Pitchers and catchers report this week ... the World Baseball Classic kicks off in a few weeks, let's talk MLB.

Few topics:
- how did your team do this off season?
- predictions, projections
- anyone due for a breakout season?

 

Red Sox > *

Although, Damon is gone and the Manny Ramirez soap opera continues.

 

White Sox
+ added Vasquez to an already DOMINANT pitching lineup. The southsiders have 6 starting pitchers (Contreras, Garland, Burhle, Garcia, Vasquez, and McCarthy)
+ added an excited Thome to the lineup

- No true centerfielder. Rowand is gone, the rookie to take the spot won't be ready for opening day.
- Thome has a bionic elbow. He's coming off of reconstructive surgery


Cubs
+ Gutted the outfield and rebuilt it with Jones and Pierre
+ signed some bullpen help

- no true shortstop, a rookie is set for the position
- no true left fielder, a rookie is set for the position
- Kerry Wood isn't healed or healthy
- Mark Prior is pissed off about the trade rumors

 

as a yankee fan, i am feeling quite confident coming into '06.

damon was a key pickup, i think he will fit in well with the yankees and the rest of NY.... it will be good to have him as leadoff and send jeter back to his natural #2 hitting spot...

there is a solid roster of contenders for starting pitchers spots... everybody is healthy and the bullpen got a few new faces to strengthen up with. pitching was arguable the weakest link in the yankee lineup last year and i think they will be able to make it up this year.

unfortunately, gordon is gone but i cant blame him, he left his job as a set up man to be a closer - who could blame him for that?

overall, everybody seems to be healthy and ready for a strong season, i cant wait for it all to begin.

 

The Red Sox ... I have no idea where they're going with their team. Didn't they trade their SS to ATL for another 3rd baseman? They got Beckett from FL, but he's been a headcase since day 1.

The Yankees ... Damon was huge. Total impact player. Did they do anything else to the starting rotation? Signing Kyle Farnsworth to a 17M contract is insane.


also, where will Sosa end up?

 

The Red Sox have some many ??? that I am not certain what to think. There is plenty of potential but will they all play to their abilities and have the team jell?

I like the Coco Crisp trade and think he could fill in where Johnny left off, plus he is younger and cheaper.

Trot Nixon is in a contract year and I hope we see the Trot of 2003 when he had a career year.

The bullpen is a lot better this year, lets see if Foulke has it like he did in 2003/2004.

We are stacked at SP, but there are a lot of unknowns. Is Schill going to be back? Is Beckett going to pitch a whole season? Will Clement melt down? If those are all in the positives I would say we had the second best starting pitching staff in the AL next to the "other" Sox.

All new infield this year. I like Lowell at third, if he hits he could be a huge addition with the Green Monster. Loretta at 2nd is a good pickup, Graffanino is now trade bait. SS is still a question, good defense, bad bat. First is Youk/Snow. Is that an upgrade to Millar/Olerud?? Don't know. However the infield defense should be a lot better than last year and should lower the pitching ERA.

Yeah, a lot of questions.

As for the Yanks they have a great lineup that is aging and a pitching staff with just as many questions as the Sox. They look good on paper but have since 2001. I would pick them first in the AL East. Toronto, good pickups on paper but will it be enough? I have them third. Red Sox are second.

It will all come down to the trading deadline. Who gets what they need for the pennant stretch will be key.

Oh, can someone please take Larry Luchino off our hands...I have never seen a bigger, and easily bruised, ego anywhere.

 

anyone care to comment on the Sheffield / Cashman incident from yesterday? :chuckles:

 

i didnt see anything on tv but i read the article on yankees.com this morning ... dont see what the big deal is :dunno: im actually pretty glad, i like shef, he puts up good numbers and for the most part does a good job of being a pro and representing NY well..... not to mention, a player like shef doesnt gain anything by having that "might not get the option" looming over their heads.... plus its good to get that out of the way so the media will stfu about it, they wouldnt have let it die until they pigeon holed him into saying something negative

 

I guess it's not a BIG deal ... but Shef told reporters his 2007 option was picked up. 10 minutes later, Cashman is interviewed, and has no idea what's going on.

Mixed signals = not good.



What big name player will land on the DL first? Name 3 or 4, let's see who's right by May 1st. :chuckles:

1. Prior
2. Nomar
3. Bonds

 

ill do my DL research before i put in my picks h:

according to the artice i read this morning on yankees.com, Cash told Shef that barring anything unexpected, that the Yanks intend to pick up the option for 2007 but that nothing was official.