|
Post by loucapitano on Mar 8, 2013 11:57:09 GMT -5
I was surprised this thread hadn't been resurrected for the 2013 season. So I thought I'd start one. I think this is my first "new thread." Starting with my team, the Yankees, all I can say is "WHAT A MESS!" Everybody, including the GM is injured. Getting Mariano back isn't going to help if we can't even get to the ninth inning. The Eastern American League looks awesome. Lot's of new talent for Toronto, Baltimore and Boston. As I watch the spring exhibition games, now that I babysit my granddaughter all day, I keep saying:"who the hell are these guys?" I probably blow off and panic each spring, but this time, it's for real. A lot of unknown players better step up or it's going to be miserable listening to gloating Met fans all summer. PLAY BALL!!! Lou (nervous Yankee fan)
|
|
|
Post by Paul Sylvain on Mar 12, 2013 20:27:20 GMT -5
Glad you did, Lou. Honestly, I pretty much ignore spring training so the fact I haven't chimed it yet is about par for the course. With split squads and non-roster players getting try-out innings and so on, you don't get a true feel for the team that will actually take the field on Opening Day.
despite last year's tortuous year for the Red Sox, I'd like to hope they might somehow rebound and be in the middle of the fight this year. I think it's possible they could exceed everyone's expectations and be competitive, but whether that's probable is another matter. They're capable of it, for sure, but I'm not convinced that the pitching needs have been addressed. They also have to learn to execute and develop skills in the area of "small ball." If they swing for the fences as they typically do, but fail at basics like sacrifice bunts, hit and runs, and so on, they will not go very far.
We'll see how it goes for the Bosox. The Yanks? Well, they always find away to overcome weaknesses. If the script plays out like it seems to do every year, the Yanks will look and play like crap through April and May, but start to hit their stride in June and roll into the playoffs like a runaway train from July on.
Can Baltimore win it all? Why not. I think the field may be pretty level in the AL East and anyone could take it. It's not the dominating division it once was.
Paul
|
|
|
Post by loucapitano on Mar 16, 2013 15:22:12 GMT -5
Paul, I agree 100%. I think, due to the injuries, the Yanks may have to start playing "small ball" like the Sox. Baltimore looks good, but I'm most fearful of Toronto. I like some of the AAA players I've seen recently. They have one chance to make the roster in place of the injured and they know it. I think we'll get a better flavor of what we have these next two weeks.
Lou (feeling more hopeful)
|
|
|
Post by Allen Wiener on Mar 17, 2013 17:29:11 GMT -5
Also agree 100%, especially re: the AL East decline, although it's still my favorite division to follow. I came away from seeing a spring training with the impression that no one's all that concerned with wins and losses. The teams wanted to put as many players as they could on the field to take a look at them (especially the pitchers) and give them some game time experience and workouts. I think they are a bit more serious now that it's down to the last couple of weeks; pitchers are throwing more innings, etc. All in all, I think the AL East is up for grabs and will be very competitive. I've got my eye on the Os, but not expecting the moon; just another good season and maybe another playoff appearance. Given the past several decades of "nothing," that is plenty for now. The Yanks do look bad, and old, but I never count them out; Paul's probably got it about right; the Yanks will get our hopes up by stinking up April and then slowly become the "real" Yanks.
|
|
|
Post by Paul Sylvain on Mar 18, 2013 19:32:21 GMT -5
I'll be surprised if anybody runs away with it in the AL East. I think it will be fairly even the first couple of months, then I expect certain teams (like the Yanks) will start hitting their stride. It could be very interesting in this division this year, and I'm not counting anybody out ...... yet.
|
|
|
Post by loucapitano on Mar 24, 2013 17:11:55 GMT -5
It's OK to dream, right? My dream is to have Mariano Rivera pitch the last out of his last World Series. I bought my son a shirt for his birthday. It says "#42 Exit the Sandman" But I agree - count nobody out!
|
|
|
Post by Allen Wiener on Mar 24, 2013 17:17:32 GMT -5
What's Rivera's status?
|
|
|
Post by loucapitano on Mar 27, 2013 15:48:47 GMT -5
Allen, as far as I've read, Rivera is healthy and expected to play opening day at home. (Opening at home is something I've never seen the Yankees do. And, the rest of their schedule is kind of strange with sure to be rained out games against Central Division teams in April and May.) Who does these schedules?
|
|
|
Post by Allen Wiener on Mar 27, 2013 19:03:49 GMT -5
Those schedules seem really weird toward the end of the season, when the divisional races are peaking, and I find the Orioles, Yanks, Sox, Rays all wandering around the west coast playing teams they are not directly competing with. That's when they should be playing each other. Last year, as I recall, seemed particularly weird.
Glad Rivera is actually healthy; but I hate that he's coming back! However, he's not of as much value if the Yanks can't get into the 8th and 9th with a lead.
|
|
|
Post by Allen Wiener on Mar 29, 2013 8:58:24 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Paul Sylvain on Mar 29, 2013 13:32:03 GMT -5
I don't see the Sox doing much either, but after 2012, they can only go up. I don't see that they've done much about their pitching, although ejecting Crawford and Dice-K was long overdue. We'll see what happens starting next week when the games actually count.
|
|
|
Post by Allen Wiener on Apr 15, 2013 14:18:08 GMT -5
I realize that it's extremely early days here, but the first dozen or so games have been interesting. And, let's not forget, a game in April counts as much as a game in September. Many teams may be recalling that as the season approaches its end in 5 months. The Nats, thus far, are a real puzzle and disappointment. A team that was supposed to be sterling in pitching has been mediocre at best. The team was totally blown out and even humiliated by the Braves over the weekend. If you are in the Washington area, you would have been overwhelmed by the pre-season hype all over the place, which had these guys automatically going to the World Series before opening day and only questioned how many games they'd win.
I didn't expect the Os to go anywhere this year. While last year was a blast and exceeded expectations by light years, I always feared they were playing a bit over their heads. Nonetheless, and despite losing 2 of 3 in New York over the weekend, the Os are looking pretty good. They played the Yanks tough and were not blown out.
So far, Red Sox fans should be pleased and surprised! Buchholz seems to have really blossomed at just the moment the Sox most need it. If Lester can continue to return to his top form, and the bull pen doesn't melt down, the team could be a factor in the race. Those of us who have followed the team closely for years will see many new faces this year, which may be what the team's needed for a long time; fresh blood and some young, hungry players. Today they edged the Rays 3-2 to complete a sweep of that series. Long way to go, but so far, so good.
I really thought (hoped?) the Yanks would be 0-15 by now, but they are sturdier than I expected. We may never be free of them! However. .
As I began -- it's very early yet. Let's see which teams are keeping momentum and a steady keel in July and August, not letting the winning streaks go to their heads or the slumps get them down. Those are the teams that make it to the playoffs. The Yanks, for example, are an aging team and once the long, very hot days, the endless road trips, the injuries mount up, they may wilt. In any case, this could be a great season with many close races. Nothing wrong with that!
|
|
|
Post by loucapitano on Apr 15, 2013 18:47:41 GMT -5
Ah, Spring in the air! The AL East is so evenly matched, the division might be won with less than 90 wins. I loved this weekend's O's series, especially the triple play...the first I've ever seen live as it happened. I wouldn't bet that A-Rod ever returns. If he does, he'll fight Youk for the job at third. If Jeter returns and Suzuki hits up to average, the Yanks will contend. That's a lot of "ifs." It seems the entire MLB is suffering brittle bone disease with all the freak injuries. As you said, there's gonna be a lot of 500 ball before this season's playoffs. By the way, we have a minor league team the Long Island Ducks and I really enjoythe family atmousphere of the games.
|
|
|
Post by Paul Sylvain on Apr 15, 2013 19:06:38 GMT -5
I love minor league ball. The New Hampshire FisherCats (the Singe-"A" affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays play just 10 minutes from me in Manchester. The Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox affiliate) play here several times a year. Last year I saw Jacoby Ellsbury play up here on a rehab stint with the Sea Dogs. God ball and very affordable. Lowell, Mass (about 20 miles south of me) is home to the Spinners, which is a AA affiliate of the Red Sox. Portland, meanwhile, is about an hour and 45 minutes away. And Boston is only an hour south.
|
|
|
Post by Bill Yowell on Apr 17, 2013 10:42:09 GMT -5
This should really be a new thread, but It seems my brain is on shred and I've forgotten how to start one. My question deals with the inter-league games and the difference in rules between the Nat'l and Amer. leagues. To me, the Amer. League is at a disadvantage when playing in a Nat'l League park and by their rules. AL pitchers never bat except during interleague games in NL parks. , while the temporary NL DH gets far more at bats via pinch hitting and playing in relief of an injured or resting starter. An AL starting pitcher on the losing side of a one run game is often pulled for want of a hit and a man on base, only to be replaced by a relief pitcher who looks like he is pitching batting practice for the opposing team. The game strategy by demand is foreign to AL managers. Another difference in the leagues is the foul pole, or in my opinion the fair pole as I am an AL follower for the most part. Granted, this point rarely effects the outcome of games, but as for me I will go with the fair pole. It appears to me that most of you guys are AL folks too. What are your thoughts on the rule differences. Go Rangers!!!
|
|