Official MLB 2018 Season Thread

[T1000]

Pitchers and catchers report in about one month (2/13-15) players report one week later. Season also starts early this year, last week of March.

Hot stove has been freezing cold this winter.

Notable trades
Yankees trade three nobodies for Giancarlo Stanton

Notable free agent signings
Angels win the othani aka Japanese babe Ruth sweepstakes
Phillies sign Carlos Santana 3/60
Mets sign jay Bruce 3/39
Angels sign zack cozart 3/38
Rockies sign wade davis 3/52
Indians sign yonder alonso 2/16

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cb...ot-stove-signings-best-players-available/amp/

Free agent tracker ^^^^^

 

[hollywood9826]

Cole would be great fit in HOU. Lunhow claims nothing is imminent. HOU bullpen could come around on their own or you see them sign a guy like greg Holland to beef them up a little bit. The Astros can actually improve on the roster they had last year. They got crap production from the DH and simply having a league average DH will probably get them a few estra wins. Correa only paid 100 or so games if they can 150 from him there is another improvement. No reason they cant win over 100 games. But the AL west will be tough. Angles will be better, Marines had terrible injury luck and will improve just because guys stay healthy, Rangers are pretty decent, and OAK is not a terrible team either.

If they do pull off the deal for Cole then I assume you will see him throw more offspeed stuff because that seems to be what the Astros do there pitchers pound the zone with breaking pitches. Cole's only problem is his fastball has a habit of being hit out of the yard.

 

[Topspin Shot]

As of now the Astros have not acquired Gerrit Cole.

 

[T1000]

As of now the Astros have not acquired Gerrit Cole.

My bad. Only saw the initial news that the deal was done yesterday. Edited op

 

[mavsman149]

Go Cards!

 

[T1000]

Spring training games begin tomorrow.

Mlb is limiting mound visits to speed up the game but there is no penalty if you go for a visit after your visits are used up. You are allowed to go to the mound with the umps permission after all your visits are used up if you are crossed up on signs.

The whole thing is stupid tbh and isn't going to help. Pitchers and batters are taking longer in between pitches so the only real fix is a pitch clock. A writer looked at two similar games in 1984 and 2014, the only difference was the pitchers and batters taking longer. I'll link the article later. Scherzer said minor leaguers just step off or ask for time to reset the clock so it wouldn't help anyways

 

[jaggy]

This season it's the Padres

 

[hollywood9826]

^^^^^

OK That's funny.

In all seriousness The AL is going to be interesting. I think HOU is still the cream of the crop and if their pitchers stay healthy they not only have a great chance to defend the title they have a great chance at breaking the all time wins record. Their offense is that good. But the Angles got way better and the other AL west teams are not bad. The angles got better by basically replacing a bunch of dudes who were basically garbage with average players. Moves like that are not sexy but replacing terrible with average is just as good if not better than replacing average with good. Add Otani to the mix and the Angles are good team to pay attention to. The Rangers and Mariners are pretty good ball clubs which could be the reason HOU don't break the record.

AL Central should be a CLE steamroll, but they stumbled a little last year before locking up the div late.

The east to me is a two horse race. BOS is the defending champ and I still like their pitching better than the Yanks. Add JD to the BOS lineup and they are still slightly better. BAL is in do whatever we can to make Machado look great so we can trade him mode. TOR and TAM are decent, but they don't feel like upper echelon teams, but thy are not chopped liver either.

Early prediction, HOU, BOS and CLE wind DIV. NYY and LAA wild cards.

I haven't seen much change in NL playoff picture. NL east should be WAS steamroll. NL Central is a crap shoot of mediocrity. NL West should be a dodgers steamroll.

Early NL predictions. WAS, STL, LAD win the divisions. AZ and COL wildcards.

 

[T1000]

2 days away from opening day.

Predictions

AL
Yankees Indians Astros
Red Sox Angels
MVP Trout
CY Sale
Manager Boone
Rookie Giolto

NL
Nationals Cubs Dodgers
Mets Diamondbacks
MVP Goldschmidt
CY Degrom
Manager Callaway
Rookie the guy on the braves

WC
Red Sox defeat Angels
Mets defeat Diamondbacks

LDS
Indians 3 Red Sox 1
Yankees 3 Astros 2
Mets 3 Dodgers 2
Nationals 3 Cubs 1

LCS
Yankees 4 Indians 0
MVP Didi
Nationals 4 Mets 2
MVP Rendon

WS
Yankees 4 Nationals 2
MVP Sanchez

 

[hollywood9826]

If healthy I think the Astros get back to the series.

I think the Red Sox pitching carries them to division title Yankees a couple games back.

Red Sox / Indians / Astros
Yanks / Angels
MVP Trout
CY Kluber

Nats / Cubs / Dodgers
Dbacks / Brewers (was gonna say giants, but no Madison for 2 months)
MVP Harper
CY Kershaw

Angles beat Yankees
Dback beat Brewers

Astros over Angels
Indians over Red Sox
Astros over Indians

Nats over Brewers
Cubs over Dodgers
Nats over Cubs

Nats win the WS in 6 Games Harper wins NL and WS MVP and signs a 500 million 12 year contract with the Phillies in offseason.

 

[T1000]

It's finally here. Happy Opening Day baseball fans

 

[Topspin Shot]

Cubs beat writer jumps in a lake. Giancarlo hits 2 home runs. Adam Jones walks off in Baltimore. A good day.

 

[T1000]

Cubs beat writer jumps in a lake. Giancarlo hits 2 home runs. Adam Jones walks off in Baltimore. A good day.

You forgot Mets blowing out the cardinals and the Red Sox choking against the rays. The dodgers Giants game was also entertaining

 

[Feña14]

I try to keep up as much as I can, but it's hard over here.

We get all the games, but without the news shows, Baseball Tonight etc.. It's tough.

 

[stringertom]

You forgot Mets blowing out the cardinals and the Red Sox choking against the rays. The dodgers Giants game was also entertaining

And da Bears beating da Chiefs 14-7...seven homers total with three by one hitter (Matt Davidson's first ever multi HR game) on Opening Day for the first time since 2005. It is just the fourth 3-dinger Opening Day game and three have now occurred vs KC.

Also, King Felix outdueled Cy Kluber, 2-1. Hernandez threw just into the sixth but shut the Tribe down on 83 pitches (0 ER, 2 hits, 2 BB, 4 K) before getting pulled. Kluber's lone mistake cost him with a 2-run dinger by Nelson Cruz.

All in all, 33 HR's with 32 leaving the yard with at least one HR in every game except Brewers/Padres.

 

[stringertom]

I left out George Springer's entry into the record book...first leadoff hitter to start consecutive seasons with a leadoff dinger!

 

[hollywood9826]

A lot of homers are going to be hit this year. First pitch of the season the guy takes yard.

Chris Davis batting leadoff, Judge rumored to be possibly hitting leadoff. The game is changing.

I think the Yankees and Orioles both are going to break the single season team HR record.

 

[hollywood9826]

I left out George Springer's entry into the record book...first leadoff hitter to start consecutive seasons with a leadoff dinger!

And his 100th career to boot.

 

[stringertom]

O's walkoff was their third consecutive Opening Day dancetime.

 

[T1000]

Also, King Felix outdueled Cy Kluber, 2-1. Hernandez threw just into the sixth but shut the Tribe down on 83 pitches (0 ER, 2 hits, 2 BB, 4 K) before getting pulled. Kluber's lone mistake cost him with a 2-run dinger by Nelson Cruz.

I did forget that one. I even watched it which makes it worse lol. The crowd was really into the game which made it a fun one.

 

[T1000]

I try to keep up as much as I can, but it's hard over here.

We get all the games, but without the news shows, Baseball Tonight etc.. It's tough.

I used to only watch my team (the Mets) and ignore everyone else until I started playing fantasy. Now I'm watching 5 games a day. You would probably like it. Could just do daily if you don't want to do season long

 

[Feña14]

I used to only watch my team (the Mets) and ignore everyone else until I started playing fantasy. Now I'm watching 5 games a day. You would probably like it. Could just do daily if you don't want to do season long

Why didn’t I think of that! I’ll try and play a few days over the weekend and see how I get on.

 

[stringertom]

Stanton got the splash and propelled the Yanks to the Opening Day win but the unheralded pickup of Brandon Drury from the D-backs paid off in game 2 as the new 3Bman drove in two runs in the 4-2 win over T-dot. 2nd year Yank Tyler Wade also drove in two to expand the lead to 4-1.

Tanaka threw 6 strong, giving up 3 hits, 1 run, struck out 8 and 0 BBs.

Stanton/Judge/Sanchez went 0 for 12, 4 Ks and Sanchez scored a run on a Drury double.

 

[stringertom]

Deja vu all over again in LA as the hated Giants shut out the Dodgers again with Joe Panik hitting another solo HR for the 1-0 win.

 

[T1000]

Yankees call up andujar as an injury replacement. You know you're stacked when your call up is significantly better than the guy he's replacing

And I know it's early but I can't see kapler lasting a full year. First game he takes his ace out after 68 pitches and leading 5-0 or 5-1. Last night he just brought in a reliever who wasn't warming up lol. As a met fan I approve but I feel bad for his pitchers. He's gonna get a couple of them hurt managing like this

 

[stringertom]

SF/Panik 2 runs for a 4-game series and they salvage a split of the series? Gotta be a record!

 

[stringertom]

LOL...LAD give up 4x runs in one game than surrendered in 4 games as Arizona rallied twice to win in 15 innings, 8-7. Jansen blew a three run lead in the bottom of the 9th (3-run jack) and his ERA now sits at 18.00. The D-backs fell behind 7-6 in the top of the 15th but came up with consecutive RBI knocks for the walkoff win.

 

[marc45]

Brian Dozier whining about a bunt is all about trying to gain an edge

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...baseball-unwritten-rules-silly-brilliant-same

 

[stringertom]

Update on LAD's closer Jansen's early struggles...the Panik HR was on a cutter below 90mph; last night vs the D-backs, the pitch count rose in the ninth with two outs, then two walks before serving up the 3-jack on a 90.5mph with no location. Manager Dave Roberts is attributing the closer's problems to mechanics, not any injury.

Jansen's out pitch is the cutter and a 93mph with break was virtually unhittable in '17. It's meatball city until Jansen and the pitching staff corrects the flaws.

 

[Turbo-87]

It's going to be a long season for my KC Royals if their pitching doesn't get any better. Right now I am predicting a 70-92 season with them trading Mike Moustakas at the trade deadline for more prospects for their depleted farm system after making trades to get that long awaited WS victory.

 

[T1000]

Ohtani with a 3 run bomb for his first career homer. Could've had a grand slam if Tomlin didn't throw a wild pitch two pitches prior

 

[stringertom]

Thank God for Didi and the short porch in RF that was built for The Bambino in OYS and mirrored in NYS! His monster game gave NYY the win (8 RBI on 2 short drives and a 2-run single). He also gave the Yanks enough at bats to allow Stanton the opportunity for the Platinum Sombero...15 strikes in 5 ABs.

 

[hollywood9826]

It's going to be a long season for my KC Royals if their pitching doesn't get any better. Right now I am predicting a 70-92 season with them trading Mike Moustakas at the trade deadline for more prospects for their depleted farm system after making trades to get that long awaited WS victory.

KC is in full tank mode like over half of baseball. They trade Moustakas for sure. Don't plan on their pitching getting better. I like your record prediction feels about right but Ill take over 92 losses.

Nice Avatar

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Jesus the Yankees are stacked. Not sure Houston will be able to fend them off this time around.

NL looks a lot more wide open. Dodgers are probably going to find motivation hard to come by after being so brutally close to the title last year.

I'm still really wanting to see a Cubs-Yankees World Series, so I'll go with that as my pick.

 

[Steve0904]

Jesus the Yankees are stacked. Not sure Houston will be able to fend them off this time around

Tell me about it. I'm just happy the Jays got a split with them for now. But the Jays are looking good. Pounding the ball in that tiny ballpark they have. Pretty sure it won't last though. They're the oldest team on average in the MLB and I've just gotten too used to them relying on the HR.

Donaldson has to stay healthy if they want any chance and they have to pitch like it's 2016 again. Last year was painful. They couldn't hit with RISP if their lives depended on it. I do like how Granderson looks in the leadoff spot though, and Diaz is on fire. Never figured out why they traded Ben Revere. He was the perfect leadoff guy, and their offence went in the toilet shortly after he left.

 

[marc45]

Will fans embrace MLB games only available on Facebook?

The Great MLB on Facebook Experiment is about to begin.

http://awfulannouncing.com/facebook/will-fans-embrace-facebook-only-mlb-games.html

 

[marc45]

my Indians, worst team batting average in the bigs, two wasted Kluber good starts

2-4

 

[marc45]

Ohtani with a 3 run bomb for his first career homer. Could've had a grand slam if Tomlin didn't throw a wild pitch two pitches prior

Indians helped to make him a star this series, he was a better hitter than every Indian...and he pitches!

 

[stringertom]

91 years later we have the first taste in game 6 of the season what the 21st Century Murderer's Row could produce...Judge, Stanton and Sanchez going yard in the same game. If Severino, Tanaka and Sabathia can stay healthy and the bullpen gets fixed (Betances), 110 wins??? Probably not but I like their chances for the AL East crown and avoidance of the WC roulette.

Good to see Stanton break out of the mini-slump since Opening Day.

 

[T1000]

Tebow homered in his first at bat with low A Columbia, homered in his first game with high A St. Lucie, and today homered on the first pitch he sees with AA Binghamton. You can't make this stuff up. I hope he makes it to the majors one day

 

[T1000]

91 years later we have the first taste in game 6 of the season what the 21st Century Murderer's Row could produce...Judge, Stanton and Sanchez going yard in the same game. If Severino, Tanaka and Sabathia can stay healthy and the bullpen gets fixed (Betances), 110 wins??? Probably not but I like their chances for the AL East crown and avoidance of the WC roulette.

Good to see Stanton break out of the mini-slump since Opening Day.

Zero shot at 110. I'd say 98 and the division with a high of 102. Will def beat the over (94.5). Boston's offense and bullpen are bad can't see them winning the division

 

[hollywood9826]

Jesus the Yankees are stacked. Not sure Houston will be able to fend them off this time around.

NL looks a lot more wide open. Dodgers are probably going to find motivation hard to come by after being so brutally close to the title last year.

I'm still really wanting to see a Cubs-Yankees World Series, so I'll go with that as my pick.

I still like Houston, They are better and more consistent offensively because they hardly ever strike out. They have a huge advantage in starting pitching. Yankees appear to have a huge edge in bullpen, but HOU will trade to fix that if they need to. They seem to be the class of AL right now. But CLE and BOS will hit eventually and if BOS hits at all they will right there too.

 

[stringertom]

Zero shot at 110. I'd say 98 and the division with a high of 102. Will def beat the over (94.5). Boston's offense and bullpen are bad can't see them winning the division

Scary part of that 110-win standard of the 1927 Yanks...done in 154 games. That .714 ball would equal 115 wins now. Only the 1906 Cubs (crazy 116-36/.763) and the 2001 Mariners (116-46/.716) have beaten that pace. 1998 Yanks came close at 114-48.

 

[stringertom]

Shohei you jest! A dinger in every home game. At this pace, he could go for the collar on the road and still crush Bonds' record.

#BeyondBambino

 

[insideguy]

Jesus the Yankees are stacked. Not sure Houston will be able to fend them off this time around.

NL looks a lot more wide open. Dodgers are probably going to find motivation hard to come by after being so brutally close to the title last year.

I'm still really wanting to see a Cubs-Yankees World Series, so I'll go with that as my pick.

Yanks already heading to the DL. Remember Stanton is very injury prone as well. Yanks will need pitching u can't just slug your way to a title.

 

[T1000]

Mets already beating up on the gNats I love it. Bs ejection for rendon tho.

Shohei you jest! A dinger in every home game. At this pace, he could go for the collar on the road and still crush Bonds' record.

#BeyondBambino

He's been fun to watch. He's trying to be the first to win 10 games and hit 10 homers since the bambino did it. Nice to see the bad spring looks like an adjustment to the speed of the game and not him being a bust. The more stars the better for the sport.

Yanks already heading to the DL. Remember Stanton is very injury prone as well. Yanks will need pitching u can't just slug your way to a title.

He's not really injury prone. His last lower body injury was 2013 and his two most recent injuries were the result of being hit by a pitch. He's been fine for 5 years now. The bullpen will come around and the rotation will be fine once Adams gets called up. Gray and Tanaka as the 3rd and 4th starters will make that rotation one of the better ones in the AL. Their minor leaguers are better than the guys in the majors they're just not up so the yanks can have extra years of control

 

[stringertom]

Phillies lead the Marlins 17-1 and they're not finished with their bats in the fourth inning. Two grand slams and a 3-run jack account for 11 of the runs.

The Yanks won 8-3 without one dinger. Judge is warming up but Stanton is still struggling...0-2 with 2 walks.

 

[stringertom]

The Phillies cooled their pace and settled for 20-1 as they try to close out the ninth vs the poor Marlins.

I feel for Donnie Ballgame.

 

[stringertom]

Role players stepping up and carrying the load today for the Yanks as they spank the O's early, 5-1 top of the third. RBI's by Andujar, Romine and Torreyes.

 

[marc45]

Ryan McCrystal‏ @TribeFanMcC 29m29 minutes ago
Since 1994, the Indians rank 9th in MLB in HR hit at home.. but they rank 1st (by a HUGE margin) in walk-off HR Only one way to explain it... #JacobsFieldMagic