It's getting close

[jsinger121]

Today is the day i know baseball close to starting as the red sox equiptment truck leaves fenway park for fort myers. Good thing the storm was yesterday. Not much longer until pitchers and catchers.

[a700hitter]

Anticipation is in the air, and it will continue to grow, unless you root for KC, in which case the departure of the equipment truck is the highlight of your season.

[MC Hammer]

Anticipation is in the air, and it will continue to grow, unless you root for KC, in which case the departure of the equipment truck is the highlight of your season.

I'm really tired of people using the Royals as the example for the worst team in baseball. It's the Pirates .... and it's not even close. When the Royals have 13 consecutive losing seasons then we can bring them into the conversation.

[a700hitter]

I'm really tired of people using the Royals as the example for the worst team in baseball. It's the Pirates .... and it's not even close. When the Royals have 13 consecutive losing seasons then we can bring them into the conversation.

Yes, Vegas has KC as a big favorite to go all the way.

[MC Hammer]

Yes, Vegas has KC as a big favorite to go all the way.

No, but I'm sure the Pirates odds are longer than KC's. All I'm saying is that everyone here uses the Royals as the butt of their jokes, but in reality the Pirates are a far worse franchise than the Royals.

[a700hitter]

No, but I'm sure the Pirates odds are longer than KC's. All I'm saying is that everyone here uses the Royals as the butt of their jokes, but in reality the Pirates are a far worse franchise than the Royals.

I am not as familiar with the NL, so my standard for futility is KC, except for those years when the Tigers are even worse.

[MC Hammer]

I am not as familiar with the NL, so my standard for futility is KC, except for those years when the Tigers are even worse.

Heh fair enough. I forget from time to time that most of the people on this board don't get to see much of the NL.

[riverside sluggers]

A beautiful sight, it is. Just another step closer towards seeing actual baseball be played

[vegassoxfan]

the pirates are much better than the royals. the bonds, bonilla, van slyke team was really not that long ago. they were always my favorite nl team. the royals havent sniffed the playoffs in all the time ive watched baseball.

[The Monster is my Mom]

At least the past few years, the Rockies have been pretty awful as well.

[MC Hammer]

the pirates are much better than the royals. the bonds, bonilla, van slyke team was really not that long ago. they were always my favorite nl team. the royals havent sniffed the playoffs in all the time ive watched baseball.

In the last 13 years the Pirates are the worst franchise in baseball. With 2 more losing seasons they will have the most consecutive losing seasons in the history of professional sports in America.

[yeszir]

Only in Boston can a truck full of baseball crap cause excitement.

[Manny Goes Boom]

In the last 13 years the Pirates are the worst franchise in baseball. With 2 more losing seasons they will have the most consecutive losing seasons in the history of professional sports in America.

 

Wouldn't you say they have some promise with the Wilsons, Bay, Zach Duke and the other lefty whose name has slipped my mind...I think they do. Maybe not playoff promise but better than last place.

[ORS]

Win % 1993-2005

 

KC: .440

Pitt: .443

 

KC had 3 winning season's in there (2 full, strike shortened '94), but they've been every bit as bad a Pittsburg. Of course, MC's cutoff date means that 3 95+ win seasons from 1990-1992 aren't included in the recent history. KC averaged 76 wins those three years.

 

EDIT: And you can probably take this to the bank: KC will lose more games than Pitt next year.

EDIT2: TB has only been around for 8 years, but their aggregate WIN% is .400.

[jsinger121]

the pirates might have been bad but at least there is a hope for the future with solid young pitching...more than I can say for the royals whose farm system is alex gordan, billy butler and thats about it.

[riverside sluggers]

Last in NL Central is reserved for the Reds. They're not going to be much of a threat to anyone with their pitching staff (ranked worst last season I believe). Their pitchers gave up HRs like Pez

[jsinger121]

the truck is departing between 1:30 and 2pm today.

[BoSox34]

And it's off....the start to a greatly anticipated 2006 season.

[MC Hammer]

Wouldn't you say they have some promise with the Wilsons, Bay, Zach Duke and the other lefty whose name has slipped my mind...I think they do. Maybe not playoff promise but better than last place.

Remember Jason Kendall? How bout Jason Schmidt? Kris Benson? Jon Lieber? Esteban Loaiza? Jose Guillen? Aramis Ramirez? Just to name a few. We've had this so called "bright future" for a long time. Either Spin Williams destoryed our pitchers or we just let the hitters go.

 

I'm not saying this group can't succeed, especially since we have a new coaching staff, I'm just saying we've been here before.

[MC Hammer]

Win % 1993-2005

 

KC: .440

Pitt: .443

 

KC had 3 winning season's in there (2 full, strike shortened '94), but they've been every bit as bad a Pittsburg. Of course, MC's cutoff date means that 3 95+ win seasons from 1990-1992 aren't included in the recent history. KC averaged 76 wins those three years.

 

EDIT: And you can probably take this to the bank: KC will lose more games than Pitt next year.

EDIT2: TB has only been around for 8 years, but their aggregate WIN% is .400.

 

It's my cutoff point because it's the first year of our consecutive losing seasons. We've haven't finished over .500 in now 14 years.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I think the D-Backs will contend with the Royals for the number 30 spot this year.

[jsinger121]

the dbacks will be better than most people think......they have a alot of good young talent that is going carry that franchise for a long time.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

the dbacks will be better than most people think......they have a alot of good young talent that is going carry that franchise for a long time.

 

...and that young talent just happens to be in the minors. I'm talking about THIS year. Stephen Drew, Justin Upton, and Carlos Quentin will be in the minors this year. Unless you're talking about Brandon Webb, you don't really have a valid point here, and still, having Webb is not going to change much.

[jsinger121]

carlos quentin can make it to the majors this year and dont forget about conor jackson as well. i also would not be shocked to see stephen drew in july. they have alot of talent. also they got chris young from the white sox even though he hurt himself recently. i think they will be a hell of alot better than the royals who have absolutely no hope at all.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

carlos quentin can make it to the majors this year and dont forget about conor jackson as well. i also would not be shocked to see stephen drew in july. they have alot of talent. also they got chris young from the white sox even though he hurt himself recently. i think they will be a hell of alot better than the royals who have absolutely no hope at all.

 

Even if those guys do play, do you expect them to be Superman in the first ABs/years of their respective careers? At least the Royals improved by signing some decent free agents. Arizona signed no one.

[jsinger121]

ya the royals signed free agents but they are wasting money signing those guys when its going to get them nowhere.....they should be investing the money they spent in free agency in their farm system and the draft as well the international market. i would take the dbacks youth anyday of the week over what the royals did which to me was unimpressive.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

ya the royals signed free agents but they are wasting money signing those guys when its going to get them nowhere.....they should be investing the money they spent in free agency in their farm system and the draft as well the international market. i would take the dbacks youth anyday of the week over what the royals did which to me was unimpressive.

 

News flash: I AM TALKING ABOUT THIS YEAR. It's not like they broke the bank on anyone either.

[jsinger121]

so what if they did not break the bank.....does those signings show anything to their fans....to me it doesn't.....they signed some second rate free agents.....there franchise is a joke and will be a joke until they start wasting money on players that won't even be part of there future.

 

here is what arizona brought in for 2006

johnny estrada

orlando hudson

eric byrnes

jeff davanon

 

hudson will immediately improve the dbacks defense for pitcher like webb and russ ortiz if he can ever get it put together again. arizona will not be fighting with the royals for the bottom spot and i will be shocked if they do. teams like cincy and colorado are more likely to be fighting the royals for the last spot.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Russ Ortiz blows. You mention the people they gained, but the ones they lost are far superior to those that they gained: Javier Vazquez and Troy Glaus. Now take the bad team they were last year (77-85), subtract their best hitter and second best pitcher.

 

Arizona and KC will each probably win games in the mid-60s.

 

Edit: Oh, and that 77-85 was in the worst division in the baseball. KC plays in an outstanding division.

 

Also, add another year of age on Luis Gonzalez and Shawn Green...

[jsinger121]

i say in the 70''s prolly like 72. they have improved defense which will improve the pitching. their young hitters are some of the best prospects in the game and i expect them to flourish with playing time. the dbacks have much better pitching than the royals and its not even close. they might not have an ace but they have some pretty solid pitchers and if ortiz pitches like the pitcher he once was then look for them to win in the mid 70's.