Add new comment

To assume that the current state of the M's roster is -113 runs is to ignore that fact that the entire 2011 season was spent upgrading and transitioning the line-up.
WAR, pythag, VORP, are much like ERA, good at telling you what happened, not so useful at telling you what is going to happen in the future. 
Don't forget - that much of the M's abyssmal offensive performance is based on guys who are no longer on the team or in the teams future plans.  The 2011 opening day starting line-up?
RF Ichiro3B Figgins - goingLF Milton Bradley - goneDH Jack Cust - gone1B Justin SmoakC Miguel OlivoCF Ryan Langerhans - goneSS Brendan Ryan2B Jack Wilson - gone
5/9ths of that line-up is gone or going, replaced by the likes of Ackley, Carp, Seager, Robinson and Wells already!
Yeah one addition isn't gonna give us +100 runs, but don't ignore the five additions this team has already made.  And that's not even mentioning the bench and bullpen upgrades.  Jeff Grey, Aaron Laffey, Chris Ray, Jamey Wright... that's +30-40 runs right there....
This August and September were 2012.0.  An early, early preseason audition session.  What does that team project to be valued at next season? Let's start there, rather than starting with an already outdated number.
- Ben.