What is keeping your team from taking that next step?

[Leftwich]

This pertains to everyone but the fucking Giants.

So for teams that didn't make the playoffs, what are your teams most pressing needs to get you into the playoffs? For the playoff teams, what does your team need to be a world series team?

Go.

 

[Leftwich]

For the Orioles, in my opinion at least, we need better starting pitching. The bullpen is fine and can get the job done although i can really see the group regressing as a whole. The Orioles really need a #1 starter who can go out there, strike a lot of batters out, eat up a bunch of innings and really be the leader of the pitching staff. That's another problem the Orioles have, the team really doesn't have that leader who can push the players to play better whenever they're out on the field. Sure they had a hell of a season last year but we really need a veteran leader who has been there before.

Oh yes we need someone who can fucking hit with RISP.

 

[Goober]

For the Brewers I would say GM and organizational thinking. Doug Melvin is incorrectly weighing the importance of certain positions, which leads to improper use of resources.

 

[NAHSTE]

A repaired ligament for :beachy:

 

[Rudi]

A leadoff hitter.

 

[Price]

Inconsistent pitching. Both starting and bullpen.

 

[Youk]

:bobbyv:

 

[ThomasTomasz]

For the Orioles, in my opinion at least, we need better starting pitching. The bullpen is fine and can get the job done although i can really see the group regressing as a whole. The Orioles really need a #1 starter who can go out there, strike a lot of batters out, eat up a bunch of innings and really be the leader of the pitching staff. That's another problem the Orioles have, the team really doesn't have that leader who can push the players to play better whenever they're out on the field. Sure they had a hell of a season last year but we really need a veteran leader who has been there before.

Oh yes we need someone who can fucking hit with RISP.

True, we don't have an ace but we have the depth that allowed us to fight through the Hammel injury and having to move Arrieta from the rotation. Hunter was also replaced and found his role in the bullpen. I will agree with you on a leader- Jim Thome was OK, but he was injured for half of his time in Baltimore and is likely not coming back.

I think the problem with the Orioles with RISP comes down not to clutch hitting, but comes down to not having much speed on this team. With RISP, the Orioles did not have many players who were threats on the base paths, and pitchers didn't have to split their attention between baserunner and hitter. Therefore, the hitters did not get great pitches to hit. Part of that problem was solved with the addition of Alexi Casilla at 2B, but I think the reason the Orioles are holding off on a contract with Nate McLouth to see if they can get a player with some speed to start in LF.

 

[EmpireWF]

Flexible spending....waiting until next year when Bay and Santana's money comes off the books
No outfielders
No catcher
Shaky bullpen
Get your franchise player signed long term or pull the trigger on a full rebuild

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Reds: dumb luck

Team is good enough, postseason is a crap shoot. Cueto threw .1 innings & Scott Rolen of all people bobbled a ground ball. What are you gonna do?

 

[BigHouseUSA]

The Giants

 

[MVPete]

New hitting coach.

 

[Woy]

Better hitting approach against soft-tossing LHP, less bunting, quicker hooks with ineffective starters and not having to rely on a .220-hitting minor leaguer to play everyday at SS down the home stretch.

The talent's there, the farm is stacked...just need to find some more consistency throughout the season.

 

[FedEx227]

The White Sox simply need to stop making so many outs. They are a team of hideous low OBP and it results in a real struggle for offense when they aren't hitting the ball out of the park. Even then, they are usually 1-2 run shots. They legit cannot have a big inning because there are so many out machines thrown about the lineup.

Pitching is fine IMO, healthy John Danks and they are good.

 

[Obst]

A first baseman who can't hit a breaking ball
A second baseman with no knees
A shit bullpen
A manager with no clue
A GM who spends a shit ton of money on aging players.

 

[SethMode]

Why are fans of teams that have won a WS within the last 5-10 years even commenting in this thread (Woy -- your team JUST WON LAST YEAR and ALMOST went to the WS THIS YEAR)? Your team already MADE the next step.

 

[shag773]

A set up man, a lead off hitter, and a right handed bat.

 

[Leftwich]

Why are fans of teams that have won a WS within the last 5-10 years even commenting in this thread (Woy -- your team JUST WON LAST YEAR and ALMOST went to the WS THIS YEAR)? Your team already MADE the next step.

The goal of any sports franchise is to win a championship every year, he is entitled to his opinion.

 

[SethMode]

The goal of any sports franchise is to win a championship every year, he is entitled to his opinion.

Ugh...this nonsense. Of course it's the goal. But what are the odds it will happen? To even be competitive is difficult, let alone win. To complain as a fan of a team that has won and continues to win and come close about that "one thing" is expecting too much. This thread should have a link in it to the NFL thread about Fireman Ed.

 

[FedEx227]

I agree. It's a by-product of the ESPN culture. It's championship or bust these days and that's not entirely fair.

I think your team should always be improving TOWARDS that goal, but the "anything but a title is a failure" thing is ridiculous. Especially in a sport like baseball where the playoffs are such a crap shoot. Perfectly built teams can fall apart in three games and be out. There's simply no way to ensure you have a playoff-proof team.

NFL is similar. NBA I think you have a clear idea of what it takes to win so if you aren't at least striving towards that you're failing from a team-building perspective, but you can certainly be working on building guys for that eventual title run.