MLB 2006 Thread (whitesoxlol)

[gravymaster]

Offseason is over (thank God). Bring on the pitchers and catchers.

Note: This thread will eventually turn into the regular season thread. Until then, use it to discuss everything having to do with spring training

[Andy]

logo nerds rejoice: this is the 2006 world series logo:

http://www.sportslogos.net/Site/images/teams/primaries/7361.gif

much nicer than last year's.

big version of main logo (http://www.sportslogos.net/Site/logo.php?lo=7361)
alternate logo 1 (http://www.sportslogos.net/Site/logo.php?lo=7362)
alternate logo 2 (http://www.sportslogos.net/Site/logo.php?lo=7363)
alternate logo 3 (http://www.sportslogos.net/Site/logo.php?lo=7364)
alternate logo 4 (http://www.sportslogos.net/Site/logo.php?lo=7365)

[kuumuus]

indians are my team this year. they my team.

i hope the mariners lose 130 games. if you're going to suck and do nothing to stop sucking, then at least suck in grand fashion, i say. it'd be cool to set the all-time loss record 5 years after winning 116 games.

[ehren]

logo nerds rejoice: this is the 2006 world series logo:

http://www.sportslogos.net/Site/images/teams/primaries/7361.gif

much nicer than last year's.

big version of main logo (http://www.sportslogos.net/Site/logo.php?lo=7361)
alternate logo 1 (http://www.sportslogos.net/Site/logo.php?lo=7362)
alternate logo 2 (http://www.sportslogos.net/Site/logo.php?lo=7363)
alternate logo 3 (http://www.sportslogos.net/Site/logo.php?lo=7364)
alternate logo 4 (http://www.sportslogos.net/Site/logo.php?lo=7365)
meh. '02's WS and LCS logos were nicer.

TWINSIN06

[robb]

I guess this is where I continue my blind optimism towards my team.

Having said that, Go Tigers!

[kevin]

representing the defending champions is always fun.

repeat.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

by the way...since it's time to start it back up:

FUCK THE WHITE SOX YOU OVERRATED HOMO, BABY RAPING BASTARDS!
meh. '02's WS and LCS logos were nicer.

(looks at sleeve of angels world series jacket) agreed.

and it certainly looks nicer knowing that we kicked the shit out of the twins to get there. :)

[ehren]

I HATE YOU SO MUCH

:flirt:

[gravymaster]

WhiteSox hate is good hate. Fuck 'em.

[Voodoo Monkey]

lone rep for most improved team in baseball ready for duty

[Homer Jay]

I didn't know you we a Mets fan.

[gravymaster]

I didn't know you we a Mets fan.
They will fall apart by August...watch.

[pat]

lone rep for most improved team in baseball ready for dutyvery much improved, yet very much finishing 3rd.

[Homer Jay]

They will fall apart by August...watch.
August? I have them falling apart when Pedro gets injured, so early June. I was just kidding around

[Mayor Quimby]

indians are my team this year.

Hey alright an early bandwagon member. There is just one problem, we have no proven depth in pitching right now, relying on way to many farm arms this year to make it past Chicago.

[Brent]

the white sox were a hated team before they won it, they might as well be one afterward. fuck all of you anyway. the truth is that we have a much better team on paper than last year, and as good of a chance i think the indians have at the wc, i still believe we'll take the division.

other teams i expect to make some good runs this year: A's, Mets, Cubs, Dodgers

[Dead Nigga Storage]

yeah, a better team on paper than last year...but that doesn't mean a better chance of winning the world series because you guys so insanely overplayed all year last year. it seems like everyone forgets to take that fact into consideration here.

[Andy]

ozzie guillen: "alex was kissing latino people's asses... he knew he wasn't going to play for the dominicans; he's not a dominican!"

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2332682

dr. stein-evil: "shh. shh, even before you start. www dot shh, dot com, dot org."

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2335336

[ehren]

ozzie guillen: "alex was kissing latino people's asses... he knew he wasn't going to play for the dominicans; he's not a dominican!"

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2332682

dr. stein-evil: "shh. shh, even before you start. www dot shh, dot com, dot org."

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2335336
hah, read Ozzie's comments in my SI last night. I hate the White Sux, but I love Ozzie. it's too bad he already retracted the statement (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2334580) though.

[thecapecoddah]

http://nohomers.net/staff/eric/junk/theotito.jpg

[gravymaster]

dr. stein-evil: "shh. shh, even before you start. www dot shh, dot com, dot org."

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2335336
"I like Ozzie Guillen as a manager, but I don't like him when he pops off like that," the Boss said, following with a profanity.
Hahahaha.

Hey alright an early bandwagon member. There is just one problem, we have no proven depth in pitching right now, relying on way to many farm arms this year to make it past Chicago.
.....and, you know, they are the Cleveland Indians.

[THE GIAMBINO]

lolz

[thecapecoddah]

bonds to retire after this season (no link yet)

After sitting out most of the 2005 season, Barry Bonds is calling this season his last. The Giants slugger, who is 47 homers shy of Hank Aaron, told USA Today that he will retire with or without the all-time home run record. "I'm not playing baseball anymore after this," he said.

[pat]

good riddance

[Homer Jay]

That's the best news I've heard all day, although I don't really want him to get a farewell tour.

[ZombieFlanders86]

Im sticking with my Colorado Rockies!!!!!!!

[Dead Nigga Storage]

godspeed, zombieflanders.

fuck you, bonds.

[robb]

So will it be okay for Bonds to hit 46 dingers and knock in 120+ runs, if for nothing else than for the sake of my fantasy team?

[Dead Nigga Storage]

sure, since the rest of your team will suck too much to make up for that difference.

and also, only if he has 46 homers going into the last week of the year, and you need that 47th homer to clinch the league.

[brad]

bonds was a throw in on that deal. REMEMBERTHAT. hank blalock will have a bigger impact on your team.

edit: i don't know what the hell i'm talking about.

[CMQ]

Good riddance. A true disgrace to the game, I already try to pretend he doesn't exist.

[gravymaster]

Holy shit how great would it be if he hit 46 home runs and fell one short? Fuck him.

[Andy]

bonds to retire after this season (no link yet)

After sitting out most of the 2005 season, Barry Bonds is calling this season his last. The Giants slugger, who is 47 homers shy of Hank Aaron, told USA Today that he will retire with or without the all-time home run record. "I'm not playing baseball anymore after this," he said.
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[Dead Nigga Storage]

http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060219&content_id=1315857&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
he's not retiring. he said it's conditional, based on his knee.


in the spirit of the winter olympics, it's time to go tanya harding on dis bitch.

[Homer Jay]

So it basically means that if he has 750 homers, then his knee will be ok and he will be able to play in '07

[Dead Nigga Storage]

but as long as he beats whitey's record, all is well.

[pat]

yeah, that's what i was thinking too (in response to homer jay's post). you just know he's not going to retire after this season if he only needs a few home runs to break the record. rarely do i wish harm on a player, but i really do not want bonds to break aaron's record.

[gravymaster]

rarely do i wish harm on a player, but i really do not want bonds to break aaron's record.
Even if he does, it won't matter much in the long run because A) tainted numbers B) A drug free player will break HIS record in a few years anyhow. ESPN will make a big deal about it, but it will fall on deaf ears for about 95% of baseball fans.

[brad]

i hope he falls short of aaron too, but lets not suggest barry is a racist. his first wife was white, his son is half-white, and he has white in-laws. if babe ruth was alive he wouldn't have talked crap. he respects hank because he knows hank.

i also love that it took only eight hours for barry to reverse course. the man is prolific in making headlines.

"i don't believe half of the things that come out of my mouth" - barry bonds

[Dead Nigga Storage]

i wasn't implying that he was racist. i was making the obvious joke based on those insinuations a few years ago.

[gravymaster]

i hope he falls short of aaron too, but lets not suggest barry is a racist.
I find a lot of what he says about whites to be racist. He wants to beat Babe Ruth's HR record "because he is white". Ok, that's fine, but don't make yourself out to be this tortured black athlete. He didn't play in the 1950s. He's a jackass.

[Homer Jay]

Sad news, I don't have any link but

"Former Red Sox announcer Curt Gowdy has died. He was 86 years old and died at his home in Florida after a long battle with leukemia. Gowdy's death, first reported by WBZ sports reporter Dan Roche, was confirmed to the Globe by the Red Sox."

RIP

[gravymaster]

Wow...he also did two seasons with Mel Allen doing Yankees games and did the Rose Bowl for many, many years. He lived a great life.

[Andy]

he was the voice of baseball for years, long before joe buck was forced upon us.

RIP :(

[thecapecoddah]

keith foulke quote of the week!

"I'm not a baseball fan. I actually find baseball kind of boring. It's not my life."

[Dead Nigga Storage]

not your life, just your career. is anyone on your fucking team normal?

[Andy]

"I'm not a baseball fan. I actually find baseball kind of boring. It's not my life." http://www.thediamondangle.com/archive/aug02/cubs/corey4.jpg

[Homer Jay]

"I'm not a baseball fan. I actually find baseball kind of boring. It's not my life."
I wonder how many players actually feel that way, my guess is that it's more than we think.

[brad]

add jeff kent to the list

[Brent]

ask ron kittle if barry bonds is racist

[brad]

yeah, i guess we should trust some shmuck's anecdote from 15 years ago over the fact that the man married a white woman, spawned white children, has a white brother in law / nieces and nephews, a best friend AND dealer of a white man, and went to a white bread high school (home of Tom Brady).

AND LETS NOT FORGET THAT HIS MISTRESS IS ALSO WHITE.

[gravymaster]

yeah, i guess we should trust some shmuck's anecdote from 15 years ago over the fact that the man married a white woman, spawned white children, has a white brother in law / nieces and nephews, a best friend AND dealer of a white man, and went to a white bread high school (home of Tom Brady).

AND LETS NOT FORGET THAT HIS MISTRESS IS ALSO WHITE.
Shut up.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2342377

Big Skirt "taking it easy" this spring training. Get the wheelchair, Mike. Grandpa doesn't want any help this time though. He is determined to wheel to batting practice himself this time.

[Andy]

http://www.progressiveboink.com/dugout/archive/dugout2-23-06.htm

prior's healthy like a motherfucker should be. watch out.

hopefully

[Homer Jay]

This is one of the worst trade ideas I've heard in a long time

http://www.newsday.com/sports/printedition/ny-sphey274643492feb27,0,6660677.column?coll=ny-sports-print

In order to make that trade work, the Yankees would also need to give up at least Hughes.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

Kenny Williams is a Monumental Shithead (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2345972)
Way to rip at the greatest hitter in Sox history, jackass. I don't care what Thomas said, Williams is a prick to lash out like that.

[Homer Jay]

Aren't GM supposed to be above that kind of thing?

[huh?]

why is it okay for thomas to repeatedly whine and complain about not being the team's plans while overlooking the obvious injury concerns, but it's not okay for kw to fire back at those complaints?

[Dead Nigga Storage]

i don't recall saying that what thomas said was OK, i just said that KW's comments were really, really uncalled for.

1) as the general manager, he should be further above the players in that area. management should be setting MUCH higher standards
2) thomas did seem fairly ignored, he said reinsdorf (sic) never called him to speak with him
3) thomas didn't resort to calling anyone an "idiot", "selfish whiner", or say that he was "sick of their bullshit" or "good riddance". he listed off what he thought were legitimate complaints about the front office.
4) thomas is possibly the greatest player in franchise history, and here's the head of the front office sounding off like a 12 year old about him.

[huh?]

1) as the general manager, he should be further above the players in that area. management should be setting MUCH higher standards
Kenny's been taking the high road after repeated incidents of this during the off-season. There comes a point when enough is enough.
2) thomas did seem fairly ignored, he said reinsdorf (sic) never called him to speak with him
IF ITS SAID BY FRANK THOMAS IT MUST BE TRUE!
3) thomas didn't resort to calling anyone an "idiot", "selfish whiner", or say that he was "sick of their bullshit" or "good riddance". he listed off what he thought were legitimate complaints about the front office.
guy's always been a bit of a crybaby at times, i don't see anything wrong with management addressing these repeated moans.

4) thomas is possibly the greatest player in franchise history, and here's the head of the front office sounding off like a 12 year old about him.
so by this logic, Ty Cobb and Pete Rose are completely mistreated.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

once more: it's the tone of language he began to use. there is no debate that the front office of a professional sports team should be acting a hell of alot more mature than he did, period. and your statement about cobb/rose isn't true, because i don't recall hearing about their GMs sounding off like little kids about it. if KW had a problem with thomas, fine, step out and say something, but his profanity laced tirades are something to be left to fans or idiots like me, NOT the front office.

[Andy]

i'd still want kelley to GM my fantasy team

***

this year's hall of fame class just got a lot more crowded. 17 inductees from the special negro leagues committee.

ironically, most notable is a white woman (the first woman to be inducted into the HOF):

http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060227&content_id=1324630&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[brad]

http://www.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2006/03/01/sp_baseball_azbm102.jpg

uhh... yeah

[Andy]

awww, she bulked up too much and lost her boobs

[brad]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060301/capt.azbm10203011901.giants_spring_baseball_azbm102.jpg

alright now this is just weird. two days in a row? if he does it again tomorrow, he's officially a tranvestite, right?

who would've thought that barry's reality show would have a POSITIVE effect on team chemistry. awesome.

[Andy]

here's another post like that other one!

sky blue
grass green
ricky williams likes weed
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/wires/03/03/2010.ap.bbo.spring.training.rdp.1st.ld.writethru.1044/

trade his ass. seriously.

[kevin]

yikes. what could've been

[brad]

my favorite WBC player so far:
Bum Ho Lee

say it out loud, folks

[Mike]

hmm... canada loses to the blue jays split squad... hopes for WBC fading.

[Homer Jay]

Which begs the question, why did you have hopes for the WBC?

[Mike]

i never said canada will win, but there were hopes for respectability and maybe an upset of one of the better teams.

[thecapecoddah]

david wells (wants) to stay with the red sox - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060306/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bba_red_sox_wells_3

I don't see a trade for wells getting done anyway, giving us...

schilling, beckett, wakefield, papelbon, arroyo, clement, and wells with jon lester mowing down hitters in pawtucket. papelbon and arroyo will be in the bullpen I guess.



and get well, kirby.

[Homer Jay]

I still don't think that Wells will end the season with the Sox, they could trade him midseason when demand for quality starting pitchers is higher. I would still like the Sox to trade away Clement, mainly because I want Papelbon to start, but I'm not sure what they can get for him.

[Andy]

and get well, kirby. wow, this thread hasn't been posted in in a while :-\

anyway, it appears that the white sox and TNA wrestling have reached a deal that would award the white sox player of the game with a TNA championship belt

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/wrestling/14057537.htm

yikes

[Mike]

http://www.progressiveboink.com/dugout/archive/dugout3-10-06.htm

sad

[ehren]

like my absolute favorite moment in baseball history

[brad]

i'm watching cardinals-yanks...

scott spiezio is A STICK FIGURE. i only recognized him because of his faggy dyed soul patch.

i demand the 2002 WS have an asterisk!

[Dead Nigga Storage]

yes! it shouldn't have gone 7 games, because the angels would have won sooner without bonds' steroids. asterik! asterik! ;)

[brad]

this is true

[huh?]

proposed nats stadium design released: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/graphics/stadium/
bit different from this recent retro building trend, which is sort of nice to see.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

that was ridiculously big news down here (in manassas, va for spring break). they broke into regular programming for breaking news to show them unveil it. i just drove by the site where it will be built the other day, and it's in the middle of a ghetto-ish area. but it's nice to see them break away from the retro stadium.

[Andy]

you know what it looks like?

u.s. cellular field meets new soldier field.

but still, a very neat design. very modern without being too cold.

[brad]

middle of a ghetto-ish area.

i wouldn't be too concerned about that. pacific bell/sbc/att park really spruced up the neighborhood and brought in a lot of business.

i'm digging that "knife" that comes out towards the intersection. i think olympic stadium had that too. :laugh:

[Dead Nigga Storage]

i know the area around pac bell...it never struck me as being all that awful to begin with. i've been to games there, and i visited it while it was still under construction. this nats stadium seems to be a bit more of a challenge to boost business. it's considerably worse than pac bell's area was, and stadiums can do just as much to hurt. but you're right, there is a good chance that things will brighten for the area.

[kevin]

i like the design. looks like a very cool place to watch a game.

[Voodoo Monkey]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/ryan_the_canuck/halladay.jpg

Thank you, battersbox.ca, you've made my day.

[Homer Jay]

Sox sign Juan Gone to a minor league deal.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2375780

I don't think he will do anything, but there is some potential that he could help the team, but he probably won't

[Homer Jay]

Red Sox trade Arroyo for Wily Mo Pena

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2376683

I don't like this trade very much, although it does give them another good young outfielder. My guess is that he will platoon with Nixon this year and will be the starter in right next year. I would have rather had them trade Clement or Wells because Arroyo can pitch out of the pen as well. I'm also wondering if they could have done this trade earlier and maybe given up a bit more to get Kearns and then spin him Indians instead of Marte

[thecapecoddah]

arroyo should be psyched if he isn't already. instead of being in the bullpen in boston, he'll be the #2 starter on that team and should win around 14 games... and lose at least 10, heh. nevertheless, he's my latest fantasy league pickup.

clement deserves another shot in the boston rotation this year. I'm convinced that line drive to the head had something to do with his poor performance during the final months of the 2005 season.

and I don't mind wells, but if he prevents papelbon from starting this season..... then ditch the fat man.

[dyln]

does anyone here actually watch spring training games?

[brad]

only when i want to nap

[brad]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060322/capt.azer10303222351.nash_giants_spring_baseball_azer103.jpg

The Giants finally got someone who will score some points for them.


(I'm talking about Steve Nash, not the old guy)

[Roarke]

right. the old guy is actually their new closer.

ZING!

[CMQ]

Bagwell's career almost over... (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2383575)

He will certainly be missed. Even though I'm a Red Sox fan I have the utmost respect for Bagwell. I remember back in 94, he was such on another level. Too bad the season was cut short.

[Voodoo Monkey]

Ken Rosenthal likes the Jays to win it all, Voodoo Monkey posts the lyrics to 'OK Blue Jays' on Fark.

[Mike]

ESPN predictions are finally out... http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/preview06/news/story?page=06expertpicks

world series winner: oakland (4/13), LAA (3/13), new york (2/13), st. louis (2/13)

AL champ: oakland (4/13) over LAA (3/13) and new york (3/13)
NL champ: st. louis (8/13)

new york wins the AL east. (10/13)
chicago wins the AL central. (9/13)
oakland wins the AL west. (8/13)
boston wins the AL wild card. (5/13)

atlanta wins the NL east. (7/13)
st. louis wins the NL central. (12/13)
los angeles wins the NL west. (7/13)
new york wins the NL wild card. (5/13)

AL MVP: alex rodriguez (5/13)
NL MVP: albert pujols (6/13)

AL cy young: roy halladay (5/13) over rich harden (4) and johan santana (3)
NL cy young: jake peavy (5/13) over roy oswalt (4)

AL rookie of the year: francisco liriano (5/13)
NL rookie of the year: prince fielder (4/13) and matt cain (4/13) over jeremy hermida (3/13)


also: SI's predictions - http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2006/previews/index.html?cnn=yes

yankees, sox, a's, angels (WC)
braves, cards, dodgers, mets (WC)

sox over angels
a's over yankees
cards over mets
braves over dodgers

sox over a's
cards over braves

sox over cards

interesting to note that they predict the top 5 records in the majors to all be in the AL. sox, a's, yankees, angels, red sox in that order.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

is picking the A's the chic thing to do now? i mean, i understand they have a chance to be good or to win some games and the division, but being the pluarlity pick to win it all the year after missing the playoffs and having just an above-average offseason? it's not like this team had some massive revamping to make them significantly better. even if they make the playoffs, they just don't match up against the other teams that will. espn just lost alot of respect (that and the dodgers actually got a pick to win it all). and yeah, 3 guys picked the angels, so you think i'd support them, but that list absolutely blows.

[brad]

how cool would it be if liriano and cain both won ROY.

two giants prospects hittin' it big. bittersweet.

[Mike]

i will agree on some levels.

an "above-average" offseason is a bit of an understatement for the a's, but i'm not going to write another essay on it. i'd say winning the world series is a bit of a stretch, but the playoffs should be close to a guarentee.

and is it that you think the a's are a junk team? or that the angels, yankees, red sox, white sox, rangers, blue jays, twins, and indians are just better than what's being predicted?

even i'll say that neyer picking chavy for mvp is a baaaad choice.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

yeah, but he also picked drew for the national league, so trash that pick.

i didn't say the A's were a junk team, i just said the opposite. don't get me started on the white sox, i don't even think they'll make the playoffs. the rangers are horrible, and have big names for a rotation with no numbers to go with them. and yes, i think the A's had an above average offseason in REAL terms of how it will change their shape for this year. frank thomas won't be carrying anyone on his back, esteban loizia is junk, and a slightly-above-.500 pitcher at best, crosby and harden both need to prove they can stay healthy, but are ridiculous when hot, and swisher/johnson i'd rather see another full year of production out of before saying they are sure things. as for the milton bradley transaction...well, that has just as much capability of blowing up in their face as it does of having any positive impact. jay payton is inconsistant at best, and probably played alot better for you upon his acquisition than he will realistically this year, barry zito MAY not be with you all year, i don't expect joe blanton to be dominant this year (or AS dominant as some might), and i have a feeling that jason kendall didn't just have a mediocre year...he seems to be on his way out. that said, i think they have alot of young talent that will be better than last year, but they had an offseason that has every single bit as much chance of turning sour as it does of being very good because most players involved in their acquisitions have the ability to do absolutely nothing, or to do something.

[Mike]

well, that's probably the most understandable and agreeable way you've said that to date.

for zito though, he's not leaving unless the a's are 10+ out of it by the deadline, i'm sure of it. it sounds like his hometown "discount" might bring him down to $12 million, but that damn millwood signing didn't help at all. maybe they get something done, more likely not, but i doubt he'll be traded unless the a's are way out of it.

[Brent]

yeah, but he also picked drew for the national league, so trash that pick.

. don't get me started on the white sox, i don't even think they'll make the playoffs. .

they may have overplayed last season, but you're dead wrong man. thome is looking like a great pickup. ( 4 HRs and 7 RBIs in two days). not to mention they have one of the best and versaitle benches in baseball ( mackowiak, cintron, ozuna). watch the fuck out, that's all i have to say

and I do think the A's will be dominant this year, but I do think some of the predictions are a little overboard

[Dead Nigga Storage]

citation of spring statistics is how rush tried to persuade us that scott erickson would be cy young reincarnate, so toss that shit out. and abraham nunez hit 10 homers in spring training a few years ago, and 6 in the regular season. not saying thome is nunez, but don't even bother with spring numbers. and i'm not "dead wrong" on a opinion. but obviously you aren't approaching this unbiasedly, so just consider how easily it could happen: a's/angels take the wild card/division or vice versa, and the indians take the division. the american league is where you could win 95 games and miss the playoffs, so at least accept reality here. personally, i think a rotation of sabathia/westbrook/lee/byrd and a lineup that features guys like hafner, sizemore, peralta, martinez, belliard, and (to a lesser degree, blake, who has power if nothing else) has a HUGE chance to knock the white sox off the throne. jon garland overplayed all year, your closer (and i speak from seeing the guy in the minors often) can blow up in your face with his wild stuff, your two big pitchers from last year have zero strikeout capability (i know vasquez has the potential to do that, but that's just that...potential), and you don't have any one guy in that lineup other than konerko that i would fear seeing at the plate. i don't see you as much of a baseball guy outside of your white sox, so i think you really need to be a bit more aware of the reality of things. that reality is that the white sox overplayed last year, and in my opinion quite considerably, and that if that won 99 games last year, it may not win 95 this year, which is probably the magic number. i didn't say they WON'T make the playoffs, i said i don't THINK they will.

[Homer Jay]

One of the things that I have noticed looking at World Series winners over the past ten years or so is the correlation between having a few pitchers starting most of the games in the regular season and post season success. For example, last year five White Sox starters combined to make 152 starts. In 2004, the Red Sox starting pitchers made 157, missing no games do to injuries. The only team that really bucked the trend was when the D-Backs won in 2001, and even then they relied on two pitchers who made almost 70 starts between them. I haven't looked at a lot of stats comparing other teams, but I found it interesting that teams with five pitchers making almost all of the starts are usually very successful.

It makes a lot of sense because it means that none of the starters pitched poorly enough to be yanked from the rotation and that they stayed healthy throughout the year. This does not mean that the team with the fewest number of starting pitchers will win the World Series, but I do think that it means that teams that basically start five pitchers all year will be successful. The Seattle Mariners of 2003 used only five starters all season, but missed the playoffs, but they did win 93 games.

So what do you guys think of my theory? Does it hold some weight or is totally useless?

[Dead Nigga Storage]

it seems more obvious than it does a theory, so it does have some truth to it, most likely. like you said, the fewer pitchers you use in the regular season, the better it generally means the pitchers were doing that you used. since pitching wins ball games, and 5 man rotations all season means that you were getting solid pitching, it just sort of fits together. the 2002 angels had 5 guys make 140 starts (schoenweis was just a place filler until lackey was ready to be called up, and lackey made it 6 guys with 155 starts). as long as "pitching wins ball games" holds up, your idea will hold up.

[Homer Jay]

I think it's obvious too, but looking at most people's predictions both for this year and in the past, they seem to place more importance on the lineup and the pitcher's abilities as opposed to the health of those starters. Is there any chance the Blue Jays will win 90 games if Halladay misses half the season again. That's also the biggest reason why I have trouble picking the Yankees or the Red Sox to win it all, the Yankees more so than the Sox.

[gravymaster]

the Yankees more so than the Sox.
What a surprise.

[brad]

giants, cubs and cards fans all know this: julian tavarez is crazy. not milton bradley crazy. not ron artest crazy.

mike tyson crazy.

[Mike]

PHOENIX - Milton Bradley finally may have found his happy place.

He had heard all about the reputation of the A's clubhouse and how raucous yet welcoming it was, but he had to see for himself. All it took to put him at ease was one prank.

"They did this," Bradley said before letting loose with something between a giggle and a throaty laugh while pointing to his locker at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Tuesday morning.

Someone had taped up Jeff Kent's trading card in Bradley's stall and written a thought bubble next to it that reads, "You're not running hard enough, boy."

Of course it was a reference to Bradley's stormy feud with Kent with the Los Angeles Dodgers that came to a head in Florida last August when teammates had to separate the two in the postgame clubhouse. This after Kent called out Bradley for not hustling and not scoring from first base on his double.

if i was macha, i would have been dead set against this incase it made bradley go insane... but it turned out okay. he might get through this season!

[Mayor Quimby]

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060329&content_id=1366107&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle

Sizemore nets 6 year deal. This is huge for the Indians as they have now signed the core nucleus of this team. Hafner, Martinez, Peralta, Lee, and Sabbathia. Throw in a deep minor league system, and this team will be set to compete for the next few years.

As far as predictions for this year, I expect nothing less than to push the White Sox for first in the Central, but more likely come away with the Wild Card. I think that this team can be better than both Boston and New York, and hold off the one of them for the Wild Card.

[Mike]

arent you a little worried about committing that much money to a guy with only one year under his belt?

[Dead Nigga Storage]

he'll probably end up, with options and base pay intact, making an average of $5-6 million a year. for a 5-tool guy with .300/30/100/30 potential, that's a pretty good deal. we can't ALL be as stingy as your owner, mike, ;). worst case scenario, they are out $24 million over the course of 6 years for a .260/20/65 kinda guy. not the end of the world, either.

[Mike]

i'm just saying the guy has done it for ONE year. i do think he will be a threat for many years, but when you have ABSOLUTE control over a guy and can keep paying him minimum salary for the next 2 years, and then after that you have another 3 years in which he only has a little bargaining power, it would make more sense to have waited until next winter to sign him to the extension.

if he puts up another great season, the indians may end up paying him another million, but if he were to flop they are saving 20.

the indians really gain nothing by signing him now, instead of waiting until next season.

[brad]

he's not some joe blow they picked up off the street. check out his minor league stats:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/S/grady-sizemore.shtml

the guy has a consistent track record. they traded for him for a reason. also, you're not taking arbitration into account. soriano just made what... 10 million in arbitration? signing sizemore now locks him at that price for the length of the contract. plus, the more established he becomes, the more he's going to demand.

and apparently grady sizemore is a sexy man.

http://www.gradysladies.com/

[Mike]

i made mention of arbitration, when i said "little bargaining power" although in MLB, arbitration is great for the players.

but he still has one more winter of COMPLETE control before the winter after which is his first arbitration year.

will his stock go up that much in one more season? i doubt more than $3-4 million more over the 6 year period.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

it'll save them money. if he waits until arbitration, the indians will probably end up paying twice what they did...maybe even more. if he gets another year in, and this year he DOES hit the .300/30/100/30 numbers (for the argument, let's say he goes .290/28/95/25, perfectly feasable), then you better believe he's gonna be worth an extra $700,000 per year when he asks for a contract.

[Mike]

my point is, i'd rather end up paying the extra $700,000 a year than be stuck with $23 million if it turns out that he's only worth $10 million.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

and the general managers and scouts of the big leagues are seeing him turn into exactly what they anticipated and have zero reason whatsoever to believe that he'll be worth $10 million. in fact, this contract shows the exact opposite fear in them...that he'll become worth TOO much and they want to lock him up while they still can. they're paid to make the money concious moves, and this is one of them...in the worst case scenario, if he is worth your estimate of only 1.6 million or so a year (which is LESS than the league average for a major league player, so it's very doubtable that he'll be THAT bad), then they end up losing about $14 million in value over 6 years...or a little over $2 million a year...hardly a MASSIVE hit to their wallets.

[brad]

but he wont be worth only $10 millions

[Mayor Quimby]

http://www.gradysladies.com/

Evidently the Mrs. Sizemore shirts are the most popular item in Cleveland. The guy is a fan-favorite already, especially after losing Coco Crisp. Plus the exciting thing is he likes Cleveland. I think he is more likely to be a star than when they brought in the over rated washout Alex Escobar. Not to mention he is still developing, this guy could be part of the middle of the order before its all over.

[kuumuus]

joke about randy johnson's randy johnson needs to be worked into thread title.

[brad]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2392240

noah lowry 9mil/4 yrs

yeeeeeaaaaaaaaaah, bitchez

[Dead Nigga Storage]

now if only someone in that lineup besides bonds could get the ball out of the infield

[brad]

can't you ever just be happy for me

i'm pretty sure omar vizquel could easily get the ball out of the infield















via a throw

[Dead Nigga Storage]

that's ok though, once the social security funds start coming in and padding their incomes, the front office can get away with paying the giants less. than you can buy the 10 year rights to julio franco.

[Andy]

yeah well what kind of name is chone anyway

[gil]

has anyone here read "game of shadows" and is it worth picking up?

[Dead Nigga Storage]

yeah well what kind of name is chone anyway
his real name is desmond. but chone is the name you will be screaming in your sleep as you breath your last breaths. he's just that horrifying.

nice to see "gil" take a real interest in baseball now.

[Homer Jay]

One thing that I have been thinking about, and have read in various other places is the strength of the American League in relation of the NL. Let's put it simply, the NL sucks. I think the seven best teams in baseball all play in the AL. I'm not sure if the Cardinals, the best team in the NL would have a winning record in the Junior circuit. I think this season really demonstrates why the team with the best record should not have home field advantage in the World Series. A team could go win the National League with 100 wins and be a much worse team than an AL counterpart who might not have 90.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

the best team doesn't get home field advantage. that's still decided by the all-star game.

[Mike]

the winning record doesnt have the advantage in the world series. remember? the all star game COUNTS!

edit: thats what i get for loading the thread and not reading it for 2 minutes.

[kuumuus]

homer jay might be going overboard a little bit, but there's no denying that the AL is a far superior league right now. my fearless prediction for the year is that no matter who makes it to the world series, the NL representative will not win more than one game.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

pfft...the dodgers will TOTALLY sweep.

if you think the cardinals wouldn't have a winning record, then you're insane. they have arguably the best player in baseball, arguably one of the best starting pitchers, a solid bullpen, a great rotation, and several BIG bats. this isn't the brewers or giants or some other potentially-marginally-above-.500 team. the cardinals are still one of the best teams in baseball, regardless of what league they play in. to claim the AL is SOOOOO vastly superior that the CARDINALS wouldn't have a winning record there...well, it's a claim i shouldn't even be justifying with a response. yes, the yankees, red sox, angels, athletics, white sox, and indians all have solid arguments for why they are or are not better for the cardinals, but that doesn't make the cardinals a non-competitive team.

[Homer Jay]

the best team doesn't get home field advantage. that's still decided by the all-star game.
I know that, but there are some people who want the team with the best record to have home field advantage and was just using it as a counter example.

And the reason I don't think they be 500 has more to do with the strength of the AL, then the Cardinals. I think they're the 8th best team in baseball and would be the 8th best team in the AL. I'd have predicting that 8th best team in the league will finish 500 especially when the Twins, Tigers and Rangers are all very underrated teams as well.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

then besides that, i don't see how you can make the argument that a national league team that is 10 games BETTER than an american league team is somehow not deserving of homefield advantage. the all-star way is much more flawed. if mike macdougal, the lone representative for the royals, gives up a game deciding home run to miguel cabrera of the marlins (two teams who could feasably lose 100 games), why the hell should THAT decide that the cardinals get home field over the yankees?

there really isn't a better way to do it than to compare records. if the cardinals go 100-62 and they face the 89-73 red sox, i'd say that's a pretty considerable gap between teams and warrants home field. and above all, if the AL is really THAT superior to the NL, i seriously doubt one home game should make a damn bit of difference.

edit: twins underrated? yes. texas? not really, they have a shoddy rotation and lost alot of pop in soriano. they have a fantastic offense, though. tigers? not underrated at all. they'll win somewhere around 70-75 games. if you threw the cardinals in the AL right now, they'd still be a 90 win team. i don't think the angels are better than the cardinals (who i assume you include in your "top 7"), i don't think the athletics are, and i don't think the rangers, twins, or white sox are either. the yankees are better...and that might be it. the rest of the top 8 can be comprised of AL teams, and i might agree with that, but that doesn't put the cardinals at #8. you think between the royals, devil rays, mariners, orioles, and tigers (who the AL play more often in a given year because of only having 14 teams), the AL doesn't have its own record padding?

[Homer Jay]

I liked the old system where it rotated between the leagues. I really didn't see the reason to change it. Sure it was flawed, but I think the two other systems are much more flawed. You're right about the All-Star game system, and as for the regular season, I just think that the schedules between the leagues is so unbalenced that it shouldn't matter that much, a team that plays in a horrible division that is pretty good could rather easily win 95 games while a team coming out of the AL East or West could struggle to win 90.

[Mike]

just throwing this out there... how about the better record in interleague play? obviously flawed as well, but it gives a more realistic comparison between AL and NL teams.

[brad]

god bless the national league west

[Dead Nigga Storage]

the national league i don't even think is THAT weak. the national league west is the CLEAR weakest division in baseball, but other than that you have quite a few good team. the cardinals are in a MODERATELY weak division, but realize that the last two years, the NLCS has been played between NL central teams. the fact that the cardinals are in a mid-range-competition league does nothing to diminish the fact that they have won almost 400 games over the last 4 years. they are just plain and simply a really, really good team.

i think that the MUCH better argument to make would be that division winners should NOT automatically get home field over wild card winners. since they spend the entire season playing highly similar, it can't be argued that strength of schedule determined their records. if a wild card team finishes with a better record than a division record (ex: if the astros had played the padres last year in the playoffs, the padres would have home field), then they should get home field advantage. as is, who gets home field is effectively decided by your geographic location. just because you're "lucky" enough to be located 100 miles further west, putting you in the NL west instead of the NL central doesn't mean that your playoff berth is more legitimate. do away with that nonsense, PLEASE.

white sox do their kris benson contract impersonation:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/04/01/bc.bba.whitesox.contrer.ap/index.html

[Mayor Quimby]

I would hardly call the NL Central moderately weak. You have three teams in Cardinals, Brewers, and Astros who can all be dangerous. As bad as it looks for the Cubs, they still aren't a team you look forward to having a series with. The Pirates are young in some areas, and the Reds are just piss poor at pitching. However this is going to be a more competitive division than you think.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

we were talking about their numbers (win totals) from the last couple of years, not this year. this year, i've had the brewers notched as my playoffs sleeper pick for some time now.

[Mayor Quimby]

Then we will do agree. I like the Brewers to steal the division, it sounds crazy but I like their pitching over the Cardinals.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

hell, if we're gonna do predictions, let's do it all:

AL West
Angels: 93-69
Athletics*: 91-71
Rangers: 84-78
Mariners: 74-88

AL Central
Indians: 94-68
White Sox: 91-71
Twins: 83-79
Tigers: 73-89
Royals: 61-101

AL East
Yankees: 95-67
Blue Jays: 89-73
Red Sox: 88-74
Devil Rays: 74-88
Orioles: 69-93

NL West
Dodgers: 84-78
Giants: 82-80
Padres: 77-85
D-Backs: 73-89
Rockies: 64-98

NL Central
Cardinals: 99-63
Brewers*: 89-73
Astros: 85-77
Cubs: 83-79
Pirates: 71-91
Reds: 65-97

NL East
Mets: 92-70
Braves: 87-75
Phillies: 86-76
Nationals: 75-87
Marlins: 61-101

AL Playoffs
Angels over Indians
Yankees over Athletics

Angels over Yankees

NL Playoffs
Cardinals over Dodgers
Mets over Brewers

Cardinals over Mets

World Series
Cardinals over Angels

[kevin]

wacky predictions:

al east
yankees 91-71
blue jays 88-74
red sox 85-77
devil rays 71-91
orioles 68-94

al central
white sox 93-69
indians 91-71
twins 80-82
tigers 70-92
royals 51-111

al west
angels 87-75
a's 84-78
mariners 73-89
rangers 66-96

white sox over angels
indians over yankees

indians over white sox

nl east
braves 93-69
phillies 87-75
mets 81-81
nationals 72-90
marlins 58-104

nl central
cardinals 97-65
brewers 84-78
cubs 80-82
astros 78-84
pirates 76-86
reds 71-91

nl west
dodgers 84-78
giants 81-81
padres 76-86
diamonbacks 71-91
rockies 64-98

cardinals over phillies
braves over dodgers

cardinals over braves

INDIANS OVER CARDINALS

i just feel like its all going to come together for cleveland like it did for the sox last year.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

i'll edit mine to include records...

...

.500 for the mets? oh man.

[kuumuus]

predictions? FINALLY. god

al west
angels 97-65
athletics 92-70
rangers 85-77
mariners 72-90

al central
indians 95-67
white sox 93-69
twins 84-78
tigers 75-87
royals 64-98

al east
yankees 98-64
blue jays 91-71
red sox 88-74
devil rays 77-85
orioles 71-91

white sox over yankees
angels over indians

angels over white sox (didn't realize i was predicting a rematch until i got this far :( )

nl west
dodgers 89-73
giants 86-76
padres 78-84
diamondbacks 72-90
rockies 62-100

nl central
cardinals 100-62
brewers 92-70
astros 84-78
cubs 81-81
reds 73-89
pirates 65-97

nl east
braves 96-66
mets 91-71
phillies 84-78
nationals 77-85
marlins 57-105

cardinals over dodgers
braves over brewers

cardinals over braves

WORLD SERIES: ANGELS over cardinals

[Dead Nigga Storage]

gonna bribe the umpires to beat the angels again this year, kevin? :-X

and unlike you two bums, i actually was pathetic enough to make sure that all of the combined records of the teams add up to .500

[kuumuus]

our predictions are pretty similar for the most part. i didn't look at your guys's until finishing mine. brewers 92 wins was a kneejerk prediction after hearing talk about them being a sleeper team. sheets will probably go down and they'll end up losing 90 games. yankees don't look like a 98 win team with that pitching staff, but they continue to get it done with an amazing offense and.. mystique :barf:

no doubt the marlins will be the worst team in baseball and the mariners won't win 75. go AL west, go angels.


and unlike you two bums, i actually was pathetic enough to make sure that all of the combined records of the teams add up to .500

http://www.thecostumer.com/upload/geek_nerd_costume_kit.jpg

[Dead Nigga Storage]

don't be sold on the marlins being the worst. they have alot of young guys, sure...but they are young talented guys. the royals on the other hand...just a fucking MESS across the board. not alot of talent anywhere, and no all-around strengths in any way.

[kevin]

agreed. their ace is scott elarton. i think that speaks for itself. at least florida has cabrera and dontrelle.

[Mike]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/preview06/news/story?page=06expertpicks

updated "expert" picks

gammons thinks bobby crosby is the AL mvp.

gammons shortly after is taken to a retirement home.

[Rowdy]

Predictions............oh, and I'm going down to LA to see the opening game and the one the next day. It's the despicable Braves, so I will not stand for losses.

AL East:

1. New York
2. Boston
3. Toronto
4. Baltimore
5. Tampa Bay

AL Central:

1. Chicago (AL Pennant Winners)
2. Cleveland
3. Minnesota
4. Detroit
5. Kansas City

AL West:

1. Anaheim
2. Texas (Wildcard)
3. Oakland
4. Seattle

NL East

1. Atlanta
2. New York (Wildcard)
3. Philadelphia
4. Washington
5. Florida

NL Central:

1. St. Louis
2. Chicago
3. Milwaukee
4. Houston
5. Pittsburgh
6. Cincinatti

1. Los Angeles (NL Pennant/World Series Winners)
2. San Diego
3. Colorado
4. Arizona
5. San Francisco

[Roarke]

go dodgersgagnekent beat them braves

i'll throw picks up tomorrow

[Homer Jay]

AL East:

1. New York-Pitching questions aside, the lineup can rake and Torre’s a great manager
2. Boston (Wild Card)-This is the kind of team that will be better at the end of the season than the beginning
3. Toronto-They’re improved, but not enough
4. Tampa Bay-Probably best team in Devil Rays history, but record may not show it
5. Baltimore-Will compete with Royals for worst team in the league

AL Central:

1. Cleveland-A really good young core and underrated rotation.
2. Chicago-Everything went right last year, it won’t this year, but they will compete for the playoffs
3. Minnesota-The pitching staff is good, but I don’t think they can hit enough
4. Detroit-Don’t be surprised if they are better than the Twins.
5. Kansas City-Awful last year, awful this year, awful next year

AL West:

1. Oakland-Best team in the league if Harden stays healthy, big if.
2. Anaheim-Will be closer to Texas than to Oakland
3. Texas-This could be the surprise team in the league
4. Seattle-They’re not as bad as Kansas City or Baltimore, but there’s no place for them outside last

NL East

1. Atlanta-I will never pick against them until they don’t win the division
2. New York (Wildcard)-I like the lineup and the rotation, but Pedro needs to hold up
3. Philadelphia-They can score, but can they stop the other teams?
4. Florida-Will be bad, but not as people seem to think
5. Washington-At least they’ll be better than the Orioles

NL Central:

1. St. Louis-Still the best team in the league
2. Milwaukee-Will be in contention throughout the season
3. Pittsburgh-They have a much better pitching staff than most people think.
4. Houston-They will compete for the playoffs if Clemens comes back, but he won’t be enough
5. Chicago-Lee won’t be as good as last year, and Prior and Wood will miss large parts of the season
6. Cincinnati-When a pitcher goes from being the seventh starter on one team to the second on yours you know you’re in trouble

NL West:

1. Los Angeles-The best of a bad bunch
2. Colorado-Will finish for the first time since 2000
3. San Diego-The lineup has some punch, but who do they start after Peavy?
4. San Francisco-Even a relatively healthy Bonds won’t be enough
5. Arizona-Bad team, but not for long with all those prospects

Boston over Oakland
Cleveland over New York
Cleveland over Boston

St. Louis over New York
Los Angeles over Atlanta
St. Louis over Los Angeles

Cleveland over St. Louis

[gravymaster]

First game tonight, so the thread title officially changes. Can't fucking wait for tomorrow night at 10:05 est. Mike, you little bitch.

[Mayor Quimby]

Boston over Oakland
Cleveland over New York
Cleveland over Boston

St. Louis over New York
Los Angeles over Atlanta
St. Louis over Los Angeles

Cleveland over St. Louis

Wow why the fuck not........

anyways the Mayor will make his picks

AL East
1. New York- Hitting will do just enough to carry the pitching.
2. Toronto- I don't think they are playoff bound, but much improved
3. Boston- The pitching just isn't there, relying on Wells, Schilling and Foulke
4. Tampa Bay- I hate playing this team, Cleveland always struggles
5. Baltimore- No more Anna.....

AL Central
1. Cleveland- Young, but talented. Solid front end of the rotation
2. Chicago- Improved on paper, but Thome will not have major impact
3. Detroit- A solid team, that will give division foes problems
4. Minnesota- Great pitching.......
5. Kansas City- Can't wait to watch Alex Gordon play

AL West
1. Anaheim- I see no reason why they won't hold off the A's
2. Oakland- To me this is the most over-rated team, I don't even see them making the playoffs. Now I will get attacked by Mike.
3. Seattle- Beltre, and Sexson should have good comeback years.
4. Texas- They can hit, but still can't pitch.

NL East
1. New York- I think this is the strongest team in the league, should Beltran play up to potential.
2. Atlanta- They'll win the division no matter what I think.
3. Philadelphia- How close will Jimmy come?
4. Washington- Better than Flordia, but not by much.
5. Florida- Good looking young hitters on this team.

NL Central
1. Milwaukee- Most exciting upcoming team in baseball, solid rotation, will surprise people.
2. St. Louis- I just don't like the pitching staff that much.
3. Chicago- Curse continues
4. Houston- All depends on the Rocket, same goes for my fantasy team.
5. Pittsburgh- The best number five team in any division.
6. Cincinnati- Poor pitching, lots of power on offense.

NL West
1. LA- Good pitching, decent hitting should steal the spot.
2. San Diego- A decent ball club, that can be potentiall dangerous if the pitching comes through.
3. San Fran- I don't care about Barry, this team will be mediocre anyways.
4. Arizona- I'm a dumbass for forgetting them, but they still suck.
5. Colorado- Maybe next year

AL
Chicago over New York
Cleveland over Anaheim
Cleveland over Chicago
NL
New York over St. Louis
Milwaukee over LA
Milwaukee over New York

Cleveland over Milwaukee in 6

Quite frankly some of the worst picks ever. Go Cleveland. Kick some White Sox ass tonight.

[pat]

AL
west:
angels
a's
mariners
rangers

central:
white sox
indians
twins
tigers
royals

east:
yankees
red sox (wildcard)
blue jays
orioles
devil rays

NL
west:
dodgers
padres
giants
d'backs
rockies

central:
cardinals
cubs
brewers
astros
pirates
reds

east:
braves
phillies (wildcard)
mets
nationals
marlins

not really expecting too many surprises this year, except i'm expecting the cubs to be in contention for a wildcard spot up till the very end. i'm still not sold on the mets, not until they actually have a year where they don't choke. blue jays might surprise a few people too.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

1. Los Angeles (NL Pennant/World Series Winners)
biased much?


and quimby apparently thinks that the d-backs will be so bad that they will be contracted midseason.

[Homer Jay]

I could see the Dodgers winning the NL Pennant, they are a much improved team. Their lineup is good, and the rotation isn't really all that much worse than other teams in the NL. They also have some prospects who could step up and help the team later in the season or who they could trade for players at the trading deadline. But this is all dependant on Gagne being healthy and effective.

[gravymaster]

I could see the Dodgers winning the NL Pennant, they are a much improved team. Their lineup is good, and the rotation isn't really all that much worse than other teams in the NL. They also have some prospects who could step up and help the team later in the season or who they could trade for players at the trading deadline. But this is all dependant on Gagne being healthy and effective.
Yeah but they are the Dodgers...

[Homer Jay]

At least you didn't mention Grady

[gravymaster]

Grady is SO 2003.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

could you REALLY see the dodgers winning the world series? they'll be lucky to win the division, and even if they do, they might not be 10 games over .500 when they do it. they are CONSIDERABLY below the level of the best NL clubs and you completely neglected to mention that several of the biggest pieces to their club now have spent some considerable time on the DL in the past couple years. i picked them to win their division (and i'm not even very sure of THAT), but an NL pennant pick is absurd right now...and it's not a coincidence that a dodgers fan picked it.

[Homer Jay]

I didn't say they could win the World Series, I said they could win the NL. I think the four best teams in the NL are the Braves, Mets, Cardinals, and Dodgers. If those four teams make the playoffs, then the Dodgers would play the Braves, who don't win in the playoffs or the Mets, who have injury questions that are just as important as the Dodgers. And the Cardinals who are the best team in the league will have Jeff Suppan, Sidney Ponson and Braden Looper playing important roles in the post season. I don't think it will happen, but it certainly isn't absurd.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

i know you didn't say they could win the world series, i was asking if you thought they could. like i said, they aren't just BELOW the rest of the NL, they are CONSIDERABLY below. nomar hasn't played a HALF season since 2003, j.d. drew has managed 500 at bats ONCE in his career and played less than half of a year last year and his best year came in a contract year, perez has had recent injury problems, penny has been merely average/above-average since coming off his injuries, lowe is inconsistent, gagne needs to be back to full health, seo won't be anywhere near what he was last year, and tomko...is tomko.

kent, furcal, and mueller are the only ones that i have full faith in to produce for them right now. that is a TON of problems for a team that you're saying could take on the best NL team(s) for the pennant. suppan is not a bad pitcher, and ponson would probably be matched up against someone like tomko if they got to that game. braden looper is a set-up man now, not a closer. that takes alot of pressure off of him, and if nothing else...we've seen that looper is strong in the postseason. so yes, i think it is absurd to think that every single question mark gets erased from the dodgers...because that is the ONLY situation under which i think they win the whole national league.

[ehren]

Wow why the fuck not........

anyways the Mayor will make his picks

AL Central
1. Cleveland- Young, but talented. Solid front end of the rotation
2. Chicago- Improved on paper, but Thome will not have major impact
3. Detroit- A solid team, that will give division foes problems
4. Minnesota- Great pitching.......
5. Kansas City- Can't wait to watch Alex Gordon play

AL
Chicago over New York
Cleveland over Anaheim
Cleveland over Chicago

Cleveland over Milwaukee in 6

Quite frankly some of the worst picks ever. Go Cleveland. Kick some White Sox ass tonight.
not even rush could be that homerific.

[Mike]

First game tonight, so the thread title officially changes. Can't fucking wait for tomorrow night at 10:05 est. Mike, you little bitch.
and once again, i can get used to a season where i get so see MAYBE 20 a's games if i'm lucky :'(

good ol' trying to find a free internet radio feed of the game while following on yahoo.


and for my picks...

a's
angels*
rangers
mariners

white sox
indians
twins
royals
tigers

yankees
red sox
blue jays
orioles
devil rays

[brad]

3 local channels carrying giants and a's games, braves on tbs, cubs/sox on wgn, scattered games on inhd/inhd2 and espnhd and epsn2, AND comcast is giving me a free week of mlb extra innings.

combine that with the fact that it will never stop raining here... i may not leave the house this week.

[gravymaster]

and once again, i can get used to a season where i get so see MAYBE 20 a's games if i'm lucky :'(

good ol' trying to find a free internet radio feed of the game while following on yahoo.
Why don't you:
A.) Get Extra Innings
B.) Subscribe to the MLB tv thing on the website
C.) Buy an XM receiver

Three options for you to be able to keep track of every single game. XM is the cheapest choice and Extra Innings is the most expensive, but all of them will give you what you want.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

1 hour until the first pitch, and not a moment too soon.

[Mike]

XM seems to be the most realistic, because i don't really want to sit in front of the computer to watch a game every day.

extra innings isnt possible with my cable package and i'm not going to have my family change to one of the few if any satelite providers in canada that has extra innings.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

and that is why cable sucks...it needs to become obsolete alot faster.

[robb]

Mike, doesn't the A's flagship radio station have a live feed off of their website?? I know the Tigers do, and if nothing else, it's something to check out.

[brad]

the a's flagship station is a station that, other than a's games, plays podcasts of amateur radio shows.

i'm 100% serious.

that being said, they actually have a website: http://www.kyouradio.com/

if that doesn't work, there's about 5 other stations in CA that carry some of the a's games

[Homer Jay]

Mike, doesn't the A's flagship radio station have a live feed off of their website?? I know the Tigers do, and if nothing else, it's something to check out.
I thought they couldn't do that, according to WEEI, they can't broadcast the Red Sox games according to MLB regulations

[Mike]

yeah, i think we might have been over this last year when i bitched about this too... because of XM and MLB selling radio feeds like they do TV, the stations arent allowed to do it.

still, through thegamelive.com, i was able to catch quite a few games last year. although it was kind of a bummer that none of the a's feeds worked on there, so it would always be through another team's radio feed that i'd hear it, and only a handful work.

ALSO very ticked off that the "to be announced" from 6-9 on rogers sportsnet tonight was NOT sunday night baseball as it has been for the last 3 or 4 years.

[Mayor Quimby]

Nice to see the Indians fight back before the rains came. Little worried about C.C.though.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

what a lame first game.

boooooo.

[Rowdy]

Ugh, rain forecast for both days in Los Angeles...........I hope the seven hour drive and $ doesn't lead to sorrow.

[Mike]

sounds like opening night might get rained out in oakland, or at least one of the first two games.

[brad]

the way it's been raining, all 81 games will be rained out

it rained like 26/31 days of march. it suckz.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

and it won't fucking rain here all of a sudden. go figure.

even lamer. the white sox win while the country sleeps.

[kuumuus]

even lamer. the white sox win while the country sleeps.

just like when they won the world series.

[gravymaster]

just like when they won the world series.
ZIIIIIIIINGGGG!

[kevin]

i was watching, assholes

[Cow Milk?]

AL East:

1. New York
2. Boston*
3. Toronto
4. Baltimore
5. Tampa Bay

AL Central:

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

AL West:

1. Anaheim
2.Oakland
3.Texas
4. Seattle

NL East

1. NY Mets
2. Atlanta*
3. Philadelphia
4. Washington
5. Florida

NL Central:

1. St. Louis
2. Chicago
3. Milwaukee
4. Houston
5. Pittsburgh
6. Cincinatti

1. San Fran
2. San Diego
3. Dodgers
4. Arizona
5. Rockies

Yanks over Cards in 6

[Homer Jay]

I didn't watch today's game, and I won't be able to watch most of any. But it was nice to see the Sox win on Opening Day, I read that the last time was 2000. I didn't see Lowell's homer, but hopefully it was a sign of things to come, and will be able to rebound from a horrific season last year

[Spartan]

psting64 (5:43:13 PM): sup bitch
ratbert008 (5:43:59 PM): go barely lose to winthrop
psting64 (5:44:08 PM): you know, i had money riding on this
psting64 (5:44:12 PM): braves plus the over

[Kyle Farnsworth]

http://www.baronacasino.com/casino/rotating-images/kenny-rogers-blackjack.jpg

[Spartan]

fucking piece of shit i ought to kick reitsma's ass

[Dead Nigga Storage]

i was watching, assholes300,000,000 people in the country. someone was bound to be.

[pat]

I didn't see Lowell's homer, but hopefully it was a sign of things to come, and will be able to rebound from a horrific season last year
also liked what i saw out of schilling... 7 strong innings, was hitting the mid-90's with his fastball when he needed to. he impressed me a lot today.

[kuumuus]

damn you mariners for getting my hopes up. johjima's homer was bonerific. not scoring a run with the bases loaded and 0 outs was pathetic. vlad continues to kill us. moyer looked good after a slow start. semi-colon looked like he was gonna throw a perfect game before unraveling. i can already see that our bullpen will cost us many games this year. the offense should be improved, defense will be great at the infield positions and in right with ichiro, and the rotation might be respectable. the latter will depend a lot on how piniero and meche perform. either they continue to massively underachieve or they start playing up to their potential. king felix and ichiro better have amazing years if the team is to sustain my interest at all.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050814/050814_guerrero_vmed.widec.jpghttp://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050814/050814_guerrero_vmed.widec.jpghttp://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050814/050814_guerrero_vmed.widec.jpg

[gravymaster]

BarryZitolol

[Dead Nigga Storage]

ZitOWNED

[gravymaster]

ERA: 47.25

[Dead Nigga Storage]

that's about how much someone should pay for him if the A's trade him in july.

[Mike]

jesus christ barry

[robb]

Great game out of the Tigers today. Rogers looked good, Zumaya was OUTSTANDING, and Rodney was his typical self. Guillen looks like he has his legs under him, which will be pivotal this year, I can't wait!

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060403/capt.moow10504032218.tigers_royals_baseball_moow105.jpghttp://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060403/capt.moow10504032218.tigers_royals_baseball_moow105.jpg

[brad]

crosby injured in record time

[ehren]

the syringe tossed at Bonds today is probably the funniest prop I've ever seen thrown onto a field.

[thecapecoddah]

nomar's down, nomar's down



and these yankees are very scary

[Dead Nigga Storage]

crosby and nomar injured in one day.

thome, pujols, howard, guerrero, a-rod, and wright all hit homers.

baseball is back to normal.

[gravymaster]

I still think that Wright is overrated. He is a good player, but it just seems like he is hyped like a motherfucker.

Oh yeah, Mike.........lol.

[doyle]

i was very skeptical about this team going into the year, but i saw some very encouraging things today. schilling looked great. if foulke can get out there and rebound well for a good year, the outlook's good.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

you'd be the only one, gravy. are you sure it's not because the guy is a met or that you live close to the epicenter for media coverage, especially for N.Y. players? first full year in the bigs, and he goes .306/27/102. he's certainly one of the best in the game, and only really getting better right now. no one had more RBIs after the all-star break, either. his "getting used to the majors" in 2004 resulted in .293/14/40 in LESS than half a season. just watch, and he can put up numbers to match anyone short of pujols/a-rod.

[gravymaster]

It is more like since the guy stepped foot on MLB grass, Mets fans have been calling him the future of New York baseball. Like I said, I think he is a great player with some great future potential, but the guy gets a free pass and millions of verbal blowjobs from just about every Met fan you can find. Let him have some good seasons and actually win something then start with the "future of NYC baseball" shit.

Fan Tosses Syringe At Bonds
A fan tossed a syringe near Barry Bonds as he came off the field in between innings on Monday at Petco Park, and the Giants slugger said he picked it up in his glove and carried it off the field.
The syringe apparently did not have a needle.

"I just put it off the field so no one would get hurt," said Bonds, who is under investigation by baseball for alleged steroid use.

The syringe toss occurred after the bottom of the eighth inning.

"If that's what they want to do, embarrass themselves, then that's on them," Bonds said. "That has nothing to do with me at all."

According to the book "Game of Shadows," written by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters, Bonds used a vast array of performance-enhancing drugs, including steroids and human growth hormone, for at least five seasons beginning in 1998. According to the book, Bonds used several substances in various forms, including by injecting himself with a syringe and taking injections from his personal trainer.

Bonds, who has denied using performance-enhancing drugs, was booed often by the sellout crowd of 43,767 on Monday.

"I don't judge them," Bonds said. "I have to concentrate on baseball. I leave that up to you guys to make those statements in the paper."

Richard Andersen, the Padres executive in charge of Petco Park, didn't immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

-- The Associated Press
Hahhahahahaha

[Dead Nigga Storage]

he can't be the future of baseball if he does all that right now. calling him the future means just that...he will be the future, which obviously can't be foreseen, but is legit commentary on the guy. he's had 1 1/2 monster seasons (for his age/experience, or otherwise) in 1 1/2 years played. he's already taken a team leader role with the clubhouse, and people love him for what he currently is and will become. he's no more unwarranted of the attention he gets than even someone like jeter (and i DIDN'T say jeter is overrated, i'm saying NEITHER are).

[Curtis]

Marlins barely lost to the Astros, they could barely muster a hit. Willis pitched a really good game but doesn't matter. This will be a long year for Willis, he will have trouble getting any run support at all.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

Marlins barely lost to the Astros, they could barely muster a hit. Willis pitched a really good game but doesn't matter. This will be a long year for Willis, he will have trouble getting any run support at all.
you've got a good word template there for the marlins for the rest of the season, just save this to your computer for now on, and be ready to have 162 posts of it in this thread:
Marlins lost to the (opponent here), they could barely muster a hit. (marlins' starter here) pitched a decent game but it doesn't matter. This will be a long year for (aforementioned marlins' starter here), he will have trouble getting any run support at all.

[Spartan]

the syringe tossed at Bonds today is probably the funniest prop I've ever seen thrown onto a field.

if you like predictable boring three year old jokes

eta...no, i don't like bonds, but really. who gives a fuck anymore.

[Mike]

so what happened to crosby? anyone?

[Dead Nigga Storage]

i think he broke a nail.

seriously, it was something with his hand or his wrist. unfortunately not season ending...probably day-to-day.

[gravymaster]

so what happened to crosby? anyone?
Jeter missed a hit and run opportunity and the A's threw down to catch Cano stealing. He slid and when Crosby tagged him out, Cano's spike went through Crosby's glove and cut his finger.

[Homer Jay]

Gravy, Wright is probably one of the 25 best players in baseball this year and will only get better. Just because he'll be better than any player on the Yankees (or Red Sox for that matter) over the next five years doesn't mean you have to say he's overrated.

[thecapecoddah]

great point by jim caple about that fan throwing a syringe at bonds:

"What is alarming here is not that a fan threw a large, needle-less syringe at Bonds but that a fan in San Diego would do so. If that's the kind of reaction he gets in a city this laid back, imagine what awaits him in Oakland or New York (fortunately for him, Boston isn't on the schedule)."

have fun this year, barry.

[gravymaster]

Gravy, Wright is probably one of the 25 best players in baseball this year and will only get better. Just because he'll be better than any player on the Yankees (or Red Sox for that matter) over the next five years doesn't mean you have to say he's overrated.
That's not true and you know it. He won't be the player that Alex Rodriguez is in his whole career. I'll put that out there and stand by it.

I KNOW he is a top 25 player. My point is that Mets fans in MY area that I know make him out to be the best thing to hit NY since Joe D.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

speaking of Joe D, can jimmy rollins go 0 for 5 please?

[gravymaster]

He can and he will.

[Homer Jay]

He's probably the best prospect to come directly to the majors in New York since Jeter, possibly or more likely Gooden. I don't know what the hype was around Jeter his first season, but in Boston it was huge for Nomar is first, and it sounds like Wright is even better than that. So I think all the press he is getting is really well deserved

[:bang:]

wait, there are players in baseball that aren't named barry bonds? i had no idea

[kuumuus]

i had never heard of david wright until reading about him in an espn article right before opening day. you east coast f aggots are probably overestimating how much the rest of america cares about this guy.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

i had never heard of david wright until reading about him in an espn article right before opening day. you east coast f aggots are probably overestimating how much the rest of america cares about this guy.he's better than anyone on your offense.

how 'bout that richie sexson? fag

[kuumuus]

er, um...jay feely

boobhead.

[Homer Jay]

i had never heard of david wright until reading about him in an espn article right before opening day. you east coast f aggots are probably overestimating how much the rest of america cares about this guy.
I think that tell us more about how the rest of America cares about future superstars than it tells us about people here on the east cost. Wright isn't getting the hype that King Felix is getting, but that's expected considering that he is a once in a generation type of pitcher. Yes the hype machine is in full effect when some are calling Zimmerman one of the best defensive third basemen ever before he's completed a season in the majors.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

I think that tell us more about how the rest of America cares about future superstars than it tells us about people here on the east cost.i personally just think that it tells more about kuumuus' persona than it does about anything else. i seriously doubt he thinks we're all fa gs. but who knows.

[thecapecoddah]

whew, for a second there I thought people here were calling jaret wright one of the 25 best players in baseball

[gravymaster]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2396456

Sabathia out 3-5 weeks.

[:bang:]

this thread needs more dancing kitties
fag fag fag fag fag fag fag

[gravymaster]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2397052

HAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[kuumuus]

comeback player of the year indeed. welcome back to the DL, nomah. ha ha

[:bang:]

he should have just gone to the buccos so i could go stalk mia when i go home

[dyln]

damn, sabathia out really hurts the indians. but nomar garciaparra out is funny.

[brad]

former gay porn star kaz tadano has been traded to oakland

OH those fun lovin oakland a's




(nobody tell milton bradley about this)

[Curtis]

Marlins whooped that Astro ass. That is all.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

curtis, unless you're gonna be a regular contributor to this thread who does more than put a one line commentary on his team from time to time, especially if it is "we whopped ass" or whatever, don't bother whoring up the post count. i realize you posted yesterday about the loss, but c'mon.

[Mayor Quimby]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2396456

Sabathia out 3-5 weeks.


I'd be worried if he didn't pull this shit every April. He'll be strong post All-Star break.

Gay porn star Kaz Tadano is actually a solid reliever, but didn't fit into the bullpen.

[Mike]

well i'm sure there's some good studios in sacramento for him... he won't get to the bay area any time this year unless he's cruising in san francisco :X

[Rowdy]

Home opener was a pretty interesting game to watch, although we obviously lost. Just glad that my dad and I were able to see the action there without it becoming a rainout, although it was raining buckets around noon today, so we simply went to the natural history museum and headed out, rather than risk sitting through a neverending rain delay tonight and coming home unhappy at 6 AM or later. Looks like The Dodgers managed to start the second game up late, but we only lost $12 worth of tickets, so.....

.....yeah, Nomar. You really dropped the ball this time.

[Dead Nigga Storage]

you're welcome, kuumuus. scioscia didn't want to win the game, so he decided to put in esteban motherfuckin' yan to face you guys. i told my roommate that the game was over as soon as he came in. and since when do you intentionally walk a guy to get to the power hitter? and why are the angels deciding to strand everyone and their mother in scoring position? this season's over.

edit: and look at this, the angels' comeback would have WON the game if they didn't put in yan. jeez, this hurts. yan should not even be on our roster.

[Mike]

MAAAAAAAAAAAARCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Dead Nigga Storage]

i swear to god, if you do that every game this year, i WILL come to canada and kill you.

[Mike]

well i'm not doing the pictures, but maaaaaarrrrcoooooooo won it tonight.

tough to lose crosby, but i can't help but love how clutch scutaro is.

looks like the a's lost the bill king patch for tonights game. i'm hoping they were just too lazy to sew it on the alternates, because the man deserves a tribute for the whole season

[Spartan]

thank god you only won by one

took the yanks to beat the spread and the under

[Mike]

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=161306&hubname=

fucking chinks

[Dead Nigga Storage]

whine more, world.

i thought it was funny. screw the sensitive people.

[vinceq]

fucking chinks
don't you mean gooks?

[brad]

not to mention the nips/japs

[Sex Cauldron]

don't you mean gooks?
He didn't mention nail salons, Vince.

[kuumuus]

roger clemens is a racist?! get outta here.