As yet another Major League Baseball season is about to get started, baseball fans here on TA need to reflect back on the off-season, comment and predict as to which teams they think will have the most impact in the upcoming season. Later on you may reflect as to how accurate your predictions were

My selections:
American League:
EAST (AL Powerhouse of 2005 - 3-4 winning records to show for):
1. New York Yankees
- Yankees will yet again win the regular season AL EAST division crown
2. Baltimore Orioles
- addition of some heavy bats in the off-season will definitely shoot this team into a wild-card position.
3. Boston Red Sox will not repeat as World Champions - their winning record this season even won't get them into the playoffs either in this tough division.

CENTRAL:
- will once again become a close battle between Twins, Indians and White Sox. It will eventually come down to Twins vs. Indians, and Indians will win the division narrowly.

WEST:
Anaheim Angels take the division, followed by non-playoff winning season record Texas.

National League
EAST (will be tighter than ever before!):
1. Atlanta Braves. Can't count these guys out of division contention even after JD Drew left. Braves' pitching will be back to its mid-90s level, as seen by addition of Tim Hudson and John Smoltz to the rotation. Will be a closer final week stretch for the division title.
2. Florida Marlins. Great pitching and the addition of Delgado will boost Marlins into a close second place behind Atlanta.
3. Even the impressive off-season signings will not improve Mets in the standings, as they will finish with no better than a winning record.
4. Phillies will taste the injury bug yet again and the loss of Millwood will not do them any good. They'll settle for a .500-record instead.

CENTRAL:
1. Cardinals. Even though it won't as easy and impressive as they did in the 2004 season, they'll grab yet another division crown.
2. Astros. Now that you can't call them the Killer B's, but you should see them finish well in the playoff hunt, missing it by a game or two.
3. Cubbies will have the winning record yet again, but the failure to replace Sosa with another big bat will hurt their playoff chances.

WEST (NL Powerhouse of 2005):
1. LA Dodgers. Can almost guarantee these guys to repeat as division champions, and with the best record in the NL.
2. Giants. Babby Bonds and the team will win the wild card this season, but that ring will elude Barry 'Steroids' Bonds yet again. Expect his decline ...
3. Arizona Diamondbacks will have a big improvement and should finish close or at .500 record, but will be no match to their top 2 division rivals.

Playoffs
AL:
NYY defeat Indians in 4, Angels defeat Orioles in 5.
Angels defeat Yankees in 6.

NL:
Dodgers defeat Braves in 5, Cardinals defeat Giants in 4.
Dodgers defeat Cardinals in 6.

WORLD SERIES:
Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Anaheim Angels in 6.

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

The Dodgers? Come on...I don't think so. They were smoked last year and have done little to improve even after losing Beltre and Green. They're not a bad side, but not playoff worthy in that west division.

I agree with you about the BoSox. Of course, I might have to eat my words (I certainly did last October ), but I predict they'll be a one year wonder. Losing Lowe and Pedro is too much. Clement (joke) and Wells (an even worse joke)? HAHAHA!!

As long as the Yanks stay away from serious injury concerns (the Unit bothers me in that regard) and have solid pitching, they'll steamroll to the playoffs. The Angels are looking mighty good too. Hard to choose a winner yet...by August I'll know whether my beloved Bombers will be able to regain their form of years past.

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"No offense, but you're stupid"

I know it won't be as easy this year but I can't see a credible challenge to the Cards in the NL Central. The Cubbies have lost it big style, the Astros and the Reds will be the challengers this year.

I can't see the cardinals repeating,even with them adding Mulder the pitching they have is very suspect.In the n.l. west i see the Padres possibly making a strong run.N.l. east is up for grabs in my opinion.A.L. will be the usual suspects.

brewers are goin all the way this year folks... i can feel it

quote:

Originally posted by D-res brewers are goin all the way this year folks... i can feel it

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

quote:

Originally posted by SlackerBoy9 I can't see the cardinals repeating,even with them adding Mulder the pitching they have is very suspect.In the n.l. west i see the Padres possibly making a strong run.N.l. east is up for grabs in my opinion.A.L. will be the usual suspects.

Carpenter back fit, the bull pen as strong as last year and Morris pitching the way he was a few years back (I know its only spring but its a good sign) plus Mulder, the pitching is bolstered and the outfield has only taken a slight hit at SS, the NL central will be ours again!

quote:

Originally posted by D-res brewers are goin all the way this year folks... i can feel it

While I don't think they'll make the playoffs, I think the Brew Crew will surprise a lot of people this year. And what they get for Sheets mid-season should be enough to make them contenders from 2006-2010. Their minors are dope.

Anyway...

NL East:
Phillies. I think their lineup will finally put it together this year and all hit at the same time, a la the Cards last year. The Phils 3-4-5 guys are, potentially, just as dangerous as the Cards 3-4-5.
NL Central:
Cubs. Pitching. If their rotation is healthy, they win it in a landslide. Having Carlos Zambrano and Greg Maddux as your 3 & 4 guys in the rotation should be illegal.
NL West:
Giants. They only got better this year. Sure, they're old. But who cares? That obviously trying to win one before Bonds retires, so age really doesn't matter to them. Lest we forget that they were 3 outs away from winning the West last year. I think they led the league in Blown Saves last year. They added Benitez. They have a legitimate bat behind Bonds this year with Alou. They made it to the WS the last time they had another bat behind Bonds.
NL WildCard:
Cardinals. Not sure about this. So... I'll just go with the team that most say is the best in the NL.


AL East:
Red Sox. Despite what anti-Sox people are saying, they aren't much worse than last year. They still have a KILLER lineup. Adding Renteria will only help. Remember, they missed Nomar for most of the year and then replaced him with Orlando Cabrera (who batted something like .250 with a .270 OBP for the Sox). If Clement can put it together, he can be one of the best pitchers in the league. And people seem to forget Wade Miller. He should be the best "mid-season pickup" of any team not getting Ben Sheets.
AL Central:
Indians. Remember that I said this. They came close last year and then just fell apart in August, I think. A year older/wiser Sabathia, Westbrook, Hafner, Victor Martinez and Grady Sizemore... they should be fine. Only thing that stands in their way is that Left-Hander the Twins just signed to an extension. I think he won the Cy Young or something...
AL West:
Angels. While I'm not as high on the Angels as everyone else is, I'm sure their rotation will be better than it was last year. And I think their lineup will not be as potent as it was last year. That being said, they'll probably still pull it out.
AL WildCard:
Yankees. Still a dope lineup. Iffy rotation. Basically the same formaula as the Red Sox. Crazy hitters, super ace... then a bunch of ?'s. I just think the Red Sox are still slightly better than the Yankees.

NLDS:
Phillies v. Cubs > Cubs.
Cardinals v. Giants > Giants.

NLCS:
Cubs v. Giants > Giants.

ALDS:
Red Sox v. Indians > Red Sox.
Yankees v. Angels > Yankees.

ALCS:
Red Sox v. Yankees > Boring. I mean... Red Sox.

World Series:
Red Sox v. Giants > Giants.

Bada bing, bada boom.

___________________
*can't imagine it feelin' much better...
i wish it would just last forever.
and so, to feel like that?
i'd pay any price just to get that back.*

my predictions:

NL East - Marlins
NL Central - Cards
NL West - Giants
NL Wild Card - Dodgers

AL East - Yankees
AL Central - Indians
AL West - Angels
AL Wild Card - Red Sox

Playoffs:

Divisional Series

Marlins over Giants
Cards over Dodgers

Yanks over Indians
Angels over Red Sox


Championship Series

Angels over Yanks
Marlins over Cards

World Series:

Marlins over Angels

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quote:

[11:58] Bas //: fuck he's hot

quote:

Originally posted by Shamez214 While I don't think they'll make the playoffs, I think the Brew Crew will surprise a lot of people this year. And what they get for Sheets mid-season should be enough to make them contenders from 2006-2010. Their minors are dope. Anyway... NL East: Phillies. I think their lineup will finally put it together this year and all hit at the same time, a la the Cards last year. The Phils 3-4-5 guys are, potentially, just as dangerous as the Cards 3-4-5. NL Central: Cubs. Pitching. If their rotation is healthy, they win it in a landslide. Having Carlos Zambrano and Greg Maddux as your 3 & 4 guys in the rotation should be illegal. NL West: Giants. They only got better this year. Sure, they're old. But who cares? That obviously trying to win one before Bonds retires, so age really doesn't matter to them. Lest we forget that they were 3 outs away from winning the West last year. I think they led the league in Blown Saves last year. They added Benitez. They have a legitimate bat behind Bonds this year with Alou. They made it to the WS the last time they had another bat behind Bonds. NL WildCard: Cardinals. Not sure about this. So... I'll just go with the team that most say is the best in the NL. AL East: Red Sox. Despite what anti-Sox people are saying, they aren't much worse than last year. They still have a KILLER lineup. Adding Renteria will only help. Remember, they missed Nomar for most of the year and then replaced him with Orlando Cabrera (who batted something like .250 with a .270 OBP for the Sox). If Clement can put it together, he can be one of the best pitchers in the league. And people seem to forget Wade Miller. He should be the best "mid-season pickup" of any team not getting Ben Sheets. AL Central: Indians. Remember that I said this. They came close last year and then just fell apart in August, I think. A year older/wiser Sabathia, Westbrook, Hafner, Victor Martinez and Grady Sizemore... they should be fine. Only thing that stands in their way is that Left-Hander the Twins just signed to an extension. I think he won the Cy Young or something... AL West: Angels. While I'm not as high on the Angels as everyone else is, I'm sure their rotation will be better than it was last year. And I think their lineup will not be as potent as it was last year. That being said, they'll probably still pull it out. AL WildCard: Yankees. Still a dope lineup. Iffy rotation. Basically the same formaula as the Red Sox. Crazy hitters, super ace... then a bunch of ?'s. I just think the Red Sox are still slightly better than the Yankees. NLDS: Phillies v. Cubs > Cubs. Cardinals v. Giants > Giants. NLCS: Cubs v. Giants > Giants. ALDS: Red Sox v. Indians > Red Sox. Yankees v. Angels > Yankees. ALCS: Red Sox v. Yankees > Boring. I mean... Red Sox. World Series: Red Sox v. Giants > Giants. Bada bing, bada boom.

As a Met fan i still get scared everytime Benitez goes to the mound...when his stuff is off it is wayyyy off

quote:

Originally posted by Shamez214 AL Central: Indians. Remember that I said this. They came close last year and then just fell apart in August, I think. A year older/wiser Sabathia, Westbrook, Hafner, Victor Martinez and Grady Sizemore... they should be fine. Only thing that stands in their way is that Left-Hander the Twins just signed to an extension. I think he won the Cy Young or something...

I am glad I am not the only one who is picking Indians to rise in 2005.

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

STEROIDS

shame on you baseball, shame on you...

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\o/