Baseball 2009

Prior's mechanics are so bad that you can get injured simply by watching videos of him pitching. 

The World Baseball Classic must stop now, before there are no American baseball players left at all. 

Sidney Ponson and Kyle Farnsworth are hardly decent acquisitions.  

The Tigers just became contenders again.  They released Gary Sheffield.  I don't believe that there has ever been a more obvious case of addition by subtraction then this move.  He is stuck on 499 home runs, so it'll be interesting to see which team decides to give him a go so he can get his 500th. 

Looks like the Mets want the 40 y/o Shefield in their outfield. I can't imagine that they really need him to draw in fans to Citi Field.

If tonight's Tigers' game is any indication it is going to be another loooooooooooooooong season.  Down 4 - 0 after 1 inning and 9 to 1 after 4 innings. Verlander was awful just like he was most of the season last year, and Halladay is basically unhittable, which he basically has been his entire career.

manofmystery wrote: crimhead wrote: manofmystery wrote: rileydog22 wrote: Not to be mean (manofmystery already got that out of the way anyhow), but in my eyes the Pirates haven't really gotten better anywhere.    The Cards, though, could be a solid wild card contender--they ain't topping the Cubs--especially if that man-beast Rick Ankiel continues to hit homers and play plus defense in centerfield.    I'm also the one that broke Tiny Tim's leg but not Mark Prior's shoulder, I love that guy 2009 Comeback Player of the Year What about Kerry Wood?    Indifferent towards him but his comeback year was last year, this is the year of Prior

I had really high hopes for the Tigers last year, but after they got swept by the Royals at home in the opening series and started 0 and 8 or 9 (or whatever it was) they just never got it on track.  Other than gettign rid of Sheffield they did very little to improve themselves in the offseason (in my opinion, although they claim they will be much better defensively).  Starting the season the way did yesterday brought back all the bad feelings from the start of last year.  A couple of seasons ago Verlander was awesome, and he had an occasional good game here and there last year but it seemed as though every game he was at or about 100 pitches by the 5th inning and it was time to go to the crappy bullpen.    I am definitely more cautious about my optimism this year.

shame the fantasy league is DOA

Gonna have to disagree entirely about your AL West pick, manofmystery.  Angels had remarkably good luck last year--though they would have run away with the division anyways--and their pitching staff has been decimated by injuries.  Nobody can lose a starting pitcher to free agency and three more to injuries and be a "no brainer" to win a division.  Texas has a startling lack of pitching, and they only have three or four good position players.  I think the A's will slighly edge out the Angels through defense, young pitching, and a couple sluggers.  

I still haven't shifted into baseball mode completely yet....   getting geared up for the run for the Cup.   Wondering how...as a Caps fan... we will get our hearts ripped out this year.  At least we wouldn't meet the Flyers until the conference finals