2009 MLB season discussion*

[pohibaba]

Definitely didn't think Korea would be as good as they were. Cuba also got knocked out surprisingly quickly. Rather is funny how quick there has been a shift in power between West to the East. I mean, small sample size and all, but you can't deny that they are good teams.

They also take this tournament more seriously than we do. If we had all our best players playing, like the other countries do, then I think we would have been the team to beat.

[Rhinox]

They also take this tournament more seriously than we do. If we had all our best players playing, like the other countries do, then I think we would have been the team to beat.

It's such a bullshit copeout. Unfortunately you are probably correct though lol.

[Ensam]

I really don't think it'd make much of a difference, anyway.

I mean, the best teams in baseball finish with a .600 record. The worst teams in baseball finish with a .400 record.

That means in a 10 game series, the best team would win 6 games and the worst team would win 4 games.

There isn't as much of a difference in players as people act like there are. I mean, are you going to do a lot better with A-Rod than you are going to do with Pedro Feliz? Yeah. Are you going to be better with Chase Utley instead of Dustin Pedroia, with CC Sabathia instead of Jake Peavy? Well, yeah. But you're also going to need a 162 game series to actually be able to have any sort of actual difference. I mean, the difference between a .350 OBP and a .400 OBP is HUGE in a baseball season. But the 400 OBP guy is only getting on base once every 20 PAs over the .350 guy. That's basically one more time in the classic.

Biggest thing imo was the BP, which really should have been better, but that didn't kill us anyway. Poor starting pitching from elite pitchers did.

And they are in a lot better shape, the aznz and such. I do agree with that much, if our guys spent the offseason training for it they should do better. But I don't think a swap of players would make much of a difference.

[fren.]

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7...levatedrow.jpg

So did they not think this portion through? I don't even know how they're gonna fix that, looks like its gonna get too cramped if they decide to install a railing.

Citi Field btw.

[Headspace]

Woops, wrong MLB thread.

Go Reds, fuck everyone else.

[fren.]

Yankee Stadium is fucking MASSIVE. It's pretty awe inspiring shit, if you can conjure up tickets for the place, go.

I'm watching the Encore on TV now and it looks pretty bad (bad camera angle/too much nets) It's gonna take a while to get used to.

[Cephius]

Seconded. It's more than a stadium. Most amazing place I've ever been to, and that's with homerism aside.

[fren.]

For $5-14, it's seriously one of the best deals you're gonna get attending a sporting event. You could probably spend an entire day in that place, just roaming around. That's what a majority of the people were doing, the actual game was just an appetizer.

[Ferien]

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7...levatedrow.jpg

So did they not think this portion through? I don't even know how they're gonna fix that, looks like its gonna get too cramped if they decide to install a railing.

Citi Field btw.

The placement of that middle row is just begging for someone to get soda kicked all over them.

[Penthesilea]

I know it's exhibition games, but since when does baseball end in a tie? I saw the score of the Jays/someone else game and it was 1-1 Final.

[Akiyama]

Since...forever? Why go to extra innings past the 10th inning in a spring training game? lol

[Penthesilea]

Since...forever? Why go to extra innings past the 10th inning in a spring training game? lol

They only played 9 though. I guess it's manager's decisions if they wanna go extras? I've seen them go longer than 10 I think.

[Akiyama]

Yep, pretty much. Manager's discretion.

[fren.]

They only played 9 though. I guess it's manager's decisions if they wanna go extras? I've seen them go longer than 10 I think.

Ties are the dumbest fucking thing in sports, I have no idea how hockey fans put up with that garbage.

[Bregor]

Ties are the dumbest fucking thing in sports, I have no idea how hockey fans put up with that garbage.

NHL games haven't ended in a tie for a while now. Regular season games have a 5 minute overtime, followed by a shootout if no one scores. Playoff games just have 20 minute overtimes until someone scores.

But yeah, spring training games, who cares. They probably have their pitchers set to throw a certain amount of innings before the season starts, no point in stretching them beyond that.

[Soa]

Season kicks off with the defending World Fucking Champs tonight, I'm so pumped. Now that the offseason dust has settled here's my predictions.

AL East
1. Red Sox
2. Rays - WC
3. Yankees
4. Blue Jays
5. Orioles

AL Central
1. Twins
2. Indians
3. White Sox
4. Royals
5. Tigers

AL West
1. Angels
2. Athletics
3. Rangers
4. Mariners

NL East
1. Phillies
2. Mets - WC
3. Braves
4. Marlins
5. Nationals

NL Central
1. Cubs
2. Cardinals
3. Brewers
4. Reds
5. Astros
6. Pirates

NL West
1. Diamondbacks
2. Giants
3. Dodgers
4. Rockies
5. Padres

AL Playoffs
Red Sox over Twins 3-1
Rays over Angels 3-1
Red Sox over Rays 4-3

NL Playoffs
Phillies over Diamondbacks 3-1
Mets over Cubs 3-1
Phillies over Mets 4-3

World Series
Phillies over Red Sox 4-3

MVP
Kevin Youkilis
Albert Pujols

Cy Young
Roy Halladay
Brandon Webb

Manager
Ron Gardenhire
Bruce Bochy


Yeah its a homer pick, and yeah I realize pretty no one ever repeats, but I like our team a whole lot this year and think we can pull it off again. I've noticed a lot of people are picking the Dodgers to win the West, but honestly I don't see it. Even some experts are picking the wild card from the West, which absolutely boggles my mind seeing as how none of them are even very good.

I should also note that I think any one of the big 3 in the AL East can win it, and its a damn shame one of them will be the odd man out.

[Akiyama]

AL East
1. Yankees
2. Red Sox - WC
3. Rays
4. Blue Jays
5. Orioles

AL Central
1. Indians
2. Twins
3. White Sox
4. Tigers
5. Royals

AL West
1. Angels
2. Athletics
3. Rangers
4. Mariners

NL East
1. Phillies
2. Mets - WC
3. Marlins
4. Braves
5. Nationals

NL Central
1. Cubs
2. Cardinals
3. Brewers
4. Astros
5. Reds
6. Pirates

NL West
1. Dodgers
2. Giants
3. Diamondbacks
4. Rockies
5. Padres

Not doing postseason or awards. Just regular season standings.

[Bregor]

NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Cubs
NL West: D-Backs
NL Wild Card: Mets

AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Indians
AL West: Angels
AL Wild Card: Rays

World Series: Cubs over Angels

This is what I picked back in February, I'll stand by it except for I'll say the Dodgers will win the NL West now that Manny is on board. Expanded:

AL East: Red Sox, Rays (WC), Yankees, Orioles, Blue Jays
AL Central: Indians, Twins, White Sox, Royals, Tigers
AL West: Angels, A's, Rangers, Mariners

NL East: Phillies, Mets (WC), Marlins, Braves, Nationals
NL Central: Cubs, Cardinals, Brewers, Reds, Astros, Pirates
NL West: Dodgers, D-Backs, Giants, Rockies, Padres

AL MVP: Grady Sizemore
NL MVP: Ryan Howard
AL Cy Young: C.C. Sabathia
NL Cy Young: Johan Santana
AL ROY: Matt Wieters
NL ROY: Cameron Maybin
AL Manager: Eric Wedge
NL Manager: Joe Torre

[Rhinox]

AL West: Cubs
AL central: Cubs
AL East: Cubs
WC: Cubs

NL East: Cubs
NL West: Cubs
NL Central: Cubs
WC: Cubs

AL MVP: Aramis Ramirez
NL MVP: Aramis Ramirez

Fuck you guys we winning it all this year!

Spoiler: show

AL East: Bosox
AL Central: Indians
AL West: Angels
AL WC: Yankee's

NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Cubs
NL West: Dbacks
NL WC: Marlins

Won't do Post season cause its too painful

[Headspace]

No better than 4th for Cincinnati? Fuck you guys. ALL OF YOU ARE HATERS. WE ARE THE ULTIMATE DARK HORSE THIS YEAR. I'VE BEEN A MICHIGAN STA...CINCINNATI REDS FAN FOREVER AND THEY'RE AWESOME.

So fuck you!

I'm hoping for a wild card this year.