tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902570412488908652.post8081082305494110093..comments2014-10-01T16:11:46.236-07:00Comments on Payoff Pitch: Payoff Pitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436522199210140381noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902570412488908652.post-87544648156230103442012-10-07T20:36:14.172-07:002012-10-07T20:36:14.172-07:00Well I don't think you have to worry about Med...Well I don't think you have to worry about Medlen anymore.Payoff Pitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01436522199210140381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902570412488908652.post-1536841977419335302012-10-03T10:07:21.706-07:002012-10-03T10:07:21.706-07:00Well, I was right about the Brewers being a Dumpst...Well, I was right about the Brewers being a Dumpster Fire, but the Cardinals, it turns out, are always good.<br /><br />On that note: NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST CHAMPIONS!!! I wish I could say that I saw it coming, but I chose my words carefully and now don't get to revel quite as much. Either way, good luck with the Cardinals, and my only hope is that Medlen pitches against them and the Nats can somehow build a 2-0 lead before they have to play against him.Bloomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12247101000517818140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902570412488908652.post-359140564859966462012-02-03T16:14:52.745-08:002012-02-03T16:14:52.745-08:00Remember the Great Depression? Pudge does.Remember the Great Depression? Pudge does.Payoff Pitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01436522199210140381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902570412488908652.post-59364038439033854092012-02-03T07:43:57.522-08:002012-02-03T07:43:57.522-08:00I'll save my prognostication until we know how...I'll save my prognostication until we know how many wild cards there will be. I agree that the East will beat itself up, but without Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols, I think the NL Central will be a dumpster fire. I can't wait to eat those words.<br /><br />In other news, I went to Opening Day at Nationals' Park last season, and Pudge's entrance music was "Temperature" by Sean Paul. Which is funny, because he was last good when that song was still popular.Bloomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12247101000517818140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902570412488908652.post-64600821652086750692012-02-02T15:16:22.992-08:002012-02-02T15:16:22.992-08:00I think I agree with you. The Nationals are a sex...I think I agree with you. The Nationals are a sexy wild-card pick this year, but I think it's too soon. And while I'm not sold on the Marlins, I think the East is too good and will beat up on each other too much to produce two wildcards. (I just used every possible iteration of the word form of "2" in that sentence, {the number, the conjunction and the one with multiple Os}.) There is some depth in the Central with at least three solid teams, and there have been improvements out West.<br /><br />After I finish all the NL offseason reports I'll post my playoff picks for the NL before I do my AL Hot Stove entries.Payoff Pitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01436522199210140381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902570412488908652.post-70557504341912415712012-02-02T13:39:08.173-08:002012-02-02T13:39:08.173-08:00Jayson Werth will definitely play better this seas...Jayson Werth will definitely play better this season. His BABIP was a paltry .285 this season, after .352 in 2010 and .304 in 2009. Given that his speed obviously did not greatly decline (20 SBs) that looks pretty strongly like its just statistical noise.<br /><br />The pitching is a definite mine-field. I remember going to games last season and being relieved that Livan Hernandez was pitching, because it meant the Nats might win. What a catastrophe.<br /><br />I think the Nats make a solid run for a wild card, and are no longer a guaranteed 2-1 split for the Braves and Phillies, but with the talent the Marlins picked up, I think the Nats can't get it done this year.Bloomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12247101000517818140noreply@blogger.com