Not a prediction -- a preference. Who are you rooting for?
Angels | 10 (5.35%) |
Cubs | 28 (14.97%) |
Diamondbacks | 10 (5.35%) |
Indians | 42 (22.46%) |
Phillies | 16 (8.56%) |
Red Sox | 4 (2.14%) |
Rockies | 60 (32.09%) |
Yankees | 7 (3.74%) |
Nobody! | 10 (5.35%) |
7) The Angels use a ''Moneyball'' approach to the game, trying to manufacture runs. The Red Sox are primarly a team allergic to giving away outs and thriving on the big inning. Which approach is better in the postseason?
Is this question so wrong that it's right?
It may actually be correct now. The Moneyball approach was to exploit inefficiencies and under-rated skills. Is the ability to "manufacture" runs possibly something that can be exploited in this way now? The Angels top 4 base stealers have 106 SB, with only 28 CS, and managed the 4th best offense (not park adjusted) despite not being a slugging team. Their main offensive skills are not striking out, high BA, and stealing/taking extra bases. These might be the undervalued skills these days.
I'd bet on it being a typo on ESPN though, likely supposed to read anti-"Moneyball", or something like that. Because most media outlets never quite grapsed Moneyball wasn't about building a team to walk, never steal, and hit HR's (unless others are undervaluing those skills).
Besides, the Angels' offence isn't exactly monolithically focused on batting average and not striking out. When they ditched the 'sabermetric anti-hero' Hillenbrand for Reggie Willits, some improvement was noted!
My order of preference:
Rockies
Angels
Red Sox
Diamondbacks
Cubs
Phillies
Yankees
Cleveland
Rockies by a landslide
Phillies - one WS win in over 100 years? About time for them to catch up the Jays.
Diamondbacks
Angels
Cubs - would rather their curse continues, just for the fun of it, but prefer them to the 3 below.
....big spread....
Red Sox
Yankees
Cleveland
At least one of the Yankees or Cleveland will be knocked out in round one, and no matter what I'll have someone to cheer for in the World Series.
I've often thought -- though have never studied the matter -- that long sequence offenses (high OBP, low SLG) are more vulnerable in the post-season, where the quality of opposition pitching is better than the league norms. A good pitcher, my theory goes, can more readily interrupt would-be long sequences.
I am two hours from Chicago so I have to go with the Cubbies all the way. However the Colorado Vs. San Diego tie breaker game is probably the best game I have seen in a very long time and makes me want to root for the Rockies because they are such a scrappy bunch.