The Official MLB Thread

[Steve]

Starting now. This is probably just gonna be me and Killr talking but lets give it a shot.

So what did you guys think of the All Star game? AL were just able to pull it off, funny how the Met players were outshining the Yankee players until BANG- 9th inning turnaround leads to Mariano shut down.

[Steve]

Hehe, I called you KillR again.

[Killer 57]

I've lost a lot of interest in the MLB, mainly because I don't really support a team anymore after the Angles turned into an LA team.

[Steve]

Well thats not your fault that LA are scum. Too busy with baseball teams, go get a football team! No need for a second baseball team for the worst city in America. BTW wrong forum.

[Killer 57]

Yeah I just noticed, nice one.

[phatmuther]

baseball baseball baseball
get in

[RiLu@]

baseball is great, i don't ave a clue about the rules!!!

[AfroJoe]

Baseball is on C5 late-nights over here, so I'll sometimes watch it. I've really not gotten into it in the way I got into the NFL.

Ah well.

[derekm91]

i loved how the AL made a complete turnaround in the top of the 9th. And i hope the Yankees win the world series.

[Steve]

W00t! Me too. Not make, win!

[Killer 57]

They won't, it going to be Whit Sox or the Red Sox.

[neworderdude]

Im a mets fan myself

I wish that the games would get released in the UK

[Killer 57]

My Take on the Angels:

We're a good team, we have one of the best pitching staff in the league, John Lacky and Ervin Santana have been excellent, Jared Weaver has also had some brilliant games, the kid has some nasty stuff, add Cy Young winner Bartolo Colone and we have a Championship caliber Pitching Staff, and just like the best couple of years, we still have a reliable Bullpen, with K-Rod to finish a game.

Our Biggest Problem is our offense, we need an extra bat behind Vlad, hopefully we can get one before the trade deadline, We should go after Bobby Abreu, guy got skills. When we got rid of Benji Molina, I was very disappointed, however, now I know why Bill Stoneman let him, Mark Napoli, the kid has been fantastic, offensively and defensively, and he still has got a lot to learn.

We can still win our division, making it back-to back-to back Division championships for the first time in our history, The Rangers just don't have the pitching staff to hang once September comes and the division race heats up, The Mariners just can't seem to make things happen, they have great players but they just can't seem to work well together. Once again, we are going to battle it out with our long time Rivals the Oakland A's, which is going to be close, but I believe we are the better team. So Angels Division Champions once again.

I'll give you guys my take on who can win the World Series some other day.

[Killer 57]

In the American League, there are 4 Teams that have good chance of Winning it all. Here's my take on the 4 teams:

Boston Red Sox
They are my pick to win the World Series this year, they are loaded with Talent on both their line up, and their rotation. They the most deadly 3-4 combo in the league with David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, and their pitching staff is solid with Curt Shilling and Josh Beckett, and have a solid BullPen with Mike Timlin, Keith Foulk and the young Phenomenon Jonathan Papelbon as the Closer. The Sox have always had a Great Offense and a Solid pitching staff, but they have been lacking in Defense, not this year, with the inclusion of Gold Glove winner Mike Loretta and Manny Ramirez finally becoming a decent outfielder they are completely different team defensively.

Chicago White Sox
Another team with the "Sox" in their name, another team loaded with Talent on both their line up and rotation. The defending Champions once again have a brilliant pitching staff, and now a more improved Offense with the adition of Jim Thome, who has been fantastic this year. However, even though they are a better team then they were last year when they won it, I feel like they're missing something, they're not hungry anymore, They don't play like they want to win, they don't give that extra effort. That is why, I don't believe they will win it this year.

New York Yankees
One would think I'm crazy to think a Team in the Yankees situation (They might not make the playoffs) to win it all, but they are the Yankees and you can never count them out. Their pitching staff is the biggest problem, Mike Mussina has been their only solid Starter, Randy Johnson is no longer the fearsome pitcher he once was, and it shows, If they could add one more Starter to their Rotation via trade (Hey, Jason Schmidt is in the market, why not, they have the cash and the prospects to bring him to New York) then they will be complete. They have ( When they're all healthy) the best Line up in the League, that is what makes me think they have a shot, even if they don't get another pitcher, it won't matter if they score 10 runs a game.

Anaheim Angels
We will give every team in the American league a run for their money, only if we can get Alfonso Soriano, put him to protect and take some pressure of Vlad in the line up and you have a very potent offense. Defensively we are air tight, with Orlando Cabrera and Adam Kennedy leading the charge, and, when all the starters are healthy, the best pitching staff in the League. We should have won it last year ( We got robbed) so its only fitting that we win it this year.

Well thats my take on the American League, will give my National League predictions some other time. I have a feeling its going to be a Triple Post, well I hope some one is getting something out of this (:/)

[Killer 57]

Bah its a shame that Harold Reynolds was fired from ESPN, Brilliant anylist, "Baseball Tonight" isn't going to be the same without him. :(

[ArtG]

Where is the talk of the Detroit Tigers? White Sox will be lucky if they even make the playoffs after this terrible slide they have had. Tigers are 8.5 games ahead of them, there is no way the Tigers lose that division at this point.

I think the Tigers have all the pieces to win it all. Good defense, tremendous pitching, (Mike Maroth coming back in the line-up soon to replace Zach Miner, who has also done well, despite two poor starts recently) and a lot of pop in the line-up.

The Red Sox are the only thing standing the Tigers way, IMO.

[Killer 57]

The Tigers are solid all around, However, They lack a true Home Run hitter, Sure the line up does have power, but they need their version of David Ortiz, A-Rod, Vlad, and Jim Thome. As you mentioned they're pitching staff has been fantastic, however, most of them are young and unproven in the playoffs, that might be their downfall. That is why I believe that the Detroit Tigers will not be Champions in 2006.

[ArtG]

The Tigers are solid all around, However, They lack a true Home Run hitter, Sure the line up does have power, but they need their version of David Ortiz, A-Rod, Vlad, and Jim Thome. As you mentioned they're pitching staff has been fantastic, however, most of them are young and unproven in the playoffs, that might be their downfall. That is why I believe that the Detroit Tigers will not be Champions in 2006.

I'm not sure if we really need a true power hitter. Marcus Thames is probably our most powerful hitter, but he's a strictly pull hitter and that's why he is getting in so much trouble of late. (0 for 20 slump, I think.) When everyone up at down your line-up can reach 20-30 home-runs, though, it has a way of evening itself out.

I think the key to the success of the Tigers is Dmitiri Young. He's a left-handed bat that the Tigers need and so far, he's been excellent coming over a terrible start and all those injuries. He's got two HR's, five RBI's since coming back (five games) and he's hitting for a nice average as well, bringing his BA up about 70 points in just those five games.

Again, Dmitiri isn't a home-run hitter in the vein of David Ortiz, but then again, it's another person pitchers will have to fear and will give them a different look as the Tigers are full of right handed batters.

And you look at the White Sox last year. They didn't have loads of power. Konerko was their big source of power, and you could compare him to someone like Ordonez. (who won't be hitting 40 HR's, but you can pencil him in for about 30 HR and 100 RBI.)

As for the pitching, I think that is a definite possibly. Bonderman, Miner, Maroth, Verlander and Robertson are all pretty young and inexperienced, but damn...You can't pitch much better than they have this season. Verlander has been our ace, despite his position in the order.

I'm hoping for the best, as we have suffered through some pretty bad teams in Detroit...:)

[Killer 57]

Some great points there, I wouldn't mind the Tigers Winning it all but I just don't see them taking down the Giants that are the Red Sox.

[ArtG]

Some great points there, I wouldn't mind the Tigers Winning it all but I just don't see them taking down the Giants that are the Red Sox.

Sadly, I agree. Hopefully the Red Sox get knocked out before the Tigers have to face them. :D

[Killer 57]

The Yanks got Bobby Abreu, nice addition along with Lidle who can be their 5th man on the rotation.

And once again Bill Stonemen does jack, nothing, zip nada, to improve our offense, we could have gotten Alfonso Soriano or Miguel Tejada. Yet once again we come out empty handed.

[Steve]

The Red Sox aren't giants. Im sick of this suck up bull that has been going on throughout the media since 2004 like the Red Sox are suddenly the favorites to win every title.

The sad part is, that there biggest rivals had their two biggest RBI guys injured, two starting pitchers injured, bullpen injured and they are only a game up! And if it wasnt for a big papi swing yesterday they would be tied for the lead with the Yankees! Tied!

Now lets take a look at the Yankee lineup when their players comeback .

Johnny Damon (Average: .300
Derek Jeter (Average: .350)
Jason Giambi (Average .250 with 30 HR and 85 RBIs)
Alex Rodriguez (Average: .280 but we know whats up with him)
Bobby Abreu: (Average: .280; good slugger, needs to come out of a year long slump but still a great RBI man)
Sheff: (Average: .320 and Sheff is Sheff)
Hideki: (Average .295 and a great RBI man)
Jorge Posada: (Average: .285 and having his best year since 2000.)
Robinson Cano: (Average: .320 and isnt this the best bottom of the lineup ever?)

Basically what Im saying is THAT is what you should be fearing. Not to mention this starting pitching staff which has gotten its act together:

Mike Mussina: 13-3 3.4 ERA
Randy Johnson: 11-9 5.0 ERA (He can still be effective when healthy)
Wang: 12-4 3.8 ERA
Then Cory Lidle who has been hot recently and Jared Wright will be gone if/when Pavano comes back.

Not to mention their record against the Tigers is 3-1 (crush Tigers in a 4 game series at Tiger Stadium), White Sox is 5-1, and Red Sox is 5-4 (and still counting).

This is the best team in the AL by far. The Tigers SUCK when playing the big 3 (White Sox, Red Sox, Yankees) and should not even be allowed a spot in the playoffs. Know why? Because in order to be the best you have to beat the best. But they build up their record by beating the worst.

[Killer 57]

Yankees are Dangerous, As I've said before, However, The Red Sox have a better pitching Staff, a better BullPen ( Apart from Mariano Rivera, the Yankees Bullpen will lose a lot of leads), and have dangerous line-up (Not as good as the Yanks or Sox, but very good none the less).

The Yankees will make the Playoffs this year, edging out the White Sox for the Wild Card, However, once again the Yankees will be reminded that Pitching wins in October, If they face the Angels again in the Playoffs, then you can call it a season, not even the best line-up in Baseball could trump the best Pitching Staff in the League.

As for your Argument about the Tigers, I do remember they did have Success against the White Sox.

[Steve]

Not much, their record is 6-9 or something on the lines of that against the white sox. It miight be 3-9 but I know it isnt good at all killer.

[ArtG]

Not much, their record is 6-9 or something on the lines of that against the white sox. It miight be 3-9 but I know it isnt good at all killer.

Yeah, that's true. We haven't had much success with the White Sox, but then again, we were playing them earlier in the year when they probably didn't have as much confidence in themselves as they do now.

[Steve]

Corey Lidle picthing good so far. Giambino hit a blast though.

[Killer 57]

Damn you A's, I f*cken hate you, I hope your Team Bus, Crashing in a lake and you all drown.!

[Killer 57]

Angels 7, Yankees 4

:party:

[Killer 57]

Hahaha Yankees lost<, Tigers advance to the ALCS , while the Yanks sit on their 200 Million dollar payroll and A-Rod proves once again that he can't get it done when it matters most.

[Steve]

Trade A-ROD! I have been defending him this entire summer and he does that! THAT!

[Killer 57]

Angel Stadium of Anaheim named best Ballpark in the MLB by Sports Illustrated.w00t.

Anyway, wow, it seems like every team has been overpaying players as if they're the Yankees!

Astros pay Carlos Lee $100 Million
Cubs pay Soriano $126 Million

Just to name a few, and of course, the Angels pay $50 Million for an average player, WHAT WE NEED IS POWER IN THE LINE-UP! Did you hear that, Bill Stoneman?

Just when I thought no-one could top the Angel's ridicules signing, the Dodgers drop the bomb:

$70 Million for...wait for it.....J.D Drew! WoW!

Then you have the Red Soz paying $51 Million just to have contract talks with unproven player.

[KryptKeeper]

Let's bring this thread back to life eh? lol

My Blue Jays so far arn't impressing me, or the Toronto faithful. Frank Thomas was a "good" signing at best. If he can stay injury free like last year it will be great. One of our BIG weakness' was our Middle Infield. And JP Riccardi(Our GM) said that we needed some power. So we get a 20 year old vet named Royce Clayton who is worse defensivly and hits worse then our current SS John Macdonald. Ted Lilly is finally gone(THANK THE LORD!) And now Vernon Wells is on the trade block, some rumored teams are the Angels, White Sox, Dodgers and Mets. Here's some rumored trades according to ESPN.

To Toronto: P Jon Garland
OF Rod Mackowiak

To Chicago: OF Vernon Wells.

- or -

To Toronto: P Ervin Santana
2B Howie Kendrick

To LA Angels: OF Vernon Wells

-or-

To Toronto: P Brad Penny
C Russel Martin

To LA Dogers: OF Vernon Wells.


Out of those deals I would take the Anahiem one in a heartbeat then move John Macdonald to a team for a AA Prospect.