2008 MLB Season

[Lordcaim]

as most of ya know spring training started last week! I wanna try and get opinions from ya guys on who u think is gonna take it all the way this year? who made the best off-season moves? who made the worst off-season moves?

The way ima sum in up in the American league is no different then last year. I expect the yankees,red sox,angels, and indians all in the post season again. seeing as how am i yankee fan i expect them to do good despite losing torre as thier manager. they also added depth to their bullpen and will have a healthy starting rotation and as we all know thier lineup is prolly the best in baseball, but my question is are they good enough to be ahead of the sox this year? idk it will be interesting in the AL east like it was last season. But then again the angels added some weapons in the off-season so they will be very dangerous

as for the national league I dont think too highly of many teams thier. sure the astros added tejada but i still dont expect them to be good. I think the mets will be the best in the NL this year despite thier beings for failing usually in september, I expect them to walk away with the east. NL west is prolly the worst division in the MLB but i expect the rockies to take it, very young team and they play fundamental baseball. the central or wild card i have no clue atm lol

[Penthesilea]

NL east is gonna be a toss up between Philadelphia and NY. The Braves have a chance if their starting pitchers stay real healthy. Tim Hudson, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, and Mike Hampton can all win 15+ games.

I think the Tigers picked up a shit load of talent, but not sure if the pitching will be able to sustain them. Renteria and Cabrera will make it a competitive team.

Back to the NL, in the West I think it'll be the Dodgers, being that they're the most well-rounded. Rockies = no pitching and Dbacks = poor offense.

[Lordcaim]

Braves will be an interesting team to watch, they have a good rotation but ive been iffy on hampton his whole career(he's hurt too much) and besides texiera idk if they got anymore real threats with the bat

Dodgers will be a well rounded team, i think picking up torre as the manager was a good move since he knows what he's doing. Rockies may not have a good rotation but the way the played end of last season was phenominal, i could see dodgers-rockies taking west-wildcard

[blister1]

AL East: Yanks: No shitty April and they in all likelihood win the division. Joba/Hughes/Kennedy > the shit they trotted out in April/May. Sox are gonna take the WC.

AL Central: Tigers: Carmona won't repeat his success and their offense asides from Hafner possibly not sucking is still the same. Tigers offense is just stupid good, but their pitching leaves a lot to be desired. They essentially have no bullpen as Zumaya is probably finished for good (if not, I doubt you'll be seeing the 103mpg Joel again) and asides from Verlander the rotation is pretty weak.

AL West: Angels: Seattle has the best 1-2 punch in the AL, but they arguably have one of the worst offenses in the league. Angels improved their offense and defense by a decent amount with Hunter and their pitching is pretty solid, even though I don't expect Escobar to be as good as last year.

I don't feel like doing the NLOL, as the Mets are the heavy favorite. DBacks fall into the Mariners category, Phillies can only go as far as Hamels carries them so WC if probably it, and Colorado is taking the Central (as bad as it is)

[Penthesilea]

Jones and Teixeira will give any pitcher trouble. You can't pitch around two GREAT switch hitters. What the Braves need for those two, is production from the 2 guys in front of them. If Diaz, Johnson, Escobar, and Anderson can manage to get on base, there's plenty of runs there.



The AL is always so blah to me, none of the teams excite me as there's very little parity between teams. I'd rather see tight races than guys winning their division by 15+ games.

[Lordcaim]

its all because of the DH in the AL, u have ur power hitter as a DH as compared to ur pitcher hitting in the NL, thats pretty much why the AL dominates but they usually struggle come WS time cause of that pitcher hitting slot.

I think the Braves would of been a bigger threat had they hung on to andruw jones but hey anything is possible in the NL

[Viq]

I just got back from spending the past 4 days in Fort Myers watching Sox and Twins games. I'm so happy to have baseball back.

My Predictions

AL East:
Red Sox
Yankees - Wild Card
Blue Jays
Rays
Orioles

AL Central:
Tigers
Indians
White Sox
Twins
Royals

AL West:
Angels
Mariners
A's
Rangers

NL East:
Mets
Phillies - Wild Card
Braves
Nationals
Marlins

NL Central:
Brewers
Cubs
Cardinals
Astros
Reds
Pirates

NL West:
Padres
Diamondbacks
Rockies
Dodgers
Giants

Mets vs. Red Sox is my World Series prediction, with the Sox winning in six games.

I wouldn't be surprised if all of this is totally wrong. As John Sterling would say, "You know, Suzyn, you just can't predict baseball."

[Akiyama]

As a Braves fan, I should go with the homer pick, but I just can't seem to bring myself to do it. After watching the last few years with Hampton "looking good in Spring Training" then "Osnap, I'm injured again, sry gaiz".. I just can't trust him at all. With Hudson, Smoltz, Glavine, and an improved Chuck James at 4, I think the Braves have one of the deepest rotations in the NL. If Hampton can stay uninjured and at least provide some quality starts, I'll be happy. I'm not worried about our offense. Escobar really did well playing in for Edgar at SS last year, so I expect big things from him, and Franky/McCann are doing well too.

As far as the Mets go, I think they will win the East. I don't trust their pitching (especially Santana since he gives up a lot of HRs and fly balls) plus the rest of their pitching staff is unpredictable. Pedro .. you can't rust him with his health either as he's getting older.

Anyway, my predictions:

East: Mets
Central: Cubs
West: D-Backs (Pitching is just too damn good)
Wild Card: Toss-up between Dodgers and Braves (I hope)

The West all together is gonna be good again this year.

As far as the AL, I don't care describing what I normally would as a lot of teams are coming back the same (except the Tigers that bulked up like a motherfucker.)

East: Yankees
Central: Tigers
West: Angels (til another team proves they can dethrone them)
Wild Card: Toss-up between Red Sox and Indians

I'm just so glad to have baseball back <3

[Brill Weave]

Fuck baseball. I don't give a rat's ass about it anymore thanks to the government. We have millions of people living under the poverty line and they are wasting millions of dollars on hearings about baseball players using HGH when it wasn't even illegal in baseball at the time. Way to completely waste my tax dollars.

[Ace-o-fire]

Let's go tigers. Hope to go the injurys dont fuck us over this year.

[Lordcaim]

im really hoping for another mets sept meltdown because last season i went to the yankees vs. mets @ shea and when the mets won the fans absolutely trashed the yankee fans by saying "let's go red sox" i only wish for one NY team to prevail and it has to be the yanks.

I love the braves pitching staff but i just dont see the depth in their lineup

[blister1]

its all because of the DH in the AL, u have ur power hitter as a DH as compared to ur pitcher hitting in the NL, thats pretty much why the AL dominates but they usually struggle come WS time cause of that pitcher hitting slot.

I think the Braves would of been a bigger threat had they hung on to andruw jones but hey anything is possible in the NL

Huh? The pitcher slot in the NL makes it A LOT easier for NL pitchers to get by. I've seen way too many pitchers post very good numbers in the NL and switch over the AL and get trashed.

[Viq]

its all because of the DH in the AL, u have ur power hitter as a DH as compared to ur pitcher hitting in the NL, thats pretty much why the AL dominates but they usually struggle come WS time cause of that pitcher hitting slot.

There's two sides to this. What the AL team gives up in an NL ballpark (DH typically pushes a normal position player to the bench) they more than make up for in other areas. While under NL rules, the AL pitchers get to work on easier lineups. It's no secret that there are very few catchers that are offensive threats in today's game, and pitchers (save Micah Owings) are even worse in that category. That's virtually a guaranteed easy inning every time through the line-up.

The opposite applies to interleague matches in AL ballparks. NL pitchers are used to having "freebie" innings, and therefore struggle when facing AL rosters that are typically deeper one through nine. One the offensive side, NL teams don't carry a tremendous hitter just to fill in for interleague games. Their lineups don't get bolstered as much by simply replacing a pitcher with a player that is often used as a defensive replacement or pinch runner.

Overall, the two sets of rules favor the AL teams. This can be seen in both World Series records since 1972, and regular season interleague play since 1997. The AL holds a 21-14 advantage in World Series victories since 1972, and a 1250-1202 advantage in regular season interleague play. For a league that you claim is penalized by alternate rule sets, they sure haven't played like it.

[Akiyama]

its all because of the DH in the AL, u have ur power hitter as a DH as compared to ur pitcher hitting in the NL, thats pretty much why the AL dominates but they usually struggle come WS time cause of that pitcher hitting slot.

I think the Braves would of been a bigger threat had they hung on to andruw jones but hey anything is possible in the NL

Huh? The pitcher slot in the NL makes it A LOT easier for NL pitchers to get by. I've seen way too many pitchers post very good numbers in the NL and switch over the AL and get trashed.

Funny you mention that because I've seen a lot of AL pitchers switch to the NL and get equally trashed. Barry Zito, Tim Hudson his first couple years and such anyone? Also, Curt Schilling went from the D-Backs to the Red Sox and did quite well himself AL. I think the DH does make it harder for the AL pitchers because you can form a batting order much differently, but I wouldn't say it makes a difference in which league they pitch.

As far as the Braves pitching lineup goes, it is deep if they stay healthy, just like there are other rotations out there that are deep as long as they stay healthy. We don't have "Throw the heat" type pitchers. We have pitchers with incredible location and control though capable of logging many innings (except Hampton, because I hate that waste of skin and bones that have taken up a roster spot/salary for far too long.) I hope Hampton succeeds in the #5 spot (which I assume he will be) and can at least get twenty starts, because while I do feel bad for him, I feel bad for our team much more for making that horrible deal.

[Melena]

viq, i know the giants are going to suck horribly this year, but that doesn't mean they should be removed all together from MLB

[Weeks]

AL East:

Much as I'm praying for Boston's team plane to collide with the Yankees, that is unlikely to happen. The Red Sox are not going to be as good as people suspect, because Pedroia and Ellsbury overachieved last year and will never be the star players they're expected to be. Matsuzaka should be better, and they should be able to fill out the back of the rotation serviceably and turn in a 95 win season in a tough division, but I don't see them as a 100+ win juggernaut. If the Yankees stay healthy, they are right there with the Red Sox, but a team relying so much on position players in their mid 30s and pitchers in their early 20s is not likely to stay healthy.

AL Central:

The Tigers' offseason was not as good as has been made out. Renteria is a good player who shows flashes of greatness, but not a consistent All Star-level player because his defense is worse than the perception of it. Cabrera is a fantastic hitter who gives a ton of runs back in the field, and third starter is now Dontrelle's upside. They didn't do enough to make up ground on the Indians. Even when Carmona slips a little next year, the Indians should carry the division. I peg the Tigers as the most disappointing 88 win team in recent history.

AL West:

Oakland will not be as bad as casual fans are expecting, but the Angels are the only team of note.

NL East:

If the Phillies resign Kyle Lohse, who is now looking for a one-year deal, I give them about 40/60 to take the division. Knowing how much I hate the Mets, I keep looking for ways to talk myself out of thinking their rotation has big-time bust potential, but I can't. Pedro's stuff is hard to distinguish from Jeff Suppan's these days, and he's a major injury risk to boot. Oliver Perez looked like Oliver Perez circa 2006 just about every other start, and his ERA would look a hell of a lot worse if 20 runs weren't credited to the defense. Orlando Hernandez, see Pedro. Santana should be good and Maine should repeat '07, but I see a lot of downside elsewhere in the rotation.

NL Central:

Thank god for Mike Cameron. Reconfiguring the defense after acquiring him did a hell of a lot to close the gap between the Brewers and the Cubs. '08 is going to be painful for my Cardinals, and '09 will be as well if Mozeliak doesn't stop pissing away payroll on people like Joel Pineiro, Cesar Izturis, and Aaron Miles. Those contracts, coming on the heels of them going cheap in the '07 draft when they clearly needed an impact player (See: Rick Porcello), are a kick in the teeth. The Astros will be just as hapless, but they're cursed with a GM who thinks their window is still open.

NL West:

The Dodgers are the most talented team in the division, but Torre seems to be going along with the front office scheme to obscure that fact by blocking all of their young talent with shitty veterans. It's hard to imagine them struggling to another .500ish season, but they certainly appear intent on taking their shot. The D-backs weren't as good as their record last year, but they have a lot of upside in their lineup, so I still see them in a three-way race with the Rockies and Padres (Four-way if the Dodgers get their heads out of their asses).

[archibaldcrane]

While being from Wisconsin, I've always cheered for the Brewers, but they have always been a "poor-man's cubs" meaning "a less-lovable lovable loser team". Last year as they made a run at the playoffs I found myself actively checking the games, watching as many as I could on TV, etc.

So...much...fun. The prospect of them making another playoff run (should be neck and neck with chicago) this year definitely gets me pumped up. Can't wait til they play the Dodgers so I can see some more games in person, and piss off the mexicans by cheering loudly by myself.

Ryan Braun is in the outfield now so he won't be shitting up defense in the infield, so that's an improvement. Hopefully Prince Fielder can get over his sandy vagina regarding his contract and just focus on being better than his father (his stated goal as a major leaguer, and not in a nice way) and Sheets can stay healthy.

[Akiyama]

I don't know. I don't think the Tigers made amazing moves, but they made good enough moves I think out there to get them in first. The Indians though are just as good and with Sabathia/Carmona out there as a 1-2 punch, it's great. The Tigers pitching is good with Verlander, but sometimes, their starters refuse to show up or pitch horribly in the early going, while the Indians pitching could dominate, not to mention their offensive power too. The AL Central is again going to be interesting between those two now that the Twins are basically out of it.

While I agree that the NL East should be a fight between the Mets/Phillies, I don't think the Braves are going to necessarily lie down and die. I think it'll be close for a while before their older pitchers break down though. =[

[Trichocyst]

I cannot wait to see what heated levels the Philadelphia/New York rivalry reaches this season. Go Phils!

The NL East is going to be so competitive this season. It's exciting.

[Akiyama]

I cannot wait to see what heated levels the Philadelphia/New York rivalry reaches this season. Go Phils!

The NL East is going to be so competitive this season. It's exciting.

Everyone keeps leaving out the Braves. D: What the hell, seriously. If Hampton can stay healthy, their pitching isn't bad and their offense is good enough. Oh well, I don't mind them flying under the radar really. A team wins 14 NL East championships in a row, finish 3rd two times in a row and all the sudden, everfyone forgets them.