Pitchers and catchers are beginning to report for training but the big story is A-Rod.
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MLB Thread
- Thread starter Yorkshire Blue
- Start date
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- rod
Jedi Shrimper
formerly Drastic™
Haha excellent stuff YB...
"I'm sure he's in a better place," Girardi continued. "Then again, probably not." :D
Yep, a new season is almost upon us and another year of hope and disappointment for the Cubs lies in wait.
Does anyone know of a good fantasy baseball game? maybe we could get a SZ fantasy league going.
"I'm sure he's in a better place," Girardi continued. "Then again, probably not." :D
Yep, a new season is almost upon us and another year of hope and disappointment for the Cubs lies in wait.
Does anyone know of a good fantasy baseball game? maybe we could get a SZ fantasy league going.
Thorpe Groyney
Open your mind
I took my wife to see the Padres v Giants on a Thursday afternoon on our honeymoon. For the life of me I can't understand why the marriage didn't work out.
It'll be interesting to see how the Rays start off after such a fantastic season ended so disappointingly for them.
It'll be interesting to see how the Rays start off after such a fantastic season ended so disappointingly for them.
Jedi Shrimper
formerly Drastic™
Hope the Rays do well again, especially as those damn Yankee's have been spending like crazy over the winter.
dashman
Dash De Shrimper
Typical Yankees, GO RAY'S!
I am thinking of a trip over in April to catch the start of the season - YES!
I am thinking of a trip over in April to catch the start of the season - YES!
Rusty Shackleford
Banned
I can't wait for spring training and the beginning of the season proper - it's a real novelty to have the Rays being mentioned amongst the favourites, and despite my natural pessimism, I'm certain they won't return to losing ways. They return with much the same line-up that won the AL Pennant last year - the only significant departures being Rocco Baldelli and Edwin Jackson. Baldelli could haunt the Rays by becoming the next Josh Hamilton (who was abandoned after years of injuries and drug problems and went on to put up all-star numbers in Texas) or he could continue to spend 75% of his time in the treatment room. If he wasn’t going to a division rival, I would wish Rocco well, as he’s a classy guy who deserves a break, but I don’t want an ex-Ray collecting 100 RBIs in a Red Sox uniform. Jackson could be a decent number two pitcher but doesn’t have the potential greatness of David Price, and the time was right for him to try his luck elsewhere.
The big arrival in the Rays’ clubhouse is Pat ‘The Bat’ Burrell. He brings much needed pop and experience to the Tampa Bay line-up and will be protected from injury and fatigue thanks to the DH rule. Burrell’s salary dwarves those of his team mates, and I fear that may disrupt team chemistry which seemed built on a feeling that there were no real ‘superstars’. This is a big test for Joe Madden, but he’s passed them all so far.
The Yankees looked like the team to beat with their massive investments in free agency, but the A-Rod steroids affair has to be a massive distraction for them. I can see them crumbling when times get hard. Boston will be a contender as always but haven’t made any big splashes in the free agent market and Toronto are on the cusp of challenging thanks to their stellar rotation. There are four potential winners in the AL East but I like the Rays to repeat – just.
Elsewhere, the Angels will be strong again and I really like their signing of Abreu - $5m for 100 RBIs is good business. If they can avoid the BoSox in the playoffs, look for them to be playing deep into October.
As for the NL, the Dodgers are the team with all the momentum but the Phillies won’t surrender their Pennant without a fight. The Cubbies have the talent, but what will last year’s tame surrender have done to their morale?
I predict a Rays/Dodgers Series with the Rays going one better and winning it all.
The big arrival in the Rays’ clubhouse is Pat ‘The Bat’ Burrell. He brings much needed pop and experience to the Tampa Bay line-up and will be protected from injury and fatigue thanks to the DH rule. Burrell’s salary dwarves those of his team mates, and I fear that may disrupt team chemistry which seemed built on a feeling that there were no real ‘superstars’. This is a big test for Joe Madden, but he’s passed them all so far.
The Yankees looked like the team to beat with their massive investments in free agency, but the A-Rod steroids affair has to be a massive distraction for them. I can see them crumbling when times get hard. Boston will be a contender as always but haven’t made any big splashes in the free agent market and Toronto are on the cusp of challenging thanks to their stellar rotation. There are four potential winners in the AL East but I like the Rays to repeat – just.
Elsewhere, the Angels will be strong again and I really like their signing of Abreu - $5m for 100 RBIs is good business. If they can avoid the BoSox in the playoffs, look for them to be playing deep into October.
As for the NL, the Dodgers are the team with all the momentum but the Phillies won’t surrender their Pennant without a fight. The Cubbies have the talent, but what will last year’s tame surrender have done to their morale?
I predict a Rays/Dodgers Series with the Rays going one better and winning it all.
chaco27saf
Manager
Well, I guess I'll give my season preview of the Rockies here, so when it all turns out to be spot on I can point to this in October ;) . I think the Rockies might have a chance to bounce back from an incredibly disappointing '08, but there are way too many 'ifs' to consider them a strong World Series contender. On the pitching side losing Jeff Francis for the year is obviously a set back. He was undoubtedly the ace of the pennant winning team from 07. They do have depth working in their favor though. Aaron Cook was a legitimate Cy Young candidate last year until he faltered at the end of the season. If he can stay healthy he has a chance of winning close to 20 games. Ubaldo Jimenez battled control problems early last season, but in the second half was one of the better pitchers in baseball. If he can pitch that way for an entire season the Rox might have a great 1-2 punch.
Jason Marquis, who was acquired from the Cubs in the off season might be a bit of a stretch as a #3, but he is a prototypical Coors Field pitcher, he induces grounders and if the infielders can play well defensively he could have a good season. Jorge de la Rosa has already been handed a spot in the rotation, but he is definitely a feast or famine type of pitcher. When he is on the mound he will either give up very little or get knocked around mercilessly, he is not the classic innings eater normally seen at the back of rotations. The fifth spot is wide open with Josh Fogg, Greg Smith, Greg Reynolds, Jason Hirsh, and Franklin Morales all vying for the spot. I think Fogg has the best chance of getting the nod here because of he can typically keep his team in games and get you to the 7th inning. However, Clint Hurdle might opt for a lefty since de la Rosa is currently the only starter throwing from that side. If that is the case that leaves only Smith and Morales truly in contention.
The bullpen could be a strength for this team. Manny Corpas and Huston Street both have experience closing, so if they can both rediscover their best stuff after both regressing in 08 the Rockies will be in great shape if they can make it into the 8th with the lead. I do have a feeling that only one (Corpas) will find that form again, but Street could be a useful reliever. Colorado also has Taylor Buchholz for the late innings who has really flown under the radar, but had a great season last year posting a 2.17 ERA, and that includes a slight late struggle. Alan Embree will be a decent lefty specialist and Jason Grilli should be good at bridging the gap in the middle innings.
As for offense, Matt Holliday is one of the best hitters in baseball, and completely replacing him is impossible. That being said, this should be a good offensive team. Todd Helton is fully healthy (supposedly) for the first time in years, and him hitting .340 is possible. 2B Clint Barmes might get a chance to lead off given the lack of speed in the team, so he will need to get on base more often then he has in the past and change his game to become more about contact than power. 3B Garrett Atkins always has great stats with his BA typically over .300 and knocking in 100ish every year. As a righty, he will need to help fill a bit of the void left by Holliday and increase his power numbers for the Rockies to have success. SS Troy Tulowitzki is still really young and has loads of potential, but he will stay lower in the order until he can become more patient at the plate. However, if he starts strong he might be a top-tier offensive shortstop.
In the outfield Brad Hawpe needs to find consistency and needs to continue his improvement when he faces lefties. Ryan Spilborghs has been an awesome 4th outfielder the past two seasons, but he will need to step up his production a bit in his promotion to starter. Most of the weight in replacing Holliday will fall on his shoulders. The same applies to Seth Smith who probably will be directly replacing Holliday in left. Other candidates in the outfield include converted third baseman Ian Stewart, Scott Podsednik, and Carlos Gonzalez.
Behind the plate the Rox have a great offensive catcher is Chris Iannetta. His numbers are good and he is probably better in the clutch than anyone else on the team.
Well, that is a bit longer than I planned on it being! Hopefully this will make everyone on this board that doesn't support a particular team start rooting for the Rox. ;)
Jason Marquis, who was acquired from the Cubs in the off season might be a bit of a stretch as a #3, but he is a prototypical Coors Field pitcher, he induces grounders and if the infielders can play well defensively he could have a good season. Jorge de la Rosa has already been handed a spot in the rotation, but he is definitely a feast or famine type of pitcher. When he is on the mound he will either give up very little or get knocked around mercilessly, he is not the classic innings eater normally seen at the back of rotations. The fifth spot is wide open with Josh Fogg, Greg Smith, Greg Reynolds, Jason Hirsh, and Franklin Morales all vying for the spot. I think Fogg has the best chance of getting the nod here because of he can typically keep his team in games and get you to the 7th inning. However, Clint Hurdle might opt for a lefty since de la Rosa is currently the only starter throwing from that side. If that is the case that leaves only Smith and Morales truly in contention.
The bullpen could be a strength for this team. Manny Corpas and Huston Street both have experience closing, so if they can both rediscover their best stuff after both regressing in 08 the Rockies will be in great shape if they can make it into the 8th with the lead. I do have a feeling that only one (Corpas) will find that form again, but Street could be a useful reliever. Colorado also has Taylor Buchholz for the late innings who has really flown under the radar, but had a great season last year posting a 2.17 ERA, and that includes a slight late struggle. Alan Embree will be a decent lefty specialist and Jason Grilli should be good at bridging the gap in the middle innings.
As for offense, Matt Holliday is one of the best hitters in baseball, and completely replacing him is impossible. That being said, this should be a good offensive team. Todd Helton is fully healthy (supposedly) for the first time in years, and him hitting .340 is possible. 2B Clint Barmes might get a chance to lead off given the lack of speed in the team, so he will need to get on base more often then he has in the past and change his game to become more about contact than power. 3B Garrett Atkins always has great stats with his BA typically over .300 and knocking in 100ish every year. As a righty, he will need to help fill a bit of the void left by Holliday and increase his power numbers for the Rockies to have success. SS Troy Tulowitzki is still really young and has loads of potential, but he will stay lower in the order until he can become more patient at the plate. However, if he starts strong he might be a top-tier offensive shortstop.
In the outfield Brad Hawpe needs to find consistency and needs to continue his improvement when he faces lefties. Ryan Spilborghs has been an awesome 4th outfielder the past two seasons, but he will need to step up his production a bit in his promotion to starter. Most of the weight in replacing Holliday will fall on his shoulders. The same applies to Seth Smith who probably will be directly replacing Holliday in left. Other candidates in the outfield include converted third baseman Ian Stewart, Scott Podsednik, and Carlos Gonzalez.
Behind the plate the Rox have a great offensive catcher is Chris Iannetta. His numbers are good and he is probably better in the clutch than anyone else on the team.
Well, that is a bit longer than I planned on it being! Hopefully this will make everyone on this board that doesn't support a particular team start rooting for the Rox. ;)
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