Let's get some 2009 baseball conversation going...

[Topnotchsy]

Ehhhh, the offseason is way way too long. What are you thinking about about next season (hobby and sport.)

Here's what I'm looking at:

1) A return to reality from the Rays (hey check out the alliteration there )
2) Verlander returning to form
3) The Mets taking the East (I believe with relative ease.)
4) Lester continuing his development (and his BC Auto hitting $50 easily.)
5) CC or Burnett getting injured or struggling, allowing Joba or Hughes to step in and develop into a solid starter
6) David Price
7) Break-out season for Carl Crawford (might be biased here, but the time off thanks to the injury, and the fact that he's hitting his prime age-wise is an indicator.)
8) A higher batting average for Grady Sizemore (he had his lowest BA for a full season in his career, despite hitting more homers and striking out less, meaning that he likely got fairly unlucky on his BABIP.) This will result in people realizing that he's a legit superstar.
9) Johan Santana will win the NL Cy Young
10) Nick Markakis will continue his development toward stardom

 

[bigpapiMA32]

#6 should be higher.

Red Sox bullpen should be on there as well. And a full year of Ian Kinsler is going to be scary. He flew under the radar last year by missing the last 40 games or so. He was well on his way to MVP.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Ehhhh, the offseason is way way too long. What are you thinking about about next season (hobby and sport.)

Here's what I'm looking at:

1) A return to reality from the Rays (hey check out the alliteration there ) - I see them getting very close to last season's success
2) Verlander returning to form - Most certainly
3) The Mets taking the East (I believe with relative ease.) - Probable
4) Lester continuing his development (and his BC Auto hitting $50 easily.) - He will not get much love, and it won't be explainable
5) CC or Burnett getting injured or struggling, allowing Joba or Hughes to step in and develop into a solid starter - C.C. will not get hurt, but will dominate, Burnett will show that he worth around half of what they paid for him
6) David Price - In between 10-15 wins, ERA over 3.00
7) Break-out season for Carl Crawford (might be biased here, but the time off thanks to the injury, and the fact that he's hitting his prime age-wise is an indicator.) - He has already broke out, faded, broke out and faded again
8) A higher batting average for Grady Sizemore (he had his lowest BA for a full season in his career, despite hitting more homers and striking out less, meaning that he likely got fairly unlucky on his BABIP.) This will result in people realizing that he's a legit superstar. - He will be closer to 40/40/40 than last season, if he gets to that level, I hope they make him a 3rd hitter next season and on
9) Johan Santana will win the NL Cy Young - Probably not
10) Nick Markakis will continue his development toward stardom - Stardom? No... great underrated player, yes.

 

[Mighty Bombjack]

I agree with David Price, I really want to see what he can do.

You can see from my sig that I'm a Rockies fan, so most of my focus is there. I the ESPN story about how the Giants had a shot, largely because they improved this off-season, but also because the division is so god-awful. That got me excited!

I do wanna see about these kids Greg Smith and Carlos Gonzalez in the thin air (which could bode well for the latter and not so much for the former).

Card wise, I've heard that Topps is bringing back the Tribute line soon, with all of the CMG cats. Could be interesting...

 

[MattinglyAlexander]

Dan Uggla as MVP...and the Yankees/Marlins in the Series.

 

[Bornagaincollector]

The Indians will have 1 of the top Bullpens in MLB in 09. :shock:

Rangers will Challenge for 80 Wins. :lol:

Matt Garza wins 17+ Games

And last by not least=Longoria stats for 09:
Games-159
Hits-198
2B-38
3B-4
HR-44
RBI's-128
BA-.310
BB-99
SO-87
RUNS-118

 

[daveyou]

mike pelfrey - i truly believe 16-18 wins for pelfrey in 2009 season.
ichiro - .300+ avg 200+ hits 100+ runs

dave

 

[sportscardtheory]

I agree with David Price, I really want to see what he can do.

You can see from my sig that I'm a Rockies fan, so most of my focus is there. I the ESPN story about how the Giants had a shot, largely because they improved this off-season, but also because the division is so god-awful. That got me excited!

I do wanna see about these kids Greg Smith and Carlos Gonzalez in the thin air (which could bode well for the latter and not so much for the former).

Card wise, I've heard that Topps is bringing back the Tribute line soon, with all of the CMG cats. Could be interesting...

I really think this kid will FLOURISH in Colorado...

 

[sportscardtheory]

mike pelfrey - i truly believe 16-18 wins for pelfrey in 2009 season.
ichiro - .300+ avg 200+ hits 100+ runs

dave

Really going out on a limb?

 

[C-Note92]

David Wright

.325 40 HR's 130 RBI's

NL MVP

 

[daveyou]

mike pelfrey - i truly believe 16-18 wins for pelfrey in 2009 season.
ichiro - .300+ avg 200+ hits 100+ runs

dave

Really going out on a limb?

:lol: :lol:

dave

 

[JEA2880]

A few bold predictions, in no particular order:

1. Huge year for Chris Davis
2. Johan pitches just as well as last season but the Mets don't cost him nearly as many wins... Cy Young and MVP
3. Matt Holliday struggles in Oakland, and C.C. starts off very slow in NY and is thrown under the bus by April 20th
4. Clayton Kershaw dominates while Edinson Volquez struggles
5. King Felix reigns in the AL, gets the Cy Young

 

[azbaseballfan]

1) Matt Wieters & Justin Upton
2) Dbacks staying healthy
3) Yankees not making the playoffs

 

[Therion]

Astros have a winning season but don't make the playoffs.

I'm satisfied because it could be worse, I could be a Pirates fan. (Note: I love the Pirates, but they can't seem to buy a winning season)

 

[flightposite]

Yanks (& ARod) finally win series.

More and more Twins fans start telling everyone how they were the only one that thought it was a great move when they got Carlos Gomez in the deal for Santana.

Ho-hum another all-star year for Mauer, Morneau, & Nathan.

 

[Therion]

Yanks (& ARod) finally win series.

More and more Twins fans start telling everyone how they were the only one that thought it was a great move when they got Carlos Gomez in the deal for Santana.

Ho-hum another all-star year for Mauer, Morneau, & Nathan.

If any team is disqualified from ever saying they will FINALLY win a series, it is the Yankees.

 

[JEA2880]

Astros have a winning season but don't make the playoffs.

I'm satisfied because it could be worse, I could be a Pirates fan. (Note: I love the Pirates, but they can't seem to buy a winning season)

...in fact, they can't seem to buy anything at all! Dare I say they are merely Indian givers? Anyone get it? Anyone? Bueller?

 

[flightposite]

Yanks (& ARod) finally win series.

More and more Twins fans start telling everyone how they were the only one that thought it was a great move when they got Carlos Gomez in the deal for Santana.

Ho-hum another all-star year for Mauer, Morneau, & Nathan.

If any team is disqualified from ever saying they will FINALLY win a series, it is the Yankees.

I disagree. If you spend the amount of money they do on a team and go this long without winning a series, I think you deserve a "finally".

 

[Therion]

Yanks (& ARod) finally win series.

More and more Twins fans start telling everyone how they were the only one that thought it was a great move when they got Carlos Gomez in the deal for Santana.

Ho-hum another all-star year for Mauer, Morneau, & Nathan.

If any team is disqualified from ever saying they will FINALLY win a series, it is the Yankees.

I disagree. If you spend the amount of money they do on a team and go this long without winning a series, I think you deserve a "finally".

They have 26 WS Titles. They'd have to go on an 80-year drought before they could say "finally". I don't care how much they've spent. Boston's $/WS Title is probably way worse than the Yankees.

 

[Craig - 21hawk]

Yanks (& ARod) finally win series.

More and more Twins fans start telling everyone how they were the only one that thought it was a great move when they got Carlos Gomez in the deal for Santana.

Ho-hum another all-star year for Mauer, Morneau, & Nathan.

You know I've been on that Gomez bandwagon since the beginning.

I think Delmon Young busts out this year.

I also am going to go out on a limb and say the Cubs will not win the World Series.

Craig