Countdown to Opening Day

[sspadowsky]

Baseball is just 13 short days away. I pay only enough attention to March Madness to know when it is ending, as it is the final hurdle before baseball makes its glorious return. As weather in St. Louis this winter has been more like Ireland than Ireland, the promise of springtime and baseball gives me a boner of happiness.

I think the Cardinals are going to fall on their faces, seeing how their pitching staff is made up of castoffs and amputees, but they surprised everyone in 2006, so I will watch them with the requisite dumb hope that comes with team fandom. I will also root for every conceivable misfortune to befall the Yankees.

Who do you like this year?

[Pentegarn]

I just made a baseball thread :(

In answer to your question though. My team is also my pick to win the Series. Detroit Tigers all the way!

[GADZOOKS]

The Cubs might win the division by just being the least worst in the NL Central again. I'm looking forward to getting sweeped in the NLDS again.

Also, if the Cubs get Brian Roberts the NL Central becomes the Most Roided Division. Can't wait!

[WhiteRat]

The Twins traded away Johan Santana and let an aging Torii Hunter leave for the west coast, but i'm still positive about this year. Delmon Young is going to be a beast and as always Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau will do their thing.

2006 rookie phenom Fransisco Liriano returns from Tommy John surgery to lead a questionable pitching staff which features Boof Bonser and a fat aging Livan Hernandez.

Even with the young bats I feel I can say that for the first time in a long long time the Twins won't have to worry about generating enough run support for a solid outing on the mound. It's the pitching that I'm worried about.

[sspadowsky]

Maybe we've got a shot if perennial disabled-list star Matt Clement can be healthy until Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder return.

Gadzooks, you and I are now sworn enemies. Nothing personal; you know the rules.

[sspadowsky]

Only baseball would have a player with the nickname "Boof." I almost ruined my monitor when I saw that.

"Boof." It's not like the nick-naming convention of other sports, where he'd be Eddie "The Boof" Bonser. He actually goes by "Boof." On purpose.

This alone is why baseball is superior to all other sports.

[WhiteRat]

You'll love this. He legally changed his name to Boof. That's right. His real name is god damn Boof.

[sspadowsky]

I'll bet he's a lefty, isn't he? Lefties are notoriously batshit, particularly if they're relievers.

[WhiteRat]

I had to look, but wikipedia says he's a righty. Just look at this guy:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Boof_Bonser_2_crop.jpg/200px-Boof_Bonser_2_crop.jpg

[sspadowsky]

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

That's perfect. He couldn't be called anything other than "Boof."

WhiteRat, you've made my day.

[WhiteRat]

He also lost 20 lbs. and his now down to a spindly 240lbs.

[GADZOOKS]

The Cubs have the overrated Japanese player acquisition this year. If it worked for Boston it can work for us. MAYBE THIS YEAR.

[El Blanco]

My predictions:

NL East:

Mets
Phillies(wild card)
Braves
Nats
Marlins

Central:
Cubs
Brewers
Astros
Cardinals
Reds
Pirates

West
D-Backs
Padres
dodgers
Rockies
Giants

AL East
Red Sox
Yankees
Blue Jays
Rays
Orioles

Central:
Tigers
Indians(wild card)
White Sox
Twins
Royals

West:
Mariners
As
Angels
Rangers


WS: Mets over Tigers in 6

[WhiteRat]

My predictions:

Central:
Tigers
Indians(wild card)
White Sox
Twins



Suddenly the AL Central is actually competitive. The days of the Twins beating up on the other shit teams are over. :(

I have to disagree with your list though, the Royals aren't on top. WTF, dude?

[El Blanco]

Suddenly the AL Central is actually competitive. The days of the Twins beating up on the other shit teams are over. :(

I have to disagree with your list though, the Royals aren't on top. WTF, dude?


Royals, thats who I forgot.

They have a good young team and some decent pitching, but they are a few years behind the rest of the division. Hopefully, they can keep th young starters for another 3 or 4 years and have a real shot at the playoffs.

Still in last, though

[WhiteRat]

Yeah i was being sarcastic.

[El Blanco]

you forgot the tags, newb

[WhiteRat]

Seriously, Royals winning the central? Puh-leez!

PS I hope Johan gets turf toe or something.

[Pentegarn]

I am surprised nobody has brought up what a side show Mini Stienbrenner has made out of the Yankees. Signing Bily Crystal for a one day contract? Minor Leagus Baseball had a "Prostate Exam Night" and they think that signing Billy Crystal was too gimmicy :P

[El Blanco]

It was one at bat in a spring training game against the Pirates.

Hell any game against the Pirates is like Spring training.

Too bad they cut him. He was probably the best first baseman on their roster.

[Pentegarn]

If he had gotten a base hit, would he have broken the record for oldest major leage player to get a base hit? I wonder...

[Colonel Flagg]

My predictions:

NL East:

Mets
Phillies(wild card)
Braves
Nats
Marlins


This looks realistic, except the Phils will win the division.

I can dream, can't I?

[El Blanco]

If he had gotten a base hit, would he have broken the record for oldest major leage player to get a base hit? I wonder...

I'm willing to bet Otis Nixon or Ricky Henderson would dispute it.

[GADZOOKS]

Here are my pre-season picks for the MLB BASEBALL SEASON 2008 sponsored by Pepsi and Taco Bell!

Playoff teams in BEIGE BOLD

AL EAST -

1. BOSTON RED SOX
2. NEW YORK YANKEES
3. TAMPA BAY RAYS
4. TORONTO BLUE JAYS
5. BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Notes: I could of went with the boring Boston, New York, Toronto, Balitmore, Tampa ranking I did for the past two years and not be off-base, but I think the Devil Rays are a nice young team that could make some minor waves. Nothing special is happening in Toronto and the Orioles look as grim as the season finale of The Wire (hi-ohhhhhh).

AL CENTRAL -

1. DETRIOT TIGERS
2. CLEVELAND INDIANS
3. CHICAGO WHITE SOX
4. KANSAS CITY ROYALS
5. MINNESOTA TWINS

Notes: It will be fun to see the Tigers and Indians fight for the top spot in the AL Central. I give Tigers the slight edge because of their awesome line up, but I would not be suprised if Cleveland takes it. Meanwhile, the W. Sox, Royals, and Twins all have decent to mediocre teams that will duke it out for a meaningless third place. Good luck, guys!

AL WEST -

1. LOS ANGELES ANGELS
2. SEATTLE MARINERS
3. TEXAS RANGERS
4. OAKLAND A's

Notes: I know shit about this division, but the Angels didn't get much worse so I will give the nod to them. Seattle really looked like shit after they blew a pretty lofty lead last year heading into the playoffs. The Rangers get the third spot because the Oakland A's look terrible.

and now, my favorite league of all the leagues, NATIONAL LEAGUE!

NL EAST -

1. NEW YORK METS
2. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
3. ATLANTA BRAVES
4. FLORDIA MARLINS
5. WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Notes: Even though I have the Mets on top like most smart baseball fans do. I would not count out the Phillies or even the Braves of winning this division. I was tempted to put the Phillies above the Mets but they invested in the chokejob that is Brad Lidge so fuck them. I could only pray for one of these teams to have a gigantic collapse at the end of the season again. Last year's was wonderful!

NL CENTRAL -

1. CHICAGO CUBS
2. MILWAUKEE BREWERS
3. HOUSTON ASTROS
4. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
5. CINCINNATI REDS
6. PITTSBURG PIRATES

Notes: I hope this year will be better for the Central but the only teams that got somewhat better are the Cubs and the Astros, while every other did nothing or got worse (or got Dusty Baker). The Brewers should still be able to be decent and give the Cubs a fight (the Astros rotation is too abysmal to compete ). Here's to barely making it above .500! Fukudome!

NL WEST -

1. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
2. LOS ANGELES DODGERS
3. COLORADO ROCKIES
4. SAN DIEGO PADRES
5. SAN FRANSICO GIANTS

Notes: I feel the Diamondbacks are the best team in the National League with the Mets just a smidge behind them. It's amazing what a shit uniform change can do for your team. I'm saying Joe Torre is going to get the Dodgers act together to make a wild card run while the Rockies and Padres prove that their last season surges were merely apparitions. The Giants will have to at least make peace that Barry Bonds are not going to fuck up their shit anymore.

WORLD SERIES: DIAMONDBACKS IN 6 AGAINST THE TIGERS

THOSE ARE MY PICKS AND IM STICKING TO THEM (until the All-Star break where I will openly weep about the Cubs sucking. Stay tuned!)

[Geggy]

I think its retarded that red sox is opening the season in fucking japan. they're the defending champs, they ought to open at home for the sake of the boston fans. dice-k is the product of japan so i guess its all about the money. indians will go all the way this year. just kidding, red sox repeat!

Edit: I'm going to visit wrigley field in june for the first time. I grew up watching them cubbies play afternoon games at wrigley when i had chicago station at home before TNT took over. Wont be the same without harry carey singing "take me out the ballgame" during 7th innning stretch though.

[Pentegarn]

I think its retarded that red sox is opening the season in fucking japan. they're the defending champs, they ought to open at home for the sake of the boston fans. dice-k is the product of japan so i guess its all about the money. indians will go all the way this year. just kidding, red sox repeat!

Edit: I'm going to visit wrigley field in june for the first time. I grew up watching them cubbies play afternoon games at wrigley when i had chicago station at home before TNT took over. Wont be the same without harry carey singing "take me out the ballgame" during 7th innning stretch though.

True it isn't the same, but there's something to be said for the special celebrity guests that are now singing it. Think about it:

We've had Jeff Gordon call Wrigley Field, "Wrigley Stadium"

Ozzy sing "Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks, I don't know what I'm supposed to do"

And Mike Ditka sing it so fast he was finished before the pipe organ was halfway through the song.

[WhiteRat]

The season has kicked off in the Land of Anime, which means it's now time to cheer for a Twin (Joe Mauer is dreamy) today. Living in an area that primarily features Devil Rays games makes it difficult to enjoy some good ol' fashioned baseball played in a dome. I contemplated ordering MLB Extra Innings this year but a fellow Twins that I work with beat me to the punch and ordered it himself. The kind soul gave me an open invite to watch any and all Twins games at his place, free of charge. He even said he'd fire up the grill from time to time as well. I'm pretty excited for what should be a decent season.

Anyone else plan on getting Extra Innings this year?

[El Blanco]

I am considering it because I want to see some of those West Coast staffs live. And the Indians. And I want to follow Scott Kazmir and keep hating Jim Duquette.

[WhiteRat]

Tomorrow the Twins start the 2008 season against the Anahiem Angels of Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of California. Fatboy Livan Hernandez gets the opening nod for the Twins while hippy haired Jerad Weaver starts for the confused angels. The Metrodump will be rocking it's teflon roof off!

Who's on first for your respective teams?

EDIT: The start of the season also means that the Twins have only 2 more seasons left to play in the ToiletDome before moving into this beauty in 2010:
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/twins.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/twins2.jpg

[Colonel Flagg]

Does anyone else find it strange that the Nats and the Bravos start the season by playing a single game homestand in DC? Even Boston and Oakland played two in Tokyo.

This is relevant because the Phil's Brett "bad boy" Myers is the opening day starter against those Nat's tomorrow, and Matt Chico gets the nod for Washington. Sidebar - Myers was the opening day starter last year, yet due to the Phil's pitching woes (Tom Gordon going down and out), ended up as the closer in the bullpen. No worries; Brad Lidge looks like he is at least as durable as Flash. :\

[Pentegarn]

I think having the first games that count be in Japan was a freaking abomination

[Colonel Flagg]

Two words. Publicity Stunt.

[sspadowsky]

Cards were off to a good start. Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis (in the words of Crash Davis) "couldn't hit water if he fell out of a fuckin' boat." Ankiel doubled in two, and Pujols hit his first home run, but they might not count- it's raining like hell here, and the game has been delayed for almost two hours now.

By the way, WhiteRat, I was surprised that the Twins are building an outdoor stadium. Don't they know it's fucking cold up there?

[WhiteRat]

By the way, WhiteRat, I was surprised that the Twins are building an outdoor stadium. Don't they know it's fucking cold up there?

Todays' weather is a bit extreme but normally around this time the weather is in the high 40's or low 50's. By the end of April the temp hits the 60's and sometimes the 70's, so it's really not that cold. Don't listen to the idiots on ESPN, they make it sound like it's sub-zero year round.

[Colonel Flagg]

Phillies start the season in traditional fashion - with a blowout loss.

Eh, they're only one and a half games out of first place, right? >:

[WhiteRat]

Anyone else think it's fitting to start a new baseball thread now that countdown to Opening Day has ended? At the very least maybe change the title of the thread?

[WhiteRat]

Livan Hernandez pitched 7 decent innings as the Twins squeaked by the Angels 3-2. Not surprsingly, Torii Hunter received a standing ovation during the player announcements as well as his first at bat. His replacement Carlos Gomez (centerpiece of the Santana trade) looked good going 2-3 and showcased his speed with 2 stolen bases.

Several times they left runners on bases, one time leaving them loaded. This has been a problem for the Twins in the past. Hopefully they work out the kinks as 6 of the starting lineup are new to the team this year.

[Pentegarn]

Detroit lost today... to Kansas City?! >:

C'mon guys, you're better than that :\

[El Blanco]

Tomorrow the Twins start the 2008 season against the Anahiem Angels of Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of California. Fatboy Livan Hernandez gets the opening nod for the Twins while hippy haired Jerad Weaver starts for the confused angels.

Our opening day starter was some guy named Santana. Maybe you've heard of him.

7 IP 8 K 3 H 2 ER 1 HR 2 BB

[WhiteRat]

You can have him. He wanted way too much money and in the end didn't want to be here in Minnesota. Besides, we've got Santana V2.0 in Fransisco Liriano.

[Colonel Flagg]

And we have Santana v. 0.2 in Tom "Flash" Gordon, of the 135.000 ERA

Hey, at least he's still below the Mendoza line.

[layla17]

I can't wait to see Liriano dominate this year. He's finally gonna get the spotlight.

[El Blanco]

Then comes July 31 when he's pitching for Anaheim or someone.


Brian Bannister throws 7 shut out innings of 3 hit ball against probably the most stacked offense in MLB. Even with Granderson out, the Tigers should be killing the ball.

[WhiteRat]

Then comes July 31 when he's pitching for Anaheim or someone.


Save this quote for 2012.

[Pentegarn]

So how bout that Larry Bowa?

I'd put up the youtube link, only MLB already orderd youtube to take it down. Guess they don't like free publicity that millions of people would likely look at over the next few days until the next MLB meltdown happens.

[Colonel Flagg]

Hamels pitches 8 innings of 5-hit, 1-run ball and loses. I hate being a Phillies fan. >:

[WhiteRat]

Kevin Slowey gave up 3 runs in 3 1/3 innings before leaving with a strained bicep as the Angels beat the Twins for the 3rd consecutive time.

Oh man I think this season is going to be a bit frustrating.

[GADZOOKS]

Hearing Cubs fans whine on the train back home yesterday was unbearable. Thank god they won today.

[Colonel Flagg]

Gee, do the Phils need some pitching? Well, I guess a win is a win, even if it's ugly.

Good News - Flash Gordon's ERA is below 35. Film at 11.

[sspadowsky]

Matt Clement is on the DL to start the season. Again.

I guess God really hates Matt Clement, and not just the Cubs.

[El Blanco]

No, the Cubs hate young pitchers.

[GADZOOKS]

So the team to beat got swept by the Royals. :eek

this will be an interesting season

[El Blanco]

Maybe it was a bad idea to put 3 Tigers on my fantasy team. Cabrera being my first pick and all.