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WeagleWeagle · 05-08-2015, 10:35 PM

2015 MLB Season Review

It was an interesting season in 2015 with some big time performances and some big name injuries. The Cincinnati Reds posted the best NL record going 97-65 lead by their 1B slugger Joey Votto who earned MVP honors in 2015. The Reds were a juggernaut in 2015 posting posting the best team ERA in the NL at 3.19 and scoring the 2nd most runs per game with 4.8. In the east it was the Marlins who finished first thanks in large part to their ridiculous starting pitching lead by, no not Jose Fernandez but instead Cy Young Award winner Mat Latos who finished 15-6 with ERA of 2.54 and an FIP of 3.12. The Los Angeles Dodgers pulled out the west division by taking 3 of 4 from the Giants in the final week of the season. What was remarkable was they did it with out Clayton Kershaw who tore his labrum in early June and missed all of 2015. That played a huge role in the playoffs. The Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs earned the two Wildcard spots. It was a very tight race at the end with the Cubs beating out the Giants by 2 games. The Cubs earned a Wildcard spot in large part because of their outstanding rookies Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler. Soler was an unstoppable force in the 2nd half of the season finishing with NL leading 37 HRs. In fact the top 2 HR hitters in the NL were both rookies as the Phillies Darrin Ruf exploded for 31 and lead the NL in RBIs with 108.

In the AL things were not as tight. It was apparent the Angels and the Indians were the top of the class for most of the season while the Rays thanks to outstanding pitching slowly pulled away from the competition. The Red Sox were leading at the All Star break but of a host of injuries including Mookie Betts resulted in a late collapse. The Oakland A's were an interesting story in 2015. Early in the season it was their pitching that lead them but come the trade deadline they wanted to add some offense and so traded the Atlanta Braves for Mark Trumbo giving away Kazmir. The move proved brilliant as Trumbo smashed 16 HRs in the final 3 months and drove in 51. However come the ALCS they really missed having Kazmir at the top of the rotation resulting in a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the eventual World Series champion Tampa Bay Rays.

Speaking of the Rays what an incredible playoffs they put together. Drew Smyly was untouchable outdueling both Stephen Strasburg & Max Scherzer in the World Series. Tampa Bay did it their way through outstanding pitching and great defense and enough offense to get the job done.

UP NEXT: 2015 Offseason Review

05-08-2015, 10:35 PM	#4
WeagleWeagle Major Leagues Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 448	2015 MLB Season Review It was an interesting season in 2015 with some big time performances and some big name injuries. The Cincinnati Reds posted the best NL record going 97-65 lead by their 1B slugger Joey Votto who earned MVP honors in 2015. The Reds were a juggernaut in 2015 posting posting the best team ERA in the NL at 3.19 and scoring the 2nd most runs per game with 4.8. In the east it was the Marlins who finished first thanks in large part to their ridiculous starting pitching lead by, no not Jose Fernandez but instead Cy Young Award winner Mat Latos who finished 15-6 with ERA of 2.54 and an FIP of 3.12. The Los Angeles Dodgers pulled out the west division by taking 3 of 4 from the Giants in the final week of the season. What was remarkable was they did it with out Clayton Kershaw who tore his labrum in early June and missed all of 2015. That played a huge role in the playoffs. The Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs earned the two Wildcard spots. It was a very tight race at the end with the Cubs beating out the Giants by 2 games. The Cubs earned a Wildcard spot in large part because of their outstanding rookies Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler. Soler was an unstoppable force in the 2nd half of the season finishing with NL leading 37 HRs. In fact the top 2 HR hitters in the NL were both rookies as the Phillies Darrin Ruf exploded for 31 and lead the NL in RBIs with 108. In the AL things were not as tight. It was apparent the Angels and the Indians were the top of the class for most of the season while the Rays thanks to outstanding pitching slowly pulled away from the competition. The Red Sox were leading at the All Star break but of a host of injuries including Mookie Betts resulted in a late collapse. The Oakland A's were an interesting story in 2015. Early in the season it was their pitching that lead them but come the trade deadline they wanted to add some offense and so traded the Atlanta Braves for Mark Trumbo giving away Kazmir. The move proved brilliant as Trumbo smashed 16 HRs in the final 3 months and drove in 51. However come the ALCS they really missed having Kazmir at the top of the rotation resulting in a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the eventual World Series champion Tampa Bay Rays. Speaking of the Rays what an incredible playoffs they put together. Drew Smyly was untouchable outdueling both Stephen Strasburg & Max Scherzer in the World Series. Tampa Bay did it their way through outstanding pitching and great defense and enough offense to get the job done. UP NEXT: 2015 Offseason Review Attached Images