Major League Baseball 2005-2006

[Bond]

http://www.legogh.com/MOCpages/lego-mlb-major-league-baseball-logo.jpg

Baseball season is about to begin this Sunday night. Any predictions or comments before the season starts?

[Typhoid]

Baseball season is about to begin this Sunday night. Any predictions or comments before the season starts?



I dislike baseball a lot. For the fact they play so many games, and it seemingly goes all year round.


I like baseball for the Mariners and Blue Jays.

But this year, I think I'll just like Baseball for the Mariners.

[The Germanator]

The Phillies have some lower expectations this year and don't have Bowa to spaz out at them, so maybe they'll achieve better results this year. Not like last year (86-76) was terrible, but they should have made the playoffs. I hope Thome has a huge season and I'm looking forward to it.

[jeepnut]

If the Cardinals stay healthy, I expect them to take first in the NL Central again.

[Stonecutter]

Made these picks on Wednesday, February 16, 2005

AL West

Angles
Rangers
A's
M's

This flip-flops Texas and Oakland from last years standings. I believe this division will once again be very competitive with at least the race for 2nd (and potentially a WC) coming down to the last week or two at the earliest. I just don't think that the A's will be able to compete as well as they have in previous years with that big a loss. I expect Seattle to finish no worse than 15 games back (last year they were 29 GB) and probably even closer than that.

AL East

Boston
New York
Tampa Bay
Baltimore
Toronto

I honestly believe that for once the red sox have the better team. The team which sustains less injuries will win the division as none of the field is anywhere near as good as the top two. Tampa Bay is getting better, and I like them ahead of the O's because I believe Baltimore will be hit quite hard by players showing up 20-30 pounds lighter than last year, if you catch my drift. Toronto will be one of the worst teams in baseball this season... congrats.

AL Central

White Sox
Indians
Twins
Tigers
Royals

Despite the fact that I'm a Cubs fan, I always end up picking the Sox to win the AL central and it never works out. I think that they might have improved more than any other team in the off season. Losing Maggs will hurt, losing Lee even more so, but as long as Scott Potsedoiasndfpoaisngiic can produce in center and the table setters can get on, and Pally Walnuts has a repeat of last years consistency, this is going to be a very good ball club. Jermaine Dye is nothing to sneeze at and that pitching staff is a whole hell of a lot deeper than it was 12 months ago. The Indians are one of my "pet" teams. I actually picked them to win the AL Central last season and everyone laughed at me, well, they didn't win but they finished in third, something nobody else thought they could do, the Twins got hit hard in free agency, and the Tigers aren't there yet, especially in the pitching department. Kansas City is just awful.

NL West

Padres
Dodgers
Giants
Rockies
Dbacks

My how the mighty have fallen. I think this might be the first season in a decade where the AL Central is not the worst division in baseball thanks to the NL West. If the Indians are one of my "pet" teams, the Padres are the other. Kaliel Green will soon be added to the ever expanding list of "Shortstops who are better than Jeter" it's a solid young team with good pitching and defense. Though I'm picking San Diego, if LA wins it I wouldn't be surprised. They still have fantastic pitching and they essentially play 8 inning games. The Giants are way too old, and who knows what Bonds knee is going to do, with out Bonds that team is finished. Colorado won't ever win in that ballpark without top 5 pitching AND defense and they have neither. Arizona was the worst team in baseball last season record wise and changing for the sake of change is never a good idea, nevertheless, that's exactly what they did. Bad baseball in the desert let me tell you...

NL East

Braves
Fish
Phillies
Mets
Nationals

Did we all learn our lesson last season? You don't bet against the Braves, they're the best organization in professional sports. What did they do this off season? They added one of the best pitchers in baseball, and they reintroduced John Smoltz to their starting rotation, a move that, if made by any other team, would have me guaranteeing failure, but not for the Braves. I'll be shocked if Smoltz doesn't hit somewhere in the 12-15 range. Replacing Smoltz at the back end is Dan Kolb, not too shabby. Furcal, the Joneses, etc will keep the offense clicking, and we know that they've got a solid D. The Marlins are a better team than last season, and if anyone is going to knock off Atlanta they'll be the team. How well Josh Beckett and the rest of those young starters pitch is going to determine how far up in the standings this team finishes. I just don't think they're as good as the Braves. Phillies/Mets Mets/Phillies who cares? Padro, Beltran, it's not going to matter, the Mets are still a bad baseball team and as the O's have proved time and time and time again, you have to spend to win, but when you just throw money at a problem, not only does it not go away, it usually gets worse. Yes, Beltran had one of the all time great Octobers. If the Astros would have gone on to win the world series, it could have been number 1, but look at his august and September stats, look at his career BA and OPS, and tell me he was worth the money, because though he certainly could get better, if he's leveled off, which is certainly a possibility, he's not worth the do-re-me that the Mets are giving him. Phillies are a team that I honestly haven't followed much over the winter. I know they lost Millwood If they field the same team that they put out last year, they'll finish somewhere in the middle of the pack, which is still worse than the Marlins and the Braves. And the Nationals.... well, it's going to take a few years.


NL Central


Cubs
Cardinals
Reds
Astros
Brewers
Pirates

Ahhh, good ol' NL Central. Despite what Phil Rogers might tell you, the Cubs are NOT worse than they were last year. There is something to be said about addition by subtraction, and it goes beyond Sosa. Moises Alou was a pud, OK? Capice? Can we get this though our heads people? His offense will be missed but it's not the Armageddon that everyone is predicting. This team will hit far fewer home runs this season but that didn't get them much last year. There exists still, the ability to bash the ball, but between Harriston, Walker, Barrett, and Nomar, this team should be able to actually manufacture some runs. Losing Clement hurts, and not finding a real closer is bad, and if this team has an undoing, it will be at the end of the bullpen. Nevertheless, in Hendry I trust, and if the closer spot is really sore by the trading deadline, he will fix the problem. The Cardinals added Mulder, which is scary, but they lost Rentera, and Mike Matheny, which is going to be a huge hole in that stellar defense. Unfortunately for the cardinals, there's almost no way that the rest of their pitching staff can put together another year like last. Morris will be good again, and Mulder is Mulder, which is to say really, really good, but I highly doubt Carpenter will put together the kind of year he had last year, and Jason Marquis and Jeff Suppan's deals with the devil should be just about up. Combine that with the fact that the Cardinals got about 3 years of baseball magic last year, and it should add up to the lion being declawed. We shall see, but it will be fun to watch no doubt. The Reds signed.... Eric Milton? WTF? A fly ball pitcher in that ballpark? Ooooohhhhhhkay. Interesting. Nevertheless, the Reds are a better team, and the last two years they've been within a few games of first in June, only to fall off the map down the stretch. This year they've got another year of experience, and better pitching, it will keep them in a lot more games. The Astros lost Beltran and Jeff Kent. The Bs are another year older, and Biggio wasn't even that good last year. Clemens is good until proven otherwise, but it wouldn't surprise me if this is the year his arm finally falls off. Not saying it's going to happen but I highly doubt we're going to see another Cy Young out of the rocket. Can Pettite, Oswalt, Miller stay healthy for a full year? I doubt that too. What once was one of the leagues best bullpens with Dotel, Lidge and Wagner is now just Lidge and very weak. The Brewers are better... a lot better in fact. Carlos Lee will give them the power that they need, and that is a good pitching staff, at least the starting 5. I'm not sure who's going to replace Kolb but I think this team is a few years (assuming they can resign Sheets) away from being a major player in the division. The Pirates (as well as the Brewers, and Astros, and probably the Reds too) could finish anywhere from 6 to 4th (Or 3rd if you don't like the Reds as much as I do.) A sold young team, but there is so little pitching to be had, that I'd be surprised if they finish higher than 5th, but this is the NL Central, so you never know. That's what happens when you have, not only the unbalanced schedule, but also a six team division. Expect the Cards to fight with the Marlins for the NL wild card.


I figure the Cubs over the Padres and Braves over the Cardinals, and then the Cubs over the Braves. The Red Sox over the White Sox, the Angles Over the Yankees, the Red Sox over the Angles and then, unfortunately, the Red Sox over the Cubs in the Fall Classic.


NL MVP Aramis Ramerez
NL Cy Young Tim Hudson


AL MVP Vlad Gurrero
AL Cy Young Curt Shilling (Who, I hate, by the way)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think I undervalued the Giants a bit, and overvalued the As, otherwise I'll stand on these. The NL central will again be decided by the Cubs pitching. If wood and prior are healthy they will win the central, otherwise the cards will win the central.

[Bond]

Brewers Win! Brewers Win! NL Central title here we come!

[Perfect Stu]

http://www.nihek.nl/images/mlbcapskleding/bluejayscap.jpg

Jays win, Jays win, Jays win

And Stoney...

"Toronto will be one of the worst teams in baseball this season... congrats."

I guaruntee they dont finish last in their division

[Bond]

Here are my picks:

AL West

Angels
Rangers
A's
Mariners

AL East

Yankees
Red Sox
Orioles
Devil Rays
Blue Jays

AL Central

Twins
Indians
White Sox
Tigers
Royals


NL West

Padres
Giants
Dodgers
Diamondbacks
Rockies

NL East

Braves
Marlins
Mets
Phillies
Nationals

NL Central

Cardinals
Cubs
Brewers
Astros
Reds
Pirates

[Typhoid]

And Stoney...

"Toronto will be one of the worst teams in baseball this season... congrats."

I guaruntee they dont finish last in their division


It appears to me, that we are the only true Jays fans. :(

[Perfect Stu]

I'll do the best 2 divisions in baseball

AL East
-Yankees
-Red Sox
-Orioles
-Blue Jays
-TB

NL Central
-Cubbies
-Cardinals
-Astros
-Brewers
-Reds
-Pirates


AL MVP: A-Rod
AL Cy Young: Schilling

NL MVP: Beltran
NL Cy Young: Hudson

[Perfect Stu]

It appears to me, that we are the only true Jays fans. :(


Im not basing my opinion on the fact that I'm a Jays fan...they stand absolutely ZERO chance of making the playoffs, and finishing 3rd in their division would be an accomplishment. I guaruntee they wont finish last, though

[jeepnut]

I'm looking at these picks and apparently a couple of people don't know what CUBS stands for:

Completely
Useless
By
September

[Seth]

Yeah Hudson and Wells.


Go jays!

And mariners!




I predict taht the Jays will go all the way this season. This will be the start of a new era for the ball club. Back to back, just like '92 and '93


:(


but yeah, I stopped caring about the jays when they traded rual mondesi and jose cruz. and now, carlos delgado.

Just ain't the same.

[Stonecutter]

Im not basing my opinion on the fact that I'm a Jays fan...they stand absolutely ZERO chance of making the playoffs, and finishing 3rd in their division would be an accomplishment. I guaruntee they wont finish last, though


Tampa Bay is no where near as bad as you believe them to be.


Baltimore would be a more likely 5th, but it's still going to be the Jays. I'll put 500 Doubloons on this (or however many I have if it's less than 500 at the end of the year)

[Perfect Stu]

Tampa Bay is no where near as bad as you believe them to be.


Baltimore would be a more likely 5th, but it's still going to be the Jays. I'll put 500 Doubloons on this (or however many I have if it's less than 500 at the end of the year)


loser buys winner two 'gifts' of winner's choice. deal?


and, I dont think Tampa Bay is a BAD team. I think our division is just damn good...the Jays, Orioles and TB are a average teams that have to play NYY and Boston like 19 times each or whatever

[Stonecutter]

sure, deal.


So we're clear.

Jays finish out of the cellar, you win, Jays finish last, I win, correct?

[Perfect Stu]

sure, deal.


So we're clear.

Jays finish out of the cellar, you win, Jays finish last, I win, correct?

yep. 5th place in the AFC East = champion Stoney
1st-4th place in AFC East = champion Stuey

[Jason1]

The Cubs had their annual once every 50 year chance in 2003. Theyre doomed to another 50 years of suckdom, no matter what they look like on Paper.

Cardinals will win the NL Central, with Houston not too far behind, and the Cubs a distant third, just like last year. Theyre pitching cant stay healthy and Kerry Wood is a puss. Plain and simple. And theyre offense sure as hell wont save them.

[Stonecutter]

yep. 5th place in the AFC East = champion Stoney
1st-4th place in AFC East = champion Stuey
LOL AFC East.


was that intentional or a slip? I like it either way.


Blow me, Jason.

Way to not suck today vs the Oldstros





And where's bond, the brewers are in 1st place in the central.

[Bond]

Meh, it's nothing special, they're always first place in the central anyway.

[Joeiss]

Go Jays Go!

[Perfect Stu]

LOL AFC East.


was that intentional or a slip? I like it either way..


it was a slip. but somehow when I look back on it, I dont see anything wrong with it.


NFL Football >>> Ron Mexico >>> MLB

[The Germanator]

Can someone give the Phillies collective bullpen a kick in the ass? We should be 5-0, but can't hold a goddamn lead when we get it.

On a good note though, look at Pat Burrell's numbers through 5 games.

.550, 2 HR, 12 RBI.

Now only if he can keep that up...

[Jason1]

Morris will be good again.


Morris was awful last year. His ERA was 4.72 and he gave up 35 home runs. He was still 15-10 though, which is a testament to the Cardinals stellar offense. Which is why even if their Starting pitching dosent pull though quite as awsome as it did last season, theyre still going to win.


Zombrano=Psychopath
Maddux= OLD
Wood=Puss
Prior=Injured/sucks

[Perfect Stu]

Zombrano=Psychopath
Maddux= OLD
Wood=Puss
Prior=Injured/sucks


see, now you had to go and make yourself look like an idiot...

and I'm no Cubs fan

[Typhoid]

and I'm no Cubs fan


Nobody is.

[Stonecutter]

Morris was awful last year. His ERA was 4.72 and he gave up 35 home runs. He was still 15-10 though, which is a testament to the Cardinals stellar offense. Which is why even if their Starting pitching dosent pull though quite as awsome as it did last season, theyre still going to win.





I think it's more of a testiment to some pitches just being able to do that.

There's a bunch of major league players with 4/4.5 + ERA that are just somehow able to eat up a ton of innings and win double digits.


Mark Buehrle is a good example, as is Al Leiter, as is Jon Lieber. Kevin Appier did it for a while. You don't even have to win a lot of games, if you can stick around and eat up 200 innings a season, you're worth something in the majors, bonus points of you're left handed. Why do you think Glendon Rusch still has a job?

[Perfect Stu]

GO JAYS GO

6-2

1st place in the AL East

1st in runs scored in MLB

2-1 vs. TB. 2-1 vs. BoSox. 2-0 vs. A's

[Seth]

GO JAYS GO

6-2

1st place in the AL East

1st in runs scored in MLB

2-1 vs. TB. 2-1 vs. BoSox. 2-0 vs. A's

+rep

all the way

[Typhoid]

GO JAYS GO

6-2

1st place in the AL East



Not only first in the east, but in today's paper, (As of me reading it) they are 1st in the league.


They have the best percentage.


And yes, use this against me when they will apparently be last in the AL East.

[Bond]

"The New York Yankees will welcome Chien-Ming Wang to the starting rotation on Saturday, according to the New York Daily News. Wang will make his Major League debut when the Yankees host Toronto."

[Perfect Stu]

So last night, A-Rod was chillin in the Yanks dugout after 4 innings. He had 9 RBIs at the time.

Alex Rodriguez finished the night with 4 hits (3 HR), 3 runs scored, and 10 RBIs. The Major League Record is 12.

:lol: that's just ridiculous...

[Jason1]

Heh...his last name is wang....


Anywho, look at which team has the best record in baseball.....

:D

[Stonecutter]

I know that's directed to me and I'm not going to comment on the Cards because I've seen like 4 innings of cardinal baseball this year (hell, I've only seen like 50 innings of Cubs baseball this year as I always seem to be at work or at school when they're on.) As for my cubs, I'm shocked they've won 11 games. This team should probably rightfully be like 4 and 17. They can't fix any of the problems that have constantly plagued this ballclub.

NOBODY (outside of DLee) can get a clutch hit
NOBODY can hit leadoff
NOBODY can close down a game or even pitch out of the pen in a tight situation.

Barring them firing Dusty Baker or landing a closer SOON they'll be lucky to win 80 games. By default this years D is better, and the arms are healthy but unfortunately Wood won't listen to anybody about his mechanics (all he has to do is take about a 6 inch shorter stride and he'd never have any arm problems.) Zombrano has been solid (though insane) Prior has been lights out, Maddux is going to be fine because he's Greg fricken Maddux and Dempster has been a serviceable #5.

I don't even know why I bother responding to this because I'm sure your retort will be "yeah well the cubs suck" or "Derick Lee's a ***got."

[Seth]

I'm impressed with Toronto's overall play.

They're in a situation to acquire more talent in the next few seasons and they're winning in a hard division.


12-11

booya

[MasterMind]

Go Twins!

[Jason1]

I know that's directed to me and I'm not going to comment on the Cards because I've seen like 4 innings of cardinal baseball this year (hell, I've only seen like 50 innings of Cubs baseball this year as I always seem to be at work or at school when they're on.) As for my cubs, I'm shocked they've won 11 games. This team should probably rightfully be like 4 and 17. They can't fix any of the problems that have constantly plagued this ballclub.

NOBODY (outside of DLee) can get a clutch hit
NOBODY can hit leadoff
NOBODY can close down a game or even pitch out of the pen in a tight situation.

Barring them firing Dusty Baker or landing a closer SOON they'll be lucky to win 80 games. By default this years D is better, and the arms are healthy but unfortunately Wood won't listen to anybody about his mechanics (all he has to do is take about a 6 inch shorter stride and he'd never have any arm problems.) Zombrano has been solid (though insane) Prior has been lights out, Maddux is going to be fine because he's Greg fricken Maddux and Dempster has been a serviceable #5.

I don't even know why I bother responding to this because I'm sure your retort will be "yeah well the cubs suck" or "Derick Lee's a ***got."

You summed up the Cubs problems quite nicely. But you couldve summed it all up in 2 words: They suck.

[Stonecutter]

You summed up the Cubs problems quite nicely. But you couldve summed it all up in 2 words: They suck.


Wow, that echo took like 3 weeks to come back...

[Joeiss]

Koskie is out for 6-8 weeks with a broken thumb. Disastrous.

[Typhoid]

Koskie is out for 6-8 weeks with a broken thumb. Disastrous.




*Tear*



I was gonna say.


But also, I'm actually surprised that they are doing as good as they are.

Not to be all stereotypical, but they dont have Delgado, and last year, he basically was the team, and now, they don't have him, and they are doing better than with him.

[Stonecutter]

Yeah I think I'm screwed with my bet with Stu. Not that I think Toronto is any better than I predicted them to be (they're still not going to finish higher than 4th) but because Tampa Bay is so god awful.

[Joeiss]

No, Jays are sick, man.

[Perfect Stu]

Yeah I think I'm screwed with my bet with Stu. Not that I think Toronto is any better than I predicted them to be (they're still not going to finish higher than 4th) but because Tampa Bay is so god awful.



you said that Toronto was going to be one of the worst teams in MLB (if not THE worst) and right now they're 25-21 in easily one of the best divisions in baseball, and yet you still say they're no better than you predicted.

sorry, but I think they're really going to have to hit a biiig losing streak before you can make that claim

[Perfect Stu]

best 3-4-5 in baseball?

Boston:

David Ortiz - Manny Ramirez - Jason Varitek/Trot Nixon

New York Yankees:

Gary Sheffield - Hideki Matsui - Alex Rodriguez

Philadelphia Phillies:

Bobby Abreu - Pat Burrell - Jim Thome

I know St. Louis has Pujols and Edmonds...dont know the other one.

[The Germanator]

I like the Phillies threesome a lot, and just think what will happen when Thome stops hitting .200 and starts hitting more homeruns. Dangerous, though the others mentioned are great as well.

[Perfect Stu]

what's scary is that you can put A-Rod with any other 2 hitters on the Yankees and it would be impressive

He's hitting like .330 right now with a league-leading 19 HR and 49 RBIs

on this pace, he'll finish the season something like .330, 62 HR and 160-165 RBI

[The Germanator]

Yeah, A-Rod is finally giving the Yankees what they expected. I still hope they choke in the playoffs though, after all, they are the Yankees. It was so much better earlier this year when they were eight games under .500 :(

[Stonecutter]

best 3-4-5 in baseball?


I know St. Louis has Pujols and Edmonds...dont know the other one.


Scott Rolen who's hurt.

I'll take the Texas Rangers 3-4-5 of Mark Teixeiria, Hamerin' Hank Blalock and Alfonso Soriano. Collectively they're batting a tick off of .280 with 34HRs and 90 RBIs It's made even better when you realize that their 1 and 2 are Dave Dellucci and Michael Young.

If Texas could get ANY pitching they'd be a major force in the AL. As it is they probably won't make the playoffs.

[Perfect Stu]

if you could make a fantasy batting order, what would it be?

1. Alfonso Soriano (2B)
2. Bobby Abreu (OF)
3. Albert Pujols (DH)
4. Vladamir Guerrero (OF)
5. Alex Rodriguez (3B)
6. Derrek Lee (1B)
7. Gary Sheffield (OF)
8. Jason Varitek (C)
9. Miguel Tejada (SS)

starting rotation:

1. Johan Santana (L)
2. Roy Halladay (R)
3. Pedro Martinez (R)
4. Dontrelle Willis (L)
5. Roger Clemens (R)

CL Brad Lidge

[Stonecutter]

Can't disagree with much of that...



1 Scott Podsednik (CF) L
2 Alfonso Soriano (2B) R
3 Derrek Lee (1B) R
4 Bobby Abreu (RF) L
5 Alex Rodriguez (3B) R
6 Garrett Anderson (DH) L
7 Manny Ramirez (LF) R
8 Joe Mauer (C) L
9 Edgar Renteria (SS) R

1 Santana L
2 Peavy R
3 Willis L
4 Hudson R
5 Meyers R

CL Joe Nathan

[Stonecutter]

Now that Glenallen Hill is retired, does Gustavo Chacin take the title of "ugliest player in the league?"

[Perfect Stu]

Now that Glenallen Hill is retired, does Gustavo Chacin take the title of "ugliest player in the league?"


quite possibly

[Perfect Stu]

so far, the Jays have been handling the Cubbies quite nicely...and today, they get to face Roy 'Doc' Halladay, who seems to be on his way to his 2nd Cy Young in 3 seasons :D

[Stonecutter]

Generally when the Cubs go on a win streak, they'll come back home and play a team they should beat, and then lose the series, but they usually will lose the two games they have the best chance to win, and then win the game they should lose.


Unfortunatlly, we've got the Meat Tray going out there today vs doc, so we're going to get killed.

[The Germanator]

Phillies just traded Polanco for Urbina. With the way Chase Utley has been playing, I'll definitely take this trade. We had a good player to spare.

[jeepnut]

I'm just happy to see that the Cardinals are kicking the crap out of the "World Champion" Red Sox. Here's to another 86 or so year dry spell.

[Bond]

Brewers just traded Junior "I'm devastated" Spivey to the Nationals for Tomo Ohka. Now we just need to call up Rickie Weeks...

[Bond]

Hey Stu, Ben Sheets vs. Roy Halladay today, should be a good matchup.