Monday, April 06, 2009

Day 1 - Game 1

Opening day has arrived (even though we have the threat of it being ppd due to rain) - and so it begins with the same question I've been asking every April since the decade started - is this the year of 27?

There are a lot of positives heading into this season - about the only thing I am uncomfortable with would be the bullpen. I wish Sanchez would have been ready to go, and at this point, I'm still a believer that Joba belongs in the pen - but why bring that argument up again. Time will tell - regardless, outside of Karstens, Joba will likely turn out to be the best No. 5 starter in the league (C'mon you didn't think I was going to pass up an opening day post without mentioning my man did you!!)

I think the Yanks will win 100 plus games this season - and yes, I think (again) it is the year of 27.

While much focus on the AL East has been on the Rays, Sox, and Yanks - the team that has a chance to surprise are the Jays in my opinion. Not because of any player they have on their roster - but because of who their manager is - Simply put, Cito knows how to win.


Misc. Things I want to see in '09: Griffey go out with a bang, Pujols win the triple crown, Torre beating the Mets in the NLCS, Cincy to win the NL Central, KC to make the Wild Card, Karstens to win 20, Jeter to hit .340, Rivera to save 50, Tex to hit .300 and 35, Wang to win 24, Sabathia and AJ to win 19 each, and the Yanks to start the stadium off with a WS Championship.

Murphy's Law: Pavano wins the CY Young.


Anyway - baseball is back, and not a moment too soon.

.

16 comments:

old professor said...

Just a couple of last minute roster moves: Pena given the backup infield postion, Berroa sent to minor league camp and Dan Geise (the feel good story from last year) gets designated for assignment to make room on the 40 man roster for Pena. Too bad about Geise he never seemed to get untracked this spring.

Pena gives the team better defense, while Berroa seemed to be better offensively. Now the season begins.

Crash said...

Mid some bold predictions there. I like Cincy, I think KC is improved and may be in the AL Central race into August/September, but they will not make the playoffs. The Jays do not have enough pitching. ot only did the lose AJ, but McGowan and Marcum are both out for most, if not all of the season. They do have a rookie, Travis Snider who is only 21 years old and about to unleash a 35 HR season.

I think Wang, CC, and AJ could all be 20 game winners. Jeter may be real close to .340 (look for his SBs to increase this year). Cano will hit about .330. Posada and Matsui bounce back with their normal seasons (each about .275-.285 and 20+HRs), and Damon closes out his pinstripe tenure with a solid season (.310, 18 HR, 75RBI, 100+R). I can't see the Yankees not winning 100 games if they stay healthy.

AL East: Yankees
AL Central: Twins
AL West: Oakland
AL Wildcard: Angels

NL East: Mets
NL Central: Cubs
NL West: D'backs
NL Wildcard: Reds

Yankees and Diamondbacks in the World Series, Yankees win #27.

I was at the New Stadium this weekend and I will try to get some pics posted and give a full review in a little bit.

The Scooter said...

AL East....Yankees
AL Central....Twins
AL WEST......Angels
AL Wild Card....Red Sox

NL East...Phillies
NL Central...Cubbies
NL West...Dodgers
NL Wild Card.....Mets

Yankees beat the Cubs in a WS for the ages.

NL Cy Young....Carlos Zambrano
NL MVP.........Manny Ramirez

AL Cy Young....CC Sabtahia
AL MVP.....Kevin Yeukilis

Mid said...

Prior to the WBC I couldn't stand Youk's, but have grudgngly gained respect for him.

what are Tex's odds?

Mid said...

For me - I knew the game was over in the first inning.

I thought Joe G. should have had Damon bunt when Jeter led off with a good AB and single to get the tempo going - but to no avail.

Sabathia was tight - good to get a bad start out of the way.

57 said...

As a Mets fan, the greatest thing to see was that we won by a score of 2-1 with 57 leaving after 6 2/3. Last year, we would have lost this game 6-2. Putz and K-Rod will take this team to the WS!

57 said...

Scooter, I appreciate the respect you have shown the Mets by giving them the Wild Card. Please note, that Cole Hamels will get TROUNCED by the Mets this year....

old professor said...

Wow, the Mets are 1-0 and 57 returns to write about the how wonderful the Mets will be this year. Given the state of the National League, the Mets should be the wild card representative - who else would there be??

Sabbathia looked really tight during this start. Hopefully he will be better for the opener at the stadium.

Bruney and Marte did not perform as advertised.

Crash said...

Let's not forget that Sabathia started out poorly last year as well. Over his career April has not been a kind month to him. He will pick it up in May and June, hit a bump it July then pick it back up in August & September.

I think it's amazing how the Yankees can look so good the last 2 or 3 weeks of spring, then once the games count everyone tightens up.

Teixeira looked like he was trying to hard, Ransom boots a couple very playable balls, one that would have ended a rally and held the O's scoreless, Gardner doesn't make a play in CF that ends up hurting the Yanks (not sure if Melky would have even got to that ball though).

It seemed only the veterans were playing loose (Jeter, Posada, Matsui).

The Yankees have struggled against the O's the last couple of seasons and I look for that trend to continue on Wednesday as the Orioles are starting someone the Yanks have not seen before (I'm not calling him a rookie since he was with Yomiuri last year).

The Rays/Red Sox series is a great series to start the season.

The Mets get a W, even though Johan didn't look great early. The Mets bullpen will be the reason they win the NL East this year.

57 said...

Has the Cashman watch begun yet?

old professor said...

Crash, if the Yankees struggle against Baltimore this year (a team projected to finish last again in the East), you can forget about an Eastern Division Championship and post-season berth. They need to take care of business against the Birds and Jays and win more than they lose against the Red Sox and Rays.

As for playing tight, guys who have not experienced winning feel the pressure when the real season begins and the expectation is perfection and winning it all.

57 said...

The Mets are 1-0.

Crash said...

Don't worry 57 the Mets always do well right up until the last week of the season.

57 said...

But now there is Putz and K-Rod... Speaking of "Rod" what is up with A-Rod's hip "injury"....

The Scooter said...

Who wants to bet that when the Mets go on their first inevitable 3 game losing streak that 57 falls off the face of the earth again?

Crash said...

That's the lovely thing about opening week...everyone is a contender right now and all fans, even 57, can be optimistic.

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