MLB 2018

[Scott Bails]

.... before I begin to remove the human element. I consider that sacrosanct.

Ugh. I'll never understand why anyone cares about this.

[Scott Bails]

What else would some of us consider hallowed ground?

How about wooden bats?

Wooden bats are a good one.

Pitchers hitting.

Real grass.

The AL and NL only meeting for the All Star Game and World Series.


Get off of my lawn.

[progeezer]

Not that it means a hell of a lot, but look who has the best spring training record in MLB.

[ronmac]

Ugh. I'll never understand why anyone cares about this.

Different strokes, bro.

[Scott Bails]

Different strokes, bro.

Absolutely.

[Jerjo]

We'll never hear a ping at a major league game. The ball goes faster and further off wood. A high school or college pitcher might not be able to get out of the way from a drive off a wooden bat but you are expected to be able to if you're in the big leagues.

[Scott Bails]

We'll never hear a ping at a major league game. The ball goes faster and further off wood. A high school or college pitcher might not be able to get out of the way from a drive off a wooden bat but you are expected to be able to if you're in the big leagues.

Agreed. Especially when you have guys like Madison Bumgarner getting injured on come-backers.

[ronmac]

Looks like Albert is in trouble for ringing his Belle in public.

[SteveSly]

Awesome. I have toyed with the idea of doing one of those spring training vacation packages. One of these years...

This is the first year in many years that we will not be in Florida during Spring Training. If you ever get the chance it is a lot of fun. We usually hit two or three games. They are laid back, relatively cheap, and everyone is there just enjoying the sunshine and having fun. I have never been to Arizona, but in Florida there are a lot of teams located fairly close together, so you can hit several different ball parks pretty easily. They are all different and have their own unique characters. Being a Tigers fan I am impartial to Joker Marchant stadium which has just been renovated to be one of the best facilities down there IMO, but some of the other parks are really nice as well.

[Gruno]

I have never been to Arizona, but in Florida there are a lot of teams located fairly close together, so you can hit several different ball parks pretty easily.

Out here in Arizona it is relatively the same. Where I live, there is a field 10 minutes from me. Other fields are within 20-40 minutes from there in either direction.

[ronmac]

Mama mia! I can taste opening day!!

Pretty soon, every game will count.

What will be the first in-game conspiracy???

[Scott Bails]

Probably something involving mound visits.

[Jerjo]

Or exclusive to this forum, the Baltimore Orioles

[progeezer]

Only the Shadow knows.

[ronmac]

[Scott Bails]

And yet.....they're underdogs.

[ronmac]

And yet.....they're underdogs.

They are? It depends where you look. Predictions are typically silly, anyway. It's usually a way for sports writers to exercise some kind of faux power over the types of guys who used to beat them up in high school.

[Scott Bails]

They are? It depends where you look.

I looked at a NY newspaper

Probably the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen

[ronmac]

I looked at a NY newspaper

I think they're being a bit facetious there, bro. I'm not suggesting they're favorites. But, if you think about it, every team other than the Astros are underdogs.

[Scott Bails]

I think they're being a bit facetious there, bro. I'm not suggesting they're favorites. But, if you think about it, every team other than the Astros are underdogs.

It's a Cashman quote.

And the Yankees should be the favorites on everyone's predictions.

[progeezer]

I truly, honestly and sincerely, even if it's not the Beerboys, hope each & every year for a small market team with (one of) the lowest payrolls in MLB to win it all.

Just how I roll, even though my roots are in NYC rather than WI. Sorry, Ron.

[ronmac]

It's a Cashman quote.

And the Yankees should be the favorites on everyone's predictions.

Yes, it's a Cashman quote, but that's the public/media relations side of him speaking. I'm not suggesting he really thinks they're favorites or underdogs. He's playing a game. And he's too smart to make predictions. Could you imagine the outcry if he DID anoint them as favorites? He'd be skewered.

You're reading too much into it.

[ledsox]

Here are the current projected win totals for 2018 from the excellent Fangraphs site. Top 15 teams...

Astros 100
Yankees 95
Indians 94
Cubs 94
Dodgers 93
Red Sox 93
Nationals 89
Blue Jays 86
Cards 85
Angels 84
Mets 82
Twins 82
Diamondbacks 81
Giants 81
Mariners 80

[Poisoned Youth]

Interesting. That’s pretty low on the Nats considering they have a full roster ready to go and there isn’t a great deal of competition in the East. I also think it’s low on the Twins and Diamondbacks. And the Brew Crew isn’t on the list! I guess we will revisit this in September. Thanks for sharing.

[progeezer]

It amazes me that the Brewers aren't rated higher than anyone from the Blue Jays on down. Now I'm pissed and even more into them embarrassing pundits.

It will amaze me even more if the Brewers don't finish ahead of the Cards in the NL Central.