Forever Giants: 2015 San Francisco Giants Year 58 (Franchise Year 133)

2014 is here.

My WAR calculation is a combination of Baseball-reference and Clay Davenport; I believe it to be the "best" WAR number available for historical comparison. 8 WAR is an MVP quality season.  The record is pythagorean adjusted for 162 games.

2015 89-73
C Buster Posey 7.15
1B Brandon Belt 4.2 
2B Joe Panik 3.55 

SS Brandon Crawford 5.85 

3B Matt Duffy 4.45 

LF Nori Aoki 1.55

CF Angel Pagan -1.55 

RF Hunter Pence 1.7

CF Gregor Blanco 1.8 

RF Justin Maxwell .1

2B Kelby Tomlinson 1.05

RF Marlon Byrd .7

C Andrew Susac -.1 

3B Casey McGehee -.45

Uti Ehire Adrianza .2

SP Madison Bumgarner 6.25 

SP Chris Heston 1.4

SP Ryan Vogelsong -.9 

SP Jake Peavy 1.85

RP Santiago Casilla 1.9

RP George Kontos 1.95

RP Hunter Strickland 1.5

RP Javier Lopez 1.2

-An 89 win pythag makes this the 17th best SFG team in 58 seasons; rookie Chris Heston throws a no hitter, heavy WAR totals from the infield make it one of the best (maybe the best) in franchise history.  A lot of movement in the all time 100, Crawford and Belt crack the list, Bumgarner moves into the top 50.  This ends Lincecum's run. Posey's season is the second best for a catcher in 133 years of Giants baseball, behind Posey's 2012 season.  Pagan's season is the worst for any center fielder in San Francisco history.  

Tendown. October 11, 2015

194 is here.  This is Tendown 195.

1. Inner Lives of Animals. Who have them. Unlike fetuses.

2. Government can work.

3. Every SFG team ranked, 1-58.

4. Every Week Until He Stops - Vote for Bernie Sanders

5. Good guys with guns.  And here.

6. First, let's kill all the managers.

7. We bombed a hospital.

8. The history of modern gun rights.

9. Don't look so hard for cancer.

10.

Rupert Murdoch Verified account‏@rupertmurdoch

Ben and Candy Carson terrific. What about a real black President who can properly address the racial divide? And much else.

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8:59 PM - 7 Oct 2015

 
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And one more...

That's all for this time.  I'll be back next time.  If there is a next time...

Your pal,

Jim

2015 NFL Supercontest, Week 5

Week 4 is here. I went 3-2 and am 10-10 overall.

Det +2.5 Ari loss
Tenn +2.5 Buf win
Chi +9 KC win
Wash +7 Atl win
StL +9 GB loss

3-2
13-12


Not part of my official picks - but while we're here..
Jax +3 TB
Pit +3 SD

NL Division Series Predictions

I hit the Wild Card game, before which I picked the Dodgers to win the pennant.

LA v. NY
-The Mets are better than the Dodgers; they had the same pythag, but the Mets have added Cespedes and a returning David Wright. We think of LA as a dominant club, but it's softer than last year and were you picking either of these teams over 162, I'd take the current Mets club.

But this isn't 162, it's 4 out of 7, and when you have the best pitcher in MLB from 2015 (Greinke) and the best pitcher in MLB this decade (and third best this year, Kershaw) you pick them in a short series.

Might that lead to failure, as it did when Kershaw got roughed up in last year's playoffs?

Sure.  But if you're picking a short series, I'll take those two monsters.

StL v. Cubs
-First playoff matchup ever between Cubs/Cards, sort of a big deal.  The Cards were better in the regular season, but not enormously so, and as we sit here the combination of the Cubs new players (Schwarber, and, although they've been up longer, Russell and Bryant) and the Cards injuries leaves Chicago as the better side.  The Cards have the better pen and Chicago can't use Arrieta until Game 3 given their Wild Card win - but in 5 I'll take Chicago to advance.

AL Division Series Predictions

Sure, I hit on both Wild Card games, but who's counting?

Toronto v. Texas

The best team in baseball in 2015 is Toronto, they're the only club with a 100+ win pythagorean record and most of that occurred without Tulowitzki or Price.  They walk, they don't strike out, they mash both righties and lefties, they've got the best four position players and the best pitcher based on their 2015 numbers; it would be a sizeable upset if they lost this series.

Kansas City v. Houston

The Astros were slightly better in the regular season (3 pythagorean win advantage); this years version of last years pennant winners hits a little better, doesn't strike out much, makes good contact which is a significant plus when trying to go deep in the tournament. The big advantage in the series is the Royals pen, and given that Keuchel can't go until Game 3, what would be Houston's biggest advantage, having the best starting pitcher (but isn't Cueto better?  yeah, not this year) is mitigated.

I'd like to see Houston win - they're Team Metric and I'm digging their young talent, but you take the Royals ability to make contact, add their pen, and subtract a fully ready to go Keuchel and I have to say its the Royals.

As mentioned before the Wild Card game, the Jays are the best team in baseball and regardless of matchup, they're my pick to win the pennant.