Baseball 2014!

[TheOldSchool]

It's been a fairly interesting off-season but there haven't been all that many MAJOR moves. Some of the biggest are the signings of Matsuhiro Tanaka by the Yankees, the acquisition of Prince Fielder by the Rangers, the acquisition of Robinson Cano by the Mariners, the contracts of Mike Trout and David Freese by the Angels, etc.

But it seems like the list of likely contenders for the Championship is pretty close to what it was last year.

Where do you think your team stands? Do you even like baseball? Do you foresee any big surprises this year?

I'll start it off. I'm a Washington Nationals fan. I was at the press conference when they announced a team was coming to D.C. and I persevered through all the bad years. We finally have a solid team and while we didn't meet expectations last year I think the club is hungrier than they've ever been and are going to come through. I have to give the nod to teams like the Cardinals, the Red Sox, the Tigers, and maybe even the Dodgers... but I'll be the last person surprised if my Nationals take the spotlight.

Care to share your views?

MLB Power Rankings for all 30 Clubs

 

[DGS49]

Baseball is the quintessential American sport. I love it.

My Pirates are hopeful of repeating last year's relative success, but I'm doubtful. The loss of A.J. Burnett will probably mean nothing, as he was a disruptive influence in the clubhouse and lost as many games as he won.

The problem is that our pitching staff over-performed last year and they will be hard-pressed to come anywhere near that level of proficiency again, especially in the bullpen. Jason Grilli has lost his mojo, sorry to say. A closer has to BELIEVE that he can get everyone out, and once you start to doubt yourself you can't be successful as a closer. Melancon had good numbers, but I think that was a fluke. We do have a potentially excellent starting rotation, though, which is the only good reason to be optimistic.

Offensively, the Pirates sucked last year. In fact, they sucked even more than the numbers showed, because when the game was on the line they were horrible And that goes especially for the two offensive "stars, McCutcheon and Alvarez. The team's pattern last year (when they were winning) was that they got an early lead and the bullpen kept the other team from scoring after the fifth inning. Game after game, when they encountered situations where a "clutch" hit would have iced the deal, they failed to get it. It was pathetic.

And they were unwilling or unable to get a serious hitter in the offseason, so unless Pedro or Russell Martin or one of the platoon of first basemen and rightfielders has a breakout year, they will be struggling to stay over .500 in '14. They have a good #3 hitter in McCutcheon, but not a serious #4 hitter anywhere in the organization right now.

Next year, Tony Sanchez will replace RMartin behind the plate, and he is making good noises this spring.

 

[TheOldSchool]

Baseball is the quintessential American sport. I love it.

My Pirates are hopeful of repeating last year's relative success, but I'm doubtful. The loss of A.J. Burnett will probably mean nothing, as he was a disruptive influence in the clubhouse and lost as many games as he won.

The problem is that our pitching staff over-performed last year and they will be hard-pressed to come anywhere near that level of proficiency again, especially in the bullpen. Jason Grilli has lost his mojo, sorry to say. A closer has to BELIEVE that he can get everyone out, and once you start to doubt yourself you can't be successful as a closer. Melancon had good numbers, but I think that was a fluke. We do have a potentially excellent starting rotation, though, which is the only good reason to be optimistic.

Offensively, the Pirates sucked last year. In fact, they sucked even more than the numbers showed, because when the game was on the line they were horrible And that goes especially for the two offensive "stars, McCutcheon and Alvarez. The team's pattern last year (when they were winning) was that they got an early lead and the bullpen kept the other team from scoring after the fifth inning. Game after game, when they encountered situations where a "clutch" hit would have iced the deal, they failed to get it. It was pathetic.

And they were unwilling or unable to get a serious hitter in the offseason, so unless Pedro or Russell Martin or one of the platoon of first basemen and rightfielders has a breakout year, they will be struggling to stay over .500 in '14. They have a good #3 hitter in McCutcheon, but not a serious #4 hitter anywhere in the organization right now.

Next year, Tony Sanchez will replace RMartin behind the plate, and he is making good noises this spring.

I expect them to get a wildcard spot against this year. I can't see them besting the Cardinals for 1st. But they're definitely a team on the rise. Maybe they'll make some moves during the season.

 

[Mr Natural]

I'm still pissed about the Robinson Cano deal.

And I'm expecting a protracted drought for the Yankees.

 

[TheOldSchool]

I'm still pissed about the Robinson Cano deal.

And I'm expecting a protracted drought for the Yankees.

Don't count out the Yankees. They'll be fairly solid this year. You think Jeter's not going out with a bang?

 

[Papageorgio]

I'm still pissed about the Robinson Cano deal.

And I'm expecting a protracted drought for the Yankees.

I hear ya, the Mariners made a huge mistake.

 

[PoliticalChic]

I'm still pissed about the Robinson Cano deal.

And I'm expecting a protracted drought for the Yankees.

Did you see the two outings by Tanaka????

 

[DGS49]

Yes. I think Jeter's not going out with a bang.

.260.

Maybe.

 

[hangover]

I'm still pissed about the Robinson Cano deal.

And I'm expecting a protracted drought for the Yankees.

I'm really glad the New York yukees lost Cano. They've been stealing players from the Beaners since the Bamino. This year they stole Ellsbury. Fuck that traitor.

 

[TruthSeeker56]

I'm still pissed about the Robinson Cano deal.

And I'm expecting a protracted drought for the Yankees.

I agree with you.

The Spankees have been doing it with smoke and mirrors for a few seasons now.

Their problem for a LONG time has been PITCHING, and adding a Japanese pitcher to their grab bag of pitching wannabes, has-beens, and never-wases is not much of a long-term plan. It's not like they have a great track record with Jap pitchers. Hideki Irabu, anyone?

The biggest mystery about the Yankees this year will be what old pitcher they'll desperately insert into their rotation. Maybe Ron Guidry? Roger Clemens? David Wells?

I hope the Spankees lose a HUNDRED games.

(DISCLAIMER: I am a die-hard Red Sox fan)

 

[namvet]

I miss the good ole days

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpS-XFXxJvE]Earl Weaver Umpire Fight - YouTube[/ame]

 

[TruthSeeker56]

I miss the good ole days

Earl Weaver Umpire Fight - YouTube

Earl Weaver. GREAT manager, and very entertaining.

They just don't make them like Earl anymore.

 

[WelfareQueen]

Braves beat the Nats like a drum again this year.....

 

[hangover]

Braves beat the Nats like a drum again this year.....

Sure looks like the nats are buggin you already.

 

[Spiderman]

I'm glad baseball is back.

I've been dealing with a particularly bad bout of insomnia and baseball is better than Ambien

 

[WelfareQueen]

Braves beat the Nats like a drum again this year.....

Sure looks like the nats are buggin you already.

Luv the Nats.....

 

[TheOldSchool]

Braves beat the Nats like a drum again this year.....

Sure looks like the nats are buggin you already.

Luv the Nats.....

You'll love em even more in October

 

[WelfareQueen]

Sure looks like the nats are buggin you already.

Luv the Nats.....

You'll love em even more in October

Yeah.....they'll be home drinking lattes.

 

[LA RAM FAN]

It's been a fairly interesting off-season but there haven't been all that many MAJOR moves. Some of the biggest are the signings of Matsuhiro Tanaka by the Yankees, the acquisition of Prince Fielder by the Rangers, the acquisition of Robinson Cano by the Mariners, the contracts of Mike Trout and David Freese by the Angels, etc.

But it seems like the list of likely contenders for the Championship is pretty close to what it was last year.

Where do you think your team stands? Do you even like baseball? Do you foresee any big surprises this year?

I'll start it off. I'm a Washington Nationals fan. I was at the press conference when they announced a team was coming to D.C. and I persevered through all the bad years. We finally have a solid team and while we didn't meet expectations last year I think the club is hungrier than they've ever been and are going to come through. I have to give the nod to teams like the Cardinals, the Red Sox, the Tigers, and maybe even the Dodgers... but I'll be the last person surprised if my Nationals take the spotlight.

Care to share your views?

MLB Power Rankings for all 30 Clubs

Dont forget the yankees signing of Jacoby Ellsbury.the good old days of players playing the game for the love of the game instead of the love of the money and playing their entire career with one team are forever gone now.we'll never see the good old days of players like Cal Ripken,the last of his breed again. thats why baseball really sucks today. same as football.

as far as playoffs,expect the pirates to be back in the playoffs again.Great to see an organization that suffered for 20 years without a winning season winning again. thank god for Clint Hurdle and for the stupidity of the colorado rockies making it possible for them to make their years of the past be but a bad memory. That has got to be the stupidest thing the rockies ever did letting him go.They sucked before he got there,and they have sucked ever since he left.Now the Pirates are benefitting from having him.

Now if only my favorite team in the national league,the Cubs could turn the corneras well.That will be another decade or so at least though probabaly.

 

[boedicca]

Yay As!!!!