2022 American League Central Division Champions

[bob2the2nd]

The league wants to move in this direction. Maybe they’ll get some help from the umps. View attachment 12351

Maybe we can expect a deciding game like this:

That last one was a foot off the plate and at no time even looked like it might be a strike

 

[LL3]

That last one was a foot off the plate and at no time even looked like it might be a strike

Ump was on a roll...did not want to break his rhythm.

 

[Tondo]

Miller and Arias both with 2 mental errors. Those are our RH 1B options, ugh

 

[Derek]

C - Hedges/Maile
1B - Naylor
2B - Gimenez
3B - Ramirez
SS - Rosario
LF - Kwan
CF - Straw
RF - Brennan
DH - Gonzalez

This is the no doubter move, right? Plug this lineup in for every single game.

 

[CBBI]

C - Hedges/Maile
1B - Naylor
2B - Gimenez
3B - Ramirez
SS - Rosario
LF - Kwan
CF - Straw
RF - Brennan
DH - Gonzalez

This is the no doubter move, right? Plug this lineup in for every single game.

Those are the 9 best players, yes.

But that's 4 lefties in the lineup against what's likely going to be two lefty starters for Tampa Bay.

 

[Funkball2]

Those are the 9 best players, yes.

But that's 4 lefties in the lineup against what's likely going to be two lefty starters for Tampa Bay.

I’m comfortable letting Miller play first for Naylor.

 

[BigJ0526]

vbs lhp we will probably see miller at 1st (ugh) and OG in right

 

[Criznit]

I’m comfortable letting Miller play first for Naylor.

Kinda like the idea of having big brother Naylor off the bench for a pinch hit too. Let Maile and Miller (or even Arias) start game 1. Naylor + off the bench works for me against a lefty.

I think you can count on one of Naylor or Brennan sitting, maybe both but that would surprise me... I'm starting Brennan and benching Naylor myself.

 

[Meatwad]

Those are the 9 best players, yes.

But that's 4 lefties in the lineup against what's likely going to be two lefty starters for Tampa Bay.

4 lefties, so what?

Kwan bats .291 against lefties. Admittedly his OPS isn't great, but he gets on base.

Gimenez bats .336 with and .888 ops against lefties.

To me, it's more like having 2 lefties in the lineup, not 4. You're not taking Naylor out of the lineup, and Brennan should stay in it as long as he's hot imo.

C - Hedges/Maile
1B - Naylor
2B - Gimenez
3B - Ramirez
SS - Rosario
LF - Kwan
CF - Straw
RF - Brennan
DH - Gonzalez

This is the no doubter move, right? Plug this lineup in for every single game.

So yeah, for me, this is the 9.

If I were putting money on it though I'd bet we see Owen Miller at 1B, OGonz in RF, and Naylor at DH.

 

[Meatwad]

Kinda like the idea of having big brother Naylor off the bench for a pinch hit too. Let Maile and Miller (or even Arias) start game 1. Naylor + off the bench works for me against a lefty.

I think you can count on one of Naylor or Brennan sitting, maybe both but that would surprise me... I'm starting Brennan and benching Naylor myself.

Naylor is key to the heart and soul of this team. Ranking it: Jose is 1, Rosario 2, Naylor 3 in terms of how much they mean to the culture of this ball club.

Zero chance Naylor is coming off the bench.

 

[KluberSociety]

Heart and soul or not, in a vacuum it's hard to justify Naylor and his 60 wRC+ vs lefties (53 this year) starting games against tough lefties. Thing is though, nobody has really established themselves as a great alternative. Owen Miller with a solid 72 this year... Putting a kid with little experience there (Arias) isn't exactly the solution either, and he has bad splits as well (32% K vs lefties).

It would honestly be awesome if Amed could play 1B, then just stick Arias at SS, problem solved. But he can't either.

Hopefully something that is solved in the offseason.

Meanwhile, Will Brennan has some pretty severe splits vs lefties this year (.254/.313/.339) vs (.333/.389/.518) vs righties. He will probably be the casualty while Naylor and Miller play. Just my guess. I could live with it.

 

[Real Deal]

Reason why I like Naylor playing regardless, he has the power to hit a mistake pitch out if he works the count. Miller, never. I'd roll the dice on Naylor's 4 ABs versus Miller's 3. I just don't trust Brennan enough vs LHP. We're going to need the bottom 3 to reach base at some point so Kwan and Rosario can get some pitches to rip. Really hope we see some Straw of old.

Kwan
Rosario
Jose
Oscar
Andres
Naylor
Arias
Hedges
Straw

 

[Meatwad]

Please don't let Arias anywhere near the field. He's bound to make yet another bonehead play. Let him pinch hit if needed but otherwise, see you in spring training kid.

 

[Kiddo]

Please don't let Arias anywhere near the field. He's bound to make yet another bonehead play. Let him pinch hit if needed but otherwise, see you in spring training kid.

Cmon, that throw to 3rd was a little off but Jose makes that play 9 out of 10 times.

 

[CBBI]

Naylor is key to the heart and soul of this team. Ranking it: Jose is 1, Rosario 2, Naylor 3 in terms of how much they mean to the culture of this ball club.

Zero chance Naylor is coming off the bench.

Let me preface this by saying that ultimately this is mental masturbation by me. I know Naylor is going to be in the lineup and worse yet, in the middle of the lineup.

I get all the stuff about Naylor being the heart and soul of the team and all that too, and I wouldn’t even say I necessarily disagree with that.

But facts are facts and Josh is pretty much an automatic out against LHP.

I understand that they’re not going to take him out for a variety of reasons, I just very much disagree with the mentality.

Especially when a guy like Brennan who actually is swinging a red hot bat at the moment is possibly going to be sat with the rationale from Tito almost certainly being “oh well it would have been unfair for us to stick him in there against a guy like McClanahan” and blatantly ignoring that is also the case for Naylor.

But it is what it is. I hope the all the splits get taken to small sample size hell this weekend.