Baseball 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (4 Viewers)

[sammy719]

Even though it's late Feb. you know Baseball will be back in the cactus/grapefruit league here shortly, again, like every year I always hold on to my new years dream that my Orioles will be competitive and have a decent season (not many here in the last 10-12) years or so, but we have alot of young talent, plus a few good vets so maybe, just maybe we can hang in there this year with Yanks/Sox....also being that I did make some extra coin on e-bay lately I plan on collecting some older baseball memorabilia, like any old stuff from Memorial stadium where the colts/orioles played, anyone that has any good reliable sports/hobby shops please let me know...play ball!!!..Sammy

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Sammy,

I know of a shop in Havre de Grace across the street from the Ripken museum. But its hard to say if they sell on line. I went in there looking for a Ripken Rookie Traded card and had three to choose from as well as a ton of NY Yankees stuff which surprised me being Orioles country but I was happy because I picked up a few cards I had been looking for. Yes I am a Yankees fan in case you forgot but my wife is a big Baltimore fan so when we are back visiting her mom its a must to swing by the Ripken shop I have several hundred of his cards as well. As it is too early to predict the season I will say that I am looking forward to some good baseball again this year dont know if I will be able to egt to as many games as I did last year but we have pretty good American League coverage here with Seattle so it should be fun to watch. I do miss the spring training down in Az but who knows maybe we will retire there once we're done with the army.

Dave

 

[jazzeum]

Sammy,

I think it will be tough for the Os to finish higher than fourth. There is some tough competition there.

 

[lancer]

Play freakin' ball! Can't wait. Looking forward to my teams, (Yanks, O's, and Nats), playing some good baseball. Nats look to be greatly improved, having addressed many of their problems. O's made some moves, too. Just have to see how it all shakes out. And the Yanks, well they are the Yanks. Too much talent and money to go too far down. Come on, April. -- lancer

 

[marco55]

I've always been happy when spring training starts as that means winter is leaving and spring is coming ,especially this year..Just hope my Phils can do it all this year.
Mark

 

[gi546]

hope the mets don't suck again this year.

 

[jazzeum]

hope the mets don't suck again this year.

You and me both. I'll be happy with a winning season, not even getting in the playoffs; that would be a plus.

 

[sammy719]

Sammy,

I think it will be tough for the Os to finish higher than fourth. There is some tough competition there.

I'm not excepting nothing but a A.L east championship banner from my O's this year, well maybe a winning season would be o.k. too...Sammy

 

[tdubel]

I'm not excepting nothing but a A.L east championship banner from my O's this year, well maybe a winning season would be o.k. too...Sammy

Sorry, but doubtful on both ends. The Orioles have gone the way of the Pirates. Poor ownership, closed wallet equals losing seasons, no playoffs. You have to spend to compete in today's baseball, it is a very easy equation. Spending wisely helps too, but any spend is better than nothing.



TD

 

[sammy719]

Sorry, but doubtful on both ends. The Orioles have gone the way of the Pirates. Poor ownership, closed wallet equals losing seasons, no playoffs. You have to spend to compete in today's baseball, it is a very easy equation. Spending wisely helps too, but any spend is better than nothing.



TD

amazing T.D. now that you mention it, kinda wierd how the orioles/ pirates are in comparison with the things you mentioned, and also both of our football teams have great owners, same type of front office staff/ and makeup of personal, hmmm maybe our football owners should buy our baseball teams !!!!!..Sammy

 

[tdubel]

amazing T.D. now that you mention it, kinda wierd how the orioles/ pirates are in comparison with the things you mentioned, and also both of our football teams have great owners, same type of front office staff/ and makeup of personal, hmmm maybe our football owners should buy our baseball teams !!!!!..Sammy

That is the truth. The Pirates have continually built and "bred" other team's stars since 1992 (The exiting of the Bonds).

TD

 

[Warrior]

I love the make up of the Red Sox this year; no one will throw around the leather better or pitch better, our staff 1-5 is stacked with Beckett, Lester, Lackey, Dice K and Buckholtz.

There is not a better staff 1-5 in baseball, period.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I love the make up of the Red Sox this year; no one will throw around the leather better or pitch better, our staff 1-5 is stacked with Beckett, Lester, Lackey, Dice K and Buckholtz.

There is not a better staff 1-5 in baseball, period.

I agree you have the best starting rotation. I thought Lackey was a good pickup for you. Its going to be wierd watching Yanks/Sox without a knuckleballer in the mix.

Your problem is going to be losing games 1-0 or 2-1, as the Red Sox have no big bats (unless Ortiz goes back on the juice).

I sincerely hope both the Yanks and Sox make the playoffs, as there is nothing like Yankees/Red Sox in October. You got payback for '78 and '03 in '04, but even though we won it all last year, it won't feel right until we win a championship after beating the Sox in the ALCS.

 

[Warrior]

Your problem is going to be losing games 1-0 or 2-1, as the Red Sox have no big bats (unless Ortiz goes back on the juice).

Pitching and defense is what wins in October; good pitching always stops good hitting.

You won the World Series last year because Sherman Klump and Beavis pitched lights out in the playoffs; offensively, you were mediocre at best all playoffs long, you got key hits when you needed them.

People aren't giving our line up enough credit; been a Red Sox fan too long seeing them be an all hit, no pitch team waiting for the three run home run all the time.

The Red Sox have the best starting staff in the AL and best defense, our outfield will be lights out, as will our infield.

Plus we'll have VMart a full season and they upgraded offensively at shortstop and third base.

Should be interesting............

 

[Louis Badolato]

Pitching and defense is what wins in October; good pitching always stops good hitting.

You won the World Series last year because Sherman Klump and Beavis pitched lights out in the playoffs; offensively, you were mediocre at best all playoffs long, you got key hits when you needed them.

People aren't giving our line up enough credit; been a Red Sox fan too long seeing them be an all hit, no pitch team waiting for the three run home run all the time.

The Red Sox have the best starting staff in the AL and best defense, our outfield will be lights out, as will our infield.

Plus we'll have VMart a full season and they upgraded offensively at shortstop and third base.

Should be interesting............

It should certainly be interesting. Pitching and defense do win championships, and I think both the Red Sox and the Yankees have upgraded this area over the past two seasons. The Yankees may be second to the Sox in starting pitching (although Beavis matched up just fine against Beckett, and CC dominated Lester in the games that mattered down the stretch), but we upgraded the #4 slot with a legitmate 2/3 starter in Vasquez, and out bullpen will be just fine with Joba and the addition of Park. Defensively, the Yankees made a huge upgrade at 1st base last year with Teixiera, and majorly upgraded left field defensively with the addition of Granderson. The Yankees also slightly upgraded center field defensively. The way I see it, the Red Sox have a clear edge defensively in right field, center is about a wash, as is left. The Yankees have a slight edge at 1st base, the Red Sox have a slight edge at 2nd base, short stop and third base are about a wash. I think the Yankees have a slight edge at Catcher.

Under these circumstances, I think the Yankees huge advantage with the lumber will make the difference. The Yankees tend to win Championships in bunches (when was the last time the Yankees won an isolated championship?), and I smell a repeat.

 

[sammy719]

It should certainly be interesting. Pitching and defense do win championships, and I think both the Red Sox and the Yankees have upgraded this area over the past two seasons. The Yankees may be second to the Sox in starting pitching (although Beavis matched up just fine against Beckett, and CC dominated Lester in the games that mattered down the stretch), but we upgraded the #4 slot with a legitmate 2/3 starter in Vasquez, and out bullpen will be just fine with Joba and the addition of Park. Defensively, the Yankees made a huge upgrade at 1st base last year with Teixiera, and majorly upgraded left field defensively with the addition of Granderson. The Yankees also slightly upgraded center field defensively. The way I see it, the Red Sox have a clear edge defensively in right field, center is about a wash, as is left. The Yankees have a slight edge at 1st base, the Red Sox have a slight edge at 2nd base, short stop and third base are about a wash. I think the Yankees have a slight edge at Catcher.

Under these circumstances, I think the Yankees huge advantage with the lumber will make the difference. The Yankees tend to win Championships in bunches (when was the last time the Yankees won an isolated championship?), and I smell a repeat.

I'm sure not a Yankees fan by no means, but it seems in past playoffs, Johnny Damon, hediki matsui(spelling) were always around during crunch time, both are gone, those two had alot to do with last years world series run, so I'm thinking the Yanks are not as strong as last year, I.M.H.O. of course..Sammy

 

[Warrior]

but we upgraded the #4 slot with a legitmate 2/3 starter in Vasquez

I fully understand Louis as a Yankee fan you look at things through pinstriped glasses, but are you seriously calling that meatball artist a legit 2/3 starter?

My EVERLASTING impression of Vasquez was him coming into game 7 of the 2004 ALCS in relief and giving up a room service meatball right down broadway that Damon absolutely crushed into the upper deck for a grand slam to ice that game, the series and a trip to the WS for the Red Sox.

If he is your # 3 starter, that lumber of yours had better be in high gear when he toes the rubber.............................

 

[Louis Badolato]

I fully understand Louis as a Yankee fan you look at things through pinstriped glasses, but are you seriously calling that meatball artist a legit 2/3 starter?

My EVERLASTING impression of Vasquez was him coming into game 7 of the 2004 ALCS in relief and giving up a room service meatball right down broadway that Damon absolutely crushed into the upper deck for a grand slam to ice that game, the series and a trip to the WS for the Red Sox.

If he is your # 3 starter, that lumber of yours had better be in high gear when he toes the rubber.............................

In 2004, Vasquez was pitching with an injured shoulder, and he choked against an incredibly powerful lineup. Judging him on that game would be like calling Papelbon a bum because of his performance in the last game of the ALDS against the Angels last year. He has had an excellent ERA the last 3 seasons (3rd best in the NL last year). Somehow I think that will more than suffice for a number 4 starter, considering we used Joba in the spot last year.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I'm sure not a Yankees fan by no means, but it seems in past playoffs, Johnny Damon, hediki matsui(spelling) were always around during crunch time, both are gone, those two had alot to do with last years world series run, so I'm thinking the Yanks are not as strong as last year, I.M.H.O. of course..Sammy

Damon and Matsui are both big losses from the lineup, there is njo question. However, because of Posada's age, he is not going to be able to catch more than 120 games this year, so we couldn't have a player useful only as a DH like Matsui, whose knees prevent him from playing the field. We replaced Matsui's .285 career average and 20-28 HR per year with Granderson's .270 career average and 25-35 HR per year, plus Granderson, who is a center fielder, will be a huge upgrade on Damon playing left field.

Damon as a number 2 hitter, batted around .290 with 18-25 HR per year, and around a .370 OBP. We replaced his bat with Nick Johnson, who was second in the league last year with a .425 on base percentage, so he will put men on base in front of the Yankee's big bats, Teixiera, A-Rod and Posada. With the short porch at Yankee Stadium, I expect Nick can hit about 15-20 HR. Obviously, he will not be a threat to steal bases, but with Melky gone and Gardner playing full time in Center, he should pick up a bunch of stolen bases.

The way I see it, the lineup should be 1. Jeter (.320+, 15-18 HR, .395 OBP), 2. N. Johnson (.290, 15-20 HR, .415+ OBP), 3. Teixiera (.290, 35-40 HR, 125+ RBI), 4. A-Rod (.290, 35-40 HR, 120+ RBI), 5. Posada (.275, 25-30 HR, 90+ RBI), 6. R. Cano (.320+, 20-28 HR, 75+ RBI), 7. Granderson (.260, 25-35 HR, 80+ RBI), 8. Swisher (.250, 25-30 HR, 75+ RBI), 9. Gardner (.260, 5 HR, 25-35 stolen bases). I think the Yankees offense will be just fine.

 

[jazzeum]

I'm no Yankee fan as Louis will tell you but I don't see them as any weaker. My feeling about Damon and Matusi are they are good players but better to get rid of them or let them go a year too soon rather than a year too late.

As far as Vazquez, when he was with the Expos he was unhittable. I know he didn't fare too well in the AL but maybe he's back in the groove. If so, he's a definite plus.