djtestudo

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Baltimore Orioles

2006 Record: 70-92; Fourth place, American League East.

2007 Projected Record: 85-77; Third place, American League East.

Coming off of a disappointing season, the Orioles made some offseason moves that, though minor when it comes to headlines, could be very important when it comes to avoiding a tenth straight losing season.

Pitching:

Over the past several years, the Orioles had a goal of developing a pitching staff from within the organization. That plan took a step forward last season with the emergence of Erik Bedard as an ace. In addition, former first-round pick Adam Loewen showed promise coming up from AA in late May, then sticking for good after the All-Star Break, including a sub-4 ERA August.

With Daniel Cabrera, who had 157 strikeouts in 148 innings and a 4.74 ERA but who's league-leading 104 walks got him sent to AAA for a short time mid-season, the Orioles have three young starters who, if things go as expected, could give them the best top-three in the division.

To help the Orioles recover from the three-headed disaster of Rodrigo Lopez, Bruce Chen, and Russ Ortiz, who gave the team a combined 328 innings and 6.53 ERA, mostly from the number-four and -five spots in the rotation, the Orioles traded for Jaret Wright from the Yankees, who paid most of his salary, to pair with Kris Benson as veterans in the rotation. However, Benson came to spring training injured, and was replaced by former Mets starter Steve Trachsel.

The bullpen was given one of the most drastic overhauls possible, with only one reliever that was with the team the whole season remaining, closer Chris Ray. Ray was tenth in the league in saves with 33, and a 2.73 ERA. Just about everyone else, however, was replaced.

A total of almost $40 million was spent on the bullpen in the forms of Danys Baez, Chad Bradford, Scott Williamson, and Jamie Walker. From within the Orioles added Brian Burress, who pitched late in the season for the Orioles, and John Parrish, who would have made the team last year, but was injured. Also added is Jeremy Guthrie, a former number-one pick of the Indians who was signed to a minor-league deal but wowed the team with a 1.50 ERA in fifteen spring-training innings.

Lineup:

One of the biggest criticisms of the Orioles' minor-league system over the years has been a complete lack of position prospects that have major-league success. The Orioles did not develop a single one on their own between Cal Ripken in 1982 and Brian Roberts a couple years ago. While this is still an issue, a gem was found last season in the form of outfielder Nick Markakis.

Markakis finished the season with a .291 average, 16 home runs, 62 RBIs, and a .799 OPS, made all the more impressive considering he was batting .219 with two home runs and a .615 OPS going into June. He will be the number-three hitter in the lineup ahead of Miguel Tejada and his .330/24/100 season with an .877 OPS.

Second baseman Brian Roberts, fully recovered from the catastrophic arm injury suffered in September 2005 when Bubba Crosby collided with him and nearly tore the arm off, will lead-off, with third baseman Melvin Mora batting second. After Markakis and Tejada will be free-agent Aubrey Huff, coming off two down seasons with Tampa Bay and Houston, and expected to play first base. Catcher Ramon Hernandez, second to Tejada with 23 home runs last season, bats sixth. Jay Gibbons, starting the season as the left fielder but expected to be mostly a DH, will bat seventh. Kevin Millar starts the season batting eighth as the DH. Corey Patterson, coming off of a season where he started on the bench and ended up surprising everyone with 16 home runs, 45 steals and great defense, finishes the lineup.

The reason the seven and eight spots are listed as questions is because of Jay Payton. Signed to be the everyday left fielder, he was injured late in spring training and will miss the beginning of the season. When he returns he will bat eighth in left field with Gibbons and Millar sharing the seventh spot and DH.

Starting the season on the bench will be infielder Chris Gomez, who is not expected to repeat his .341 average, .826 OPS 2006 season, infielder/outfielder Freddie Bynum, and catcher Paul Bako.

The small bench and large pitching staff is needed because of a dearth of off-days early in this season, and a need for insurance for the starting pitching, which has several members not noted for going deep into games.

Overall:

The Orioles have a chance to compete this year. New York and Boston both have questions with their pitching, Toronto looks to have tread water, if anything, and Tampa Bay has no proven pitching beyond Scott Kazmir.

A lot has to go right, and there is almost no chance for a division title with all of that money ahead of them, but as long as those three young starters continue to improve, and the bullpen and lineup can be at the very least league average, this looks like a mid-80s-win team that will be in the wild card race until close to the end with the potential for much more.

As the Tigers proved last season, there is a reason we play the games.

__________________
"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

Halx

Los Angeles Dodgers:

Barring any injuries, we will win it all.

The End.

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goddfather40

Just got back from Angels opening night, and a Halo victory 4-1. Nothing like opening day.

Of course, I think the Angels will come out of the west this year but it will be us and Oakland as usual down to the wire.

My predictions:

AL West: Angels
AL Central: Tigers
AL East: Red Sox
AL Wild Card: Yankees

NL West: Dodgers
NL Central: Cubs
NL East: NY Mets
NL Wild Card: Phillies

ALCS: Tigers over Angels
NLCS: NY Mets over Phillies

WS: Mets over Tigers

NL MVP: Albert Pujols
AL MVP: David Ortiz

NL Cy Young: Dontrelle Willis
AL Cy Young: Johan Santana

NL Rookie of the Year: Troy Tulowitski (Colorado)
AL Rookie of the Year: Alex Gordon (KC)

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kutulu

Not with Gonzo out there booting balls. Look, the Dodgers have a great pitching staff but the bats are a bunch of wet noodles. They have one of the best farm systems in baseball and are afraid to use it.

They should also be more than a little concerned by Schmidt's inability to find his fastball so far. He's throwing in the high 80's and his high fb is going to get slammed in LA.

The DBacks will take the West and are primed for several years of dominance. Chris B Young for ROY.

Mister Coaster

The Dodgers are great at bringing up talent, then trading it away. I have heard a lot of hype about them, but perhaps only because the rest of the NL West ain't so hot either.

Baseball is back, and my stinkin cable company has no MLB packace. What's an Angels fan in Colorado supposed to do???

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MontanaXVI

I don't understand why many different websites and so called "experts" are picking the Angels to win the AL W.

The A's lost really only 2 people, Zito, and Frank Thomas. While Piazza is obviously on the decline, hitting as a DH should help him stay healthy and he might come close to the numbers that Thomas put up last season.

Losing Zito does hurt, but Harden is healthy so that is almost an even trade off in my eyes.

Bobby Crosby is back, and Chavez is playing healthy right now as well, so if those guys hold up then I really see no reason that the A's cannot repeat as AL W champions.


You can thank DirecTV for that one, they obtained the exclusive rights to the MLB package just like they did for the NFL.

You can look into mlb.tv I had it last year and found it very nice, as an online option for watching A's games here in Columbus, OH

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Mister Coaster

The A's definately can repeat, but it will be a tough race vs. The Angels.

Look at the Angles...
Outfield, Anderson (who finally looks to be healthy again) Matthews, and Guerrero. All are power hitters and good at fielding as well.

Figgins (when he returns) is the second best leadoff guy in baseball, and plays any position except pitcher or catcher. If Caberera can come back to his 2005 form, thats good, Kennedy was getting old, Kendrick is a natural 2nd baseman, should fit. Kotchman at 1st shows promise, he even cracked a homer to dead center last night, not a bad start for a player who "doesn't have homerun power."

Then there's pitching, once Colon and Jered Weaver are back, I defy anyone to show me a better 5 man rotation. And the bullpen is rated #1 in the AL.

They are a tough lineup, I'm looking forward to a great season. Look out Oakland!

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kutulu

Zito is probably the most overrated pitcher in the game. The A's won't miss him too much.

Most 'expert' predictions rely more on names than actuall talent. Baseball is notorious for the experts not being able to tell a player is in decline. As a result, people live off of their rep for years before anyone can tell that they are done. See Luis Gonzalez, Steve Finley.

MontanaXVI

You talk about Anderson, Figgins being healthy, along with Colon and Weaver, as well as Cabrera returning to form and 2 young guys living up to potential in Kendrick and Kotchman. While that is great, I see too many if/and/maybes with them. And with Matthews I say oh well, he isn't anything special, a journeyman OF who is with his 8th team and I think the Angels way overpaid to get him, he had one good year and they dropped some serious coin on him, now he has that HGH stuff hanging over his head, not good..

With the A's you get a decent albeit declining guy in Piazza to replace a guy who was in the exact same boat he is now in Thomas, Crosby is an injury issue as with some of the guys on the Angels, outside of that, they are returning the exact same team. I just see many more question marks on the Angels than the A's but I do agree it is a 2 team division one of those two will win it.

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kutulu

The Gary Matthews deal was just plain foolish. $50M and he will be 37 in the final year of the contract. He's never hit that well (OPS+ 109, 96, 119 in the last three years). Who wants a 37 yr old OF that won't be able to hit and makes $12M

It was just a bad year for teams looking for free agents this season. So many teams are going to regret the moves they made (Cubs especially)

The_Jazz

Yes, admittedly the Cubs will suck. However, suck will be an improvement over "God, my eyes" from last year.

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Mister Coaster

Anderson IS healthy, if he wasn't, he never would have come into home plate the way he did last night. He'll be fine. Figgins, Colon and Weaver are all on a 15 day DL, with Colon being the only one expected to lag a little. Figgins and Weaver are fine, Colon is the only question mark. But when he's on his game, the guy is an ace, 'nuff said. As for Matthews, overpriced? Probably Overhyped? Maybe. Better than Erstad in CF? Yes. Erstad was a great player, but his knees are gone, and even if Matthews doesn't win the batting crown, he'll contribute. MontanaXVI, if you want to place some "credits" on the season, I'm game.

I'm glad to see Zito go from the A's. I always HATED to watch that Goddamn rainbow curveball of his just drift into the strike zone while the batter just stands there. It looks so hittable, but apparently isn't. Zito surely isn't a power guy, he's finesse. Can't wait to see him burn the Dodgers.

BTW, we're only a day and a half into the season, let's enjoy watching some ball, eh?

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The_Jazz

Is it to early to expect Reisdorf to wave the white flag on the South Side?

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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin
"There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush
"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

djtestudo

Well, that's what happens when you pay $136 million for a second baseman to play the outfield, swings at balls thrown toward the light standard, and walks about as often as a 900-pound man permanently melding into a couch.

__________________
"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

Ridge

I see another huge year for the Pujols and the Cardinals. That lineup is loaded with good hitters. The Mets also have a great shot at winning it all.

Glory's Sun

The Cardinals are weak. They have so many holes in their rotation and lineup it's funny. Instead of going into the free agent market and picking up some pitchers, they try to fix it from inside. Guess what? It's not going to be pretty.


All I really care about is seeing if the Bo'Sox can play like they look on paper. If they stay healthy, it may be another fabulous year for the Nation.

pan6467

I think everyone's overlooking the Indians.

The Indians have a great lineup from top to bottom including the bench players......

Their pitching no other team I can think of has a rotation as strong.

I think the Indians are going to have the AL Central wrapped up for a few years to come.

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I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

Glory's Sun

I think the Indians will be a good team. However I don't think they have the best rotation. For right now, I'll give that to Atlanta. ATL also has the best bullpen in baseball.

Then of course I'd put the Bo'Sox ahead of the Indians rotation

No surrender

Perhaps the biggest reason the Angels will not win it all is the manager Mike Scoscia. He contantly makes mistakes in the management of his bullpen - which arguably is among the best in baseball. I can give you two examples. First, game 2 against the Rangers. Angels up 8-3 top of the eighth inning. He brings in Scot Shields, who worked the night before and with a day game the next day. Shields works two innings. Scoscia has others in the bullpen, including Chris Bootcheck and Frankie. Why not give Shield the time off, save him for the next 5 games in a row perhaps, and give the young guy the chance for some experience. Oh no, use up Shields just like he did last year...

Secondly, last night. Again, he brings in Shields with the game tied in the 8th. OK - I understand that - although he had alot of other choices. Shields does his thing and holds the lead and Scoscia brings in Frankie for a TIED 9th inning. Frankie gives up the gopher ball and game over. This scenario was repeated last year and lead to at least 5 losses (Overuse/unnecessary use of Shields and premature/unnecessary use of Frankie.)

I just don't get it.

kutulu

I don't see what is so great about Cleveland's rotation. Sabathia is as good as most aces, Byrd and Westbrook are league average guys, Sowers could be a great pitcher but he needs to learn to strike guys out.

It's is deep and good but not great.

pan6467

So far and granted it's the first week these guys have been unhittable. Their only loss came because their billpen couldn't throw strikes.

And runs...... woooo baby they are gonna score some runs this year.

__________________
I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

Mister Coaster

No Surrender: How can you fault the decision to bring in Shields? Shields is the backbone of that bullpen, and by far the easiest decision to go with in nearly any 7th or 8th inning cenreio, either with a tie or the lead. 8-3 is a big lead, but it could evaporate in a heartbeat if you put in unproven players, and you sure as hell don't go to the closer there. Shields plays a lot of innings, always has. If he wasn't ready, the bullpen coach wouldn't let him even warm up. Now, in a tie game going into the bottom of the 9th, its is a no-brainer to put in your closer. Every manager in baseball will make that decision. Besides the homer wasn't Scoscia's fault, K-Rod threw a dead-red fastball right down Broadway and if anyone can hit those, its a veteran like Piazza.

Besides, the Angles swept the Texas series and played well vs. Oakland in game 1 and slammed them in game 2. Were talking about the first 5 games here, where Angles have won 4 of them. I think this isn't exactly the time to be pointing fingers of blame on a team that... A. Doesen't even have all their starters playing yet and... B. Starts out at 4-1.

So far so good, I say.

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djtestudo

Woo-hoo! Two of three from the Yankees! (And it should have been a sweep!)

I think they have the worst starting rotation in the division right now.

__________________
"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

Halx

Dodgers sweep the Giants.

Once we get the individual pieces clicking together, we'll be unstoppable. It looks like the pitching is getting some momentum. Now, we just need Pierre and Nomar to start hitting.

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kutulu

DBacks pulled a 4 game sweep on the Nationals. Great series, just dominated them all four games.

Randy is coming back on April 19. I'm so pumped. I saw him in his first start this season (exhibition game at Chase Field). He was fucking dominant. His slider has the bite again and he was fooling batters left and right.

Mister Coaster

Dang, that was quite a 4 game series with the Angles Vs, A's. 3 of the 4 games decided by only one run.

And if anyone had told me before this series that freakin' Mike Piazza would have gone 10 for 16 in the 4 games I would have bet my house against it. I'll give credit when credit is due, that dude was ON FIRE, it didn't matter who was on the mound, he ate Angel pitching alive. I can only hope he was just on a hot streak, because if he keeps doing that against my team, that spells trouble down the road.

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kutulu

Beane was very smart to get Piazza. He's going to really benefit from being a DH.

Disturbing news for the Dodgers from Rotoworld:

Jason Schmidt left his start in the fifth inning Monday with a right hamstring injury.
Schmidt had to speed up on the way to cover first base after Nomar Garciaparra bobbled a routine grounder and injured his hamstring in the process. Mark Hendrickson replaced him and likely would move into the rotation if Schmidt lands on the DL.

and

Matt Kemp has been taken to the hospital for X-rays on his shoulder.
We'll find out after whether he suffered a dislocation while crashing into the wall during Monday's game.

Halx

That's ok. We have Hendrickson and Billingsley in the wing. And if an position player goes down, we can do some rotation and bring up LONEY!!!!

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dylanmarsh

Ah, the eternal optimist, Halx. The fighting Nomars will have to get by the buzzsaw that is the Arizona Diamondbacks. I just don't see the Dodgers doing much this season. Too many brittle bodies on that roster to stay healthy through mid-October. Nomar will be on the DL by mid-May.

Halx

then he gets replaced by LONEY!!!

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Halx

What was that buzzsaw comment about the Diamondbacks?

I can't hear you...

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Glory's Sun

hehe looks like the A's aren't the only team you need to worry about. My Sox destroyed your Angels.

The angels have more to worry about than pitching..they better tighten up on defense. Looks like they started right where they left off last year.. last in defense.

kutulu

pfffft, Penny is on fire, facing a team where half the players are slumping and Edgar is practically trying to lose his rotation spot to Owings (today's pitcher). Young, Drew, Jackson, and the catchers will work out of their slumps and this team will score runs like crazy. We got Carlos Quentin back last night, that kid's a badass.

I was bummed that Gonzo was able to get that assist at home (aided by a rocket by Furcal) but was happy that Gonzo at least went 0-4 including a K with the bases loaded.

Mister Coaster

Ummmm.... yeah.... I had a feeling I was going to hear it from a Boston fan after that series. Although, it wasn't JUST poor fielding that haunted us there, Boston pitching owned Angel hitters. Even if fielding was perfect, Bosox would have won all 3 games played. Lucky for me, the one game was rained out, perhaps the makeup game will salvage a win.

I'm just glad I didn't have a bet going with anyone on that series...

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Glory's Sun

Hey don't feel bad; Boston pitching will be owning a lot of teams this year

Glory's Sun

Man, A-rod is on fire right now. I can't stand the guy but I have to give him props.

The Red Sox/Yankees game was awesome as always. A-rod put on a show but in the end, it was our guys that came out on top. Okajima did an outstanding job getting the heavy order out. Sox should take at least 2 out of 3 for this series.

Rivera just doesn't look good this year. It might just be his lack of work so far, but then he's never really that great against the Bo'Sox

kutulu

ARod is insane this year. I don't think the Yanks need to panic about Rivera yet, 7 appearances isn't much of a sample size. Especially when you consider that he was lights out in 5 of them.

Glory's Sun

I know it's early to count Rivera out, but even though he's seen little work this year, I have to wonder what happens if the Yankees pitching/bullpen doesn't improve. If he starts having to come in the 8th for even 1 out to get to the 9th, will he be effective??

He always has problems with the Red Sox so I'm not real worried as far as that goes.

All I know is the Yankees bullpen is in trouble, and hopefully it will stay that way. They are on pace to have 600+ innings of work. That's way more than a club with that much money should have in relief.

djtestudo

Geez.

Red Sox need bullpen help. Yankees need bullpen help. Toronto needs bullpen help. Tampa Bay needs bullpen help.

Seems like there's one team in the AL East that DOESN'T need bullpen help...the one in second place

__________________
"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

Glory's Sun

check back in after the break when Baltimore has fallen a few spots