MLB 08

[Kiwi n Grapes 2]

What team will break out and who will fall? Will Twins manage to win a game without Torii Hunter and Johan Santana? Will the Mets break out with the addition of Santana? Give us your opinions!

[Sim shady 12]

I used to enjoy baseball more but all the overpaying and millions and millions on mediocreness wears on me.

I think the Tigers and the Mets will meet in the World Series

Rangers fan here, but like Ive ever had much to celebrate...at least it looks like we jipped the reds or whoever we got Josh Hamilton from, hes already proving to be our best hitter. Theres no way the Rangers are gonna be good this year, despite all the "optimism" bubbling from spring training...

Back to the World Series, I wouldnt be suprised if the Red Sox repeated.

[Godzillaman 21]

Blue Jay pride!

[Kiwi n Grapes 2]

I think that the 2 teams that will have good years are the Mets with Santana and the Indians with all of the momentum and young players they have returning from last year.

[djrules5454 5]

Originally posted by: Kiwi n GrapesWill Twins manage to win a game without Torii Hunter and Johan Santana?quote>

Are you kidding? In MLB history, the fewest wins in a single season was the 2003 Detroit Tigers' 49 wins. The Twins are better than the Royals, who have the misfortune of being the worst team in a loaded division and of being the Royals. If the Royals were in any other division, I'd say they'd have an 80-win season on the horizon. The Royals won't set the record for the fewest wins in a season this year, so the Twins won't either. Some other reasons:

1. Who they got in the trades this offseason.

2. Trades seemingly stacked against the Twins often work in the team's favor. Examples include trading Viola in 1988, Knoblauch in 1997, and Pierzynski in 2003.

[Kiwi n Grapes 2]

I agree that the Twins are better than the royals, It's hard to find one that isn't. Without Silva and Santana, and Lariano haveng been out for a season is really going to hurt them. They say that the players they got are good hitters (i won't believe that until i see it). If they can't hit the ball, and they already can't pitch it, what good are they? all we got for hitters is Mauer who is a hit and miss up at the plate and Morneau, when he hits the ball, its a deep...fly ball... and it's caught at the warning track! As the Relief pitcher and closer go, Pat Neshek should get closer because he is an almost unhittable pitcher and has very akward movement to the ball that is hard to hit. as Joe Nathan goes, just a big guy with a hard fast ball. Twins won't be worse than the Royals, but about a 50% team or less.

[MrCinatit 30]

Originally posted by: Sim shady

Rangers fan here, but like Ive ever had much to celebrate...at least it looks like we jipped the reds or whoever we got Josh Hamilton from, hes already proving to be our best hitter. Theres no way the Rangers are gonna be good this year, despite all the "optimism" bubbling from spring training...

quote>

I hated to see Hamilton go, and I am rooting for the guy, but he was expendable for several reasons.

One is the Reds have a monster named Jay Bruce waiting in the wings. He's been named the number one prospect in baseball by practically everyone - and some consider him the best prospect to come along in a couple decades. They also have enough other outfielders in Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn as well as Norris Hopper, Ryan Freel, Chris Dickerson and several others.

The second is simply that, as an addict, Hamilton is an unfortunate accident waiting to happen. It is well known that there is no such thing as a former drug addict - once one is addicted to the hard stuff, it stays with them forever and Josh will be fighting those demons for quite some time. He has has also unfortunately turned out to be a bit injury prone - which is probably related to his addiction.

Finally, the Reds already have two left-handed hitting outfielders, but were in desperate need for pitching. They were able to get a lot more out of Hamilton than they would have for Dunn, Griffey or Freel - and there are a lot of people who are very impressed with the stuff Vosquez (who the Reds got for Hamilton) has been throwing - not only heat, but junk and he has been maturing quite a bit. Plus, considering that the Reds literally stole Hamilton last year for 50,000, this is a no-lose situation.

I am hoping this turns out to be a great trade for both teams, as I would like to see Hamilton do great, but obvious have high hopes for the Reds.

As for the Reds, I think they might do better this year than in previous years...and the not-too-distant future looks pretty bright. Dunn, Harang, Arroyo, David Weathers and Cordero will fit in very well with some of the young players such as Brandon Phillips, Bruce, Vosquez, Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto, Joey Votto, Jarod Burton and a few others. The NL Central is very, very weak - the Cubs are the best team on paper, but even they have some glaring weaknesses (Ryan Dempster starting? Come on) - and a few injuries could really set them back. The only other team I am worried about are the Brewers. The Cardinals and Astros are too old, and the Pirates, well, they are still the Pirates.

[skyliner22 16]

It will be interesting to see how the Dodgers do with Jones and Kuroda. Giants need someone more than Rowand to carry the team back up.

[rugar12 0]

I'm hoping the Brewers get a playoff birth this year and that their shortstop J.J. Hardy will have an even better season than his last.

[GreekMan 246]

In an effort to not make another MLB thread I think it's best to start talking about the MLB here

So how about them Padres?

They are so bad 12-20! WHY!

[your_adress_here 11]

Go Jays!

[Kiwi n Grapes 2]

I am suprised that the Twins are where they are at first in the AL Centrel, anyway, Go Twins!

[patriots_1228 51]

Sox are first place even with the dreaded japan trip. w00t!

[skyliner22 16]

Dodgers have been doing well the last few days, just ended a 8 game winning streak! I am liking AL East so far with Yanks near the bottom, Red Sox ontop and the Rays finally doing well!

[Easy Bakes 253]

At least ill be able to move down to the awesome seats this season when i go see 

the Rangers play.

[baystatebill 2]

I wouldn't get too excited about te Rays. Everyone knew that the Rays had a potent line up, but it's their piyching, especially their bullpen that has been surprising this year. They kind of remind me of the Orioles a few years back. The Oriole's were in first place at the all-star break, about 10-12 games over .500 and their pitching fell apart in the second half and they finished about 10 games below .500. I'm not sure the Rays will suffer that big of a collapse, their defense is to good, but I don't think they can hold together all year. I see the Sox and Yankees battling it out again and of course, the Sox will win.

[patriots_1228 51]

^every year, orioles are in first at the end of april, and 4th at the end of july

[baystatebill 2]

2005 the Orioles were 7 games over 500 on July 4th, 1st place. By seasons end they were 74-88.. That's a 19 game turnaround. This year the O's first place run only lasted a few weeks. Baltimore is a great baseball town, great park, great fans. They deserve better than that ambulance chasing lawyer Peter Angelos as an owner. Kind of reminds me of Jeremy Jacobs, what do you think Pats1228?

[djrules5454 5]

Originally posted by: Kiwi n Grapes I am suprised that the Twins are where they are at first in the AL Centrel, anyway, Go Twins!quote>

I cannot believe it either. It's just been that Detroit and Cleveland have been underperforming, and Chicago is on a slide as of late.

[patriots_1228 51]

Originally posted by: baystatebill 2005 the Orioles were 7 games over 500 on July 4th, 1st place. By seasons end they were 74-88.. That's a 19 game turnaround. This year the O's first place run only lasted a few weeks. Baltimore is a great baseball town, great park, great fans. They deserve better than that ambulance chasing lawyer Peter Angelos as an owner. Kind of reminds me of Jeremy Jacobs, what do you think Pats1228?quote>

 

I have been so turned off by his ownership that i actually had to think for a few moments about who he was

[combot 0]

I don't think you can talk about bad ownership without mentioning Jeffrey Loria. The Marlins fans deserve better than that art dealing wiener who is clearly using his profit to buy art. I mean, yea the Marlins are first in the NL East, but you have to keep in mind that the Phillies and Mets are having their struggles. Rollins has been injured for sometime, and Ryan Howard is batting well below 200. As well as the fact that the Mets are having their struggles, both with the lumber and on the mound.

It is also difficult to believe that, currently, the Twins are in first in the AL Central. But, once again, the Tigers and the Tribe are having their struggles. At the start of the year, my guess for the World Series Champion was the Tribe, that hasn't changed, but unless they start swinging better bats they could be in for a long season. With the exception of Martinez, who is batting 340, not that many people are really even close to batting 300, or even 250 for that matter. Their starters also seem to be having their struggles, i did not really see Sabathia being 2-5 with a ERA well over 6.00 shortly after the first month of the season. However, Cliff Lee has nicely filled that void, and once Sabathia starts producing similar numbers to last year, they could be a team to watch out for. I really don't know what to say about the Tigers either. On paper, I would consider them to be the best team in baseball, but it seems like they are having real internal issues, perhaps something like a lack of chemistry.

The situation the Rays are in is a difficult one. They are loaded with a lot of potential, but its not going to be easy to win many games when you are in the same division as two teams that essentially buy their way into October year after year.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Worst owner ever= Tom Hicks.

[combot 0]

really? I am unaware of all of his work,and possible wrong-doings, but from what i can see he has done with Liverpool F.C. and the Stars he doesn't seem half bad. The Rangers on the other hand...

[Easy Bakes 253]

The Stars win  dispite him being thier owner

Hes in Liverpool for the money he can sell it for in a  few years, most likely doubling his investment ,If he can be in on the new stadium deal for them and sell it for  a pile soon after.

[patriots_1228 51]

Best Owners Ever: Robert Kraft, Bill Polian, and the group of people that owns the red sox (larry luchinno and john henry are the only ones who come to mind right now, but its really early in the morning)

No arguing that.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Kraft is a good owner, so is Jerry Jones

they seem to get the idea ,unlike tom hicks, you make much much more money with a winning team.

[GreekMan 246]

The worst team this MLB season (for right now) are.......

THE SAN DIEGO PADRES

That's right! They 12-23 and get worse and worse! So lets all congrad the winners or losers in this case. Right now I am going to cry my head off!

[combot 0]

Yea, but the thing about the Dallas Cowboys and the BoSox is the fact that they have always had HUGE fan bases. I mean, I by no means am taking credit away from their owners, but they didn't exactly completely turn a team around.

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: djrules5454_simtropolisedition

Are you kidding? In MLB history, the fewest wins in a single season was the 2003 Detroit Tigers' 49 wins.quote>

The 2003 tigers were 43-119 (winning percentage of .265). 49-113 is what is known as the "Pythagorean" record. It's not their actual record, it's an estimate of the expected value of their record would be given the total number of runs they scored and the total number of runs they gave up. Or, specifically: P= r_s^1.83/(r_s^1.83+r_a^1.83)

Where P is the pythagorean winning percentage, r_s is the total number of runs scored in the season, and r_a is the total number of runs allowed in the season.

The apparent point of this is to try to factor out luck of mostly winning by a little but sometimes losing by a lot, or bad luck of the opposite. And that's not what actually counts, it's pure statistical BS. The Tigers actually won 43 games in 2003, not 49. Also, note that it's possible to have a losing record by the actual number of wins and losses but a winning record by the Pythagorean measure, or vice versa.

Doesn't really matter anyway, though, since the 1962 Mets were 40-120 (winning percentage of .250), so the 2003 Tigers don't have that record regardless.

[patriots_1228 51]

Originally posted by: combot Yea, but the thing about the Dallas Cowboys and the BoSox is the fact that they have always had HUGE fan bases. I mean, I by no means am taking credit away from their owners, but they didn't exactly completely turn a team around.quote>

 

Did you ever attend fenway park before this new ownership? Did you see the state of the team before this ownership? How does a new ownership turn  a cursed franchise into a dynasty in less than 5 years?