1116 replies to this topic

[Kramerica Industries]

Pitchers and catchers report in two weeks.

It'll be interesting to once again see an MLB season with no great teams in the league. The Power of Parity.

[Gary.]

I can't wait for Spring Training to start, the best thing about living in Phoenix is all the games you can go to in one month at a cheap rate.

[DarkJourney]

Go Giants!

[Mindless]

Nats' owner stated that the team will go to the World Series this year.

I hope he's right, however, I will not be disappointed if the Nats can't repeat last year's regular season success.

[Seadragon76]

Mindless, on January 29, 2013 - 13:25, said:

Nats' owner stated that the team will go to the World Series this year.

I hope he's right, however, I will not be disappointed if the Nats can't repeat last year's regular season success.

I hope he eats his words, man. This kind of thing tends to backfire more often then ya think, Mindless.

I'll be happy if the M's win 75 games this season. With the Angels (still) stockpiling talent and both the Rangers and A's still playing good ball, it'll be very hard to say 4th is the best place for Seattle... Thank god for the hapless Astros, eh?

[Mindless]

Seadragon76, on January 29, 2013 - 14:55, said:

Mindless, on January 29, 2013 - 13:25, said:

Nats' owner stated that the team will go to the World Series this year.

I hope he's right, however, I will not be disappointed if the Nats can't repeat last year's regular season success.

I hope he eats his words, man. This kind of thing tends to backfire more often then ya think, Mindless.

I'll be happy if the M's win 75 games this season. With the Angels (still) stockpiling talent and both the Rangers and A's still playing good ball, it'll be very hard to say 4th is the best place for Seattle... Thank god for the hapless Astros, eh?

I agree completely that this could comeback to haunt the Nats. That's why my expectations level is low for them this year. I think they will finish third in the NL East this year; however, since the Nats are the hometown team, I need to be a bit optimistic, right?

[Seadragon76]

Yeah. You have a right to be optimistic for your team... but, you also have to look at the realistic side of things. Something can go wrong somewhere down the line.

I thought that the whole issue with Strasburg really hit them hard. Granted, they have some great pitchers there, but without that beast of man pitching at the top of the rotation, it made things a little bit harder for them.

Hold that thought... because things could be really bad in DC

[sportstar1212]

I'm so pumped for the season to start! Hopefully my two teams will do better than last year.

[Mindless]

Seadragon76, on January 29, 2013 - 16:01, said:

Yeah. You have a right to be optimistic for your team... but, you also have to look at the realistic side of things. Something can go wrong somewhere down the line.

I thought that the whole issue with Strasburg really hit them hard. Granted, they have some great pitchers there, but without that beast of man pitching at the top of the rotation, it made things a little bit harder for them.

Hold that thought... because things could be really bad in DC

That's interesting. I will refrain from judging Gio until more information becomes available.

[Bucfan56]

I'm SO ready for baseball to start again. ASU baseball starts on Febuary 8th (Which I have season tickets to because I'm a student), I picked up a package to all of the World Baseball Classic games at Chase Field, my family is coming down for a MONTH for Giants Spring Training, and I just picked up my season ticket holder card for the Diamondbacks. Fan Fest is in two weeks, and the home opener is vs St. Louis on the 1st of April. These upcoming months are seriously half of the reason I decided to move to Arizona, and I couldn't be any more excited. I'd say I'm going to be burnt out on baseball come the World Series, but I don't think that's even physically possible

[ninersdd]

Gonna be weird with the interleague sked this year, like the Giants visiting the Bronx in late September.

[Kramerica Industries]

The Giants and Dodgers are long overdue for another visit to Yankee Stadium. Especially the Dodgers.

Those are two old geographic rivals who faced the Yankees in numerous World Series' over the years. The Dodgers have never made it back to the Bronx since interleague play began (the only NL team not do so, which just floors the hell out of me), and the Giants haven't been to the Bronx since 2002. Last time they faced at all was in 2007.

The NL is a bit easier to project. There are about three teams that have a realistic shot at the World Series - the Nats, Braves, and Giants. I'm not as high on St. Louis or LA. The American League? Holy crap. With the parity on this side, there are at least seven teams that could theoretically get there, based on how the matchups fall.

[AstroBull21]

Gary., on January 29, 2013 - 13:19, said:

I can't wait for Spring Training to start, the best thing about living in Phoenix is all the games you can go to in one month at a cheap rate.

Florida too....if only we had the teams closer together like Arizona.  However, I do think teams will move closer over the next decade.

[McCarthy]

Kramerica Industries, on January 29, 2013 - 19:04, said:

The Giants and Dodgers are long overdue for another visit to Yankee Stadium. Especially the Dodgers.

Those are two old geographic rivals who faced the Yankees in numerous World Series' over the years. The Dodgers have never made it back to the Bronx since interleague play began (the only NL team not do so, which just floors the hell out of me), and the Giants haven't been to the Bronx since 2002. Last time they faced at all was in 2007.

The NL is a bit easier to project. There are about three teams that have a realistic shot at the World Series - the Nats, Braves, and Giants. I'm not as high on St. Louis or LA. The American League? Holy crap. With the parity on this side, there are at least seven teams that could theoretically get there, based on how the matchups fall.

I don't want to sound like a big fat homer or like a sourpuss over some guy on a message board leaving my favorite team off his list, but the Reds have a very realistic shot at the World Series. Same lineup as last year that probably should've beaten the World Champions in 3 games, plus a leadoff hitter named Shin Shoo Choo, plus one of the best rotations in baseball, plus one of the best bullpens in baseball.

[charger77]

I'm pulling hard for the Tigers but don't think they'll have the bullpen.

[Gary.]

charger77, on January 30, 2013 - 12:03, said:

I'm pulling hard for the Tigers but don't think they'll have the bullpen.

I think Phil Coke will be a better closer than Valverde was last year.  He really showed up during the Playoffs last year.  With Benoit and Dotel, I think the Tigers Bullpen will be very under rated.  My biggest worry is their Defense, I just didn't see any improvement over the offseason.

[Kramerica Industries]

McCarthy, on January 30, 2013 - 11:29, said:

Kramerica Industries, on January 29, 2013 - 19:04, said:

The Giants and Dodgers are long overdue for another visit to Yankee Stadium. Especially the Dodgers.

Those are two old geographic rivals who faced the Yankees in numerous World Series' over the years. The Dodgers have never made it back to the Bronx since interleague play began (the only NL team not do so, which just floors the hell out of me), and the Giants haven't been to the Bronx since 2002. Last time they faced at all was in 2007.

The NL is a bit easier to project. There are about three teams that have a realistic shot at the World Series - the Nats, Braves, and Giants. I'm not as high on St. Louis or LA. The American League? Holy crap. With the parity on this side, there are at least seven teams that could theoretically get there, based on how the matchups fall.

I don't want to sound like a big fat homer or like a sourpuss over some guy on a message board leaving my favorite team off his list, but the Reds have a very realistic shot at the World Series. Same lineup as last year that probably should've beaten the World Champions in 3 games, plus a leadoff hitter named Shin Shoo Choo, plus one of the best rotations in baseball, plus one of the best bullpens in baseball.

Truth be told, I wasn't even thinking of the Reds there. That's a pretty bad oversight on my part.

[MEANS]

Gary., on January 30, 2013 - 12:59, said:

charger77, on January 30, 2013 - 12:03, said:

I'm pulling hard for the Tigers but don't think they'll have the bullpen.

I think Phil Coke will be a better closer than Valverde was last year.  He really showed up during the Playoffs last year.  With Benoit and Dotel, I think the Tigers Bullpen will be very under rated.  My biggest worry is their Defense, I just didn't see any improvement over the offseason.

Not that he's a spring chicken anymore but you did add Torii Hunter so the D has improved a bit, but yeah defense is always going to be a concern with the current Tigers team

[NEW.ERA]

Jays might be pretty good......

[McCall]

Gary., on January 30, 2013 - 12:59, said:

charger77, on January 30, 2013 - 12:03, said:

I'm pulling hard for the Tigers but don't think they'll have the bullpen.

I think Phil Coke will be a better closer than Valverde was last year.  He really showed up during the Playoffs last year.  With Benoit and Dotel, I think the Tigers Bullpen will be very under rated.  My biggest worry is their Defense, I just didn't see any improvement over the offseason.

Actually, Bruce Rondon is expected to be given a shot as the closer. Or at least it seems it's his job to lose. That's the perceived reason they didn't go after Soriano.