The Baseball Season Begins Tonight!!!

[Dryden]

Spring training is over, and the real baseball season begins tonight with the BoSox & Yankees, weather permitting.

Who's everyones' favorites?

I think the Twins win it all this season, hold off a charging and emerging Indians club, and are the best built for the short post-season series, whether they get the Yanks or the BoSox. The Twins have had the best defense for awhile and the pitching staff is solid coming out of the gate. I think they get over the hump this year.

I grew up a fan of the Big Red Machine, my dad regularly took me to Riverfront from about the time I was 5, so I grew up rooting for Bench, Rose, Morgan, etc ... but the Reds don't have a shot when the staff ace is Paul Wilson. Dunn and Casey just aren't enough to carry the team over 80 wins, and I won't believe Griffey can play 85 games in a season until he actually does it. Dunn fanned nearly 200 times last season, and the best off-season pick-up was #2 starter Eric Milton, who served up 40+ taters last year. The NL central isn't the right league to build a midmarket club on a budget, and the Reds aren't even as good at doing it like the Twins or As. I think the Reds roar out of the gate and flame out down the stretch, just like last year. (Though that won't stop me from making about 5 trips down to the Queen City this year to cheer them on).

 

[wadc45]

The Twins have a few questions marks...does Morneau realize his potential this year? does Lew Ford put up similar numbers to last year? does Mauer stay healthy all year? is Bartlett ready for bi league pitching? how do the starters not named Johan Santana perform? lots of questions, but they could have all the answers. I think the Tribe will compete in the AL Central.

I like the Twins, Angels, and Yankees in the AL. Cardinals, Braves, and Giants in the NL. Braves and Yankees in the World Series. I'll wait until October to predict the WS champs... :)

 

[bucknut11]

Sadly, on the opener of the season, a player (Alex Sanchez of Tampa Bay) has already received a suspension for failing the steroid testing. This is not what MLB wanted/needed on opening day.

As for me, I'm hoping that the Indians can get back to where they were in the late 90s. They've got a very young club and if a few of their top prospects can begin to translate their talents into bonafide stars, I think they can do so.

 

[Alan]

In Honor of Sloopy45's annual prediction thread.....I will put mine here....

AL

East
ny
bos
bal
tor
tb

Cent
minn
det
cle
cws
kc

West
laa
oak
sea
tex

NL
East
atl
fla
nym
wash
phi

Cent
stl
chi
hou
cin
mil
pit

West
sd
la
sf
ariz
col

series- LAA v. St.Louis with the Cardinals winning.

 

[Dryden]

The Twins have a few questions marks...does Morneau realize his potential this year? does Lew Ford put up similar numbers to last year? does Mauer stay healthy all year? is Bartlett ready for bi league pitching? how do the starters not named Johan Santana perform?

I'll give you that, but the Twins also have an incredible track record of drafting smart, developing talent, and plugging in the holes. If Christian Guzman can play anything over AA ball with that swing ... well, he hits like Charles Barkley golfs.

Hell, even Chuck Knoblauch was a rookie of the year.

I'll wait until October to predict the WS champs... :)

Where's the fun in that. Picking the Red Sox in March of last year might have been a reach, but picking them after that ALCS was a no-brainer.

 

[wadc45]

alright fine Dryden...twist my arm...I am going to go with the Braves to win it all in 2005.

 

[strohs]

Lets go Tribe!
I see no reason the Indians cant pull of a central division championship.

 

[OilerBuck]

AL

East
ny
bos
bal
tor
tb

Cent
minn
det
cle
cws
kc

West
laa
sea
tex
oak

NL
East
atl
fla
nym
phi
wash


Cent
stl
chi
cin
mil
hou
pit

West
sd
sf
ariz
la
col

series- New York v. St.Louis with the Yankmes winning. I hate them, but they are loaded.<!-- / message -->

 

[OSUsushichic]

Go Red Sox! (up 1-0 against NY)

edit: Grrrr. I hate the Yankess.

 

[daddyphatsacs]

Go Braves.

Baseball should be interesting this year to say the least.

 

[bucksn'boobs]

As a sox fan I have to say there is a lot of media speculation about what redsox nation is supposed to feel this year. I can only speak for myself and my friends when I say that I will not be disapointed with any possible outcome of this year. I could give a rat's ass if we have a good year or not. I will enjoy every last moment of being a world champion. Nothing on earth could possibly top last year's ALCS. I will enjoy every dirty look as I walk down the street everyday in NY. Nothing can take my buzz away, even as I watch us lose in the stadium.

 

[Dryden]

Nothing on earth could possibly top last year's ALCS.

Whether my favorite teams are involved or not, no, I don't know that any sporting event, ever, will top last years ALCS. Whether a person is even a baseball fan or not, that was a magical ride.

Watching the '04 highlight film last night in the Yanks/BoSox pregame ... I still get goosebumps when Ortiz hits that Game 4 winner, regardless the fact I've seen that sweet swing 100 times replayed over and over again.

 

[coastalbuck]

Let's go Reds. 2:00 on EsPIN I wanna hear Marty say "And this one belongs to the Reds!"

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

and the reds start the season out right

kaz matsui? give me a break.

 

[Thump]

I don't acknowledge the start of baseball season until the Reds take the field. That has always been the ceremonial start to the MLB season being that they were the first franchise.

I'm not a fan of games the night before no matter who they are.

Am I the only one who doesn't cream his drawers over the Red Sox-Yankees?

EDIT** I saw that Dmitri Young already has 2 homers today. Who wants to bet that someone on the local news or Sportscenter will say that he's on pace to hit 324 homers this season?

That lamo shit really gets old.