MLB 09 Predictions

[Chameleon Gangster]

AL EAST
1) Yankees
2) Red Sox
3) Rays
4) Blue Jays
5) Orioles

AL CENTRAL
1) Twins
2) Indians
3) White Sox
4) Royals
5) Tigers

AL WEST
1) Angels
2) Rangers
3) A's
4) Mariners

NL EAST
1) Mets
2) Phillies
3) Marlins
4) Braves
5) Nationals

NL CENTRAL
1) Cubs
2) Cardinals
3) Reds
4) Astros
5) Brewers
6) Pirates

NL WEST
1) Rockies
2) Giants
3) Diamondbacks
4) Dodgers (will slide up to 2nd w/ manny)
5) Padres


Obviously someone might question puting the Rockies at 1st place in the NL West, but here's why I pick them.

Rotation
1) Aaron Cook
2) Ubaldo Jimenez
3) Jason Marquis*
4) Jorge De La Rosa
5) Franklin Morales/Greg Smith/Glendon Rush

*Jeff Francis may miss the beginning of the season but he is a solid #3, thus bumping marquis and de la rosa down a notch when francis comes back.

I feel Ubaldo Jimenez (upper 90's fastball touching 100, nice curve and a nasty slider) is going to have a breakout year, as will Jorge De La Rosa (3.10 ERA the second half, lefty that throws mid 90's with nasty 12-6 hook and a good slider), Aaron Cook will put up a solid season, and Jason Marquis should do decent as a #4 type. Our #5 could be Franklin Morales, who is another lefty that throws upper 90's with a big hook (he was a big part of our run in 2007 but an injury last year caused a poor season). And that is not counting Jeff Francis (17-9 in 2007), who may or may not be ready to play at the start of the season.
Thus their rotation is solved.

Bullpen
At the back end of the bullpen, they have the nasty taylor buccholz, huston street is healthy and pitching well, and hopefully manuel corpas regains his 2007 form. Pretty solid.


Lineup (what I feel the powers that be will put out there)

1) Spilborghs - CF (great OBP guy, great eye, good avg & gap power)
2) Helton - 1B* (hopefully healthy and produces high OBP, if not healthy, atkins at 1st base and stewart at 3rd, OR alternative if stewart found other pos, Joe Koshansky)
3) Atkins - 3B (Moderate power threat with a good average, good gap power and pretty patient)
4) Hawpe - RF (Good power and is patient, can be streaky)
5) Ianetta - C (GREAT power and is very patient. One of the best hitting catchers in MLB and definitely overlooked)
6) Smith - LF* (will be given LF job, stewart deserves)
7) Tulowitzki - SS (good power and average, should return to the top after an injury plagued 2008._
8) Barmes - 2B (hopefully if stewart's not starting anywhere else, he starts here, if stewart has pos and barmes reeks, put in baker. I'd prefer baker in the 1st place anyway, he's got pop)

Bench
1) Jeff Baker - 2B/3B/1B/LF/RF
2) Ian Stewart - 3B/2B/LF
3) Scott Podsednik - LF/CF
4) Omar Quintanilla - IF
5) Yorvit Torrealba - C

The lineup is a step down unless baker starts at 2nd and stewart in left, and helton is healthy...if it was that lineup it would be great. Rotation is very solid and bullpen is very solid. Much more well-rounded than the rest of the division.

[Siu3d]

I agree with ya about the Rockies, but the Dodgers should be a close second. And I see you have the Mets in first place...what's up with that?

A lot of your other predictions look okay for now. It's too early to tell for me. I myself like to wait till after spring training to start making some predictions.

[lostmyface]

i predict the cubs will win the NL central easily but will be promptly shut out by phillies (who will win the east) when it comes time for the pendant.

[Chameleon Gangster]

[QUOTE=Siu 3d;47376]I agree with ya about the Rockies, but the Dodgers should be a close second. And I see you have the Mets in first place...what's up with that?

[QUOTE]

The Dodgers might be second if they sign manny. I just feel their starting pitching isn't adequate at this point with the loss of Derek Lowe (and Brad Penny, who although injured much of last year, is quite tough).
Billingsley is really good, will have a breakout year. Kuroda is pretty solid as well. You better hope Clayton Kershaw has a good year, cuz he HAS the ability. IF he lives up to the hype, you have 3 legit staters. You have nothing for the #4 and #5 spots IMO, Stults, McDonald, Schmidt? The first two are inexperienced and the latter is always injured.

As for the bullpen, Jonathan Broxton has the ability to be a good closer, however he struggled in the role a bit las year, but I'll write him in as a solid closer. You guys lost your potent lefty in Joe Beimel, and a good closer in Saito. Bullpen looks very thin.

The lineup looks pretty weak without Manny. Kemp, Loney, and Ethier are solid, but I feel Dewitt and others have something to prove. Martin needs to be given more rest or he will tank at the plate in the second half. You guys let go of one washed up backup a couple years back in Liberthal, and now you guys go out and sign a similar player in Brad Ausmus. With Manny though, I feel you guys will have the second best offense in the division.



As for the mets, its less-reasoning based, but I feel they have been there the last two years and choked, the players are gonna be able to make it over the hump and win the division this year. Also, Chase Utley has an injured Shoulder, the phillies lost one of their best clutch hitters in Pat "The Bat" Burrell, and Ryan Howard is bitching about a $14 million offer instead of getting $18 million. Beyond those problems, a world series team generally has a bit of a regression the next season, at least in recent history.

[Siu3d]

I'm hoping the Tigers can get their heads in the game this season. I've been been watching 'em since the '03 season when they lost over 100 games, then got in the world series a few years later. But ever since, they've been slowly turning into shit...

[JADA]

[QUOTE=Siu 3d;47376]I agree with ya about the Rockies, but the Dodgers should be a close second. And I see you have the Mets in first place...what's up with that?

[QUOTE]

The Dodgers might be second if they sign manny. I just feel their starting pitching isn't adequate at this point with the loss of Derek Lowe (and Brad Penny, who although injured much of last year, is quite tough).
Billingsley is really good, will have a breakout year. Kuroda is pretty solid as well. You better hope Clayton Kershaw has a good year, cuz he HAS the ability. IF he lives up to the hype, you have 3 legit staters. You have nothing for the #4 and #5 spots IMO, Stults, McDonald, Schmidt? The first two are inexperienced and the latter is always injured.

As for the bullpen, Jonathan Broxton has the ability to be a good closer, however he struggled in the role a bit las year, but I'll write him in as a solid closer. You guys lost your potent lefty in Joe Beimel, and a good closer in Saito. Bullpen looks very thin.

The lineup looks pretty weak without Manny. Kemp, Loney, and Ethier are solid, but I feel Dewitt and others have something to prove. Martin needs to be given more rest or he will tank at the plate in the second half. You guys let go of one washed up backup a couple years back in Liberthal, and now you guys go out and sign a similar player in Brad Ausmus. With Manny though, I feel you guys will have the second best offense in the division.



As for the mets, its less-reasoning based, but I feel they have been there the last two years and choked, the players are gonna be able to make it over the hump and win the division this year. Also, Chase Utley has an injured Shoulder, the phillies lost one of their best clutch hitters in Pat "The Bat" Burrell, and Ryan Howard is bitching about a $14 million offer instead of getting $18 million. Beyond those problems, a world series team generally has a bit of a regression the next season, at least in recent history.

actually utleys hip is messed up but he got surgery over the off season and should be healthy soon. and we replaced burrell with raul ibaniaz no idea how to spell that shit.

[Chameleon Gangster]

I'm hoping the Tigers can get their heads in the game this season. I've been been watching 'em since the '03 season when they lost over 100 games, then got in the world series a few years later. But ever since, they've been slowly turning into shit...

I saw a tigers game last year against the white sox in early april...I liked the ballpark quite a bit. I'd like to see them do well. Definitely my AL team. I just don't feel that they have enough pitching.

[M. Samuel Chevalier]

Smoltz will give the Red Sox the edge down the stretch in September, and ultimately in October.

[Siu3d]

Smoltz will give the Red Sox the edge down the stretch in September, and ultimately in October.

His old age was stating to show last year where he played very little with injuries and surgeries. I don't see him helping out the Sox getting to the post season, but once there, he'll be a huge asset. That is, if he can keep his body in check...

[M. Samuel Chevalier]

His old age was stating to show last year where he played very little with injuries and surgeries. I don't see him helping out the Sox getting to the post season, but once there, he'll be a huge asset. That is, if he can keep his body in check...

I think the plan the Sox have expressed in order to prevent him from getting used as well as heal from his surgery will help fight off the old age that last year (finally) started to catch up to him.


Or maybe I'm just hoping it :)

[pill popper]

sadly the blue jays will continue to suck ass

[Angry Blue Bird of Death]

The Yankees will win the world series, you can quote me later.

[M. Samuel Chevalier]

The Yankees will win the world series, you can quote me later.

Yup, I bet May-Rod is gonna carry you all the way through OCTOBER...

[aquabania]

gogo angels

giants are acceptable as well

[Memorex]

The Brewers as FIFTH in the Central??? Are you crazy? They've been playoff contenders for the past 3 years. It began way before CC, he was just the final push to put them in the playoffs finally. I see the Cubs having a strong season but the Brewers once again putting up a very close race.

[M. Samuel Chevalier]

The Brewers as FIFTH in the Central??? Are you crazy? They've been playoff contenders for the past 3 years. It began way before CC, he was just the final push to put them in the playoffs finally. I see the Cubs having a strong season but the Brewers once again putting up a very close race.

What, is Jeff Suppan gonna lead them to the pennant?


:rolleyes:

[JADA]

phillies for the repeat.

[Memorex]

What, is Jeff Suppan gonna lead them to the pennant?


:rolleyes:

The combined effort of the Brewers bullpen will. Providing Gallardo has an injury-free season, and with Big Red (McClung) stepping up into the starting position, I wouldn't count the Brewers out just yet. Win the pennant? Not saying that, but they are going to be contenders in the NL Central.

[Chameleon Gangster]

I do agree with you that McClung will have a good season if he can get his stamina up to that of a normal starter's. He throws mid-90's and has a really nice 12-6 curve. I just feel the Brewer's have lost too much pitching though, losing Sheets and Sabathia...I also feel the other teams have improved...Who knows how the season will play out though.

[Memorex]

I do agree with you that McClung will have a good season if he can get his stamina up to that of a normal starter's. He throws mid-90's and has a really nice 12-6 curve. I just feel the Brewer's have lost too much pitching though, losing Sheets and Sabathia...I also feel the other teams have improved...Who knows how the season will play out though.

Good point. Well, baseball always his its twists and turns so we'll see.

[Siu3d]

I'm waiting to see where Manny's going to play...the guy keeps turning down deals and is still a free agent AFAIK. I think he should stick with the Dodgers...

[Chameleon Gangster]

I'm waiting to see where Manny's going to play...the guy keeps turning down deals and is still a free agent AFAIK. I think he should stick with the Dodgers...

I'd laugh if he signed somewhere shitty like washington just cuz they paid him the $$$

[Memorex]

I'd laugh if he signed somewhere shitty like washington just cuz they paid him the $$$

Wouldn't surprise me. Some players piss me off with their greed for money. The players who have a true love for the game are few and far between. What happened to the players who stayed with a franchise because they were a part of it and wanted them to suceed?

[Siu3d]

Poor, poor A-Rod...what will you do now?

[Memorex]

Meh suck that only A-Rod himself has to deal through all of the scrutiny when obviously he wasn't the only person doing it. He's still a cheat though and if this is what has to happen to stop steroids in baseball, then it must bear some ground.

[kelsokid18]

Ladies and Gentlemen, the starting Center Fielder for the Seattle Mariners....Number 24....KEN GRIFFEY JR.

[Memorex]

Ladies and Gentlemen, the starting Center Fielder for the Seattle Mariners....Number 24....KEN GRIFFEY JR.

washed up

[Chameleon Gangster]

washed up

Yeah he was probably a roider.

[Chameleon Gangster]

The Rockies' first spring training game is in like 45 hours, GO ROCKIES!

[Siu3d]

Spring training is coming to a close...just thought I would bump this to remind y'all.

[pill popper]

The toronto blue jays will suck even more then ever

[schnide]

Los Angeles Dodgers.

That is all.

[Siu3d]

Los Angeles Dodgers.

That is all.

So, is Manny staying with the Dodgers or what? I could never understand that guy...

[Memorex]

So, is Manny staying with the Dodgers or what? I could never understand that guy...

Where have you been?

[Memorex]

The toronto blue jays will suck even more then ever

Not when Halladays on the mound

[Siu3d]

Where have you been?

I was just making a statement in the form of a question...And I would also like to add that I'm getting sick and tired of this "Manny being Manny" shit. Oh well, he's in the national league now and out of my viewing area, so why do I care...

[neil420]

The toronto blue jays will suck even more then ever

Agreed. Cubs will win the Central. I pray this is the year, but am not expecting a Series win. I gave up on that a long time ago. And I doubt Ken Griffey ever used steroids, and am glad he came back to the Mariners.

[pill popper]

Not when Halladays on the mound

sadly that is the only bright spot for them

god damn it :mad:

[pill popper]

I am shocked to see the blue jays winning and not by one runs games either

yeah i know it's only the first 11 games but still it is a pleasant surprise

[Manifesto]

The Pirates have been quite the surprise so far. I think their success will continue, they seem the next Devil Rays. In the last Padres series the young guys really came into their own. I won't say playoffs yet, but a Wild Card ticket next year won't surprise me at all.

[JADA]

howard with a grand slam then ibanez with the grand slam. fuck pat burrell ibanez all day.

[Memorex]

The Pirates have been quite the surprise so far. I think their success will continue, they seem the next Devil Rays. In the last Padres series the young guys really came into their own. I won't say playoffs yet, but a Wild Card ticket next year won't surprise me at all.

Pirates? No, they'll still finish at the lower half of the NL Central. The Brewers have a dominant record over them (like 17 straight games I think), just swept them, and they start a new series tomorrow.

I likw the Blue Jays this year as the underdog

[The Green Arrow]

Who would have thought that Adam Lind would be tied for second in the majors in RBI

[Siu3d]

Who would have thought that Adam Lind would be tied for second in the majors in RBI

And who would have thought that the two Cy Young winners last year are off to a pretty bad start this year...that's baseball for ya.

[The Green Arrow]

And who would have thought that the two Cy Young winners last year are off to a pretty bad start this year...that's baseball for ya.

To be honest, I didn't expect much from Lee this year. Last year was the only year he did better than mediocre

[M. Samuel Chevalier]

If Lee got any run support he'd be doing alright. His stuff was damn shaky at the start but he's settled down as of late.

Linceceum is young...but good. He'll bring it back together soon.

[The Green Arrow]

If Lee got any run support he'd be doing alright. His stuff was damn shaky at the start but he's settled down as of late.

Linceceum is young...but good. He'll bring it back together soon.

Lincecum is the future

He'll be Roy Halladay of the NL, always close but won't win it too many times if he keeps playing for the Giants

To think before last season the Jays could have trade Rios for him

[M. Samuel Chevalier]

To think before last season the Jays could have trade Rios for him

yeah but to be fair everyone back then was still creaming themselves over rios

[The Green Arrow]

yeah but to be fair everyone back then was still creaming themselves over rios

A bit yeah. But even then he barely had a 20/90 season

[Siu3d]

Manny being Manny?

http://tinyurl.com/ccpb4v

[The Green Arrow]

"Manny Ramirez, the most popular and most talented of the Dodger players, was suspended for 50 games today after testing positive for what a source identified as a drug most commonly used in the treatment of female infertility."

WTF! :eek:

[The Green Arrow]

Did anyone catch A-Rod homering in his first AB?

[Siu3d]

Did anyone catch A-Rod homering in his first AB?

No, they didn't air that game in my viewing area or else I would have watched it.

That home run turned out to be the game winner too. This is good news for A-Rod, but what does it say about the Yankees as a whole? Does the rest of the season rest on his shoulders, or are the other players gonna step up and help out?

Edit: The day wasn't a complete loss for me...instead of watching the Yankees, I watch Verlander dominate the Indians...AGAIN!! :D

[The Green Arrow]

No, they didn't air that game in my viewing area or else I would have watched it.

That home run turned out to be the game winner too. This is good news for A-Rod, but what does it say about the Yankees as a whole? Does the rest of the season rest on his shoulders, or are the other players gonna step up and help out?

Edit: The day wasn't a complete loss for me...instead of watching the Yankees, I watch Verlander dominate the Indians...AGAIN!! :D

I think it will be a combination of him, Texeira and Sabbathia. The Yankees need them to have very good years in order to be competitive.

I don't think Burnett will be good this year. I've watched with the Jays, both on T.V and live, and he only had half a good year.

[Siu3d]

Zack Greinke finally got his first loss of the year. I guess he's human after all...

[The Green Arrow]

Zack Greinke finally got his first loss of the year. I guess he's human after all...

I think he's this year's Cliff Lee

[M. Samuel Chevalier]

I think he's this year's Cliff Lee

Yeah, except Greinke is a stud with a bright career ahead of him. Lee is finishing up his (more than not) lackluster "prime" and will have faded into obscurity within 3-5 years. Greinke will be a number 1 twelve years from now.

[The Green Arrow]

Yeah, except Greinke is a stud with a bright career ahead of him. Lee is finishing up his (more than not) lackluster "prime" and will have faded into obscurity within 3-5 years. Greinke will be a number 1 twelve years from now.

I'm not sold on him just yet.

If he has a good year next year then ya

[M. Samuel Chevalier]

I'm not sold on him just yet.

If he has a good year next year then ya

I can understand that. The tools are there, but he hasn't strung it all together...yet. I think this season will be the change.

[The Green Arrow]

I can understand that. The tools are there, but he hasn't strung it all together...yet. I think this season will be the change.

He could have a good year, but he'll need to get some run support

[Memorex]

He could have a good year, but he'll need to get some run support

QFT

[The Green Arrow]

Anyone catch the Yankees game?

It was Burnett's return to Toronto:D

[Memorex]

Anyone catch the Yankees game?

It was Burnett's return to Toronto:D

Yeah, Halladay pitched a gem while Burnett didn't. I loved it.

[The Green Arrow]

Yeah, Halladay pitched a gem while Burnett didn't. I loved it.

It was awesome. With 2 out in the 8th, Burnett got pulled and was booed by 45000! The whole game was just amazing; one of the bests I've seen

[Siu3d]

Just thought I'd post this...

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/2862/papebeingpapi.jpg

...a little t-shirt design I created.

[M. Samuel Chevalier]

Just thought I'd post this...

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/2862/papebeingpapi.jpg

...a little t-shirt design I created.

Gah, I'd be pissed but it really is the truth