Ugh! I had a whole thing typed up and then I lost it somehow. So, since this division has the laziest fielder in baseball, this is going to be the laziest post for my predictions. Here they are:
Giants
Dodgers
Diamondback
Rockies
Padres
Giants have arguably the best pitching staff in the majors: 2 Cy Youngs, Barry Zito has improved every year since coming over, My favorite for the Cy Young in Matt Cain and oh yea, but they way their 4th pitcher has a No-No to his credit. Their offense is underrated. They have decent pop at the corners and brought in very dependable versatility with DeRosa. Renteria will have a better year, closer to his career average, which will help tremendously and when freddy gets healthy he will hit near .300 as always.
Dodgers have a great team, but will not make the playoffs. They have great offense at every position, but they have the distraction of manny being manny. He's already said this is his last season with the dodgers BEFORE spring training, sheesh. Their pitching I believe with be spotty. Kershaw is still young, Billingsley is talented but inconsistent, kuroda is old and injury prone and you never know what you're going to get from Padilla.
I think the Diamondbacks are better than they performed last year. But, of course it depends on the health of Webb. Can he return to Cy Young form? Will Adam LaRoche actually hit at the beginning of a season, and can all their young guys bounce back and have the seasons they were meant to have? Big questions to be answered, but if 2 out 3 are answered the way they want, they will compete, if all 3 get answered this division could be theres.
I just don't like the Rockies. I don't know what it is. I think they have great talent for the future, but I don't think its aged enough for right now. Their pitching is not as good as people think and there are going to be a lot of strike outs in their line up, aside from Helton.
The Padres have the best first basemen in the National League not named Pujols and the Hairston Brothers. Oh ya, and Kyle Blanks is really really REALLY Big. Who could ask for more?
Friday, March 26, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Fantasy Baseball!
Ok guys. I know we already have our own league, but I am also in another league with a couple of guys from work. The only thing is, they are as competitive as us if not more and they know their stuff. They asked if I knew any fellow baseball freaks, and I thought; no better place to advertise than the pancake. The league is 50 dollars, it's a live, in person draft held on march 30 at 7pm. They are looking for 2 more people. If you cannot make it in person you can draft via phone or possibly Instant messanger of some kind. Let me know if you guys are interested. If you are interested and can possibly make the draft just let Brad know. He is the one who is running the league, his email is: bradt.soe@gmail.com
I'll be putting up the NL Central and NL West predictions in a couple days, just don't have the time to do the proper reading and typing right now. Lata!
I'll be putting up the NL Central and NL West predictions in a couple days, just don't have the time to do the proper reading and typing right now. Lata!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
2010 MLB Predictions: NL East
Every team has the potential to do some special things on the offensive side of the ball, but the biggest problem with teams that could have been favorites entering the season is whether or not their team is healthy and can remain healthy throughout the course of the season. The Mets seem to be the kings of bad luck, with 2 perennial all-starts missing the start of the season; The team to watch out for are the Atlanta Braves with the best up and coming prospect they hope will take over in right field; Philadelphia is still the best team in the NL; Players need to play up to expectations in Florida; The nationals are headed in the right direction. Here are my predictions:
Phillies
Braves
Nationals
Mets
Marlins
The Phillies are the team in the East, but their complete success depends on how well their pitching staff performs this year. I'm still not convinced that trading for Halladay for Cliff Lee was a great improvement. Cliff Lee definitely proved he could pitch in the NL and in the very hitter friendly ball park and was doing it as a south paw. Halladay is going to be a contender for the the Cy Young as he is every year, but I don't think he is going to have the success everyone is predicting for him. I think he still comes close to 20 victories, but I think his ERA is going to be in the mid to high 3's. Brad Lidge needs to come back to form because I really don't think they have anyone else who can close effectively on a consistent basis. They could be the Mets of 2 years ago. Of course this line up is going to rake, but can Ibanez produce like he did last season, he is an aging outfielder, and will polanco provide the proper supporting role they are looking for from the 2 hole? Biggest Questions: How well will Halladay pitch and can Lidge regain his form.
Look out for the Braves...if they are healthy. If they all stay healthy; and thats a big IF, they are going to compete for the division. I think their pitching staff is much improved with a healthy Hudson and Billy Wagner is going to have 30+ saves this year with a sub 2.00 ERA. Again, IF Glaus is healthy all season right there with Chipper, they have a formadable middle of the line up to go with McCann. Biggest questions: How good is Heyward at the pro-level, how long will everyone stay healthy.
Meet the Mets! Greet the Mets! Come and watch the bad luck Mets! Seriously, what else can go wrong. Beltran is going to be out til May it looks like, they don't have a proven healthy first basemen, Jeff Franceour MIGHT be happy in New York and Jose Reyes could be out for 2 to 8 weeks with a freakin' thyroid problem?! Come on now. Even I feel kinda bad, and thats from a Pirates fan who has had nothing but losing for 17 years. But, they could have a decent pitching staff and their bullpen is better this year than it has been. Once they get everyone healthy, I think the Mets will also make a run for the wild card spot. Biggest questions: When and Who comes back healthy for the majority of the seaon and for how long.
The Nationals are making good strides. They are coming along faster than the pirates every have, and I think they are only going to get better especially in their pitching. The signing of I-rod I think was phenomenal for this young staff, and will really help in bringing along strasburg during spring training. I think they need to let him pitch in the minors for a little while until he shows he can dominate. They have a decent line up with good veterans with productive pasts: Dunn, I-Rod, Zimmerman, Morgan. Biggest Questions: When will Strasburg help and can I-rod be as influential as everyone thinks.
The Marlins have a lot of players to play up to expectations: Coughlan, Maybin, Bonifacio; and can Josh Johnson have back to back healthy seasons. He could very well be the best pitcher in the NL, but he also needs to stay very healthy. Also, I think Logan Morrison is this years Rookie of the Year. Biggest Questions: Will they continue to surprise and will Josh Johnson stay healthy.
Oh! By the way, did any of you guys hear anything about the Phillies talking internally about a first basemen swap of Ryan Howard for Albert Pujols, I swear I just saw that scroll across the screen on espnews.
Phillies
Braves
Nationals
Mets
Marlins
The Phillies are the team in the East, but their complete success depends on how well their pitching staff performs this year. I'm still not convinced that trading for Halladay for Cliff Lee was a great improvement. Cliff Lee definitely proved he could pitch in the NL and in the very hitter friendly ball park and was doing it as a south paw. Halladay is going to be a contender for the the Cy Young as he is every year, but I don't think he is going to have the success everyone is predicting for him. I think he still comes close to 20 victories, but I think his ERA is going to be in the mid to high 3's. Brad Lidge needs to come back to form because I really don't think they have anyone else who can close effectively on a consistent basis. They could be the Mets of 2 years ago. Of course this line up is going to rake, but can Ibanez produce like he did last season, he is an aging outfielder, and will polanco provide the proper supporting role they are looking for from the 2 hole? Biggest Questions: How well will Halladay pitch and can Lidge regain his form.
Look out for the Braves...if they are healthy. If they all stay healthy; and thats a big IF, they are going to compete for the division. I think their pitching staff is much improved with a healthy Hudson and Billy Wagner is going to have 30+ saves this year with a sub 2.00 ERA. Again, IF Glaus is healthy all season right there with Chipper, they have a formadable middle of the line up to go with McCann. Biggest questions: How good is Heyward at the pro-level, how long will everyone stay healthy.
Meet the Mets! Greet the Mets! Come and watch the bad luck Mets! Seriously, what else can go wrong. Beltran is going to be out til May it looks like, they don't have a proven healthy first basemen, Jeff Franceour MIGHT be happy in New York and Jose Reyes could be out for 2 to 8 weeks with a freakin' thyroid problem?! Come on now. Even I feel kinda bad, and thats from a Pirates fan who has had nothing but losing for 17 years. But, they could have a decent pitching staff and their bullpen is better this year than it has been. Once they get everyone healthy, I think the Mets will also make a run for the wild card spot. Biggest questions: When and Who comes back healthy for the majority of the seaon and for how long.
The Nationals are making good strides. They are coming along faster than the pirates every have, and I think they are only going to get better especially in their pitching. The signing of I-rod I think was phenomenal for this young staff, and will really help in bringing along strasburg during spring training. I think they need to let him pitch in the minors for a little while until he shows he can dominate. They have a decent line up with good veterans with productive pasts: Dunn, I-Rod, Zimmerman, Morgan. Biggest Questions: When will Strasburg help and can I-rod be as influential as everyone thinks.
The Marlins have a lot of players to play up to expectations: Coughlan, Maybin, Bonifacio; and can Josh Johnson have back to back healthy seasons. He could very well be the best pitcher in the NL, but he also needs to stay very healthy. Also, I think Logan Morrison is this years Rookie of the Year. Biggest Questions: Will they continue to surprise and will Josh Johnson stay healthy.
Oh! By the way, did any of you guys hear anything about the Phillies talking internally about a first basemen swap of Ryan Howard for Albert Pujols, I swear I just saw that scroll across the screen on espnews.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The Pancake Challenge!
Hey everyone, I am setting up a NCAA men's basketball tournament challenge. You know the drill, fill out the bracket and we shall see who wins.
Here is the link. The password is yummy, the group name is The Pancake Challenge, the group ID is 44802. There is no money involved, too hard to gather the money, so it is just for fun. Maybe I will award the winner some kind of prize...
Good luck to everyone...
Here is the link. The password is yummy, the group name is The Pancake Challenge, the group ID is 44802. There is no money involved, too hard to gather the money, so it is just for fun. Maybe I will award the winner some kind of prize...
Good luck to everyone...
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