back to the promise land. Why not this year?

mwitt · 02-22-2007, 11:34 PM

Originally Posted by ISUKyro

Got to go with the Cubs
Someday the stars will align and we will get back to the promise land. Why not this year?

Pitching.

ISUKyro · 02-22-2007, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by mwitt

Pitching.

Ah come on now, let me live in my dream world for at least a couple of months into the season

mwitt · 02-22-2007, 11:39 PM

Originally Posted by ISUKyro

Ah come on now, let me live in my dream world for at least a couple of months into the season

Fair enough. It's getting redundant, but they're going to need Prior to stay healthy and really have a goo dyear. With the current state of the NL, they could certainly make a move, but I think it may take a while for all of the new guys to gel.

jdoggivjc · 02-22-2007, 11:41 PM

Originally Posted by CrossCyed

The wins still count the same. Without him, they fall out of the race. No one the Twins have could have matched what he did.

So, if they would have fallen out of the race, why did they make up the 10.5 and 11.5 WITHOUT him? Could it be because the Twins actually have other players on the team BESIDES Liriano? Like the MVP 1B and batting champ C? How about a Cy Young pitcher NOT named Liriano? The Twins were able to survive because Boof Bonser and Matt Garza came around at the end of the year.

Just like they'll be OK this year.

ISUKyro · 02-22-2007, 11:41 PM

Originally Posted by mwitt

Fair enough. It's getting redundant, but they're going to need Prior to stay healthy and really have a goo dyear. With the current state of the NL, they could certainly make a move, but I think it may take a while for all of the new guys to gel.

I can respect that. Right now I'm mostly going on faith, more so than fact.

CrossCyed · 02-22-2007, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

So, if they would have fallen out of the race, why did they make up the 10.5 and 11.5 WITHOUT him? Could it be because the Twins actually have other players on the team BESIDES Liriano? Like the MVP 1B and batting champ C? How about a Cy Young pitcher NOT named Liriano? The Twins were able to survive because Boof Bonser and Matt Garza came around at the end of the year.

Just like they'll be OK this year.

I'm saying without Liriano they fall 17-18 off the pace....

jdoggivjc · 02-22-2007, 11:43 PM

Yeah, and thanks for the negative rep that someone gave me. So it's ok for everyone on this Site to call the Hawkeyes the Suckeyes, Sqwakeyes, etc., the Huskers the Fuskers, Kansas, well, whatever... But I can't do it to any of the other teams I don't like?

whatever...

jdoggivjc · 02-22-2007, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by CrossCyed

I'm saying without Liriano they fall 17-18 off the pace....

It's not like he was pitching every day. He was pitching once every 5 days. That's just a little more than once a week. I'm pretty sure the Twins would have found a way to win some of those games without Liriano, just like they did after they lost him.

The Twins would have fallen no further than 13-14 back and that would have been good enough to get into the wildcard.

CrossCyed · 02-22-2007, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

It's not like he was pitching every day. He was pitching once every 5 days. That's just a little more than once a week. I'm pretty sure the Twins would have found a way to win some of those games without Liriano, just like they did after they lost him.

The Twins would have fallen no further than 13-14 back and that would have been good enough to get into the wildcard.

How many of those starts would've been against the Sox and Tigers who could have extended their leads. I'm just saying....

mwitt · 02-22-2007, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by CrossCyed

How many of those starts would've been against the Sox and Tigers who could have extended their leads. I'm just saying....

Not to mention that when 40% of your rotation is almost a guaranteed victory, that can do wonders for team chemistry.

And when they would have gotten to anywhere from 14-17 games down, depending on who you ask, that can take its toll on team morale as well.

wonkadog · 02-23-2007, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by mwitt

Fair enough. It's getting redundant, but they're going to need Prior to stay healthy and really have a goo dyear. With the current state of the NL, they could certainly make a move, but I think it may take a while for all of the new guys to gel.

I think our buddy ISUKyro isn't quite the true Cubs fan in terms of "knowing the team" that some others of us are so I wouldn't take his predictions too seriously. I have small issues with you saying that the Cubs are relying on Prior to stay healthy this year. That's the reason why I have hope for this year...the Cubs aren't completely reliant on Wood/Prior to hold down the 3/4 spots in the rotation. Prior is battling it out with 2 or 3 other good young pitchers for the 5th spot in the rotation and Wood isn't even going to be starting. Good news as far as I'm concerned. Do I think Lilly and Marquis are that great of pitchers? No, but I'll take those guys over last year's "staff."