(04-27-2023, 07:45 AM)OutsiderFan Wrote: Before y'all laud me for the success of my reverse woofing prowess - the Giants have won 5 straight since I suggested they are the worst team relative to their market size and wealth in major league sports - the Cardinals suck too and the Mets dropped two in a row to the Nationals at home after losing last two in S.F., so...
I'm just happy the Dodgers are only 13-12, tbh.
Now look at this...
Top 3 teams in MLB payroll (Mets, Yankees, Padres) combined: $870M ($290M/team)
Top 3 teams in MLB payroll combined record: 41-33 for .554 win % on pace for avg. of 90-72
Top 3 teams in MLB record (Rays, Orioles, Pirates) combined: 53-21 for .716 win % on pace for avg. of 116-46
Top 3 teams by record in MLB payroll combined: $214M* ($71.3M)
* The Angels' payroll
The big question is can lower payroll teams dominating the regular season's first month keep it up and ultimately win in the post season? Or is the star power of the big spenders ultimately gonna prevail? Injuries seem to be a bigger factor for the big spenders given that means older players who get hurt more, so the stars might not even be available for the big spenders in the post season.
In any case, if I were Greg Johnson, I'd be doing all I could to recruit those responsible for scouting and development from the Rays, Orioles, Pirates, Blue Jays, Dodgers, and Braves!
25 games and a lot hovering around .500. Exceptions at top are Braves, Brewers and surprising Pirates. I think Braves may be the most complete team in NL. Brewers should stay strong due to their pitching. I expect Pirates to drop.
Rockies Nats and surprisingly the Cardinals (9-16) are at the bottom. Cards are always good. So, maybe just a slow start. They have looked bad in Giants series. Helps that Arenado isn’t hitting. Yet.
NL West - biggest disappointment to this point has to be Padres. And the biggest question there - Juan Soto. He has not HIT well since coming to SD. He leads league in walks. So, OBP is there. But Slg pct way down. And it has been for over a year. There are some rumblings that he’s become too selective. Padres didn’t make that trade to get Billy North ( yes, I’m exaggerating). Soto has always been known for his “plate discipline “. Sometimes I wonder if that can taken too far.