Since spring training games are under way, and I just bought my tickets for the final home opener at Busch Stadium, I thought we should open a thread for baseball, version 2005.

My Cards have improved, I think. While they suffered some losses (Matheny, Renteria, Kline) they've also made some nice additions, with the additions of David Eckstein and Mark Grudzelanek up the middle, and Mark Mulder as the new ace (although he's not starting the first game). Advance word out of camp is that Rick Ankiel is lights-out unhittable.

I don't think any of the Cards Central rivals have really improved...the Cubs have resigned Nomar, but lost Alou and Sosa. The Astros lost Kent and Berkman's kneee makes him a question mark, but they were able to resign Clemens.

While the Cards outfield is pretty old (Edmonds is 34, Sanders is 37, Walker is 38, So Taguchi is 35), I think they should be able to win the division fairly handily.

That is a brave prediction considerng the mentioned outfield and the fact that mulder is coming of surgery.
The cards should be good...but will be challenged for the division.

On the other hand...i think the mariners will be fighting it out in the cellar with texas.I guess they assume no hitting and mediocre pitching will get it done...like usual.The mariners are one of the top grossing teams in the mlb and they neglect to use the money properly.Signing another so so 3rd baseman.

I cant wait to see them plumet...hargrove is a joke.

I am rooting for the A's.Small market team who continues to find good young talent.

I'm sorry, but the A's have no shot. The foundation of MoneyBall was their incredible starting pitching. You get rid of Hudson and Mulder and you don't have squat. Look for Texas and Los Angeles to battle it out for the AL West. My money (to say nothing of my heart) is on the Angels.

I would admonish you, MGE, not count out Beane and the A's too quickly. That starting rotation, though, is really, really suspect. Jason Kendall is going to have a challenging season, I think.

I'll second pE's brave prediction about OUR Cards, Imprezu21. The Cubs pitching suffered from a lack of run support last season, and the loss of Alou and Sosa can't help that. Add the fact that the lack of closer that devastated them in the final weeks of the 2004 season hasn't been addressed and I would be pretty concerned starting the season.

And the Astros? Goodbye Jeff Kent and Carlos Beltran. Hello...uh...um...anybody? If Pettitte is healthy, they have a starting rotation to rival the Cubs, but run support is going to be a problem for them as well.

Of course, the Cards were picked to finish third going into last season, so we'll see where my swagger is come the All-Star break.

In all it's going to be an interesting season for me in that I agreed Friday to co-manage a fantasy team for the first time in nearly ten years because, you know, I needed another time sink in my life.

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It's far too early for it to mean anything, but the Dodgers keep getting new pitching aces who almost immediately get injured (Penny and Luke.) Eric Gagne is on the DL. They also almost completely redid their squad even though it won the division last year. J.D. Drew started out 0 for 25, but Jeff Kent is near the top in most offensive categories. The Dodgers came from behind in several games in the late innings, and they've won all their series so far. Random, meaningless facts and thoughts.

Speaking of baseball, the Yankees and Sox have been playing far too much this early in the season. Most people act like they are the only teams that matter. I am pleased to see how great the Marlin's pitching staff is. I am also looking forward to the Cards and Mariners because they are both really strong teams that should make for some great competition.

I'm SO tired of the Yankees/BoSox media blitzkreig, I can't even stand it. Maybe it's my fault for not living on the East Coast, but the best baseball doesn't have to be Yanks vs. Sox. The only saving grace is that those games have been exciting, but the media talking heads have gone SO overboard, I can't believe the things they say. They are, apparently, the only legitimate contenders for a World Champion this year. Forget the Cards, the Dodgers, the Angels, and everyone else. It MUST be the Yanks or the Sox. Apparently, nobody has notice overhyped and overrated Yankee teams failing to win (or get to) the Series for the last few years against considerably less talented teams (BoSox, Marlins).

Thus far, the Cards are so-so. But I've got tickets for over a dozen games, so I've got high hopes.

Sorry philosopherEric, but I really don't like the Cards chances this year. I think they had career years from a lot of players last year, particularly their starting pitchers. Will Carpenter, Suppan, and Marquis keep it up. Somehow I doubt it. Mulder should be all right, but you've got to be worried about the guy. Why did he suck so bad at the end of last year? Also, they lost a lot at shortstop. Renteria was premier and Eckstein is below average in every aspect. It's a good thing the Astros didn't sign anyone.

I actually like the Cubs in the central. They're starting pitching is studly, and as long as Prior, Wood, or both come back, they'll be tough to beat. Their offense is underrated, especially with Nomar returning to form. Their bullpen isn't great, but it is underrated as well. Latroy Hawkins pitched well other than a few key save situations last year that he caught hell for, and Borowskia and Dempster are good mid-relievers.

I'm a Red Sox fan, but even I'll admit they've gone overboard with the whole Red Sox-Yankee think early this year. Why did they have to schedule two series with the Yanks in th first two weeks? All a ploy for more money and publicity if you ask me. Still, I love watching those games...

A far as the Dodgers go, they have no offense. Starting Pitching is above average, and the bullpe is nails (as long as Gagne comes back), but who is going to score runs on that team. All they've got is Jeff Kent (who's getting old and going from a hitter's park to a pitcher's park) and JD Drew (who's off to a horrible start and has only ever played one full season).

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
Sorry philosopherEric, but I really don't like the Cards chances this year. I think they had career years from a lot of players last year, particularly their starting pitchers. Will Carpenter, Suppan, and Marquis keep it up. Somehow I doubt it. Mulder should be all right, but you've got to be worried about the guy. Why did he suck so bad at the end of last year? Also, they lost a lot at shortstop. Renteria was premier and Eckstein is below average in every aspect. It's a good thing the Astros didn't sign anyone.

A few rejoinders:

1. Marquis is entering what should be the prime of his career, and his last 3 starts, if they are any indication of his abilities, were phenomenal. The team feels Carpenter (whose stuff is NASTY) is healthy enough to sign him to a 2-year extension.

2. Truthfully, for this team, I'd rather have Eckstein. Here's why: Renteria is a premier player, but a selfish one. He was constantly griping to the press about his place in the batting order, wanting to hit 6th, not second. He had one GREAT year (2003) and a bunch of really good years, but he wasn't very good last year. He's a better defender than Eckstein, to be sure, but Rolen covers enough of the left side that you can give up a little at short. Most importantly, Eckstein's brand of small ball is EXACTLY what this team needs. With Walker, Edmonds, Pujols, Rolen, and Sanders, we really didn't need a shortstop who tries to hit 25 homers. We needed a 1 or 2 hitter who takes pitches early in the game, bunts, gets infield singles, steals a few bases, and gets on base. Renteria swings at the first pitch, strikes out too much, and so on. Eckstein's a better fit with this 2005 Cards squad (which isn't to say that he's the first shortstop I'd pick if I were some other team). An example: Eckstein forced Ben Sheets to throw him 8 pitches on Saturday as leadoff man. Get their ace's pitchcount up early...

As to your endorsement of the Cubs and the vaunted pitching staff, I can only say "I'll believe it when I see it." Each of the last few years, I hear how that staff will finally push them over the top. Each year, injuries and lackluster performances rule the day. This is a staff that used GLENDON RUSCH last year. I agree that there's a ton of potential there. I'm just not convinced that the potential will ever solidify, nor am I sold that the offensive and defensive squad they put on the field is enough to help the pitchers win.

Who knows how long it will last, but the Dodgers are leading the majors in winning percentage and runs scored.

Yeah, I remember a couple years ago when the Royals (if I remember correctly) were leading the league in winning percentage for a while, so don't get too excited.

You would think after five complete games pitched, someone would mention my Marlins.

Oh well, I suppose that they will go mostly ignored until they make a run in the post-season. Miguel Cabrera is doing excellently, Carlos Delgado has a .423 On-base percentage. With great pitching and decent offense, this is a team to watch.

Yeah, I really like the team the Marlins have. The starting rotation is stellar with Beckett, Burnett, Leiter, and Willis(though Dontrelle has faded towards the end of the year both of his big league seasons). Guillerma Mota is an above-average closer. And the lineup, oh the lineup. Delgado is one of the best out there, Miguel Cabrera is getting better every year. Tey have two great average guys with tremendous speed setting the table (Castillo and Pierre) and they are not weak at any position. They're a good defensive team as well. They're my National League pick to make the World Series (though look out for the Cubs. Seriously.). I still think my Red Sox will take them in the end though.

"Ha, Ha, Ha. I say Ha Ha Ha to you"---Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire

OK, the East Coast media bias is driving me batty.

After the Cards incredible 7-run 9th inning rally last night, the lead baseball stories on Sportscenter were the Yanks playing the DEVIL RAYS, the BoSox losing to the Tigers, and the Orioles losing to the BlueJays. I'll give you the Orioles, because they're the story of the 2005 season so far...but come on! Nobody cares about the Cards or the White Sox, who are playing great ball. The primary Midwestern team story is on the (as-usual) underperforming Cubbies. Gee...Wood and Prior are injured and/or struggling? That's a new one!!! Dusty Baker is, by the way, the most overrated manager in baseball.

End rant. Go Cards!

Yeah, I watched that rally. Amazing. Danny Graves sucks. It was the first thing they talked about on Baseball Tonight, though I can't believe it wasn't the number one story on Sportscenter.

I was high on the Cubs earlier this year, but they just cannot stay healthy, and I doubt if Wood and Prior ever will.

The Dodgers are kinda making me eat my words, but I still do not see that offense getting the done job (Books).

It snowed while I was mowing the backyard yesterday. Crazy.

I know that as a Cards fan my bias against the Cubs exists on a genetic level, but their constant coverage in the press really wears. The constant coverage of Wood and Prior's respective injuries is starting to call to mind the original SNL Weekend Update story, "Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead."

I left the studio last night with the Cards/Reds in the sixth, managed to catch some of the play on the mighty MOX on my way to my sports bar, where I caught the ninth on ESPN. Sweet.

The Martinez/Lieber matchup was another good one to watch last night, at least until Lieber left the game. I love to watch that guy work. The moment the batter steps into the box, he's delivering the ball.

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quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
Yeah, I watched that rally. Amazing. Danny Graves sucks. It was the first thing they talked about on Baseball Tonight, though I can't believe it wasn't the number one story on Sportscenter.

It snowed while I was mowing the backyard yesterday. Crazy.

Maybe I saw an earlier version of Sportcenter and they later moved it up. The Cards rally (technically, the Reds COLLAPSE!) was the number two story on Jim Rome is Burning, after the latest moves by...you guessed it, the YANKEES!!!! Now the Yanks are moving Tony Womack to left from second (he's never played it!) to bring up a guy from AAA. Matsui moves from left to center, Bernie "Over the Hill" Williams to the bench.

Snow in May. Wow. It's been unseasonably cold here, but not anywhere near snowing.

An annoyance about the current state of baseball, and umpiring: in Saturday's Cards/Royals game, Jose Lima hits two batters in the first inning, and almost hits a third. When the third guy, John Mabry, takes offense and threatens to move towards Lima, both benches are given warnings, meaning that if ANYONE else gets hit, the pticher will be ejected.

The problem? Matt Morris, who hadn't even gotten to the mound yet and whose bread and butter is pitching inside, was taken out of his game completely by the warning, thanks to Lima's lack of control. This seems insane to me...why should both sides be punished for Lima's inability to throw straight?

And, on the umps, I've seen some of the WORST strike zones ever this season (including that game). I've also seen a lot more player-baiting from umps this year...umps walking after players as they leave the field or (in that game) repeatedly coming to the mound to break up conferences rather quickly, primarily to punish Morris for his visible frustration with the awful strike zone. Terrible umpiring is common this season, from what i've seen.

Yeah, I don't see the logic behind warning both benches. It's just a power issue. The commissioner's office and the rules commitee want to justify their existence and have more control over the players.

I see nothing wrong with the current system. If pitcher #1 is hitting batters from the other team, the other team's pitcher will hit one of pitcher #1's team. If a pitcher consistently hits batters from another team, it will cause his players to get hit in return, and he will hear from them.

I also can't stand umpires following players off the field. I really think some of those guys love the confrontations. I umpire, and I've taken some abuse before, but I just sit there and take it. Who cares? Are you trying to impress somebody in the stands? You're getting paid, and taking crap is part of the job. Of course, it helps that I have no ego whatsoever.

As far as the quality of the calls goes, though, I think MLB umpires are very good. Sure, every once in a while they'll blow one, but day-in day-out, these guys are excellent. Remember, they don't have the luxury of instant replay. Umpiring is not as easy as it looks, because you have to make a call instantly after the pitch. I usually know it if I blow a strike call, but it's too late to change anything. It takes a lot of concentration, and if you're having a bad day or aren't feeling well, that kind of concentration is hard. Also, sometimes the camera angle is deceiving, and strikes look like balls and vice-versa.