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Official 2008 MLB Thread - Frankman, Erstad Make Epic Comebacks
- Thread starter Y2Kev
- Start date
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BigJonsson
Member
I hope it doesn't rain too bad in NYC
CajoleJuice
Member
It's called Opening DAY for a reason. Luckily, I just have class until 2.Joe said:
CajoleJuice
Member
My earliest class starts at 11:20.Karakand said:
I usually don't go.
CajoleJuice
Member
It's pretty pathetic, actually. :lol
Anyway, OPENING DAY WOOO.
Anyway, OPENING DAY WOOO.
Green Shinobi
Banned
Dodgers' lineup:
SS - Furcal
LF - Ethier
RF - Kemp
2B - Kent
CF - Jones
C - Martin
1B - Loney
3B - DeWitt
I like that lineup, although I'm not sure if Kent should still be batting cleanup. Furcal is obviously the ideal leadoff guy. I love Ethier in the 2 spot. In his first two seasons, he's batted .295 with a .357 OBP. Not a ton of power, but that should develop. He was one of the league leaders in home runs in spring training. His career OPS is .821, and he had a Barroids-esque 1.139 in spring training.
I am all about Matt Kemp. Dude has a career .312 average over two partial seasons. He's OPS'd .840 in that same timeframe. He's the real deal. He should OPS over .900 this season if he continues to progress.
Russell Martin is already an All-Star and no worse than the fourth best hitting catcher in the league.
Loney has a career .915 OPS over his first two partial seasons, and a .321 average. He's also the real deal. If he continues to hit like that, I'd like to see him higher than seventh in the lineup.
So the real question marks, to me, are Kent and Jones. A slightly downgraded version of last year's Jeff Kent would be perfectly acceptable given the improvements in the rest of the lineup. Hopefully he's got one last good season left in him. Andrew Jones makes me worried. His slugging dropped over a hundred points last year, and he sucked in spring training. If he doesn't produce, the lineup is slightly above average at best. If he does produce to his potential, the lineup is formidable as all hell.
So basically there are four guys who should OPS over .900 (Loney, Kemp, Ethier, Jones), two more who should OPS over .800 (Martin, Kent), and then Furcal, who plays a solid leadoff role. Seems like a solid offense to me if it all clicks.
SS - Furcal
LF - Ethier
RF - Kemp
2B - Kent
CF - Jones
C - Martin
1B - Loney
3B - DeWitt
I like that lineup, although I'm not sure if Kent should still be batting cleanup. Furcal is obviously the ideal leadoff guy. I love Ethier in the 2 spot. In his first two seasons, he's batted .295 with a .357 OBP. Not a ton of power, but that should develop. He was one of the league leaders in home runs in spring training. His career OPS is .821, and he had a Barroids-esque 1.139 in spring training.
I am all about Matt Kemp. Dude has a career .312 average over two partial seasons. He's OPS'd .840 in that same timeframe. He's the real deal. He should OPS over .900 this season if he continues to progress.
Russell Martin is already an All-Star and no worse than the fourth best hitting catcher in the league.
Loney has a career .915 OPS over his first two partial seasons, and a .321 average. He's also the real deal. If he continues to hit like that, I'd like to see him higher than seventh in the lineup.
So the real question marks, to me, are Kent and Jones. A slightly downgraded version of last year's Jeff Kent would be perfectly acceptable given the improvements in the rest of the lineup. Hopefully he's got one last good season left in him. Andrew Jones makes me worried. His slugging dropped over a hundred points last year, and he sucked in spring training. If he doesn't produce, the lineup is slightly above average at best. If he does produce to his potential, the lineup is formidable as all hell.
So basically there are four guys who should OPS over .900 (Loney, Kemp, Ethier, Jones), two more who should OPS over .800 (Martin, Kent), and then Furcal, who plays a solid leadoff role. Seems like a solid offense to me if it all clicks.
BigJonsson
Member
Joe, is it still supposed to rain?
I assume you are in NY
Edit - And I'm stoked my buddy was able to get free tickets to the Jays home opener.....200 level club seats that are being sold face value at 70 bucks! Woohoo
I assume you are in NY
Edit - And I'm stoked my buddy was able to get free tickets to the Jays home opener.....200 level club seats that are being sold face value at 70 bucks! Woohoo
BlueLOLS
Eckstein SS
Stairs or Stewart LF
Rios RF
Wells CF
Thomas DH
Overbay 1B
Hill 2B
Scutaro 3B
Zaun C[/QUOTE]
BlueLOLS? I really hope that catches on, because it's the dumbest thing I've ever heard
It's weird seeing Eckstein, Scutaro and Stewart's name in the lineup. I miss you, Reed Johnson and Russ Adams..come back to me!
Anyway, you guys are in trouble because our #9 hitter is juiced like a motherfucker.
Eckstein SS
Stairs or Stewart LF
Rios RF
Wells CF
Thomas DH
Overbay 1B
Hill 2B
Scutaro 3B
Zaun C[/QUOTE]
BlueLOLS? I really hope that catches on, because it's the dumbest thing I've ever heard
It's weird seeing Eckstein, Scutaro and Stewart's name in the lineup. I miss you, Reed Johnson and Russ Adams..come back to me!
Anyway, you guys are in trouble because our #9 hitter is juiced like a motherfucker.
Wellington
BAAAALLLINNN'
Supposed to rain from 10-11 and then calm after that. Let's hope it stays that way. It's going to be cold as shit tho, 40 degrees right now.BigJonsson said:
Qwerty710710
a child left behind
Opening day bitches.
arts&crafts
Member
Joe said:
I dont get it.
On a lighter note, I hope it doesnt get rained out.
Real opening day is finally here!
Predictions?
Bos 94. The beginning of the decline of Ortiz?
NYA 93. More talented than Sox but aging team is more likely to collapse.
Tam 85. The surprise AL team even with Longoria getting Ryan Brauned.
Tor 81. Good defense is not enough, too many injury issues.
Bal 67. Worst team in the AL but Adam Jones will do well in the second half.
Cle 94. More upside than Detroit, Sizemore will have a monster year.
Det 90. Age and injuries (entire roster aside from Granderson/Cabrera/Verlander/Bonderman) will hurt them.
Min 75. Is Carlos Gomez really their starting CF? :lol
ChA 74. Adding Swisher to a terrible lineup = still bad lineup.
KC 72. Lots of young talent (Butler/Gordon/Greinke/Soria) but still irrelevant.
LAA 86. Not a particularly great team even before the rotation problems.
Oak 84. CarloGon/GioGon = second half boost... or 70 wins if Blanton/Harden/Street/Ellis/Embree traded.
Sea 75. Decent pitching, unimpressive lineup.
Tex 73. Halfway-decent lineup, terrible pitching... good thing they traded Volquez!
NYN 94. Great pitching will make up for the lineup question-marks (Castillo/Delgado/Schneider).
Phi 88. Pitching is too dependent on Hamels. Utley doesn't get nearly enough national attention.
Atl 85. Nice lineup aside from Kotsay, but the division is too good.
Was 71. Bowden is considered a buffoon, yet he swindled the Mets and hired a better manager than the Yanks.
Flo 69. Rebuilding again after the collapse of the excellent 2006 rotation (Olsen/Johnson/Sanchez/Willis/Nolasco). Watch out Joba/Hughes/Kennedy...
ChN 91. The only question mark is the back of the rotation.
Mil 88. They could win well over 90 if Gallardo, Braun and co. go off on the rest of the league.
Cin 84. The surprise NL team, they could be even better if Homer Bailey puts it together.
StL 76. They haven't been a good team since 2005.
Hou 71. No pitching after Oswalt... but trading for Tejada keeps them out of last place!
Pit 70. Jason Bay, some formerly-underrated starting pitchers, and nothing else.
Ari 86. They got lucky last year, this time they will deserve it.
LAN 85. Tons of talent but Ned Coletti and Grady Little will find a way to blow it.
SD 83. Giles/Edmonds/Gerut is a horrific outfield. Jody Gerut??
Col 80. Good defense but regression to the mean everywhere else.
SF 66. LinceCain and pray for rain: possibly the worst offense in recent baseball history. Bocock :lol
WS: Cle over NYN
AL: Cabrera, Verlander, Buchholz
NL: Wright, Santana, Cueto (30+ y.o. Japanese not eligible)
Predictions?
Bos 94. The beginning of the decline of Ortiz?
NYA 93. More talented than Sox but aging team is more likely to collapse.
Tam 85. The surprise AL team even with Longoria getting Ryan Brauned.
Tor 81. Good defense is not enough, too many injury issues.
Bal 67. Worst team in the AL but Adam Jones will do well in the second half.
Cle 94. More upside than Detroit, Sizemore will have a monster year.
Det 90. Age and injuries (entire roster aside from Granderson/Cabrera/Verlander/Bonderman) will hurt them.
Min 75. Is Carlos Gomez really their starting CF? :lol
ChA 74. Adding Swisher to a terrible lineup = still bad lineup.
KC 72. Lots of young talent (Butler/Gordon/Greinke/Soria) but still irrelevant.
LAA 86. Not a particularly great team even before the rotation problems.
Oak 84. CarloGon/GioGon = second half boost... or 70 wins if Blanton/Harden/Street/Ellis/Embree traded.
Sea 75. Decent pitching, unimpressive lineup.
Tex 73. Halfway-decent lineup, terrible pitching... good thing they traded Volquez!
NYN 94. Great pitching will make up for the lineup question-marks (Castillo/Delgado/Schneider).
Phi 88. Pitching is too dependent on Hamels. Utley doesn't get nearly enough national attention.
Atl 85. Nice lineup aside from Kotsay, but the division is too good.
Was 71. Bowden is considered a buffoon, yet he swindled the Mets and hired a better manager than the Yanks.
Flo 69. Rebuilding again after the collapse of the excellent 2006 rotation (Olsen/Johnson/Sanchez/Willis/Nolasco). Watch out Joba/Hughes/Kennedy...
ChN 91. The only question mark is the back of the rotation.
Mil 88. They could win well over 90 if Gallardo, Braun and co. go off on the rest of the league.
Cin 84. The surprise NL team, they could be even better if Homer Bailey puts it together.
StL 76. They haven't been a good team since 2005.
Hou 71. No pitching after Oswalt... but trading for Tejada keeps them out of last place!
Pit 70. Jason Bay, some formerly-underrated starting pitchers, and nothing else.
Ari 86. They got lucky last year, this time they will deserve it.
LAN 85. Tons of talent but Ned Coletti and Grady Little will find a way to blow it.
SD 83. Giles/Edmonds/Gerut is a horrific outfield. Jody Gerut??
Col 80. Good defense but regression to the mean everywhere else.
SF 66. LinceCain and pray for rain: possibly the worst offense in recent baseball history. Bocock :lol
WS: Cle over NYN
AL: Cabrera, Verlander, Buchholz
NL: Wright, Santana, Cueto (30+ y.o. Japanese not eligible)
captmcblack
Member
Oh, how I have waited for this day since last October when a plague of bugs derailed a Yankee season that no one expected. Trust me, I will never forget what a "midge" is after the 2007 MLB season.
Opening Day is pretty much the best day of the year; it's like New Year's Day and your birthday and Christmas combined. I'll spare all the romantic shit about freshly-cut grass and popcorn and hot dogs and dreams and whatnot, but you all should already know exactly how I feel. You all feel the same way; you're no better than me if you're a baseball fan.
I wish every team luck, since there's something to look forward to for everyone.
Red Sox want to defend their championship, Jays and Rays are perennial upstarts, Yankees are trying to close out their stadium with a title, and Orioles are rebuilding.
Tigers are looking to win now, Indians are looking to shock the world again (hopefully without biblical plagues), Royals are turning it around, Twins want to prove there's life after Santana, and Chi Sox are attempting to out-GRIT all comers.
Angels are banking on young arms and old bats, A's are still sabermetricians, Rangers are still building something intriguing, and Seattle is still building on their surprising season from last year.
The Mets are humbled, but heartened by the arm of Johan, the Phillies are the reigning team to beat, the Braves are back (some say they never left), the Nationals have a new stadium and a new attitude, and the Marlins are the happy Met-slayers.
The Reds are moving forward on youngblood, the Cubs are hoping to break their 100-year curse, the Astros are making noise (will Clemens resurface there?), the Cardinals have the Natural playing in RF, the Pirates are rebuilding, and the Brewers are hoping to make good on their tremendous potential.
The Dodgers have Torre, the Padres have the tandem of Peavy and Young, the Giants are Barroid-free, the Rockies are finally a real contender, and the Diamondbacks are silent assassins.
There is something to look at and look into for absolutely every team, and every fan of every team...and it pretty much all starts today.
Good luck, and good games for everyone - shit gets REAL from here on out.
Opening Day is pretty much the best day of the year; it's like New Year's Day and your birthday and Christmas combined. I'll spare all the romantic shit about freshly-cut grass and popcorn and hot dogs and dreams and whatnot, but you all should already know exactly how I feel. You all feel the same way; you're no better than me if you're a baseball fan.
I wish every team luck, since there's something to look forward to for everyone.
Red Sox want to defend their championship, Jays and Rays are perennial upstarts, Yankees are trying to close out their stadium with a title, and Orioles are rebuilding.
Tigers are looking to win now, Indians are looking to shock the world again (hopefully without biblical plagues), Royals are turning it around, Twins want to prove there's life after Santana, and Chi Sox are attempting to out-GRIT all comers.
Angels are banking on young arms and old bats, A's are still sabermetricians, Rangers are still building something intriguing, and Seattle is still building on their surprising season from last year.
The Mets are humbled, but heartened by the arm of Johan, the Phillies are the reigning team to beat, the Braves are back (some say they never left), the Nationals have a new stadium and a new attitude, and the Marlins are the happy Met-slayers.
The Reds are moving forward on youngblood, the Cubs are hoping to break their 100-year curse, the Astros are making noise (will Clemens resurface there?), the Cardinals have the Natural playing in RF, the Pirates are rebuilding, and the Brewers are hoping to make good on their tremendous potential.
The Dodgers have Torre, the Padres have the tandem of Peavy and Young, the Giants are Barroid-free, the Rockies are finally a real contender, and the Diamondbacks are silent assassins.
There is something to look at and look into for absolutely every team, and every fan of every team...and it pretty much all starts today.
Good luck, and good games for everyone - shit gets REAL from here on out.
Rays
Akinori Iwamura 2B
Carl Crawford LF
Carlos Pena 1B
B.J. Upton CF
Cliff Floyd DH
Willy Aybar 3B
Eric Hinske RF
Dioner Navarro C
Jason Bartlett SS
James Shields P
Orioles
Brian Roberts 2B
Melvin Mora 3B
Nick Markakis RF
Kevin Millar 1B
Aubrey Huff DH
Ramon Hernandez C
Luke Scott LF
Adam Jones CF
Luis Hernandez SS
Jeremy Guthrie P
So Hinske taking over Baldelli's (get well soon champ!) RF. Interesting. He has a good bat. Why did the Sox cut him again?
Akinori Iwamura 2B
Carl Crawford LF
Carlos Pena 1B
B.J. Upton CF
Cliff Floyd DH
Willy Aybar 3B
Eric Hinske RF
Dioner Navarro C
Jason Bartlett SS
James Shields P
Orioles
Brian Roberts 2B
Melvin Mora 3B
Nick Markakis RF
Kevin Millar 1B
Aubrey Huff DH
Ramon Hernandez C
Luke Scott LF
Adam Jones CF
Luis Hernandez SS
Jeremy Guthrie P
So Hinske taking over Baldelli's (get well soon champ!) RF. Interesting. He has a good bat. Why did the Sox cut him again?
funkmastergeneral
Banned
We have more then enough outfielders to keep that bum Hinske around
xbhaskarx said:
While I have no problem with that win total, the White Sox line-up is actually pretty damn good. Last year was an aberration. A line-up with Swisher/Thome/Konerko/Dye at US Cellular is going to be well above average, and that's without factoring in a healthy Crede/Josh Fields.
The pitching is why they're going to lose 80 games.
Dr. Strangelove
I'M COOCOO FOR COCO CRISP!
LOLrioles. You know your team fails when they have Kentucky Fried Millar batting cleanup on opening day.
Rookie of the Year! Never forget. Seriously though, Hinske is fucking horrible.Sylar said:
Dr. Strangelove
I'M COOCOO FOR COCO CRISP!
Sylar said:
THE MAD FISHAHMAN
And no, I do not miss Millar. Thanks for being one of the 25 and all, but I'm glad you aren't flailing at breaking balls low and away for the Sox anymore.
funkmastergeneral
Banned
Dr. Strangelove said:
I would still like to see him come back and be team mascot, and get Wally out of there.
Dr. Strangelove
I'M COOCOO FOR COCO CRISP!
funkmastergeneral said:
Okay yeah, I'd support his return if he were coming back to be the new mascot.
sorryaboutdresden
Member
What the fuck, how can I be located in Washington DC and not be able to see the phillies play the fucking Nationals? Seriously, can somebody explain to me why they still put the piece of shit O's on in stead of the Nats?
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