Predictions for your team?

[Ca$ino]

I say the dodger take the west but struggle to do so thanks to their yearly fuck ups after the all star game and constant losing streaks and winning streaks that always make them a decent team but not good enough to beat the phillies.

they do awesome, then they suck ass, then awesome, then suck ass, then even out, then suck real ass, then kick ass, and even out to just win the west over real crappy division opponents

 

[EmpireWF]

With the Mets, it's rough. Assuming guys can stay healthy this year, maybe they can make a run. That's a big IF though because I do not have a lot of faith in the rotation past Santana and the bullpen besides K-Rod.

Beltran won't play until April/May so there goes his power.

To tell you the truth, I'm expecting a bad year from them. 70-80 wins bad. If they can do better, I'd be surprised.

 

[Golden Taters]

I say the Mariners will win the now weaker AL West and could finish behind New York with the best record in the American League.

 

[SuperKevin]

I feel the Nationals have made enough improvements to avoid finishing in last place in the NL East for a change. Unfortunately that will likely come at the expense of the Mets. I'm guessing the Nationals win 75-80 games

 

[mobbdeep1122]

The Phillies have been relatively healthy the last 2 seasons, so I think we're due to get hit with the injury bug. That's my biggest worry.

I think this is the best Phillies team of the last 3 years. If the core of this team stays healthy, they'll coast to another division title and will make a deep run in the playoffs again. There's no reason to believe that this team can't get back to the World Series for a 3rd straight season.

 

[Lumpkin]

Well I can't imagine being destoryed by injuries as bad as we were last year (although not off to a good start with Beltran) so that should be somewhat of an improvement. Still a lot of ifs that have to go the Mets way and I think the NL East is going to be pretty strong this year. The Mets will probably end up around .500 (at least with in 5 games above or below). If they compete for the wildcard, I will be happy

 

[WrightStuff]

For the Mets Im guestimating about 88. If you wanna hate on me, just dont... :serious:

 

[West]

I say the Mariners will win the now weaker AL West and could finish behind New York with the best record in the American League.

I sort of agree. I think the Mariners have a decent shot at the division this year but it isnt weaker by any means

To predict my Mariners to have a great season is a classic display of homerism, but its not without reason

In what i'm pretty certain is going to be Junior's last season in baseball, he says hes feeling very healthy and a lot of experts have predicted for him to have another 20+ homerun year at DH. Along with Milton Bradley and Franklin Gutierrez we ought to have enough power to get by. We also got Mike Sweeney to a minor league deal and will likely see some playing time this season. Eric Byrnes is a slugger and a reserve in the outfield now, as well as signing Ryan Garko who will be a reserve player in most situations but has a .313 career batting avg vs left handing pitching.

The signing of Casey Kotchman isnt exciting but he is debatabley one of the top defensive first baseman right now, which is what Jack Z has been building this team around, defense and pitching.

We now have Chone Figgins at the #2 spot behind Ichiro in the batting lineup too, and I dont have to explain how nice that will work out for the M's

Pitching is looking great this year too with King Felix & Cliff Lee. Erik Bedard will be back in May, and when hes healthy hes one of the best. Ryan Rowland-Smith is a quality starter, I feel like Ian Snell has the potential to be a productive member of the rotation, and I say with great homerism that Doug Fister is an excellent young pitching prospect who I feel like will have a lot of great contributions to the team this year. What i'm really hoping for is Seattle inks up Jarrod Washburn again, I have read rumors that hes interested. A Hernandez - Lee - Bedard- Washburn- Rowland-Smith rotation along with the defense we have would be scary. Last season the Mariners had the lowest ERA of any team in baseball anyway, and our pitching has only gotten better.

The bullpen is improved as well, and we have David Aardsma as the full time closer now and he had a great year last year, and we brought in some good young talent with Brandon League, and we got rid of Brandon Morrow who had a habit of making us lose every single game he was involved in.

So anyway i'm hoping for a division win, but it will not come easy because LA and Texas are hot, and Oakland is much improved. It will be a hard fought season but i dont think the mariners will disapoint

 

[West]

No Luke French analysis? I've heard Seattle fans love him.

I liked him in Detroit too...which is why I'm confused we traded him for an older, more expensive, Lucas French.

I do like Luke French a lot, but he does not look to be one of the 5 starting pitchers in the rotation come the beginning of the season. If one of our pitchers gets hurt though, I am confident that French will get the job done for us

 

[Nash]

if the braves dont go 162-0 i'll be dissapointed

 

[SHOGUN]

Cardinals win the Central.
Fall in the NLCS.
Pujols for MVP....again.

 

[chazmaniandevil]

I'm going out on a huge fucking limb here.

The Pirates will finish .500 or above and Pedro Alvarez will win NL ROTY.

will alvarez play enough?

 

[Nash]

I'm going out on a huge fucking limb here.

The Pirates will finish .500 or above and Pedro Alvarez will win NL ROTY.

Jason Heyward says hello :wave:

 

[Berowsk]

The Phillies have been relatively healthy the last 2 seasons, so I think we're due to get hit with the injury bug. That's my biggest worry.

I think this is the best Phillies team of the last 3 years. If the core of this team stays healthy, they'll coast to another division title and will make a deep run in the playoffs again. There's no reason to believe that this team can't get back to the World Series for a 3rd straight season.

this.

 

[chazmaniandevil]

Departures - Randy Winn (Yankees), Randy Johnson (N/A), Ryan Garko (Mariners), Brad Penny (Cardinals), Bob Howry (Diamondbacks)

Arrivals - Mark DeRosa (Cardinals), Aubrey Huff (Tigers), Todd Wellemeyer (Cardinals), Madison Bumgarner+Buster Posey+Dan Runzler (Minor League System)

My Prediction - 3rd in NL West [No Playoffs]

Why? - First, let's go over the division. The Giants play in (imo) the toughest division to win in baseball. This year, I see four possible teams that can win this thing. I have the rival Dodgers as number one. Sure, they didn't do MUCH during this offseason, but they still play strong fundamental baseball, have a wicked bullpen, and have a scary 3-4 with ManRam and Ethier. I have the Rockies as number two, as well as the National League Wildcard winners. They solidified their bench, and locked up Huston Street long term. They also have a solid pitching staff, even with Marquis gone. I like the 2nd team in the NL West taking the wildcard, and I think the Giants have a good shot at number 2, so I will say Colorado and San Francisco are interchangeable. While the Giants got better this offseason, I personally don't think they got what they needed to win the division. While the additions of Aubrey Huff and Mark DeRosa help the anemic offense, I have some questions I'd ask Brian Sabean.

1. Why the fuck would you let Ryan Garko go and his 500k contract, then go and sign Aubrey Huff for 3m after a terrible season?

A: They shouldn't have, but if Aubrey Huff plays like he did in 2008, not 2009, we will be one step closer to a division title.

2. Why the fuck would you sign Bengie Molina?

A: Purely to handle the pitchers. Listen, I have a fat man crush on Buster Posey, and I want to see the kid succeed. But maybe, just maybe, Sabes is right on this one. There have been reports of his inability to handle fastballs in the squat. I'm one of the fans that likes the idea of changing Buster's position to shortstop. The way I see it, you drafted Buster this high because of his potential bat at a position where his numbers are scarce. Matt Weiters and Joe Mauer come to mind as squatters with swats like Posey, and that's some big company. I don't agree with moving him to 1st or 3rd, as you can pick someone up with power numbers easily. Shortstop, however, doesn't see many bats like Posey. In fact, the fist guy that comes to mind is Troy Tulowitzki, probably even better. I see .275-80/25-30/90 years in Posey's future, something unprecedented for a shortstop.

I have the Diamondbacks finishing 4th, making enough moves to finish ahead of the lowly Padres (who still arent as big of scrubs as people thing). Holes in their bats (too high of k numbers) and poor back of the rotation hurt the Snakes, and drop them to 4th.

Overall, I'm going to have fun watching the Giants this year. I'll be looking for Posey and Bumgarner, and will cross my fingers for a playoff spot, as it is not out of the question.

 

[Lanteri]

Man you're ignorant. So because hes recovering from injury, he cant play anymore? Hes nearly a gurantee for 4.30 ERA, 185+ innings, and thats not good enough to be a 4th starter? Thats better than each and every 4th starter in baseball! You're blinded with your own hate for him. I cant waste anymore time with somebody who judges players on bad seasons and ignores the good ones.

Dice-K, Vazquez, Blackburn, Danks, Hudson, Happ, Cueto, Sanchez, etc. beg to differ.

I don't disagree with the fact that Bonderman has the potential to be a decent back of the rotation starter, when he's healthy, but the fact that he hasn't been in years makes him far from a "guarantee" to do anything. And even when he's healthy, he's not what your bold quote there says he is. He's merely an average to slightly above back of the rotation starter, nothing more.

 

[Lanteri]

Willis was a wreck since 2005, he was nothing since then. He didnt get hit with "injuries" until 2008.

The only thin that stop Bonderman from being great was injuries. Just look at his 2006 season, his great playoff performance, and his all star start to '07. He came into his zone and had his best years ahead of him. The only reason he was stopped was the blood clot in his throwing arm. He wont ever have his velocity back.

I'm not saying hes an ace, but you cant ignore the strides he made every season and how good he was before injuries. He was dominant in the 2006 postseason (3.10 ERA) and was a top 5 pitcher in the first half of 2007 season and the Tigers playoff chances that year crashed and burned when his arm did.

Hes a more then capable middle of the rotation pitcher. You just arent realistic. You cant have 5 all stars in your rotation, yet alone 5 quality pitchers in their primes.

He's only had one season where he's been even close to above average though is the thing, so it's not like you can guarantee anything out of him, especially coming off injury. 2006 when he posted a 4.08 ERA which was a 112 ERA+. The rest of his career he's been below league average.

I wouldn't really have an issue with what you're saying if you worded it as he has the potential to be useful, but any claim of guaranteed success is foolish, and pretty much blatant homerism. Especially since we're now in 2010, and the last time he was an effective starter was the "first half" of 2007.

 

[NAHSTE]

Same old story for the Braves, great starting pitching (if Jair's shoulder holds up), old and inconsistent bullpen, not enough power to be out slug teams, not enough good approach hitters to out grind teams....

83-88 wins, no playoffs.

2011 is our year though.

 

[Lanteri]

Same old story for the Braves, great starting pitching (if Jair's shoulder holds up), old and inconsistent bullpen, not enough power to be out slug teams, not enough good approach hitters to out grind teams....

83-88 wins, no playoffs.

2011 is our year though.

I don't understand what the Braves did this offseason to their bullpen. Did they have a particular reason for getting rid of Gonzalez and Soriano to replace them with Wagner and Saito? Especially, when both those guys are downgrades, seeing as Gonzalez was solid, and Soriano, when he's healthy, is one of the best relievers in baseball.

 

[NAHSTE]

I don't understand what the Braves did this offseason to their bullpen. Did they have a particular reason for getting rid of Gonzalez and Soriano to replace them with Wagner and Saito? Especially, when both those guys are downgrades, seeing as Gonzalez was solid, and Soriano, when he's healthy, is one of the best relievers in baseball.

I have no idea either. I really don't. Soriano was expensive I guess, and he would groove fastballs a bit too much. Gonzalez was very solid and could have been the closer this year.

Billy Wagner has a bout a 10% chance of playing the full year. Saito is solid, but not any better than Gonzalez and is 40 fucking years old. We set out to add bullpen "depth" and instead just got some more scrap heap options and got rid of our top two guys.

I really have no idea why Frank Wren thinks this is an improved bullpen, it's insulting.