With opening day less than a week away it was time to start the thread! Go Go White Sox!

I just hope the Cubs stay in the wild card race a lot longer this season.

By the way, who is the favorite's to make it to the World Series this year?

GO SOX!

Beat 'em Bucs!

I heard that SI is calling the Washington Nationals World Champs.

My preseason picks are as follows:

AL East: Tampa Bay Rays
AL Central: Detroit Tigers
AL West: Los Angeles of Anaheim Angels
AL Wildcards: New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles

NL East: Washington Nationals
NL Central: Cincinnati Reds
NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers
NL Wildcards: Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants

Honestly, I don't believe that the yankees will not make the postseason unless they make a really really big trade. Cincinnati will most likely choke or barely make the postseason by wildcard.

AL EAST: Tampa Bay Rays
AL CENTRAL: Detroit Tigers
AL WEST: LA Angels

AL Wildcard teams: Balt Orioles, Oakland A's


NL EAST: Nationals
NL CENTRAL: Reds
NL WEST: Giants

Wildcard: LA Dosgers vs Cardinals

World Series: Angels vs. Nationals. Angels in 6 games

A lot of people are saying that and looking at their lineup, I can see why. However, the rotation and bullpen are fine (as of this writing). Furthermore, they "should" be getting Granderson and Texiera back around May (they'll miss a month). It's a LONG season.

I'm not sold on the Blue Jays at all even though everybody else is. Dickey was a good trade and Buerhele has pitched in the AL before so he knows what he's getting himself into. What about Josh Johnson? Can he stay healthy? How's his stuff going to translate to not only the AL, but the AL East? Melky Cabrera's off the juice (hopefully) so his numbers are going down the toilet. And how are Jose Reyes' legs going to hold up on that astro turf? Too many questions that need to be answered.

Oakland could make the postseason again but it'll be difficult to replicate last year's success - just ask Baltimore but I'm picking them anyway. Texas lost a lot of offense too and they haven't replaced it so I'm not picking them either.

Couldnt wait for this thread to start..gotta love baseball just got done watching the mlb show where everone made thier pre season pics..I will start out west....
Al west;Angles texas will suffer with that loss of hamilton
Nl west;Ladodgers beceuse even they have a better staff than Sf who will be 2nd and take the wild card..
Al central;Detroit wins cle a tough 2nd, no wild card cause of al east.
Nl central;Reds votto might compete for tripple crown..
Al EAST;Tampa i think will win it.. Balt/Tor will compete 4 second and a wildcard..Nyy wont do Sh$$t...And Toronto will compete but may be 3rd place got some pitching but gotta have bats..
Nl east; Atl..I hate to say it..Phi second and Wash third but this will be an amazeing year watchin these three play one another this year..i think all three teams will have about 88-95 wins..Even one of these teams might hit a wildcard chance

AL East: Tampa Bay Rays
AL Central: Detroit Tigers
AL West: Los Angeles Angels
AL Wildcards: Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers

NL East: Washington Nationals
NL Central: Cincinnati Reds
NL West: San Francisco Giants
NL Wildcards: St.Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers

World Series: Washington Nationals over the Detroit Tigers

Dapper, your buying that Tiger pitching I see? I'm big on Verlander but just don't believe in much after him!

Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Doug Fister and Anibal Sanchez arguably the best rotation in baseball in my opinion.

That's a tough argument!

Nationals: Strasburg, Gio Gonzales, Jordan Zimmerman, Dan Haren and now closing Clippard and six finger Rafeal Soraino.

Angels: Jared Weaver, CJ Wilson, Tommy Hanson, Jason Varges and Ernesto Fieri

Giants: Matt Cain, Madison Baumgardner, Tim Lincecum, Ryan Vogelsong, Barry Zito and Sergio Romo!

You work I drink and watch ESPN all day!

ESPN sucks, I watch the MLB network. MUCH better baseball coverage obviously.

The Giants and the Nats def have a good rotation as well. It all comes down to injuries in my opinion.

I like the ESPN Baseball Tonight crew, I enjoy MLB however it just seems like they have to many guys with an agenda! John Hart?


Tigers need a closer BAD!

Only thing I love about ESPN baseball coverage is Schilling, Kurkjian, Olney, and Jayson Stark.



They are going to go with a closer by committee, if it doesn't work out I wouldnt count them out of getting a closer by the trading deadline.

Cubs can trade Marmol for Sanchez

^^Marmol is a disaster, did you see his performance during the Spring?

Tigers would never trade Sanchez for him.

Top Four Teams Tied at Fav status to date.

DP


2013 World Series Championship 2013-09-28 06:00
Price Price
Detroit Tigers +700
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Los Angeles Angels +700
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Washington Nationals +700
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Los Angeles Dodgers +700
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Texas Rangers +1,400
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New York Yankees +1,400
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Atlanta Braves +1,200
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Philadelphia Phillies +1,800
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Toronto Blue Jays +1,000
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San Francisco Giants +1,200
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Cincinnati Reds +1,200
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St Louis Cardinals +1,800
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Tampa Bay Rays +2,200
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Chicago White Sox +4,500
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Oakland Athletics +2,400
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Milwaukee Brewers +4,000
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Arizona Diamondbacks +5,000
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Boston Red Sox +3,000
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Baltimore Orioles +2,000
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New York Mets +5,000
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Pittsburgh Pirates +6,000
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Kansas City Royals +4,000
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Chicago Cubs +6,000
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San Diego Padres +8,000
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Miami Marlins +15,000
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Seattle Mariners +6,000
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Cleveland Indians +6,000
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Minnesota Twins +15,000
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Colorado Rockies +15,000
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Houston Astros +2,000
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. -111 Off

Honestly, if the cubs could trade Marmol for a Detroit snowglobe I would be so happy. I am really tired of Marmol's lack of control and lack of confidence.

Lets Go Mets!

What a great opener.

Your Sox won too.

Good Luck.

DP

So the first two Astros games have been enough emotion for the entire season! Opening Day was terrifying since "everybody" was watching us, and it was fantastic to actually look good on national TV.

Tonight's game was insane, with Darvish getting within one out of a perfect game, and I was THERE. I discussed it as much as I could in the later innings to see if I could jinx it, but no such luck. The stadium felt like it was overrun with Ranger fans, and by the 9th, I think everyone was feeling the energy. I was glad we saved ourselves the embarrassment with the hit that broke it up, but as a baseball fan it's hard not to feel bad for Darvish...

Sorry about your Astros, Gina. It's amazing what Ed Wade can do to a team.

Beat 'em Bucs!

Alex Rodriguez makes more money in one year than the entire Astros team.....and he's not even playing.

Kly, I just realized/remembered he was with the Phillies before.. so I take it you're familiar with his, uh, skill set?

MC, isn't it ridiculous? Our local station had a segment about how we're supposedly using the "Moneyball" method. I think I'll just refer to it as thrifty and patient. (VERY patient.)

Astros might be building up. I doubt the owner is going to be like the asshole who owns the Miami Marlins. Then again you won't know for awhile what kind of owner he is.

Unfortunately, the Astros have missed badly on talent evaluation for several years. But I understand that while their farm system doesn't exactly stand out, it's been better than it has been for some years now. gina could enlighten us more there.

But as far as minor league systems go, five teams currently stand from the rest: 1. Cardinals (the undisputed strongest system), 2. Mariners, 3. Rangers, 4. Pirates, and 5. Rays.

The Astros farm system was recently ranked #10 in Baseball

10) Houston Astros (25 last year, ranked 11th on January 28th 2013, moved up to 10th on February 5th following Jed Lowrie trade): Another system that has improved rapidly. Strengths: 2012 draft class looks excellent thanks to inventive exploitation of new draft rules. Trades have dramatically improved system depth. Potential impact bats in Singleton, Correa, Springer. Weaknesses: pitching is weaker than hitting especially at the higher levels, no obvious rotation anchor types are close to the majors. It will take time for recent draftees to filter through system.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/1/28/3925786/2013-baseball-farm-system-rankings