MLB April '09 - What have we learned?

[austintx05]

You have to identify teams with their true identity, so in this thread I will be listing strengths v weaknesses for teams. Feel free to chime in.

NL East

Phillies - scored 1 run in 18 innings and then 12 in game 3. Pitching is not impressive and offense 3 games in, inconsistent.

Braves - so far living up to their hype, but I'm not sure if that is more braves or cause philly's offense was asleep for 2 games.

Nationals - they are who we know they are. start the season 0-3.

Mets - Don't see much change in this team yet. Solid offense, couldn't hold off Cinci today, but its difficult to sweep, they win the series, good job for them. Santana is santana, perez is wild (5bb/4.1IP) Time will tell on their pitching.

Marlins - solid start at home. Again we will see how much was due to florida or due to Nationals sucking. Florida take on the Mets this weekend.

[austintx05]

NL Central

Cardinals - came back to win a game they were behind and should've never trailed. Split opening series with Pirates. Cards I think will be slightly above .500 this year, don't really impress me.

Pirates - after seeing them in ST, and splitting the series in STL, they impressed me slightly. Thought they might get one, but not 2.

Astros - About what I thought, lineup looks a little better, pitching will suffer and Oswalt didn't look so hot in his first start.

Cubs - great bats, dempster is a horrible starter, keep Z out of day games and they got a shot....that is until September starts

Cincinnati - don't know what to think, yet.

Milwaukee - step back this year. Can't really tell cause they are playing SFG, they will have a much tougher time vs EAST/CENTRAL.

[austintx05]

NL West

Dodgers - .500

D'backs - .500

Rockies - .400

Padres - .001

Giants - .475

in all honesty I stay away from this division. Crapshoot to me. I think Arizona will slide, Padres will be horrible. Giants on paper seem to have a rotation that could give them a shot, Dodgers have Manny lol....hell I don't know...gives me a headache trying to figure out this division.

[austintx05]

AL East

Red Sox - Picked em 2nd in the east. They lost the opening series to the team I picked to win the East. I think Dice will struggle a bit more this year...

Devil Rays - Picked em 1st based on defense and pitching. This year will be tougher for them to get to where they were and I don't expect them to get back to the WS, but for the sake of the division I picked em. Took the series in Boston, impressive start.

Yankees - I think Jays and Yankees will fight for 3rd/4th spot in division. CC has always started off slow, they overpaid AGAIN, have no depth in the pen, Mo is a yr older and have the ability to score 9 runs a game. Exactly where they were last year. Capable offensive machine, horrible and inconsistent pitching.

Toronto - same story till they prove me wrong. Can score at home, can't on the road. We will see if that holds up when they go to Cleveland this weekend. Some young pitching, reports that Ryan's mechanics were off in ST, should be able to correct.

Baltimore - sigh, last place again.

AL Central

Cleveland - no pitching whatsoever. Series vs Texas 25+ LOB, pitching was atrocious. Lee and Carmona are returning to what they really are, avg at best. Gonna be a long season for the injuns.

KC -up and coming team, showed some hope taking 2 out of 3 in chicago. ps, get rid of farnsworth.

Sox - live and die by the home run. Not a lot of offense, pitching is avg...

Detroit - .500 - they should show a little more offense, but pitching is shaky.

Minnesota - not sure, they might be taking a step back. Lost their series opener to seattle...

AL West

Oakland - picked them to win the West, should see more offense out of them this year and some good pitching prospects too.

Angels - taking a step back and this is before the tragedy that happened. Some injuries in the rotation and its gonna be tough for the Angels.

Seattle - they have to be better than last year, but who knows. With that lineup, not so sure...

Texas - offense will produce this season. Millwood was on in his 1st start and he should be, its a contract year for him. The rest of the Rangers pitching blows. McCarthy, Benson, Jennings, Francisco, CJ Wilson....when you avg 8 runs a game it hides your other flaws in the opening series. Good start for them though. Look at overs in Arlington.

[Jshap1515]

Sorry man but this is an incredibly waste of time. Its 3 games or maybe 4 in some cases but to start saying you know the teams in this point of the season is awful. I hope you dont play your fantasy team like this, if you did you would drop Russel Martin and pick up Brandon Inge. You would drop Utley and add Emilio Bonifacio. Brandon Webb and Tim Lincecum would be no where near your roster. Common man, you can do this maybe.... after like the third week.

[austintx05]

Sorry man but this is an incredibly waste of time. Its 3 games or maybe 4 in some cases but to start saying you know the teams in this point of the season is awful. I hope you dont play your fantasy team like this, if you did you would drop Russel Martin and pick up Brandon Inge. You would drop Utley and add Emilio Bonifacio. Brandon Webb and Tim Lincecum would be no where near your roster. Common man, you can do this maybe.... after like the third week.

You obviously missed the boat. I'm not claiming to know these teams after 3 games. I am merely stating what I have seen from them. I am sure a lot will change, but I am documenting week by week so I can adjust if need be.

[alukk]

Good job austing, interesting forum

[pimike]

Good info

[Vince Carter]

don't agree with oakland winning the AL west though

[5 star bomb]

Dempster is a horrible starter? wtf... please explain???

[austintx05]

Dempster is a horrible starter? wtf... please explain???

just don't trust him, never have.

[austintx05]

don't agree with oakland winning the AL west though

then who is?

[5 star bomb]

just don't trust him, never have.

Had a great year last year, had a god spring this year and his 1st start wasnt bad...... Not sure how you come up with the conclusion that he sucks??

[austintx05]

Had a great year last year, had a god spring this year and his 1st start wasnt bad...... Not sure how you come up with the conclusion that he sucks??

my opinion of Dempster is an observation of his career and not just the last year...