MLB - NEWS & NOTES

9 homers now. Just what we need in the division, another tough team!!!!!! :|

 

yes igloo-he's the next big thing for baseball!

 

Don't get ahead of yourself, the Cubs will be around .500 this year, they aren't a real threat. I really think this is a 2 team division.

 

Well, MSN has the Pirates squeaking out the Cards for 1st place this year Mut. That remains to be seen of course. Their reasoning is the Pirates have a couple years experience in the playoffs now. Which to me, isn't much reasoning. I think talent will win out more than a couple years experience.....

 

Don't see how the Pirates get an advantage in playoff experience.....nothing against them but 4 straight trips to the NLCS isn't a lack of experience.

Mind throwing out your expected opening day lineup/roster so we can compare? Here is ours; our 25-man is set as of yesterday.

3B Matt Carpenter
RF Jason Heyward
LF Matt Holiday
1B Matt Adams
SS Jhonny Peralta
C Yadier Molina
CF Jon Jay
2B Kolten Wong
P

Bench: Tony Cruz, Mark Reynolds, Pete Kozma, Peter Bourjos, Randall Grichuk

SP: Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, John Lackey, Michael Wacha, Carlos Martinez

Bullpen: Randy Choate, Kevin Siegrist, Seth Maness, Carlos Villanueva, Matt Belisle, Jordan Walden, Trevor Rosenthal

 

I think they are saying that the Pirates can win the division WITH some playoff experience and have the talent to maybe get 1st place. Whereas before they didn't. These are just predictions. I wouldn't bet my house on them. And all you have to do is get in and anything can happen anyways........Ill have to see if I can find the starting lineup somewhere......

EDIT: Btw, the Cards lineup looks pretty awesome. Although I'm not real familiar with their back-end starters or their bullpen.......

 

I really think this is a 2 horse race between the Pirates and Cardinals.

As far as the back end starters and bullpen, Wacha and Martinez are both very talented yet young (both 23) and lack a lot of experience. In 28 regular season starts Wacha has a career 3.04 ERA. Carlos Martinez has electric stuff but has been a loose cannon at times in the past and has lacked consistency. He's seemed to have matured off the field and is probably the most driven guy in the bigs this year as he has dedicated this season to his best friend (Oscar Tavares) and will wear his #18. Wacha I believe in to develop into a very good starter, I kind of see him as a young Waino. Martinez could be great, but he could also explode. I think if he's a starter all year he will most likely throw around 180 innings with a 3.75-4.00 ERA

I really like the bullpen except for Villanueva. Trevor Rosenthal is just 24 but closed out 45 of 51 save opportunities last year. Jordan Walden has closing experience (32 saves in 2011) and is just hitting his prime, he will have the 8th. Seth Maness is a ground ball machine. Matt Belisle survived 6 years in Colorado and still has a career so he can't be awful. Kevin Siegrist was injured most of last year but has had success when healthy and is very talented, he and Choate should make a formidable lefty duo.

I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the Pirates.

Here is my NL Central Predictions:
Cards 93-95 wins
Pittsburgh 88-90 wins
Chicago 81-83 wins
Milwaukee 80-82 wins
Cincinnati 75-77 wins

 

Twins starting rotation is set - Minnesota will begin the season on Monday against the Tigers with Phil Hughes on the mound looking to build off a very strong 2014 season. The rest of the starting rotation features free agent signee Ervin Santana, along with Kyle Gibson, Ricky Nolasco and Tommy Milone.

 

Call me biased if you'd like (and I probably am) but I really like Kyle Gibson (former Missouri Tiger). I expect him to have a very nice season.

 

I agree. He really is improving. That staff aint to bad.

Like your Cards this year, by the way. I do hope the Reds can stay out of the basement tho.

 

He has good stuff, I watched him a lot when he was here.

The Reds have no depth. Walt Jockety destroys organizational depth and he is turning that team into what the Cards had in 2007. Luckily the Cards still had a few young studs (Yadi, Waino) who built into a solid core and a hall of fame 1B.

 

yeah will - although the phils will stink, i still like baseball. i don't cheer for all the teams as i have my enemies but do love the sport. and there's nothing else to watch for me since the flyers will be on the golf course in a week!

 

The Pirates don't have the WHOLE lineup set yet. Especially the relievers, they are still competing. But:.........
Harrison at 3rd leading off
Polanco in right hitting 2nd
Cutch in center hitting 3rd
Walker at 2nd hitting clean up
Marte in left hitting 5th
Catcher signed from the Yankees
SS? GM Hunnington said last night Kang will play, not sure where but was at SS last night and looked overmatched
1st base Alvarez made a nice play and hit a 2 run homer last night
Lariano will pitch opener
Locke beat out Worley who will go to the pen for the 5th rotation spot
Cole, starter
Morton , possibly
Burnett in ther somewhere
The bullpen is the main area where a couple pitchers are still fighting for a spot

Was going back and forth to the Pirates and Pens game last night......

 

well the flyers made you turn off the tv early then! haha

aj burnett - good luck with him. i think he will hurt the buccos not help them. the bucs are on the upswing and aj seems tired, uninspired and burnt out. maybe winning will change his tune. it normally does.

 

Burnett had success in Pittsburgh in the past.

 

Speaking of the Pirates, is there a good Pirates app with all the writers? The St Louis Post Dispatch as a great app, its literally only Cardinals articles, there's usually 7-10 articles a day in there and nothing else. Anything like that for the Pirates because I would probably download it?

 

Manfred: Josh Hamilton decision won't come until after opener

 

To me the punishment for Hamilton isn't a huge deal. I think its pretty clear he wants to be clean so the most important thing is that he is able to get the help and support he needs, a punishment won't "teach him a lesson" or anything be because he already is fighting to be clean.

 

i dont get how someone's personal life has to do with baseball. i know that sounds silly but he fell off the wagon. that's his business. why is he facing suspension? is it because baseball now has a drug policy? if so, im shocked half the league isn't on it for marijuana. i mean if he attacked someone while on drugs is one thing...he fell off his own personal sobriety wagon. to me that has nothing to do with his team. if he is sober on game day and gets turned up at night that's his choice. much like an office worker like me. i may get shit torn up drunk from friday night til sunday night. as long as i come in on time sober m-f work can't say two shits about it. it's my choice and my life. im off the work clock.

personal choices and work life are two different things. i have the same beef with roger goodell suspending pacman jones for a entire season over throwing money at strippers and wanting it back. his choice off the clock.