Casey Kotchman

[Rant]

[quote:3a0ad60815="rmilter"]I can't believe you got well over 600 ABs out of Willy Taveras. And 63 doubles out of Kotchman.[/quote:3a0ad60815]

and over 600 AB from Norris Hopper! You had some seriously lucky injury rolls for a host of sub 600 PA guys. How'd this team finish second? I guess a twelve loss season for your closer might have helped in that.

[AeroDave10]

[quote:ba44d9dc4f="Rant"][quote:ba44d9dc4f="rmilter"]I can't believe you got well over 600 ABs out of Willy Taveras. And 63 doubles out of Kotchman.[/quote:ba44d9dc4f]

and over 600 AB from Norris Hopper! You had some seriously lucky injury rolls for a host of sub 600 PA guys. How'd this team finish second? I guess a twelve loss season for your closer might have helped in that.[/quote:ba44d9dc4f]

Don't forget the oft-injured, yet highly productive Jeff Keppinger and his 624 PAs :shock:

I think another reason for the team's second place finish is the difference in HRs. He hit just 65 while surrendering 177. Even at Busch, you need to have at least two legitimate HR threats, and D-Meat Hook cannot be one of them!! :lol:

One other reason could be the strange home/road split. 46-35 on the road is great, but 38-43 at home will not bring home many championships.

[drew6013]

Please don't keep bringing up how poor of record this team had with such good luck I had with injuries and performance. jk Seriously though, I looked at this team a lot an wondered why it didn't perform very well but can't really come up with any good reasons. Some times you just have to chalk it up to bad luck.

Aerodave- Do you think having a HR hitter would have helped? The team scored 4.6 runs a game and gave up 3.9. You might have the opinion that a HR beast would have helped my runs scored/runs gave up ratio.. but generally speaking, if over the course of 162 games if you can be .5 runs better a game than your opposition--- good things will come. Anyway you slice it or dice it this team should have been 90runs or better.

[durantjerry]

It seems fairly obvious why your team won only 84 games. Your closer went 2-12. Also, while five games under .500 isn't terrrible for a fifth starter, 18 losses is pretty bad. They usually don't hang around long enough to lose that many. Combine 18 losses from a fifth starter and a 2-12 record from your closer and it's hard to be real good. It may have been bad luck to have the closer go 2-12(especially with 41 saves), but I think you can safely point the finger at him for your problems.

[drew6013]

Thanks for the input Jerry
-Most certainly 194.2 innings for a 5.18 era is not going to help win many games when you are scoring less than 4.6 runs a game. I was lucky it was only a -5 win loss diff.
-Why do you think Cordero struggled so much? Converting 41 of 52 save chances is pretty poor. Is it wrong to expect more from a closer with a 3.55era and 1.11 WHIP?

[AeroDave10]

[quote:a70e2aa018="drew6013"]
Aerodave- Do you think having a HR hitter would have helped? [/quote:a70e2aa018]

The Twinkies have been pretty successful the last few years despite not having serious thumpers in their lineup. A big time hitter or two with a constant threat of the long ball could be the thing to put them over the top.

P.S. Don't worry rmilter. That ain't happening because the Tribe is going all the way in 2009!!! 8-)

[durantjerry]

I would have to agree with your bad luck assessment. He was pretty good statistically. Looks like he just gave up the runs at the wrong time.

[Play By The Rules]

I like Kotchman in a pitchers' park, if I can't get or can't afford Helton. Make sure you have a good backup, and yes, watch the DPs...

[RICHARDMILTER]

Drew6013,
I was not trying to," Rub lemon juice in your paper cuts"(by the way, I think that is hilarious that you wrote that). You put together a real nice team!

[drew6013]

I know you weren't. I think its a Billy Crystal line btw. :D