Tag Archives: detroit-tigers

MLB playoff moneyball selections

baseball16With the MLB playoffs having commenced, I thought it might be interesting to re-visit team payrolls and look at the teams still vying for a World Series spot.

The division pennant winners (with 2014 payroll in brackets) were:

American League

East – Baltimore Orioles ($107.5 million)
Central – Detroit Tigers ($162.3 million)
West – LA Angels ($155.7 million) * best record in the AL for wins/losses
Wild card entry – Kansas City Royals ($92.1 million) and Oakland A’s ($83.5 million)

National League

East – Washington Nationals ($134.7 million) * best record in the NL for wins/losses
Central – St Louis Cardinals ($111.1 million)
West – LA Dodgers ($235.3 million)
Wild card entry – San Francisco Giants ($154.2 million) and Pittsburgh Pirates ($78.2 million)

The American League has already played its Wild Card game with the Royals coming out on top over Billy Beane’s A’s. The National League plays today with the Giants and Pirates playing in a winner take all game to advance in the playoffs.

The ALDS sees the Orioles play the Tigers while the Angels take on the Royals.

In the NLDS, the Cardinals play the Dodgers while the Nationals play the winner of the Pirates/Giants game.

Going on strength of payroll alone, it should be a Dodgers v Tigers World Series, however, given many teams with high payroll haven’t even made the playoffs that clearly isn’t the sole determining factor.

I likebaseball17 the Royals to continue their fairy tale run to play the Nationals in the decider.

One thing for certain, Billy Beane knows that even $83.5 million per year wasn’t enough to get the A’s over the line in 2014!

Sportzfan Radio show #267.1

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!14 October 2012 267.1 – David Coutts (Coutta) joins the Panel with the Gambler, Daniel Eade and the Professor. Daniel suggests that there is a moment of silence for Paul Dalligan’s multi which went west when the Washington Nationals lost. Dan Butterly comes on to talk US sport and kicks off with the Lance Armstrong story. He also looks at the MBL playoffs and discusses Yankees player Alex Rodriguez being benched. He feels the St Louis Cardinals will play Detroit Tigers for the World Series. He believes the NHL is in mortal danger if it can’t resolve the lockout. The Gelding talks racing and the Spring Carnival with racing at Caulfield yesterday. He also discusses the revelations that Damian Oliver allegedly bet $10,000 on a horse in the same race he was riding in. The Gelding awards S-hit rides to Nash Rawiller for his rides on More Joyous and Pierro. Dr Leslie’s CSA makes a return.