| Ziploc |
With Opening Day around the corner, thought I'd dust-off the topic of baseball by getting your opinions on the team(s) that you think are most-improved for '04.
Since it almost goes without saying that the Yankees are at/near the top of the list, if it would make the thread more interesting, let's just leave the Yankees out of it!!!!
:rolleyes: :2: |
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| Mainer |
| BoSox and Cubbies gotta be in there at the end of the season |
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| Stevie B |
| Look for the Angels in the post-season. They had a great off season, wheeling and dealing, especially with the acquisition of Vladimir Guerrero. Dare I say a repeat of 2002? Go Halos!!! |
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| ramirami |
quote: Originally posted by Mainer
BoSox and Cubbies gotta be in there at the end of the season
I agree....BoSox and Cubbies world series |
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| ramirami |
quote: Originally posted by Ziploc
Since it almost goes without saying that the Yankees are at/near the top of the list,
yankees have no pitching....they WILL make the playoffs but cannot win in the playoffs without pitching |
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| Stevie B |
quote: Originally posted by ramirami
I agree....BoSox and Cubbies world series
Care to make a friendly wager?:D |
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| banningjr |
| Most Improved..tough call. Team finally getting back into the playoffs, Philadelphia Phillies . |
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| mseang |
Balco corporate Softball Team...
:4: |
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| tonyrwc |
| The Cubs in the N.L. and the Yankees in the A.L.. Even without pitching the Yanks should be able to out score their opponents in most of their games. |
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| CNYGuy |
| Tigers over the Expos in 7 games...:jester: |
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| Sunday Rider |
| Go Blue Jays Go. |
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| 4603pba |
| I think the Texas Rangers are most improved even tho they will still come in last place in the majors. |
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| tonyrwc |
| Baltimore comes to mind as well, they should have an awesome year. |
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| Stevie B |
quote: Originally posted by tonyrwc
Baltimore
Baltimore? Sheesh!! |
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| john802 |
I'll go with Angels, Yankees, and Red Sox as the most improved teams for '04 with their off-season acquisition of talented players.
-john |
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| Sunday Rider |
| Okay, I don't want to talk about the Jay's opener against the Tigers, what should have been a walk in the park.:eek: |
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| Ziploc |
quote: Originally posted by tonyrwc
Baltimore comes to mind as well, they should have an awesome year.
Thanks for the mention, tonyrwc[/B]. No doubt, the Orioles improved themselves considerably over the winter with the addition of Javy Lopez, Miguel Tejada, and Rafael Palmeiro, and the re-acquisition of Sidney Ponson, who they had "leased" to SF last year for the stretch run. While I wouldn't dismiss Baltimore with Stevie B's "Sheesh!!", even as a long-time O's fan, I've got to say that other clubs better than the Orioles also got better. In the tough American League East, I don't look for Baltimore to finish better than 4th this year.
I really like the one-two punch the Red Sox have set up with the addition of Curt Schilling to follow Pedro Martinez. New York is New York, though they will definitely miss Clemens and Pettite. I also like the Anaheim Angels an awful lot in the West, and Oakland still looks pretty good.
I'm primarily a Baltimore and American League fan, so I'll leave it to others to comment on NL affairs. |
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| tonyrwc |
quote: Originally posted by Ziploc
Thanks for the mention, tonyrwc. No doubt, the Orioles improved themselves considerably over the winter with the addition of Javy Lopez, Miguel Tejada, and Rafael Palmeiro, and the re-acquisition of Sidney Ponson, who they had "leased" to SF last year for the stretch run. While I wouldn't dismiss Baltimore with Stevie B's "Sheesh!!", even as a long-time O's fan, I've got to say that other clubs better than the Orioles also got better. In the tough American League East, I don't look for Baltimore to finish better than 4th this year.
I really like the one-two punch the Red Sox have set up with the addition of Curt Schilling to follow Pedro Martinez. New York is New York, though they will definitely miss Clemens and Pettite. I also like the Anaheim Angels an awful lot in the West, and Oakland still looks pretty good.
I'm primarily a Baltimore and American League fan, so I'll leave it to others to comment on NL affairs. [/B]
I'm not saying that Baltimore will win the East, I'm only saying that they should be vastly improved over last year, they are in the toughest division in baseball. The Yanks should win again this year even with a mediocre pitching lineup, that offense that they have is second to none and Boston should be the wild card in the A.L.. :4: |
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| CNYGuy |
quote: Originally posted by Sunday Rider
Okay, I don't want to talk about the Jay's opener against the Tigers, what should have been a walk in the park.:eek:
Surprising to say the least. I thought the Blue Jays would be the ones with the brooms in game 3. |
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| Stevie B |
quote: Originally posted by Ziploc
I'm primarily a Baltimore and American League fan, so I'll leave it to others to comment on NL affairs.
I forgot about the off season acquisitions by the Orioles. I'll retract my "Sheesh" and just keep it to myself. I agree that they probably won't finish better than third. I'm still harboring a lot of anger from 1979 when the Angels choked and lost to the Orioles in the League Championship. I'm really glad Pittsburgh won the World Series that year. Anyway, I'll keep my eye on Baltimore and hope for the best for them this season. |
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| tonyrwc |
quote: Originally posted by Stevie B
I forgot about the off season acquisitions by the Orioles. I'll retract my "Sheesh" and just keep it to myself. I agree that they probably won't finish better than third. I'm still harboring a lot of anger from 1979 when the Angels choked and lost to the Orioles in the League Championship. I'm really glad Pittsburgh won the World Series that year. Anyway, I'll keep my eye on Baltimore and hope for the best for them this season.
Well I feel better now that you retracted your "Sheesh", lol, I'm not a Orioles fan, I just think that they should be much improved over last year.
I'm a Giants fan and its hard to get to excited about their chances this year, I dont even recognize half of the team from last year, at least we still have Barry! |
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| Stevie B |
| Yeah, big changes in the clubhouse during the off season. As long as the Giants finish ahead of the Dodgers, life will be fine. |
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| tonyrwc |
quote: Originally posted by Stevie B
Yeah, big changes in the clubhouse during the off season. As long as the Giants finish ahead of the Dodgers, life will be fine.
I could'nt agree with you more, they should finish ahead of the guys in blue! :4: |
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| Ziploc |
quote: Originally posted by Stevie B
I forgot about the off season acquisitions by the Orioles. I'll retract my "Sheesh" and just keep it to myself. I agree that they probably won't finish better than third. I'm still harboring a lot of anger from 1979 when the Angels choked and lost to the Orioles in the League Championship. I'm really glad Pittsburgh won the World Series that year. Anyway, I'll keep my eye on Baltimore and hope for the best for them this season.
Shoot, Stevie B, I'm also still harboring a lot of anger--from the fact Pittsburgh beat that terrific O's team in the '79 Series!!! Talk about choking. My blood pressure still goes up every time I hear that "We Are Family" chorus.
I think the only worse memory for an Orioles fan is the "Amazin' Mets" thing in '69. :mad: |
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| vellinga |
quote: Originally posted by Ziploc
Pittsburgh beat that ... O's team in the '79 Series!!!
Wow, I am neither a Bucs or an O's fan, but that was the first World Series that I watched every game. Memories.
re. Most Improved team
Detroit T I G E R S !
I can finally take my Tigers hat out of retirement this year and wear it proudly...at least for this week.
Cheers. |
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| ramirami |
quote: Originally posted by Ziploc
Thanks for the mention, tonyrwc. No doubt, the Orioles improved themselves considerably [/B]
does'nt look too good for you Orioles....
watch out for the Cubs now...they are getting all the injured players back soon...and with half the line up injusred they are right there....so look out for the healthy cubs....:p |
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| Ziploc |
quote: Originally posted by ramirami
does'nt look too good for you Orioles....
watch out for the Cubs now...they are getting all the injured players back soon...and with half the line up injusred they are right there....so look out for the healthy cubs....:p
Yes, the Cubs look like they're ready to make a move. The second half of the season will be interesting.
Re the O's, when will there ever be joy again around B-more and Camden Yards again? The pitching lined up for this season seemed at best a big gamble--and the major flop that's resulted shouldn't come as a huge surprise to anyone. When your supposed ace--HA!--is Sidney Ponson, you're asking for big trouble. :mad: |
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| Preludetundra |
| The Reds if Griffey can stay healthy. |
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| ramirami |
quote: Originally posted by Preludetundra
The Reds if Griffey can stay healthy.
they dont have any pitching....!!!! |
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| Diesel |
| Yankees all the way...! :2: |
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| jay |
quote: Originally posted by ramirami
does'nt look too good for you Orioles....
watch out for the Cubs now...they are getting all the injured players back soon...and with half the line up injusred they are right there....so look out for the healthy cubs....:p
Where the heck is Tampa Bay when you really need a periennial cellar dweller? |
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| Ziploc |
quote: Originally posted by jay
Where the heck is Tampa Bay when you really need a periennial cellar dweller?
It looks like the Orioles are trying hard to be the nice guys who finish last this year.
(Gulp) I actually remember when this team had FOUR 20-game winners in one season.... :( Now, when I watch a game it feels like :yodaddy: |
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| jay |
quote: Originally posted by Ziploc
It looks like the Orioles are trying hard to be the nice guys who finish last this year.
I actually remember when this team had FOUR 20-game winners in one season.... :(
They may still be in the running for most-improved. It took them three weeks longer than normal to back into last place.:p |
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| jay |
quote: Originally posted by Ziploc
It looks like the Orioles are trying hard to be the nice guys who finish last this year.
(Gulp) I actually remember when this team had FOUR 20-game winners in one season.... :( Now, when I watch a game it feels like :yodaddy:
I'm sure it's salt in the wound too that of the fourteen 500+ homerun hitters at the Allstar Game Homerun Derby, three were current or former O's, the team most represented. :( |
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| Ziploc |
quote: Originally posted by jay
Im sure it's salt in the wound too that of the fourteen 500+ homerun hitters at the Allstar Game Homerun Derby, three were current or former O's, the team most represented. :(
You nailed it.
It was also kind of bittersweet that Miguel Tejada of the current floundering club--a last-minute replacement not known for hitting home runs or hitting with men on base--surprised EVERYBODY by winning this year's Derby and setting the record for most homers in one of these contests. |
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| kemosabe |
quote: Originally posted by jay
I'm sure it's salt in the wound too that of the fourteen 500+ homerun hitters at the Allstar Game Homerun Derby, three were current or former O's, the team most represented. :(
Kind of reminds me of the 2004 NBA champion Detroit Pistons -- four of the players on their championship season roster are former Wizards:
1. Darvin Ham
2. Richard Hamilton
3. Ben Wallace
4. Rasheed Wallace
:) :) :) :) |
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| jay |
quote: Originally posted by kemosabe
Kind of reminds me of the 2004 NBA champion Detroit Pistons -- four of the players on their championship season roster are former Wizards:
1. Darvin Ham
2. Richard Hamilton
3. Ben Wallace
4. Rasheed Wallace
:) :) :) :)
Don't forget those no-account quarterbacks and other ex-Redskins, like Tampa Bay SuperBowl-winning QB Brad Johnson.:rolleyes: |
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| jay |
quote: Originally posted by jay
Don't forget those no-account quarterbacks and other ex-Redskins, like Tampa Bay SuperBowl-winning QB Brad Johnson.:rolleyes:
Of course, we know how to bring superstars to the area and turn them into regular Joe's, like Michael Jordon and Jaromir Jagr.:( |
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