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.