Baseball 2006 Any Predictions?

Just wondering if any Floydian's are gearing up for the Opening day festivities in Ballparks around the USA and Canada? Here in Philly we all are takin' a wait and see attitude because of recent shortcomings in the past few seasons for our Phil's. The Phil's have a few bright spots in Ryan Howard the NL rookie of the Year of last year, and Chase Utley the slugging 2nd baseman and Jimmy Rollins who ended last year with a 36 game hittin' streak. Also we got a great new centerfielder in Aaron Rowland. But pitchin' might sink the Phil's chances as we lost Billy Wagner to division rival Met's. Well I'll still pick my Phil's to finally unseat the Braves at the top of the NL east because I think they lost some talent this offseason. Play Ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Jays will lose again... hard

I don't know Botley, The Blue Jays made some very nice additions this offseason and with the Yanks and Red Sox both looking somewhat vulnerable they may be able to sneak up on some people.

I like the Oakland A's for the WS this year. They should win the west this year and they have arguably the best pitching staff in baseball. Harden, Zito, Haren, Blanton, Loaiza. The offense should be improved this year too with young guys like Swisher and Johnson having gotten a year under their belts and Milton Bradley and Frank Thomas coming in. Also Huston Street is quickly becoming one of the best closers in baseball.

Hey Dwyer you guys also have a masher and a very underrated player in Ryan Howard. That guy could hit 40 homeruns this year.

Go BRAVES!!!

The Rockies are bravely announcing a turn-around season this year, but will once again succumb to the rigors of Coors Field, their pitching rotation slowly beaten down. I've come to concede that they never will be a contender until baseball adapts a "Coors Field Rule", which allows the defense to field a fourth (designated) outfielder (who would not be in the batting order). However, the "Coors Field Rule" is my own invention, so it will never happen.

The Rockies will be hopelessly out of it by All star break.

Todd Helton continues to be a potential hall-of-famer mired in a hopeless cause.

Am I bitter? Goddam rights I'm bitter!

I live near Baltimore...I can relate to disappointment, frustration etc.

Well Mark, I'm a Mets fan, so we've got us a bit of a rivalry here. I think the NL east is going to be another great division like it was last year, and I think this year will be the year the Braves are dethroned whether it be by the Mets, Phillies, or even the Nationals. I saw all 5 teams play in Spring Training, and they've all got great stuff, even the Marlins who had to shell out 90% of their big-namers. Ryan Howard is gonna definately be a player to watch, and the Mets recently added rookie Brian Bannister to the no. 5 slot in the rotation. I personally hope/think that the Mets will take it this year, but I think the Phillies are gonna be right there, too. Either way, it's gonna be an exciting year.

Red Sox all the way...watch out for St. Louis tho, Pujols is a monster.

Yankees, well they got Damon but lately every good star that ends up in NY burns away after a few seasons...

Well, obviously I am gonna say Philly wins the East, but in reality, it's not gonna happen.

Yeah it wasn't pretty at the Money Pit today as the Phil's pitchin' gave up 13 runs in the home opener en-route to a 13-5 loss at the hands of the Cards. At least Ryan Howard hit a HR and Jimmy Rollins kept the hit streak going at 37 games but not much went right for the pitchin' staff as the ace Jon Lieber got chased in the 8 run 4th. O well I didn't think they would win 162 games anyway. Maybe they should move leftfield back a few more feet or get some pitchin'.

Mets won their opener. Xavier Nady had a great game going 4-4. And Glavine, Heilman, and Wagner all pitched well. Tomorrow is the debut for Bannister, I wonder how that's going to go.

Well, every year I hear this about the Braves. How, they're done. Im sick and tired of it. Until SOME other team actually unseats the Braves...who are you to say this year they will not win. Look, 15 straight division titles...and not all of them came when we had great teams. They've earned the respect to not be bashed every preseason...yet they continue to be bashed. Every year they start about 0-10, and its the "end of the Braves". Then summer comes and its the same old story (dominance). Look, I know the Phillies and the Mets both have quality teams...but lets see them beat the Braves head to head in a series. I just never happens.

Now, if we here in Atlanta could just figure out how to win a playoff game

What a surprise. Rox pull out a 3-2 win in the bottom of the 11th to win their home opener over the D-backs.
The biggest surprise is only 5 runs scored. Usually it's about 20 total runs in a game lasting 5 hours. No wonder pitchers get worn out here.

Of course I'm going to say the Phils will do it this year... here's hoping.