Add new comment

Most AL teams are giving up ~4+ runs per game, leaders and also-rans, and may be expect to do approximately the same in 2010.  Ten teams gave up between 732-771 runs, three teams were flat-out shelled, and M's led with 692 runs allowed (fewest).  The big difference between the M's and the league leading teams is that we scored ~200 runs less.  That's my recipe.  Plan the roster to score ~200 more runs, while continue to pitch competitively. 
Where do we do that?  Ichiro should have scored ~120 runs, but the #2 and #4 hitters couldn't hit themselves out of a bag.  Those averages need to hit in the #8-9 spots, or maybe in Tacoma.  By position, we suffered sucking chest wounds at C, SS, LF, and 3B.  I listed the latter only because we had no acceptable fill-in at 3B with Beltre out with shoulder surgery, and the shot to the boys.  Otherwise, he likely would have hit for approximately his career averages.  Of the other positions, one might only expect a small up-tick from Guti, and maybe a new DH would improve somewhat over the Griffey/Sweeney DH composite.  Otherwise, the 200 runs need to come from the sucking chest wounds.  For C and SS, I don't expect much more RBI, though runs scored could improve if they could improve by ~36 hits total (~12-14 more runs).  The biggest additions needs to come in LF and 3B, with Ibanez-like numbers or better in left, and Beltre career average numbers at 3B.