Baseball Prediction Thread

[sooner333]

It's the start of the baseball season, why not a prediction thread so we can see how stupid we all were at the end of the season.

AL East
Yankees
Red Sox * Wildcard
Orioles
Blue Jays
Devil Rays

AL Central
Royals
Tigers
White Sox
Twins
Indians

AL West
Athletics
Angels
Mariners
Rangers

NL East
Phillies
Marlins
Braves
Expos
Mets

NL Central
Astros
Cubs * Wildcard
Cardinals
Reds
Pirates
Brewers

NL West
Giants
Padres
Dodgers
Diamondbacks
Rockies

Playoffs
Yankees defeat Royals (3-0)
Athletics defeat Red Sox (3-2)

Astros defeat Giants (3-1)
Cubs defeat Phillies (3-2)

LCS
Athletics defeat Yankees (4-3)
Astros defeat Cubs (4-2)

World Series
Athletics defeat Astros (4-2)

[sterlingice]

Awesome! I completely forgot. I was going to make this thread a couple of days ago but had to get going and forgot about it when I came back. Picks forthcoming.

SI

[Carligula]

AL East:
Red Sox
Yankees (WC)
Blue Jays
Orioles
Devil Rays

AL Central:
Twins
Royals
Indians
White Sox
Tigers

AL West:
Athletics
Angels
Mariners
Rangers

NL East:
Braves
Marlins
Phillies
Expos
Mets

NL Central:
Astros
Cardinals (WC)
Cubs
Reds
Brewers
Pirates

NL West:
Giants
Dodgers
Diamondbacks
Padres
Rockies

No point in picking playoff winners IMO.

[clintl]

I hope you're right about the Giants, but I'm not very confident right now. They are definitely not as good a team as they were last year.

[Ryche]

AL East:
Yankees
Red Sox (WC)
Orioles
Blue Jays
Devil Rays

AL Central:
Twins
Royals
Indians
Tigers
White Sox

AL West:
Angels
Seattle
Oakland
Texas

NL East:
Phillies
Braves
Marlins
Mets
Expos

NL Central:
Cubs
Astros (WC)
Cardinals
Brewers
Pirates
Reds

NL West:
Giants
Diamondbacks
Rockies
Dodgers
Padres

Cubs over Red Sox in World Series

[Chief Rum]

AL East

Red Sox
Yankees (WC)
Orioles
Bluejays
Devil Rays

AL Central

Twins
Royals
White Sox
Indians
Tigers

AL West

Angels
A's
Mariners
Rangers

NL East

Phillies
Marlins
Braves
Mets
Expos

NL Central

Astros
Cubs (WC)
Cardinals
Reds
Pirates
Brewers

NL West

Diamondbacks
Dodgers
Giants
Padres
Rockies

Angels over Yankees
Red Sox over Twins
Cubs over Phillies
Diamondbacks over Astros

Red Sox over Angels
Diamondbacks over Cubs

Red Sox over Diamondbacks

CR

[sterlingice]

Red Sox
Yankees (WC)
Blue Jays
Orioles
Devil Rays

Royals
Twins
Indians
White Sox
Tigers

A's
Mariners
Angels
Rangers

Phillies
Braves
Expos
Marlins
Mets

Astros
Cubs (WC)
Cards
Reds
Pirates
Brewers

Padres
Giants
Dodgers
DBacks
Rockies

MVP: Beltran, Thome
CY: Vazquez, Peavy
ROY: Mauer, Greene

I gotta agree that the playoffs are too much of a crapshoot to predict. But, hm... let's say Boston over Houston.

SI

[RPI-Fan]

As an Astros fan, I'm really worried this season. St. Louis is every bit as good as us and the Cubs, yet they don't get any pub. I think it's pretty much a crapshoot as to which two teams out of us three make the playoffs.

[Aesyrqwe]

AL East:
Red Sox
Orioles *Wild Card
Yankees Yes. I picked them to be third this year. too many superstars is not good IMO
Blue Jays
Devil Rays

AL Central:
White Sox
Twins
Kansas City
Cleveland
Detroit

AL West:
A's
Mariners
Angels
Rangers

NL East:
Braves
Phillies
Marlins
Expos
Mets

NL Central:
Astros
Cards
Cubs
Reds
Brewers
Pirates

NL West:
Dodgers
Giants * Wild Card
Dbacks
Rockies
Padres

-Aes-

[Chief Rum]

As an Astros fan, I'm really worried this season. St. Louis is every bit as good as us and the Cubs, yet they don't get any pub. I think it's pretty much a crapshoot as to which two teams out of us three make the playoffs.

I think the NL Central is as tough to call as the western divisions. The talent differences among the top three teams in the NL Central and AL West is miniscule, asit is in the NL West for all five teams (but more because they are all mediocre :) ).

CR

[Cuckoo]

I think the NL Central is as tough to call as the western divisions. The talent differences among the top three teams in the NL Central and AL West is miniscule, asit is in the NL West for all five teams (but more because they are all mediocre :) ).

CR

Disagree. The Cardinals aren't anywhere close to the Astros and the Cubs in my opinion. Pitching, pitching, pitching...

[JonInMiddleGA]

AL East:
Yankees
Red Sox * WC
Orioles
Blue Jays
Devil Rays

AL Central:
Twins
Royals
White Sox
Detroit
Cleveland

AL West:
Angels
A's
Mariners
Rangers

NL East:
Marlins
Braves *WC*
Phillies
Expos
Mets

NL Central:
Astros
Cards
Cubs
Brewers
Reds
Pirates

NL West:
Dbacks
Giants
Dodgers
Padres
Rockies

ALDS
Yankees over Angels
Red Sox over Twins
ALCS
Red Sox over Yankees

NLDS
Astros over Braves
Marlins over Dbacks
NLCS
Astros over Marlins

WS
Astros over Red Sox

[sterlingice]

I think the NL Central is as tough to call as the western divisions. The talent differences among the top three teams in the NL Central and AL West is miniscule, asit is in the NL West for all five teams (but more because they are all mediocre :) ).

CR
Nah, I think the Rockies are more mediocre than the other four. And I'd say the same for the top 3 in the AL Central.

SI

[Carligula]

I hope you're right about the Giants, but I'm not very confident right now. They are definitely not as good a team as they were last year.

No, they aren't. They're probably ten games worse - which still puts them at 90 wins, and I don't see anyone else in the West winning 90. It's a pretty even division, and going with the team with the best hitter in the league and one of the two best pitchers in the division (if healthy, and it's not like Johnson isn't a health risk himself) is probably a good idea.

[Sharpieman]

No, they aren't. They're probably ten games worse - which still puts them at 90 wins, and I don't see anyone else in the West winning 90. It's a pretty even division, and going with the team with the best hitter in the league and one of the two best pitchers in the division (if healthy, and it's not like Johnson isn't a health risk himself) is probably a good idea.
I don't know the giants don't have anyone to help protect Barry in the lineup. And he may walk 200 times this year. I don't see the current Giants lineup or pitching staff good enough to make the playoffs. But I still think they will make the playoffs because of one X factor. Brian Sabean. He usually pulls off a trade that improves the Giants by a wide margin. Like the deadline trade that brought over Schimdt. If Nen and Schimdt stay healthy this year, and Sabean works his magic, you could see the Giants in the NLCS.

[CentralMassHokie]

AL East
Red Sox
Yankees (WC)
Blue Jays
Orioles
Devil Rays

AL Central
White Sox
Royals
Twins
Indians
Tigers

AL West
Athletics
Angels
Mariners
Rangers

NL East
Phillies
Braves (WC)
Marlins
Expos
Mets

NL Central
Cubs
Astros
Cardinals
Brewers
Reds
Pirates

NL West
Padres
Dodgers
Giants
Diamondbacks
Rockies

Red Sox over White Sox
Athletics over Yankees
Red Sox over Athletics

Phillies over Padres
Cubs over Braves

Phillies over Cubs

Red Sox over Phillies

MVP: ARod, Abreu
CY: Pedro, Prior

[clintl]

No, they aren't. They're probably ten games worse - which still puts them at 90 wins, and I don't see anyone else in the West winning 90. It's a pretty even division, and going with the team with the best hitter in the league and one of the two best pitchers in the division (if healthy, and it's not like Johnson isn't a health risk himself) is probably a good idea.

If they are only 10 games worse than last year, I'll be pretty happy. I think last year, they played above their heads. Things I'm worried about:

Schmidt is hurt
Nen is still hurt
Matt Herges is going to open as the closer - he was maybe their 4th best reliever last year
Michael Tucker doesn't do anything as well as Jose Cruz Jr. does
Grissom will probably regress
Bonds turns 40
Neifi Perez starting at SS
Pedro Feliz platooning with Snow at 1B instead of Galarraga
The rotation after Schmidt and Reuter

I see a lot of positions downgraded from last year, and the only position that might have been upgraded is C. And that's not a sure thing.

[DeToxRox]

AL East
Yankees
Red Sox
Devil Rays
Blue Jays
Orioles

AL Central
Twins
Tigers
Royals
White Sox
Indians

AL West
Angels
Atheltics (Wildcard)
Mariners
Rangers

NL East
Phillies
Marlins
Braves
Expos
Mets

NL Central
Cubs
Astros * Wildcard
Cardinals
Pirates
Reds
Brewers

NL West
Padres
Dodgers
Giants
Diamondbacks
Rockies

Playoffs
Yankees defeat As (3-2)
Angels defeat Twins (3-1)

Cubs defeat Padres (3-1)
Astros defeat Phillies (3-2)

LCS
Angels defeat Yankees (4-2)
Cubs defeat Astros (4-3)

World Series
Angels defeat Cubs (4-3)

AL MVP: Vlad Guerrero
AL Cy Young: Barry Zito

NL MVP: Jim Thome
NL Cy Young: Mark Prior

I picked a lot of reaches, who cares, we're all destined to be wrong.

[MizzouRah]

AL East:
Yankees
Red Sox (WC)
Orioles
Blue Jays
Devil Rays

AL Central:
Royals
Twins (WC)
White Sox
Indians
Tigers

AL West:
Athletics
Angels
Rangers
Mariners

NL East:
Phillies
Braves
Mets
Marlins
Expos

NL Central:
Astros
Cardinals (WC)
Cubs
Reds
Pirates
Brewers

NL West:
Giants
Dodgers
Padres
Diamondbacks
Rockies

[Young Drachma]

The Jays are going to win it all. We'll find our own version of Dontrelle Willis in the minors, Carlos will earn his $18.5 million big ones and SkyDome will rock again for the first time since Joe Carter's blast.

Okay, so maybe not.

[tucker rocky]

AL East
Boston
NY Yankees
D-Rays
BlueJays
Orioles

AL Central
KC
Twins
W-Sox
Tigers
Indians

AL West
Seattle
Angels(WC)
A's
Texas

NL East
Phillies
Marlins
Mets
Expos
Braves

NL Central
Cubs
AstrosWC
Reds
Cards
Pirates
Brewers

NL West
Dodgers
Padres
D-Backs
Giants

Playoffs

ALWC tiebreaker game
Angels at NY Yankees- Angels defeat Yankees to win WC

Boston over Angels
Seattle over KC

Boston over Seattle in 6 games

Phillies over Astros
Cubs over Dodgers

Phillies over Cubs in 7 games

WS
Phillies over Boston in 7 games

[Buccaneer]

I looked at all of these to see where the Pads have been predicted to finish. It's amazing, it's all over the place - just with the real sportswriters. I believe the Pads' success solely depends upon their injuries. Even though they are as deep as they have ever been, they just cannot have the massive amounts of injuries that have been getting the past several seasons.

I'm thinking the Angels over the Cubs even though I would like to see Red Sox win it all.

[sterlingice]

I looked at all of these to see where the Pads have been predicted to finish. It's amazing, it's all over the place - just with the real sportswriters. I believe the Pads' success solely depends upon their injuries. Even though they are as deep as they have ever been, they just cannot have the massive amounts of injuries that have been getting the past several seasons.

I'm thinking the Angels over the Cubs even though I would like to see Red Sox win it all.
I'm thinking the Pads success rests a lot more on their young pitchers and that's always a crapshoot. Especially when they have a couple of guys with ace potential but who are still rough around the edges.

SI

[chrisj]

The Jays are going to win it all. We'll find our own version of Dontrelle Willis in the minors, Carlos will earn his $18.5 million big ones and SkyDome will rock again for the first time since Joe Carter's blast.

Okay, so maybe not.

I'd like to believe so. I was surprised some people picked the O's ahead of the Jays, and that there were even a few who picked the Devil Rays in 3rd. Weird.

If one of Alexis Rios, Gabe Gross, or Dustin McGowan make it to the majors this year and play well - I think some people maybe surprised at this team.

[General Mike]

AL East
Boston
NY Yankees
Toronto
Baltimore
Tampa Bay

AL Central
Minnesota
Kansas City
Chicago
Detroit
Cleveland

AL West
Anaheim
Oakland - Wildcard
Seattle
Texas

NL East
Philadelphia
Atlanta
Florida
NY Mets
Montreal

NL Central
Chicago
Houston - Wildcard
St. Louis
Pittsburgh
Milwaukee
Cincinnati

NL West
San Diego
Los Angeles
Arizona
San Francisco
Colorado

[u]Playoff Predictions

Division Series
San Diego d. Chicago
Houston d. Philadelphia
Oakland d. Boston
Minnesota d. Anaheim

League Championship Series
Houston d. San Diego
Oakland d. Minnesota

World Series
Oakland d. Houston

AL MVP: Vlad Guerrero
AL Cy Young: Curt Schilling
AL Rookie of the Year: Joe Mauer

NL MVP: Lance Berkman
NL Cy Young: Randy Wolf
NL Rookie of the Year: Edwin Jackson

[Chief Rum]

I'd like to believe so. I was surprised some people picked the O's ahead of the Jays, and that there were even a few who picked the Devil Rays in 3rd. Weird.

If one of Alexis Rios, Gabe Gross, or Dustin McGowan make it to the majors this year and play well - I think some people maybe surprised at this team.

I admit I picked the O's ahead of the Jays (although they are making it look good right now by taking apart Pedro).

I just think the AL East is a really tough division right now. I'm probably not giving the Jays enough credit. After all, Delgado is a legit MVP candidate, and Halladay the reigning Cy Young winner.

With some fine young players in that organization, I probably should give them more credit.

Still, I really like what the O's did this offseason. They had some good young talent in place, too, and they added Lopez, Palmeiro, and Tejada. That's a solid trio of vets there, that should combine with younger up-and-comers like Gibbons, Matos, Roberts/Hairston, Mora and Cust. Pitching was always the issue, but I think they have enough to get by. They got some good young arms as well, and it was a big surprise to me when I saw that a 15-game winner in Lopez was demoted to the pen in place of a kid pitcher. Johnson and Ponson are solid pitchers, and Julio has the potential to be a dominating closer (and at least avergae if he doesn't put it together).

So I gave the O's the edge over the Jays. But it's close enough that if you ask me againt omorrow I might have flip-flopped.

I can't understand why the D-Rays would be third. They just don't have the pitching, and they're depending on too many kids to keep it up.


CR

[oykib]

AL EAST

Yankees
Red Sox
Blue Jays
Orioles
Devil Rays

AL Central

White Sox
Twins
Royals
Indians
Tigers

AL West

Athletics
Angels
Rangers
Mariners

NL East

Marlins
Braves
Philles
Expos
Mets

NL Central

Cubs
Astros
Cardinals
Brewers
Reds
Pirates

NL West

Diamondbacks
Dodgers
Giants
Padres
Rockies

Division Series

Yankees over Angels
Athletics over White Sox
Cubs over Diamondbacks
Astros over Marlins

League Championship Series
Yankees over Athletics
Astros over Cubs

World Series
Yankees over Astros

AL MVP: Jorge Posada
AL Cy Young: Mike Mussina
AL Rookie of the Year: Bobby Crosby

NL MVP: Albert Pujols
NL CY Young: Kerry Wood
NL Rookie of the Year: Kazuo Matsui

[mauchow]

I'm too lazy to pick 2nd, 3rd, 4th place teams... Maybe sometime tonight I'll feel like doing it.. Anyways, here's my division winners and picks:

NL:

Braves wins the East
Cubs win the Central
Dodgers win the West
Phillies edge the Giants and Astros for Wild Card

AL:

Red Sox win the East
Angels win the West
Twins (the AL Central stinks this year)
And because I don't like the Yankees, I'll pick the Blue Jays to oust them for the Wild Card!!

NL: Braves over Dodgers
Cubs over Phillies
AL: Red Sox over Blue Jays
Angels over Twins

NL: Cubs Over Braves
AL: Red Sox over Angels

WS: Cubs over Red Sox

[Fonzie]

AL EAST
Red Sox
Yankees *
Blue Jays
Orioles
Devil Rays

AL Central
White Sox
Twins
Royals
Indians
Tigers

AL West
Athletics
Mariners
Angels
Rangers


NL East
Phillies
Marlins
Braves
Expos
Mets

NL Central
Cubs
Astros*
Cardinals
Brewers
Reds
Pirates

NL West
Padres
Diamondbacks
Dodgers
Giants
Rockies

Division Series
Red Sox over White Sox
Athletics over Yankees
Cubs over Padres
Phillies over Astros

League Championship Series
Red Sox over Athletics
Cubs over Phillies

World Series
Red Sox over Cubs

AL MVP: Carlos Beltran
AL Cy Young: Barry Zito
AL Rookie of the Year: Joe Mauer

NL MVP: Albert Pujols
NL CY Young: Mark Prior
NL Rookie of the Year: Kazuo Matsui

[SackAttack]

The only team in the West, IMO, without a shot at the division is Colorado. They just don't have the pitching to pull it off.

The other four teams? Crapshoot City.

As for the wild card...I see lots of people picking the Cubs/Astros as the wild card, and between them and the Cards, I'm not so sure the Central won't beat themselves up (like they did last year) and leave the 2nd best East team as WC. I don't see an NL West team winning the WC, unless it's San Francisco.

[Bearcat729]

AL EAST
Yankees
Red Sox(WC)
Blue Jays
Orioles
Devil Rays

AL Central
Twins
Royals
White Sox
Indians
Tigers

AL West
Athletics
Mariners
Angels
Rangers


NL East
Phillies
Marlins
Braves
Expos
Mets

NL Central
Cubs
Astros(WC)
Cardinals
Brewers
Pirates
Reds (Losing 100 games)

NL West
Padres
Diamondbacks
Dodgers
Giants
Rockies

Division Series
Red Sox over White Sox
Yankees over Athletics
Cubs over Padres
Phillies over Astros

League Championship Series
Yankees over Red Sox
Cubs over Phillies

World Series
Cubs over Yankees

AL MVP: Vernon Wells
AL Cy Young: Barry Zito
AL Rookie of the Year: Joe Mauer

NL MVP: Albert Pujols
NL CY Young: Mark Prior
NL Rookie of the Year: Kazuo Matsui

[SuburbanPimp]

This just in from Baltimore:

HEY MA, LOOK AT US! WE'RE 1-0*, AND WE'RE IN FIRST PLACE!! I TOLD YA THEY'D DO YA PROUD!! IN YOUR FACE, RED SOX NATION!! HEY NOMAH, WHERE'S YA CHOWDAH NOW?!?!?!

Baltimore Orioles: 2004 World Series Champions :)

*-Game was played with Cal Ripken Jr. in attendance, so victory receives partial credit due to CAL-VINE POWAH!!!

[Grid Iron]

NL West
Padres
Dodgers
Giants
Diamondbacks
Rockies


Go Padres!

[Carligula]

It's interesting that so many people are picking Prior for NL Cy Young - even if he misses only a month and comes back at full strength, it's hard to win by pitching for five months when everyone else pitches for six...

[IMetTrentGreen]

Red Sox over Diamondbacks

CR

you have lost your god damned mind

[sterlingice]

It's interesting that so many people are picking Prior for NL Cy Young - even if he misses only a month and comes back at full strength, it's hard to win by pitching for five months when everyone else pitches for six...
Yeah, and if I were a betting man, I doubt he'll be out for only a month.

SI

[IMetTrentGreen]

for the arizona part, not the boston part

[Chief Rum]

Hey, anyone can come out of that NL West. If the Big Unit is healthy, he and Webb form as good a 1-2 as most teams. The offense should be very good with Sexson and Hillenbrand for whole years, and Gonzalez still around. It's not the best team in the NL, but it's good enough to win the NL West. Once it wins the NL West, the factor of having a dominating #1 pitcher (and maybe two with Webb, if he takes the next step) becomes more important in the playoffs.

Besides, I just couldn't call a Cubs-Red Sox World Series. That's like asking for fate to come down and slap me.

CR

[Chief Rum]

for the arizona part, not the boston part

dola,

Oh, yeah, and I have a Confuciius saying for you: He who casts stones without posting his own predictions is a big pussy.

CR

[Sharpieman]

There is no way the Cubs are going to the World Series, and if Boston gets there, they'll lose. Thats my only prediction about this year really.

[sterlingice]

There is no way the Cubs are going to the World Series, and if Boston gets there, they'll lose. Thats my only prediction about this year really.
Going out on a real limb there... to add to this, I would like to predict that the Devil Rays, Rangers, and Brewers will not make the playoffs.

SI

[Sharpieman]

Going out on a real limb there... to add to this, I would like to predict that the Devil Rays, Rangers, and Brewers will not make the playoffs.

SI
Its not unrealistic to think that the Cubs and/or the Red Sox would make the World Series, both are good teams. But, their cursed.

[Suicane75]

AL East
Red Sox
Yankees (WC)
Devil Rays
Blue Jays
Orioles

AL Central
Indians
White Sox
Twins
Royals
Tigers

AL West
Athletics
Mariners
Angels
Rangers

NL East
Phillies
Marlins
Expos
Braves
Mets

NL Central
Astros
Cubs (WC)
Brewers
Reds
Cardinals
Pirates

NL West
Giants
Padres
Diamondbacks
Dodgers
Rockies

First Round
Phillies 3 Giants 2
Astros 3 Cubs 2
A's 3 Yankees 2
Red Sox 3 Indians 1

LCS
Phillies 4 Astros 3
Red Sox 4 A's 3

World Series
Phillies 4 Red Sox 3 (The Phillies win the 7th game 4-3 after a 2 out base hit and 2 Red Sox errors allow Thome to step up and hit a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth off of Curt Schilling) :)

NL MVP: Jim Thome
NL Cy Young: Vincente Padilla
NL ROTY: Luis Gonzalez


AL MVP: Jason Giambi
AL Cy Young: CC Sabathia
AL ROTY: Joe Mauer

[HornedFrog Purple]

The Rangers will lose 98 games. Chan Ho Park will finish an entire season going 4-19 5.43 ERA. Of course I will like I have the last two seasons start my Chan Ho Park thread.

[MikeVic]

The Rangers will lose 98 games. Chan Ho Park will finish an entire season going 4-19 5.43 ERA. Of course I will like I have the last two seasons start my Chan Ho Park thread.

I think you're underestimating Park just a bit. If he gets in 30 starts, he'll win AT LEAST 6 games. ;) The ERA sounds about right though.

[MikeVic]

AL East
Red Sox
Yankees*
Blue Jays
Orioles
Devil Rays

AL Central
Twins
Royals
Indians
White Sox
Tigers

AL West
Athletics
Angels
Mariners
Rangers


NL East
Phillies
Marlins*
Braves
Expos
Mets

NL Central
Cubs
Astros
Cardinals
Reds
Pirates
Brewers

NL West
Dodgers
Giants
Padres
Diamondbacks
Rockies


Playoffs
Red Sox beat Twins (3-1)
Athletics beat Yankees (3-2)

Cubs beat Marlins (3-2)
Phillies beat Dodgers (3-1)


LCS
Athletics beat Red Sox (4-3)
Cubs beat Phillies (4-1)


World Series
Cubs beat Athletics (4-3)

[HornedFrog Purple]

heh you might be right. This year he is slotted in the #2 spot. Kenny Rogers is now the ace so 6 wins might not be out of the realm of possibility. My bad. :D

Seriously though, this team is in shambles but it will be fun to watch Texiera, Blaylock and Young play and develop. Also they are going to probably play their best catching prospect in the minors Gerald Laird, so while we take a beating every game, at least there is something to look forward to.

Pitching... well that's another story. Colby Lewis, Ricardo Rodriguez (actually I think they sent him back down) and a couple other young arms in there. I think Francisco Cordero will be a good closer if he ever gets any opportunities. :)

[Cards4ever]

Disagree. The Cardinals aren't anywhere close to the Astros and the Cubs in my opinion. Pitching, pitching, pitching...


I love this post!!!!! You should have RPI give you tips!

[Cuckoo]

I love this post!!!!! You should have RPI give you tips!

I have to do it. It's coming. I'm sorry, but there's no stopping it because you most definitely deserve it. Here it comes...


:rolleyes:




I mean, come on Cards4ever, nobody predicted the Cards would do what they did this year. These predictions are just that, guesses based on past performance and talent level.

[Cuckoo]

Just in the interest of fairness, here's a gem (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=11188) from Cards4ever in June of last year, commenting on the injury to Corey Patterson:



Time to pack it in Cub fans, the end is just a little sooner than usual.


Ahhh, the uncertainty of prediction. :D


;)

[Fonzie]

I have to do it. It's coming. I'm sorry, but there's no stopping it because you most definitely deserve it. Here it comes...


:rolleyes:




I mean, come on Cards4ever, nobody predicted the Cards would do what they did this year. These predictions are just that, guesses based on past performance and talent level.

I'd have to agree - I'm a diehard Cards fan, and I picked them to finish third behind the Cubs and Astros myself. The Cards are the Cinderella team this year, and nobody expected that.

[Cards4ever]

Just in the interest of fairness, here's a gem (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=11188) from Cards4ever in June of last year, commenting on the injury to Corey Patterson:






Ahhh, the uncertainty of prediction. :D


;)


Hey, at least I didn't have to go back 14 months to find yours!

[Cuckoo]

I'd have to agree - I'm a diehard Cards fan, and I picked them to finish third behind the Cubs and Astros myself. The Cards are the Cinderella team this year, and nobody expected that.

And just add, I think the Cards have been absolutely amazing this year. They got better than what I expected in almost every phase of the game. Their bullpen, which looked average on paper, has been stout. Carpenter is come back player of the year and a great grab by Jockety. Womack has done far better than I would have predicted after his time with the Cubs last season, and Marquis/Suppan have been very solid.

It's an amazing season when all of a team's apparent weaknesses turn out to be strength in addition to all of their strengths confirming themselves. And I give the Cards all the credit in the world for a great season.

The Cubs, on the other hand, have had all of their apparent weaknesses glaring and many of their supposed strengths not living up to the hype. That's a recipe for disaster.

That said, they're not out of the race by any means, and if they do get into the postseason, I still think they'll be very dangerous for the Cards or anyone else. Now, I'm not predicting anything, but... :p

[Cuckoo]

Hey, at least I didn't have to go back 14 months to find yours!


LOL

I just figured you probably made some kind of prediction last season when the Cardinals looked to be better than the Cubs but the Cubs came through in the end. It wasn't too hard to find.

;)

[sterlingice]

I love this post!!!!! You should have RPI give you tips!
It takes real balls to critcize with 20/20 hindsight, particularly when you didn't make any predictions. But that is vintage for the "best fans in baseball" Cardinals.

SI

[Cuckoo]

It takes real balls to critcize with 20/20 hindsight, particularly when you didn't make any predictions. But that is vintage for the "best fans in baseball" Cardinals.

SI


I don't mind, and I'm pretty sure he's just giving me a hard time. He's been really enjoying that lately. :)

It's okay, though. If the Cubs somehow pull something out, I won't let him hear the end of it either.

Besides, when I make predictions and they turn out to be true, I do a little rubbing it in. :D

[Fonzie]

It takes real balls to critcize with 20/20 hindsight, particularly when you didn't make any predictions. But that is vintage for the "best fans in baseball" Cardinals.

SI

Hey now, let's not overgeneralize here.

<-------Cardinals fan.

[sterlingice]

Hey now, let's not overgeneralize here.

<-------Cardinals fan.
I think you're the exception rather than the rule. Last year at Kaufman, last week of the season against the White Sox, we had an unruly drunk southsider, you know the type- every stadium has him. But even he shut up for 3 innings when I yelled down that he was acting like a St Louis fan.

This year, at the Cards game I went to at Kaufman, I did run across a nice group of Cards fans, a guy and his teenage son and daughter who actually seemed to be enjoying the game. I even complimented on him not being like other Cards fans to which he had to chuckle. Contrast this to the row behind us who came in and guess what they were talking about when they sat down? You guessed it, Don Denkinger. And couldn't stop talking about it for 20 minutes. And that was before a game in which we got more shellacked and they more drunk as the game went along.

SI

[Radii]

Following the Cubs has gotten really, really depressing in the last week or two. Easiest schedule of the wild card contenders and they can't do anything with it.

[Cuckoo]

Following the Cubs has gotten really, really depressing in the last week or two. Easiest schedule of the wild card contenders and they can't do anything with it.

I concur. :(

[MizzouRah]

I think you're the exception rather than the rule. Last year at Kaufman, last week of the season against the White Sox, we had an unruly drunk southsider, you know the type- every stadium has him. But even he shut up for 3 innings when I yelled down that he was acting like a St Louis fan.

This year, at the Cards game I went to at Kaufman, I did run across a nice group of Cards fans, a guy and his teenage son and daughter who actually seemed to be enjoying the game. I even complimented on him not being like other Cards fans to which he had to chuckle. Contrast this to the row behind us who came in and guess what they were talking about when they sat down? You guessed it, Don Denkinger. And couldn't stop talking about it for 20 minutes. And that was before a game in which we got more shellacked and they more drunk as the game went along.

SIHaven't we gone here before? We are the BEST fans in baseball, period. It doesn't matter where you go, you'll always have fans that act that way.. it's a fact of life. We're cocky, so what? Most of us are just tired of hearing all the Cubbies crap year after year.. blah..blah.. Go to a Cubs game and tell me that people aren't still talking about the fan who touched the foul ball.

I bet you there are more Cardinals fans at a Royals game than Royals fans. In fact, didn't they score more runs than they had fans at the game a few games ago?

LOL!


Todd

[sterlingice]

Haven't we gone here before? We are the BEST fans in baseball, period. It doesn't matter where you go, you'll always have fans that act that way.. it's a fact of life. We're cocky, so what? Most of us are just tired of hearing all the Cubbies crap year after year.. blah..blah.. Go to a Cubs game and tell me that people aren't still talking about the fan who touched the foul ball. (See, Fozzie, for every reasonable fan like yourself, there's more of these who the following applies to)

MizzouRah, Not that you didn't do my work for me, but I'd like to point out:

Being more cocky and funny than HM doesn't get you the mantle of "best fans in baseball".

Nor does your herculean ability to follow a losing team. Wait, during those years, didn't you have a certain red-haired player chasing one of the holy grail sports records and days when he wasn't playing resulted in tons of empty seats?

Nor does your ability to whine about a game that happened 20 years ago ad nauseum despite the fact that it was 20 years ago.

Nor does the fact that you have a huge inferiorty complex despite the fact that the team you have it towards is a team who hasn't had a title in nearly 100 years and has a reputation of being a losing franchise.

GET OVER YOURSELVES.

Does your arm ever get tired from patting yourself on the back?

SI

[Cards4ever]

Wow, I try to have a little fun with Cuckoo and SI goes nuts.

I think Cardinal fans have every reason to enjoy this year, all year long that's all we've heard is Cubs this, Cubs that, and Astros the other thing. Even when the Cards pulled ahead in June to stay, that's all we've heard, wait til the Cubs get healthy.

[Cards4ever]

Dola, the thread that you pulled the Patterson thing from, I really believed that, cause, that's what I think of Patterson, I think he's a helluva player.

[sterlingice]

Wow, I try to have a little fun with Cuckoo and SI goes nuts.

I think Cardinal fans have every reason to enjoy this year, all year long that's all we've heard is Cubs this, Cubs that, and Astros the other thing. Even when the Cards pulled ahead in June to stay, that's all we've heard, wait til the Cubs get healthy.
Well, at first it was more of a rolleyes because sarcasm doesn't translate well over the net so I couldn't tell whether you were serious or not. But then MizzouRah comes back with something he pretty much believes so I had to call him on that.

That said, this is one of those years that, as a fan, you have to enjoy. No one expected anything and now you're the favorites to win your league, if not the World Series. I just can't believe that a rotation with Matt Morris, Woody Williams, and Chris Carpenter hasn't had an arm fall of yet.

SI

[Crapshoot]

Haven't we gone here before? We are the BEST fans in baseball, period. It doesn't matter where you go, you'll always have fans that act that way.. it's a fact of life. We're cocky, so what? Most of us are just tired of hearing all the Cubbies crap year after year.. blah..blah.. Go to a Cubs game and tell me that people aren't still talking about the fan who touched the foul ball.

I bet you there are more Cardinals fans at a Royals game than Royals fans. In fact, didn't they score more runs than they had fans at the game a few games ago?

LOL!


Todd

I assume there was a smiley missing from this discourse, yes ?

[MizzouRah]

(See, Fozzie, for every reasonable fan like yourself, there's more of these who the following applies to)

MizzouRah, Not that you didn't do my work for me, but I'd like to point out:

Being more cocky and funny than HM doesn't get you the mantle of "best fans in baseball". Quite c&f.. nice!

Nor does your herculean ability to follow a losing team. Wait, during those years, didn't you have a certain red-haired player chasing one of the holy grail sports records and days when he wasn't playing resulted in tons of empty seats? Maybe a tad less, but the park always draws well - even when Big Mac was out of the lineup.

Nor does your ability to whine about a game that happened 20 years ago ad nauseum despite the fact that it was 20 years ago. I don't whine about that game, nor have I ever mentioned that game.

Nor does the fact that you have a huge inferiorty complex despite the fact that the team you have it towards is a team who hasn't had a title in nearly 100 years and has a reputation of being a losing franchise.

GET OVER YOURSELVES.

Does your arm ever get tired from patting yourself on the back?
Patting myself? Nah, I just know this is a great baseball town. I'm more of a football fan now that we have a team back here. Kansas City fans always have admired us in St. Louis. :)

SI
Todd

[Cards4ever]

Cuckoo and I have been going back and forth for quite awhile now about this, I understand that you aren't probably aware of it and if I made a prediction like that, I'm sure he'd call me on it.

I truely believe that Cardinal fans are the best in baseball, it's a big reason I changed from a casual Cardinal fan to a hardcore Cardinal fan after my first trip there in 1992.
In 1987 I was still a hardcore Twins fan, I was down at the dome after the Twins won, and I was congratulated by Cardinal fans on winning a championship, after 1991 same situation, I was cursed at by Braves fans.

No matter where I've seen the Cardinals play, whether be here, STL, Chicago, or KC, I love my friends in RED!

BTW, love the setup in KC, wish Minnesota would be that smart and build their stadiums like KC did.

[Crapshoot]

Cuckoo and I have been going back and forth for quite awhile now about this, I understand that you aren't probably aware of it and if I made a prediction like that, I'm sure he'd call me on it.

I truely believe that Cardinal fans are the best in baseball, it's a big reason I changed from a casual Cardinal fan to a hardcore Cardinal fan after my first trip there in 1992.
In 1987 I was still a hardcore Twins fan, I was down at the dome after the Twins won, and I was congratulated by Cardinal fans on winning a championship, after 1991 same situation, I was cursed at by Braves fans.

No matter where I've seen the Cardinals play, whether be here, STL, Chicago, or KC, I love my friends in RED!

BTW, love the setup in KC, wish Minnesota would be that smart and build their stadiums like KC did.

Do you not see the selection bias apparent in your own criteria and actions ? Its a ridiculous statement to make.

[Fonzie]

Can't we all just get along? :(

[rkmsuf]

It's funny. The baseball intellectuals bicker about the quality of fans. At least the football mongrels focus on the merits of teams.

[Cards4ever]

Am I not allowed to have that opinion?

My example was no worse then the example of having a bad run in with some Cardinal fans in KC that SI had, so, if you are going to call me on my example, then please feel free to quote SI and tell him the same thing.

I could give lots of examples, how about the young kids that I see at Busch that know and can explain the hit and run and the double switch? I've never seen that at any other stadium. Or how about the huge percentage of fans wearing Cardinal gear at Busch?

Again, from my experiences, Cardinal fans are the best in baseball.

[Crapshoot]

It's funny. The baseball intellectuals bicker about the quality of fans. At least the football mongrels focus on the merits of teams.

Would you like to start this here as well, or do you have something other than attempts at sarcasm ?

[Crapshoot]

Am I not allowed to have that opinion?

My example was no worse then the example of having a bad run in with some Cardinal fans in KC that SI had, so, if you are going to call me on my example, then please feel free to quote SI and tell him the same thing.

I could give lots of examples, how about the young kids that I see at Busch that know and can explain the hit and run and the double switch? I've never seen that at any other stadium. Or how about the huge percentage of fans wearing Cardinal gear at Busch?

Again, from my experiences, Cardinal fans are the best in baseball.

And Im not doubting your experience- Im simply saying its an opinion based on a selection bias, and as such, it renders it fairly irrelvant on a discussion of the whole (if such a discussion can exist fairly).

[Cards4ever]

It's funny. The baseball intellectuals bicker about the quality of fans. At least the football mongrels focus on the merits of teams.

pssst- the NFL sucks! :D :p

I was just trying to have some fun with Cuckoo and now we are on to this!

[rkmsuf]

Would you like to start this here as well, or do you have something other than attempts at sarcasm ?

I'm joking. Take it easy. Only a baseball lover would seriously try and debate the merits of their sport over all others. :)

[Cards4ever]

And Im not doubting your experience- Im simply saying its an opinion based on a selection bias, and as such, it renders it fairly irrelvant on a discussion of the whole (if such a discussion can exist fairly).

Then why are you trying to discuss it?! I never said without a doubt the Cardinal fans are the best, I'll leave that to national magazines or ESPN, I said I believed they were the best, why do you care what I think?

[JeeberD]

I predict that the Astros are going to get off to a hot start then stumble badly. Everyone (including myself) will write them off but three quarters of the way through the season they will catch fire, win 12 games in a row, and be tied for the wildcard lead with a mere 22 games to go in the season

Damn, am I good or what! :eek:

[MizzouRah]

Damn, am I good or what! :eek:
You are the REAL swammy! :)

I'm sure in SI's experience he's run into some bad Cardinals fans.. it just seems like he's always all over our teams and players. Unless my memory is going at 33, I think him and I always get into a Kurt Warner debate. :D


Todd

[sterlingice]

You are the REAL swammy! :)

I'm sure in SI's experience he's run into some bad Cardinals fans.. it just seems like he's always all over our teams and players. Unless my memory is going at 33, I think him and I always get into a Kurt Warner debate. :D


Todd
We do? If we have, then I've just forgotten about it. Then again, I'm just as bad if not worse because my memory is going at 25.

I'll give a little heck to Blues fans but like pretty much all hockey talk on here, it's fun and playful. There is that whole Mizzou-KU thing but I don't think we get too heated over that too often. But the Cardinals fans I've always had a problem with, first growing up as a Cubs fan and now watching them here in Kansas City. I just can't stand their smug arrogance. They're like Yankees Midwest fans.

Well, if I did get into it with you about Kurt Warner, I don't remember but that doesn't mean it didn't happen :)

That said, as long as you guys think you are God's gift to baseball fans, I'll continue to give you grief. That said, it's pretty rare I remember from one thread to another what a poster says so I don't usually go after people (well, 2 do come to mind but I rarely do it) so sorry if it seems like I'm going exclusively after you.

SI

[HornedFrog Purple]

Let's see

The Rangers will lose 98 games. Chan Ho Park will finish an entire season going 4-19 5.43 ERA. Of course I will like I have the last two seasons start my Chan Ho Park thread.

Well not even close on the W-L column. Chan Ho Park didn't play an entire season, but the wins and ERA are pretty close. I was aces on starting my Chan Ho thread.

Also they are going to probably play their best catching prospect in the minors Gerald Laird,

He was doing good until he got hurt

Pitching... well that's another story. Colby Lewis, Ricardo Rodriguez (actually I think they sent him back down) and a couple other young arms in there. I think Francisco Cordero will be a good closer if he ever gets any opportunities.

Colby Lewis didn't do anything and Rodriguez got hurt too. At least I got the Cordero part.

[Cuckoo]

See. Now everyone's doing like I do and getting way too serious about things.

:)

[Cards4ever]

It's all my fault :(

[Fonzie]

But the Cardinals fans I've always had a problem with, first growing up as a Cubs fan and now watching them here in Kansas City. I just can't stand their smug arrogance. They're like Yankees Midwest fans.


This is the first I've heard of this perception. Granted, I haven't been living in the midwest for the last nine years, so perhaps this phenomenon has evolved more recently. But I've never heard anyone have such bad things to say about Cardinals fans. In fact, as baseball fans go I've really only heard frequent complaints concerning arrogance and/or belligerence with regard to the Yankees and Phillies.

Maybe I'm out of touch, but I've just not heard such complaints about the Cardinals' fans before. Surprising.

[Cuckoo]

Well, the Cubs lost the first game of an important double-header with the Marlins today. :(

You know, I have about a hundred thousand explanations for the Cubs problems this year, but in the end, I'm still completely baffled. ...if that makes any sense at all.

[Fonzie]

Well, the Cubs lost the first game of an important double-header with the Marlins today. :(

You know, I have about a hundred thousand explanations for the Cubs problems this year, but in the end, I'm still completely baffled. ...if that makes any sense at all.

As someone who watched the 1986 Cardinals fall flat on their faces, it makes perfect sense to me.

[MizzouRah]

We do? If we have, then I've just forgotten about it. Then again, I'm just as bad if not worse because my memory is going at 25.

I'll give a little heck to Blues fans but like pretty much all hockey talk on here, it's fun and playful. There is that whole Mizzou-KU thing but I don't think we get too heated over that too often. But the Cardinals fans I've always had a problem with, first growing up as a Cubs fan and now watching them here in Kansas City. I just can't stand their smug arrogance. They're like Yankees Midwest fans.

Well, if I did get into it with you about Kurt Warner, I don't remember but that doesn't mean it didn't happen :)

That said, as long as you guys think you are God's gift to baseball fans, I'll continue to give you grief. That said, it's pretty rare I remember from one thread to another what a poster says so I don't usually go after people (well, 2 do come to mind but I rarely do it) so sorry if it seems like I'm going exclusively after you.

SI
Ahhh... who knows. I used to be rude to 'other' fans.. actually only if they got ignorant with me, but I really think the Cubs-Cards rivalry is quite fun and this year has been no exception.

:) back at ya!


Todd

[Buccaneer]

I'm thinking the Pads success rests a lot more on their young pitchers and that's always a crapshoot. Especially when they have a couple of guys with ace potential but who are still rough around the edges.

SI
They have an ace, a superb bullpen but just can't get the hits consistently at home. The Pads will only get better in the next few years.

[sterlingice]

They have an ace, a superb bullpen but just can't get the hits consistently at home. The Pads will only get better in the next few years.
Well, considering I made that prediction 5 months ago, I don't think it's half bad. The three pitchers who, at some point in the last few years, had each been dubbed future aces have had varying degrees of success as Peavy has been lights out when healthy (damn you for missing 6-7 starts for my fantasy team), Lawrence has been steady, and Eaton has been inconsistent. I'll agree that they will only get better in the next few years, barring injury and if they can keep the offense together, of course.

SI

[Cuckoo]

They have an ace, a superb bullpen but just can't get the hits consistently at home. The Pads will only get better in the next few years.

I actually predicted (another one wrong) that San Diego would win the West this year. I agree with you completely though that they're going to get better. If some of their guys played like they're capable, they may be leading the Wild Card. As it stands, though, I think they're just a piece or two away from being one of the top NL teams.