I predict that the Nationals will have the worst record in BOTH leagues. 
MLB Predictions Thread 2011
- Thread starter Starbreaker
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I predict that the Nationals will have the worst record in BOTH leagues.
Really? Over the Pirates and with Jayson Worth?
Rays win the AL East, when we're not supposed to, yet again.
Yeah, it's hilarious. Red Sox and Yanks keep spending a billion dollars to do what we do the right way.
Yeah, it's hilarious. Red Sox and Yanks keep spending a billion dollars to do what we do the right way.
The right way? Really? Yes it's one way, and it has worked for the Rays, but you think if they had the resources of the Red Sox and Yankees, they would be doing it "the right way"? I don't say this in a mean way, but when you suck for so long, you are going to accumulate those high talent draft picks, and to the Rays credit they picked the right guys.
That said, they'll be competitive, but they won't win the division. They have great starters, but the bullpen is going to have to be a complete reconstructive effort, and the offense, outside of Longoria, lacks any sort of punch.
Anywho, my picks:
AL EAST
Red Sox
Yankees- Because of the aforementioned damn Yankees factor.
Rays
Blue Jays
Orioles
Despite my grouping of the Rays, Jays and Orioles, I really do suspect all three of those teams to be at atleast .500 teams, if not more. The Jays and Orioles are starting to turn it around.
AL Central
White Sox
Tigers
Twins
Royals
Indians
I think this division is up for grabs. The White Sox and Tigers made splashes in the offseason with Dunn and Martinez respectfully, but I think the Twins will be there right till the end, because they are the Twins. The Royals will continue the suckage, as will the Indians.
AL West
Rangers- Despite the loss of Cliff Lee, I still think they have enough to win it.
Athletics- They added some decent hitters to a lineup needing it, and to a very young, very good pitching staff that deserved better.
Angels- They have great starters, and even though they will have Kendry Morales back, along with the addition of Vernon Wells, I think they will be battling for second place with the Athletics. I think that they really missed the boat with Crawford, who would have fit that team like a glove.
Mariners- They have Ichiro and Felix Hernandez...thats it.
NL EAST
Phillies- They have a sick starting staff, though I think the loss of Werth will be felt through that lineup. He was the one legit right handed stick they had, and I feel that other teams lefty's will be able to exploit that.
Braves- I really hope they win this division, I just don't think they will. Wild Card contender though.
Marlins- Still have good young talent, and a decent to good rotation, led by an underrated Josh Johnson.
Mets- Still a mess, but hopefully the new influx in management will be able to start to turn things around for them.
Nationals- They'll suck again, but I think we will start to notice flashes of the young talent they have building up in the minors. They may not suck for long.
NL CENTRAL
Brewers- Added two pitchers, a great one in Grienke, and a very damn good one in Morrow.
Reds- They're gonna look to repeat success by many of their young stars, but I feel the talent is there, despite hating Baker as a manager.
Cardinals- I had them winning this division, or at least giving it a great fight, that is until they lost Wainwright. That is a huge blow, not just now, but in the future. This team is already at it's payroll limit, while trying to resign the games best player (which I hope, but don't think will happen). With Wainwright down, and his two option years now out the window, they are in a pickle. Carpenter is up there in age, so within the next few years they are going to have to start to rebuild the top of that rotation, from a minor league system that is pretty dried up with talent.
Cubs- They added Garza, and will be competitive, but I just don't think they'll have the talent level to battle the Brewers and Reds. They may leapfrog the Cards however.
Astros- I love you Brad Mills...Im sorry you're stuck there.
NL WEST
Giants- Great starting staff, and I think Buster Posey will really start to give that lineup a bit more oomph.
Dodgers- Resigned some vets, and added a few pieces, but nothing big enough to help them overcome the Giants' staff.
Padres- The loss of A-Gon will hurt them, but they still will have good pitching (hard not to in that park), and I will be interested in see the Red Sox prospects that were shipped there for Gonzo blossom into major league players, especially Casey Kelley
D-Backs
Those are my pics. Love em or hate em.
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Yeah, it's hilarious. Red Sox and Yanks keep spending a billion dollars to do what we do the right way.
The right way? Really? Yes it's one way, and it has worked for the Rays, but you think if they had the resources of the Red Sox and Yankees, they would be doing it "the right way"? I don't say this in a mean way, but when you suck for so long, you are going to accumulate those high talent draft picks, and to the Rays credit they picked the right guys.
That said, they'll be competitive, but they won't win the division. They have great starters, but the bullpen is going to have to be a complete reconstructive effort, and the offense, outside of Longoria, lacks any sort of punch.
It's not just about draft picks, we also have management that knows what the hell they're doing. And we also acquire good talent to restock the minors when we have to trade guys like Garza or Bartlett.
And besides Crawford last year who did we have? We have very young highly talented guys ready to step up and fill the void left by Crawford and Pena(several could be better), not to mention we brought in Damon and Manny to protect Longoria in the lineup. And while that may not be the blockbuster purchase of talent like Boston buying Crawford, when you play our style of baseball it's going to do a lot for our offense.
Eitherway, I prefer you keep your "it's our division" mentality, makes it all the sweeter when you're wrong...
... again.
Yeah, it's hilarious. Red Sox and Yanks keep spending a billion dollars to do what we do the right way.
The right way? Really? Yes it's one way, and it has worked for the Rays, but you think if they had the resources of the Red Sox and Yankees, they would be doing it "the right way"? I don't say this in a mean way, but when you suck for so long, you are going to accumulate those high talent draft picks, and to the Rays credit they picked the right guys.
That said, they'll be competitive, but they won't win the division. They have great starters, but the bullpen is going to have to be a complete reconstructive effort, and the offense, outside of Longoria, lacks any sort of punch.
It's not just about draft picks, we also have management that knows what the hell they're doing. And we also acquire good talent to restock the minors when we have to trade guys like Garza or Bartlett.
And besides Crawford last year who did we have? We have very young highly talented guys ready to step up and fill the void left by Crawford and Pena(several could be better), not to mention we brought in Damon and Manny to protect Longoria in the lineup. And while that may not be the blockbuster purchase of talent like Boston buying Crawford, when you play our style of baseball it's going to do a lot for our offense.
Eitherway, I prefer you keep your "it's our division" mentality, makes it all the sweeter when you're wrong...
... again.
No need to get snide, I'm just calling it as I see it. I haven't said anything insulting to you or the Rays. For someone who is getting mad about being discounted, you seem to be able to do it pretty easily when it comes to other teams.
Their management is quite smart (though I think that Maddon overmanages at times). Im not at all saying that the Rays will be bad, with their starters they can't be, however I don't see besides Longo, or perhaps Dan Johnson, where their lineup punch is going to come from. Manny is not a 35-45 HR hitter anymore, though he still has a great eye, and Johnny Damon is no longer a .300 hitter that will steal a shitload of bases. Trust me, I've seen them both in their primes, and thats not what they are anymore. They are both solid vets who will bring experience to a young team, and they will help, but they are no longer lineup anchors.
They're gonna be a very competitive team, and I don't discount them, they are dangerous. I just don't think that they will be able to match the Red Sox, but they might take out the Yankees.
Besides Longo, Dan Johnson and Matt Joyce have shown to be Sox/Yanks killers in big games. Also if guys like BJ Upton can get their mechanics together we'll see something totally different from him, the flashes have been there. I can see it hard to observe all that's going on from a distance but we've been watching some of these kids develop for a few years now, such as Desmond Jennings who's been waiting behind Crawford, and know it's just a matter of time before they breakout. Bullpen is a concern obviously with MFIKY and Benoit gone, but JP Howell may be coming back earlier than expected and he's always been good, plus we're working out some other guys we picked up. We may be platooning but it's workable.
Maddon manages a lot, but hey... it's gotten him an AL Pennant and two East titles. Lots of Rays fans question him, I choose not to anymore.
Never discounted what the "big boys" would do. Just believe in what we can.
Maddon manages a lot, but hey... it's gotten him an AL Pennant and two East titles. Lots of Rays fans question him, I choose not to anymore.
Never discounted what the "big boys" would do. Just believe in what we can.
And on the subject of the AL East, I hope Tampa, Boston, and New York are keeping an eye on Toronto. I'm loving most of the moves Alex Anthopoulos has been making (very TB-esque, in a lot of ways) and he's assembled a pretty good core of young guys, with more still trickling up from the minors. And I think John Farrell will do a lot to improve the Jays' play, as he'll bring a totally different, fresher approach from Cito Gaston.
And to top it all off, the Blue Jays have (I believe) the richest owners in baseball, so when they need the money for a big free agent in a couple seasons, they can get it.
And to top it all off, the Blue Jays have (I believe) the richest owners in baseball, so when they need the money for a big free agent in a couple seasons, they can get it.
The entire AL East is getting better. Will be interesting to see the O's with an entire season of Buck Showalter, he really brought them to life at the end of last year. And yes Toronto looks dangerous too and we're missing our Blue Jay killer Garza 
We like being annoying 
Bob and weave my friend, bob and weave 
Oh I sure hope they're there, payback's a b
tch.
tch.
Honestly see the Rays as a World Series contender this year, and not only that, but able to actually win it?
I mean, great to root for your team and all, but seems like pretty blatant homerism to me. They've got some nice pieces, but are rebuilding in a lot of areas right now...
I mean, great to root for your team and all, but seems like pretty blatant homerism to me. They've got some nice pieces, but are rebuilding in a lot of areas right now...
