Major League Baseball 2008

[Forty 765]

I've always wanted to start the MLB topic, so I'm totally stealing it away from darth and Runey and whoever else wanted to do it.

 

Baseball is upon us, people. Time to trash the old topic and start anew. I'll keep this updated with standings periodically throughout the season, and anything else people want in the main post. We need a logo!

 

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So how does everyone feel about their pitching staffs this year? Batting order? Houston is the pits in all areas, except for the middle of our lineup. We have the worst pitching rotation in all of baseball and I'm not looking forward to enjoying many leads in many games this season. It won't keep me from going to at least 20 ball games though. I can't help it, I'm a die hard.

[darthYENIK 8,783]

Carried over from last season's topic...

 

 

So something interesting.  Old but interesting.  The Angels are keeping their big four outfielders, and are going to rotate DH between them.  This probably spells the end of Juan Rivera wearing an Angels' uniform.  Unless he can play short stop.  They have a huge hole there.

What do you think about K-Rod demanding a long term deal? He supposedly would ask for $13-$15 million per for 4 years minimum. That sort of money is ridiculous. Francisco Cordero signed a 4yr/$46 million contract this off season and that money made me choke on my coffee. Relief pitchers and the value they provide (locking down leads) is grossly overvalued in the player market. Teams pay out the ass for a position that is fairly easy to replace, normally. I think the price of a save is not what the market deems it, at this point. Of course it could all be a part of the Boras Factor, which I feel is the driving momentum in baseball markets for players getting exorbitant contracts.

 

That does sound like a lot. But I think he's worth whatever he wants.

 

Of course, with that kind of money, they can get some infielders.

[PSXtreme 0]

Our entire World Series team from last year (minus Eric Gagne and Eric Hinske) is back. Plus Buchholz and Ellsbury will emerge in to full time roles. We'll also probably see SS Jed Lowrie and pitchers Craig Hansen and Justin Masterson later on this season.

 

I'm looking for a big improvement for both Dice-k and Lester this year. If everyone can stay healthy, hopefully Beckett can get around 20 wins again, Dice-k can get 15, Wakefield 15, Lester 12. Tavarez will probably be the 5th starter for some parts (especially at the beginning) of the season because Buchholz is going to be limited to 180 innings this year. Lester will probably be limited a bit too, so they'll probably have him skip a few starts in order to keep him fresh.

 

As far as the offense goes, Manny is in a contract year and has been working out like a crazy man, so I'm expecting a big year from him. Hopefully after adjusting for a year, Lugo and Drew will be able to have better offensive years. Ellsbury will be a decent upgrade offensively over Crisp. Lowell won't do as well as last year (it was a career year for him), but the other guys (Manny, Jacoby) will make up for it. I expect Youk, Pedroia, and Tek to have similar years as they did last year.

[Forty 765]

So uh...I just noticed one of the coolest things I've seen in awhile. Rotoworld now has flowing line graphs of players' fantasy values and comparisons to averages at their position. Check out Ian Kinsler's bio. What a kick ass chart! I hope it's not just a preview of something you'd have to pay money to continue using. This sort of thing should be free to all.

 

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Dear Astros Fan:

 

Congratulations! You have been selected in the second chance drawing for the opportunity to purchase tickets to the New York Yankees series and the Boston Red Sox series at Minute Maid Park this June.

 

 

I've been waiting for this e-mail for weeks! I'm so psyched I got selected. The limit is 4 tickets per series, so I can buy 8 total. I might buy all 8 and sell the ones I don't use. This is a big deal because NYY and BOS never come to Houston. In fact they've not been here in at least 20 years, if at all, if memory serves me. We played in New York a few years back, but otherwise I don't believe we've ever faced either team. After years of fans petitioning for better inter-league games, we've finally scored the big two.

[I Love Anna Kournikova 1,977]

I've been waiting for this e-mail for weeks! I'm so psyched I got selected. The limit is 4 tickets per series, so I can buy 8 total. I might buy all 8 and sell the ones I don't use. This is a big deal because NYY and BOS never come to Houston. In fact they've not been here in at least 20 years, if at all, if memory serves me. We played in New York a few years back, but otherwise I don't believe we've ever faced either team. After years of fans petitioning for better inter-league games, we've finally scored the big two.

Correct me If im Worng, But it was 7 Combined Astro Pitchers to No hit the yanks a few years back right?

 

But like you said, that might have been in New York.

[Forty 765]

I've been waiting for this e-mail for weeks! I'm so psyched I got selected. The limit is 4 tickets per series, so I can buy 8 total. I might buy all 8 and sell the ones I don't use. This is a big deal because NYY and BOS never come to Houston. In fact they've not been here in at least 20 years, if at all, if memory serves me. We played in New York a few years back, but otherwise I don't believe we've ever faced either team. After years of fans petitioning for better inter-league games, we've finally scored the big two.

Correct me If im Worng, But it was 7 Combined Astro Pitchers to No hit the yanks a few years back right?

 

But like you said, that might have been in New York.

Yeah that game was at Yankee Stadium.

[darthYENIK 8,783]

So Frankie Rodriguez didn't get 12.5 million. But he got 10 million.

 

I definitely think he's worth it. He's one of the only players in the Angels' organization that I can count on 99% of the time. When I see him run out to the mound in the late innings, I know he'll get things done.

[Runey 52]

What about Ryan Howard's $10 Million?

 

Well worth it for Philly, in my opinion.

 

 

In other news, I'm gonna try to make it to New York for some games at Yankee Stadium before they change over to their new home.

 

Lots of history there.

[darthYENIK 8,783]

I saw that about Howard. Didn't he ask for 10 mil?

 

Seems like everyone and their mother is going to a New York game. At least of the people I know on the east coast.

 

I haven't heard what they are doing with the old Stadium. Anyone know?

[Forty 765]

Howard deserves money for being a good hitter, but someone seriously needs to coach that boy on plate discipline. He gets more strikeouts than anyone I've ever seen, even more than Adam Dunn. If he could check his swing more often, he'd be unstoppable.

 

So....maybe we should unpin the NFL discussion and pin either this one or the NBA one? Tis the season.

[PSXtreme 0]

 

He's one of the only players in the Angels' organization that I can count on 99% of the time.

And here's the other 1%

 

[darthYENIK 8,783]

He's not in the Angels Organization though.

[Forty 765]

I'm struggling to find the relevance with the Manny pic.

[darthYENIK 8,783]

Bartolo Colon, a Red Sock?

 

Good luck Boston, that guy went from the best pitcher in the League, to a dead arm, in one ALDS.

[Runey 52]

I'm struggling to find the relevance with the Manny pic.

Same, I thought for quite a long time about it and gave up.

[SBizz6 1]

I'm struggling to find the relevance with the Manny pic.

I don't think there is a relevance, but look into the beauty of it. Manny hitting a homer with his hands high above his head, and the crowd mimicking it in a very cool way. Thats the greatness of Fenway.

 

And the acquisition of Colon is awesome. He gives us a little security with the absence of Schill. I can't wait for this season to get going!

[darthYENIK 8,783]

And the acquisition of Colon is awesome. He gives us a little security with the absence of Schill. I can't wait for this season to get going!

If you guys can get him throwing good for more than a couple weeks, than more power to you.

[gtaluva 3]

Well, my Brewers should be just as strong offensively as last year. We have just about the same line up for the most part. The biggest loss in my opinion is Jenkins. We still have all the same young guys. I will say though since they are moving Braun to the outfield I hope his numbers dont go down just like Bill Halls did when he made the switch.

 

Speaking of Bill Hall, I'm glad he's been moved back to third. He's a natural infielder and I hope he is just as good as he was before moving to CF.

 

Last year pitching was a big weakness for the 'Crew but hopefully they can overcome that this year and stay healthy throughout the season. We will see....3 days until the first game of spring training. Who else is just as excited as me, I can't wait for baseball to come back!!!

[PSXtreme 0]

 

I'm struggling to find the relevance with the Manny pic.

Manny hit a game-winning walk-off home run off of Francisco Rodriguez in Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS. He said he could count on K-Rod 99% of the time. The other 1% of the time is when Manny hits a walk-off against him.

 

 

As for the Colon deal, it's a minor league contract. If he does well, he'll be able to share the 5th starter role with Clay Buchholz (he's going to be limited in innings). If he doesn't do well, he'll be released and Julian Tavarez will split the 5th starter role.

Edited February 25, 2008 by PSXtreme

[Forty 765]

Ahh, good call on the Manny pic then. I knew you had a reason.

[darthYENIK 8,783]

Yeah. I get it.

 

You just reminded me of the low point of my 2007 sports year.

 

Oh, well. You can't win them all.

[ass reamer 1]

Any Nationals fans? I live about 30 minutes from DC. The Nats have put together a pretty decent lineup this year, in my opinion, they got some pretty good pick ups. They're definitely still far from being really competitive, however. Our real problem is going to pitching, as we only added one guy, and he's not necessarily a proven starter.

 

Their new stadium looks amazing, I drove past it the other day.

[Forty 765]

I still haven't seen pics of the new stadium. Lastings Milledge should be a stud before too long, I'm glad you guys picked him up.

[Speegz 0]

I like the Braves. Being from the South I'm a little prejudiced, but they got my all time favorite player back (Javy Lopez, who I cried for hours over when he got traded) and Tom Glavine. Starting to look like the 90s teams? Plus, they haven't made the playoffs in two years which is two more years they didn't make it in in the last 17 before that.

[Attorney General 41]

Even though I'm a Yanks fan, I;ve always enjoyed watching the Braves. You couldn't help but admire the three-headed monster that was Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz in the 90s. Plus, Chipper Jones has always been a personal favorite of mine.

 

It's nice to see Glavine back in Atlanta for his swan song. I hope he gets to the playoffs one last time so last year's fiasco isn't the final playoff memory we have of him.

[SBizz6 1]

Big opening day win for the Sox last night. Manny being amazing in extra innings and... Brandon Moss who? Oh yea, that kid is going to be an asskicker for years to come.

One win of many, and I can't wait until I can watch a game at a normal time rather than 6AM...

[darthYENIK 8,783]

And the real opening day is under way!

[DavidOrtiz34 0]

sox game tomorrow night!

 

finally they're back in the US

[darthYENIK 8,783]

I seriously hope Jered Weaver is as good as they say he was during spring training. Because he definitely didn't prove it today. He looked like he was barely holding on to his control.

 

And mother f*cking Garrett Anderson. I love the guy. He's amazing when he on fire at the plate. But he is just not that good on the field anymore. I just wish Mike Scioscia didn't have such a hard on for GA, and played Juan Rivera or possibly Gary Matthews Jr in left field. I mean come on. You have Gary Matthews Jr platooned with Torii Hunter. Yeah, that's great that's amazing. But why have an amazingly talented defensive player like Matthews DH, when you have the definition of DH in Garrett Anderson?

 

At least trade Matthews for a middle infielder/power hitter.

[Runey 52]

Now this is baseball, not the Japan crap where you have to wake up at dawn just to see it.

 

 

I'm going to a lot of minor league games this year, the Carolina Mudcats (Florida Marlins AA team).

 

I love baseball.