MLB 2014 season thread

Position-player alert on the mound in Minnesota: Detroit's Andrew Romine. Twins respond by scoring their 20th run.

 

Tigers have quit. The only title they're contending for now is gag job of the year.

 

Always felt the Tigers' recent woes have been in the pen, not the rotation.

 

Minor seems to be finally getting his act together. The Braves skipped his spot in the rotation a few turns ago and he has pitched well since.

 

Machado is probably out for the season again in Baltimore:

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/baltimore-orioles-manny-machado-probably-having-season-ending-knee-surgery-082214

 

Jose Abreu @79JoseAbreu

On our way to Yankee Stadium it's a dream come true for every Cuban to play there and an honor for me as a member of the White Sox

 

No, it's the offense, or lack thereof. More specifically, clutch timely hitting.

 

The team has no balance.
All starting pitching, no bullpen, all power, no discipline.
They have not hit since the break and are under .500 since Price's arrival.

 

They're a classic "Stars & Scrubs" team --- 4-5 all-stars and then a bunch of glorified Triple-A players.

Sometimes that works (2001 D'backs are a prime example), but generally it doesn't.

 

It usually does work in the horse shit division they play in.
That model worked for years in Minnesota.
Detroit has a team 32 WAR- last year they had a cumulative WAR of 54.
This year they are on pace for around 85-88 wins. Maybe Leyland shouldn't have been fired.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-most-and-least-improved-teams-for-2014/

 

Leyland wasn't fired; he walked away.

 

His future was an annual topic.
I don't know what's wrong with this team, but it goes beyond a bad bullpen.