The Official 2006 MLB Thread

[jro]

Well this thread died quickly but here we are in August.

The Yankees just swept the Boston Red Sox...maybe Jonathan Papelbon isn't as dominant as everyone thought...I still don't know what to make of him. He has good stuff no doubt, but I'm wondering if he is going to be another Eric Gagne.

The AL Central is a good battle that has spilled over into the Wild Card.

If the Twins want any chance of making the playoffs, they need Francisco Liriano back. If he comes back that is big...if they make the playoffs, I'm not sure I would want to play them if the Yanks make it. Having Johan Santana and Francisco Liriano as your 1-2 punch is scary.

The AL West I don't think is done. The Angels are 5 back from the A's. But the A's have not been able to hold them off during the final stretch in recent times.

The Nationa League however....I have nothing to really say. It's a joke. I think Bill Simmons over on ESPN.com referred to it as Quadruple A baseball. I don't think it is too far from the truth. The American League will be winning the World Series no doubt.

Agreed. For some reason I just can't get too excited over the prospect of the Mets and Dodgers playing each other for the right to get swept by the Tigers, the Yankees, or the Twins in the World Series.

Yes, I said Twins. That's my darkhorse pick right now. If they get the wild card, they're going to be absolute monsters in the playoffs, with Liriano on the comeback trail and all. Two best pitchers in baseball + short series...

But it looks like the Yanks are finally peaking a little bit, and the Tigers are for real, too, so that's gonna be one hell of a postseason in the AL.

 

[DangerousK]

Agreed. For some reason I just can't get too excited over the prospect of the Mets and Dodgers playing each other for the right to get swept by the Tigers, the Yankees, or the Twins in the World Series.

Yes, I said Twins. That's my darkhorse pick right now. If they get the wild card, they're going to be absolute monsters in the playoffs, with Liriano on the comeback trail and all. Two best pitchers in baseball + short series...

But it looks like the Yanks are finally peaking a little bit, and the Tigers are for real, too, so that's gonna be one hell of a postseason in the AL.

I was out in Detroit this weekend and I went to the Tigers/Rangers game on Sunday afternoon. Got a couple things out of it. Some sunburn, the realization of how cheap tickets are outside of the New York market. The seats I sat in probably would have been $200 or more in Yankee Stadium which is why I don't go there anymore.

Aside from that, the Tigers are not a World Series team. Their offense is nothing special to look at. I think they have maybe 2 players batting over .300 excluding Brent Clevelan who hasn't played enough games for his average to balance out. They are also not patient at the plate in my opinion. Pitching is not bad, but they still don't have that number 1 starter.

The Yankee lineup at this point in the season is running up pitch counts so vastly quick and exhibit patience that virtually no one in baseball has throughout the lineup. Bobby Abreu is looking like the steal of the decade. They gave up almost nothing for him. One of the only guys I have ever seen who can routinely be in the hole 1-2 and work the count back to 3-2 and draw a walk.

I couldn't agree more about the Twins being a dark horse pick. If they make the playoffs, whoever draws them in the divisional series is going to be in trouble. Santana and Liriano can easily go 8 innings. Plus they are strikeout machines. Liriano is easily rookie of the year in my opinion, I just hope that Papelbon doesn't get that honor. For a starting pitcher in this day and age to have a sub 2.00 ERA is by far more impressive than anything Papelbon is doing...especially in the American League where all of the offense is. Honestly...I could see the Twins winning the World Series just based on their pitching. Who knows though.

 

[norton9478]

Papelbon should go back to starting....

 

[Neo Mike]

I'm a bit jaded to be honest right now.
At 67-61 the Halos are a card carrying MEDIOCRE team, period.

What can you say about the Angels losing a series at home against a team that is falling fast and coming off a history making losing streak.

We couldn't hit against a pitcher with a 5.00+ ERA. We cannot hang with the Elite teams in the AL.

In the playoffs we wont belong on the same field with Chicago, Detroit, Boston, etc.

My only hope is that maybe we'll get lucky and limp our way into the playoffs with the help of the yearly A's meltdown. How far will we really get into the playoffs with this team?

As a side note i'll be at the Halos Yankee game tonight and Saturday midday. Lineup for the weekend looks as follows:

Lackey vs wright
santana vs lidle
saunders vs karstens

no johnson no moose no wang. Go Halos!

 

[norton9478]

Lackey vs wright
santana vs lidle
saunders vs karstens

Here's my assesment on the Yankee Starters you mentioned.

Wright: Tends to be very tough for 5 innings then has to come out. If the Angels are patient, they can get to him.

Lidle: The Girl with the Curl, Who knows, he could be very good or very bad.

Karstens: He will probably get murdered. He's not ready for the show. He just got the hang of AAA. Anaheim is not Seattle. The change in stadiums and lineups do not favor him.

 

[DangerousK]

Here's my assesment on the Yankee Starters you mentioned.

Wright: Tends to be very tough for 5 innings then has to come out. If the Angels are patient, they can get to him.

Lidle: The Girl with the Curl, Who knows, he could be very good or very bad.

Karstens: He will probably get murdered. He's not ready for the show. He just got the hang of AAA. Anaheim is not Seattle. The change in stadiums and lineups do not favor him.

My feelings pretty much.

Shitty part of the rotation to have pitching in a series like this.

The bright side is I have some faith in the Yankee bullpen again especially now since Octavio Dotel finally came back. I think he is a really under-rated pitcher that you hear little about. Did a pretty good job in Oakland I thought.

Also going to be interested in seeing if Carl Pavano can return to 2004 season form. His rehab seems to be going fairly well, but it's one thing pitching to minor league players compared to MLB players.

@Neo Mike

Let us know if there is anything of importance that occurs at the game you go to.

 

[Hippo]

WS will end up a Subway series more than likely. Im still hoping the Giants capture the NL West or the Wildcard. I thought last season was good and this one is even better.

 

[jro]

WS will end up a Subway series more than likely. Im still hoping the Giants capture the NL West or the Wildcard. I thought last season was good and this one is even better.

The Giants suck. They're not going to make the playoffs. The Dodgers are going to win that division and it's starting to look like the Reds may hang on and win the WC after all.

The Dodgers may give the Mets a tough NLCS, especially if Pedro and Glavine aren't at full strength. LA could well win that series, actually, even though NY still has superior talent, overall.

I think the Tigers or the Twins might be able to beat the Yankees in the AL. Tigers are just really good all-around, but the Twins are a tougher matchup, IMO, due to the potential dominance of Santana and Liriano in a short series. Of course, they'll have to hold off the ChiSox to win the WC, but if they do, watch out for the Twins.

 

[norton9478]

I tell ya folks, The Fish Will Prevail.

Girardi will win the WS and then get fired.

 

[Hippo]

The Giants suck. They're not going to make the playoffs. The Dodgers are going to win that division and it's starting to look like the Reds may hang on and win the WC after all.

The Dodgers may give the Mets a tough NLCS, especially if Pedro and Glavine aren't at full strength. LA could well win that series, actually, even though NY still has superior talent, overall.

I think the Tigers or the Twins might be able to beat the Yankees in the AL. Tigers are just really good all-around, but the Twins are a tougher matchup, IMO, due to the potential dominance of Santana and Liriano in a short series. Of course, they'll have to hold off the ChiSox to win the WC, but if they do, watch out for the Twins.

We still have a chance at the WildCard. Reds and Tigers buckling under the pressure. I hope the Padres and Dodgers beat each other down and split. Then jro the GIANTS will slide right on in.

 

[Neo Mike]

Well, here's my prediction.

If (when) the Angels don't make the playoffs, the NYY will go on to win the WS
We seem to be the only team capable of beating them.

Edit: Oh, maybe the Marlins ...

MLB needs the Angels to make the playoffs to knock the Yankees out, otherwise they win.

If by some chance we limp into the playoffs I predict we knock out the yanks, then get swept in the next series.

Edit:
Its almost time for my backup teams (Dodgers/Padres). After that I won't care.

 

[jro]

Well, here's my prediction.

If (when) the Angels don't make the playoffs, the NYY will go on to win the WS
We seem to be the only team capable of beating them.

Edit: Oh, maybe the Marlins ...

MLB needs the Angels to make the playoffs to knock the Yankees out, otherwise they win.

If by some chance we limp into the playoffs I predict we knock out the yanks, then get swept in the next series.

Edit:
Its almost time for my backup teams (Dodgers/Padres). After that I won't care.

I think the A's are playing too well at this point to lose the division to the Angels. But then they'll fold in the playoffs, as usual, though they won't have to play the Yankees in the first round since the WC will come out of the Central instead of the East for a change.

I like Yankees over WC White Sox (no Liriano = no playoffs for Twins) in one ALDS, and Tigers over A's in the other (Leyland will get them out of thier funk in time to beat Oakland in a tough series). And then I guess I have to agree, Yankees will win the ALCS.

In the NL, I'll go with Mets over WC Padres (SD's pitching is peaking at the right time) and Dodgers over Cardinals, then Mets over Dodgers in the NLCS.

Subway Series: Yankees over Mets in 5.

 

[norton9478]

I like Yankees over WC White Sox (no Liriano = no playoffs for Twins) in one ALDS, and Tigers over A's in the other (Leyland will get them out of thier funk in time to beat Oakland in a tough series). And then I guess I have to agree, Yankees will win the ALCS.

.

Twins have been fine without Liariono... I think that they will still make the playoffs... White sox on the other hand, Have been just plain Disapointing.

 

[Hidden Character]

My Fish have been fluctuating in the NL Wildcard Race.

 

[norton9478]

My Fish have been fluctuating in the NL Wildcard Race.

Of course they are a team that was expected to LOOSE 120 Games.

If they Break .500, Giradi is Manager of the Year.

I hope they fire him so he can go back and work of the Yankees then manage them in a few years.

The Fish are a real fucking life Major League (Motion Picture).

The ownership stripped it's roster of all decent players in an effort to move the team (seemingly out of florida, the desitnation for the Indians in Major League). But a team of Nobodies managed to give management a run for it's money.

 

[norton9478]

Next topic.

I think that any team that makes the playoffs this year has a solid chance of going all the way (Except maybe the marlins or Phils).

That being said....

The Yankees are going to be the Big Jugernut, if they don't run into the Angels.

Just look at the Lineup:

1. Damon
2. Jeter
3. Abreu
4. Rodriguez
5. Sheffield/Giambi Platoon
6. Cano (Probaly the Best HItter on the Team)
7. Matsui
8. Melky Cabrera
9. Posada


Bench:
Williams
Sheffield/Giambi Platoon
Fasano
Cairo?

Then you have Frontline, Big Game starters:
Wang
Muisina
Johnson

J. Wright as a fourth, and increasinly reliable 4 th starter.

Then for a Bullpen:
Rivera (Should Be healthy)
Bruney (Verry Hot since joining the Yankkees)
Farnsworth (Getting Better)
Mike Meyers (LH SPECIALIST)
Proctor
Karstens or Vallone.

 

[Neo Mike]

Hopefully the A's play the Yankees in the first round.

I want to see the Yanks run all over the A's then celebrate in front of 20,000 fans at the Never Sell-Out Coliseum.

 

[norton9478]

Hopefully the A's play the Yankees in the first round.

I want to see the Yanks run all over the A's then celebrate in front of 20,000 fans at the Never Sell-Out Coliseum.

D-Lite will proably be there...

Personally, I hope Philly makes the Playoffs.

Tickets will be much harder to get, but the philly is the closest MLB city to me (By travel time, not distance).

 

[Hidden Character]

Of course they are a team that was expected to LOOSE 120 Games.

If they Break .500, Giradi is Manager of the Year.

I hope they fire him so he can go back and work of the Yankees then manage them in a few years.

The Fish are a real fucking life Major League (Motion Picture).

The ownership stripped it's roster of all decent players in an effort to move the team (seemingly out of florida, the desitnation for the Indians in Major League). But a team of Nobodies managed to give management a run for it's money.

Huh, I never thought of it like that. They had plans to move San Antonio (which I still can't figure out why...) and were pushing for a new retractable roof stadium in Miami a la Miller Park, so I have no damn idea as to what the front office is doing to the franchise and it'd be nothing short of amazing if the Marlins made it to the World Series and draw a bigger crowd in Miami than when Castro was hospitalized. It's almost like a win-sell-rebuild formula they're tinkering with.

 

[norton9478]

Huh, I never thought of it like that. They had plans to move San Antonio (which I still can't figure out why...) and were pushing for a new retractable roof stadium in Miami a la Miller Park, so I have no damn idea as to what the front office is doing to the franchise and it'd be nothing short of amazing if the Marlins made it to the World Series and draw a bigger crowd in Miami than when Castro was hospitalized. It's almost like a win-sell-rebuild formula they're tinkering with.

Sorry, but the Citizens of South Florida do not DESERVE a MLB team......

They don't show up to games.

Sure they have reasons to be pissed after two dismantlings. But they still should show up to watch a MLB game.

 

[TonK]

Well...

Who is it gonna be?

 

[qube]

Well...

Who is it gonna be?

Same answer I have given every year for the last 25 years.

My dream of an Astros/Tigers WS lives on!

 

[Neo Mike]

Well, its official. The Angels are mathematically eliminated. What a horrible season. At least I can revel in the fact that we took the Yankees series.

I'm now rooting for the Dodgers from here out.

At least if they make it to the postseason, I can watch all the games on the way, and listen to (who is imo) the best announcer of all time, Vin Scully.

A side note: I really believe the Yankees are going to the WS and I think the ONLY team that has a chance to knock them out that remain is the A's.

 

[Neo Mike]

Also, I was monitoring the evil empire msg board earlier this week. They had multiple threads worrying about the Angels, how they were still "breathing".

See below for some choice snippets I sent to my relatives in NY.



General - PESKY ANGELS STILL BREATHING.

"I can for sure handle not facing those guys this year."

"That danm team is harder to kill than Jason Voorhees."

"About playing the Angels...I'd rather bear children thru my nostrils!
Kath - GO YANKEES !"

"The Twins are tearing it up right now..they have the momentum...the A's, however, always seem to fall down hard. I'm with ya, anyone but the Angels..."

 

[TonK]

I'm sure the Yankees could take the Angels in a few games right now...

But you guys are a thorn in our side...