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Post by James N - Tuk-Town Meter Maids on Feb 27, 2014 12:12:29 GMT -8
Just to get to know everyone's affiliations, what is your favorite team and how to you project them this upcoming year?
My loyalties lie with the hometown team - Seattle Mariners! I had another year of high hopes for my young and improving ball club, but like all other years I fear for the worst. We still have a rather young infield with filled with potential and some new 2B named Cano. My hopes here are Justin Smoak hits like the second half of last year, Cano hits like always, Brad Miller improves on a fantastic first go around at the MLB level, and Kyle Seager keeps raking at the hot corner. My fears are Smoak keeps his bust label, Cano falters like many major Mariners signings before him (Richie Sexson, Chone Figgins, Beltre to an extent, Carlos Silva, and the list goes on), Miller doesn't make the necessary adjustments to continue hitting ML pitching, and that Seager has peaked as a player. Who knows what Seattle's outfield will be this year. Can Ackley make the switch to the outfield? Can Hart's knees withstand playing the field or will he be relegated to DH. If he has to DH where does Logan Morrison play? Is Abe Almonte ready for the show, or is he just an athlete that can't play the game? Will Michael Saunders stay healthy all year and produce at above replacement player level? I assume the pitching staff will be alright in the hitters park, but beyond Felix and Iwakuma the SP spots are all up for grabs. We have a great back end of the bullpen with Rodney and Danny Farquhar. Middle relief and long relief will be as good as anyones. Maybe Tom Wilhelmsen will bounce back even! Lastly is the M's wildcards. Mike Zunino rose through the minors so quickly, but got to the majors and struck out every other at bat. I know Sucre can't hit, so maybe John Buck will have to get his old bones behind the plate. Not ideal... Will Jesus Montero continue to eat or actually try to fulfill some of his immense promise? Don't care for bloomquist signing. Will last years big three all become starters at some point this year. Tajuan Walker looked like the real deal but he is so young. James Paxton had a couple shining moments but was god awful the rest of the time. Brandon Mauer threw well his first time out but got shellacked after that. Danny Hultzen blew his shoulder out and now is questionable after being a safe bet to be a future starter. All in all I see them fighting to go .500 on the year, although it could be a little better than that, or possibly a lot worse... I do believe McClendon is the right manager, seems like a tough guy, not going to take any bullshit from young players and won't let Cano get complacent with a huge contract in hand. This year rides on the back of the young players, which could make for some really exciting baseball! Go M's!!!
I want to hear back from everyone! Let your thoughts be heard!
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Post by Chris - D-Town Diamond Dusters on Mar 3, 2014 15:54:04 GMT -8
As most everyone already knows, my favorite team is the Detroit Tigers. This even though I had lived in Snohomish County, WA for my entire life – until Saturday that is, our first night in Anacortes in Skagit Co. My affiliation with the Tigs began back in 1987 I believe. My dad was always a Tigers fan, having spent some time living in Detroit when my grandpa was stationed around there. He grew up watching Kaline and Kell play. My first game was Tigs/Ms in the old Kingdome. Lou Whitaker led off and got a hit. He has been my all-time favorite ever since (I have a ton of awesome Lou stories for another day – one of which includes the picture I posted in the Memorabilia thread). I’ve lived and died with the Tigs ever since, even through the VERY lean years of the early 2000’s. Then came 2006. In February, the Seahawks made it to the Super Bowl for the first time. In August, on the 19th, I married my wife. Interestingly, that Saturday the Tigs lost to Texas, and then lost 4 more in a row I believe, to start a tailspin that took them from best record in baseball to limping into the playoffs as a Wild Card. They caught fire after losing game 1 to the Yanks in the Division Series, and made it to the Series before the Cardinals whooped them. So in the same calendar year I got married and got to watch my teams in both football and baseball play for the championship for the first time in my sports-watching lifetime. (in 84 when Detroit won it all I was 4 – no recollection of that at all).
As for their prospects for this season, simply put, its ring or bust. Mr. I is getting old and could go at any time – they need to get a ring before the owner that put Detroit baseball back on the map passes. They’re built that way. I really dig the deal for Kinsler. Defensive upgrade, salary relief, and decent production from 2B. And a more capable leadoff guy than Austin Jackson. The Fister trade still has me scratching my head. I called the Nats as a trade partner for one of our SPs, but thought it would be Porcello. I also called a RP in return, but thought it would be Storen. I think the Fister deal makes sense, as Ray is a decent prospect and we needed a utility guy with Santiago leaving, but I think we could have gotten more. I’ve learned to never question a Dombrowski trade, however (See: Cabrera, Sanchez, getting Fister from Seattle, Scherzer, etc.). That all said, I think this year is a 95 win season. I also think it culminates in a World Series berth. Against Cincinnati. Call it the “Sparky Series.” And a 7th game loss. (I cant go total homer in my call). I’ll post up my full projections for the season just before Opening Day.
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Post by Kenny - Carolina Mud Cats on Mar 10, 2014 14:43:02 GMT -8
Like Chris I am also a die hard fan of the Detroit Tigers. I live in the heart of North Carolina on Tobacco Road, less than an hour of UNC, NCSU and Duke Universities. Everyone always asks how I came to be a Tiger fan being from the south. My dad was in the Air Force and I'll give my age away but in 1968 we were stationed at Eglin AFB in Fort Walton Beach, Fl. I was 8 years old and it was my first year of Little League. The team I was on was the Tigers. In those days Little League teams were made up with 8-12 year olds and I was the only 8 year old on my team so I was relegated to RF. So naturally my favorite player was Jim Northrup. Denny McLain won 30 games that year so he was also a favorite. The Tigers were on the Game Of The Week telecast almost every week that season. So since the team I was on was the Tigers and watching them almost every Saturday and them winning the World Series that year I've been a Tiger fan ever since.
As for this season Chris pretty much summed it up as well as it can be said. World Series or bust. I feel for Mr. I. He's done so much for the city of Detroit if anyone deserves a World Series title it's Mr. I. Like Chris I also like the trade for Kinsler. If Castellanos can be productive that will be great but they really need Austin Jackson to get his act together. Hopefully Verlander will be back to 2012 form and Kate Upton won't wear him out by August. They should have a lock down closer even if he is almost 40. That's something they haven't had in a long time. IF (and I'm reminded what my dad always tells me...IF a frog had wings he wouldn't bump his ass)things fall into place, Ausmus takes control of the team and they stay healthy, the Tigers can play with anyone and should be there come October.
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