The league is made of a full 30 teams and collects the best players from the 00-01 Showdown sets, mixed with players from 09-14 seasons. We predominantly utilize sets (or individual cards) from the fantastic http://mlbshowdowncards.blogspot.com/, who all of you should check out if you aren't familiar with their excellent work! We haven't really printed out these current cards we made, but that'll get worked in next season I'm sure. The season will be 36 games long, feature "home and home" 3 game series between division foes, as well as one "home and home" six game series b/w interleague rivals and, to start the year, inter-divisional play where each team will play a three game series at home and on the road. In the end, 36 competitive games that will lead into a normal MLB playoff system.
So with each team being composed of its best players (that we have in printed card form), the competition should be extremely fierce! There was no salary cap on teams, as the depth of all-stars across all these years made teams (seemingly) balanced enough to not stress about it. After all, sometimes you just want an excuse to use every holo card you have in a season! Injuries will be in play, including the chance for them before the season begins, and we think that could add an interesting wrinkle. We expect every division race to be tight and outside of a few weak teams, should have a plethora of playoff contenders down the stretch.
Below we've listed staffer's season predictions and team rosters to get everyone ready for what should be a fantastic season! Feel free to leave your own predictions after looking at the Team Rosters, found in a separate post... It'll be fun watching the season shake out!
The League can be followed HERE: http://greatestmlbshowdown.atomicleagues.com/
OVERALL PICKS
David:
Division Champs
AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: Rangers
AL Wild Cards: Indians, Mariners
Pennant Winner: Red Sox
MVP: Alex Rodriguez, Rangers
CY Young: Pedro Martinez, Red Sox
Going to dominate statistically in the Texas lineup
The AL Central looks like the clearest two team race, with Detroit and Cleveland ahead of the field by some margin. Give me the Tigers by a game, but Cleveland to breeze to the #1 WC spot. The Royals and White Sox look pathetic, and the Twins are easily a few seasons away!
The AL West should be another tight race, but Texas has far too much firepower to be stopped. With two tier 2 starters leading the way and a stacked bullpen, they've got enough pitching to tame foes while (in my mind) leading the AL West in runs this season. I think Seattle just edges Oakland for the last WC spot.
In the playoffs, I'll trust in the Martinez aces and big boppers David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, the incredible '11 Jacoby and the Nomar/Pedroia duo to get the Red Sox to the World Series
NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Cardinals
NL West: Dodgers
NL Wild Cards: D-Backs, Braves
Pennant Winner: Phillies
MVP: Larry Walker, Rockies
CY Young: Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
Going to easily lead the NL in RBI hitting 4th in Colorado!
St. Louis should take this division thanks to great hitting and pitching. Wainwright is my Cy Young, and Carpenter should be close behind. I like the Brewers but they just don't have enough OB in that lineup, and the Reds just don't have enough consistent starting pitching. The Cubs and Pirates are a step behind, although Pittsburgh's bullpen should be lights out.
The NL West should be a dogfight! I love the DBacks combo of Ian Kennedy, Randy Johnson, Dan Haren, and Wade Miley in the rotation, not a single starter under Tier 2 and they can all go DEEP in games! The bullpen is a weakness though, enough so that I'm taking the Dodgers to win the division. Sure the Rockies have hitting and got to add stud pitcher Jiar Jurrgens (they had the weakest rotation), but they're still going to let up more runs than they score. The Giants are doomed by their weak fourth starter. San Diego is miserable, maybe will be NL's worst team.
In the end, despite a lacking bullpen, the Phillies will make it to the World Series! Their starting staff is too strong, and I expect them to knock off the DBacks in six games to win the NL Pennant.
Peter:
AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Indians
AL West: Rangers
AL Wild Cards: Yankees, Tigers
Pennant Winner: Rangers
MVP: Alex Rodriguez, Rangers
CY Young: Justin Verlander, Tigers
A popular MVP choice!
I also like the Red Sox to win the AL East, but I think it'll be extremely tight. The Yankees and Blue Jays should be right there in the last weekend of the season for the division title, and it wouldn't shock me to see the Orioles and Rays at least contending for a wild card berth too. In the end, the Red Sox have the best lineup so I'm sticking with them. I took the Yankees for a playoff berth because they've seemed to get there so many times, it's hard to pick against a team featuring the BIG FOUR of Jeter, Posada, Bernie, and Rivera; especially with starters like prime CC and Tanaka on the team too.
Like everyone else, I see the AL Central being a two team race between the Tigers and Indians, but not as clear cut as the others for gaudy win totals. Yes, I think the Royals stink. However, the Twins and White Sox (even with low OB players) have plenty of talented hitters to take some wins from Detroit and Cleveland. Honestly, if the White Sox had better starters, I'd put them in the playoffs! Low OB lineups are ok when the players have devastatingly lethal charts like Rios, Ordonez, CHARLES, Singleton, and Valentin have! So I'm taking the powerful Indians, but keep an eye on Chicago!
The Rangers are clear cut the best team in the AL, but I'm more offensively minded than my compatriots. I see a lineup that can absolutely smash the ball 1-8, with an OB 10 in the nine slot! It's unfair to have Juan Gonzalez and Adrian Beltre as 7-8 hitters. The Mariners and A's are the next best teams, with decent lineups and some good pitching. I'd like to believe in the A's pitching but in this division, against these lineups, I doubt it'll be good enough to get them to the postseason. Houston is going to be garbage with all the Control 3s it has after Ryan.
NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Brewers
NL West: Rockies
NL Wild Cards: Mets, Cardinals
Pennant Winner: Rockies
MVP: Ryan Braun, Brewers
CY Young: Cole Hamels, Phillies
A number 4 starter that looks like this? Yes please, give him the Cy Young!
I'm going with a homer pick here, but I think it's justified! The Brewers have one of the best overall players in Ryan Braun, along with a ton of low OB but super chart players (Jean Segura, Carlos Gomez, Geoff Jenkins) and I love +11 armed Henry Blanco. More importantly, their rotation outclasses the rest of the division thanks to CC, Zach Grienke, a surprisingly good Gallardo, and holographic Jeff D'amico. The Cardinals are still playoff bound though, I can't keep a team with Tatis-McGwire-Edmonds out of it.
The Rockies slugging will put them into the post-season, it's way too good to slow down. Showdown favors hitters unfairly, and the Rockies run to the NL West crown (and World Series) will prove this. They've got OB 10 Fowler-Schumpert-Helton-Walker at the top, followed by power hitting OB 9 Hammonds-Tulowitski-Cargo, then OB 10 Brent Mayne! The only lineup on par is the Rangers, who I expect to meet with Colorado in an explosive World Series. The key to putting the Rockies on top? When they were allowed the first "pick" of free agent starting pitchers (for some reason we did that) and they took 540 pt Jiar Jurrgens from the Braves discard pile. Getting an ace gives them enough rotation depth to go from contenders to NL champions. Dodgers, DBacks, and Giants are all capable teams that could make a wild card run.
In the end, it's the Rockies big hitting lineup that carries the day. You cannot pitch your way through this team, and they've got a great bullpen to back up their just-good-enough starting pitching.
Riley:
AL Pennant: Detroit Tigers
AL Cy Young: Sonny Gray, Athletics
AL MVP: Curtis Granderson, Yankees
Surprised? You shouldn't be, because he's got HEART!
AL East
Projected Standings:
1. New York Yankees
2. Toronto Blue Jays
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Tampa Bay Rays
The Yankees are the class of this amazing division. Powerhouse hitting (Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson. 'Nuff said) and great pitching (two Tier 2s and two Tier 3s starting) put New York ahead in this tight AL East. The Blue Jays, boasting a high-OB lineup and three Tier 2 starters, will finish in second place because I have doubts about Toronto's weak bullpen. Even Boston's Pedro Martinez, possibly the best pitcher in the league, can't get the Red Sox on top of this tough division. I don't think Baltimore or Tampa's top-notch bullpens can save either team from competing for fifth place.
AL Central
Projected Standings:
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Cleveland Indians*
3. Kansas City Royals
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Chicago White Sox
On paper, the Tigers are one of the best teams out there. I think they'll excel in the regular season because of Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and their great lineup. Their bullpen may give Detroit trouble, though, especially come playoff time. I believe the Indians come close to a division crown, but end up qualifying as the AL's Wild Card team. The Royals and Twins are two interesting teams. I think the 1-2-3 punch of Jacoby Ellsbury, Derek Jeter and Joe Mauer will give the Twins' offense a cool dynamic, but the pitching staff is average at best. Zach Grienke will win Kansas City some games, but the lineup is too reliant on the longball. I'm going with my gut on the White Sox. The lineup has too many low on base players. I don't see Frank Thomas or Chris Sale carrying this team out of the cellar.
AL West
Projected Standings:
1. Oakland A's
2. Texas Rangers*
3. Los Angeles Angels
4. Houston Astros
5. Seattle Mariners
This one is outlandish. I know the Rangers have unbelievable hitting and two great starting pitchers. I know the Angels have three Tier 2 starters and an amazing lineup on their own. But I see in the A's what Gene Hackman saw in Keanu Reeves in "The Replacements." I see heart. Oakland has a solid lineup and an overall good pitching staff. But I see a rising star in future Cy Young winner Sonny Gray. He will lead the A's to the AL West title. To Texas' detriment, the team has weak starters after Yu and CJ. As for the Angels, a weak bullpen and bottom of the order may doom the team. I see the A's exploiting these glaring holes in the division's two favorites. Oh, and as for the Astros and Mariners, I hope they fetch a couple bottles of wine while they're in the cellar.
This one is outlandish. I know the Rangers have unbelievable hitting and two great starting pitchers. I know the Angels have three Tier 2 starters and an amazing lineup on their own. But I see in the A's what Gene Hackman saw in Keanu Reeves in "The Replacements." I see heart. Oakland has a solid lineup and an overall good pitching staff. But I see a rising star in future Cy Young winner Sonny Gray. He will lead the A's to the AL West title. To Texas' detriment, the team has weak starters after Yu and CJ. As for the Angels, a weak bullpen and bottom of the order may doom the team. I see the A's exploiting these glaring holes in the division's two favorites. Oh, and as for the Astros and Mariners, I hope they fetch a couple bottles of wine while they're in the cellar.
NL Pennant: Philadelphia Phillies
NL MVP: Mark McGwire, Cardinals
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay, Phillies
DOC HALLADAY IS GUNSLINGIN'!
NL East
Projected Standings:
1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. Atlanta Braves
3. Montreal Expos
4. Miami Marlins
5. New York Mets
Yes, Philadelphia has an amazing team. I don't care about their shaky bullpen, the Phillies are winning the NL East handily because their four starters — who are all Cy Young candidates in my book — are that darn good. Each guy is a No. 1 on most teams in the league. Some hiccups for the Phillies could be the division's other starting staffs, which aren't too shabby. The Braves and Expos have the most complete pitching staffs in baseball, while the Marlins and Mets each have bright spots on the mound and at the batter's box. So, as I actually looked at the other teams' rosters, I guess I remembered that the NL East is full of good teams not from Philadelphia. I still expect the Phillies to win the division comfortably, but spots 2 through 5 should be very competitive. Also, I expect Braves slugger Andres Galarraga to lead the NL is homeruns.
NL Central
Projected Standings:
1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Cincinnati Reds*
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Cardinals' batting order will give Cubs fans nightmares all season long. From Carpenter to Vina, that lineup is stacked with power and high on-base guys. The bats are even backed by a good starting rotation and a solid bullpen. St. Louis should have no trouble finishing with the first or second seed in the NL. The Reds might sneak into the playoffs based on the strong middle of the lineup (led by Ken Griffey, Jr.) and stud closer Aroldis Chapman. However, the Northsiders added Torii Hunter in free agency and have Sammy Sosa, Kris Bryant, and Anthony Rizzo in the middle of their order. I expect those bats to liven up the order and get the Cubs into third place. Also, Kerry Wood leads the NL in strikeouts. As for the Brewers and Pirates, I think the two teams will be competitive in most contests, yet will underperform as the season goes on. After their first five hitters, the Pirates offense is meek at best. And while the Brewers have some pop and some excellent starters, their mostly low-control bullpen in worrisome.
NL West
Projected Standings:
1. Arizona Diamondbacks
2. San Francisco Giants*
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres
Unfortunately, the Padres' bullpen won't be in many save situations, thanks to the other four strong teams in the NL West. I think two of those four teams make the playoffs. The division crown will go to the Diamondbacks, who boast four Tier 2 starters and an underrated lineup. I mean, they have a 10-on-base Miguel Montero batting ninth! The Tim Linecum-led starting staff will pave the way for San Francisco's Wild Card berth, edging the Dodgers' 1-2 punch of Kevin Brown and Clayton Kershaw and the lethal Colorado bats. However, I don't trust the Los Angeles hitters or bullpen, while the Rockies' pitching rotation would struggle against a grade school Tee Ball team. And as for those Padres and the division's best bullpen, I see some close wins and losses outweighed by blowout defeats at the hands of these superior teams.
_________________________________
Computer Power Rankings: We calculated overall team strength within their division using position by position strength, then calculated against postseason foes to determine who the "champ" would be. Needless to say, we don't trust what the old, just-a-little-more-complex calculator had to say about the upcoming season!
AL East
Projected Standings:
1. Red Sox (38 points)
2. Blue Jays (39)
3. Rays (40)
4. Orioles (44)
5. Yankees (46)
Feedback: One of the most startling results, as co-favorite New York finds itself in the cellar here. The key factor was all of the 5 results from decent players, such as LF Bernie Williams and SP2 Kuroda. The Red Sox pitching staff's dominance is on full display, accumulating 6 points among 4 starters. This is one of the tightest divisions, with three teams at 40 points or fewer.
Full Rankings:
AL Central
Projected Standings:
1. Tigers (37 points)
2. Royals (40)
3. Indians (41)
4. Twins (43)
5. White Sox (46)
Feedback: The Royals were the surprise of the division, jumping the heavily favored Indians to take second place. Detroit overcame having the worst #3 and #4 starters in division to win the crown, demonstrating how potent their batting order, bullpen, and top two starters really are. Meanwhile, the Indians are dragged down by their weak bullpen, catcher, and third basemen, especially with the consistently good Royals, who didn't have a single player or unit earn a 5. Meanwhile, the White Sox had nine positions earn a 4 or higher, placing them squarely in last.
Full Rankings:
AL West
Projected Standings:
1. Rangers (39)
1. Angels (39)
3. A's (40)
4. Astros (41)
5. Mariners (46)
Feedback: A big surprise is how Texas and LA finished tied, as they're far apart in most preseason predictions. However, it's eye-opening how close behind Oakland and Houston are, making this a clear four team race heading into the season. The Mariners are a ways back, which surprises. The Rangers won the computer tie-breaker 8-6, which goes head-to-head in each category, over the Angels to take the division.
Full Rankings:
NL East
Projected Standings:
1. Phillies (31)
2. Expos (39)
3. Braves (44)
3. Mets (44)
5. Marlins (49)
Feedback: Philadelphia is clearly the class of this division, leading second place Montreal by an incredible 8 points, the largest margin in the baseball. Their pitching staff is dominant, but they're first or second in five hitting categories as well. Atlanta winds up tied for third, definitely a disappointment for the apparent #2 team in the division. Miami finds itself in last, as expected, by a large margin, but their ranking is deceiving. Their #1 and #3 starters are clearly better than 5 points indicates, making their pitching much better than it appears. Meanwhile the Expos are surprisingly in the top three of 11 of 14 categories, providing strong evidence they're a true playoff team.
Full Rankings:
NL Central
Projected Standings:
1. Brewers (37)
2. Cardinals (41)
2. Reds (41)
4. Cubs (43)
5. Pirates (46)
Feedback: The Brewers are the surprising division winners by a wide margin, separating themselves from St. Louis and Cincinnati with superb starting pitching. Meanwhile, the Cubs are happy with a fourth place berth. Not only do they escape the cellar, but have an infield totaling 11 points from five players, giving them the foundation for a very solid core. The Pirates may be in last place, but they managed five 1st or 2nd place showings, demonstrating that they do have some star power on the team.
Full Rankings:
NL West
Projected Standings:
1. Dodgers (39)
1. Diamondbacks (39)
3. Giants (40)
4. Padres (45)
5. Rockies (47)
Feedback: The five Rockies pitching categories outscored their entire lineup 24-23, demonstrating how prolific their offense should be while simultaneously showing how terrible their pitching shall be. They find the cellar, falling below a San Diego team that had 8 of 14 categories in 4th or 5th place. Meanwhile, the top three teams look like they'll be tightly contesting each other all season, with the Diamondbacks just barely winning a tie-breaker over Los Angeles to make the playoffs. Upon further review, the Giants look deadly in the three spot, especially with elite pitching that only counts ace Matt Cain as a 3.
Full Rankings:
PLAYOFFS
After the regular season simulation was completed, we simulated the playoffs. Each division winner advanced obviously, and were seeded accorded to the margin they won their division. Meanwhile, the wild card winner was the highest scoring, non-division winner. If there was a tie (like there was in both divisions, at 39 points), the wild cards were awarded to the two lowest scores from non-division winners.
AL East Champion: Red Sox
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: Rangers
AL Wild Card: Blue Jays and Angels
NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Brewers
NL West: DBacks
NL Wild Card: Expos and Dodgers
WILD CARD
Blue Jays defeat Angels
Expos defeat Dodgers
ALDS
#1 Tigers defeated #4 Blue Jays, 3 games to 1
#2 Red Sox defeated #3 Rangers, 3 games to 2
NLDS
#1 Phillies defeated #4 Expos, 3 games to 0
#2 Brewers defeated #3 DBacks, 3 games to 2
ALCS
#1 Tigers defeated #2 Red Sox, 4 games to 3
The Tigers and Red Sox were tied, 7-7 after comparing the positions, so it came down to the tie-breaker: #1 starter, lead-off hitter, and clean-up hitter. Pedro Martinez got the Red Sox a point at SP1, but Juan Gonzalez defeated Manny Ramirez and in an extremely close call, Austin Jackson was selected over Dustin Pedroia to send the Tigers to the World Series.
NLCS
#1 Phillies defeated #2 Brewers, 4 games to 3
Another series that went to a the tie-breaker, as Milwaukee surprisingly hung with Philadelphia. However, Bobby Abreau and Roy Halladay were clearly superior than Nyjer Morgan and CC Sabathia, sending the Phillies to the World Series.
World Series Champions
David: Philadelphia Phillies
Peter: Texas Rangers
Riley: Philadelphia Phillies
Computer: Detroit Tigers defeat Philadelphia Phillies, 4 games to 3
The (simulated) World Series came down to the tie-breaker again, with the computer selecting the 500 point Austin Jackson over 550 point Bobby Abreau to decide which team was "on paper" superior. The win was a huge upset, but it means that heading into the season, the odds on favorite to win it all is: The Detroit Tigers!
No comments:
Post a Comment