So Cespedes is still out there

[ukyah]

the angels are standing around with their thumb up their ass because they think that will help the blister heal faster. 

 

here's hoping everything goes right this season, because there sure as shit isn't any margin for error.

[QuinlansMinion]

the angels are standing around with their thumb up their ass because they think that will help the blister heal faster. 

 

here's hoping everything goes right this season, because there sure as shit isn't any margin for error.

Cron needs to become a poor mans Cespedes offensively, .275 with 20 hr's and a .750 OPS.  Pujols at the very least needs to match his OPS from last year, assuming of course hes terrible with RISP again.  Trout needs to put up Ruthian numbers of course.  Calhoun needs to stay healthy and provide protection for Trout, but im assuming Scioscia will inexplicably bat him in front of Trout once again.  Whoever plays left field needs to not hit like Jeff Mathis.  Escobar needs to have a smooth transition from NL to AL, and needs to provide his top notch on base skills he had last year.  Our abysmal 2nd basemen need to not make costly errors late in games, as well as not hit like Mathis.  Richards needs to continue his path to becoming a solid #2 starter at worst if not an ace.  Santiago needs to pitch like he did in the 1st half last year.  Heaney needs to continue to improve.  Guys with question marks will have to prove they are still effective (Wilson, Weaver, Shoemaker, Skaggs).  Smith and Street need to stay healthy all season and continue their usual dominance.  Someone needs to step in and become a reliable 7th inning guy (Salas, Bedrosian, Morin, or someone else).  Outs on the basepaths need to be minimal.  We cant lose games due to poor managing, especially uncalled for hit and runs that dont get executed.  

 

If all of this happens, we might contend for the division.  But you are right, there is zero room for error.  As we saw last year, Trout had one bad month but still finished with dominant numbers, and the team couldnt even claim a wild card spot.  

[Stradling]

If Richards progresses, Johnny G progresses to league average, if Escobar can be Freese with the glove and get on base at a .350 clip, and if Nava and Gentry play to their career norms and not what they did last year we will compete for a playoff spot. I believe Cron turned a corner last year when he came back, he will hit .270 with 25 homers, with over a .300 OBP.

[Pujols4MVP]

Cron needs to become a poor mans Cespedes offensively, .275 with 20 hr's and a .750 OPS.  Pujols at the very least needs to match his OPS from last year, assuming of course hes terrible with RISP again.  Trout needs to put up Ruthian numbers of course.  Calhoun needs to stay healthy and provide protection for Trout, but im assuming Scioscia will inexplicably bat him in front of Trout once again.  Whoever plays left field needs to not hit like Jeff Mathis.  Escobar needs to have a smooth transition from NL to AL, and needs to provide his top notch on base skills he had last year.  Our abysmal 2nd basemen need to not make costly errors late in games, as well as not hit like Mathis.  Richards needs to continue his path to becoming a solid #2 starter at worst if not an ace.  Santiago needs to pitch like he did in the 1st half last year.  Heaney needs to continue to improve.  Guys with question marks will have to prove they are still effective (Wilson, Weaver, Shoemaker, Skaggs).  Smith and Street need to stay healthy all season and continue their usual dominance.  Someone needs to step in and become a reliable 7th inning guy (Salas, Bedrosian, Morin, or someone else).  Outs on the basepaths need to be minimal.  We cant lose games due to poor managing, especially uncalled for hit and runs that dont get executed.  

 

If all of this happens, we might contend for the division.  But you are right, there is zero room for error.  As we saw last year, Trout had one bad month but still finished with dominant numbers, and the team couldnt even claim a wild card spot.  

 

Its still possible that Pujols could have a bounce back season in his decline years which sometimes happens with players his age.

Remember when Konerko was declining in 2007-2008-2009 then he suddenly rebounded in 2010 ?

He went from .841 OPS to .783 OPS to .842 OPS & then a .977 OPS in 2010 followed by a .907, .857, .669, .572(final season).

[floplag]

If Richards progresses, Johnny G progresses to league average, if Escobar can be Freese with the glove and get on base at a .350 clip, and if Nava and Gentry play to their career norms and not what they did last year we will compete for a playoff spot. I believe Cron turned a corner last year when he came back, he will hit .270 with 25 homers, with over a .300 OBP.

 

 

You realize you just "if"d half the lineup?  Thats an awful lot of question marks to even begin to count on.

Plus you forgot the most obvious one, whose going to replace the Pujols power casue we arent gettong 40 out of him again i would bet. 

I agree Cron does better but that only offset what Pujols will likely give back so... you can be optimistic if you wish but realistically we are competing for third place in my view.