All 30 MLB Teams' 'Hype Meter' Reading Entering Spring Training Games
The hype doesn't always match the reality.
As the MLB spring training schedule gets underway, there's all sorts of hoopla surrounding big league clubs across Arizona and Florida.
Sometimes, the early buzz is spot on. Sometimes, it's an accurate reflection of what will play out during the 162-game grind that is the regular season and the playoffs that follow. At other times, the hype isn't just exaggerated, but is downright deceptive.
Fortunately, we have the Bleacher Report "hype meter" machine to determine the readings for each club and to explain how those readings will correspond to what actually transpires on the diamond. All 30 squads are ranked on a scale of zero to five, but some teams simply defy numerical classification.
Houston Astros
1 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 4
For the first time in recent memory, the Houston Astros aren't tanking.
With rising star George Springer anchoring the lineup and lefty Dallas Keuchel atop the rotation, hitting the .500 mark is an obtainable goal for the American League West club. The last time that the Astros posted a winning season was way back in 2008.
Los Angeles Angels
2 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 4
The Los Angeles Angels have some unfinished business to attend to.
The Angles stormed through the second half of 2014, but then bowed out of October in just three games, getting swept aside by the Kansas City Royals. With nearly all of the team's core intact, the Angles are primed to defend the club's AL West title.
However, the hype is slightly muted by the news that staff ace Garrett Richards will miss out on Opening Day, according to ESPN Los Angeles.
Oakland Athletics
3 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 3
Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics, is the master of destroying expectations.
After an offseason in which the front office traded away All-Stars Josh Donaldson and Brandon Moss and a slew of lesser names, Oakland appeared to be punting on 2015.
Sifting through the rubble, it's clear that Beane has actually constructed a pitching staff with tremendous upside and the potential to keep the team in the game on any given night. One of the most intriguing arms to watch out for will be starter Jesse Hahn, whom the club acquired in a December swap with the San Diego Padres.
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Seattle Mariners
4 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 5
There's been a lot of chatter surrounding the Seattle Mariners.
The M's missed the playoffs by a single game in 2014 and then went and added Nelson Cruz over the winter. As the designated hitter explained, via Nick Eaton of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the objective is unmistakable.
“The chemistry that I saw last year, it’s amazing, and what I can see this year is awesome," he said. "Everybody’s on the same page, everybody’s pulling for the same goal, and that’s to go to the playoffs.”
For the Mariners, a trip to October would mark the team's first postseason appearance since way back in 2001.
Texas Rangers
5 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 2
The good news for the Texas Rangers is that the upcoming season can't be any worse than the 2014 season was. Last year, a flood of injuries sent the club spiraling to a 67-95 finish.
The bad news for the Rangers is that the AL West is shaping up to be an extremely competitive division. If Texas is going to avoid another season in the cellar, a productive and healthy campaign from Prince Fielder is a must.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 4
For the Chicago White Sox, the offseason was about as good as it gets.
Entering 2015, the White Sox are one of the most improved teams in baseball thanks to the additions of Jeff Samardzija, Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche and David Robertson, among others. With the AL Central up for grabs, Chicago is one of four contenders who could claim the crown.
Unfortunately for the White Sox, things are already starting to go sideways at spring training camp. Per Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune, perennial Cy Young Award candidate Chris Sale is likely a no-go for Opening Day after he broke his right foot while unloading his truck.
Cleveland Indians
7 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 3.5
The "hype meter" reading is deceptively low for the Tribe.
Since the Detroit Tigers are the four-time reigning division champs, the Kansas City Royals are rebounding off a World Series appearance and the Chicago White Sox have a drastically revamped roster, the Cleveland Indians often get overlooked.
Upon further inspection, manager Terry Francona's team is a dangerous October threat. Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco have the potential to be a nasty one-two punch, and the lineup promises to score plenty of runs.
Detroit Tigers
8 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 2.5
"Stressful" would be the best way to describe how the 2015 season has begun for the Detroit Tigers.
Franchise cornerstones Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez are currently dealing with an ankle and knee injury, respectively. Per Chris Iott of MLive.com, both veterans are already taking swings in camp. Still, it's never good to be saddled with health problems this early on with six-plus months of baseball looming.
Kansas City Royals
9 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 4.5
The Kansas City Royals came so close in 2014.
If not for the historic dominance of Madison Bumgarner, the AL Central team would have won its first World Series title since 1985. James Shields won't be around in 2015 as the Royals try to get back to the Fall Classic. Although, it's worth remembering that the veteran right-hander actually racked up a 6.12 ERA in five playoff starts. Now, the task of leading the rotation will be shared by Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy.
Minnesota Twins
10 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 1.5
The future is looking highly promising for the Minnesota Twins. The organization's farm system checks in at the No. 2 spot in Bleacher Report's rankings.
While most of the Twins' prospects won't be ready to help the big league club in 2015, headliners Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano could arrive at Target Field as soon as this summer. By 2016, Minnesota will be a club to watch out for in the playoff picture.
Baltimore Orioles
11 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 3.5
The Baltimore Orioles had an awful offseason in the free-agent department, as Nelson Cruz, Andrew Miller and Nick Markakis all departed.
With those losses dominating the headlines, the returns of Manny Machado and Matt Wieters have been ignored. That's two All-Star caliber players that the O's will be adding back into the lineup. Even if a couple of division rivals are generating more buzz, the Orioles remain the favorites in the AL East.
Boston Red Sox
12 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 5
Adding two of the premier free agents of the offseason is a great way to build up expectations. That's precisely what the Boston Red Sox did by dishing out $183 million to bring in Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval.
There's a lot to like about those moves, but the signings are no guarantee that the off-field hype will match the on-field product. For now, the Red Sox are still lacking a true ace. If the team manages to advance to October, the absence of a No. 1 arm will become a glaring weakness.
New York Yankees
13 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 2
For the New York Yankees, the "hype meter" reading is uncharacteristically low. The AL East club was unusually quiet on the free-agent market, and the landscape of the division isn't looking favorable.
As the Yankees attempt to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2012, New York will be dealing with an Alex Rodriguez-sized distraction and a far from definitive answer on just how healthy Masahiro Tanaka's right elbow really is.
Tampa Bay Rays
14 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 2
The Tampa Bay Rays have made a habit of defying expectations.
After an offseason that saw the team ship out an array of major contributors like Ben Zobrist and Yunel Escobar, that will be the task for rookie skipper Kevin Cash. No. 1 starter Alex Cobb will have a leading role to play in that process. The right-hander perfectly epitomizes the often overlooked franchise, as the 27-year-old is criminally underrated despite posting sub-3.00 ERAs in back-to-back seasons.
Toronto Blue Jays
15 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 5
The offseason went just to plan for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Toronto already had an imposing lineup, but then the team went ahead and added Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin over the winter. The expectations are way up for the high-powered squad thanks to those All-Star acquisitions.
Even with all those bats, pitching could once again be the downfall for the Blue Jays. In 2014, Toronto's pitching staff checked in at No. 22 in ERA and issued the 10th-most walks.
Arizona Diamondbacks
16 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 1.5
After the Arizona Diamondbacks posted the worst record in baseball in 2014, nearly all of the hype surrounding the team will be related to Yasmany Tomas.
The D-backs inked the Cuban to a six-year, $68.5 million deal, banking on the fact that his unreal power potential will translate to the major leagues. Now, it's time to see if that investment will pay off.
Colorado Rockies
17 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 0.5
Another trainwreck appears inevitable for the Colorado Rockies in 2015.
Simply put, the team's pitchers just can't get outs. Last year, the Rockies reeled off a collective 4.84 ERA, which was the worst mark in baseball. This offseason, the most noteworthy addition to the staff was Kyle Kendrick, who put up a 4.61 ERA in 2014.
Los Angeles Dodgers
18 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 5
Outsized expectations and endless buzz come with the territory when a club has the richest payroll in the game.
The Los Angeles Dodgers brain trust has made some shrewd moves to help the team in its efforts to accomplish its lofty goals. The Dodgers defense up the middle has been shored up thanks to the trades for shortstop Jimmy Rollins and second baseman Howie Kendrick. However, the underwhelming bullpen once again has the potential to ruin the Dodgers' postseason plans.
San Diego Padres
19 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: Off the Charts
The San Diego Padres have garnered a lot of praise for the organization's offseason reboot. Much of it is deserved, as the Padres are now a significantly better team.
Last year, San Diego couldn't score runs. This year, Justin Upton and Matt Kemp, who combined to hit 54 home runs in 2014, will be lined up in the middle of the order. On the pitching side, James Shields joins a rotation that already included Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross and Ian Kennedy.
Optimism abounds for the Padres in 2015. Then again, despite the remarkably busy winter, the Padres are still chasing the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants.
San Francisco Giants
20 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 3
The San Francisco Giants don't do hype. The Giants just get results.
Even with three World Series titles in the past five seasons, San Francisco is facing plenty of skepticism entering 2015. Aside from Madison Bumgarner, the rotation is riddled with question marks. Plus, Pablo Sandoval has departed to Fenway Park.
At the team's media day, Hunter Pence offered an inside look at the mind of a champion, saying, "We want to stay as humble as we can and realize that because of the success we can learn and take from what we've been through, but we're not guaranteed anything. We're not owed anything."
It's that grounded approach that has allowed Pence and his teammates to repeatedly take out more talented teams when October rolls around.
Chicago Cubs
21 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: Off the Charts
The hype surrounding the Chicago Cubs is absolutely out of control.
Per Odds Shark, the Cubs are 10-1 to win the World Series, which is tied for the third-highest line in baseball. With the additions of lefty Jon Lester and managerial wizard Joe Maddon, the Cubs are unquestionably trending in the right direction.
Still, it's time to slow down on Fall Classic talk. This year's goal should be for the Cubs to finish north of .500. That would be an accomplishment that Chicago hasn't achieved since 2009.
Cincinnati Reds
22 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 2.5
The Cincinnati Reds are in a tricky spot.
For now, the Reds are overshadowed by more prominent National League Central rivals. The St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates both went to the postseason in 2014, and the Chicago Cubs are the winners of the offseason.
If the Reds start to pile up loses early in the season, there promises to be plenty of discussion about Johnny Cueto on the trade block, as the right-hander is set to become a free agent at the end of 2015.
Milwaukee Brewers
23 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 2.5
This season, the Milwaukee Brewers will be trotting out nearly an identical squad to the one that face-planted in the second half of 2014. The most noteworthy addition of the offseason was first baseman Adam Lind, who was acquired in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The low-key offseason winter combined with the second-half collapse has resulted in manager Ron Roenicke's team becoming all but forgotten in the conversation for the NL Central title.
Pittsburgh Pirates
24 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 3.5
Nobody really talks about the Pittsburgh Pirates. The St. Louis Cardinals are the class of the NL Central, and the Chicago Cubs are on the rise. Regardless, there's a lot to like about the Pirates and the team's chances of making the postseason for the third year in a row.
Andrew McCutchen, who is one of the most dynamic game-changers in baseball, powers the lineup. The bullpen is top-flight, and Francisco Liriano and Gerrit Cole lead the rotation.
St. Louis Cardinals
25 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 4
The St. Louis Cardinals have been there and done it. Repeatedly. St. Louis has reached at least the NL Championship Series in each of the past four seasons.
When October runs become routine, there's no need for excessive off-field noise. The Cardinals let the team's play do the talking. In 2015, the back-to-back NL Central champs once again rank among the early World Series favorites.
Atlanta Braves
26 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 1.5
The Atlanta Braves' offseason looked a lot like a fire sale.
Over the winter, the Braves traded away Justin Upton, Evan Gattis and Jason Heyward. The team also let Ervin Santana exit as a free agent. Nick Markakis and Shelby Miller highlight the list of arrivals, but with so many contributors leaving, it won't be easy for the team to even match its 79-game win total from a season ago.
Miam Marlins
27 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 3
There would be a lot more focus on the Miami Marlins if Jose Fernandez was healthy.
Even with the right-hander working his way back from Tommy John surgery, the Fish still have a strong rotation, with Henderson Alvarez and Mat Latos as the de facto aces. The bullpen is lights-out, and the lineup includes a superstar in Giancarlo Stanton and an emerging star in Marcell Ozuna. On paper, the Marlins have all the pieces to make a serious run at a wild-card spot.
New York Mets
28 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: 3
The New York Mets have assembled one of the best pitching staffs in the NL. It's the kind of pitching staff that is going to cause opposing hitters all sorts of problems.
The main problem keeping the Mets from cementing the club's status as a legitimate October threat is its own lack of hitters. Outside of the signing of Michael Cuddyer, the front office has done next to nothing to bolster the lineup.
Philadelphia Phillies
29 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: Error. Does Not Compute.
Spring training results don't matter. The only things that matter in the spring are staying healthy and getting ready for the regular season.
Still, losing to a college team is a bad look. That's exactly what the Philadelphia Phillies did Sunday, March 1, as the team fell 6-2 to the University of Tampa. Afterward, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com asked manager Ryne Sandberg if he was embarrassed by the result.
"Well, you know. It kind of shows where we're at as far as seeing players and workouts and seeing the work that needs to be done," he said. "I think it just emphasizes that."
Following that opener, it's difficult to imagine how the Phillies could set the bar any lower for 2015.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
The "Hype Meter" Reading: Off the Charts
According to Vegas, it's World Series or bust for the Washington Nationals and the team's rotation of aces. Odds Shark pegs the Nats as the Fall Classic favorites at 13-2.
History doesn't look as favorably on Washington. The Nationals have been dumped out of the playoffs in the NL Division Series in two of the past three seasons and have never once even made it to the World Series.
Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Refeence.com and MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com. All quotes acquired firsthand unless otherwise noted.
If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.
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