[mlb]

Yo Gallardo on the move to Texas for prospects which clears up 9 million in cap space for the Brew Crew who are looking to land Shields now. 2015 salary was $13 mil and Brewers still owe $4 mil of it.

Nats land Scherzer on RIDICULOUS contract. If I was a GM I would want to win and not just make splashes. Look at Saint Louis, year in and year out. Nats have pieces all over, I get their staff is loaded now, but it was loaded before.

thoughts?

[mlb]

Can anyone quickly find that thread that tracked the Sunday Night Baseball unders?

[mlb]

Looking into a White Sox over win play, over Rockies and a few others.

[EXhoosier10]

do you have lines?

[Big Bear]

Yo Gallardo on the move to Texas for prospects which clears up 9 million in cap space for the Brew Crew who are looking to land Shields now. 2015 salary was $13 mil and Brewers still owe $4 mil of it.

Nats land Scherzer on RIDICULOUS contract. If I was a GM I would want to win and not just make splashes. Look at Saint Louis, year in and year out. Nats have pieces all over, I get their staff is loaded now, but it was loaded before.

thoughts?

in a world where John Lackey makes 18 million per year, Brett Myers was once paid 20 million for a season, and A-Rod makes 25.2 million per year i would say the Nationals got a deal for Scherezer.

Not one of those pitchers on the Nationals is on the same level as Scherezer.

BTW Shields for Gallardo is not really much of an upgrade IMO.

Shields is just another RHP who can't win a big game.

[mlb]

do you have lines?

haven't seen any yet, nope.

Looking into those depending on what I can get for totals

[mlb]

do you have lines?

haven't seen any yet, nope.

Looking into those depending on what I can get for totals

[mlb]

in a world where John Lackey makes 18 million per year, Brett Myers was once paid 20 million for a season, and A-Rod makes 25.2 million per year i would say the Nationals got a deal for Scherezer.

Not one of those pitchers on the Nationals is on the same level as Scherezer.

BTW Shields for Gallardo is not really much of an upgrade IMO.

Shields is just another RHP who can't win a big game.

yeah - they have pulled themselves out of the running for Shields ... seems like they were never really in it based on reports.

Did add Pap in the pen, which I just don't understand.

[mlb]

My regression candidates for the year:

Baltimore Os
Oakland As
Cleveland Indians

[mlb]

Teams I like this year more than most:

Blue Jays
Colorado

[mlb]

we will see - but I want to get some sort of previews/predictions in here with some fantasy predictions as well - long way to go until the actual season though.

[Isaiah]

My regression candidates for the year:

Baltimore Os
Oakland As
Cleveland Indians

Can't argue about the O's and the A's but disagree on the Indians. Hearing positive things about the tribe.

[Big Bear]

Teams I like this year more than most:

Blue Jays
Colorado

i like both of those team too man. Russel Martin is going to do wonders for that pitching staff in Toronto.

[mlb]

Can't argue about the O's and the A's but disagree on the Indians. Hearing positive things about the tribe.

you may be right - I don't love their staff and their lineup has a few wholes .. i am just expecting a regression from last years record.

[mlb]

i like both of those team too man. Russel Martin is going to do wonders for that pitching staff in Toronto.

I agree. I am worried about the 162 stretch for that staff although Buerhle and Dickey are both innings eaters who historically haven't been injured, with that said, those are 2 old guys heading your staff. I love Stroman to have a monster year this year.

Love the Donaldson addition as well, he brings it game in and game out.

[Big Bear]

yeah i like Stroman a lot.

He seems like he is very durable due to his athleticsm and he seems to have that bulldog mentality on the mound.

Kyle Drabek might be a nice surprise in the bullpen and many people think Aaron Sanchez is going to have a break out year.

[mlb]

yeah i like Stroman a lot.

He seems like he is very durable due to his athleticsm and he seems to have that bulldog mentality on the mound.

Kyle Drabek might be a nice surprise in the bullpen and many people think Aaron Sanchez is going to have a break out year.

agree and I think Joey Bats has a solid year IF he stays healthy.

Waiting to see what kind of season win total is posted for these guys. I feel like they made some nice moves, but are getting overshadowed by Seattle and San Diego.

[mlb]

NL	O/U		AL	O/U
Nationals	93		Angels	87.5
Dodgers	91		Tigers	86.5
Cardinals	87.5		Red Sox	86
Pirates	85.5		Mariners	85
Giants	85		Orioles	84.5
Padres	84		Blue Jays	83.5
Cubs	81.5		Royals	83
Marlins	81.5		Athletics	82.5
Mets	81		White Sox	82
Brewers	80		Indians	81
Reds	79		Yankees	80
Braves	73.5		Rays	77.5
D'backs	72.5		Rangers	76.5
Rockies	70.5		Astros	73.5
Phillies	67		Twins	68.5
>>Atlantis Casino odds current as of Feb. 13

[mlb]

first glance leans:

Baltimore under
Colorado over
Houston over

I really don't like a whole lot.

[mlb]

Can't argue about the O's and the A's but disagree on the Indians. Hearing positive things about the tribe.

First posted win total at 81 - now I was not expecting something that low, I could maybe be persuaded into their over.

[Isaiah]

you may be right - I don't love their staff and their lineup has a few wholes .. i am just expecting a regression from last years record.

Fair point. Considering your phraseology and the fact that they won 85 games last season you are correct, regression is more likely than improvement. Hard to envision them topping 85 wins in 2015.

[mlb]

Fair point. Considering your phraseology and the fact that they won 85 games last season you are correct, regression is more likely than improvement. Hard to envision them topping 85 wins in 2015.

predictions on that 81?

[Isaiah]

predictions on that 81?

Over. More than a few smart baseball people believe Cleveland can contend for AL Central title this season. It's too early for me to jump on that bandwagon but Detroit isn't what is was last season so...

Interesting article on the tribe at http://www.baseballprospectus.com/ar...rticleid=25476

[mlb]

Over. More than a few smart baseball people believe Cleveland can contend for AL Central title this season. It's too early for me to jump on that bandwagon but Detroit isn't what is was last season so...

Interesting article on the tribe at http://www.baseballprospectus.com/ar...rticleid=25476

interesting for sure - some of those advanced metrics are pretty interesting

[mlb]

Starting my team run throughs now with the AL East - man, everyone on the Sox but their staff is a big question mark and they are basically looking for a bounce back season from about 10 key guys - I wonder if there were ever such a case where so many good, big name players were coming off mediocre years

[mlb]

Really love Toronto this year - I understand they are in with Boston and Baltimore but I like them the most - should have a crazy good lineup plus 2 innings eaters up front and some chances for breakout in the back of their rotation

[mlb]

Was told about this handy trick on another forum.

For those of you, such as myself, who are planning on purchasing MLB.TV, DL google chrome and install 'Hola Better Internet." Once it is installed, access NHL Game Center Liver or MLB.TV and you can watch blacked out games. One of the posters in the thread mentioned that the MLB blackouts were going to be done away with this year, but I am not sure about that. Anyhow, this is a nice little workaround.

Taken from High3rEl3m3nt's thread - thank him if you feel so inclined and didn't know this. I want this in here for reference when I get it.

[mlb]

Have pretty much flip flopped on Cleveland after breaking down teams. They were awful is so many areas last year and still managed a heck of a season. Even a slight regression back to "average" helps them improve .. .i.e. defense.

[EXhoosier10]

Have pretty much flip flopped on Cleveland after breaking down teams. They were awful is so many areas last year and still managed a heck of a season. Even a slight regression back to "average" helps them improve .. .i.e. defense.

I'm with you on the Cleveland pushing for the division this year, but what about them was bad last year beside from their Defense?

Really love Toronto this year - I understand they are in with Boston and Baltimore but I like them the most - should have a crazy good lineup plus 2 innings eaters up front and some chances for breakout in the back of their rotation

The difference between Toronto and Boston is their depth. Besides Donaldson, who is 30, the rest of their big 5 has at least a small injury history. Bautista, Reyes, and Martin are all projected for full seasons though all have checkered pasts. Encarnacion had a groin last year, and they're all 32years old+. If any of these guys miss time, they don't have much to fill in with. On the other hand, Boston is full of guys who are all projected to be average or slightly above average. If everyone stays healthy, Toronto will be right in the thick of it. If they lose any of those 6 for a period of time, there's not much in the way of reinforcements.

- WS odds are Boston +1600, Toronto +2800. I'd choose Toronto here. They have more firepower if everything goes right
- CS odds are Boston +800, Toronto +1500. Again, I'd choose Toronto for the same reason.
- Div odds are Boston +195, Toronto +275. I'm more inclined to lean Boston here. A ton of things should need to go wrong here for them to finish below .500. Add in that they have the firepower to make a trade at any time should a hole open up and I think their floor is much higher.
- Wins odds are Boston o85.5/-120 or o86.5/-105. Toronto is o83/-110 or o83.5/-105. I don't really love either; Boston seems too high to take the over and Toronto probably has more upside at their number, so i guess i'd take toronto.

Anyway, you're betting on a healthy year from TOR plus 3 different SP's working out. Stroman, Hutchinson, and Sanchez. If Stroman somehow takes a step back, that staff is just as bad as the red sox

[mlb]

I'm with you on the Cleveland pushing for the division this year, but what about them was bad last year beside from their Defense?

Swisher and Kipnis - 2 keys in the cog - should have said players and things that were bad.

The difference between Toronto and Boston is their depth. Besides Donaldson, who is 30, the rest of their big 5 has at least a small injury history. Bautista, Reyes, and Martin are all projected for full seasons though all have checkered pasts. Encarnacion had a groin last year, and they're all 32years old+. If any of these guys miss time, they don't have much to fill in with. On the other hand, Boston is full of guys who are all projected to be average or slightly above average. If everyone stays healthy, Toronto will be right in the thick of it. If they lose any of those 6 for a period of time, there's not much in the way of reinforcements.

- WS odds are Boston +1600, Toronto +2800. I'd choose Toronto here. They have more firepower if everything goes right
- CS odds are Boston +800, Toronto +1500. Again, I'd choose Toronto for the same reason.
- Div odds are Boston +195, Toronto +275. I'm more inclined to lean Boston here. A ton of things should need to go wrong here for them to finish below .500. Add in that they have the firepower to make a trade at any time should a hole open up and I think their floor is much higher.
- Wins odds are Boston o85.5/-120 or o86.5/-105. Toronto is o83/-110 or o83.5/-105. I don't really love either; Boston seems too high to take the over and Toronto probably has more upside at their number, so i guess i'd take toronto.

Anyway, you're betting on a healthy year from TOR plus 3 different SP's working out. Stroman, Hutchinson, and Sanchez. If Stroman somehow takes a step back, that staff is just as bad as the red sox

I do agree - injuries are a concern - injuries a concern for Boston as well, but it looks like they pretty much go 7-8 deep out there right now.

[mlb]

Exhoosier or Nasher or BB or Isiah or anyone - what's the Victorino status - he says he's going to try and win out a job because he isn't a bench player - that going to cause any friction?

[mlb]

Futures will be up this weekend - cannot wait for some baseball - work is swamping me and march madness wrapping up so beginning of the season I expect to be slow, slow, slow

[mlb]

Some admin items: Will be keeping track of a few different things in here but will update my record whenever I can or take the time to do.

Also, I have a little larger bankroll than I had when I first started playing more avidly - I will be doubling my unit size to hopefully better narrow down the plays I want to make. In other sports for the past year and a half, I have been careless playing too many games here and there or for too many units because my unit size was an amount I didn't mind losing. I'm hoping this helps a little with my discipline. I am a recreational player like majority here but I also love to do this for the challenge and try to make a little money...

[EXhoosier10]

Some admin items: Will be keeping track of a few different things in here but will update my record whenever I can or take the time to do.

Also, I have a little larger bankroll than I had when I first started playing more avidly - I will be doubling my unit size to hopefully better narrow down the plays I want to make. In other sports for the past year and a half, I have been careless playing too many games here and there or for too many units because my unit size was an amount I didn't mind losing. I'm hoping this helps a little with my discipline. I am a recreational player like majority here but I also love to do this for the challenge and try to make a little money...

it's easy to get lost in a barrage of plays. i feel ya, here.

FYI i updated resaoning for all of my future bets in my FUtures thread

[mlb]

it's easy to get lost in a barrage of plays. i feel ya, here.

FYI i updated resaoning for all of my future bets in my FUtures thread

Thanks - I will be checking in .. best of luck to start the year