Did anyone catch BBTN's shot @ Cubs fans last night?

[XZero771679666304]

Fans don't vote for the power rankings, so that makes the comments doubly hilarious.

 

 

That's what I was thinking. They don't even know what's up on their own website.

 

 

 

But the Cubs are better than the Angels, IMO. The Cubs play in the toughest division in the NL (maybe MLB) while the Angels play in the worst division in the AL (the only division in baseball with only one team with a positive run differential), meanwhile the Cubs have a run differential three times higher than the Angels do.

 

In fact, if you add the run differentials of the Angels and the Rays, you get a number 34 runs short of the Cubs. In fact, there are only two teams in baseball with a run differential that is even 50% of what the Cubs diff is. The second place team in the West (Rangers), despite leading MLB in runs has a run differential of -59. Even so, the gap between them and the Angels still falls 55 runs short of the Cubs lead over the Brewers, who have a run differential of +45. Another interesting note is that while the Brewers and Cards have the 2nd and 3rd best records in the NL, the Cubs have a run differential nearly twice that of the two teams combined.

 

Statistically speaking the pitching staffs of the Cubs, Angels and Rays are very similar, though the Angels staff is a bit lesser than the other two (The Rays and Cubs are both top 5 in ERA and WHIP, while the Angels are 8th and 7th, respectively).

 

Offensively the Cubs (in a league that generally has lower offensive numbers) ranks 1st in MLB in OBP, 2nd in OPS and 2nd in runs. The Angels rank 18th, 21st and 16th, respectively. The Rays rank 11th, 14th and 21st.

 

Is the AL tougher? Sure. But not enough so to make a case that the Cubs are not the most complete team in baseball. And if one were to try, it would have to be for the Rays, not the Angels.

 

The BBTN guys shouldn't drink before broadcasts (or maybe they should do a little research, particularly on how their own company's power rankings work).

[bukie]

The Cubs play in the toughest division in the NL (maybe MLB)

 

Err...no. The AL East is far and away the best division in the majors, and that isn't very close. Arguably 5 of the top 8 teams in the AL play in that division.

 

Even as tough as the top of the NL Central is, the Reds and Pirates still play in it.

[XZero771679666304]

The Cubs play in the toughest division in the NL (maybe MLB)

 

Err...no. The AL East is far and away the best division in the majors, and that isn't very close. Arguably 5 of the top 8 teams in the AL play in that division.

 

Even as tough as the top of the NL Central is, the Reds and Pirates still play in it.

 

True enough, all of the teams in the AL east have a positive run differential. And while I question whether or nor Baltimore is a good as their numbers say they are, Cincy and Pittsburgh are pretty bad (though they look a lot worse now than before the trades).

[inari]

Did anybody notice that 98 run difference in run differential? I think that makes up for that whopping 1 game difference in overall record.

 

I think playing in the AL helps ALOT. The AL is head and shoulders above the NL.

False.

 

Maybe not head and shoulders but.. yeah its not really that close.

Of the really good teams in the AL besides the Angels (Rays, Red Sox, Twins and White Sox - if you want to call the last two really good), the Angels probably play 24-30 games against them, as opposed to like 60 against Oakland, Seattle and Texas.

 

How anyone could not see the White Sox are a very good team at this point is beyond me.

[Guest]

The Cubs play in the toughest division in the NL (maybe MLB)

 

Err...no. The AL East is far and away the best division in the majors, and that isn't very close. Arguably 5 of the top 8 teams in the AL play in that division.

 

Even as tough as the top of the NL Central is, the Reds and Pirates still play in it.

 

True enough, all of the teams in the AL east have a positive run differential. And while I question whether or nor Baltimore is a good as their numbers say they are, Cincy and Pittsburgh are pretty bad (though they look a lot worse now than before the trades).

 

That actually makes the Angels look better because they are 27-13 against the AL East this year.

[Guest]

Did anybody notice that 98 run difference in run differential? I think that makes up for that whopping 1 game difference in overall record.

 

I think playing in the AL helps ALOT. The AL is head and shoulders above the NL.

False.

 

Maybe not head and shoulders but.. yeah its not really that close.

Of the really good teams in the AL besides the Angels (Rays, Red Sox, Twins and White Sox - if you want to call the last two really good), the Angels probably play 24-30 games against them, as opposed to like 60 against Oakland, Seattle and Texas.

 

How anyone could not see the White Sox are a very good team at this point is beyond me.

 

How good you think the White Sox and Twins are depends on how good you think the AL Central is. Both teams are 36-21 against their own division. The White Sox are 9-14 against the AL East and 13-12 against the AL West while the Twins are 9-16 and 11-12 against the same divisions.

[XZero771679666304]

The Cubs play in the toughest division in the NL (maybe MLB)

 

Err...no. The AL East is far and away the best division in the majors, and that isn't very close. Arguably 5 of the top 8 teams in the AL play in that division.

 

Even as tough as the top of the NL Central is, the Reds and Pirates still play in it.

 

True enough, all of the teams in the AL east have a positive run differential. And while I question whether or nor Baltimore is a good as their numbers say they are, Cincy and Pittsburgh are pretty bad (though they look a lot worse now than before the trades).

 

That actually makes the Angels look better because they are 27-13 against the AL East this year.

 

And yet they are only 20-13 vs. the West, and 19-12 vs. the Central, two significantly weaker divisions.

[Guest]

The Cubs play in the toughest division in the NL (maybe MLB)

 

Err...no. The AL East is far and away the best division in the majors, and that isn't very close. Arguably 5 of the top 8 teams in the AL play in that division.

 

Even as tough as the top of the NL Central is, the Reds and Pirates still play in it.

 

True enough, all of the teams in the AL east have a positive run differential. And while I question whether or nor Baltimore is a good as their numbers say they are, Cincy and Pittsburgh are pretty bad (though they look a lot worse now than before the trades).

 

That actually makes the Angels look better because they are 27-13 against the AL East this year.

 

And yet they are only 20-13 vs. the West, and 19-12 vs. the Central, two significantly weaker divisions.

 

Yeah, it's certainly not what I would have expected.