Value Points: Exploring Linear Regression in MLB Showdown

              Wins.  We play to win the game.  Whether you’re a fan, a statistician, a gambler, a Showdown owner, or Herm Edwards your focus is on winning and who’s going to be the catalyst.  Let me lead with, this article won’t be for every fan, owner, or enthusiast.  I tried to write this to read detailed, concise, relatable, and in terms that weren’t solely geared for me.  Yes, it’s centered on the creation of an advanced metric, but it is also a sports posting.  Much like the Red Sox vs Yankee’s rivalry, the intention isn’t for everyone to agree…it’s to win.

All Time Astros

All Time Astros

                Our final AL West team is the Astros, who made the jump from the NL in 2013. This team is coming in as another heavy favorite for the top team out there. The team was established in 1962 as an expansion team with the Mets, initially called the Houston Colt .45s, however when they moved to the famous Astrodome in ’65, they changed their name to Astros. With the Astrodome came the AstroTurf, which changed the way the game was played. They've been a successful team historically, however until recently they hadn't cemented themselves as a dominant team. They won the World Series in 2017, and got to it in 2005 as the NL pennant winners. They’ve won the AL west the past two years (and will again this year), and won the NL central division four times in five years from ’97 until 2001. They won the NL West in ’80,’81 and ’86. As of now they only have two players in the Hall wearing the Astros jersey in Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio, though many more have worn the jersey, including Nolan Ryan. This team is going to hit you from every angle and is definitely one of the favorites to win it all.

All Time Athletics

All Time Athletics

                With late August upon us and the playoff races heating up, work has cooled down and given me time to pump these articles out. Today’s team is the Athletics, who were founded in 1901 as the Philadelphia Athletics. They won three World Series from 1910 to 1913, and also won back to back series in 1929 and 1930. The historical Connie Mack was the head of the franchise for the first 50 years. In 1955 the team left Philadelphia for Kansas City, where they stayed until 1968 when they moved to Oakland for good. They won another three consecutive World Series in Oakland from 1972 to 1974. In ’89 they won another World Series amidst three consecutive AL pennants. Overall, that adds up to 9 World Series titles, 15 AL pennants, 15 West Division titles and 3 wild card berths. The A’s have had a bunch of players get into the Hall, but to wear their jersey, and from their time in Philadelphia are John “Home Run” Baker, Charles “Chief” Bender, Connie Mack, Eddie Plank, Al Simmons and Rube Waddell. None made it in from Kansas City, and from Oakland, Dick Williams, Rickey Henderson, Dennis Eckersley and Rollie Fingers. This team is going to trot out some very good cards.

                 Philadelphia                                     Kansas City                                              Oakland

2018 MLB SHOWDOWN SET -- Seattle Mariners

Whattttttt the last team?? You mean.. the set is finally done. YES!!! it only took a year but we have all the teams finally done. Did we save the best for last? Maybe. It certainly looks very visually well done. But I'll let you judge that. So the last team on the list is the Seattle Mariners. They finished 89-73 Which is very respectable but did not make the playoffs. They built a fine respectable team though they quickly dismantled that team here in 2019. The team itself here for 2018 should have a handful of very draftable people. Let me know what your thoughts are on it and the set overall as a whole.

Podcast

All Time Angels

All Time Angels

                The Angels were founded in 1961 as one of the league’s first two expansion teams, headed by Gene Autry, a famous singing cowboy actor and are now owned by Arte Moreno. The Angels won the World Series in 2002 against the Giants, and was the first time both teams in the series were wild card entries. They have some fish guy people like talking about, and some other really good players in their history, although this team is going to fall a bit short of the dominant type teams. Their offense is solid, but lopsided, and their pitching isn't going to scare anyone off, but won't quite wimper and fold either. There’s a handful of players who have worn the Angel’s uniform that made it to the Hall of Fame, although Vladimir Guerrero’s induction in 2017 marked the first time a player has gone in as an Angel.

2018 MLB SHOWDOWN SET -- Cincinnati Reds

The final National League team is here and, all thanks to Matt (follow him @greatestshowdowncup on Twitter), "I" beat Bob in finalizing my half of the set. What a dramatic and unexpected comeback! But seriously, all credit to Matt and his dedication to finishing off these "meh" Showdown teams... which the Reds sadly are (but should be much improved from a Showdown perspective in 2019). However, there are some definite bright spots in the lineup and a surprising number of highly draftable relievers too! So as we wind down the 2018 set (hope you've been printing them off as you go), here comes the Cincinnati Reds!

Lineup:

2018 Showdown League Update

I am officially 9 weeks into my season, that is a full 162 games that I have played out so far. It has been interesting to see all these teams battle it out, with so many close games ,and walk off wins. A team that is 11-16 could easily be 16-11 had a few rolls gone their way and vice versa. Each team still have 21 games left so no division lead is out of reach and anything can happen on the showdown diamond. But the best thing about the start of week 10, is at the end of week 10 will be the All-Star Game, Strike out Contest and Home Run Derby. All the great followers we have here, I need your help in my all star voting. Linked here in the blog post is a spreadsheet for my All-Star voting, if you would like, please vote for who you think the most deserving players are.

All Time Rangers

All Time Rangers

                In 1961 the first iteration of the Rangers came about, as the Washington Senators, and in 1971 they moved to Arlington and became the Rangers that we know of today starting with the 1972 season. The Rangers, like the Mariners, have yet to win a World Series, but have two AL Penants, 7 West Division titles and a wild card berth. Only two players are in the Hall of Fame wearing the Rangers Jersey in Nolan Ryan and Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, although there are quite a few others who spent time in the uniform that are in there. This team might not come in quite as filthy as the top tier teams but I will admit this teams is way better than I thought it’d be, and will cause a lot of problems.

All Time Mariners

All Time Mariners

               

                The Mariners came from the 1977 expansion, and didn’t find success until the mid-90s. In 2001 they won a record 116 games, although it didn’t lead to a ring. They have no World Series titles or AL pennants, but have three division titles and a wild card berth. The Mariners currently hold the longest playoff drought among the four major sports, which dates back to their record setting 2001 season. The Mariners do have three Hall of Famers in Edgar Martinez, Randy Johnson and Ken Griffey Jr, and you’ll notice all three in our Showdown team. They have some great players, although their team history of 28 losing seasons in 42 years does come through here.

All Time Giants

All Time Giants

                  We wrap up the NL West with another powerhouse team in the Giants. The Giants were originally from NY before heading to SF in 1958. The Giants have won the most games of any team in the history of professional baseball, and have won eight division titles, 23 NL Pennants, and played in 20 World Series, winning 8 of them, including 3 in 5 years recently. The Giants have 55 players and 11 managers in the Hall of Fame, and one of the most controversial players not in the Hall of Fame in Bonds. This team might be better than the Dodgers overall, and their lineup is probably the best one we’ve seen yet!

Original NY Giants Logo

Original SF Giants Logo

All Time Dodgers

All Time Dodgers

              The Los Angeles Dodgers, once the Brooklyn Dodgers, are one of the more storied and successful franchises in baseball history. As a franchise they have won six World Series, 23 pennants, 17 West division titles and 2 wild card births. There’s too many players to name that have made the Hall of Fame for the Ddogers, and I think we’ll see a few here. I’ve got big expectations for this team, as it’s the first true historic powerhouse we’ve profiled. 

All Time Diamondbacks

All Time Diamondbacks

Next up is the Diamondbacks, who truthfully are one my least favorite teams. I’m still salty about 2001, get at me. I’m a spoiled Yankees fan and that one hurt. Talk about an outlier of a season, Luis Gonzalez that year…ANYWAY. Phoenix was given the expansion award in ’95 and the Diamondbacks debuted in the ’98 season. They’ve won the division 5 times and a wildcard berth two years ago and they just made the stunner trade of the deadline by dealing Greinke to give the Astros an even more ridiculous rotation. Speaking of ridiculous rotations, the Diamondbacks will roll out some of the better cards we've seen so far including The Big Unit. Randy Johnson is the only player to go into the Hall wearing Diamondback jersey, however his primary team is the Mariners. 

MLB SHOWDOWN 2018 SET -- Philadelphia Phillies

Only one more NL squad to go after this one, the set is REALLY coming to a close!!! And so, the penultimate National League squad, the Philadelphia Phillies!!! The Phillies had a strong start, made some strong moves at the trade deadline, were 15 games over .500 on August 7, and were in first place on August 12... but then the bottom fell out and they finished 80-82. Consequently, the Phillies are an intriguing, potential-filled squad with some real bright spots but some obvious holes at each level. After adding Bryce Harper, who they were hoping would put together an epic, "A-Rod after going to the Rangers" card, the Phillies entered 2019 with lots of hype to build off the squad below!