OldTimer’s Dugout - Off Topic Thread

#28,631
#28,631
the athletic MLB preseason power rankings:

MLB power rankings: Astros, Yankees, Braves lead the way heading into spring training

1. Houston Astros... (meh)

2. New York Yankees
The Yankees accomplished their top offseason goal — bringing back AL MVP Aaron Judge — but their next-biggest move, the Carlos Rodón signing, likely gives them the best rotation they’ve had under manager Aaron Boone. Right-hander Luis Severino’s health and performance will be a key to their season. The Yankees enter spring training with questions in left field, at shortstop and at third base that they’ll need to figure out by Opening Day, or maybe even by the Aug. 1 trade deadline. Another key to their season could be the emergence of rookie infielders Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe, with the latter expected to arrive in the majors by late summer and the former expected to be in the starting lineup on Opening Day.

3. Atlanta Braves
The Braves have won the National League East for five consecutive seasons and are coming off a 101-win campaign, the most wins they’ve had since the 2002 and 2003 teams won the same number of games. Shortstop Dansby Swanson left in free agency to the Cubs, but the Braves believe a combination of 22-year-old Vaughn Grissom and veteran Orlando Arcia can handle the position. Their biggest move this offseason was acquiring catcher Sean Murphy from the A’s in a blockbuster trade that also included the Brewers. Murphy is an elite defensive player and a top-five overall catcher in the sport. The Braves also lost Kenley Jansen in free agency, but traded for Joe Jiménez, who is expected to be the right-handed setup man in front of new closer Raisel Iglesias. I expect a huge bounce-back season from Ronald Acuña Jr., who will be another year removed from ACL surgery. I expect Michael Harris II to replicate his Rookie of the Year season (but this time, Atlanta will enjoy his talents from the start of the year). Austin Riley and Matt Olson should combine for 70 to 80 homers on the infield corners. But the key for the Braves to win a top-heavy NL East will be their rotation: Max Fried, Kyle Wright, Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton and Mike Soroka. Can Morton deliver consistently at 39 years old? Can Soroka return from all of the injuries and be a Comeback Player of the Year candidate? And finally, will the Braves get enough production, offensively and defensively, from left field? If the Braves answer those three questions positively, they should win the division again. If not, they’ll still make the playoffs as a wild-card team.
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#28,636
#28,636
Volprofch05 said:
the athletic MLB preseason power rankings:

MLB power rankings: Astros, Yankees, Braves lead the way heading into spring training
Click to expand...
I don’t understand these people thinking the Braves are all the sudden the best team in the NL. Did they not see what the Padres did? Do they not see what the Dodgers have? Even the Mets and Phillies have made good moves. Sean Murphy isn’t going to be the game changer that many of the experts believe him to be. We will still make the playoffs but I honestly don’t see us winning the division this season.
 
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#28,637
#28,637
VolPack22 said:
I don’t understand these people thinking the Braves are all the sudden the best team in the NL. Did they not see what the Padres did? Do they not see what the Dodgers have? Even the Mets and Phillies have made good moves. Sean Murphy isn’t going to be the game changer that many of the experts believe him to be. We will still make the playoffs but I honestly don’t see us winning the division this season.
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I'm thinking we don't even sniff the playoffs.
 
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#28,646
#28,646
VolPack22 said:
I don’t understand these people thinking the Braves are all the sudden the best team in the NL. Did they not see what the Padres did? Do they not see what the Dodgers have? Even the Mets and Phillies have made good moves. Sean Murphy isn’t going to be the game changer that many of the experts believe him to be. We will still make the playoffs but I honestly don’t see us winning the division this season.
Click to expand...
A lot of people are predicting a huge bounce back year for Acuna.
Strider is going to have to prove himself in year 2.
Riley has to put back to back solid years together.
Grissom and Harris have to continue to improve.
I need to see what we’re getting in this dynamite catcher from Oakland.
Can the Braves dominate the NL? Yes they can but...
There are a ton of questions heading into the season.
 
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#28,647
#28,647
VolPack22 said:
I don’t understand these people thinking the Braves are all the sudden the best team in the NL. Did they not see what the Padres did? Do they not see what the Dodgers have? Even the Mets and Phillies have made good moves. Sean Murphy isn’t going to be the game changer that many of the experts believe him to be. We will still make the playoffs but I honestly don’t see us winning the division this season.
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I’m with you on the Padres VP.
I believe we get a bounce back year from Soto.
 
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#28,649
#28,649
cobbwebb0710 said:
I’m with you on the Padres VP.
I believe we get a bounce back year from Soto.
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I have to say that with Soto’s antics, I wouldn’t be too upset if he falters again. Holding your cup and staring down the opposing pitcher is not cool. I would probably hit him right in the numbers if my team was far enough ahead.
 
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#28,650
#28,650
cobbwebb0710 said:
A lot of people are predicting a huge bounce back year for Acuna.
Strider is going to have to prove himself in year 2.
Riley has to put back to back solid years together.
Grissom and Harris have to continue to improve.
I need to see what we’re getting in this dynamite catcher from Oakland.
Can the Braves dominate the NL? Yes they can but...
There are a ton of questions heading into the season.
Click to expand...
Acuña and Strider are the least of my worries. Those dudes are studs. I’m more worried about Albies staying healthy and a possible regression from Harris and Grissom. I still think we will have a top 4 team in the NL but it just feels like we stayed the same or got a tad worse by losing Dansby coupled with the loss of Freeman the previous offseason, while the other contenders got better. The Dodgers are the only other contender that stayed the same or got worse but they won 111 games so they will still be great.
 
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