2010 MLB Season Discussion

[Bozo]

Some of the projections are ridiculous, hard to read too much into them.

[Akiyama]

Harden is feast or famine .. especially in Fantasy. Ugh I hate drafting that bastard, so I avoided him like the plague. I still expect the Angels to win the West until someone takes the crown away.

Also, Bozo, I typed that out with a controller. No extra USB Keyboard for the PS3, so D: Haha. Yeah, the last roster update was March 8, so I expect them to do a monthly sort of thing. No Heyward yet.. so I haven't started a franchise. Just been doing RTTS.

[Moss]

The Mariners are a little too trendy a pick to just hand them the division, like Aki said the Angels are still a really strong team

[Akiyama]

Well IMO, the Angels dropped off a bit with the loss of Figgins and Lackey.. but it's just like any other thing. I don't like projecting someone to beat the champ until they actually prove they can beat the champ.

[Moss]

Figgins had a career year and Lackey is a bit injury prone so I don't think they lost that much. Their lineup is really solid and Pineiro should be able to throw 200 solid innings for them.

[Weeks]

Figgins isn't a 6-win player, but they're still down a 6-win season. I've got them picked, but only because I see Seattle backsliding.

[fren.]

That rotation is pretty mediocre. Weaver's good enough, but not a legit #1, Kazmir starting off on the DL--even when healthy, he's a 6 inning guy. Not sure about their pen, but no standout relievers left after letting Oliver go.

[pohibaba]

For this team:

Spoiler: show

C Matt Wieters
1B Derrek Lee
2B Ian Kinsler
3B Gordon Beckham
SS Hanley Ramirez
2B/SS Aaron Hill
1B/3B Jorge Cantu
OF Adam Lind
OF Jason Bay
OF Nick Markakis
OF Rajai Davis
OF Jason Heyward
UTIL Colby Rasmus
B Josh Willingham

SP CC Sabathia
SP Chris Carpenter
SP Jair Jurrjens
SP Brett Anderson
SP Max Scherzer
SP Brad Penny
RP Brain Wilson
RP Ryan Franklin
RP David Aardsma
RP Mike Gonzalez
RP Leo Nunez

I recieved an offer of Tulowitzki, Andre Eithier, and Billy Butler for Han-Ram and Jason Heyward. I declined it because I need to improve my pitching and because I refuse to have a Dodger on my team. I countered with Tulo, Votto, and Ubaldo Jimenez for Han Ram and Heyward. You guys have any opinions on either deal?

[Akiyama]

I dislike any trade involving HanRam unless it's stud for stud. I think Tulo could be good, and Ethier can be decent, but I'd need a stud in return for a guy like HanRam who fills up AVG, SBs, HR, RBI.. well hell, everything.

[Bregor]

I would take either deal but I just love Tulo, I think he's going to be a monster this year. I like Votto a lot too so I hope the guy takes your counter. I don't really think you need pitching though, CC/Carpenter/Anderson is a solid top three.

As for the AL West discussion, I just think the bottom's about to fall out on the Angels. If you told me Matsui and Kendrick can play a whole season, sure they look pretty good. But is Kendry Morales gonna go 30/100/.300 again? Is Brandon Wood gonna hit enough for a corner? That rotation scares me too, everyone but Weaver comes with some caveat. I don't think Seattle is that great but I also think it'll only take about 90 wins in that division.

[Moss]

I like both trades as well, Tulo isn't much worse than Hanley while Ethier and Butler are both upgrades to your team.

[Akiyama]

Guess I'm the only one who feels like a stud for a stud is the only fair trade, especially with how shallow SS is. D:

[Moss]

I agree with you, but I see Tulo as a stud. Also Cantu is kind of a weak option at corner IF with only decent power and no speed. You can slot Butler in there and move Cantu to the UTIL spot.

[fren.]

PECOTA pegs the New York Yankees to go 90-72. While that record would be good enough to win any of the other five divisions in the major leagues, it will get the Yankees only a third-place finish in the AL East behind the Boston Red Sox (95-67) and wild-card-winning Tampa Bay Rays (91-71). Thus, the Yankees will go home in October, a year after winning it all.
AL East

PECOTA loves Boston's depth, particularly on offense. In fact, it projects everyone in the lineup to reach double-digits in home runs, starting with first baseman Kevin Youkilis (25) and continuing with designated hitter David Ortiz (24), center fielder Mike Cameron (22), catcher Victor Martinez (20), right fielder J.D. Drew (20), second baseman Dustin Pedroia (18), third baseman Adrian Beltre (18), left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (11) and shortstop Marco Scutaro (10). Throw in 56 stolen bases by Ellsbury and a .314 batting average from Pedroia, and it's easy to see why the Red Sox are expected to score 847, second in the majors and eight less than the Yankees.

The Rays are projected to eke out one more win than the Yankees for the wild card. The middle of the order is pegged for 93 homers with third baseman Evan Longoria hitting 34, first baseman Carlos Pena belting 33 and second baseman Ben Zobrist reprising his "Zorilla" role with 26. Add in 46 stolen bases by left fielder Carl Crawford, 37 steals by center fielder B.J. Upton and 14 wins by James Shields, and the Rays should win a lot of games.

The Yankees' only problem will be having the misfortune of playing in the AL East. The lineup will again be power packed withAlex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson all expected to hit at least 27 homers. Javier Vazquez and CC Sabathia are expected to pace the team with 14 wins apiece, and Mariano Rivera can be marked down for another 40 saves.

-Five Yankee regulars projected to hit more homers than any Sox player, yet, score only 8 more runs.

-Longo/Pena/Zobrist will combine for more homers than Tex/ARod/Posada+Cano. The best part was labeling the Sox offense as having depth.

[Akiyama]

Yeah, I saw those on MLB Network's reairing of their predictions and about fell outta my chair at how everyone's picknig the Sox this year. I didn't realize Mike Cameron, Marco Scutaro, and J.D. Drew were soooo accountable.

[Weeks]

PECOTA laid an egg last year and I'll be pretty surprised if it doesn't repeat this year.

[Cephius]

I think everyone (PECOTA especially) is expecting a lot of fall-off from Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, and Mariano. Which hey, could happen. But all 4 of them at once? I doubt it.

[Soa]

I don't trust a guy from Colorado who has bad splits, so I'm not sold on Tulo quite yet. HanRam is a proven stud and easily the best SS in fantasy, so I personally wouldn't trade him for anything short of an Utley or Longoria.

Also Beckett is getting lit up pretty good at the moment. The Granderson HR was an absolute bomb.

[Headspace]

Beckett gettin' raped

[Cephius]

So Gardner stealing home is going to lead ESPN and Wednesday/Sunday night baseball for the next 5 months right? RIGHT?