A.L. Central

[tolbiny]

Cureently has three of the best five (record wise) teams in the AL- and three of the top 7 in baseball. The white sox continue to play strong baseball every day, the twins are struggling a little, but not losing ground, and the Indians are making a case for being the third best team in the AL right now.
This could be a great second half of baseball with baltimore, minnesota, cleveland, and Texas in the wildcard race (and Oakland aswell if they continue their good run). And Toronto, Detroit and New York aren't exactly out of it.

[Lazymeatball]

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and the Indians are making a case for being the third best team in the AL right now.

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So are they better than the White Sox or the Angels?

[tolbiny]

Neither.

[kyro]

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Neither.

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I'm not sure how you can justify them being better than the Red Sox.

Or the Twins.

Or hell, if we're talking streaky teams, how bout them A's.

Indians are not the 3rd best team in the AL.

[tolbiny]

The indians are at least as good as the twins. Their bullpens are of similar strength, The indians have more depth at starting pitching while the Twins have a better pitcher as their Number 1- and the Indians have a better offense while the Twins perform better defensively and in other "less tangible" areas like baserunning.
I simple said that a case could be mad efor the indians being the third best team in the league. The red sox right now have huge holes in their bullpen- Which would crush them if the Yankees hadn't totally fallen apart this year, basically giving them the division without much concern.

[Dynasty]

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The red sox right now have huge holes in their bullpen- Which would crush them if the Yankees hadn't totally fallen apart this year, basically giving them the division without much concern.

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This is a bit of an overstatement given that only four teams in baseball have a better record than the Red Sox.

[pryor15]

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The indians are at least as good as the twins. Their bullpens are of similar strength, The indians have more depth at starting pitching while the Twins have a better pitcher as their Number 1- and the Indians have a better offense

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wrong.

Starters ERA
Twins 3.97 (silva 3.55, santana 3.74, mays 3.93, radke 4.07, lohse 4.58)
Indians 4.16 (millwood 3.08, lee 3.56, sabathia 4.33, westbrook 4.47, elarton 4.99)

OFFENSE
Twins .267BA, .333OBP, .410SLG, 358R
Indians .258BA, .321OBP, .425SLG, 359R

either you don't follow baseball much or numbers aren't your thing. another sports post based on a hunch.

[tolbiny]

Twins .267BA, .333OBP, .410SLG, 358R
Indians .258BA, .321OBP, .425SLG, 359R

Th indians batting average as a team was .246 for the first 6 weeks of the season. Since replacing their hitting coach they have jumped to .289. Their runs scored has gone from 3.96 per game to 6.04.


As for depth i was referring to Having several Major league ready arms in the minor league system- specifically Jason dais (5.5 era this year) and Kaz Tadano (4.65 ERA last year over 50 inninings).

[tolbiny]

YOur right it was an overstatement- i shoulc have said "could" crush them if they were in a race. The Red Sox have the luxury of trying to work out hteir pen problems without worrying weather a couple of losses will Cost them the division.
Of course if Schilling comes back and pitches well then you won't hear any arguments from me about the Indians beinga s good as the red sox.

[Jack of Arcades]

Yeah, but Carlos Silva sucks.

[pryor15]

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As for depth i was referring to Having several Major league ready arms in the minor league system- specifically Jason dais (5.5 era this year) and Kaz Tadano (4.65 ERA last year over 50 inninings).

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and the twins don't? bonson, durbin, liriano, balfour, etc.