AL EAST 2017 Thread

[soxfan1468927]

Sleeping on the Rays I see...

I actually think people should keep an eye on the Rays. I can see them being in the wild card race down the stretch.

They went 13-27 in one-run games last year, that is unlikely to happen again. If Ramos is healthy (and even if he is just an average catcher due to the knee), that's a huge upgrade over the dumpster fire they were throwing out there at catcher last year. Kiermaier is a damn good player, turning 27, and even if he just maintains what he did last year but stays healthy this year, that's a big improvement. He could be a 20 HR, 30 steal guy, with a really low CS%, .340 OBP, and tremendous centerfield defense just by improving slightly and being healthy.

Dickerson gets to move to DH with the acquisition of Rasmus, and with Rasmus on a 1-year "show me" contract coming off his worst season, that should be an improvement. A full season of Matt Duffy, who probably won't be as good defensively at SS as he was at 3rd, but still a defensive improvement over Brad Miller who gets to shift to 2nd where he likely won't have as much of a negative impact.

Archer finished the season better than he started it, and him, Snell, and Odorizzi could be a really good 1-2-3. And who knows on Cobb, De Leon, and Andriese for the back of the rotation, but there's certainly potential there.

Losing Forsythe hurts and outside of Colome, their bullpen isn't very good, but no one should be surprised if this team is in the race to the end.

 

[bksballer89]

@DirtDirtDirt where you at my friend?

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

@Hornsstampede2.0 & @jeffro151 thoughts on the O's this year?

Is @Bloody Brian Burke still around?

The ORIOLES took the "lets tread water" approach with the same team.
In fairness, this same team has won more game than any other AL team for the last 5 years running.

They really did nothing, but save money by replacing Wieters with Castillo.

My guess it will be more of the same. They will lead the league in homerun by a large margin.
But, unless they can learn to stop striking out no matter the count, all those homeruns wont help.

Gausman is probably the one wildcard to make them a contender. He showed flashes of being a #1 starter. If he can make the next move up AND dominate other teams like he dominates the Yankees.....maybe

Prediction: 87-75 wildcard team mix

 

[soxfan1468927]

The ORIOLES took the "lets tread water" approach with the same team.
In fairness, this same team has won more game than any other AL team for the last 5 years running.

They really did nothing, but save money by replacing Wieters with Castillo.

My guess it will be more of the same. They will lead the league in homerun by a large margin.
But, unless they can learn to stop striking out no matter the count, all those homeruns wont help.

Gausman is probably the one wildcard to make them a contender. He showed flashes of being a #1 starter. If he can make the next move up AND dominate other teams like he dominates the Yankees.....maybe

Prediction: 87-75 wildcard team mix

Bundy also. Had 14 starts last year and pitched well in about half of them. I think he'll start in the rotation this year. He's only 24

 

[bksballer89]

@obxyankeefan you should use the pickem machine this year for your MLB pickems

 

[tducey]

This division very well could be the best 1 in baseball this year, anyone else agree with me?

 

[bksballer89]

Yanks' Austin breaks foot, to miss 6 weeks

 

[bksballer89]

Randy Levine is a dick. His comments about Betances can't and won't help

 

[bksballer89]

Levine rips Betances' agent over arbitration

 

[bksballer89]

 

[tducey]

Looks like Donaldson will miss some time this spring. Think though he'll be back for the regular season.

 

[MarylandBasketball]

The Orioles need to act FAST on acquiring a starting pitcher. With Tillman out until who knows when, the O's can't rely on Wade Miley, Ubaldo Jimenez, Mike Wright, and Tyler Wilson.

Here are three realistic starting pitchers still available the Orioles should consider:

3 Available Starting Pitcher Orioles Should Target

 

[VikingFan2k2]

The Orioles need to act FAST on acquiring a starting pitcher. With Tillman out until who knows when, the O's can't rely on Wade Miley, Ubaldo Jimenez, Mike Wright, and Tyler Wilson.

Here are three realistic starting pitchers still available the Orioles should consider:

3 Available Starting Pitcher Orioles Should Target

You can have Phil Hughes if you take that idiotic contract Terry Ryan gave him after he had one good year (and still had 2 years left on his original deal).

 

[Vyle203]

The Orioles need to act FAST on acquiring a starting pitcher. With Tillman out until who knows when, the O's can't rely on Wade Miley, Ubaldo Jimenez, Mike Wright, and Tyler Wilson.

Here are three realistic starting pitchers still available the Orioles should consider:

3 Available Starting Pitcher Orioles Should Target

Thats definitely a bummer. I mean, not for me, but you know.

 

[$500 Million]

Building blocks for the future: Gleyber Torres and Clint Frazier

 

[navamind]

Levine rips Betances' agent over arbitration

What a douchebag. I'd love to have Betances.

 

[bksballer89]

What a douchebag. I'd love to have Betances.

Yeah that was awful. So unnecessary. There was no need for that at all.

 

[VikingFan2k2]

Why is all this dirty laundry getting aired? The Yankees should be trying to keep him happy and an extra couple million bucks could have done that. Instead, they are getting into a childish war of words that probably even is making Steinbrenner spin in his grave.

This kind of bullshit is supposed to be beneath the Yankees.

 

[$500 Million]

This kind of bullshit is supposed to be beneath the Yankees.

No, the on the field antics like the shadow boxing bullshit the Cubs do when they get on base is beneath the Yankees, their front office has been a hotbed for controversy and loudmouth antics since George bought the team in 1973.

 

[tducey]

Yeah, the Orioles have to do something for their pitching for sure. They have the talent on the roster but unless they get another impact pitcher it could be a long season for the Orioles.