IATTBYB Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 I have no idea what is going to happen this year, but I predict that Leyland will have one or two extra fielding practice sessions with the pitchers. And Kenny will remember to wash his hands after dropping a duece. And I concur with MrRain's comment about CES's prediction. Link to post Share on other sites
Leo Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Dude, it could HAPPEN. Our (I mean ... "their") 5th starter, Maroth or Ledezma, is good enough to be Yankees 3rd starter. Same batting order with Sheff in the middle. Mesa, Zumaya and Jones to close out games.What's not to like? Link to post Share on other sites
Duck-Billed Catechist Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Of course it could happen. Well, except for the Twins part. Link to post Share on other sites
IATTBYB Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Same batting order with Sheff in the middle. This was a great trade on Dombrowski's part Mesa, Zumaya and Jones to close out games. I am still nervous about Jones as the closer? He makes too many games way more exciting than needed, if you know what I mean. Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted February 22, 2007 Author Share Posted February 22, 2007 Don't make me laugh....they have a shot at the wildcard I suppose. LouieB Everyone else in their division got worse, and they got better. That offense is going to put up TONS of runs because they added Also, a rotation of Zambrano, Rich Hill, Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis, and Mark Prior will be a lot better than people think. Rich Hill is going to have a really good year. Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted February 22, 2007 Author Share Posted February 22, 2007 This was a great trade on Dombrowski's partI am still nervous about Jones as the closer? He makes too many games way more exciting than needed, if you know what I mean. If they are smart they won't have Zumaya closing games. Picking up Mesa was a terrible idea, because now they have two mediocre relievers (Jones, Mesa) fighting for the 9th inning spot. Neither of those guys should be used in any situation but the 9th inning with a 3 run lead. Zumaya is just so much better than either of them, but I fear for you guys that he's gonna end up the closer and Jones and Mesa will start giving up runs in the 7th/8th instead of the 9th. And I don't see their starting pitching being as good as it was last year. Just like the White Sox pitching fell off, I think theirs will too. It was too flukey good. Link to post Share on other sites
Leo Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Everyone else in their division got worse, and they got better. That offense is going to put up TONS of runs because they added Also, a rotation of Zambrano, Rich Hill, Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis, and Mark Prior will be a lot better than people think. Rich Hill is going to have a really good year. Zambrano will be great, Hill will be OK, Prior will only tease and Lilly and Marquis will tear your heart out with frustration. Who's going to close? Dempster or Wood? Link to post Share on other sites
Leo Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 If they are smart they won't have Zumaya closing games. Picking up Mesa was a terrible idea, because now they have two mediocre relievers (Jones, Mesa) fighting for the 9th inning spot. Neither of those guys should be used in any situation but the 9th inning with a 3 run lead. Zumaya is just so much better than either of them, but I fear for you guys that he's gonna end up the closer and Jones and Mesa will start giving up runs in the 7th/8th instead of the 9th. And I don't see their starting pitching being as good as it was last year. Just like the White Sox pitching fell off, I think theirs will too. It was too flukey good. Chisox were loaded with tired pitchers who overachieved: Buehrle, Garcia, Contreras and El Duque.Tigers got there with 4 twenty year olds and a "crafty lefty." I think the real value of Mesa will be in the bullpen itself -- showing the young pitchers work ethic and what it takes to stay in the majors for 20 years. Jones scares the hell out of me but he got to the World Series. Link to post Share on other sites
MrRain422 Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Mesa will never be the Tigers closer, nor are they even talking about it. He's, at best, the #4 guy out of the pen. Jones will be the closer (at least to start the season). After him, the job would fall to either Zumaya or Fernando Rodney. Mesa is going to be used for middle relief, and probably not even the primary middle relief guy (which I'm thinking will probably be either Zach Miner or Wil Ledezma). And I am also afraid of Todd Jones as the closer. I'm not entirely sure what to expect out of the starting pitching. Kenny Rogers likely will slip some, but probably not a whole lot. Bonderman should continue to get better -- he may turn into a legit star this year. Robertson could go either way. I'm not expecting much out of Maroth coming off his injury, but if he slips, Ledezma or Miner would be adaquate #5 starters as well. Verlander is the big question mark -- I think he is legitimately as good as he looked last year, but he also threw way more innings last year than he ever had before, so he could get worn out pretty quickly this year. Link to post Share on other sites
Oil Can Boyd Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 What's not to like?Mesa, Zumaya and Jones to close out games. I think you answered your own question ... Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted February 22, 2007 Author Share Posted February 22, 2007 I feel like Verlander is due for a letdown, especially with his extremely average 2nd half last year (4.54 ERA, 1.55 WHIP). Plus there's a big chance he gets hurt. Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Looks like an announcement will be made in a day or so, re: MLB Extra Innings/DirecTV.I'm bummed this thing is going down:http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?opt...1&Itemid=52 Link to post Share on other sites
rareair Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Looks like an announcement will be made in a day or so, re: MLB Extra Innings/DirecTV.I'm bummed this thing is going down:http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?opt...1&Itemid=52 me too. kerry failed me again. Link to post Share on other sites
rareair Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Who's going to close? Dempster or Wood? dempster sucked last year. if he walks 5 guys in the 9th to lose a game a couple of more times, i see him as in trouble. but i think eyre or howry would be more likely closers at this point, and i cannot count on wood or prior in any way. Link to post Share on other sites
parisisstale Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Our (I mean ... "their") 5th starter, Maroth or Ledezma, is good enough to be Yankees 3rd starter. So, which one are those guys better than...Wang, Pettite, or Mussina ??? Link to post Share on other sites
paul137 Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 If they are smart they won't have Zumaya closing games. Picking up Mesa was a terrible idea, because now they have two mediocre relievers (Jones, Mesa) fighting for the 9th inning spot. Neither of those guys should be used in any situation but the 9th inning with a 3 run lead. Zumaya is just so much better than either of them, but I fear for you guys that he's gonna end up the closer and Jones and Mesa will start giving up runs in the 7th/8th instead of the 9th.completely agree with you on this. Jones made me nervous his first go around with the tigers, with that said he is the teams all time saves leader. definitly feel that the al central will be the toughest division, but will go with hometown bias and say the tigers win the division. wildcard clevelandal east yankeesal west angels nl east metsnl central st louisnl west dodgersnl wildcard cubs Link to post Share on other sites
Leo Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 So, which one are those guys better than...Wang, Pettite, or Mussina ??? Er ... uh ... I mean ... you know ... OK, I forgot Pettite sold his soul to go back to the Bronx. I was thinking Randy was the 3rd starter. Link to post Share on other sites
parisisstale Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 That's cool. Very happy that Randy's gone. Top to bottom, though, I'd definitely take your pitching. Link to post Share on other sites
chisoxjtrain Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 AL Central: Chicago White Sox (totally biased, but I think they have a decent shot)AL West: Oakland A'sAL East: NY YankeesAL Wild Card: Detroit Tigers NL Central: St. LouisNL East: NY MetsNL West: San Diego PadresNL Wild Card: Philadelphia Phillies Chicago White Sox defeat the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2007 World Series as far as the Cubs go, i dont know about anyone else but i really do hope their over-spending bites them in the butt. i think it will be fun to watch soriano in cf. Link to post Share on other sites
burns3 Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 me too. kerry failed me again. Extra Innings Deal Has F.C.C. Link to post Share on other sites
bjorn_skurj Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 East: PhilliesUmm, are you high? The Phillies find more ways to self-destruct than a fuckton of Anna Nicole Smiths. Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Umm, are you high? The Phillies find more ways to self-destruct than a fuckton of Anna Nicole Smiths. Haha, I suppose you are right. I may be overreacting, but I think the Phillies made some nice moves this offseason. I like Adam Eaton, and Freddy Garcia might have something left in the tank. Plus I think their two young stud players (Howard and Utley) are as good if not better than Reyes/Wright or Reyes/Beltran. All of that plus the Mets making no moves this offseason have me worried. But, you are right: Ya Gotta Believe. Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied lightning Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 here's why the Reds will be good this year Alex Gonzalez Link to post Share on other sites
rareair Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Extra Innings Deal Has F.C.C. Link to post Share on other sites
Duck-Billed Catechist Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Er ... uh ... I mean ... you know ... OK, I forgot Pettite sold his soul to go back to the Bronx. I was thinking Randy was the 3rd starter.Don't back down. How was Pettite vs. the AL last year? It's possible that Maroth and/or Ledezma could have better seasons. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts