Baseball Discussion 2008

[animaldude]

I. Can't. Wait.

For opening day.

 

[UltimaLink007]

I can. Baseball has gotten tangled and f***ed up with politics and drugs, so I really could care less. Not to mention the entire season will be overshadowed by the campaign for a new president which all of the candidates suck so badly, I'd rather be shot than elect any of them. Back on topic.

Steroids + HGH + Mitchell Report + Roger Clemens FBI investigation = even more bad publicity for the sport. I did enjoy George Steinbrenner's statement about the steroid talks that: The only ones who are being attacked, even though members from EVERY team did it, are the Yankees, because we win.

 

[Liriano]

Dude man your focusing on the bad. A lot of baseball fans could care less about the steroid shiz. I think this year has the potential to be a great one. With Yankee and Shea Stadiums in their final years, plus the opening of the National's new park. Too early for predictions?

AL EAST: Yankees
AL CENTRAL: Tigers
AL WEST: Angels
AL Wild Card: Red Sox

NL East: Braves
NL Central: Brewers
NL West: Diamondbacks
NL Wild Card: Mets

AL MVP: Curtis Granderson
AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez
AL Manager of the Year: Joe Girardi
AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Longoria

NL MVP: Prince Fielder
NL Cy Young: Dan Haren
NL Manager of the Year: Ned Yost
NL Rookie of the Year: Cameron Maybin

 

[animaldude]

I can. Baseball has gotten tangled and f***ed up with politics and drugs, so I really could care less. Not to mention the entire season will be overshadowed by the campaign for a new president which all of the candidates suck so badly, I'd rather be shot than elect any of them. Back on topic.

Steroids + HGH + Mitchell Report + Roger Clemens FBI investigation = even more bad publicity for the sport. I did enjoy George Steinbrenner's statement about the steroid talks that: The only ones who are being attacked, even though members from EVERY team did it, are the Yankees, because we win.

Well okay then.

I can't wait for the All-Star game to be played at Yankees Stadium!

Predictions:
AL East- THE New York Yankees
AL Central- Detroit
AL West- Mariners
AL Wildcard- Cleveland

NL East- Mets
NL Central- Cubbies?
NL West- Arizona
NL Wildcard- Philadelphia

AL MVP: Ichiro Suzuki
AL Cy Young: Francisco Carmona
AL Manager of the Year: Joe Girardi or John McLaren
AL Rookie of the Year: JOBA!!!!!!!

NL MVP: Chase Utley
NL Cy Young: Johan Santana (Duh... Amazing AL pitcher+National League= More Amazing NL Pitcher
NL Manager of the Year: Ned Yost
NL Rookie of the Year: That guy from the mets that was doing really good at the end of last season...

I had to take a risk and go with the Angels because the Mariners picked up Bedard over the offseason so now they have Bedard AND Hernandez. I think they'll be a major threat and maybe, finally, those damn Mariners won't make the playoffs. Also, I should mention the Twins should have a shot at the central due to the return Francisco Liriano.
I actually think that new management for the yankees can push them towards a world championship. My guess is that the Japenese guy that Boston has is going to be a dud this year and I can't see Beckett improving from his outstanding performance last year.

LIKEZOMG!!!!! Spring Training Opening Day is TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Wait , Why is it not on TV?

 

[i am a teddy]

Why don't you have the Red Socks up for a chance? I an Yankees fan but be realistic, the Red Socks aren't bad and have a chance to get to the stupid world series...

 

[animaldude]

Why don't you have the Red Socks up for a chance? I an Yankees fan but be realistic, the Red Socks aren't bad and have a chance to get to the stupid world series...

Well I gave my reasons... I dont think their pitching staff will be as good as last year. Then to add, I think that the Yankees will improve since they got rid of Torre. Finally, the wildcard will come from the Central. I don't think they don't have a chance but I'm hoping they won't make it

HAHAHHAHAHHA
Omg I love Hank Steinbrenner... http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/articles/20080301/1010290-p.html

I guess that's his way of getting Yankees fans to like him and it's working!!!

 

[UltimaLink007]

Well I gave my reasons... I dont think their pitching staff will be as good as last year. Then to add, I think that the Yankees will improve since they got rid of Torre. Finally, the wildcard will come from the Central. I don't think they don't have a chance but I'm hoping they won't make it

This is an even bigger mistake on their part. Torre is a brilliant manager. The Yankees just don't have the pitching, or the clutch hitting like they used to with the older guys like Bernie Williams, the OLD Mariano Rivera, just to name a couple. Personally, I blame Brian Cashman. Yeah, let's trade away all of our prospects and minor leaguers instead of developing them, so we can get crap we don't need (outfielders, Jason Giambi, etc.), and craptacular has-beens such as a 40 year old Randy Johnson!

The new stadium is a crap idea too. The old one is in great shape, and it is just a great stadium.....

 

[animaldude]

This is an even bigger mistake on their part. Torre is a brilliant manager. The Yankees just don't have the pitching, or the clutch hitting like they used to with the older guys like Bernie Williams, the OLD Mariano Rivera, just to name a couple. Personally, I blame Brian Cashman. Yeah, let's trade away all of our prospects and minor leaguers instead of developing them, so we can get crap we don't need (outfielders, Jason Giambi, etc.), and craptacular has-beens such as a 40 year old Randy Johnson!

The new stadium is a crap idea too. The old one is in great shape, and it is just a great stadium.....

Torre had no life in him. Maybe Girardi can inspire them to be clutch.

Lately Cashman has been saving up the prospects...

I agree but the new stadium is going to be incredible.

 

[Liriano]

Here are some predicted storylines. (Note: MLB.com has a segment similar to this, called "You read it here first.")

AL EAST

-Yankees win the AL East in a very close race down to the last week of the season. Surprisingly, Ian Kennedy becomes the rock of the pitching staff, winning 14 games. Robinson Cano carries the team throughout the year and finishes second in the MVP voting. Joba Chamberlain is good in the relief role, but will be moved to the rotation in the middle of the year and will struggle.
Breakout Players: Melky Cabrera, Ian Kennedy
Declining Players: Jason Giambi, Mike Mussina

-The Red Sox fall back to Earth, finding themselves lacking a swagger that they carried last year. Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek find that age has caught up with them and are not as productive as last year. However, Dice-K, Beckett, and breakout years from Jon Lester and Clay Bucholtz carry the team to the last week of the season.
Breakout Players: Jon Lester, Clay Bucholtz, Jacoby Ellsbury
Declining Players: Curt Schilling, Jason Varitek, Mike Lowell

-The Rays shock everyone by finishing third in the division. Their youth matures as people in Tampa are finally optimistic about the future of their club.
Breakout Players: B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria, Dioner Navarro, Matt Garza, Edwin Jackson
Declining Players: Al Reyes

-The Blue Jays find themselves bitten by the injury bug. Both Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett, and Scott Rolen find themselves missing significant amounts of time during the season, which will result in a forth place finish.
Breakout Players: Aaron Hill, Curtis Thigpen
Declining Players: Frank Thomas, David Eckstein

-The Orioles look to rebuilding mode as the team shocks many by boasting a .500 record till July in which the team flames out.
Breakout Players: Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, Hayden Penn, Adam Loewen
Declining Players: Melvin Mora, Ramon Hernandez

I'll be posting more for each division soon.

 

[animaldude]

AL East:
New York
Boston
Toronto
Tampa Bay
Baltimore

AL Central:
Detroit
Cleveland
Minnesota
Kansas City
Chicago

AL West:
Seattle
Anaheim
Texas
Oakland

I won't bother with the all of the NL since I don't follow it as closely.

 

[Liriano]

AL Central Predicted Storylines:

-The Tigers win the division on the last day of the season. Their offense is what carries them, as their pitching loses some of its punch. Kenny Rogers injured by June, Jeremy Bonderman and Nate Robertson are ineffective. Verlander is decent, but the ace of the staff eventually becomes Dontrelle Willis as he ironically finds more success in the AL than in the NL

Breakout Players: Curtis Granderson
Declining Players: Kenny Rogers, Todd Jones, Nate Robertson

-The Indians keep pace with Detroit the whole season, but fail to make the playoffs. Their offense carries them again, with a breakout years from Franklin Gutierrez and Asdrubal Cabrera. The platoon of Michaels and Dellucci in left is not producing well as Shin-Soo Choo takes over the position. Their pitching is also not as strong as last season, as C.C. Sabathia loses the ace title to Fausto Carmona. However, Paul Byrd injures himself and the tribe calls up Adam Miller, who becomes a stud for the last 6 weeks of the season.

Breakout Players: Franklin Gutierrez, Asdrubal Cabrera, Shin-Soo Choo, Adam Miller
Declining Players: Paul Byrd, David Dellucci, Jason Michaels

-The White Sox find themselves better, but still not enough to contend in the AL Central. Their pitching is not as sharp as the 2005 champion staff, and their offense has to carry the load. Big years from Nick Swisher, Paul Konerko, and Jermaine Dye keep them in the hunt for most of the year.

Breakout Players: Jerry Owens, Danny Richar
Declining Players: Jim Thome, A.J. Pierzynski

-The Twins are shocked to find themselves above .500 by the All-Star Break. Francisco Liriano and Scott Baker step up and carry the pitching staff. However, due to the poor back end of the rotation the bullpen is overworked and is not as sharp as last season. Delmon Young has a breakout year in right and gets his first trip to the All-Star Game. Joe Mauer returns to form as he leads the league in batting until August, when he has a season ending injury, ending the Twins hopes of capturing the wild card.

Breakout Players: Delmon Young, Scott Baker
Declining Players: Livan Hernandez

-The Royals find themselves having one of their better seasons, but still do not have enough to compete in the AL central. Jose Guillen is a bust, but their pitching staff improves to keep the Royals at .500 til June.

Breakout Players: Zack Greinke, Brian Bannister
Declining Players: Jose Guillen

 

[animaldude]

Opening day came today... I dont really understand why they'd play it in Japan. That's not representing the whole "America's past time" idea. Don't get me wrong, I love baseball and it is America's past time but it really has become so unamerican. Out of the american league all-stars last year I think Derek Jeter was the only American starting or something like that.

Well... Anyway....

BOSTON WON. WOW.

I woke up at 6am so i can watch this. It was fun to see Matsuzaka SUCK in the 1st but it looks as if he calmed down.

 

[i am a teddy]

Isn't it a series kinda game? 6 games?

Cause right now, the Socks are losing 4-1 to the A's..

 

[Liriano]

Opening day came today... I dont really understand why they'd play it in Japan. That's not representing the whole "America's past time" idea. Don't get me wrong, I love baseball and it is America's past time but it really has become so unamerican. Out of the american league all-stars last year I think Derek Jeter was the only American starting or something like that.
quote]

They play in Japan to expand the game's interest, and to draw talent from across the globe. Similar to the World Baseball Classic. Teams have also had opening days in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and this year the Padres and Dodgers also played two exhibition games in China. I think it's good that MLB does this and it seperates the game from other sports, with exception being the NBA. I think a global outreach signifies a good integrity to the game. Unlike the NFL, where you see a foreign born player once in a blue moon.

Alex Rodriguez and Dan Haren also started for the AL at the 2007 MLB All-Star Game and they are American. But what's wrong with having most of the starters foreign born?

 

[animaldude]

They play in Japan to expand the game's interest, and to draw talent from across the globe. Similar to the World Baseball Classic. Teams have also had opening days in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and this year the Padres and Dodgers also played two exhibition games in China. I think it's good that MLB does this and it seperates the game from other sports, with exception being the NBA. I think a global outreach signifies a good integrity to the game. Unlike the NFL, where you see a foreign born player once in a blue moon.

Alex Rodriguez and Dan Haren also started for the AL at the 2007 MLB All-Star Game and they are American. But what's wrong with having most of the starters foreign born?

Like I said, tht's not representing the whole idea of america's past time...

The MLB is an American sports association. Can't some of these Mexican and Japanese imports play baseball in their own countries?

 

[Liriano]

Like I said, tht's not representing the whole idea of america's past time...

The MLB is an American sports association. Can't some of these Mexican and Japanese imports play baseball in their own countries?

Hmmm...so your saying that foreign born players shouldn't be allowed to play in Major League Baseball?

 

[mr.cuddles]

Ok everybody, lets just clear this up. The Chicago Cubs will make it into the World Series if a retarted fan doesn't catch the ball the could have put them into it a couple years ago.