I'm glad I'm not the only one a Cleveland fan...though I definately don't follow along like most. I watch a few games here and there. I won four box seats to any game - but I "paid it forward" and gave them away.
The AL East is really intriguing this year. The Red Sox have a great lineup, but that rotation is very weak. Orioles lost a bunch of pieces. Jays look good, but already lost their LF for the first half of the year. Yankees didn't improve much. Rays could be a surprise team. Should be interesting to watch play out. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
- Who's your team? Royals - Has your team improved in the offseason? Hard to say. We lost Shields, who was a veteran leader and good pitcher. We gained a couple question mark veterans that could bounce back from off season and contribute. Our pitching staff should still be strong, our defense is the best in baseball, but we need our offense to take the next step. - What do you expect from them? I think anywhere from 85-90 wins are possible assuming things go their way. Hopefully the playoff run and World Series will boost their confidence and they will play like winners, but other teams will be gunning for them now, something they have never had to deal with in the past. - Predictions for divisions? Hard to say. I'm going to predict second in the division. - Best teams in Baseball? Probably the Nationals - Free agent signings - the good and the bad. - We'll just have to see. The only two players of consequence that we lost were Shields and Butler. The Shields loss could hurt us, but Butler had under performed for the last two season. Hopefully our additions will outweigh the losses. - Who's going to the World Series? Hoping the Royals, but realistically I'd guess the Nationals
This is a good read to get excited for baseball. Jonah Keri is probably my favorite baseball writer. Also, Indians are ranked fifth. http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-30-offseason-mlb-nationals-dodgers-mariners/ Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
I don't bet but I do play daily fantasy baseball. If you haven't tried it out... Give it a shot this year.
If we only had a pro ball team here in ATL... ATL did what they do every off season get rid of good young talent they could build a team on in exchange for veterans who will only have a few more years left to play.. we are getting big new stadium in Cobb County... NO ONE WANTED..
Shelby Miller says hello. I like Heyward but I think the Braves made a good move picking up Miller. The Braves will suck this year but going forward that was a smart trade.
I have a feeling that Miller is going to have a very good year. I could also see Heyward putting it all together as well.
Ya, I have heard of fanduel never did check it out though. I will look into it. Thanks for the info, appreciate it.
- Who's your team? Os - Has your team improved in the offseason? Yes but by lack of moves. Wieters, Machado and Davis will be healthy along with the team from last year. Team is still a work in progress but expect some moves during the season. - What do you expect from them? Division. Possibly a run to the world series depending on how they hold up. - Predictions for divisions? Os, Tigers, Angels, Nationals, Cardinals, Giants - Best teams in Baseball? Nationals, Angels and Mariners are the sleeper team. - Free agent signings - the good and the bad. Bad-- The Red Sox. Gave money to two aging guys that haven't been amazing while their pitching is average at best. Good-- Padres. Signing a bunch of free agents never worked and it won't take them to the playoffs. But... they've been a bad team for awhile and it gives a much needed boost for the fan base. - Who's going to the World Series?! On paper... Nationals and Angels. But I can see the Nationals choking and the Giants returning.
I don't think it's going to be as interesting as some think. -Red Sox pitching staff is too weak and even after trading for Hamels will be weak. -Yanks can't stay healthy, still have an old team and the ARod distraction. -Jays could be okay but they've been pretty consistent with underachieving. -Rays are out of it. Their pitching staff can never stay healthy and they've always had bad offenses. - Os really didn't lose that much production. As much as I love Kakis, his stats are easily replaced. Losing Miller and Cruz will sting a little but they'll be getting Wieters, Machado and Davis back. I am an Os fan so some bias, but I really think it'll be the O's and Red Sox in the top two.
Team is the Cardinals, might actually be headed down to Jupiter in a few weeks, we'll see. The entire team and probably the make up of the division, for several years, changed that night in October when Tavares got behind the wheel and killed himself. It prompted trading our #3 starter and a top starter prospect for a new RF (albeit a very good one). I think with Heyward, the offense and defense improves from last year. 1-8 has an above average bat occupying it, and I feel confident with Walden and Rosenthal in the back end of the pen, with other solid relievers in place. When Heyward and Bourjos are both playing good luck getting a ball down in center or right. Bench is better with a full year from Grichuk, and with Reynolds on the team. The rotation is what will be the undoing of this team if it fails. Waino has the signs of slowing down, and who knows what we get from Wacha. Lackey is old, and Lance Lynn was a stud last year, but can he string it together for another year? Martinez will probably man the 5th spot, but he will have a cap on his innings. Garcia will probably start some and then go on the DL again. They are still the team to beat in the Central, but they have their vulnerabilities. My predictions: AL East Toronto Boston Baltimore New York Tampa Bay With Donaldson and a trio of young arms with Stroman, Norris, and Sanchez, the Jays take it, their 3-4-5 hitters could all blast 35+ over the fence. Boston needs pitching bad. AL Central Chicago Detroit Cleveland Kansas City Minnesota Big additions for the Sox, and the dethrone the Tigers. KC are a fun team, with a killer pen, but are going to miss Shields over the course of 162, with not much offense to rely on. AL West Seattle Los Angeles Oakland Houston Texas Cano/Cruz/Seager leads the offense and Felix/Iwakuma/Paxton/Walker throw the M's to the title. Houston gets out of the cellar. NL East Washington Miami New York Atlanta Philadelphia What else needs says about the Nats? Miami is improved, and may sneak a WC spot with the weak division. NL Central St. Louis Pittsburgh Milwaukee Chicago Cincinnati Cards still have enough to claim it. The Pirates will be strong again, but miss Martin behind the plate. Cubs are close, but not quite yet. Give those prospects some time, and they may plant themselves atop the division for years (Just wait for Addison Russell to show up alongside Baez, Soler, Rizzo, Castro and Bryant), I think Lester and Arrieta form a great 1/2 punch, but not much after them. NL West Los Angeles San Diego San Francisco Arizona Colorado Dodgers pitching is just too much for the improved Padres. Giants taxed MadBum last year, we'll see how he's effected, they also didn't replace Panda. My World Series prediction is Washington vs. Seattle. I think they are 2 best all around teams in each league, with both staffs anchored by excellent starting pitching.
I used to wager here and there on it. Watch the pitching matchups and how they fare against those types of lineups, and there are some good bets to be had over the course of 162 games.
My team? My fantasy teams I suppose I root for the Brewers, but they don't have me very optimistic. Find much more satisfaction in putting together good fantasy teams. I like the moves the Dodgers made. Friedman will be interesting to watch now that he has money. AL East -BOS -TOR -TB -BAL -NYY AL Central -CLE -CWS -DET -KC -MIN AL West -SEA -LAA -OAK -HOU -TEX NL East -WAS -MIA -NYM -ATL -PHI NL Central (Think this is the most up-in-the-air division in the majors) -STL -PIT -CIN -CHC -MIL NL West -LAD -SD -SF -ARI -COL
I like seeing other O's fans on here. I agree with your opinions as well. The losses of Markakis and Cruz won't have quite the same impact as many people think. For a RF Markakis didn't have a stud bat (even though I'm a fan of him). Miller is the biggest loss and I'm anxious to see the moves throughout the season. The Nats will be a fun team to watch. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I like the O's, but to say you're not going to miss Cruz and Markakis that much is insane to me. I just can't feel comfortable relying on Machado's health, and Davis returning to form. His 2013 season just screamed regression with an inflated ISO. That shift killed him last year, so hopefully he learns to go the other way. I'd hope for .240 with 30 bombs out of him. Wieters is solid behind the dish, but I always feel like he gets overvalued a lot from us outsiders for his prospect hype coming into the league. He has modest power, but he's not going to hit for average. I like Showalter, Jones is one of my favorite players to watch, and dang it, make them call up Bundy this year!!! I'll be rooting for ya guys to at least slide into a WC spot.
Renewal e-mails sent to last years members for 2015 fantasy baseball. See how many come back and then fill it up with some fresh blood if we need to.
