A little over a week until opening day! How is everyone's team looking? Any predictions?

I'm very optimistic about my Indians, we were one game away from going to the world series and probably winning it, (Rockies got swept) and we have virtually the same roster. However, with the Yankees and Red Sox poised to be contenders yet again, the field is becoming awfully crowded with Seattle, Detroit, and Toronto all improving after having solid seasons last year. It'll be a tough year, but I like our chances with our very deep starting pitching (Sabathia and Carmona is the best 1-2 punch in baseball) and strong bullpen. Our closer Borowski does give me a heart attack though...but I think we can move Betancourt into that role if necessary.

A little over a week until opening day! How is everyone's team looking? Any predictions?

I'm very optimistic about my Indians, we were one game away from going to the world series and probably winning it, (Rockies got swept) and we have virtually the same roster. However, with the Yankees and Red Sox poised to be contenders yet again, the field is becoming awfully crowded with Seattle, Detroit, and Toronto all improving after having solid seasons last year. It'll be a tough year, but I like our chances with our very deep starting pitching (Sabathia and Carmona is the best 1-2 punch in baseball) and strong bullpen. Our closer Borowski does give me a heart attack though...but I think we can move Betancourt into that role if necessary.One of the best, for sure. However, you cant look past a King Felix/Eric Bedard one two, or how bout the triumvirate of Brandon Webb, Dan Harren, and Randy Johnson?

Whatever you opinion is, lots of teams have improved in lots of ways this year. Strangely, my Yankees did nothing to fortify their lineup and I am looking forward to this season with more anticipation than any in recent history. I wanna see what the 3 kiddies can do. To me, that is what baseball is/should be all about. Not seeing how many multi-millionaires we can create overnight.

One of the best, for sure. However, you cant look past a King Felix/Eric Bedard one two, or how bout the triumvirate of Brandon Webb, Dan Harren, and Randy Johnson?

Whatever you opinion is, lots of teams have improved in lots of ways this year. Strangely, my Yankees did nothing to fortify their lineup and I am looking forward to this season with more anticipation than any in recent history. I wanna see what the 3 kiddies can do. To me, that is what baseball is/should be all about. Not seeing how many multi-millionaires we can create overnight.

Webb/Harren/Johnson is a better trio than Sabathia/Carmona/whoever, I'll give you that. However, Felix Hernandez hasn't performed consistantly yet. He's a young kid with a lot of potential, but Carmona is more proven and he's only 22. His 96mph sinker is practically untouchable. Bedard/Sabathia are comparable but C.C. won the Cy and he's a complete workhorse. He threw for 240 innings last season.

Webb/Harren/Johnson is a better trio than Sabathia/Carmona/whoever, I'll give you that. However, Felix Hernandez hasn't performed consistantly yet. He's a young kid with a lot of potential, but Carmona is more proven and he's only 22. His 96mph sinker is practically untouchable. Bedard/Sabathia are comparable but C.C. won the Cy and he's a complete workhorse. He threw for 240 innings last season.
I know one thing. If my Yankees cant go to the world series this year, im hoping the Indians will. Anyone but the Sux.

Anyway, here's to an exciting year of baseball. It couldnt come soon enough. :drinktoth

Paul Byrd had a great year last year, Westbrook was injured but is a 15 game winner when healthy, and Cliff Lee/Jeremy Sowers are good #5 options. All in all you'd have to say, on paper, before the season begins, the Indians have the best rotation in baseball... Pedro Martinez will get injured, so that whole "dream duo" of Pedro and Johan Santana probably won't happen.

Paul Byrd had a great year last year, Westbrook was injured but is a 15 game winner when healthy, and Cliff Lee/Jeremy Sowers are good #5 options. All in all you'd have to say, on paper, before the season begins, the Indians have the best rotation in baseball... Pedro Martinez will get injured, so that whole "dream duo" of Pedro and Johan Santana probably won't happen.

How many years has Borowski taken off of your life? 5? 10? It's always so painful to watch Borowski too because his stuff looks soooo bad; especially if Carmona starts and Betancourt sets him up. It's like having Sizemore/Cabrera/Hafner hit 1-2-3, then having Barfield hitting clean-up.

It looks like the HR ball is working for them this spring training. Let's hope Hafner puts up Hafner numbers (46 HR's, 120 RBI's, .300 BA) and we won't have to worry about JoBo coming and blowing a 2-1 lead in the 9th.

Sizemore had a down year as well. We still need a real lead-off hitter...Grady strikes out too much; he should be hitting 3rd.

Friggin Braves all the way, gotta start the streak over again.

I'll be rooting for the 'Stros, but won't be hoping much. The starting pitching looks pretty dismal. Their lineup, on the other hand, should be pretty vicious.

I am a long suffering Giants fan. Our story is we have a good rotation, but no bats. We are looking at last place in the NL west again.

I'm looking forward to an interesting year. Ozzie is always good for some lively press if nothing else. If only he'd speak English in the dugout now and then so the Anglos could understand him and what he wants. Ozzie is starting to wear out his welcome in the Windy City.

Man, the Astros are so hard to watch - we've traded one dismal closer (Lidge) for another (Valverde). And their new manager (Cecil Cooper) is a total idiot - You're winning 3-0 and you have a starting pitcher who has thrown a beautiful game for 8 innings (4 singles allowed) and 109 pitches. He takes the pitcher out and puts in the "closer" who has struggled in EVERY appearance this year. The closer proceeds to get destroyed in the 9th - a single and 2 HRs later, the game is tied. Do we take the gascan out? Nope - leave him in until we lose the game 4-3. And there are more examples, but I'll spare you.

You're winning 3-0 and you have a starting pitcher who has thrown a beautiful game for 8 innings (4 singles allowed) and 109 pitches. He takes the pitcher out and puts in the "closer" who has struggled in EVERY appearance this year.
Two points here.

One: 109 pitches is plenty. High pitch counts lead to injuries. You don't want your starting pitcher who is capable of throwing eight shutout innings to blow out his arm.

Two: You can't just give up on your closer, even if he is struggling. That's a vicious cycle. It's only mid-April. If he's still terrible at the end of May, fine, but you need to show confidence in him and let him get settled before you quit using him in the role you're paying him to pitch in.

Sox are in first place. We'll see how long this lasts. I do expect to still be playing come October.

Two points here.

One: 109 pitches is plenty. High pitch counts lead to injuries. You don't want your starting pitcher who is capable of throwing eight shutout innings to blow out his arm.

Fair point - it seems standard protocol for managers to take out their starting pitchers nowadays if they throw 100+ pitches. It's cookbook baseball and it strikes me as lazy managing.

I disagree that throwing too many pitches leads to more injuries however - Back in the days of Nolan Ryan, managers used to routinely leave their pitchers in. If you look at Ryan's stats as an example of a star pitcher - he had years where he threw 20 complete games. And Ryan's health is renowned - he was pitching until he was what - 45 or so? That's better than any SP's today. I guess you can argue Ryan was an anomaly, but there's a number of longlived pitchers that threw 10+ complete games in a season.

Two: You can't just give up on your closer, even if he is struggling. That's a vicious cycle. It's only mid-April. If he's still terrible at the end of May, fine, but you need to show confidence in him and let him get settled before you quit using him in the role you're paying him to pitch in.

I don't suggest giving up on him - just stay with your hot hand. One pitcher's pitching great and the other's pitching horrible - the choice seems obvious if you want W's. You can get your closer work without forcing it in inappropriate situations.

It's like in basketball, if you have a player on a shooting streak, you keep getting that guy the ball until the hot streak wears off. It shouldn't be any different in baseball.

Nevertheless, I can see your points - there are other things Cooper has done to make me question his judgment tho.

Back in the REAL old days pitchers would frequently pitch entire games on only 3-4 days' rest. Christy Mathewson, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Cy Young and other old timey guys were well-known for their toughness. Of course, the game favored the pitching game then--they used the dead ball and pitchers were also allowed to doctor the ball.

C.C. Sabathia got shelled again...his ERA is a whopping 13.50. I don't get what the problem is; he's in a contract year so it certainly isn't from a lack of effort. It's one of those things where you've got to be patient and try not to worry but he's getting absolutely demolished.

Back in the REAL old days pitchers would frequently pitch entire games on only 3-4 days' rest. Christy Mathewson, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Cy Young and other old timey guys were well-known for their toughness. Of course, the game favored the pitching game then--they used the dead ball and pitchers were also allowed to doctor the ball.
I definitely advocate a return to the 4 man rotation.

The Braves are 5-9 so far. I am sorely disappointed.

This week's issue of Sports llustrated has a huge cover story on the Cubbies and their long suffering fans, and what it's been like for the fans following this years' very good Cubbie team. And of course their hopes for a World Series--at least an appearance.

Will the Cubs finally break their streak of horridness and finding ways to lose the big games??


REALLY?

Friggin Braves all the way, gotta start the streak over again.

So much for that. Still a Braves fan for life though.

Man, I dont know how anyone could bet against the Angels. Best team, top to bottom, in baseball.

That said, watch them lose their first series. :)

The Angels are the one team that worries me.

White Sox play today against Detroit.
If we win this, we will host the Twins for a one game playoff for the divisional title.

Go sox go.


http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5536/whitesoxlogo1sa8.gif

I don't really follow baseball anymore, but it was nice to see Milwaukee in the playoffs again. They haven't been there since I was in 5th grade.

We live to fight another day.



http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/5591/whitesoxlogo1al5.gif