JUSTgottaBELIEVE

QUOTE (Mike F. @ Sep 13, 2015 -> 10:39 PM) The same idea applies for Samardzija. The NL is a cakewalk to pitch in compared to the AL. People were questioning the thought of Sale having an ERA that would drop by 1-1.5 runs in the NL this year but explain then how these guys that moved to the AL have seen their ERA jump by 2 runs or more? Heck, take Sale out of the AL central alone (and away from the twins) and his ERA drops by a run.

QUOTE (Mike F. @ Sep 13, 2015 -> 09:09 PM) That Cueto deal is going to end up biting KC in the ass long term. I love it. Remember when Cueto was considered one of the best pitchers in the NL the last few years? How's that working out for him in the AL?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 06:41 PM) It was already explained to you why those hitters dropped off, it was expected before they even switched leagues. And AJP played in the NL last year. After he was essentially run out of the AL... You have yet to provide an example in which an NL hitter vastly improved when switching to the AL within the last couple years. Also, how many guys switched from the AL and vastly underperformed the next season in the NL? How many opposite league Laroche, Hanley, and Sandoval examples are out there? I think there were a number of years in which NL pitching was deeper and better than AL but I think that has gone the other direction the last few years.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 01:31 PM) I don't think anyone is arguing that the NL is better than AL but to say the Cubs would be under .500 in the AL is silly. So what the Cards are the only team in the NL that would be over .500 in the AL? Cmon now. And Cespedes has been fantastic but it's been a month and a half so lets all calm down. Understood and agreed, I'm only stating that I can't think of a single hitter that went from the NL and noticeably improved in the AL the next season within the last couple years. In other words no examples of 2015 Yunel Escobar or AJP or 2014 Seth Smith. In fact, it seems majority of hitters moving to the AL experience a significant drop off in production. Why is that?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 11:42 AM) So when healthy, switching leagues had zero effect on his numbers. Perfect. My original point - name one hitter in the last 3 years that has significantly improved when moving from the NL to AL? I'm waiting for just one. I can name a handful that went from AL to NL and improved significantly as well as another handful that moved from the NL to AL and dropped off significantly.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 11:24 AM) What? I didn't even say anything about the other guys. I said Cuddyer doesn't support your point. He hit .260 his first year in Coors and then hit .331 the next one. How can you possibly attribute that to changing leagues? And for the record, the Rockies are hitting .301 at Coors this season and .233 elsewhere. In the last five years they've hit no lower than .274 at home and no higher than .246 away. So yes, it is possibly enough for a 34-year-old to win his first batting title after never hitting over .284 in the AL. That's all good except for the fact that he also hit 311 on the road in 2013

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 11:05 AM) 4 different Rockies in 8 years won the batting title, I would call that significant. Not disputing that it is a significant advantage playing in Coors but see response above

QUOTE (shysocks @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 11:08 AM) Which I told you I'm not interested in finding. He wasn't saying it was that simple, but Coors field provides an undeniable increase to hitters' numbers. Your example of Cuddyer makes no sense anyway. His first year in the NL was worse than his last in the AL. The NL is so bad, but it took him a year to realize that? Agreed Coors provides an advantage but enough that a 34 year old wins his first batting title after never hitting over 284 in the AL? I thought it was stated previously that the free agents I pointed out were bad examples because they were over 30 years old?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 10:54 AM) Brian McCann is having his best hitting season since 2011, including two years in Atlanta. The weakness of the AL East is the only possible explanation, right? His numbers are nearly identical to his last season in the NL (2013) and he was awful last season.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 10:26 AM) Coors Field* if it was that simple why wouldn't the NL batting champ every season reside in Colorado?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 10:28 AM) All those guys are old and/or fat and/or lazy. They were expected to decrease. I'm not arguing against the NL being a weaker league, but you need better examples than 30+ old free agents. I haven't looked at the 2013-2014 free agents that made the same move but I imagine you'd find similar results

QUOTE (shysocks @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 10:31 AM) Not gonna bother disputing your general point, but I have a problem with a couple of those names. You can blame a lot of Hanley's season on age/injury/his general inconsistency, and Russell Martin is just kind of returning to normal after a career year. Assigning their declines to the league change just seems like shoehorning in a theory. I am open to other examples that refute the theory

last two NL batting champs had recently moved from the AL to NL (Cuddyer and Morneau)

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 10:19 AM) If you rank the top 10 AL hitters by OPS this season, 5 of them switched from the NL to the AL. (Miggy, Tex, Bautista, E5, JD Martinez) again, how many within the last 3 years where I believe there has been a significant shift in pitching (and hitting) talent between the leagues?

Let's look at the top hitters to change leagues in the 2014-2015 off season and how they have fared this season after spending the entire season in the other league during the prior season: Hanley Ramirez (NL to AL): D significantly Pablo Sandoval (NL to AL): D significantly Russell Martin (NL to AL): D significantly Nori Aoki (AL to NL): NC - shortened season due to injury Nick Markakis (AL to NL): I slightly Adam Laroche (NL to AL): D significantly Legend: I = increased offensive production D = decreased offensive production NC = relatively no change in offensive production

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 07:58 AM) Not many examples. Cain and Escobar came out of an NL system. Choo has done fairly well with the Rangers, although not worth his contract. Altuve in the AL has held his own. Russell Martin has been pretty good but not like with Pitt. Adam Eaton? It does seem 90% of the improvements come from players going AL to NL. Cain and Escobar have been with the royals for more than a few years now. Choo had a much better offensive season with the Reds in 2013 than the last two years with the Rangers. The Astros are now in their third season in the AL - last time they played in the NL was 2012. Martin has had a worse offensive this year than last year with the Pirates. Eaton never played a full season in the NL before joining the Sox (88 games over two seasons with Arizona).

QUOTE (Brian @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 07:28 AM) I'd have to think about it but wonder if it's really worth it because I'm sure people will keep changing the criteria to fit their side of the argument. Konerko count? Vlad won an MVP in Anaheim. Honestly I struggled to find a hitter that's gone from NL to AL in the last few years that's drastically improved. Meanwhile there have been a number of AL players moving to the NL with much greater success.

QUOTE (Brian @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 06:47 AM) JD Martinez was with Houston when they were in the NL. Batista and Encarnacion. Ok, how about an example within the last 3 years when the disparity between the leagues has appeared to have grown

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Sep 9, 2015 -> 10:25 PM) Yes. It's really night & day just how awful the NL is compared to the AL. The #2-#3 starters are horrible...not to mention the 4s & 5s. Mercy. A good but not great hitter in the AL like Cespedes goes to the NL and becomes an MVP candidate. When's the last time a hitter went from NL to AL and improved significantly? http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/i...ing-up-momentum

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Sep 6, 2015 -> 12:25 PM) I believe most people are giving Arrieta credit. Most people are just refuting that he's better than Chris Sale. There lies the difference. Arietta is good but I rather have Chris Sale. Just my opinion. Exactly. And the fact that someone thinks Arrieta "could" beat out Harper for MVP is comical. Ask ANY non-Cubs fan and they would agree.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Sep 5, 2015 -> 08:36 PM) The Dodgers are stacked. Nobody had the Cubs being this good this year. Arrieta is the main reason. I said could. He probably won't win it. But it's not ridiculous and if he keeps this up through Sept? Take Rizzo out of the Cubs lineup and I bet that has just as big an impact on this years' team

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Sep 5, 2015 -> 08:26 PM) Sub-2 era. Playoff team. We've seen multiple pitchers win mvp recently. get off your cubs-hating high horses. If that were the case, then why would he even beat out Grienke in voting? Grienke has a lower ERA, WHIP, and better win percentage. Like I said before, ZERO chance Arrieta beats out Harper. That has nothing to do with Cubs hating. http://mobile.sportingnews.com/article/465...w.google.com%2F

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 5, 2015 -> 08:19 PM) "he" = anyone in the NL I'd love to see the Nats finish off on a 25-5 or so run here Agreed, which is why the thought of Arrieta winning the MVP is laughable

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Sep 5, 2015 -> 08:09 PM) Yes, their rotation is garbage 3-5. Bullpen is ok. Bunch of kids (though very talented) on offense. Arrieta has put the team on his back and should be the favorite in the play-in game. ZERO chance he garners more votes than Harper.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Sep 5, 2015 -> 07:41 PM) Arrieta could be the CY and MVP. He's been that good. That pitching staff without him is gross. MVP??? LOL