*2010 MLB Thread*

[The Poet]

There seems to be a whole lotta talk here about the AL Central, so lemme toss in my two cents: I see it as being pretty much what it is nearly every year, with all the other teams falling all over themselves to give that division to the Twinkies.

Originally Posted by The Poet

There seems to be a whole lotta talk here about the AL Central, so lemme toss in my two cents: I see it as being pretty much what it is nearly every year, with all the other teams falling all over themselves to give that division to the Twinkies.

I don't understand why they got rid of Carlos Gomez for JJ Hardy?

What are your thoughts on the White Sox starting rotation?

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by ChicagoWhiteSox

What are your thoughts on the White Sox starting rotation?

Don't know them that well, since they don't wear pinstripes.

I'd say Buehrle pretty dang good, and Peave's not bad, but what else they got to start the other 3 days? As for their pen, Jenks is a keeper, and Garcia's OK - except when he isn't. Aside from that, it's "pitch as pitch can", like most other bullpens in both leagues. Again, just , and worth every penny.

Originally Posted by The Poet

Don't know them that well, since they don't wear pinstripes.

I'd say Buehrle pretty dang good, and Peave's not bad, but what else they got to start the other 3 days? As for their pen, Jenks is a keeper, and Garcia's OK - except when he isn't. Aside from that, it's "pitch as pitch can", like most other bullpens in both leagues. Again, just , and worth every penny.

Ask me what I know about the Yanks
IMHO, the White Sox have the best pitching(both starting rotation and bullpen) in the Al central. You know what your getting from Burls, Peavy has been proven as well. Both are aces in my book. Floyd is a solid pitcher, winning 17 games in 2008, ERA of 3.84, 206 innings, 144 SO, and batters only average .241 against him. His 2009 was ok, almost 200 innings pitched again, and 163 strikeouts with an ERA just over 4. Danks is similar, in 2009 ERA at 3.77, 200 innings pitched, 149 strikeouts, and batters averaged .245 against him.
The bullpen is the best they have had in the past 5 years. Jenks, Thornton, Putz, and Linebrink are all proven in the bullpen.

[VirtualSmitty]

Originally Posted by ChicagoWhiteSox

What are your thoughts on the White Sox starting rotation?

Best in the division possibly. Depends if Buehrle gets over his David Cone syndrome and if Peavy manages to stay healthy all year. John Danks is pretty good I think, not sure about the rest of the rotation though.

I think it will be a toss up between the Twins and Sox. Twins are solid across the board and really upgraded their offense nicely this off season. Detroit could hang around, but I think they really gonna need another bat after all the offense they lost this of season. The AL central and west divisions should be really fun given all the changes!

Originally Posted by VirtualSmitty

Best in the division possibly. Depends if Buehrle gets over his David Cone syndrome and if Peavy manages to stay healthy all year. John Danks is pretty good I think, not sure about the rest of the rotation though.

I think it will be a toss up between the Twins and Sox. Twins are solid across the board and really upgraded their offense nicely this off season. Detroit could hang around, but I think they really gonna need another bat after all the offense they lost this of season. The AL central and west divisions should be really fun given all the changes!

I agree. It will be close between the Twins and Sox.
The Twins look really good especially after adding Hudson.

Left-hander Erik Bedard has passed his physical and signed a one-year contract with the Mariners. The contract, which has a $1.5 million base salary and up to $6 million in incentives, also includes a mutual option for 2011.

[MedicCook]

The Mariners might be the most improved team in baseball this off-season.

Originally Posted by MedicCook

The Mariners might be the most improved team in baseball this off-season.

With the exception for Milton Bradley

[MedicCook]

Originally Posted by ChicagoWhiteSox

With the exception for Milton Bradley

He could have been a great player if he was not such an a-hole and let his temper affect his game.

Originally Posted by MedicCook

He could have been a great player if he was not such an a-hole and let his temper affect his game.

Yep. And imo, he is going to have a great year with Seattle

[MedicCook]

Originally Posted by ChicagoWhiteSox

Yep. And imo, he is going to have a great year with Seattle

I think he will have a great first 2 months then he will be all hopped up on Starbucks and go crazy.

[kelmac07]

With Thome and Hudson...Twins look good too.

Originally Posted by kelmac07

With Thome and Hudson...Twins look good too.

I can't say I think the Twins are going to fare all that well...every year they bolster their roster with players that are well past their peak years. The bullpen is one of the weakest places for the Twins, and maybe I missed it, I don't recall them doing anything at all too improve that...they will do well, but definitely not a Championship team...the AL Central seems way too early to call...

[kelmac07]

Originally Posted by ScottishSmoker

I can't say I think the Twins are going to fare all that well...every year they bolster their roster with players that are well past their peak years. The bullpen is one of the weakest places for the Twins, and maybe I missed it, I don't recall them doing anything at all too improve that...they will do well, but definitely not a Championship team...the AL Central seems way too early to call...

Just saying the White Sox imrpoved a bit...as did the Twins. I actually like the Twins pick-ups a bit better. The Tigers.... The Indians...I don't think so. Royals...need I say more. The Twins have a great shot at winning the AL Central.

[The Poet]

I have a ton of respect for the Twinkie organization . . . up to a point. No matter what they do, it always seems to come up smelling like roses. They will have a good shot at winning the Central, yet not nearly as good a chance of taking it all.

[VirtualSmitty]

Never count the Twins out.

On a side note, the Yankees brought Marcus Thames back with a minor league deal and an invite to spring training. Not a bad idea, I like him a lot more than I do Randy Winn.

[TheTraveler]

Not that it may matter to anyone and at the risk of derailing the conversation I have to make an admission: I have decided to NOT blindly hate the Yankees this year. I am by no means a fan but I've been surfing another board devoted entirely to baseball and let me tell you ... I'm VERY glad to be a member here where people seem to have a good bit of restraint, patience and acceptance of others' rights to have opinions. Those guys seem to enjoy blindly hating anyone and everyone who doesn't follow their team, or even those who aren't "true" fans for blah blah blah reason blah blah blah to infinity. It stopped me being a Yankee hater anyway.

/threadjack

I'm sure all the Twins fans are crossing their fingers in the hopes that their boys make a good showing this year at their new park like the Yankees did with theirs last year. Or at least make it to the playoffs to break in the new yard.

[MedicCook]

I think the Twins will take the central, Mariners take the west, Yankees take the east and the Red Sox take the wild card.