Quote: 

Cespedes will hurt, but when you give up so few runs like they do, you are always in it.

 

Wow.....almost verbatim what was said about the Phillies in the "4 horsemen" era that won nothing because they couldn't hit enough. 

 

Oh, well....they won a bunch of regular season games (which really means little in the big picture)....but in the playoffs, where'd just having those pitchers take them? quickly bounced outta the playoffs, thats where. 

 

When the Phillies won in 2008, they had one of, if not the best lineup's in the sport. They had maybe ONE starting pitcher that was seen as "elite", in Hamels. Now they had other good starters that did their jobs well enough... too.

 

The Phillies bullpen in 2008 was indeed elite, however, and thats what I think is more important. Having the top lineup and elite bullpen is a better recipe for success in the MLB playoffs. 

 

Detroit is fine however, at least lineup wise, since they only lost Austin Jackson to acquire Price. Oakland lost one of their main offensive weapons and a core piece of their lineup to get Lester. 

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