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Wino you know wrote:Congratulations to Mr. Derek Jeter-one hell of a ballplayer, a classy guy and a credit to the game. He makes me proud to be a baseball fan.

At exactly 2 p.m., with Jeter expecting fastball, with the crowd in high pitch, with reporters in the press box trying to get every detail scribbled down, David Price threw a 78 mph curveball that hung over home plate the way the sun hangs over Key West. And Derek Jeter did the last thing anybody expected — anybody including himself. He turned on it. He crushed it. As Jeter broke out of the box, he did not know if it would clear the fence. But he did know that nobody was going to catch it.

The ball went over the fence.

CaptainP wrote:
AL EAST
1. Red Sox Yep. I'm on the bandwagon. They made the right moves, even if bringing in guys like AGone and Crawford for big $$$ makes them smell kinda Yankee-ish. They have the most talent in the most talented division.
2. Yankees But the Yanks are still the Yanks. An offense built for New Yankee Stadium will offset a below-mediocre rotation, and I predict this is the year Mariano becomes human. But the offense will be fine, and help them to a distant second place.
3. Rays I still love my Rays, but I don't like their off-season. Revamped bullpen is scary. Manny & Damon were cheap for a reason. There is still a TON of young talent here, but don't be looking for veteran leadership from Manny Ramirez. They need some time to grow up again...B.J. Upton as your team leader can be an explosive situation.
4. Orioles I'm not one of those guys picking the Orioles to improve because of Buck Showalter....but he sure doesn't hurt. I'm picking them because they are talented enough to finish 2nd or even 1st in a lesser division.
5. Blue Jays Sorry, Toronto. Someone has to finish last. There is talent here, but not in this division...

CaptainP wrote: AL CENTRAL
1. White Sox Like them just a bit more than the Twins at this point. Positive additions and positive subtractions in the off-season. This team is solid in most areas now...despite the head-case Managing them. Chris Sale is the real deal. Alexsei Ramirez is ready to take a big leap forward. We'll see how third base works out, but this team is good.
2. Twins The Twins are always in the mix. Just a few too many guys on this roster that feel like AAAA players. They're guys that produce, but I'd love to see a couple more All-Star types. Granted, this is usually the case with the Twins, and they usually find a way to win. I'm still putting them down for second.
3. Tigers This team has talent, but every time I look at them, I wonder what direction they are trying to go. They feel like a team that was thrown together, not molded. Just can't get confident in them.
4. Royals Close. So close. NEXT year, I'll likely pick them near the top of the division. 2013, they could win it all....their minors are THAT good...and THAT close. But not yet.
5. Indians A shame to see a young talent like Carlos Santana go to waste in this pile of junk. Of course, I said something similar about the Padres last year....so who knows?

CaptainP wrote: AL WEST
1. A's I think this might be the year that they pull it together. I'm going out on a limb, but if MoneyBall gives you anything, it's a team that doesn't beat itself very often. They could be very good....and I'm putting myself on the line saying that they will be.
2. Rangers Last year's AL Champs still have a lot of talent. There are a few gaps in the lineup, though. And I don't trust a pitching staff that had that many Career performances in one year. Some are bound to fall back.
3. Angels Scoscia is still a great manager. But I don't see as much talent as in the past. The rotation is 3, maybe 4 deep. But the bullpen only has 2 guys who had an ERA under 4.00 last year, and one of those is hurt. The lineup is full of guys like Alberto Callaspo, Erick Aybar, and Peter Bourgeous. The vets that they do have are all dinged up already. Might be time to start from scratch.
4. Mariners I like Jack Z. a lot as a GM. But his tinkering is not working here. Other than King Felix and Ichiro, I don't see one guy that makes me really excited (maybe Justin Smoak, but he's too young).

CaptainP wrote:
NL EAST
1. Phillies Despite their spring injuries, this is a REALLY good team. They'll get old fast, but I don't think this is the year. Their window is closing soon....but they have another run in them. What a rotation!!!!
2. Braves They've quietly built themselves back into a contender. Rotation is nearly as good as Philly's, but the lineup is still not quite there. Nate McLouth is starting to look like a bust, but he's surrounded by talent. Chipper came back for a reason, though. He's past his prime, but surrounded by a developing lineup.
3. Marlins Like the Braves, a talented team with a couple of holes. Close, and in another division, they could win. Is there a team in this division without a potentially very good rotation?
4. Nationals Yes. Any team with a rotation anchored by the 2011 version of Livan Hernandez is in trouble. Just biding their time until the Strassburg era resumes, and Bryce Harper arrives. The lineup is good, and they will win some games.
5. Mess No, I didn't spell that wrong. Not much to like.

CaptainP wrote:
NL CENTRAL
1. Brewers This might finally be the year. I've said it before, but I believe they made the RIGHT moves in the offseason. Greinke gives them a proven ace, Marcum gives them a solid #3. Gallardo is relieved of the pressure of being an ace, and can work on developing (was made the #1 starter at age of 22, wasn't ready). Nice rotation with 3 righties, 2 lefties. Bullpen still has question marks, but it's better than last year's version. The offense will only improve with a new, more aggressive Joe Maddon clone Managing them.
2. Reds Honestly, I believe the Reds are going to take a step or two backwards....too many overachievers last year. I don't love the pitching the way so many people do. But there is talent, no doubt. Call it a gut feeling. I still have them in 2nd because of the talent, but I could see them in 4th place, too.
3. Cardinals Everyone wrote this team off when Adam Wainwright went down. It hurt, no doubt, but there's still a couple of pretty good players wearing the Cardinal uniform. I nearly gave them second place.
4. Cubs I could also see the Cubs surge up to second place. I think it'll be a competitive division. Look for a bounceback from Aramis Ramirez. Look for Carlos Pena to love Wrigley. Look for Soriano to be happy for a change. The problem with the Cubs? Too many head-case-pitchers-named-Carlos. Carlos Marmol has a great arm, but walks more guys than any closer in baseball. Carlos Silva got into a fight-WITH A TEAMMATE-in their SECOND pre-season game! And then there is Carlos Zambrano....he's as close to getting jail time for assault during a game as he is to winning 10 games. At least they'll be interesting to watch. RIP Ron Santo.
5. Astros I have a friend dating a member of the Astros....but that doesn't make me a fan. This team is LOADED with mediocrity.
6. Pirates I put them in last because, well, they're the Pirates. Need I say more? I plan on picking them for last until they prove me wrong.

CaptainP wrote: NL WEST
1. Giants Honestly, I don't really like any of these teams. I went with the Giants because of the pitching, no other reason. I find the lineup ordinary. But Lincecum, Cain, Bumgarner, and the bullpen are fantastic, and no reason they can't continue to be.
2. Rockies Two MVP candidates, and a potential Cy Young candidate. But I don't love much beyond CarGo, Tulo, and Ubaldo. We'll see.
3. Dodgers Maybe the most talent in the division, but until the McCourt situation is settled, I can't buy in. Sometimes off-field issues affect a team.
4. Padres Last year's overachievers faded badly late, and I think that was true colors. The lineup is interesting....I could see them being decent, but more likely I can see this group hitting a collective .245. The rotation might not be as good as people think. Periphery numbers tell me that beyond Latos (and maybe Stauffer), they will struggle.
5. Diamondbacks Another team that feels "thrown-together", not built. I just can't buy them as a winner.

CaptainP wrote:AL CENTRAL

CaptainP wrote: AL CENTRAL
1. White Sox Like them just a bit more than the Twins at this point. Positive additions and positive subtractions in the off-season. This team is solid in most areas now...despite the head-case Managing them. Chris Sale is the real deal. Alexsei Ramirez is ready to take a big leap forward. We'll see how third base works out, but this team is good.
2. Twins The Twins are always in the mix. Just a few too many guys on this roster that feel like AAAA players. They're guys that produce, but I'd love to see a couple more All-Star types. Granted, this is usually the case with the Twins, and they usually find a way to win. I'm still putting them down for second.
3. Tigers This team has talent, but every time I look at them, I wonder what direction they are trying to go. They feel like a team that was thrown together, not molded. Just can't get confident in them.
4. Royals Close. So close. NEXT year, I'll likely pick them near the top of the division. 2013, they could win it all....their minors are THAT good...and THAT close. But not yet.
5. Indians A shame to see a young talent like Carlos Santana go to waste in this pile of junk. Of course, I said something similar about the Padres last year....so who knows?

Real standings;

1. Tigers
2. Indians
3. White Sox
4. Twins
5. Royals

Didn't get much right here at all...The Indians were the biggest surprise in the AL in the first half (but I still think they'll fade badly.) The White Sox were disappointing, but are hanging close. The Tigers, better than I thought, Verlander is amazing. Royals are the Royals, but the future is bright. Nobody saw the Twins collapse, did they??

CaptainP wrote:Turns out, I forgot to make pre-season awards predictions.


So instead, here's the mid-season awards:

NL MVP: Prince Fielder. Call it a homer pick, but he's been amazing. He beats out Matt Kemp, Jose Reyes, and Ryan Braun.
AL MVP: Adrian Gonzalez I don't think there is another player in either league that is close right now...great defense, leads the league in BA and RBI (by a lot). Jose Bautista is 2nd.
NL Cy Young: Jair Jurrjens. Despite the goofy name, he's been the best pitcher in the league so far.
AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander. Plenty of good candidates, but Verlander has taken the lead with his recent surge (and by recent, I mean since May 7)....for the year, he has a 0.86 WHIP. Yes, you read that right. He has a 2.26 ERA, but since May, it's 1.56. Tied for the league lead in Wins, has a No-Hitter, and almost another.
NL Manager of the Year: Jack McKeon....how can you not give it to a guy who just turned 136? Just kidding, this goes to Clint Hurdle, hands down.
AL Manager of the Year: Manny Acta. This award usually goes to the manager of the biggest "surprise" team. This year, no different.

C-Dawg wrote:

Wino you know wrote:Congratulations to Mr. Derek Jeter-one hell of a ballplayer, a classy guy and a credit to the game. He makes me proud to be a baseball fan.

Garry, fixed I for ya so everyone who follows MLB can agree with your sentiments....even us Red Sox fans......Jeter is a class act, regardless who he plays for

CaptainP wrote:The Milwaukee Brewers have just acquired K-Rod, Francisco Rodriguez, from the New York Mets.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/07/b ... iguez.html

fabduo wrote:

CaptainP wrote:The Milwaukee Brewers have just acquired K-Rod, Francisco Rodriguez, from the New York Mets.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/07/b ... iguez.html

And as a Mets fan -They can have him!!!!!