The W
June 7, 2009 - birthdaybritney.jpg
Views: 178995279
Main | FAQ | Search: Y! / G | Calendar | Color chart | Log in for more!
28.3.24 0644
The W - Baseball - 2006 Season Predictions
This thread has 13 referrals leading to it
Register and log in to post!
Thread rated: 5.01
Pages: 1 2 3 Next
(702 newer) Next thread | Previous thread
User
Post (44 total)
spf
Scrapple








Since: 2.1.02
From: The Las Vegas of Canada

Since last post: 3069 days
Last activity: 404 days
#1 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.57
Well, the season is 9 days away (starting the night of April 2 at US Cellular Field, home of the World Champion Chicago White Sox, with the Sox vs. the Indians) so I figure what the hey, let's get that 2006 prediction ball rolling down the alley of prognostication, and see who knocks down all the pins OF THE FUTURE.....

AL East
Yankees
Blue Jays
Red Sox
Devil Rays
Orioles


Yankees feast on every #3-5 pitcher in baseball to rack up 95 or so wins. Blue Jays surprise and the Red Sox deal with a rotation of very old guys (Wakefield, Schilling, Wells) and the inevitable breakdowns thereof. Devil Rays surprise by staying around for a while, but fall off in the second half. The Orioles hope to get through the year without having anyone suspended.

AL Central
White Sox
Indians (Wild Card)
Twins
Tigers
Royals

This division will be tight this year. The Sox have an even stronger pitching staff and if Jim Thome is healthy they have a very potent 3-4-5 combo in Konerko, Thome, Dye. The Indians worry me with some of their pitching losses, but their young players should keep getting better this year. Twins will be dangerous with their pitching, but when the big bat you pick up for an anemic offense is Rondell White it doesn't bode well. Tigers continue to improve. Royals play 162 games and likely don't lose all of them.

AL West
A's
Angels
Rangers
Mariners

If Frank Thomas somehow plays over 100 games this year the A's will be a force to be reckoned with. Even without him the A's still have too much pitching not to take this division. The Angels needed to pick up a bat behind Vlad, and didn't. They still have a strong team though. The Rangers made a nice pickup in Millwood and I see them contending late and possibly overtaking LAA. Of course if they somehow can get Roger Clemens to join them all bets are off. The Mariners just seem stuck in place as they slowly assemble the entire 2002 Charlotte Knights roster (Jeremy Reed, Mike Morse, Joe Borchard).

NL East
Braves
Mets (Wild Card)
Phillies
Nationals
Marlins

This division is a 3-horse race. Logic would tell me to pick the Mets, but since the Braves last lost this divison sometime during the Dead Ball era I am not going to pick against them. I see the Mets getting the Wild Card. I love Ryan Howard and am looking forward to seeing his development this year, but I think the Phillies need a bit more pitching. Though I am rooting for them now that they have Aaron "Crash" Rowand. The other teams are there.

NL Central
Cardinals
Brewers
Astros
Pirates
Cubs
Reds

The Cards always find a way to win 95-100 games. No reason they won't this year. The Brewers are going to be a solid team and fight for the Wild Card all year long as their young players continue to develop. It all hangs on the health of Ben Sheets for them. The Astros need Clemens to come back or they will be hanging out with the Bucs and Cubs in the low-middle. The Pirates are starting a nice ascension but I don't see them contending this year. The Cubs will draw lots of fans who drink lots of beer. The Reds are so pitching-strapped that I believe they offered Oil Can Boyd a 3/30mil deal this spring.

NL West
Dodgers
Padres
Giants
Rockies
D-backs

I'll be honest, this division really just baffles me. It all goes on too late at night for my taste. I think the Dodgers will win. Though they have Grady Little so who knows? I like the Padres so I guess 2nd for them. The Giants are wholly dependent on Barry Bonds and I don't see him playing a full season. There are 2 other teams who I honestly know jack about. The D-backs now have Orlando Hernandez so I guess if they make the playoffs that will help them.

Playoffs:
Division Series

White Sox over A's
Indians over Yankees
Mets over Cardinals
Braves over Dodgers

LCS
White Sox over Indians
Mets over Braves

World Series
White Sox over Mets 4-2.

Awards
AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: Albert Pujols
AL Cy Young: Roy Halladay
NL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
AL ROY: Francisco Liriano
NL ROY: Matt Murton





Now I'll never be able to lead SPF's spfers! (The W)
Promote this thread!
Oliver
Scrapple








Since: 20.6.02

Since last post: 3314 days
Last activity: 3308 days
#2 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.55
I'll hope for the best from the Blue Jays, but I'm not predicting anything more than a first round elimination from the playoffs.



"At the end of every hard-earned day, people find some reason to believe." -- Bruce Springsteen
Nag
Landjager








Since: 10.1.03
From: Enter your city here

Since last post: 5621 days
Last activity: 3676 days
#3 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.55
AL East
1 New York
2 Toronto
3 Boston
4 Tampa Bay
5 Baltimore

AL Central
1 Cleveland
2 Chicago
3 Detroit
4 Minnesota
5 Kansas City

AL West
1 Oakland
2 LAA
3 Texas
4 Seattle


NL East
1 Atlanta
2 Phildelphia
3 New York
4 Washington
5 Florida

NL Central
1 St Louis
2 Milwaukee
3 Chicago
4 Houston
5 Pittsburg
6 Cincinatti

NL West
1 San Francisco
2 LA
3 San Diego
4 Colorado
5 Arizona

(edited by Nag on 24.3.06 1338)


"A guy from Ohio can make it in life if he works hard enough."--Woody Hayes
BigSteve
Pepperoni








Since: 23.7.04
From: Baltimore, MD

Since last post: 6285 days
Last activity: 6013 days
#4 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.85
Predictions from the man who gave you this gem (The W) last year:


    AL Central
    1. MIN
    2. CLE
    3. CHI
    4. DET
    5. KC
    I don't think any of the bottom four have a real chance.


Yikes - in my defense, I got seven out of eight playoff teams right.

AL East
Yankees
Blue Jays WC
Red Sox
Orioles
Devil Rays

Every year I wonder how the Yankees are going to win with such decrepit pitching, but after picking up Aaron Small off the scrap heap to help them win 95 games, I won't count on the collapse of their pitching anytime soon. Toronto has the top two starters in the division with Burnett and Halladay so they'll challenge the Yankees. The Orioles will be surprisingly good - no way they finish behind Tampa Bay.

AL Central
Indians
White Sox
Twins
Tigers
Royals

The Indians came thisclose to making the playoffs last year, and I think this is the year they break through. I also figure the White Sox are in for a letdown, but that's just a hunch.

AL West
Athletics
Rangers
Angels
Mariners

The Atletics have too much pitching to lose to the rest of this division and the Rangers have enough hitting to edge out the offenively anemic Angels.

NL East
Braves
Mets WC
Phillies
Nationals
Marlins

The Braves always win this division. Picking anyone but the Braves to win the East is silly. The Mets will get the wild card and neither of the other three will contend.

NL Central
Cardinals
Astros
Brewers
Pirates
Cubs
Reds

With Pujols and Carpenter, it's St. Louis' division to lose. The Astros and the Brew Crew will be second and third, and I think the Brewers have a chance to nab second. The Cubs will have Prior and Wood on the DL again to start the year so their season is over.

NL West
Padres
Dodgers
Diamondbacks
Giants
Rockies

What a horrible division this was last year. I'll take the Padres because Jake Peavy is awesome and no one else has an ace like him. The D'backs are really young, but they've got a lot of talent. I think they'll surprise. With a healthy and productive Bonds and Jason Schmidt, the Giants would be my favorite, but I just don't expect that to happen. The Rockies will play lots of 13-11 games that no one cares about.

LDS:
Cleveland over New York
Oakland over Toronto

Saint Louis over New York
Atlanta over San Diego

LCS:
Cleveland over Oakland

Saint Louis over Atlanta

WS:
Saint Louis over Cleveland, 4-1

MVP:
AL - Mark Teixeira
NL - Albert Pujols

CY YOUNG:
AL - Roy Halladay
NL - Roy Oswalt

ROY
AL - Francisco Liriano
NL - Jeremy Hermida



He's got that hand-waving deal. He can become INVISIBLE! This means MONEY, Dawg! - AWARulz on Cena.
Quezzy
Scrapple








Since: 6.1.02
From: Pittsburgh, PA

Since last post: 1908 days
Last activity: 1907 days
#5 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.06
AL East
1. New York Yankees
2. Toronto Bluejays
3. Boston Redsox
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays

What else can I say about the Yankees lineup? Bluejays shoudl finish in second but I'll disagree with spf that the Bluejays will surprise people by finishing in second since everyone thinks they are going to finish in second, it won't be a surprise. I don't see how Tampa is going to finish ahead of Baltimore. Baltimore finished ahead of them last year and they should be even better without all the Sosa and Palmeiro garbage. They don't have the pitching to finish in the top 3 though.

AL Central
1. Cleveland Indians
2. Chicago Whitesox
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Detroit Tigers
5. Kansas City Royals

You would think that the World Series team adding better pitching and Thome would equal a repeat but I don't think it's going to happen. All the Sox last year had their best season possible, I doubt they overachieve like that again.

AL West
1. Oakland Athletics
2. Texas Rangers (Wild Card)
3. Anaheim Angels
4. Seattle Mariners

I don't know how the Angels keep winning I don't think they really look that great on paper, I think this year the magic of Vlad finally wears off and the A's and Rangers catch up.

NL East
1. New York Mets
2. Atlanta Braves (Wild Card)
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. Florida Marlins
5. Washington Nationals

Yeah, I picked the Mets. I know the Braves always win, but the Mets, or anybody else in the NL East for that matter, have never had a roster as good as the Mets do this season.

NL Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Houston Astros
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Cincinnati Reds

This division is weird because I think it's the most balanced and competitive but I also don't REALLY like any of these teams. I'm not convinced the young Brewers will be as good this year as people think but I'm also not convinced the Cardinals are that good. I'm not convinced the Cubs pitching will be healthy and I'm not convinced that anybody on the Astros besides Oswalt will have a great season. I actually liked the Pirates offseason the moves the most out of everyone *shrugs*

NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2 San Diego Padres
3. San Francisco Giants
4. Colorado Rockies
5. Arizona Diamondbacks

I don't think we need to waste time talking about this.

Wild Card
New York Yankees over Texas Rangers
Oakland Athletics over Cleveland Indians
New York Mets over Los Angeles Dodgers
Atlanta Braves over Milwaukee Brewers

LCS
Oakland Athletics over New York Yankees
New York Mets over Atlanta Braves

World Series
Oakland Athletics over the New York Mets in 7.


AL ROY - Kenji Jojima
NL ROY - Jeremy Hermida
Yeah, pretty common picks, I don't really know much about the rookies to make my own guess.

AL Cy Young - Rich Harden
NL Cy Young - Jake Peavy

AL MVP - Eric Chavez
NL MVP - Carlos Beltran



Lance's Response:

THAT IS AWESOME!
BOSsportsfan34
Pepperoni








Since: 2.1.03
From: MA

Since last post: 1390 days
Last activity: 1389 days
#6 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.05
AL East
1. Boston
2. NYY (WC)
3. Toronto
4. TB
5. Baltimore

AL Central
1. Chicago
2. Minnesota
3. Cleveland
4. Detroit
5. KC

AL West
1. Anaheim-by-way-of-LA-take-right-on-Rodeo
2. Oakland
3. Texas
4. Seattle

ALDS
Chicago over NY
Boston over Anaheim

ALCS
Boston over Chicago

NL East
1. Atlanta
2. Philly
3. NYM
4. DC
5. Florida

NL Central
1. St Louis
2. Chicago (WC)
3. Houston
4. Cincy
5. Milwaukee
6. Pittsburgh

NL West
1. LA
2. SD
3. SF
4. Arizona
5. Colorado

NLDS
Chicago over Atlanta
LA over St Louis

NLCS
LA over Chicago

World Series: Boston over LA



"Speaking of Thomases, I loved your recent Atrocious GM Summit column, although I think that you flatter Isiah Thomas far too much by suggesting that he is merely one of a number of atrocious GMs. The truth is that Rob Babcock and Billy King are Einstein next to him. The mess he is creating right now in New York will be studied by business school students 50 years from now alongside Enron and pets.com."

Malcom Gladwell, from an e-mail exchange column with Bill Simmons.
jfkfc
Liverwurst








Since: 9.2.02

Since last post: 2886 days
Last activity: 2695 days
#7 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.41
AL East
1. New York
2. Boston (WC)
3. Toronto
4. Baltimore
5. Tampa

AL Central
1. Chicago
2. Cleveland
3. Minnesota
4. Detroit
5. Kansas City

AL West
1. Texas
2. California
3. Oakland
4. Seattle

NL East
1. Atlanta
2. Philadelphia
3. New York
4. DC
5. Florida

NL Central
1. St Louis
2. Houston (WC)
3. Chicago
4. Cincinatti
5. Milwaukee
6. Pittsburgh

NL West
1. Los Angeles
2. San Diego
3. Arizona
4. San Francisco
5. Colorado

ALDS
New York over Texas
Chicago over Boston

NLDS
St Louis over Atlanta
LA over Houston

ALCS
New York over Chicago

NLCS
St Louis over LA

World Series: New York over St Louis

I cannot fathom the state of the Yankees roster that would make me NOT pick them to win it all. I picked them every year Donnie Baseball started at first, so why stop now?



"Johnny Damon playing for the Yankees is like peanut butter selling out jelly in favor of mayonnaise." - StingArmy
Big Bad
Scrapple








Since: 4.1.02
From: Dorchester, Ontario

Since last post: 1927 days
Last activity: 1496 days
#8 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.30
AL East: NYY, Toronto, Boston, Baltimore, Tampa Bay
AL Central: Chisox, Tribe, Tigers, Twins, KC
AL West: Oakland, Angels, Rangers, M's

NL East: Braves, Phils, Mets, Nats, Marlins
NL Central: Cards, Brew Crew, Pirates, Cubs, Astros, Reds
NL West: Who cares?

World Series: My heart says Toronto over the Cardinals



"He looks like a perverted roofer who knocks off early on warm spring days to drink beer and ogle teenage girls at the river, but wrestles like a man who actually cares about his job."
---DVDVR's Raven Mack on "Gigolo" Jimmy Del Ray
TheBucsFan
TheChiefsFan








Since: 2.1.02

Since last post: 3516 days
Last activity: 3516 days
#9 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.42
    Originally posted by Quezzy
    ...

    I'm also not convinced the Cardinals are that good

    ...



What does it take to impress you? Three straight 100-win seasons, including a pennant and a seven-game loss in the NLCS, isn't enough to make you think they're better than the *Brewers*? Wow.

AL East: Yankees
AL Central: Cleveland
AL West: Oakland
AL Wild Card: Chicago

I like Cleveland and think they can only get better after their run last year. I won't pick against the Yankees in the regular season until someone else in that division proves they can win it.

NL East: Braves
NL Central: St. Louis
NL West: LA, I guess
NL Wild Card: New York Mets

Atlanta is the Yankees of the NL; they're unbeatable in the regular season as far as I'm concerned until someone dethrones them. St. Louis remains the class of the National League. The NL West couldn't matter less (though hopefully they avoid having "Will their division champ be over .500" as a major storyline in September). And the Mets just have so much potential talent there...it has to all come together at some point, right?

World Series: St. Louis over Cleveland in a one-sided series.
Quezzy
Scrapple








Since: 6.1.02
From: Pittsburgh, PA

Since last post: 1908 days
Last activity: 1907 days
#10 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.06
    Originally posted by TheBucsFan
      Originally posted by Quezzy
      ...

      I'm also not convinced the Cardinals are that good

      ...



    What does it take to impress you? Three straight 100-win seasons, including a pennant and a seven-game loss in the NLCS, isn't enough to make you think they're better than the *Brewers*? Wow.


I didn't say the Cardinals were never good. It's predictions for THIS season not a review of what has happened the past 3 seasons. It is possible for a team to get worse from season to season you know.



Lance's Response:

THAT IS AWESOME!
PeterStork
Sujuk








Since: 25.1.02
From: Chicagoland with Hoosiers, or "The Region"

Since last post: 3290 days
Last activity: 3053 days
#11 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.03
    Originally posted by Quezzy
      Originally posted by TheBucsFan
        Originally posted by Quezzy
        ...

        I'm also not convinced the Cardinals are that good

        ...



      What does it take to impress you? Three straight 100-win seasons, including a pennant and a seven-game loss in the NLCS, isn't enough to make you think they're better than the *Brewers*? Wow.


    I didn't say the Cardinals were never good. It's predictions for THIS season not a review of what has happened the past 3 seasons. It is possible for a team to get worse from season to season you know.

Which then begs the question, "Does losing Mark Grudzielanek and Reggie Sanders make them that much worse?" Rolen healthy. Pujols and Molina another year more mature. Several score youngsters vieing for the sixth and seventh spots in the starting rotation. Yes, there's age in the outfield, and the bullpen is unproven, but this is NOT that different from the team that just hit the century mark in back-to-back seasons...what's NOT to like?



exit 670 dot com | digital route 66
Whitebacon
Banger








Since: 12.1.02
From: Fresno, CA

Since last post: 119 days
Last activity: 8 days
ICQ:  
#12 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.63
They did also lose Larry Walker. You're looking at an aging and more consistently nicked up Edmonds in center, So Taguchi in left, and Larry Bigbie in right. That's not exactly Sanders/Edmonds/Walker, and I would imagine that they're not going to contribute anywhere near the level that Walker and Sanders did, leaving the bulk of the offensive responsibility on the shoulders (pardon the pun) of Rolen and Pujols. Pujols should be fine, but who knows if Rolen's shoulder will hold up over the season. They certainly didn't improve any over the offseason.



Image hosting by Photobucket
wmatistic
Andouille








Since: 2.2.04
From: Austin, TX

Since last post: 2561 days
Last activity: 1546 days
#13 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.81
    Originally posted by Whitebacon
    They did also lose Larry Walker. You're looking at an aging and more consistently nicked up Edmonds in center, So Taguchi in left, and Larry Bigbie in right. That's not exactly Sanders/Edmonds/Walker, and I would imagine that they're not going to contribute anywhere near the level that Walker and Sanders did, leaving the bulk of the offensive responsibility on the shoulders (pardon the pun) of Rolen and Pujols. Pujols should be fine, but who knows if Rolen's shoulder will hold up over the season. They certainly didn't improve any over the offseason.


Wait, in what way did you see Walker contributing last season? I must have missed his huge impact on the team down the stretch.

I actually like the pitching situation a little better than last year. Granted I'm biased based on location, but still. To suggest this isn't still the best team in their division at a minimum seems a hard sell.
Quezzy
Scrapple








Since: 6.1.02
From: Pittsburgh, PA

Since last post: 1908 days
Last activity: 1907 days
#14 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.06
Yeah, you're right Larry Walker wasn't that great last season and yet he still had WAY better numbers than Larry Bigbie. Edmonds is a year older. Mulder is overrated, Marquis doesn't impress me either. Sure Pujols is great, and Rolen could come back, and Carpenter is going to be good, although i don't think we should expect 21 - 5 and ERA under 3 until he does it for more than one season. So sure they got two great hitters and a great pitcher, but if that's all you need to win the Central then the Cubs could win just as easily with Zambrano, Lee, and Ramirez.

If I look at the offseaon moves the Cards got worse, the Astros got slightly worse, the Brewers didn't really do much so they probably got better because of being a year older, the Cubs got better and the Pirates got better. So I don't see any reason why the division won't be closer than last year.

They've already started to drop going from 105 wins to 100 last year so they could easily continue to drop, and I don't know how winning 100 games last year, 105 games in 2004, and 85 in 2003 equals to 3 straight seasons of 100 wins. The Cards weren't even the best team in the division last year, the Astros were. Yes the Cards had more wins, but the Astros tanked the first two months, if it wasn't for that the Astros probably win the division and they did beat them head to head to go to the World Series.

So no, I'm not that impressed with the Cardinals this season.



Lance's Response:

THAT IS AWESOME!
ShotGunShep
Frankfurter








Since: 20.2.03

Since last post: 5981 days
Last activity: 5868 days
#15 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.51
I predict we see Ichiro in pinstripes.
Big Bad
Scrapple








Since: 4.1.02
From: Dorchester, Ontario

Since last post: 1927 days
Last activity: 1496 days
#16 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.30
Sweet lord, I hope you mean Rockies pinstripes, or else a Seattle uniform change.



"He looks like a perverted roofer who knocks off early on warm spring days to drink beer and ogle teenage girls at the river, but wrestles like a man who actually cares about his job."
---DVDVR's Raven Mack on "Gigolo" Jimmy Del Ray
BigSteve
Pepperoni








Since: 23.7.04
From: Baltimore, MD

Since last post: 6285 days
Last activity: 6013 days
#17 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.85
So what's up with everyone picking their own teams?


    The Cards weren't even the best team in the division last year, the Astros were. Yes the Cards had more wins, but the Astros tanked the first two months, if it wasn't for that the Astros probably win the division and they did beat them head to head to go to the World Series.


Why does Houston get a pass for being one of the worst teams in baseball for two whole months? And Houston did beat them in the playoffs, but anything can happen in a short series. The Cards won 11 out of 16 in the regular season. I'd say over the course of 162+ St Louis was clearly the better team.

    Originally posted by Quezzy
    So sure they got two great hitters and a great pitcher, but if that's all you need to win the Central then the Cubs could win just as easily with Zambrano, Lee, and Ramirez.


Because that's not all you need and that's not all they have. They had the third highest scoring team in the NL along with the best team ERA in the NL last year. They had the best top to bottom rotation in the league, too.

I just don't see where they're going to be taking a fall this year. They lost two aging outfielders and their worst starter, but they still have the best hitter on the planet and they're essentially adding the best all-around third baseman in the league. Things don't always work out the way they're expected to, but I don't see a more complete team in the National League than the Cardinals - certainly not the Brewers making up a nineteen game differential this year.



(edited by BigSteve on 25.3.06 2151)


He's got that hand-waving deal. He can become INVISIBLE! This means MONEY, Dawg! - AWARulz on Cena.
redsoxnation
Scrapple








Since: 24.7.02

Since last post: 3923 days
Last activity: 3923 days
#18 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.33
AL East

Boston: Won 95 with an arson squad bullpen last year. Bullpen can't be worse.
New York(WC): Was tempted to say this was the year Rivera finally collapses and they finish 3rd, but I can't.
Toronto: B.J. Ryan has attempted to close 2 big games in his career. He blew both and was beaten by left handed hitters in both instances. Plus, they finished 15 behind Boston despite dominating the season series, thus unlikely they can pick up games just based on head-to-head.
Tampa Bay: If they only had pitchers not named Kazmir with that line-up, they would be dangerous.
Baltimore: Maybe they can hold Anna Benson orgy night for games not involving the Red Sox and Yankees in order to bang out the joint.

AL Central

Chicago: Despite the collapse late in the regular season, they are defending champs and class of the division.
Cleveland: Finish in the mid 80's in wins as I can't see Bob Wickman having consecutive good (or healthy) seasons.
Detroit: Might contend until Ordonez hurts himself again.
Minnesota: Will be in the race until late May/early June until it is announced they and the Marlins will be contracted per MLB's rights in the collective bargaining agreement.
Kansas City: Sorry Pieman. Just remember the words of the wisest man in baseball, Tim McCarver: 'If they won the games they lost, and lost the games they won, they would have the opposite record of what they have.' And, if any team need to go back to astroturf to get a home-field advantage, it is the Royals.

AL West

Budapest or whatever the Angels are calling themselves this year: Best team in the division.
Rangers: In the race late, fade late.
A's: Trade Zito in July and reload.
Mariners: Have a line-up not conducive to the home ballpark.

NL East

Atlanta: The 1991 season began during my Junior Year of High School. The Braves haven't lost a division since. Until I see the corpse of the Braves, I'll pick them to win the division.
Philadelphia: They'll find a way to finish second yet screw up enough not to make the playoffs.
Washington: They'll play hard for Robinson, be in the race through August, fade.
New York Metropolitans: Worst Team Money Can Buy Vol. 2. Pedro breaks down, Glavine shows his age, the bullpen implodes, Delgado gets old overnight, Beltran becomes Ed Whitson Version 2.
Marlins: Interesting collection of players that will be available in the dispersal draft after they are contracted. Might be a nice race between some bottom feeders to see who can get the first pick and a shot at Cabrera or Willis in the draft.

NL Central

St. Louis: They haven't been challenged in years. Why now?
Milwaukee (WC): Got in the race last season. Young, hungry team that surprises many.
Pittsburgh: Dark horse team that plays slightly below .500.
Houston: They try to do the pitiful start/miraculous turn-around for the 3rd straight year, but can't pull another rabbit out of the hat.
Chicago: Kerry Wood: Most overrated pitcher in baseball history. Prior might become the right-handed version of Frank Tanana due to Dusty. Maddux finally runs out of gas.
Cinci: Awful pitching. Over/under on the annual Griffey injury is April 11th.

NL West

San Francisco: Hate saying it, but if Bonds plays they are the best team in the division. Plus, the division sucks.
Arizona: They stayed in contention last year.
San Diego: Had one great month to get in the playoffs last season. Might have to go by the 5 lousy months as the template though.
Dodgers: I like Bill Mueller. Always will appreciate what Lowe did in the '04 playoffs. I think the former shortstop who is playing first base can't lose enough. Even before Game 7 in '03 I compared the current manager of the Dodgers to FogHorn Leghorn on LSD. Latter 2 outweight the first 2.
Colorado: When in doubt, put the Rockies last.

NL Playoffs
Milwaukee over Braves in 4: Braves win division/lose in first round. Much like sun rises in East.
St. Louis over San Francisco in 5: If Bonds isn't healthy, this is 3.
St. Louis over Milwaukee in 6: I want to pick the Brewers, I really do, but experience prevails.
AL Playoffs
Boston over Arcapulco or whatever the Angels call themselves that week in 4
New York over Chicago in 4, very tough to repeat.
Boston over New York in 6. Screw objectivity.

World Series
In tribute to Tony LaRussa's wonderous performance once his team loses the first game of a World Series, Boston in 4 over St. Louis. That will run the NL's steak to 12 consecutive World Series losses.
BOSsportsfan34
Pepperoni








Since: 2.1.03
From: MA

Since last post: 1390 days
Last activity: 1389 days
#19 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.05
    Originally posted by redsoxnation
    Toronto: B.J. Ryan has attempted to close 2 big games in his career. He blew both and was beaten by left handed hitters in both instances. Plus, they finished 15 behind Boston despite dominating the season series, thus unlikely they can pick up games just based on head-to-head.



Yeah I agree. Toronto did make some good off-season moves, but Boston and New York are still the top-2 teams in the AL East until proven otherwise. I think many are over-rating the Blue Jays just a bit.

    Originally posted by redsoxnation
    Minnesota: Will be in the race until late May/early June until it is announced they and the Marlins will be contracted per MLB's rights in the collective bargaining agreement.



I think if there is going to be contraction, the other team (outside of the Marlins) would be Tampa Bay. After that is done, MLB moves Colorado to the AL, goes back to 2 divisions in each league, but keeps the 4 playoff teams in each league format (2 division winners, 2 wild cards).





"Speaking of Thomases, I loved your recent Atrocious GM Summit column, although I think that you flatter Isiah Thomas far too much by suggesting that he is merely one of a number of atrocious GMs. The truth is that Rob Babcock and Billy King are Einstein next to him. The mess he is creating right now in New York will be studied by business school students 50 years from now alongside Enron and pets.com."

Malcom Gladwell, from an e-mail exchange column with Bill Simmons.
geemoney
Scrapple








Since: 26.1.03
From: Naples, FL

Since last post: 12 days
Last activity: 10 hours
#20 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.43
RSN: You don't really think any team is going to get contracted, do you? I really don't see any way this is going to happen- Florida will either get a new stadium or move- plenty of suitors out there. The "C" word seems like one big empty threat to me.

AL EAST:

1. Red Sox
2. Yankees*
3. Blue Jays
4. Orioles
5. Devil Rays

It'll be a dogfight once again between the Sox and Yankees. I like the Sox rotation better, though, so they win out. The Jays spent a lot of money, but I'm interested to see how it reflects in the standings. I just didn't see the O's upgrading overall. Maddon will inject some fun into the D-Rays game, and if they produce more Gomes' and Cantu's, they might do well for themselves.

AL Central:

1. White Sox
2. Indians
3. Twins
4. Tigers
5. Royals

The Sox may be better this year than last year. The Indians rebuilding is just about complete, and looks good. The Twins have some young players that need to step up, or else the Tigers may leapfrog them. Kansas City is going to struggle.

AL West:

1. A's
2. Angels
3. Rangers
4. M's

If nothing else, the A's sport the best names in the Majors (Kiko Calero, Huston Street, Nick Swisher, etc.). The Angels will battle tooth and nail to keep the top spot. Will the pitching finally come through for Texas? Seattle has some cornerstones, but little else.

NL East:

1. Braves
2. Mets
3. Phillies
4. Marlins
5. Nationals

There's no better team at filling holes than the Braves. The Mets will finally get production out of an expense roster. The Phils rotation will prevent them from a Wild Card spot. The Marlins will surprise. Washington will be the disappointment of the season.

NL Central:

1. Cardinals
2. Cubs*
3. Astros
4. Brewers
5. Pirates
6. Reds

The discussion herein sold me on the Cards. The Cubs will nab the Wild Card. Houston could get a boost from Clemens. Milwaukee is still a few years away. Pitt is the NL's Kansas City. So what does that make Cincy?

NL West:

1. Dodgers
2. Giants
3. D-Backs
4. Padres
5. Rockies

LA will rebound with a solid lineup. I'm afraid of the Giants relying too heavily on the aging. The defending West champs will lose out to the up-and-coming Diamondbacks. The Rockies youth movement will continue.

A.L Playoffs:
Whites over Reds in 5
Yankees over A's in 6
White Sox over Yankees in 6

N.L Playoffs:
Cards over Braves in 7
Cubs over Dodgers in 5
Cubs over Cards in 6

World Series:
Cubs over White Sox in 7



(edited by geemoney on 26.3.06 1407)


College, sports and more!: Experience It



Pages: 1 2 3 Next
Thread rated: 5.01
Pages: 1 2 3 Next
Thread ahead: Investigation?
Next thread: Gagne possibly out for season -or- God hates the Dodgers
Previous thread: PLUNK BIGGIO
(702 newer) Next thread | Previous thread
The new Yankee staduim looks exactly like the old stadium. The new Oakland stadium looks cool.
Related threads: MLB.TV - Team USAs 30 - Congrats to Sutter - More...
The W - Baseball - 2006 Season PredictionsRegister and log in to post!

The W™ message board

ZimBoard
©2001-2024 Brothers Zim

This old hunk of junk rendered your page in 0.166 seconds.