DISGUSTABUNK - Sports

MLB Projection: NL West

nospam@example.com (Tony Zale) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:02:32 -0700

Here's one of my last two projections for 09.

NL WEST

Arizona Diamondbacks
Los Angeles Dodgers
San Francisco Giants
Colorado Rockies
San Diego Padres

A lot of people agree that the Dodgers are the team to beat in the NL West, but I think the Diamondbacks are hiding under the radar. Their rotation of Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Doug Davis, Jon Garland, and top prospect Max Scherzer, next to the Giants, is the highlight of the division. What the Giants lack and the Diamondbacks have is a solid 1-8 lineup. The Dodgers may have the best bats in the division, still if anything, Arizona is right behind them. Their pass on signing Adam Dunn lost them big home run totals, but guys like outfielders Chris Young, Connor Jackson, and Justin Upton have the make up of 20 to 30 home runs a piece. In the close games, the D-Backs have as solid a bullpen as they come. One of the tops in the NL. The Dodgers don't have that certainty. What they do have is a fantastic offense. We will see how long Manny lasts during a full season in the outfield. If he falls apart, there's going to be a big hole in that lineup. Following Los Angeles' spot in the standings, most people would throw the Rockies in third. There is way too much uncertainly following their team to figure things out mid-season. Matt Holliday's bat is gone, same with their speedster Willy Taveras. Long-time vet Todd Helton is having health issues and after Troy Tulowitzski's performance last year what can we expect from him? They have no real ace with Jeff Francis on the DL and not one of the remaining starters is atleast a typical 15 game winner. I really do love the Rockies, but they'll pick themselves up next season. The Giants on the other hand have the best rotation in the National League. Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum is the best pitcher in baseball. He's a given for success and a possible 20 game winner. They already have solid pitchers in Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez and even Barry Zito as a number 5 starter. A nice addition for them is Randy Johnson. It is a great mix of starters for an already experienced bullpen. The downside of San Francisco is their offense, but I expect their numbers to pick up. They have a new look infield with a lot of up and coming rookies and Aaron Rowand and Bengie Molina to produce the bulk of the work. Overall, their pitching will drive them to third place. Lastly, the Padres showed their intentions for 2009 during their offseason. They spent it trying to deal their ace, Jake Peavy. San Diego is in rebuilding mode, so I don't see them as competition. Peavy may be gone before the trade deadline, so expect even less wins in their second half. All in all, the West is a good looking division, but full of holes. No team is a clear champion. I will try and get to the AL West as soon as possible.

MLB Projections: NL Central

nospam@example.com (Tony Zale) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:46:21 -0700

Since the MLB season opens tomorrow with the Braves vs. Phillies I won't have enough time to analyze the remaining divisions really in depth, so I'm going to post my predictions and a brief little response for each. I'll try and post the NL West and AL West later today or tomorrow.

NL CENTRAL
Chicago Cubs
Milwaukee Brewers
St. Louis Cardinals
Cincinnati Reds
Houston Astros
Pittsburgh Pirates

Once again, the Central is going to be a relatively weak division. There is a bit of competition between Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Louis, but the Cubs are going to outlast them. They easily have the best rotation and bullpen in the division, with a formidable offense that was upgraded by signing Milton Bradley. The Brewers have the superior offense with the likes of Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, J.J. Hardy, and a still developing well-rounded player in Rickie Weeks (who could be a breakout player), but their pitching has too many holes. Because they lost C.C. and Ben Sheets, they have some rebuilding to do to be playoff worthy. The St. Louis Cardinals could match up with Milwaukee and Chicago on any given day, but as an all-around club, the team has its flaws. A lot of their success is going to depend on Albert Pujols. Cardinals fans have to be expect less of an impact from their newfound 31-year old powerhouse Ryan Ludwick, who took the majors by storm with his career performance in 08. Still, if he puts up decent numbers and if Rick Ankiel and Albert Pujols drive in their share of runs, their production won't be a worry. The pitching, like the Brewers, needs some work. Their top pitchers Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter are injury prone and I doubt they start over 28 games. The three, four, and five starters: Kyle Lohse, Todd Wellemeyer, and Joel Pineiro are solid, but won't lead a team. Same with the bullpen, they have no real dominant set-up man and closer combination. St. Louis has the ability to pull above .500 by years end and they just might. Pieces need to fall in place. As for the Cincinnati Reds, they have a promising look about them. Unlike Milwaukee and St. Louis, their pitching is a difference maker for them. Even if Bronson Arroyo misses time with an injury, their rotation looks like Edinson Volquez, Aaron Harang (a definite comeback player), Micah Owings, Johnny Cueto, and Homer Bailey. That is a staff that has a Tampa Bay look. Unfortunately for them, their offense needs work. The Reds top players are easily Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, but they aren't the type of guys to bring a team into contention. It's too early for that. There are too many other "if's" in their lineup. 2009 will be a step up for Cincinnati, but they'll have to be patient before they can climb to the top. I just want to make a quick mention to Houston and Pittsburgh. Sure, Houston has guys like Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, and Miguel Tejada, but they don't have enough consistent hitters to be a threat. Not to mention, their pitching isn't going to save the lack of runs. This is going to be a team that will lose the close games. Finally, for Pittsburgh, they are still waiting on some of the best prospects in baseball. For now, they are still growing and do not have enough quite the balance they are looking for. Other than Adam LaRoche, they are lacking quality power. Other than Nate McLouth, they are without a plus baserunner. Their pitching is all around just okay. The Central is going to walk all over them. All in all, except for the Astros drop to fifth, the Central is looking quite similar to last year.

BEARS NOT DONE BREAKING NEWS

nospam@example.com (Quotable Legend) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:16:17 -0700

MULTIPLE TIME PROBOWL LT ORLANDO PACE HAS JUST SIGNED A DEAL WITH THE CHICAGO BEARS

BEARS QB KYLE ORTON TRADED!

nospam@example.com (Quotable Legend) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:54:15 -0700

THE CHICAGO BEARS TODAY TRADED KYLE , THIS YRS 1ST AND 3RD ROUND DRAFT PICKS, AND NEXT YRS 1ST RD PICK TO THE DENVER BRONCOS FOR THIS YRS 5TH AND QB JAY CUTLER.

MLB Projections - AL Central

nospam@example.com (Tony Zale) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:01:14 -0700

Part three of my predictions is going to shift back to the AL, focusing on a less predictable division, the Central.

My predictions:
Minnesota Twins
Detroit Tigers
Chicago White Sox
Kansas City Royals
Cleveland Indians

Sorry Sox fans, I don’t think this is going to be your year. The 2009 Central looks like it is going to bode well for the Twins. Minnesota ended last year’s run a single game behind a hot White Sox team and I haven’t seen anything to make me think they can’t win atleast 88 games again. The Twins only made three offseason additions, but each one filled a necessary gap. Two of them filled vacant infield positions: shortstop Nick Punto and third baseman Joe Crede. Another filled a void left by the departing reliever Dennys Reyes, long-reliever Luis Ayala. The Twins are a team that can play any type of baseball. These additions fit right in. Minnesota can steal bases, hit for power, provide solid starting pitching, and highlight an above average bullpen. They are really the only team with an already set rotation: Francisco Liriano, Nick Blackburn, Glen Perkins, Kevin Slowey, and Scott Baker. They aren’t overpowering pitchers (with the exception of Liriano), but they will garner respectable ERA’s. One issue the Twins need to worry about is the injury status of Joe Mauer. Year after year, he plays great baseball. Whether it’s on defense or putting up exceptional offensive numbers, every team would love a Mauer. If he is out for a significant amount of time, Justin Morneau is their guy. Because of him, Minnesota placed third in the AL for runs scored. Players like Denard Span, Alexi Casilla, and Carlos Gomez are going to be a huge part of their game. These are well-rounded athletes who will consistently find their way on base and steal bases. It’s going to depend on their teammates like Delmon Young (who’s had a tremendous spring), Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, and Morneau to drive them in. They have always proved up to the challenge. A guy like Crede isn’t a burden to this lineup. Even as a health risk, he is a better candidate for the spot than any other Twin. He’ll eventually prove to be a helpful commodity. Whether it’s defensively, offensively, on the mound, or on the base paths, this is an all around good club. No surprises here.

I’m sure many people have their doubts towards the Detroit Tigers after their horrid run last season. They had a team built to dominate. On paper, the team looked flawless. We saw what happened though. The pressure tore this club apart. 2009 I think is a different story. They are completely out of spotlight and have no specific expectations. What people are forgetting though is the fact that their lineup is still to be reckoned with. In the offseason, the organization got busy. One of their biggest issues was their bullpen. You don’t need an overwhelmingly strong rotation to be a force in the Central. What you do need is a sound bullpen to take off some of the slack. By adding Brandon Lyons, the Arizona’s formidable closer, the Tigers made a huge step. If flamethrower Joel Zumaya is back in action, the backend up the bullpen will be in order. They already have guys like Fernando Rodney, Bobby Seay, and Juan Rincon, who put up decent numbers. Speaking of their rotation, I am under the belief that Justin Verlander will be lights out. He is bound to get back on the right track and his spring has reflected that. Detroit added starting pitcher Edwin Jackson from the Rays, who is a quality, strikeout pitcher for a number 3 or 4 spot. Nate Robertson and Jeremy Bonderman have yet to really disappointed the club and they will once again hold their own. In terms of offense, this team still has powerhouses like Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez. Both were key factors on their WBC team. Perhaps their greatest asset is Curtis Granderson. He is capable of 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. Granderson, Ordonez, and Cabrera hit around 80 combined round trippers last seasons and drove in about 300 runs. They could do more. Besides those talents, the team still has solid performers in Carlos Guillen, Placido Polanco, and possibly even Gary Sheffield. If those guys meet expectations, Sheffield can have another dismal year and still help the club. There are plenty of young arms and bats to go around in Detroit, so I think in 2009 the Tigers are ready for anything. They may not win a ton of games, but the Central isn’t competitive enough to bring them down. This is definitely an atleast 10 games over .500 team.

It doesn’t seem like a lot of critics are favoring the White Sox in 09. I have to say I’m with them. They exceeded expectations last season with amazing performances by Carlos Quentin, John Danks, and Gavin Floyd. I don’t look at any of these players as flukes, but their chances of putting up the same or better numbers are slim. Quentin, who underwent wrist surgery, is most-likely going to experience a drop in his power numbers, the unfortunate result of those surgeries. In time he’ll regain form, but it’s going to cost the team some games. I mentioned Danks and Floyd because their numbers were spectacular for their history. They are still young guys and are going to experience their fair share of rough outings. Because there is a bit of uncertainty in the Sox’s rotation (Bartolo Colon and Jose Contreras aren’t what they used to be), they are going to have to be the leaders. Sure Buehrle’s still there, but the other veteran in Javier Vazquez is gone now. It’s going to be a different scenario than last season. When it comes to the White Sox bullpen, there is fewer better setup and closer options than Scott Linebrink and Bobby Jenks. Their middle relief isn’t anything to write home about, but neither is the rest of the division’s. Looking at the Sox’s offensive options this year, I think his best bets are going to be Jermaine Dye, A.J. Pierzynski, and Alexei Ramirez. It doesn’t look like Ozzie Guillen will be able to play his small ball approach once again, but he has some legroom. After a disappointing season, Paul Konerko might return to his impressive form, but it’s just another “if.” The same with Jim Thome. You never know what to expect out of him. I doubt this season we’ll see similar home run totals for Chicago, but if they hit for better averages, they could make up for it. I hate to place the Sox in this spot, but nothing is pushing me otherwise. I still think they can be above average.

I really like the new look of the Royals. They have had a pretty damn busy offseason. Offensively, Kansas City needed something extra. By signing Coco Crisp and Mike Jacobs they covered two areas. They now have an experienced leadoff man and a growing home run/RBI machine. The Royals are still a relatively young team, but intertwined in their lineup are seasoned veterans in Jose Guillen, Miguel Olivo, and David DeJesus. Their left fielder and third baseman, Mark Teahan and Alex Gordon, are going to be all-stars, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this year pushed them over the edge. Each of the 9 starters are going to be a great combination of youth and experience. They won’t score tons of runs, but they will definitely going to see some long-term improvements. The shining aspect of their team I believe is their bullpen. They signed an outstanding reliever in Juan Cruz and also inked Kyle Farnsworth. Their closer, Joakim Soria, is already one of the best in baseball. Two more solid arms are lefty specialist Ron Mahay and top prospect Robinson Tejeda (who if I’m correct can throw 100mph). Kansas City definitely has a deep pen to work with. Regarding their rotation, Zack Greinke is the cream of the crop. To their advantage, the Royals signed him long-term and it’ll pay off. Their number 2 guy, Brian Bannister, is still finding his way, but he’ll probably see a hot second half. Also, Gil Meche and Kyle Davies are notable starters who know how to handle their own. I can’t see the Royals reaching over .500 quite yet, but they’ll be something to follow.

I’m going to go ahead and throw Cleveland in last. They finished 81 and 81 last season, dropping off the face of the earth similar to Detroit. Part of their downfall was of course losing C.C. Sabathia, but also terrible years by their stars: Fausto Carmona, Victor Martinez, and Travis Hafner. The injury bug seemed to come their way. This is a team that is coming into 2009 with a handful of flaws. Their biggest offseason moves consisted of signing Kerry Wood, Mark DeRosa, and reliever Joe Smith. The only solid deal out of those three is the depth Joe Smith brings. Kerry Wood is a risky, risky move by the Indians. Not only is he a huge injury risk, but most importantly he has never closed in the American League. Big adjustments need to be made by a guy who generally struggles with mechanics. Secondly, signing Mark DeRosa is a peculiar move. The extent of his success honestly comes from Wrigley Field. The only open position for him on the squad is third base, which he isn’t usually accustomed to playing because of Aramis Ramirez. Defensively and offensively, he might be a drag. In good years for the Indians, their hitting is headlined by Travis Hafner. I think he’ll easily have a better season than last year, but it’ll end up being mediocre. I believe the same for their catcher Victor Martinez, except a bit better. His numbers will end up along the lines of .270AVG, 20 HRs, and 80 RBI’s. Not bad, but not reaching his caliber. Grady Sizemore will probably lead the charge with another solid season, but nobody else will truly spark this offense. Ryan Garko and Ben Francisco, for example, are rising athletes, but nowhere near ready to be a force in any lineup. Cleveland’s pitching is probably its greatest flaw. Only two starters in their rotation are tough opponents: Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona. Lee of course is 2008’s Cy Young award winner. Besides the two of them, Anthony Reyes is their only other clear cut starter who will perform above-average. It is obvious they are concerned about their staff because of specific invites to spring training (guys like Tomo Ohka and Carl Pavano). The back-end of the rotation is going to be batting practice. I will give the Indians one compliment though. They have a good number of middle relievers. Too bad they made a bad choice in a closer. Cleveland is way too risky of a team this year, so that’s that.

MLB Projections - NL East

nospam@example.com (Tony Zale) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:49:55 -0700

Alright, here is part two of my MLB projections for the 2009 season. I’m going to switch over to the National League on this one and analyze a fairly competitive division in the NL East.

My predictions:
New York Mets
Atlanta Braves
Philadelphia Phillies
Florida Marlins
Washington Nationals

As much as I would love for the Braves to return to their number one years, they are still piecing themselves together. Atlanta has the groundwork to be a playoff caliber team, but if they do get themselves in, it will most likely be through the wild card. I originally thought the Braves had the upper hand, but after looking into it a bit more, I think 2009 is the year for the Mets. Most of their woes came from not being able to hold it together down the stretch. Injuries to their offense and to their starters plagued an already weak bullpen. In terms of pitching, you can expect a new look team. They made excellent acquisitions in two dominant relievers, J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez, and also added a solid arm in long reliever Sean Green. The Mets lost very little in those trades. Re-signing Oliver Perez was a smart move on their part, while giving it out relatively cheap contracts to Livan Hernandez and Tim Redding may turn out to be a huge benefit. Both of them could be effective 4th and 5th tier starters. With sure things in their top three starters Johan Santana (who struck out 7 today in 5 innings), Oliver Perez, and in John Maine, the Mets have plenty of options to round out the rest of the rotation. The team didn’t expand their offense over the offseason (with the exception of infielder Alex Cora), but they should yet again look to put up impressive numbers by years’ end. Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran tore up the World Baseball Classic with their presence on team Puerto Rico, but it was their talented teammate David Wright who happened to knock them out with a 2-run, game winning double. Shortstop Jose Reyes looks good and will account for many stolen bases, extra base hits, and runs, runs, runs. There may as well be some surprise performances for New York in Fernando Tatis and Ryan Church. Both are turning heads this spring. If this team lives up to its usual hype, they have the look to be an NL candidate for the World Series.

The Braves are a team hiding under the radar. A lot of commentators are going to take them for granted, but people should keep an eye on them. They filled three rotation spots with big names in Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez, and Japanese hurler Kenshin Kawakami. For Lowe and Vazquez, a bigger ballpark is a huge deal. Lowe, a widely known sinkerballer, is probably going to see some improvements in his ERA. Not only is he working with one of the National League’s best defensive teams, but also he’s in a pitcher’s park. The same will be effective for Vazquez who is a strikeout and fly ball pitcher. Braves’ manager Bobby Cox is most-likely going to tap the talented Jair Jurrjens to pitch in the number 2 spot and has options in Tom Glavine or their number 1 prospect Tommy Hanson for the number 5. Their starting pitching easily tops the division. What lessens them to the Mets is their bullpen. In no way do they have a J.J. Putz or a Francisco Rodriguez, but if their top guys Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano, and Peter Moylan stay healthy, they will be a significant catalyst. Offensively, Atlanta has their hot spots and their cold spots. Last year, their outfield put up some of the least productive numbers in the league. A change in numbers is going to depend a lot on Jeff Francouer. His spring may signal hope, but I am cautiously optimistic. Even if he were to put up minimal production, their latest acquisition, Garrett Anderson, might give them a push they need. The Braves are going to need Chipper Jones and Brian McCann to once again define the club. They have plenty of quality players to back them up: Yunel Escobar, Casey Kotchmann, and Kelly Johnson. You can expect around 15 home runs from each of them (maybe 20 from Kotchmann), borderline .300 averages, and 60-70 RBI’s. Atlanta has a very underrated team that will quietly bite teams in the ass. Their prospects are some of the best in baseball, so some new names will be jumping up. Starting this year, I can see a steady rise back to the Braves’ of the 90’s.

Out of all my predictions for 2009, I have 3 teams that will go from first to third. I think the Phillies are going to fall into that category. On paper, Philadelphia is always going to look like a great team, but the World Champs have an uphill climb this year. Last year, they had the luxury of squaring off with a relatively weak NL East. Things are going to be different this time around. Health may be their biggest flaw. Their ace, Cole Hamels, isn’t expected to be ready in time for April. The month is stacked with games against Atlanta and New York. With Hamels out, a lot of pressure will be placed on an imbalanced rotation. Brett Myers and Joe Blanton are going to be the go to guys. If they aren’t ready to take on that role, the Phils will be off to a rocky start. I expect the bullpen will be busy. Luckily, they have a good one. Brad Lidge (who may have some shoulder trouble) regained his dominant form last season and they have a good arrangement of righties and lefty specialists. If they aren’t swamped, the World Champs will be trading places in the standings all season with the Braves and Mets. Like New York, Philadelphia is a mainly offense-driven club. Unfortunately for them, infielders Pedro Feliz and Chase Utley are coming off surgeries. Some of their production may be limited in the first half, which may cost the team a bit of a dip. On a more positive note, this spring Ryan Howard looks better than he ever has. The Phillies would love for him to put up even better numbers, which would be quite a feat. His teammate and 2008’s MVP Jimmy Rollins has a hot bat for Team USA. Centerfielder and speed-demon Shane Victorino is batting .318 for USA too. One factor that could be a make or break for the Phillies is their left field situation. They lost a solid amount of production in Pat Burrell, but Raul Ibanez has the ability to pick up the slack. His spring has been dismal, but it’s too early to tell for him. Clearly if healthy, the offense is there for the champs. I just don’t see enough pitching there to compete with the Mets and Braves.

The Florida Marlins made an impression last season by placing third in the standings. With their make-up, they are going to be a tough rival in the division for many years to come. They have some of the best young pitching (next to Tampa Bay) in the game. One of their biggest problems is that they have no clear ace. At this point, no one is ready to assume that role. Many of their guys will get the job done, but it is unlikely they will have one guy with 15 or more wins. Ricky Nolasco is probably their best bet for an ace. He is set to pitch in the opener. The rest of the rotation will look something like Josh Johnson, Andrew Miller, Anibal Sanchez, and Chris Volstad. If you’ve followed any of these guys, it’s a pretty impressive group of young arms, but it is a weakness at the same time. Their ages are respectively between 22 and 26. A solid rotation always could use a veteran presence. These guys are going to have to learn how to be a Major Leaguer on the job. They may get off to a slow start and it’ll cost them a good chunk of wins. The upside to the Marlins is an amazing batch of hitters. Hanley Ramirez has to be the best shortstop in the game. The Marlins were smart in locking him up. He’s going to be the clubhouse leader for many years (his contract runs till 2014). It wasn’t no fluke that second-baseman Dan Uggla and third-baseman Jorge Cantu drove in nearly 100 RBI’s with 30 homers each. With their talent, they’re bound to repeat. They loss a bit of production when they traded away Mike Jacobs to bolster their bullpen, but every move comes with a price. I doubt the Marlins are attempting to put a team on the field in the hopes of winning it all. The clubhouse must know how highly unlikely it is. Instead, this is a team investing in the future. Most of their offseason moves emphasize the disposition. They aren’t quite at the level of the Mets, Braves, and Phillies, but I can see them possibly finishing the season over .500 at a solid 4th place. Players to keep an eye on: Jeremy Hermida and Cameron Maybin.

The Nationals were 32 games behind the first place team last season. It would take some extraordinary changes for them to tear into the NL East. This year, they made just the right amount of moves to highlight a new direction for them. Their biggest addition was of course signing the powerhouse Adam Dunn. Even with the low average and strikeouts, people would be surprised how many games a slugger can win a team. He has consistently put up 40 home runs and 100 RBI’s. That is exactly the kind of run production the National’s need. They already have Ryan Zimmerman who is capable of 30 home runs and 100 RBI’s. Pitching isn’t going to drive the Nats, so offense is going to need to be there. Washington has a handful of guys who are capable of getting on, stealing bases, and scoring runs. Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes have a ton of potential. Someone they should even take after is their shortstop Christian Guzman. He is a guy who understands that he isn’t a power hitter. Guzman hits for average and gets on base for the RBI guys. Dunn and Zimmerman will be those guys. I can see a steady amount of run production for the Nationals in 09. It will definitely boost them from around 59 wins to somewhere in the 70-range. Nothing special, but significant progress for a young team. Even with some acquisitions in starters (Daniel Cabrera and Scott Olsen), the team is a little lackluster in pitching. Their prospects still need to be groomed. The bullpen is very young and needs proper experience. Against a strong NL East offense, some of these guys are going to get beat around a bit. The Nationals are going to need to take advantage of teams like the Reds, Pirates, Astros, and Padres. They can easily handle that.

MLB Projections - AL East

nospam@example.com (Tony Zale) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:28:20 -0700

Alright, baseball is getting close. I've decided to do some posts analyzing what I think will be the outcomes of the 2009 season. I know it's a little early seeing as spring training has several weeks left. Yes, cuts and some trades/signings haven't been made, but I'm going for it anyway. I'll do my best working with what I have. I wanted to start with a rather competitive division in the AL East.

My predictions:

New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox
Tampa Bay Rays
Baltimore Orioles
Toronto Blue Jays

Not being a fan of the Yankees, it bothered me putting them at the top. The Tampa Bay Rays took the East by a surprise storm last season and the Red Sox were right on their tail. What pushes me towards New York this year are their new additions: C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira. Their rotation is sturdy in all 5 slots. Four of them, also represented by Chein-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, are double digit winners. Wang has won 19 games two years in a row. C.C. and A.J. consistently top the league in strikeouts. Their rising star Joba Chamberlain is bound to accomplish those feats as a starter. Their rotation has depth in case of injuries in Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, whom can also serve in the bullpen. The Yanks' bullpen is nothing spectacular per say, but is the right mix to get the job done. Damaso Marte, Brian Bruney, and Mariano Rivera are significantly above average relievers. Importantly, they will have a lot of slack because of the rotation, so I expect to see good numbers from them. Beyond their starters, the New York offense will drive the team. The dimensions of their new stadium are staying the same, so there will be plenty of left-handed Mark Teixeira drives. Not to mention he's batting .423 in the Grapefruit League. With A-Rod missing a few weeks of the season, some would think the offense would be a little more depleted. I think they're good. Powerhouse Xavier Nady, who's playing well, is in his contract year. The typical Yanks in Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, and Jorge Posada will be healthy and are all batting over or close to .300. Specifically, pay close attention to Robinson Cano. He's an up and coming David Pedroia. I'm putting my money on him being an all-star this year. Nothing needs to be said about Jeter, he's generally consistent. When A-Rod comes back and with some formidable back-ups in Nick Swisher and Melky Cabrera, the Yankes are the team to beat.

I expect Boston and New York to be neck and neck. When one glances at Boston's lineup, they look unbeatable. Why I don't have them in first is because there are too many "if's" in their lineup. Their rotation I assume will end up being: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Tim Wakefield, and Clay Buchholz or John Smoltz. Looking beside the entire rotation being an injury risk, I've noticed Wakefield has stuck to an ERA above 4.00 since 2002 and Buchholz hasn't lived up to talent in the Majors. Don't get me wrong, I think they have an exceptional looking rotation compared to most, but I have to be critical when comparing it to the revamped Yankee pitching. Josh Beckett and Matsuzaka both appear healthy and strong, but Red Sox success depends on them eating innings and performing well. Their relievers will have absolutely no problem backing them up if they aren't overworked. The Boston bullpen has been raved about for years, but it has always been contingent with starting pitching. If pitching goes awry in the offense-driven AL East, all the offense in the world isn't going to help them. Examining their hitting, you can expect Dustin Pedroia, Jason Bay, and Kevin Youkilis to be sure things. The "ifs" start coming into play again when analyzing further. Who knows what to expect from Big Papi? His spring and presence in the World Baseball Classic has been minimal. Some other questions come up in Mike Lowell, Rocco Balldeli, and J.D. Drew. All of them are stricken with health problems. Lowell is due back soon, but he's always had an up and down career, playing just over 100 games last season. Same of Drew. He surprised many with his stats last year, but even if he's healthy, I don't expect a repeat. Lastly, Rocco has not played 100 games in 5 years. Like I said, too many questions. To their advantage, Boston does have a lot of depth to back them up, but if they aren't tit for tat year round with New York, they've got an uphill climb. Still, I think they have a nudge on Tampa.

I'm sure I'll face a bit of an argument placing the Rays in third, but I'm just skeptical. I absolutely don't think 2008 was a fluke for them. I expect them to be competitive from here on out. My belief is that last year all the pieces for Tampa finally fell into place and they caught fire. The same can be said for the Diamondbacks when they went worst to first in 1998 and '99. They've been fighters ever since. The reason I think they have a disadvantage in '09 is because they are still young. Coming off a great season, they have a world of pressure on their shoulders. They are forced to square off against stronger teams in the Yankees and Red Sox. That's a load of stress on a team without significant veteran leadership. Scott Kazmir and James Shields will again drive the team, followed by a string of growing arms in the 25 year old's Andy Sonnastine and Matt Garza. I don't see their numbers doing so well against the improved East offense, but they'll state a case. The Rays made a solid addition on offense with left fielder Pat Burrell. He is probably a better fit in the AL with the option of DH'ing. If one person tears it up for the team it will be Carlos Pena. His power numbers have always been there, but coming off abdominal surgery, he'll be taking a more contact approach. I can see his 47 homers from last year adjust to reaching the 30 range with a .280-.290 average and more RBI's. There will be plenty of baserunners in B.J. Upton, Carl Crawford, and Jason Bartlett. They all have the capability of hitting .300 who can steal bases like nobody business. Combine that with a rising star in Evan Longoria and the Rays are close behind. 2009 won't be their year but they are going to garner some respect.

I'll make some honorable mentions about the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays. Baltimore may see themselves in the fourth place slot in '09. They've made some positive additions during the offseason, adding: Japanese hurler Koji Uehara, starters Rich Hill, Mark Hendrickson, and Adam Eaton, utility players Ty Wiggington and Ryan Freel, and position players Cezar Itzturis and Felix Pie. Already, the team has a newer look. Their rotation will be an instant upgrade, but their bullpen still could use a lift. Offensively, Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts are going to pave the way. They are no strangers to success. If Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora can also put up similar numbers to last season, the team has a shot of breaking .500 depending on how they perform outside of the AL East. To be frank, the team has a long way to go before they can become significantly competitive. They have no clear direction towards what type of franchise they want to be. I've heard very little about their farm system (save for their star catching prospect who could make an impact this year) and they tend to run away from the difficult, potentially positive trades. Maybe with the signing of Koji, they could be developing new international relations. We shall see. As for '09, Baltimore is stuck towards the bottom.

Last season, the Blue Jays finished 10 games over .500. They won't even break .500 this year. Part of their success was in part of a career year for A.J. Burnett. Another part followed Roy Halladay's success. They will easily lose 10 games because of Burnett's departure. I expect Halladay, if healthy, to win up to 15 games. Repeating 20 once again would be a stretch even for someone with his talent. Again, the division is simply more offensively sound. There was only one other sure pitcher in their rotation, Shaun Marcum, but he is out till 2010. Jesse Litsch and Dustin McGowan are going to need to rapidly progress if they want to break even. The Jays bullpen is in shambles and their offense is nothing to write home about. Alex Rios is their main factor. They lost out on many opportunities to improve on the free agent market, but maybe they'll surprise people with some additions at the trading deadline. Also, many commentators expect Halladay to be on the trading block for the midseason, so that could signal low expectations in Toronto for '09. They are a last place team.

SCUFFLE BETWEEN USA VS NETHERLANDS BRINGS UP THE OLD DISCUSSION: UNWRITTEN RULES IN SPORTS

nospam@example.com (disgustabunk) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:48:49 -0700

Last night, the USA eliminated the Netherlands from the World Baseball Classic 9-3. The USA dominated the entire game, and even started putting in subs in the 7th inning, after it was obvious they had the game well in hand. They even put their starting catcher Kevin Mcann in the outfield, a position he hasn't played since little league. In the 8th inning with he score 8-3, relief pitcher Matt Lidstrom gave up a solo home run to the Netherland's Bryan Engelhardt. I mean this homerun was a bomb down the right field line. Engelhardt proceeded to do a Barry Bonds, Manny impersonation by watching the home run all the way, posing then, doing a little skip as he went around the bases. 3rd baseman David Wright was immediately enraged, jumping off the USA bench. When the next batter came up, Lidstrom threw a fast ball right behind his backside. A common move, and retaliation in this sort of situation according to unwritten baseball rules. If this was a major league game, the ball probably would have been up and in or would of hit him on the backside, not go behind it. The Netherlands bench cleared, and they started jumping up and down, inducing a scuffle. Most of the USA players stayed in the dugout, and not many players even moved from their defensive positions. Rich Sutcliffe, who I respect as a player and a baseball analyst, immediately defended the move as a former player and pitcher, and agreed with most people who understand the game, that the Netherland's Engelhardt was showing up the pitcher, and if it was a pro game, the next guy up would have got beaned. THAT'S BASEBALL! His play by play nerd who obviously never played a sport in his life followed it up by the usual questions "I don't understand this, why hit the next guy? Why throw a ball at the batter and retaliate?"

This brings up the old discussion, UNWRITTEN RULES OF BASEBALL. I try to explain this to people that don't understand the game and they never understand it, so we will revisit the rules. Baseball is an American game invented in the USA. It is a gentleman's game. Traditionally you are supposed to play it hard and with class. It is not a contact sport. The only suitable contact is breaking up a double play cleanly at 2nd base, or plowing the catcher at home on a close play if he decided to be an idiot and block the plate. Tha is all the contact there is or was meant to be. There was even a time 80 years ago, when a pitcher used to routinely pitch inside because is was apart of the game, if he accidently hit a batter, he would tip his hat. If the other team beans your best hitter, you bean there's. If a guy on the other team shows up one of your players or your pitcher especially, you bean one of their players. It's that simple. Eye for an eye, totth for a tooth. There would be no retaliation if there wasn't an initial breaking of the rules. If everyone played the game right with class and dignity like it was intended nobody would ever get beaned or taken out intentionally. Since the Netherlands showed up Lindstrom, Lindstrom threw the ball behind the enxt batter to let him know that they were out of line, and if this was an MLB game he would be on his ass right now.

The same goes for hockey. People that don't understand the game of hockey don't understand the aspect of fighting. They think it is staged, barbaric or unnecessary. Hockey is the most physically taxing sport there is. You ever see alot of cheap shots in hockey? Personal fouls? Cheap injuries? And you ever wonder how you police 200 plus pound guys running into each other with metal razors and wooden sticks? A fist. If you hit or cheap shot one of the better players on the team, a big guy on your team goes and kick's the other big guy's ass on the other team. Everything is fine now. No more retaliation, no more cheap shots, you go on with the game. It is self policing. I wish oursociety was as simple. If there was no fighting in hockey, you would see the same cowardice you see in the NBA and in the NFL. Cheap shots, elbows to the nose, poking of eyes, shots to the groin. NBA and NFL player do this because they are for the most part pussies. They would not dare hit somebody to their face on the streets, because they would get their million dollar pussy asses beat.

So in conclusion, the unwritten rules of sports still applies, stop crying or stop playing.

OKLAHOMA SENIOR SAYS SCHOOL CAN HAVE HER SCHOLARSHIP BACK IF SOONERS DON'T WIN WOMEN'S TITLE

nospam@example.com (disgustabunk) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:49:54 -0700

Star Center Courtney Paris said she is so confident the Sooners will win the women's championship, that she will bet her scholarship on it. Paris holds the NCAA record for most consecutive double doubles 112. I like a college player that is wasting someones opportunity at an education, putting the scholarship they don't deserve on the line. It shows character.

COWBOYS CUT T.O AND ROY WILLIAMS

nospam@example.com (disgustabunk) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:07:52 -0700

Today the Cowboys cut wide receiver Terrell Owens and safety Roy Williams. T.O was cut for obvious reasons. Team chemistry, his desire to be the center of attention, the fact no team can win a Super Bowl with him etc...and Roy Williams just never lived up to his college career. He was a linebacker playing safety his entire career. Even after losing weight last year, he could not cover anybody, he will always jsut be a good hitter. T.O. will cost the boys 9 million against the cap in 09 and Williams will save the boys 2 million.

OAKLAND A'S SIGN ORLANDO CABRERA

nospam@example.com (disgustabunk) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:24:45 -0700

The Oakland A's signed shortstop Orlando Cabrera to a one year deal worth $4 million. The White Sox offered him salary arbitration, so the Oakland A's now must give the White Sox their 2nd round pick plus another supplemental draft pick. For whatever reason, Cabrera is not offered a long term deal once again in his career. Some have sited his attitude and clubhouse personality as why no team has ever offered him a long term deal. There has to be some issue, because it is hard to imagine a 2 time gold glove short stop never getting the pay day a lot lesser players have received at his position.

NFL OFF SEASON ACQUISITIONS

nospam@example.com (disgustabunk) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:17:13 -0700

This week has been peppered with NFL off season acquisitions and signings. It started off with Albert Haynesworth being signed by the Washington Redskins for a whopping 7 year $100 million $41 million up front. This was your typical Redskins signing in the Dan Synder era. Over pay a free agent to make up for bad drafting and team management. This is the largest salary ever given to a defensive tackle, which will set the bar for future defensive tackle free agents. Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris who will be a free agent next year, and in my opinion and statistically, is a better player than Haynesworth, will definitely want equal or more money when his pay day comes.

The Kansas City Chiefs acquired Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel from the New England Patriots for only a 2nd rd pick. This is a bit of a head scratcher to me, because the Patriots just slapped the franchise tag on Cassel a few weeks ago, paying him $14 million for one year, which in my opinion is way too much, then the Chiefs happily take that salary. Matt Cassel IS NOT a starting quarterback in the NFL. H e had a descent year filling in for Tom Brady during his injury, but in my opinion is not worth the money and does not deserve the salary he is given. So what are the Chiefs going to do? Start him next year let him fall on his face then release him? Or will they start him, and he'll go on to have a Pro Bowl year, get a big long term deal and all the skeptics would have to shut their mouths? I would have kept the 2nd rd pick honestly.

The Dallas Cowboys have signed QB Jon Kitna and LB Keith Brooking. I like these signings because they are economical and make sense. Kitna will be a solid backup for Tony Romo and Brooking is a player with a low price tag that will produce in their 3-4 system.

The Denver Broncos signed former 13 year veteran Eagles 35 year old safety Brian Dawkins to a 5 year deal, with a team option after the first two, so it's essentially a 2 year deal. I do not understand the Denver Broncos obsession with signing safetys in the twilight of their career. The John Lynch deal didn't make sense and neither did this one. I think the Eagles could have signed Dawkins and let him finish out his career if they really wanted him. I guess the Broncos are satisfied with filling their safety problem temporarily with an aging veteran. A year from now they will be looking for a safety once again.

More shocking out of Denver, is the speculation that Denver was shopping QB Jay Cutler in an attempt to land Patriots QB Matt Cassel. This was very surprising to me. Jay Cutler has one fo the best arms in the league, he's young, he's mobile, Why would you want to trade him? And for Matt Cassel no less? I don't know why all this g.m's seem to be smitten with Matt Cassel but if you watch games, HE'S NOT A STARTING NFL QUARTERBACK! Jay Cutler for Matt Cassel? Are you serious? Cutler can be on my team any day.

RAMIREZ DECLINES 2 YEAR $45 MILLION DOLLAR DEAL FROM DODGERS

nospam@example.com (disgustabunk) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:49:47 -0700

Manny's agent Scott Boras rejected the Dodgers new deal 1 year $25 million with a player option for year two worth $20 million. This was similar to the deal offered months ago by the Dodgers. Now both sides are starting from scratch, with no deadline or new deal in the foreseeable future. I personally do not think a deal will ever get done, don't hold your breath Dodgers fans.

CHICAGO BULLS LEGEND NORM VAN LIER DEAD AT 61

nospam@example.com (disgustabunk) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:40:38 -0700

Norm Van Lier was found dead in his home just blocks away from the UNITED CENTER yesterday. The cause of his death is still unknown. Van Lier was best known for his fiery defensive play in the 70's and was a 3 time all star. Most young Bulls fans remember his classic pregame and half time coverage during the Jordan and post Jordan era. Van Lier was 61 years old.

GOOD JOB PAXSON

nospam@example.com (Quotable Legend) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:33:41 -0700

Well we got a center (miller) , a new sg who can play def (salmons), got rid of hughes, got a first rd pick from the thunder (for thabo), freed up money for the next couple yrs (expiring contracts, and a guy with career ending injury which will not count for the bulls to pay ), and the guy everyone wanted, but the team didnt want to trade to us is out for the rest of the yr! In the end the team is better off and def, cheaper, and can play up tempo and halfcourt styles...its all about flexibility!