MLB Season Thread

The season is about to start and we need a thread to discuss the season. Hopefully this thread can go farther than he NBA thread which has a dismal amount of posts.

Season starts in two days!

 

It seems that many have backed off the Mariners as the trendy pick to win the West. This is fine because the trendy pick always fails. I'm confident we go far this season and think we are a contender for the world series because we would have the best one-two punch in the playoffs as far as pitching goes.

Buster Olney thinks the Rockies will win it all. Any Rockies fan wanna tell me why he's right?

 

Here are my picks:

AL EAST: NY YANKEES

AL CENTRAL: DETROIT

AL WEST: SEATTLE

NL EAST: PHILADELPHIA

NL CENTRAL:SAINT LOUIS

NL WEST: SAN FRANCISCO

AL WILD CARD: BOSTON

NL WILD CARD: CHICAGO CUBS

AL CHAMP: NY YANKEES

NL CHAMP: PHILADELPHIA

MLB CHAMP: as much as it pains me the NY YANKEES

 

I'm a Cincy fan by childhood and geography. I'm also older and wiser, thus:
The season for me doesnt begin until the All Star break. So I WONT have built up a false hope for change and the W/L hockey stick also wont surprise me unless they hang on and the blade's turned up.
Then I can observe with wide-eyed wonder as they make it to the last week before falling off the cliff.
See ya in July.
heh

 

I grew up on 2 teams and they both stink so I'll probably follow casually at best. The Orioles have some exciting young players they'll have to sell off at some point but no pitching, so at least they're exciting to watch offensively. The Astros are just devoid of anything, least of all a direction. I'm not even remotely excited for them this season.

I'll also keep an eye on the M's. I lived in Seattle from 98-03 and had season tickets, so while it wasn't long enough to usurp my childhood loyalties, I do hope they do well.

In all though, I doubt I'll tune into parts of more than 20 games this year. Baseball, to me, just isn't that good on tv and requires too much of a time investment to follow a full game. Much better in person.

 

Lets Go Royals!!!!

Here's to figthing for 2nd to last in the Central.

 

The season started yesterday and King Felix still hasn't gotten over his bad inning every time he pitches. Good to get a win on opening day though.


Oh and I'd like to thank the Angels for Figgins. He drew his walks and stole a couple of bases. Its going to be so awesome watching Ichiro and Figgins all year batting one-two.

 

I feel your pain... every time that happens, that's one less national audience for the Rangers/Mariners rivalry.

Why the 'circuses czar' orta propose a surtax on every 'extra' Sox/Yankees game Disney broadcasts.

Or maybe it calls for a 'Comprehensive Fairness Doctrine'.. dunno...
.. except I dont give a crap if the Reds aint on a single national feed all season.

 

I've never been much for baseball, then I got absorbed in it last summer. It clicked! So I'm excited for the season and pumped to get out to the new stadium. Twins look great every where except pitching, and we know how that turns out... None the less I'm hopeful they can defend the AL Central and then in playoffs, well thats whats great about playoffs.

And how bout Joe Mauer?! Guy turned down possibly as much as 7 mil a year and rings to stay with his hometown team for life. How often does that happen any more? Certainly not in pro footy. You just can't help but get behind the effort after that!

 

Their lineup is solid top to bottom (Carlos Gonzales is unreal), the bench is probably the best in MLB, their team defense is usually at or near the top in MLB. Also, very good starting pitching (Ubaldo Jimenez might have the best stuff anywhere), and a very decent pen. Huston Street is starting on the DL but he was near perfect all year until blowing two games in the playoffs vs. the Phillies. The Rockies can win in a variety of ways and their team chemistry is special.

I was shocked to see how many writers/pundits picked the Rocks to do so well, only because they are always an afterthought. I think they'll win 95 games, make the NLCS and lose to the Phillies.

 

24, don't think this thread will have anymore posts due to most people not paying attention (if at all) until September. Went to one of the Angels games on this homestand v the Twins and Minnesota really impressed me as a team (Mauer and Morneau are great players), add to that their beautiful new ballpark and they're making noise this year (even w/losing their closer for the year).

My Halos were horrible during the 2-5 homestand and the off season moves look even worse. John Lackey will get hurt and be overpaid in Boston, but we miss him badly while he's healthy. Figgins is really missed and a sore subject for the fans (his contract was reasonable). Figgy is a great fielder and an excellent leadoff hitter. The Angels replacement Brandon Woods can pick it on D, but has one more hit than I do this season. It's still early but the kid may be the classic major league fielder/AAA hitter.

As for the sport, it helps my wife and daughter loves the Angels as much as I do. We go to 8-12 games a year and will tune in for an inning or 2 most all weeknights.

 

Caught some of the Twins/Sox game yesterday and Spencer, looks like you'll enjoy that trip to Target Field. Nice looking park and the fans seemed thrilled to be out of a dungeon.

I remember in Seattle (had season tix from 98-03) when the M's moved out of the Kingdome and into the Safe. Big improvement. There aren't many nice days in Seattle weatherwise, so wasting a bright, sunny, warm day to go into the Dome was a bummer.

 

The M's have started out like complete and utter shit. Thank God Fulham is doing well as my Lakers and Mariners are really pissing me off.

The worst part is that the offense is so freaking shit. I wasn't expecting to score 6 runs a game, but I expect better than 3 freaking runs a game. But Justin, its only a week into the season! My answer is that it doesn't matter. I can tell the offense is going to be crap. I can tell we don't have a deep pitching staff. I can tell That the only reason why I shouldn't panic is because we play in such a problem ridden division.

Of course, the Angels have also started out like crap so its not all that bad.

 

He's rapidly becoming Peter Angelos. What is it with my baseball teams having crap owners?

 

Guess what this weekends Fox and ESPN game is? The Red Sox vs Yankees. Just fucking great. ESPN is calling it "the rivalry renewed" or some shit like that. How about they renew that rivalry less often so we can watch other teams play.


I don't expect my shit Mariners to be on national TV, but I wouldn't mind watching a hot Twins team or a good Giants team every once in a while. Anything other than this shit rivalry that really isn't that much of an intense matchup unless its in the playoffs.

 

So Z is looking for some offense. Prospect Insider had a nice article about potential targets, but I really couldn't see anybody on that list that wouldn't cost everything we got or anybody who's going to come into the lineup and provide the kind of offense we need. Lets face it, we don't need a Josh Willingham, we need TWO Prince Fielders. Its that bad.


Tonight we start a series with the equally bad Angels. If we can just get a sweep, maybe it'll kick start our horrible season.