2008 MLB Thread

Non-Phish General
#1

I know were in the thick of NCAA tourney time, but baseball starts in less than two weeks. Less than that if you count the Red Sox and A’s playing two games on March 25 and 26th in Japan.

Who are your preseason playoff teams?

Who are your World Series picks?

Who will win it all?

NL East Mets
NL Central: Cubs ;D
NL West: Diamondbacks
Wildcard: Dodgers

AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: Mariners
Wildcard: Yankees

World Series: Mets vs. Tigers

Winner: Mets

As obvious by my avatar I’m a huge Cubs fan. This is the 100th anniversary season of the last World Series Champion Cubs team. I honestly think the Cubs can make a serious run this year. If they can add Brian Roberts from Baltimore anytime soon that will help. On a sidebar if you try to work out a deal with Peter Angelos it takes forever to get done.

I’m not picking them as I don’t want to look like a homer, but I honestly think they can beat anyone in the NL. Yeah adding Johan was the kicker for me in picking the Mets, but will Pedro be effective?, will Oliver Perez pitch well again?, is El Duque still able to bring it?, what’s up with the Mets outfield?.

I think the team to worry about is the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are a young up and coming team that added Dan Haren. If they score runs and get bullpen help they will be tough.

I’m not a big AL guy at all. Love the pureness of the NL game. I think the best teams in baseball are in the AL right now, but still gotta go with an NL team to take it all.

#2

That is my dream world series. Only my Tigers make your Met’s humble!

#3

I’m a Twins fan all the way.

we’ll see. Delmon Young…I just don’t know about that guy.

if we can get good pitching from our young guys we have a good chance. If not, we are for sure 3rd or 4th place in the Central.

#4

lets go phils

#5

#6

take warning bitches

#7

Is that an Iron Shiek reference? All hail Baligian.

Seriously, I have no idea who’s going to win what. Baseball is easily the most unpredictable sport that there is. BY FAR. Teams that were unstoppable last year will suddenly collapse this year. Pitchers that were Cy Young contenders last year will be sent down to the minors halfway through the season this year. Who the frick knows?

Normally I predict that the Yanks will underachieve for a while, people will say they’re “done” and then they’ll rally and make the playoffs, everyone will be on their bandwagon, and they’ll lose in the first round because their pitching sucks. Now I can’t even predict that since Girardi might actually kick these guys asses. Who knows.

My Tigers are still a question mark for me…we’re already seeing that they still have the same bullpen issues they had last year. I’m not sure if I can take much more Jason Grilli this year…that dude drove me to near-suicide and yet he’s STILL on the team. In fact, a majority of the bullpen is back…it’s gonna be ugly. And the team is NOT gonna score 8 runs a game to make up for it. It’s all about the pitching and I’m not sure if the Tigs have it. But we’ll see…who knows…

Stevo

#8

I think everybody knows where I stand on this. How bout that Sox Athletics situation today, what would have happened if neither team went to Japan?

#9

nuff said

#10

Somebody will pick up Barry Bonds before the season starts.

Clubhouse friction aside, couldn’t an AL team use him as their DH? Sure they could!

#11

I agree Ghost, Bonds will be picked up…I don’t know if it will be before the season starts, but it will be sooner rather than later.

Onto the preview of the 2008 Chicago Cubs:

Starting rotation is not quite set but looks like:

  1. Zambrano–>guy is a horse, a battler but blows up occasionally
  2. Lilly–> solid #2 with a nasty curve
  3. Hill–> young guy with a nasty curve as well…getting roughed up this spring…I’m actually quite worried about him at the moment
  4. Lieber–> Cubs last 20 game winner gets another shot with the team
  5. Dempster–> Converted starter to converted closer to reconverted starter…confused
  6. Marquis–> actually hasn’t been determined who will be the 4 and 5 as Lieber, Dempster, and Marquis are battling out for the final two spots. Although if Rich Hill doesn’t get his shit together it could be a moot point.

C: Geovany Soto–> Pacific Coast League MVP last year for Iowa. Was lone bright spot in the Cubs vs. D-Backs NL Division series. Really look forward to seeing Soto get 500 ABs this year.

1b: Derek Lee-> lost some pop, but still solid defensively and will drive in a lot of runs.

2b: Mark Derosa–> Cubs are also pursuing Brian Roberts, who would be a perfect fit for the leadoff spot. I love Derosa, but I think he would be better suited in a utility role. He can play every position except P, C, CF.

SS: Ryan Theirot–> The Riot…Hardnosed kid that will battle…Think of an underrated David Eckstein

3B: Aramis Ramirez–> What more can I say…The true slugger in the Cubs lineup…Go ahead and rack up 30 HRs and 100 RBIs year after year.

LF: Alfonso Soriano–> One of the best all around players in baseball…Lou won’t let him run anymore, but nevertheless love having him in the lineup…Just would like to see him in the 2 hole this year and not leading off. Guy hadd 33 HRs last year and only 70 RBI…alot of solo HRs.

CF: Felix Pie–> Great speed…has some pop in his bat…one of the Cubs top prospects

RF: Kosuke Fukodome–> The Cubs newest addition from the Rising Sun…Said to be a cross between Ichiro and Matsui…I’d take that…I have high hopes for Fukodome

Bullpen:
Kerry Wood
Bob Howry
Carlos Marmol
Scott Eyre
Michael Wuertz

Solid bullpen, but there is still not a determined closer. I prefer Marmol, but it looks like Lou is leading towards Woody. I don’t know about this one, but can easily be adjusted throughout the year. I’m not sure Woody’s arm can hold up.

Anyways that is your 2008 Chicago Cubs. Looks to be a promising season.

#12

Ahh, just got up and got a pot o joe on, a pork tenderloin ready to go on the grill and a nice tall Saporro to Get this season truckin GO SOX!!!

#13

1 down, 161 to go.

#14

Meh…more presason tonight

#15

I don’t much care for baseball, but I’m a sucker for anything like this:

#16

The lowly Royals are giving the Tiggers all they can handle here today!!

The Twins play Torii and the Angels tonight…meh…I just can’t get excited for this season with how mediocre our rotation looks…I’ll hold out hope that things are gonna line up and work nice for us, but I don’t know…Plus I’m working tonight so I’ll only see bits and pieces of the game.

Livan Hernandez is our opening day starter I think…MEH

#17

Gotta love Opening Day victory

#18

^ha ha, guess they decided to pick the minority that would raise the least amount of trouble

on a side note, fucking phillies, don’t let Tom Gordon touch the baseball anymore, ever, get rid of his ass and bring up some minor league talent, i’d rather watch some kid blow it so he learns then have that fucker get slapped around like a little leager

argh, we can never get a good start to April, i hope we can change that this year

#19

that’s right mother fuckers

we’re still here

…i think.

#20

What the hell is that? And where? Who…?

???