Official 2006 MLB Discussion Thread!

It's that time of year again! The San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, and the two Los Angeles teams all have their pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training today. There's just something about ending the long drought between the end of October and the middle of February that feels right. Baseball needs to be played.

The crack of the bat, the smell of fresh cut grass, the pop of the glove. It's time for BASEBALL!

This year is extremely special as the inaugural World Baseball Classic takes place between March 3 and March 20. It isn't going out on a limb to say that the Dominicans, Venezuelans, Japanese and the Americans could well be the 4 semifinalists. The World Baseball Classic will next be held in 2009 and then every 4 years thereafter, similar to the World Cup.

You heard it here first, the San Francisco Giants will win* the National League West.

I also have news about this year's JC Fantasy Baseball league. Art_Core, youngvader and I are already in, and you can be too! If you want to join please PM me with your email address that I can invite you with. Certain respects will be honored for previous league players, therefore I cannot guarantee that there will be enough space if a bunch of people want to play, but I am looking to have a 12 team head-to-head league for the JC Fantasy Baseball league this year. Please PM me if you played last year and would like to join up for this year as well.

I also predict, going by the trend of the last two World Series Champions, the Boston Red Sox breaking the "Curse of the Bambino" in 2004 after not winning since 1918 and the Chicago White Sox breaking their drought of not winning since 1917(with a manager named Pants Rowland, I might add), that this year's World Series Champion will be either the Cubs, Indians or Giants. The Cubs haven't won since the Tinker-Evers-Chance double play combo of 1908, the Indians since 1948 and the Giants since 1954, the World Series with "The Catch", Willie Mays' miracle catch of Vic Wertz's drive to the deep outfield.

An Homage to the Past

It looks like the 2005 thread started by KnightWriter reached 4,909 posts and the 2004 thread started by AmazingB reached 6,263 posts after the epic Red Sox comeback. The 2003 thread started by AmazingB reached 4,111 posts while the 2002 thread started by Yodave27 reached only 2,108 posts. IF there were any official threads for 2001 or previous years, I couldn't find them or they have been pruned away.

Opening Day is now a mere 46 days away.
















































* If Barry Bonds plays in 120 games.

MJS Edit: The Offical MLB 2007 thread is open. Play ball!

 

The 2006 World Series will be the New York Yankees vs the Chicago Cubs ( ).


Ok...I don't know who the NL will send, but the Yankees are winning it this year.

 

Not that this thread needs a specific topic of discussion to flourish, but I thought I'd bring up something I saw on Mike and Mike in the morning on ESPN2 Tuesday morning. They were talking about having "legendary" status in your given sport. Steve Phillips, the former Mets GM was their guest. They began talking about Gretzky in hockey as the gambling thing is big right now, but they segued into college basketball coaches with Eddie Sutton's name coming up. He was involved in a DUI recently and in sports news was apparently being referred to as "legendary", which Mike Greenberg didn't agree with. Mike and Mike seemed to agree on Coach K, Bob Knight and Pat Summitt being legends as current college basketball coaches before the discussion moved on to baseball and it's current coaches and players.

Coaches brought up were Joe Torre, who Phillips and Golic thought is legendary but not Greenberg, Tony Larussa whom everyone agreed on and Bobby Cox, who Greenberg dissented while Golic and Phillips talked about how 14 straight division titles was such a feat and he should be considered legendary. Greenberg brought up Lou Piniella and they started talking about how "legendary" isn't just about having a winning record or a good run, but it also has to do with an ego or personality issue as well. So, even if Piniella hasn't won as much as Cox, Greenberg was arguing he felt Piniella to be more deserving of "legendary" than Cox.

When it switched over to players, the two locks for "legendary" status were Bonds and Clemens. After that, Greenberg and Golic weren't so sure, so they asked Phillips his take. One of the first names up was Ken Griffey, Jr. Decidedly legendary, said Phillips. "The Kid", who knows how far he might have gone if not for injuries. They brought up Pedro Martinez, who Phillips argued is "legendary" due to the fact that he is known by just his first name. When you can just say Pedro, and people immediately know who you are talking about, that's "legendary". Greg Maddux was not legendary according to the trio and other players like Randy Johnson were discussed. Johnson, for his great stats as well as intimidating height/mound presence was decided to be legendary. Jeter, legendary for his role as unofficial captain of the Yankees and media presence(hot girlfriends, etc.) A-Rod, will be legendary when his career is over, but not yet. Schilling, a great pitcher, but not legendary according to the three. Manny, legendary for his hitting prowess as well as his "that's just Manny being Manny" attitude. Then interestingly, Mike Piazza's name came up. Greenberg thought not legendary, but Phillips argued legendary. Phillips called Piazza the greatest catcher to play the game, to which Greenberg retorted with Yogi Berra and Johnny Bench and asked Phillips if he would rather have Piazza on his team or Berra or Bench in each of their respective primes. Then Phillips backtracked to claim Piazza as the greatest hitting catcher ever, but still claimed legendary. Greenberg brought up Pudge as being another outstanding catcher of this era, but Phillips wasn't calling him legendary.

I brought this subject up with a friend, and he mentioned Sammy Sosa. He said that Sammy Sosa would divide a lot of people. Some would say definitely legendary, others definitely not. For a hitter to be considered legendary, aside from personality and ego, where people like Rickey Henderson win out, and pure greatness where people like Cal Ripken, Jr and Tony Gwynn would excel, we figured a hitter would need at least a decade of statistical dominance. Does that seem fair to you? Of all the players named, who would you say is worthy of legendary status? Now, and after their careers are over. I'm curious what all of your takes are. As well as if you could come up with any names that might be up for a good legendary debate like Sosa.

EDIT:

 

I'll be interested in seeing if Toronto shakes things up in the AL this year.

 

[image=http://www.eteamz.com/charlestoncubs/images/cubs.JPG]

 

I would really love to see Baltimore go to the World Series, but I don't think it's going to happen this year.

 

Yes, Barry Bonds will be the most legendary cheater in all of professional sports. I agree with you wholeheartedly!

AL EAST: Yankees
AL CENTRAL: Chisox
AL WEST: Rangers
AL WILD: Tampa Bay

NL EAST: Mets
NL CENTRAL: Astros* (Cubs)
NL WEST: Padres
NL WILD: Braves
* = if Clemens plays

AL Champs: Yankees
NL Champs: Padres

WS 2006: Repeat 1998, baby...

 

[image=http://www.secrivalsstore.com/hitchcovers/MLB/LA%20Dodgers.jpg]
[image=http://www.analogartsensemble.net/dodger%20stadium%20a%20los%20angeles.jpg]
[image=http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/photo/wallpaper/dgscully_1024x768.jpg]
[image=http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/photo/wallpaper/gagne03_1024x768.jpg]
[image=http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2005/12/06/1133918577_2216-2.jpg]
[image=http://www.baseballrelated.com/images04/losangeles/thunderstix.jpg]





I'm very excited about the 2006 season. With all of the new players on the team (Nomar, Furcal, Tomko, Mueller, Lofton, Alomar, Seo), new GM Colletti & new manager Grady Little, I believe the Dodgers will rebound from last season's terrible performance & will win the N.L. West. The Rockies & D'Backs aren't going to pose any threat & the Giants are too old & have to rely on Bonds again; who knows how healthy he will be (I know the Dodgers will have health issues as well ). I'm going to my first opening day this year on April 3rd, when the Dodgers open up their season at home against the Braves.



Predictions!:

Division champs & wild card:

N.L. West: Dodgers
N.L. Central: Cardinals
N.L. East: Mets
A.L. West: Anaheim
A.L. Central: Chicago
A.L. East: Yankees
N.L. Wild Card: Giants (if Bonds is healthy & plays well), Braves (if Bonds has another crap season or is injured again)
A.L. Wild Card: Toronto



I'm not going to do any playoff preditcions until they actually start.

 

[image=http://mmii.info/icons/Celtics001/baseball_Yanks_26.gif]
Time for #27!

 

The Yankees will go all the way this year! I keep seeing on Yahoo and MLB.com that theyre calling this Yankee starting lineup the best in baseball!

 

There have been a lot of teams that look excellent on paper, that end up being nothing special come game time.

 

Agreed.
I'd rather the Yanks have the best starting pitching.

They won all those championships in the 90's with pitching, not hitting.

 

What's the countdown for the first Sheffield tirade about a contract extension?

 

I give it until Memorial Day, then he starts...

 

2006 World Series will be...

[image=http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d76/jedimasterronoc/whitesox.jpg] Vs. [image=http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d76/jedimasterronoc/cubs.jpg]

 

It's funny. Because every year they seem to focus most of their attention on hitting. Last year they did give more credence to the pitching department, but not nearly enough. You would think they would learn.

 

Hellz yea!

In terms of the Yankee pitching. I think this Yankee team is the best I have seen since the 1996-2000 team. They have 5 pitchers competing for 3 starting spots. Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina are the two already locked in. Chacon, Small, Wang, Wright, Pavano are the five competing. Pavano and Wright were injured most of last year. But pitched pretty solid when the got to pitch IMO. Now in terms of the Yankees' pen. Its much deeper then it has been in years as well.

Now I already posted my predictions in the '05 thread. But, I'll post 'em again here.

AL West: Angels
AL Central: Indians
AL East: Yankees
AL Wildcard: BoSox or ChiSox

NL West: Dodgers
NL Central: Cubs
NL East: Braves
NL Wildcard: Mets or Giants

 

Has anyone looked ahead to the schedule this season?

The Yankees's make no sense. Starting out on the west coast (Oakland and Anaheim), then heading home to open against an AL central team (KC). Then head back on the road again to play Minnesota. They dont even see a team in the division until the third week of the season, and its only a two game set against Toronto.


Their playing Baltimore earlier than usual too this season, in April.

This is one schedule I cant figure out...

 

Hi, I'm Todd Helton [image=http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/mlb/2000/0823/photo/a_helton.jpg].
No more of "Todd and the Toddlers." We're GenR and Jamey Carroll shouldn't have been picked up. *Sigh* Well, I can't wait for Ian Stewart and Troy Tulowitzki to make it, probably later in September.

 

Whats the difference? I don't understand your point.

 

Its just the Yankees in the past recent years, to my memory, have never opened up on the west coast. And usually play someone in the division within the first 2 weeks of the season. Not waiting 3 weeks in to finally see a team in the division. And only having one series at home for the opener? Something does not make sense to me there.

 

Maybe they want to switch things up a bit. I say the schedule about two months ago and I rather liked it. I actually like how its starting. Start the season off on the road against the A's, who are a team that is young and inconsitent. Then go to Anahiem and face the team that knocked you out of the playoffs because you made too many errors. Then there is KC and Min. Who the yanks should either sweep or go just drop 1. Toronto should be a great series.

And you should know that the Yanks own Baltimore.

 

I know they do, but I actually get to watch a game in April thats not on ESPN for the first time in 3 years, since the Orioles are televised here!



Note: That will be the only time I put the dancing emote and the Orioles in the same sentence.

 

Nope. You'll do it again when we sweep 'em.

 

GO YANKEES!