i noticed that the yankees play the university of south florida and virginia tech before spring training... is that normal?
Yeah, the teams down there often play local college teams. The Red Sox normally play Boston College in Fenway as well...
i noticed that the yankees play the university of south florida and virginia tech before spring training... is that normal?
the braves will be sending 8 or 9 legitimate 4th or 5th starters to spring training, so if mike cant throw, they have the depth this year to overcome his loss. as far as the bullpen goes, peter moylan was in the top 5 last year as far as the numbers go for relief pitchers..add in the fact that mike gonzalez should come back and b ready to go in early june, and i feel that the bullpen is solid!! and if he or peter cant get the job done, we always have will ohman:skeptical:
The only team that has worse middle relief then the Braves is the Mets who might have the worst in baseball...
That all said, the D-Backs, Rockies, and Dodgers will all be very evenly matched, but I see the Dodgers pitching depth being the reason they win the division. Either way, it should be a fun year to watch the NL West (the most competitive division in baseball IMO).
The only team that has worse middle relief then the Braves is the Mets who might have the worst in baseball...
In baseball? I don't know, the Rays and Orioles' bullpens are pretty awful. The Braves bullpen has potential with Mike Gonzalez and Peter Moylan. Potential doesn't mean a thing once the season starts, though.
I think the Tigers might have something to say about that... Any lineup with a Hall of Famer batting 9th is pretty scary...
That all said, the D-Backs, Rockies, and Dodgers will all be very evenly matched, but I see the Dodgers pitching depth being the reason they win the division. Either way, it should be a fun year to watch the NL West (the most competitive division in baseball IMO).
as much as i respect your opinions, especially when it comes to baseball, i am gonna have to disagree. the braves finished in third behind the padres and the cubs last year in team pitching. call me a homer, but i just dont c it...
The Braves top guys in appearances last year were Moylan (very solid) then Yates (5.18 era, .251 baa, 1.44 whip) and Villarreal who they lost. I don't think they added anyone great, I could be wrong...
I think the Tigers might have something to say about that... Any lineup with a Hall of Famer batting 9th is pretty scary...
And they just signed a former 22 game winner as their number 4 starter.
Umm... Have you looked at your pitching staff? Smoltz's, Glavine's Hampton's, and Hudson's rookie seasons weren't exactly 5 years ago. Chipper Jones ain't exactly a young one, either. Francoeur intrigues me - last year was the first year he actually put any kind of numbers up. Was that an anomaly, or has he finally learned how to be productive in the Major League batting box? One season of good (but not great) numbers won't exactly convince me.
I will admit, Texiera, Escobar, and McCann are all interesting pieces.
If the purported Joe Crede/Matt Cain deal goes down, the White Sox become relevant again.
Of course, reports have said either Cain or Noah Lowry....and the two aren't quite the same....
Matt Cain is a going to be a good pitcher - still young and such. But a difference maker in that devision he is not... but it would be a great get for the White Sox, either of those young arms actually.
I love MLB! Any Indians fans out there??