Comments on: And now, the HardballTalk staff predictions

By: umrguy42

umrguy42 — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:27:00 +0000

spud, have I ever mentioned I like your thinking?

Go Cards!

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:27:47 +0000

If I would make one change, it probably would be the Brewers, what with their newly acquired starters already on the shelf, but I stand by the Rays and Jays.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:00:28 +0000

Great Stuff, and I listen to it often.

By: BC

BC — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:00:27 +0000

I think there definitely is potential for the AL West to stink on ice other than Texas. I do think you overrated Toronto (pitching worries) and Tampa (will they score enough runs). I cannot for the life of me see the Brewers winning 90 games. Other than that, not bad. I like the White Sox chances as well.

By: BC

BC — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:51:30 +0000

Blind Faith was an awesome band. Clapton, Winwood, Ginger Baker…. good stuff.

By: BC

BC — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:49:40 +0000

a) I never think. It complicates things.
b) Ketel One, accept no substitutes.
c) Sorry, I can’t publish her name on the web.
d) Gave up cigars for Lent, so no smoking.
Although also… e) I did watch “Speed” last night. Call it a guilty pleasure.

By: Ari Collins

Ari Collins — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:43:40 +0000

Careful… a couple of those predictions look sane.

By: derpdederpdederp

derpdederpdederp — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:48:49 +0000

“I’m trying to figure out what part of the pitching is questionable.”

how about everything that comes after romero? dont get me wrong, im a jays fan. the fact is losing marcum is gonna hurt and the 4 starters after romero obviously have a lot to prove. morrow is already on the DL, not the best sign of things to come. cecil is inconsistent and often times shaky. well just have to see about drabeck, but this is a tough division to break into the big leagues as a pitcher. whoever ends up holding on to the 5th spot is not even worth discussing

the jays will be decent but there will be a dropoff in there offensive numbers. bautista will have another good year, but nothing near 54 HRs. buck is gone, replaced by 2 guys that combined will hit less HRs than he did last year. wells is gone, replaced by a speed and average guy. the key is going to be how hill and lind bounce back

By: sfbookreviews

sfbookreviews — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:14:42 +0000

You’re lucky, as a life-long Pirate fan I was simply thrilled 1 person didn’t pick them last in the division. It’s been a hard couple decades here.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:52:02 +0000

After channeling Edward Cayce, Madame Blavatsky, and Nostradamus I have arrived at the unmistakable conclusion that the 2011 final standings and subsequent playoffs will read thusly:

NL East AL East
Florida 90-72 Tampa Bay 89-73
Atlanta 89-73 New York 88-74
Philadelphia 88-74 Toronto 87-75
Washington 75-87 Boston 85-77
New York 70-92 Baltimore 76-86

NL Central AL Central
St. Louis 95-67 Chicago 92-70
Milwaukee 90-72 (WC) Minnesota 90-72 (WC)
Cincinnati 86-76 Detroit 86-76
Chicago 81-81 Kansas City 69-93
Houston 76-86 Cleveland 65-97
Pittsburgh 67-95

NL West AL West
Colorado 92-70 Texas 92-70
San Fran 87-75 Oakland 76-86
L.A. 75-87 Anaheim/L.A. 74-88
Arizona 70-92 Seattle 65-97
San Diego 65-97

Playoffs: Stl over Fla (3-1) Tampa Bay over Chicago (3-0)
Col over Mil (3-1) Texas over Minnesota (3-2)

Stl over Col (4-2) Texas over Tampa Bay (4-3)

St. Louis over Texas (4-2)

By: macjacmccoy

macjacmccoy — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 23:51:03 +0000

Brewers are NL Wild Card just watch. Braves 2nd WC but lose out bc of Cox withdraw.

By: chrisny3

chrisny3 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 23:00:41 +0000

Why would you think I am Vacarro? He doesn’t dislike the Phillies as far as I know.

By: kolfax

kolfax — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:29:19 +0000

I’ll take a narrower, bottom up view. From the worst teams in baseball. The Mariners will continue to be a feeder team to the rest of the majors, trading their best talent for a promise of a better team in the future. The Wimpy syndrome.

That aside, the Mariners will be better than the Pirates, Mets and Houston and might be able to beat any AAA team on any given Sunday. Yes, I am an interested Mariners observer, but won’t be wearing the hat.

Guess what I’m saying is that if your a Mariners player there is hope that you’ll play on a championship team someday, it just won’t be for the Mariners.

Just had to get the Mariners in the conversation. AAAAhhhh!!!

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:08:05 +0000

So chrisny3 is actually Vaccaro trolling other blogs. Or he’s as deluded as Vaccaro.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:00:32 +0000

Exactly, hope Springs eternal.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:59:31 +0000

Frank is coming back?

By: jasonburg

jasonburg — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:50:16 +0000

That’s the one that made me laugh, too. The Dodgers overtaking the World Champs this year? That’s a joke.

By: JBerardi

JBerardi — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:35:28 +0000

I don’t doubt that the Phillies have a better starting rotation than the Braves. I do, however, doubt that they have a better outfield, infield, catcher, or bullpen than the Braves. Based on that I think the NL east is pretty much a coin flip at this point.

By: JBerardi

JBerardi — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:14:37 +0000

“They lost their best player”

Yeah, it’s gonna be tough without Eckstein…

By: chrisny3

chrisny3 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:12:22 +0000

Ooops …

NL Central: Brewers, Reds, Cards, Cubs, Astros, Pirates

By: chrisny3

chrisny3 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:06:59 +0000

AL East: Red Sox, Rays (WC), Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles
AL Central: Twinkies, White Sox, Tigers, Royals, Indians
AL West: Rangers, Athletics, Angels, Mariners

NL East: Braves, Mets, Phillies, Marlins, Nationals
NL Central: Brewers, Reds, Cubs, Astros, Pirates
NL West: Giants, Rockies (WC), Padres, Dodgers, Diamondbacks

ALDS: Twinkies over Rays, Red Sox over Rangers
NLDS: Rockies over Braves, Giants over Brewers
ALCS: Red Sox over Twinkies
NLCS: Giants over Rockies
WS: Giants over Red Sox

Giants will be the first repeat champion since 2000. The AL East will be surprisingly competitive, with all 5 teams in the mix through at least the All-Star break. As stated previously, on paper, the Phillies are the class of the NL East, but injuries and decline due to age will have them struggling and keep them out of the postseason.

By: JBerardi

JBerardi — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:04:27 +0000

“Man, they only scored 750 last year? I’d have figured they were in the high 800′s. Lot of solo HRs I guess.”

Apparently their hitting coach last year really pushed an aggressive hitting philosophy. Swing for the fences, don’t worry about working the count. So you end up with a team that hits for a ton of power but has OBP issues and, like you say, hits a lot of solo shots.

By: Gobias Industries

Gobias Industries — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:30:58 +0000

So Harkins thinks the playoffs are going to be canceled again like in 1994? That’s a bold prediction.

By: itsabergthing

itsabergthing — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:22:43 +0000

Yes blind faith. What’s Spring Training if you can’t convince yourself every year that your team has some sort of chance to do something special… I’ve done it every year since as far back as I can remember.

By: stairwayto7

stairwayto7 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:03:39 +0000

CRAIG CALCATERRA pickign the Cubs to win the central? What is he smoking! Cubs will finish 4th or 5th!

By: umrguy42

umrguy42 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:00:19 +0000

BC, my “realistic” best case right now is probably your NL Central picks being right :p

By: umrguy42

umrguy42 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:58:35 +0000

Alas, pessimism leads me to cynically agree with the average 3rd place finish for my Cardinals this year after the loss of Wainwright…

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:58:35 +0000

‘Tis the season for Blind Faith. Good on you Berg.

By: itsabergthing

itsabergthing — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:55:49 +0000

I really think Pittsburgh is gonna sneak up on some people this year and be a surprise team. I can’t believe that most have them finishing behind Houston, I don’t see that, I can even see them moving into third or fourth in the Division. I think the Cubs and Cardinals are a bit overrated and it’s going to be a two way race in the Central between Milwaukee and Cincinnati. Believe me, I’m a homer and I’m not saying the Bucs are gonna win the division by any means, but I can see them making a run at .500 for the first time in a long time. The young talent at the top of the lineup is unmistakable and I think the mid-season call-ups will be anything but push overs. This team is better than what the experts and the rest of the league think, if they can play like they did at home last year and play somewhat respectable on the road, this season could be a sign of a bright, bright future in Pittsburgh. LET’S GO BUCS!!!

By: skipperxc

skipperxc — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:50:09 +0000

Oh Craig, I wish I could quit you for picking my Brewers in fourth…but I can’t, I just can’t. That division is such a crapshoot.