Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
AL EAST CHAMPION (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter boom king
- Start date
Power Monster
The Midnight Stalker
Red Sox the odds on fav... hey what about the Blue Jays?
pillowpants
Footballguy
A healthy Yankees team should win this division by a few games.
The kids have some experience. Damon is healthy and the team really turned things around when he felt better in the 2nd half. Joba in the 8th, Mo in the 9th...it doesn't get much better than that.
I'll miss Torre, but hopefully Girardi will light a fire under this team come October.
The March for 27 begins here!
The kids have some experience. Damon is healthy and the team really turned things around when he felt better in the 2nd half. Joba in the 8th, Mo in the 9th...it doesn't get much better than that.
I'll miss Torre, but hopefully Girardi will light a fire under this team come October.
The March for 27 begins here!
boom king
Footballguy
not much better, but still better: okajima (sp?) and papelbon
pillowpants
Footballguy
MAC_32
Footballguy
Boston 93-69
Yanks 89-73
Jays 82-80
Rays 81-81
O's 100+ losses, worst team in baseball
The more I thought about this division the more I am convinced there's going to be some beating each other up. The Jays' biggest issue last year was health, they stay healthy they're in this until the end. The Rays are my team to take the next step this year, I think they'll be in contention into September as long as their bullpen doesn't spontaneously combust like it did last season. I think the Yanks have the most upside, just depends on how the young pitchers do. This could very well be a 100+ win team if they all produce up to expectations.
Yanks 89-73
Jays 82-80
Rays 81-81
O's 100+ losses, worst team in baseball
The more I thought about this division the more I am convinced there's going to be some beating each other up. The Jays' biggest issue last year was health, they stay healthy they're in this until the end. The Rays are my team to take the next step this year, I think they'll be in contention into September as long as their bullpen doesn't spontaneously combust like it did last season. I think the Yanks have the most upside, just depends on how the young pitchers do. This could very well be a 100+ win team if they all produce up to expectations.
pillowpants
Footballguy
Those Rays are going to be tough to handle over the next decade if their pitching pans out.
shadyridr
Footballguy
Only problem is the plan is to start Joba in the pen but move him into the rotation by July or Aug.
boom king
Footballguy
can we at least still disagree to disagree?
pillowpants
Footballguy
Plans change. If the rotation stays healthy and effective, why would they move him into the rotation?
shadyridr
Footballguy
Cuz they plan on him being a starter for his career. Starters are more important in the grand scheme of things than relievers. He is compared to Justin Verlander in stuff. Why use that only in the 8th inning. And if they make him pitch out of the pen all year then your delaying his development as a starter another year.
shadyridr
Footballguy
The only one with the lower limit of 150 is Joba. And thats why they are using the current plan with him. Hughes & kennedy have an innings limit of about 180-200 each.
MAC_32
Footballguy
You're expecting Hughes to pitch 60-80 more IPs than last season? That's a recipe for injury. I think his IPs top off at 160, if that high. Kennedy, the least talented of the three, could reach the 180-190 zone, but as I said he is the least talented of the three.I think the current plan is to have a DL stint for Hughes and maybe Kennedy too midseason, about the time they want to call up Joba and then re-evaluate from there.
shadyridr
Footballguy
Umm you do realize Hughes was injured most of last year? The year before Hughes pitched 152 innings. Add 30 innings to that (which is the Yankees general rule) and you come up to 180 innings.
Exactly.The kids will be in uncharted waters when they get to 150 IP. Who knows what happens at that point.
shadyridr
Footballguy
Umm see above. Hughes pitched over 150 in 2006. Hardly uncharted waters.
HUGE difference between pitching in AAA to the SP meat grinder known as the AL East
shadyridr
Footballguy
What does that have to do with my point? Apparently his right arm knows what quality players he is pitching to. I am not talking about how Hughes will do his first full season in the majors. Im just talking about his innings limit which is at about 180 innings (30 more than his previous high).
Finless
Footballguy
MAC_32
Footballguy
Well, your previous statement said 180-200, if it had been written 160-180 I wouldn't have written anything as I could see them venturing to that zone even though I think they'll err on the conservative side [they do plan to make the playoffs]. Anything over 180 for Hughes is very dangerous, anything over 180 not counting the playoffs is just stupid.
shadyridr
Footballguy
Umm I said Hughes AND Kennedy are 180-200. Hughes on the 180 side, Kennedy on the 200 side.
pillowpants
Footballguy
Oki = one hit wonder. Papelbon is fragile.
MAC_32
Footballguy
So you're going to have Kennedy increase his IPs by 30+ the year after he increased his IPs by 60+ IPs. Eric Wedge says that's a great idea, I say you're crazy.
DropKick
Footballguy
Joba should be a starter. Mo is old.
Capella
Footballguy
Yes, he's under a new name since he won't pay his debts. Pretty pathetic.So Im assuming pillowpants is thisguypillowpants said:
TAMPA BAY RAYS [ 3 ] ** [13.04%]Speaking of new names....wondering who besides Capella and Knightro picked the Rays hereYes, he's under a new name since he won't pay his debts. Pretty pathetic.So Im assuming pillowpants is thisguypillowpants said:
MAC_32
Footballguy
So what you're saying is I can't rely on Baseball Cube for complete data. Fantastic. Got a source that tracks winter ball pitching too? Still, you have to admit you're being pretty optimistic with your projection for each guy. All of them enduring the peak workload increase with previous peak workload increases behind them? If I knew you I'd bet $ that at least one of these threshholds is not metJoba - 160Hughes - 180Kennedy - 200
shadyridr
Footballguy
I never said theyre all gonna hit those inning #s. I just stated that those are their limits unlike the ones youre stating with erroneous information. And I guess since Baseball Cube doesnt have winter league innings we should just ignore them. I guess the arm endurance doesnt increase with those pitches. I got all my information off nyyfans.com forums. Some pretty informative posters there.
Liquid Tension
Footballguy
Regardless of your side, the Yankees have a big hole in that they simply don't have a lefty in the pen. That is a big match up problem that must be addressed and addressed with a lefty specialist, not just a lefty.can we at least still disagree to disagree?
Liquid Tension
Footballguy
180 Inning pitched is 6 innings per 30 starts. This is fine for the kids. The key is not even the innings, it is throwing 130 pitches in back to back games. Even if one game they did throw 120 pitches, the key is to slow them down the next game. The Yanks without Torre will be better in this area.Just do the opposite of Dusty baker
Yankee23Fan
Fair Tax!
Yankees clinch by Sept 1.
shadyridr
Footballguy
Actually, Torre had a history of coddling his starters and blowing out his bullpen, meanwhile Girardi gained a reputation in 1 year of burning out his starting staff.
Liquid Tension
Footballguy
pillowpants is closer to the truth than you are by saying he is delusional. You could argue either way...especially when you take into account that Oki was not very effective the 2nd half of the year (4.56 ERA) and is 32 and was not considered a very good pitcher when he came over. Maybe teams caught up with him?Finless said:
Last edited by a moderator:
Liquid Tension
Footballguy
I was referring to pitch counts because Torre once said that he doesn't look at them. In general, I would agree though, Torre was much worse at burning out his bulllpen.
shadyridr
Footballguy
what a ####in loserYes, he's under a new name since he won't pay his debts. Pretty pathetic.So Im assuming pillowpants is thisguypillowpants said:
NY/NJMFDIVER
Footballguy
I think the division will come down to Dice K.
If he's adjusted to the game, the schedule, the country, the pressure, the life, and can make a leap not necessarily to the level Beckett did last year, but really take a step forward as a top flight 2 or a 1b type starter, then the Sox will take it.
But if he replicates last year, I like the Yankees this year.
The Yanks have some age, and a hatful of questions, and they'll never get what they got last year out of Posada. However, last year, they also started dreadfully slow, and as whispers become facts, it looks like it was St. Joe's laisse faire camp that contributed to that institutional lethargy. This team definately did reflect the manager, which was good for so long, but probably hurt them with slow starts in recent years. G.I. Joe looks far more committed and enthusistic about conditioning and maybe some more agressive baseball in contrast to the station to station style they've employed so frequently. Abreu and Giambi are both in contract years, and both have at least arrived in shape, we'll see what results play out. The innings caps for the rooks are a big red flag question marks and they'll have to figure out the algebra of the innings, but I think this team will be far closer to the one in the second half of last season then the one in the first half.
The Sox finally got over the regular season hump last year, breaking the Yankee divisional winning streak, and they showed they had championship pedigree by rebounding from their August and September coast job to play like winners in October. They are worthy frontrunners with good reason. That said, we waited a long time for the Yankee dynasty to crack, and we've likewise waited the same stretch for the Sox to fade, I think COULD be on the precipice of that. First the good, Lowell shows no reason or signs of slagging off, Youkillis transitioned nicely from a scrappy, mascotty type hitter to a legit middle of the order producer, and Pedroia and Ellisbury play a brand of ball is a nice lubricant in the middle of a bobbing lineup. And Manny is in a contract year himself, so he could definately be formidable. Beckett took the final step in the fall to real acehood, and is probably the best starter in the AL right now. The bad though. Tek is fading in his 30's behind the dish, Drew is a total albatross and his pricetag basically ensures him a spot in the lineup, and Ortiz just looks like an old 32 to me. He's carried that bulk for a long time and battled knee problems last year. Not that speed has ever been his game and he did crank 50 2bs last year, but I think we've seen the best of him. Last year was the first time I saw the Yankees at least find a way to pitch to him and get him out with any regularity.
Manny was also dinged quite a bit last year himself, and at 36 and greater PED testing, we'll see if players are able to keep extending their prime as they have been in recent years.
Papelbon/Rivera is a wash to me. Papelbon probably more consistiently and situationally dominant, but Rivera slightly more durable. Advantage Age to Papelbon, but don't count out Mo yet. Come August, it may be blind faith, but I think the Yanks will have a better middle relief corps than the sox, based on the young arms in the system. Back end of the rotation, I'll call a push. Beckett is a monster advantage over Wang, so thats where Dice K comes in. If he's able to be a monster advantage over Pettite, who's a year old and dealing with distractions, then the Sox will win the day, but if Dice K is pedestrian, I like the Yanks energy to carry the day come late September.
Rest of the pack,
Jays, who'll keep this a 3 team race until early August if Ryan is healthy and Wells can come back at all.
D-Rays, who at 82-80 crack .500 for the first time.
And the O's, who'll lose 100 games.
If he's adjusted to the game, the schedule, the country, the pressure, the life, and can make a leap not necessarily to the level Beckett did last year, but really take a step forward as a top flight 2 or a 1b type starter, then the Sox will take it.
But if he replicates last year, I like the Yankees this year.
The Yanks have some age, and a hatful of questions, and they'll never get what they got last year out of Posada. However, last year, they also started dreadfully slow, and as whispers become facts, it looks like it was St. Joe's laisse faire camp that contributed to that institutional lethargy. This team definately did reflect the manager, which was good for so long, but probably hurt them with slow starts in recent years. G.I. Joe looks far more committed and enthusistic about conditioning and maybe some more agressive baseball in contrast to the station to station style they've employed so frequently. Abreu and Giambi are both in contract years, and both have at least arrived in shape, we'll see what results play out. The innings caps for the rooks are a big red flag question marks and they'll have to figure out the algebra of the innings, but I think this team will be far closer to the one in the second half of last season then the one in the first half.
The Sox finally got over the regular season hump last year, breaking the Yankee divisional winning streak, and they showed they had championship pedigree by rebounding from their August and September coast job to play like winners in October. They are worthy frontrunners with good reason. That said, we waited a long time for the Yankee dynasty to crack, and we've likewise waited the same stretch for the Sox to fade, I think COULD be on the precipice of that. First the good, Lowell shows no reason or signs of slagging off, Youkillis transitioned nicely from a scrappy, mascotty type hitter to a legit middle of the order producer, and Pedroia and Ellisbury play a brand of ball is a nice lubricant in the middle of a bobbing lineup. And Manny is in a contract year himself, so he could definately be formidable. Beckett took the final step in the fall to real acehood, and is probably the best starter in the AL right now. The bad though. Tek is fading in his 30's behind the dish, Drew is a total albatross and his pricetag basically ensures him a spot in the lineup, and Ortiz just looks like an old 32 to me. He's carried that bulk for a long time and battled knee problems last year. Not that speed has ever been his game and he did crank 50 2bs last year, but I think we've seen the best of him. Last year was the first time I saw the Yankees at least find a way to pitch to him and get him out with any regularity.
Manny was also dinged quite a bit last year himself, and at 36 and greater PED testing, we'll see if players are able to keep extending their prime as they have been in recent years.
Papelbon/Rivera is a wash to me. Papelbon probably more consistiently and situationally dominant, but Rivera slightly more durable. Advantage Age to Papelbon, but don't count out Mo yet. Come August, it may be blind faith, but I think the Yanks will have a better middle relief corps than the sox, based on the young arms in the system. Back end of the rotation, I'll call a push. Beckett is a monster advantage over Wang, so thats where Dice K comes in. If he's able to be a monster advantage over Pettite, who's a year old and dealing with distractions, then the Sox will win the day, but if Dice K is pedestrian, I like the Yanks energy to carry the day come late September.
Rest of the pack,
Jays, who'll keep this a 3 team race until early August if Ryan is healthy and Wells can come back at all.
D-Rays, who at 82-80 crack .500 for the first time.
And the O's, who'll lose 100 games.
Last edited by a moderator:
pillowpants
Footballguy
Who are we talking about?what a ####in loserYes, he's under a new name since he won't pay his debts. Pretty pathetic.So Im assuming pillowpants is thisguy
pollardsvision
Footballguy
just for fun, i'm going to make the case for those Tampa Bay Rays (even though i realize it's completely delusional to think they'd actually win this thing).
1. it's very possible they could have the best pitcher in the division with kazmir (as he was the 2nd half of last season)
2. it's remotely possible that they could have the 2nd best pitcher in the division. (shields)
3. they lost 15 games last year by blowing a 9th inning lead. if percival has a good season, they'll have a strong bullpen and that'll be huge.
4. they changed their unis and now look like a big boy major league team, as opposed to looking like a minor league team
5. the young lineup is incredibly talented and could grow up to provid consistent run support.
6. when baldelli hits the DL, they'll still have gomes and floyd coming off the bench.
they're still a few years away from having a shot, but it's fun to dream. a .500 season is possible and would be huge success this year.
1. it's very possible they could have the best pitcher in the division with kazmir (as he was the 2nd half of last season)
2. it's remotely possible that they could have the 2nd best pitcher in the division. (shields)
3. they lost 15 games last year by blowing a 9th inning lead. if percival has a good season, they'll have a strong bullpen and that'll be huge.
4. they changed their unis and now look like a big boy major league team, as opposed to looking like a minor league team
5. the young lineup is incredibly talented and could grow up to provid consistent run support.
6. when baldelli hits the DL, they'll still have gomes and floyd coming off the bench.
they're still a few years away from having a shot, but it's fun to dream. a .500 season is possible and would be huge success this year.
Road Warriors
Footballguy
Joba >> OkiPap >>>>> Mo
Time has caught up with Rivera. He is no longer automatic. He'll get his, but it will not be with the dominance he's shown in the past. And the Sox own him now.
Given that Paps can give up to 6 outs pretty regularly, and Joba's slotted for the starting rotatation ( although so was Paps last year, so take that fwiw ), I'll take the Sox end of the pen.
T
The Ghost of Common
Guest
Some crazy guys in here who obviously aren't as in touch with baseball as they are making themselves out to be.
Firstly, I never count the Yankees out. Going into last season experts were saying they have the best offense ever assembled. What has changed? Last season, injuries occured and things didnlt come together as well as hoped for the offense. But we are still looking at Arod, Posada, Giambi, Jeter, Cano, Matsui, and Damon.
These guys are one year older, but it is an imposing and powerful lineup nonetheless.
As far as Yankee pitching. I don't have great faith that they will hold up based on last year. I ca see Hughes doing time on the DL again, Mussina and Chien Ming Wang are very hittable, and Rivera is nothing compared to 2 seasons ago. The guy who said that Papelbon and Rivera are a wash is nutty even though he threw in the disclaimer later in the game. Papelbon is dominant and filthy. Rivera is a solid aging guy who has been prone to buckling during high pressure situations over the past 3 seasons now. They are trending in diferent directions, Papelbon has stayed clear above Mariano in all major pitching categories for 2 straight seasons. How can another season with these opposite trends make things a wash? Papelbon was arguable the best closer in all of baseball last year while Rivera was hanging around the tail end of the top 10 at points.
This is far from a wash. That brings me to the Sox.
Same pitching issues as the Yankees in some respects with the young'ns getting their starts and innings. I'm a baseball nut and an Anaheim fan who now lives close to Boston and has to watch almost every Sox game to get my fix. The past 2 years I have seen all but a dozen or two games.
Beckett is clearly the best pitcher in the AL East. After that, this seasn hinges on Dice K to me as well. If its the same Dice K as last season, where does that leave the Sox? A pitcher flirting with a 5 ERA and prone to getting into ruts with his pitch selection. I remember seeing Dice K's starts last year when he was getting shelled 3 outings in a row. It appeared the guy was throwing nothing but fastballs down the middle of the plate. Fastball after fastball right down the middle trying to gett he strike out but at the same time, being very hittable and prone to the long ball. This guys has an arsenal of 5 pitches suposedly but got locked into only one pitch during his low points. He needs to develop his periphrial pitches a bit better.
Wakefield is what most would consider a "scrub" at this point. I guess not most - just me. A great clubhouse guy, and trusty vet, but he's old and breaking down. If he's on the mound and I'm a Sox fan, I don't ever bet on the Sox that night.
Lester has never impress3d me, I go the opposite way of most on him. I just don't see it. I see a 3rd or 4th rotation guy. Mentally tough? Ok sure. Electrifying stuff? No way. I'm just not buying on Lester. I've seen him for 2 seasons now pull out a lot of lucky wins backed by great run support. I've not seen much except lines of 5 and 1/3 innings and 3 ERs. What am I overlooking?
Bucholz I feel can be great but will be heavily limited and kept on the reigns.
I really feel for me to LOCK in the Sox to win the East, they will need to acquire a Joe Blanton type guy and keep Wakefield away from the rotation where possible.
The hitting is going to be there for the Sox but you also have underachievers in Lugo and Drew. No one expect Pedroia and Lowell to mimic what they did in 2007 and most expect a further decline from Varitek. Manny and Ortiz will be solid and I think Ellsbury is a great sparkplug at the top of the order. I see the Yankee lineup being much better than the Red Sox. Pitching will be the swing.
The Blue Jays we hear about every year as ready to bust out and make a pitch for the division title. They have tons of pitching questions after Doc. They are hoping for a Vernon Wells bounce back year. Frank Thomas is breaking down before our eyes. Rolen is a streaky hitter and will be no better than Glaus was last year. I just don't see them stacking up to the Yanks or Sox.
The DRays are certainly an interesting team to watch. I'm not going to give much on them because there are guys here who know much more about the team than I and have already weighed in. Obviously no one expects a repeat performance from Pena, in fact, most feel he will be a bust in comparison. I tend to agree. I'd like to see some more pop out of Crawfords bat. The rest of the hitters are trending in the right direction.
I love the pitching staff. I can see the Rays going over the Jays for third in the division.
The Orioles are a travesty. Their owner is everything that is wrong with certain baseball owners. A complete greedy tool who shouldn't own a baseball team. If I'm Selig I've got a target on Angelos and I'm trying to bumrush him out of the league. The Bedard trade was absolutely awful in my opinion. He was only 29 and has another 4 or 5 years of top notch pitching to go IMO, Angelos is now sending the message that they are not planning on competing for 4 or 5 more years.
Useless owner, useless team. Wait until they trade Roberts as well. I hope Angelos gets run out of baseball at some point he is the epitome of greed and mismanagement to the umpteenth degree. He is epitome of what is wrong with baseball.
I predict:
Yankees 93 wins
Sox 88 Wins
Rays 78 Wins
Jays 75 Wins
O's 65 Wins
Firstly, I never count the Yankees out. Going into last season experts were saying they have the best offense ever assembled. What has changed? Last season, injuries occured and things didnlt come together as well as hoped for the offense. But we are still looking at Arod, Posada, Giambi, Jeter, Cano, Matsui, and Damon.
These guys are one year older, but it is an imposing and powerful lineup nonetheless.
As far as Yankee pitching. I don't have great faith that they will hold up based on last year. I ca see Hughes doing time on the DL again, Mussina and Chien Ming Wang are very hittable, and Rivera is nothing compared to 2 seasons ago. The guy who said that Papelbon and Rivera are a wash is nutty even though he threw in the disclaimer later in the game. Papelbon is dominant and filthy. Rivera is a solid aging guy who has been prone to buckling during high pressure situations over the past 3 seasons now. They are trending in diferent directions, Papelbon has stayed clear above Mariano in all major pitching categories for 2 straight seasons. How can another season with these opposite trends make things a wash? Papelbon was arguable the best closer in all of baseball last year while Rivera was hanging around the tail end of the top 10 at points.
This is far from a wash. That brings me to the Sox.
Same pitching issues as the Yankees in some respects with the young'ns getting their starts and innings. I'm a baseball nut and an Anaheim fan who now lives close to Boston and has to watch almost every Sox game to get my fix. The past 2 years I have seen all but a dozen or two games.
Beckett is clearly the best pitcher in the AL East. After that, this seasn hinges on Dice K to me as well. If its the same Dice K as last season, where does that leave the Sox? A pitcher flirting with a 5 ERA and prone to getting into ruts with his pitch selection. I remember seeing Dice K's starts last year when he was getting shelled 3 outings in a row. It appeared the guy was throwing nothing but fastballs down the middle of the plate. Fastball after fastball right down the middle trying to gett he strike out but at the same time, being very hittable and prone to the long ball. This guys has an arsenal of 5 pitches suposedly but got locked into only one pitch during his low points. He needs to develop his periphrial pitches a bit better.
Wakefield is what most would consider a "scrub" at this point. I guess not most - just me. A great clubhouse guy, and trusty vet, but he's old and breaking down. If he's on the mound and I'm a Sox fan, I don't ever bet on the Sox that night.
Lester has never impress3d me, I go the opposite way of most on him. I just don't see it. I see a 3rd or 4th rotation guy. Mentally tough? Ok sure. Electrifying stuff? No way. I'm just not buying on Lester. I've seen him for 2 seasons now pull out a lot of lucky wins backed by great run support. I've not seen much except lines of 5 and 1/3 innings and 3 ERs. What am I overlooking?
Bucholz I feel can be great but will be heavily limited and kept on the reigns.
I really feel for me to LOCK in the Sox to win the East, they will need to acquire a Joe Blanton type guy and keep Wakefield away from the rotation where possible.
The hitting is going to be there for the Sox but you also have underachievers in Lugo and Drew. No one expect Pedroia and Lowell to mimic what they did in 2007 and most expect a further decline from Varitek. Manny and Ortiz will be solid and I think Ellsbury is a great sparkplug at the top of the order. I see the Yankee lineup being much better than the Red Sox. Pitching will be the swing.
The Blue Jays we hear about every year as ready to bust out and make a pitch for the division title. They have tons of pitching questions after Doc. They are hoping for a Vernon Wells bounce back year. Frank Thomas is breaking down before our eyes. Rolen is a streaky hitter and will be no better than Glaus was last year. I just don't see them stacking up to the Yanks or Sox.
The DRays are certainly an interesting team to watch. I'm not going to give much on them because there are guys here who know much more about the team than I and have already weighed in. Obviously no one expects a repeat performance from Pena, in fact, most feel he will be a bust in comparison. I tend to agree. I'd like to see some more pop out of Crawfords bat. The rest of the hitters are trending in the right direction.
I love the pitching staff. I can see the Rays going over the Jays for third in the division.
The Orioles are a travesty. Their owner is everything that is wrong with certain baseball owners. A complete greedy tool who shouldn't own a baseball team. If I'm Selig I've got a target on Angelos and I'm trying to bumrush him out of the league. The Bedard trade was absolutely awful in my opinion. He was only 29 and has another 4 or 5 years of top notch pitching to go IMO, Angelos is now sending the message that they are not planning on competing for 4 or 5 more years.
Useless owner, useless team. Wait until they trade Roberts as well. I hope Angelos gets run out of baseball at some point he is the epitome of greed and mismanagement to the umpteenth degree. He is epitome of what is wrong with baseball.
I predict:
Yankees 93 wins
Sox 88 Wins
Rays 78 Wins
Jays 75 Wins
O's 65 Wins
A
awesomeness
Guest
The Jays are for real if there pitching can stay healthy.
