MLB parity means mediocre baseball

[DCTribefan]

https://fivethirtyeight.com/feature...fewer-are-awful-is-this-the-parity-we-wanted/

 

[DCTribefan]

https://fivethirtyeight.com/feature...fewer-are-awful-is-this-the-parity-we-wanted/

Fully half of the league is now forecasted to have a win total in the 80s, which could make for some really interesting decisions around the trade deadline and into the playoff race down the stretch run.

 

[CATS44]

If we have imbalance, as we have had for several years, fans complain about unfair advantages and tanking.

If we have balance, fans complain about mediocrity.

But, I'm guessing that its more about small sample size than anything else.

A combination of the shortened 2020 season, some cold weather, and pitchers for whatever reason being unusually dominant has equalized competition in the short term. An alarming number of injuries have added to the equalization.

Things will begin to sort themselves out as the weather warms...and the cream will rise.

However, one thing can continue the rather unique balance throughout MLB.

Injuries.

If the number of injuries so far are a trend, and not an anomaly, it could lead to a continued balance.

If the Dodgers and Giants each have three key injuries, the gap closes, because the Dodgers three injured players are likely to be better than the Giants'. And their respective replacements are likely to be closer in terms of ability.

Its one reason...which I've mentioned before...that IMO the Indians are closer to Minnesota and Chicago than others think. Our top 45, as young as they may be, are better than the top 45 of the other two....and it takes 45, not 26, to get thru 162 games.

In another thread there is a discussion of the possibilities we have for our 4th and 5th starters. The list is almost bottomless. In addition to TMac and Hentges, there are Allen, Quantrill, Moss, Morgan, Mejia, and Stephan. All in some way can be considered a legitimate rotational candidate in a pinch. All have enough going for them that it is possible that any of them could fill in this year for a short span of games.

Neither of the other two are even close...and we aren't even talking about the depth of our pen.

 

[DCTribefan]

If we have imbalance, as we have had for several years, fans complain about unfair advantages and tanking.

If we have balance, fans complain about mediocrity.

But, I'm guessing that its more about small sample size than anything else.

A combination of the shortened 2020 season, some cold weather, and pitchers for whatever reason being unusually dominant has equalized competition in the short term. An alarming number of injuries have added to the equalization.

Things will begin to sort themselves out as the weather warms...and the cream will rise.

However, one thing can continue the rather unique balance throughout MLB.

Injuries.

If the number of injuries so far are a trend, and not an anomaly, it could lead to a continued balance.

If the Dodgers and Giants each have three key injuries, the gap closes, because the Dodgers three injured players are likely to be better than the Giants'. And their respective replacements are likely to be closer in terms of ability.

Its one reason...which I've mentioned before...that IMO the Indians are closer to Minnesota and Chicago than others think. Our top 45, as young as they may be, are better than the top 45 of the other two....and it takes 45, not 26, to get thru 162 games.

In another thread there is a discussion of the possibilities we have for our 4th and 5th starters. The list is almost bottomless. In addition to TMac and Hentges, there are Allen, Quantrill, Moss, Morgan, Mejia, and Stephan. All in some way can be considered a legitimate rotational candidate in a pinch. All have enough going for them that it is possible that any of them could fill in this year for a short span of games.

Neither of the other two are even close...and we aren't even talking about the depth of our pen.

Or my fantasy team loses Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez to injury that helps equalize my league.

 

[DCTribefan]

 

[33Y0]

Through May 8th games over the last few years… The number of teams around baseball. Around .500 is +/- 2 games.

2011: Around .500: 9 / Over .600: 3

2012: Around .500: 7 / Over .600: 7

2013: Around .500: 5 / Over .600: 6

2014: Around .500: 10 / Over .600: 3

2015: Around .500: 11 / Over .600: 7

2016: Around .500: 10 / Over .600: 5

2017: Around .500: 11 / Over .600: 5

2018: Around .500: 6 / Over .600: 5

2019: Around .500: 6 / Over .600: 4

2021: Around .500: 16 / Over .600: 3

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

This is really good for baseball. As a long time Indians fan there's no worse feeling than getting to May 1 and realizing your team is already out of contention and will lose 90 or more games. I hate discussing fire sales in May.

It's great to see the huge spenders like the Yankees (18-16) and Dodgers (18-17) right there with everyone else. The next three highest payrolls belong to the Mets (16-13), the Astros (18-17) and the Angels (16-18). The lowest payroll and the youngest team is the Cleveland Indians at 18-14.

 

[Criznit]

I love how "competitive" ML baseball is this year. It could make for an amazing course of events around the deadline this year. There might be some shocking "overpays" for quality ML talent, can't wait to see how teams approach.

 

[xmasbuck]

This is really good for baseball. As a long time Indians fan there's no worse feeling than getting to May 1 and realizing your team is already out of contention and will lose 90 or more games. I hate discussing fire sales in May.

It's great to see the huge spenders like the Yankees (18-16) and Dodgers (18-17) right there with everyone else. The next three highest payrolls belong to the Mets (16-13), the Astros (18-17) and the Angels (16-18). The lowest payroll and the youngest team is the Cleveland Indians at 18-14.

to be sure wham - and as a long time cleveland fan myself - outside of a couple hiccups, it's been a long, long time since we were regularly out of it come may 1st (april 1st?) - 30 years