It's opening day baseball fans!

[Bomberman4000]

Who's stoked? I'm stoked. I love baseball. I know the season is a bit long, but there's no denying the unyielding optimism that teams have. The possibilities are endless as indicated by the lowly Houston Astros beating up on the Texas Rangers.

My team, the White Sox aren't being predicted by many to have a very good season. It's not so much that they've gotten worse, it's more than the teams around them have improved tremendously over last season. There's talk that the Royals could actually be in contention in that division this year.

What will this season hold for your team? What are your bold predictions? WHO'S GOING TO WIN IT ALL?!?!?!

I'M SO EXCITED

Sorry. I'm good now.

 

[GrimTuesday]

Who's stoked? I'm stoked. I love baseball. I know the season is a bit long, but there's no denying the unyielding optimism that teams have. The possibilities are endless as indicated by the lowly Houston Astros beating up on the Texas Rangers.

My team, the White Sox aren't being predicted by many to have a very good season. It's not so much that they've gotten worse, it's more than the teams around them have improved tremendously over last season. There's talk that the Royals could actually be in contention in that division this year.

What will this season hold for your team? What are your bold predictions? WHO'S GOING TO WIN IT ALL?!?!?!

I'M SO EXCITED

Sorry. I'm good now.

Oh, another baseball fan. As a Mariners fan, I'm ready for anything, be it yet another season of mediocer to poor baseball, or a trip to the world series. I doubt you'll get a ton of responses, but we do have a baseball group here that you should join.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/The-Escapist-Baseball-Group

 

[davidsoc]

I'm not that big into baseball. Speaking of football though, what did people think about the controversies between Real Madrid and Manchester United.

really going to hijack a baseball thread. And the call may have been an over-reaction but Nani put himself in position to potentially be carded. Ban on Nani, bad on ref for over-reaction...but the call itself in a vacuum was not the issue.

OT: I am excited, love baseball, played to AA after getting drafted out of Junior college. I was released and realized i would go no farther most likely so i had to give it up (really didn't want to but had to be honest with myself). AS to the White Sox i hope Floyd bounces back after last season. I love watching Sale pitch, but i have a feeling he is in for a tough year (Tom Verducci's "year after effect."). Ventura was a very good manager for them and Konerko is probably going to put up another 300/30/100 season...love watching him hit. But not sure they are going to be much more than second in that division.

I sat and watched 3 games yesterday on ESPN, and then this morning my favorite thing....box scores.....ahh, the reason we still subscribe to a hard-copy newspaper...box scores.

So yes OP, very excited, love me some baseball as well.

 

[davidsoc]

Who's stoked? I'm stoked. I love baseball. I know the season is a bit long, but there's no denying the unyielding optimism that teams have. The possibilities are endless as indicated by the lowly Houston Astros beating up on the Texas Rangers.

My team, the White Sox aren't being predicted by many to have a very good season. It's not so much that they've gotten worse, it's more than the teams around them have improved tremendously over last season. There's talk that the Royals could actually be in contention in that division this year.

What will this season hold for your team? What are your bold predictions? WHO'S GOING TO WIN IT ALL?!?!?!

I'M SO EXCITED

Sorry. I'm good now.

White Sox fan... pfff...

I'm a Cubs fan, have been since 1989. While it was to see Shark take the Pirates out yesterday, wasn't so cool to see Carlos Marmol continue to forget how to pitch. But ESPN listed my team's worst case scenario for this season as "It's already here. THEY ARE LIVING THE WORST CASE. As long as no one winds up crippled or dead, they'll be happy."

Can't say I disagree.

Ehh, some good young players on the cubs, and Szmardja (yeah sp.....i know i spelled it wrong) looked very good last night. Sure probably won't contend this season unless they rip off a season like the A's did last year, but there is some actual excitement around that team for the first time since probably 2003.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

Sweet Jesus OP, you're a White Sox fan?

UGH!

Anyways, I'm hoping my Twins do well this year since last year they SUUUUUUUUCKED!!! Hopefully, they will know what to do with Mauer this year since they couldn't make up their mind what they wanted him to do. I know he has a bad back and they want to save him since he's an awesome catcher, but either keep him as a catcher or make him a first baseman since he's really good there too.

Although, they lost their opener against the Tigers, so it looks like it will be business as usual.

 

[Full]

I didn't keep up with the last few season because my team (Red Sox) tanked horribly the last few years compared to what they were doing before. It was just a little jarring. I don't know what happened with the off-season for them, either.

They beat out the Yanks yesterday, though, but they usually start out the year well. Not to mention Ortiz getting on the DL. I'm sure their offense will be fine without Ortiz, but I fear the worst.

 

[Bomberman4000]

Who's stoked? I'm stoked. I love baseball. I know the season is a bit long, but there's no denying the unyielding optimism that teams have. The possibilities are endless as indicated by the lowly Houston Astros beating up on the Texas Rangers.

My team, the White Sox aren't being predicted by many to have a very good season. It's not so much that they've gotten worse, it's more than the teams around them have improved tremendously over last season. There's talk that the Royals could actually be in contention in that division this year.

What will this season hold for your team? What are your bold predictions? WHO'S GOING TO WIN IT ALL?!?!?!

I'M SO EXCITED

Sorry. I'm good now.

White Sox fan... pfff...

I'm a Cubs fan, have been since 1989. While it was to see Shark take the Pirates out yesterday, wasn't so cool to see Carlos Marmol continue to forget how to pitch. But ESPN listed my team's worst case scenario for this season as "It's already here. THEY ARE LIVING THE WORST CASE. As long as no one winds up crippled or dead, they'll be happy."

Can't say I disagree.

I may be a Sox fan, but I feel your pain. My brother is a Cubs fan so he and I can't really be in the same room together when they play each other. It should be fun this year though since we just moved in together. Think of it this way, the Cubs have nowhere to go but up. They're gonna need to start spending soon though. The Pirates have managed to make themselves at least relevant, and the Cardinals and Reds are always going to be tough.

My "hometown" team (and by hometown I mean, "the closest team that everyone in my family roots for") is the Atlant Braves who look early on to be a contender in the NL.

They're actually my pick for the NL this year. Unless someone gets seriously injured, or the pitching staff just tanks, I think the Braves are the team to beat in the NL.

In the AL, I'm going out west. The Angels. Call me a sucker for big names, but looking up and down the Angels' lineup it just leads me to think "well if one guy has an off night, someone will pick him up." The entire lineup looks like that. I know that games are played on the field and not on paper or else the Yankees would be champs every year, but with the addition of Josh Hamilton, that Angels batting order just got a whole lot more dangerous.

I'm also really happy this thread's getting a little attention. I was kinda disappointed that no one responded for a while haha.

 

[Bomberman4000]

The Cubs need Rizzo and Castro to really step up. Castro's only been around a few seasons, but he needs to start playing like a star player. Rizzo homered in the first game of the season and that was all the Cubs needed to win. Will they get 8 innings out of Jeff *Former WR for Notre Dame* every night? No, they won't. The cubs have a lot of players who've either underperformed as pros, or are names that haven't been given a full chance yet. History has shown us that style of lineup can be successful, but they're gonna have a tough go of it in the NL Central.

 

[Megahedron]

White Sox, eh? Well you should be thrilled to know the Twins will continue to keep a firm grasp on the central cellar. I feel like we Twins fans are going to have to relearn how to love a train wreck. The 2000s were a good decade, but they seem so far away now...

Back on topic, I'm interested to see if year-round interleague play will be as bad as people have been saying. While I'd honestly rather see an in-division game than any NL team besides the Brewers, finding out we're playing the Padres or Marlins isn't going to stop me from watching a game. I am disappointed that the divisions are all the same size now, having the NL Central and AL West the wrong size made things seem more interesting. For some reason.

And yes, I am stoked. Woo.

Three straight 90+ loss seasons! Get excited!

 

[Tropicaz]

Love watching Baseball but cos i'm from the UK I have to stay up to stupid hours to watch it. I'm a fan of the Texas Rangers, went to see them when I was on holiday in Texas many years ago, and they havent got off to the best of starts. I can always hope it picks up, though.

I've not been following the off season and missed the run up to the first game, anyone in the know feel like giving a quick update on the advancements of the rangers?

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

White Sox, eh? Well you should be thrilled to know the Twins will continue to keep a firm grasp on the central cellar. I feel like we Twins fans are going to have to relearn how to love a train wreck. The 2000s were a good decade, but they seem so far away now...

Back on topic, I'm interested to see if year-round interleague play will be as bad as people have been saying. While I'd honestly rather see an in-division game than any NL team besides the Brewers, finding out we're playing the Padres or Marlins isn't going to stop me from watching a game. I am disappointed that the divisions are all the same size now, having the NL Central and AL West the wrong size made things seem more interesting. For some reason.

And yes, I am stoked. Woo.

Three straight 90+ loss seasons! Get excited!

Hooray!

I just want us to beat the Yankees in a series, for just once that would be awesome to happen. Although, there are some players on the team that I've never heard of so I don't know how well they will play for the Twins, plus our farm sucks and I have no idea how that happened.

But, at least it will make for a fun season.

 

[davidsoc]

Okay i cannot avoid the wall of text anymore, you guys are smart about the game so i am going to put some answers in here and my picks.

NL East: Washington and Atlanta both make the playoffs...if the braves starters can stay fairly healthy. I like Atl offense, but their pitching staff needs to step up. Bullpen is great but a few teams have very good bullpens this year. Personally i think Washington wins the division...that pitching staff is so good and so talented it is crazy Zimmerman is a number 1 on a lot of teams and he is going number 3 for them.

NL Central: Reds should go from here, but the Cardinals have a very good young team. Their major problem is the middle of the defense. They are not going to get enough offense out of ss/2b. The brewers don't have enough pitching outside of Gallardo which is too bad. I think the Cardinals are a year or two away unless they can put together a trade for a better double play combination of some sort.

NL West: Wide open here. Dodgers can be very good, but i still think they need to prove it over a season. Giants are defending champs and the pitching will be outstanding but their offense is still questionable. Arizona is good as well, with a nice mix of players. Colorado's pitching is not good enough, and SD is a few years away, and would probably benefit from more speed and better defenders in that ballpark.

Playoffs: Washington, Reds, Dodgers, Atlanta, and Giants - Washington learns from last year and goes to the WS

Al East: Rays are the class of this division. Orioles are very intriguing, but not sure they can replicate their success from last year. Tornoto....just not sure...lots of names and players, but i have questions about a lot of them. Red Sox and Yankees are in effect rebuilding, even though the Yankees won't admit it.

Al Central: One excellent team Tigers - best hitter and pitcher in the game. Their defense is suspect and at times cover your eyes bad, but they have the pitching and the offense to bludgeon anyone. White Sox, Indians, and Royals are all solid teams and all could finish second - fourth and are an injury ora few lucky breaks from contending for the division, though Indians need more starting pitching. Twins....well there tore it down last year, and then got rid of more players this offseason. It needed to happen, but they are going to be bad.

Al West: Three very good teams, and two also rans. The Angels i don't know. I like a lot of their players but i am nto sure how they mesh as a unit. And their pitching got worse. The Rangers offensively got worse, and the pitching should actually be slightly better this year. The A's played over their heads last year, and could do the same thing this year if the pitching holds up, though i wonder if guys like Parker can replicate their success. Astros, yikes. Seattle, i like them, but some of these guys they brought in through the rebuilding trades (smoak....etc) need to prove it.

Playoffs: Rays, Tigers, Angels, A's and White Sox (can't really see anyone else pull teh second WC slot) - Tigers repeat as AL representative

WS: pick one....i can see it going either way, and i would guess this comes down to momentum and who plays the cleanest...My money is actually on Washington this year.

 

[GrimTuesday]

Love watching Baseball but cos i'm from the UK I have to stay up to stupid hours to watch it. I'm a fan of the Texas Rangers, went to see them when I was on holiday in Texas many years ago, and they havent got off to the best of starts. I can always hope it picks up, though.

I've not been following the off season and missed the run up to the first game, anyone in the know feel like giving a quick update on the advancements of the rangers?

You lost Hamilton (your best hitter) and Mike Napoli (another good hitter) and your team leader Michael Young (not a power guy, but still a good hitter). The Rangers offense isn't the powerhouse it once was.

Here is a good break down the the Rangers off season.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/03/offseason-in-review-texas-rangers.html

 

[GrimTuesday]

Okay i cannot avoid the wall of text anymore, you guys are smart about the game so i am going to put some answers in here and my picks.

NL East: Washington and Atlanta both make the playoffs...if the braves starters can stay fairly healthy. I like Atl offense, but their pitching staff needs to step up. Bullpen is great but a few teams have very good bullpens this year. Personally i think Washington wins the division...that pitching staff is so good and so talented it is crazy Zimmerman is a number 1 on a lot of teams and he is going number 3 for them.

NL Central: Reds should go from here, but the Cardinals have a very good young team. Their major problem is the middle of the defense. They are not going to get enough offense out of ss/2b. The brewers don't have enough pitching outside of Gallardo which is too bad. I think the Cardinals are a year or two away unless they can put together a trade for a better double play combination of some sort.

NL West: Wide open here. Dodgers can be very good, but i still think they need to prove it over a season. Giants are defending champs and the pitching will be outstanding but their offense is still questionable. Arizona is good as well, with a nice mix of players. Colorado's pitching is not good enough, and SD is a few years away, and would probably benefit from more speed and better defenders in that ballpark.

Playoffs: Washington, Reds, Dodgers, Atlanta, and Giants - Washington learns from last year and goes to the WS

Al East: Rays are the class of this division. Orioles are very intriguing, but not sure they can replicate their success from last year. Tornoto....just not sure...lots of names and players, but i have questions about a lot of them. Red Sox and Yankees are in effect rebuilding, even though the Yankees won't admit it.

Al Central: One excellent team Tigers - best hitter and pitcher in the game. Their defense is suspect and at times cover your eyes bad, but they have the pitching and the offense to bludgeon anyone. White Sox, Indians, and Royals are all solid teams and all could finish second - fourth and are an injury ora few lucky breaks from contending for the division, though Indians need more starting pitching. Twins....well there tore it down last year, and then got rid of more players this offseason. It needed to happen, but they are going to be bad.

Al West: Three very good teams, and two also rans. The Angels i don't know. I like a lot of their players but i am nto sure how they mesh as a unit. And their pitching got worse. The Rangers offensively got worse, and the pitching should actually be slightly better this year. The A's played over their heads last year, and could do the same thing this year if the pitching holds up, though i wonder if guys like Parker can replicate their success. Astros, yikes. Seattle, i like them, but some of these guys they brought in through the rebuilding trades (smoak....etc) need to prove it.

Playoffs: Rays, Tigers, Angels, A's and White Sox (can't really see anyone else pull teh second WC slot) - Tigers repeat as AL representative

WS: pick one....i can see it going either way, and i would guess this comes down to momentum and who plays the cleanest...My money is actually on Washington this year.

I don't know why you would pick the White Sox? The Tigers wouldn't have made the playoffs if not for the weakness of the AL central, why would the Sox who didn't even win the division or significantly improve this off season make it this season? Just you wait, M's are coming for that second wildcard. A's and M's are going 1 and 2 this season in the AL West. The Rangers lost their pop and heart (and judging from their last game, their defense), and the the team the Angels have assembled are choke artists of the highest order.

What team's system(s) were you in?

 

[davidsoc]

Love watching Baseball but cos i'm from the UK I have to stay up to stupid hours to watch it. I'm a fan of the Texas Rangers, went to see them when I was on holiday in Texas many years ago, and they havent got off to the best of starts. I can always hope it picks up, though.

I've not been following the off season and missed the run up to the first game, anyone in the know feel like giving a quick update on the advancements of the rangers?

Pitching staff is still very good. Offense will take a step back this year. They gave up Young in a trade, and lost Hamilton to the Angels. Signed AJ Pierzynski to play catcher, very good defensively and a very good handler of pitching but he is old and he will probably not replicate his offensive numbers from last year. Signed Lance Berkman coming of a really bad knee injury last year. Could work out, but i wouldn't count on it. Their pitching is essentially no different from last year, and that is not a bad thing. They will need some help, if the A's come back to earth i can see the rangers grabbing a WC spot. But unless they play over their heads i can't see them taking the division...they just don't have the offense this year compared to some other teams, and i am not sure their defense will help their pitchers out enough to win a ton of close games.

 

[davidsoc]

Okay i cannot avoid the wall of text anymore, you guys are smart about the game so i am going to put some answers in here and my picks.

NL East: Washington and Atlanta both make the playoffs...if the braves starters can stay fairly healthy. I like Atl offense, but their pitching staff needs to step up. Bullpen is great but a few teams have very good bullpens this year. Personally i think Washington wins the division...that pitching staff is so good and so talented it is crazy Zimmerman is a number 1 on a lot of teams and he is going number 3 for them.

NL Central: Reds should go from here, but the Cardinals have a very good young team. Their major problem is the middle of the defense. They are not going to get enough offense out of ss/2b. The brewers don't have enough pitching outside of Gallardo which is too bad. I think the Cardinals are a year or two away unless they can put together a trade for a better double play combination of some sort.

NL West: Wide open here. Dodgers can be very good, but i still think they need to prove it over a season. Giants are defending champs and the pitching will be outstanding but their offense is still questionable. Arizona is good as well, with a nice mix of players. Colorado's pitching is not good enough, and SD is a few years away, and would probably benefit from more speed and better defenders in that ballpark.

Playoffs: Washington, Reds, Dodgers, Atlanta, and Giants - Washington learns from last year and goes to the WS

Al East: Rays are the class of this division. Orioles are very intriguing, but not sure they can replicate their success from last year. Tornoto....just not sure...lots of names and players, but i have questions about a lot of them. Red Sox and Yankees are in effect rebuilding, even though the Yankees won't admit it.

Al Central: One excellent team Tigers - best hitter and pitcher in the game. Their defense is suspect and at times cover your eyes bad, but they have the pitching and the offense to bludgeon anyone. White Sox, Indians, and Royals are all solid teams and all could finish second - fourth and are an injury ora few lucky breaks from contending for the division, though Indians need more starting pitching. Twins....well there tore it down last year, and then got rid of more players this offseason. It needed to happen, but they are going to be bad.

Al West: Three very good teams, and two also rans. The Angels i don't know. I like a lot of their players but i am nto sure how they mesh as a unit. And their pitching got worse. The Rangers offensively got worse, and the pitching should actually be slightly better this year. The A's played over their heads last year, and could do the same thing this year if the pitching holds up, though i wonder if guys like Parker can replicate their success. Astros, yikes. Seattle, i like them, but some of these guys they brought in through the rebuilding trades (smoak....etc) need to prove it.

Playoffs: Rays, Tigers, Angels, A's and White Sox (can't really see anyone else pull teh second WC slot) - Tigers repeat as AL representative

WS: pick one....i can see it going either way, and i would guess this comes down to momentum and who plays the cleanest...My money is actually on Washington this year.

Just you wait, M's are coming for that second wildcard. A's and M's are going 1 and 2 this season in the AL West. The Rangers lost their pop and heart (and judging from their last game, their defense), and the the team the Angels have assembled are choke artists of the highest order.

What team's system(s) were you in?

Seattle, and SD. Been a few years...

I can see Seattle playing very well this year, they do intrigue me as a team of very solid young players...and i love King Felix. But some of the guys that were supposed to be it really need to prove it at the ML level. Montero is a DH at best, Smoak needs to step up in a big way. I love Morse, and Morales, but they needs something from guys that have been there...Their pitching beyond Felix is what really scares me. I feel like they are probably a year or two away...they need to get the two young pitchers up: Walker...and the other guy's name escapes me