Jump to content
TSM Forums
Sign in to follow this  
EVIL~! alkeiper

Spring Training 2008

Recommended Posts

Here's a link to Baseball America's Top 100.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prosp...008/265655.html

 

Pleasantly surprised to see three Phillies in the top 100. Adrian Cardenas isn't often mentioned, but he seems legit. Savery is easily a top prospect if the health fears do not materialize.

 

 

I posted that yesterday to little response. Couple of things I noticed when perusing the list.

 

- 9 of the top 20 players belong to teams in the AL East , including 4(!) Tampa Bay Rays.

- The White Sox don't have one player listed on the top 100, or on the just missed

- Brandon Wood has stuck out over 400 times in three minor league seasons

- I believe this is Homer Bailey's fourth consecutive year on the list, second time in the top 10

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Michael Myers Resplendent
- The White Sox don't have one player listed on the top 100, or on the just missed

"One thing I can't get my arms around ... It's hard for me to understand the expectations to win at the big league level and compete for a championship but also wanting to keep every young player who comes along," Williams said. "We are in a lot better shape than others perceive us. Ultimately, it will bear itself out."

Not on your watch, K-dubs. You're neither competing nor rebuilding.

 

How serious was White Sox general manager Ken Williams about a seemingly meaningless four-inning intra-squad game Monday?

 

After Nick Swisher led off with a single, Williams yelled down to his new player, “We run hard to first base in Chicago!”

 

Williams then paused, turned to the coaching staff and said, “Make sure he (expletive) hears what I said.”

Other demands that GMs make to their players in the middle of spring training scrimmages:

"Tell Varitek to run to the liquor store for us! They keep saying my ID is a fake!"

"We bring our GMs large boxes of donuts in Chicago! Make sure his interpreter fucking hears what I said."

 

Ironically, Nick Swisher came to the south side with the promise that he'd show so much of the fire and the passion that he'd make Aaron Rowand look like a slob.

 

Other acceptable joke:

They do run hard to first base in Chicago, but there's still no guarantee that Konerko and Thome ever arrive there.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Marvin, you should know I meant steroid scandal without outright saying it.

 

"any scandal whatsoever" would seem to include stuff besides steroids but whatever.

 

Good news out of intrasquad game today for the Os..Luis Hernandez has 2 TWO~!! DOS~!! hits in the leadoff spot..though I think he should be saving some of his 29 hits for when they actually count.

 

Lineup for one team:

Luis Hernandez - SS

Tike Redman - RF

Chris Roberson - CF

Mike Costanzo - 3B

Guillermo Quiroz - DH

Ben Davis - C

Omir Santos - 1B

Eider Torres - 2B

Hayden Penn - P

 

(a coach is playing LF but not hitting)

 

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
"One thing I can't get my arms around ... It's hard for me to understand the expectations to win at the big league level and compete for a championship but also wanting to keep every young player who comes along," Williams said. "We are in a lot better shape than others perceive us. Ultimately, it will bear itself out."

Isn't there some team up in the New England area who has won two WS titles in the past four years and accoring to BA has the 2nd best farm system in all of baseball? I could swear that there was.

 

Kenny Williams is an idiot. You build your team through the minors and sell off the players that aren't expected to contribute to fill holes at the major league level. He has the whole process ass backwards.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
My offseason wait is over as the Phillies kick off now against the Cincinnati Reds.

 

What are your feelings on the Phils chances this year Al? I was really high on them last season (and correctly picked them to win the division), but I'm not sold on this year's team. I expect a moderate regression from Utley, Rollins and Howard. Combined with the loss of a productive Aaron Rowand and Pedro Feliz getting the lion's share of at-bats at third and the team could see their high octane offense take a step back.

 

Even more troublesome is their rotation. Cole Hamels is an ace, but I worry about his health after an increased workload last year. Myers will be good, but after that the whole rotation is a bunch of question marks. The bullpen still looks shakey even with Lidge. I just see this as an 85 win team that will come up short against the Mets and probably the Braves.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
My offseason wait is over as the Phillies kick off now against the Cincinnati Reds.

 

What are your feelings on the Phils chances this year Al? I was really high on them last season (and correctly picked them to win the division), but I'm not sold on this year's team. I expect a moderate regression from Utley, Rollins and Howard. Combined with the loss of a productive Aaron Rowand and Pedro Feliz getting the lion's share of at-bats at third and the team could see their high octane offense take a step back.

 

Even more troublesome is their rotation. Cole Hamels is an ace, but I worry about his health after an increased workload last year. Myers will be good, but after that the whole rotation is a bunch of question marks. I just see this as an 85 win team that will come up short against the Mets and probably the Braves.

I'll address the offense first. Howard already regressed last season. At this point you have a player with 1700+ plate appearances and a .297/.391/.610 career line to show for it. He is not past his prime yet, so no reason to think that is not a reasonable standard. Chase Utley took a step forward, but he was even more valuable in 2006 since he did not miss a month. If he falls back to that level, still no problem. Rollins yes, again could fall to his previous levels. That still makes him a league average hitter at shortstop, an asset.

 

Aaron Rowand is gone, but the Phils acquired Geoff Jenkins. At their career marks they have similar ability as hitters. On defense, I honestly think Victorino is a superior defender. At third base, Feliz's low OBP will improve with a move to a favorable hitters park. Last year, the Phillies' composite 3Bmen hit .255/.321/.368, with Abraham Nunez getting the most at bats! I think the defense is key. The Phillies already led the NL in runs scored in 2006 and '07 and finished 2nd in 2005. How much more offense do they need? On defense though they had two guys at third (Greg Dobbs and Wes Helms) who really didn't belong out there. Feliz will help a pitching staff that frankly, needs all the help it can get.

 

Pitching is the big concern. There are no exciting arms that COULD step in, just a group of journeymen to fill out the last few spots. The upside of Kris Benson, Adam Eaton, Chad Durbin etc. hardly excites anyone, and if Hamels and/or Brett Myers falter things could get ugly. The bullpen is just as ragged, a severe lack of exciting arms.

 

I see them second, a step behind the Mets. Probably the wild card favorites though.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Adam Jones hit a Grand Slam today!

 

Someone also posted vegas odds for Over/Under win totals over at OH

 

Baltimore Orioles 66.0 66.0

Florida Marlins 69.0 69.0

Pittsburgh Pirates 70.0 70.0

Kansas City Royals 71.0 71.0

Washington Nationals 72.0 72.0

Tampa Bay Devil Rays 73.0 73.0

San Francisco Giants 73.0 73.0

Oakland Athletics 74.0 74.0

Texas Rangers 75.5 75.5

Minnesota Twins 75.5 75.5

Houston Astros 76.0 76.0

Chicago White Sox 77.0 77.0

Cincinnati Reds 79.0 79.0

St. Louis Cardinals 80.0 80.0

Colorado Rockies 83.0 83.0

San Diego Padres 84.5 84.5

Seattle Mariners 85.0 85.0

Milwaukee Brewers 85.0 85.0

Toronto Blue Jays 85.5 85.5

Arizona Diamondbacks 86.0 86.0

Los Angeles Dodgers 86.5 86.5

Philadelphia Phillies 86.5 86.5

Atlanta Braves 87.0 87.0

Chicago Cubs 89.0 89.0

Cleveland Indians 89.5 89.5

Los Angeles Angels 92.5 92.5

Detroit Tigers 93.0 93.0

New York Yankees 93.5 93.5

New York Mets 94.0 94.0

Boston Red Sox 94.5 94.5

 

Im going to find an online sportsbook that has that and put money on the Os and the over. 66 WINS? I cant see fewer than 70.

 

I found one +/- 65 wins but the payout is 5/6 even on the over, not as good as I had figured.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Im going to find an online sportsbook that has that and put money on the Os and the over. 66 WINS? I cant see fewer than 70.

 

I found one +/- 65 wins but the payout is 5/6 even on the over, not as good as I had figured.

 

Last year they won 69 and they since traded their ace and shortstop.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Baltimore Orioles 66.0 66.0

Under

 

Florida Marlins 69.0 69.0

Under

 

Pittsburgh Pirates 70.0 70.0

Under

 

Kansas City Royals 71.0 71.0

Over

 

Washington Nationals 72.0 72.0

Over

 

Tampa Bay Devil Rays 73.0 73.0

Over

 

San Francisco Giants 73.0 73.0

Under

 

Oakland Athletics 74.0 74.0

Over

 

Texas Rangers 75.5 75.5

Over

 

Minnesota Twins 75.5 75.5

Under

 

Houston Astros 76.0 76.0

Under

 

Chicago White Sox 77.0 77.0

Push

 

Cincinnati Reds 79.0 79.0

Over

 

St. Louis Cardinals 80.0 80.0

Under

 

Colorado Rockies 83.0 83.0

Over

 

San Diego Padres 84.5 84.5

Under

 

Seattle Mariners 85.0 85.0

Under

 

Milwaukee Brewers 85.0 85.0

Over

 

Toronto Blue Jays 85.5 85.5

Under

 

Arizona Diamondbacks 86.0 86.0

Over

 

Los Angeles Dodgers 86.5 86.5

Over

 

Philadelphia Phillies 86.5 86.5

Under

 

Atlanta Braves 87.0 87.0

Under

 

Chicago Cubs 89.0 89.0

Under

 

Cleveland Indians 89.5 89.5

Over

 

Los Angeles Angels 92.5 92.5

Under

 

Detroit Tigers 93.0 93.0

Under

 

New York Yankees 93.5 93.5

Over

 

New York Mets 94.0 94.0

Over

 

Boston Red Sox 94.5 94.5

Under

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
The O's will be significantly under 66 wins. More like 50-60. If I were an O's fan, I'd be elated with 65 or 70 wins.

Honestly, I'm wary of predicting 100 wins/losses for ANY team, unless they have a track record. Teams tend to bunch towards the middle of the pack so much nowadays.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'll save my over/unders for a blog post, later today. KKKtookmybabyaway and I did a sort of challenge on the subject last season, I barely edged him out. Hopefully he will add his picks later.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Im going to find an online sportsbook that has that and put money on the Os and the over. 66 WINS? I cant see fewer than 70.

 

I found one +/- 65 wins but the payout is 5/6 even on the over, not as good as I had figured.

 

Last year they won 69 and they since traded their ace and shortstop.

 

Last year it was +/- 73 so heh..anyway no way this team goes 65-97 or worse. Buster Olney was on ESPN saying 56 wins for the Os which would be 56-106 which is just outright rediculous. I dont think this team is as bad as the Tigers were a few years ago.

 

One trepidation is if they trade Brian Roberts Id be wary of the over but I bet the odds on the over would at least get better than 5/6 if that trade happens, which with every passing day of ST I doubt it even more.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Last year it was +/- 73 so heh..anyway no way this team goes 65-97 or worse. Buster Olney was on ESPN saying 56 wins for the Os which would be 56-106 which is just outright rediculous. I dont think this team is as bad as the Tigers were a few years ago.

They don't have to be. Those Tigers lost 119 games.

 

I have no idea why, besides homerism, you're so high on the Orioles. They have one of the bottom three Opening Day rosters in baseball (probably the worst, but I'm being generous), and they play in the toughest division in the majors. Tell me how this team isn't losing a hundred games.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I'll save my over/unders for a blog post, later today. KKKtookmybabyaway and I did a sort of challenge on the subject last season, I barely edged him out. Hopefully he will add his picks later.

 

 

I remember that I did very well on this last year, but I'm much less confident in my picks. I could see about 15-20 teams falling somewhere between 80 and 90 wins depending on injuries and in-season trades. The only virtual locks I see on the board are the Rays, Giants and Mariners. Everything else is tough to call.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Last year it was +/- 73 so heh..anyway no way this team goes 65-97 or worse. Buster Olney was on ESPN saying 56 wins for the Os which would be 56-106 which is just outright rediculous. I dont think this team is as bad as the Tigers were a few years ago.

 

One trepidation is if they trade Brian Roberts Id be wary of the over but I bet the odds on the over would at least get better than 5/6 if that trade happens, which with every passing day of ST I doubt it even more.

 

Why not 65-97? You may not have noticed, but their starting shortstop has a career .619 OPS in the EASTERN LEAGUE.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Not only are the Oroiles awful on paper (and they should be, it's a rebuilding year) but they play in division that might feature 4 of the ten or twelve best teams in baseball. I just don't see any hope for them other than the fact that a few of the pieces they picked up might give them a decent core in 2010.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Last year it was +/- 73 so heh..anyway no way this team goes 65-97 or worse. Buster Olney was on ESPN saying 56 wins for the Os which would be 56-106 which is just outright rediculous. I dont think this team is as bad as the Tigers were a few years ago.

 

One trepidation is if they trade Brian Roberts Id be wary of the over but I bet the odds on the over would at least get better than 5/6 if that trade happens, which with every passing day of ST I doubt it even more.

 

Why not 65-97? You may not have noticed, but their starting shortstop has a career .619 OPS in the EASTERN LEAGUE.

 

PECOTA projects them for 65 wins, but given that teams on the margin are the most likely to over or underperform their projections, it might be a rosey projection. The fact that they lack a good bullpen and the most likely scenario at the deadline is sell, a late-February prediction of 65 wins is probably the best they'll look all year.

 

By the way, for those who don't have a BP membership, their new team projections came out today. The Rays are projected to win 89(!) games this season.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
89? Wow. That's a bit generous, but it's still enough to get me to throw some money on the over for the Rays now for sure.

 

 

I thought it was too. But it's not like they are in the business of pumping up the projection, they're just inputting numbers. If nothing else, it gives you an idea of what kind of upside the team has. I would still lean towards 2009 or 2010 being their year.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
89? Wow. That's a bit generous, but it's still enough to get me to throw some money on the over for the Rays now for sure.

 

 

I thought it was too. But it's not like they are in the business of pumping up the projection, they're just inputting numbers. If nothing else, it gives you an idea of what kind of upside the team has. I would still lean towards 2009 or 2010 being their year.

Upside yes. I think the problem is that it assumes the team will correctly identify the players with the most upside and play them accordingly.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest

Baltimore Orioles 66.0 66.0

Under

 

Florida Marlins 69.0 69.0

Over

 

Pittsburgh Pirates 70.0 70.0

Under

 

Kansas City Royals 71.0 71.0

Over

 

Washington Nationals 72.0 72.0

Push

 

Tampa Bay Devil Rays 73.0 73.0

Over

 

San Francisco Giants 73.0 73.0

Under

 

Oakland Athletics 74.0 74.0

Under

 

Texas Rangers 75.5 75.5

Over

 

Minnesota Twins 75.5 75.5

Under

 

Houston Astros 76.0 76.0

Over

 

Chicago White Sox 77.0 77.0

Over

 

Cincinnati Reds 79.0 79.0

Under

 

St. Louis Cardinals 80.0 80.0

Under

 

Colorado Rockies 83.0 83.0

Over

 

San Diego Padres 84.5 84.5

Under

 

Seattle Mariners 85.0 85.0

Over

 

Milwaukee Brewers 85.0 85.0

Under

 

Toronto Blue Jays 85.5 85.5

Under

 

Arizona Diamondbacks 86.0 86.0

Over

 

Los Angeles Dodgers 86.5 86.5

Over

 

Philadelphia Phillies 86.5 86.5

Under

 

Atlanta Braves 87.0 87.0

Over

 

Chicago Cubs 89.0 89.0

Over

 

Cleveland Indians 89.5 89.5

Under

 

Los Angeles Angels 92.5 92.5

Under

 

Detroit Tigers 93.0 93.0

Over

 

New York Yankees 93.5 93.5

Under

 

New York Mets 94.0 94.0

Under

 

Boston Red Sox 94.5 94.5

Over

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Baltimore Orioles 66.0 66.0

Under

 

Florida Marlins 69.0 69.0

Under

 

Pittsburgh Pirates 70.0 70.0

Over

 

Kansas City Royals 71.0 71.0

Over

 

Washington Nationals 72.0 72.0

Over

 

Tampa Bay Devil Rays 73.0 73.0

Over

 

San Francisco Giants 73.0 73.0

Under

 

Oakland Athletics 74.0 74.0

Under

 

Texas Rangers 75.5 75.5

Over

 

Minnesota Twins 75.5 75.5

Over

 

Houston Astros 76.0 76.0

Over

 

Chicago White Sox 77.0 77.0

Under

 

Cincinnati Reds 79.0 79.0

Under

 

St. Louis Cardinals 80.0 80.0

Over

 

Colorado Rockies 83.0 83.0

Over

 

San Diego Padres 84.5 84.5

Under

 

Seattle Mariners 85.0 85.0

Under

 

Milwaukee Brewers 85.0 85.0

Over

 

Toronto Blue Jays 85.5 85.5

Under

 

Arizona Diamondbacks 86.0 86.0

Over

 

Los Angeles Dodgers 86.5 86.5

Over

 

Philadelphia Phillies 86.5 86.5

Under

 

Atlanta Braves 87.0 87.0

Under

 

Chicago Cubs 89.0 89.0

Under

 

Cleveland Indians 89.5 89.5

Over

 

Los Angeles Angels 92.5 92.5

Over

 

Detroit Tigers 93.0 93.0

Over

 

New York Yankees 93.5 93.5

Under

 

New York Mets 94.0 94.0

Over

 

Boston Red Sox 94.5 94.5

Over

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

TEAM 1380 in St. Louis just reported that the Cardinals have released Scott Spiezio, who is wanted for arrest on a drunk-driving incident in December of last year:

 

IRVINE, Calif. -- An arrest warrant for St. Louis Cardinals utilityman Scott Spiezio was issued by local police on six charges stemming from a crash in late December.

 

The warrant filed Tuesday alleged driving under influence, driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more, hit and run, aggravated assault, assault and battery. The maximum penalty is two years in state prison.

 

Spiezio did not play in Wednesday's exhibition game against St. Louis University at Jupiter, Fla.

 

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said he did not have specifics on the warrant and had not spoken to Spiezio.

 

"I had heard there was an incident in California. I didn't think anything would come of it," he said.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

×