2014 Projections

[Palodios]

I need to see more of the teams from the NL and othe AL divisions before making projections, but here is my projection for the ALE.

 

1. Yankees (and it will not be close if Jeter and Tex can put up representative numbers.)

2. Orioles (Tons of offense and although the starting pitching is mediocre, it is deep plus they have some live young guns)

3. Rays (Tons of live arms -- enough to stock the rotation and the pen. If they get any offense, they will catch the O's0

4. Red Sox -- it's very difficult to repeat and even harder to stay away from major injuries 2 years in a row.

5. Blue Jays -- They have done nothing to inject life into their team.

 

You're unbelievable sometimes haha.

 

I don't think any of these teams have remotely as much depth as the Red Sox. They have a solid rotation, solid lineup, great defense, great bullpen, great bench, great minor league depth, and a great farm system. No players are coming off major surgery, besides Pedroia.

 

You can't say that about any of the other teams in the ALE. As long as they stay hungry and healthy, it wouldn't be out of the question to see them make another deep run this year.

[seabeachfred]

You're unbelievable sometimes haha.

 

I don't think any of these teams have remotely as much depth as the Red Sox. They have a solid rotation, solid lineup, great defense, great bullpen, great bench, great minor league depth, and a great farm system. No players are coming off major surgery, besides Pedroia.

 

You can't say that about any of the other teams in the ALE. As long as they stay hungry and healthy, it wouldn't be out of the question to see them make another deep run this year.

 

Well thanks for your counter-thrust in reaction to my friend's ALE predictions. He let all the air out of my balloon and all the wind out of my sails with those pearls. To see the Yankees back on top of the division and us buried deep within it is too hateful to contemplate. Hey Ted, are you trying to ruin the freakin' day?

[a700hitter]

You're unbelievable sometimes haha.

 

I don't think any of these teams have remotely as much depth as the Red Sox. They have a solid rotation, solid lineup, great defense, great bullpen, great bench, great minor league depth, and a great farm system. No players are coming off major surgery, besides Pedroia.

 

You can't say that about any of the other teams in the ALE. As long as they stay hungry and healthy, it wouldn't be out of the question to see them make another deep run this year.

LOL!! Pal, let me explain. I almost never will make a prediction against my team for superstitious reasons. Usually, I refrain against predictions regarding standings. However, last off season I was so down about their chances that I predicted a 4th place finish. I really can't argue with how that turned out. Being superstitious... Well, you get it now... right?

[seabeachfred]

LOL!! Pal, let me explain. I almost never will make a prediction against my team for superstitious reasons. Usually, I refrain against predictions regarding standings. However, last off season I was so down about their chances that I predicted a 4th place finish. I really can't argue with how that turned out. Being superstitious... Well, you get it now... right?

 

Well let me remind you of something we both said to one another last March when we were either drunk, in a stupor, or out of our minds. We both made the ridiculous argument that if everyone in the division beat up on everyone else and the teams in the other divisions were strong enough, we might actually cobble about 85 or 86 wins and sneak away with the division. I remember both of us saying it could happen even if neither one of us really believed a word of it. Well, I know I didn't.

[SoxSport]

Which team will luck out this year? I wonder if it isn't the Orioles time. But they have to get lucky with their pitching.

[mvp 78]

Sox

Yanks

Rays

Jays

O's

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Wow, a700 put the Sox in 4th place. So disrespectful, I can't believe you would predict something like that.

[Thunder]

Which team will luck out this year? I wonder if it isn't the Orioles time. But they have to get lucky with their pitching.

 

I have a feeling that the Jays will. They have a good team, but just need to stay healthy. Bautista has to step up too.

[jacksonianmarch]

You're unbelievable sometimes haha.

 

I don't think any of these teams have remotely as much depth as the Red Sox. They have a solid rotation, solid lineup, great defense, great bullpen, great bench, great minor league depth, and a great farm system. No players are coming off major surgery, besides Pedroia.

 

You can't say that about any of the other teams in the ALE. As long as they stay hungry and healthy, it wouldn't be out of the question to see them make another deep run this year.

 

Lose Drew, no additional signing. Lose Salty, bring in an old and unproductive malcontent in Pierzynski. Lose Ellsbury, bring in a guy who hasn't played in 2 yrs in Sizemore. Where is the depth on the offensive side of the ball? What happens when Nava, Carp, and Napoli post .300BABIP seasons? You lost 11 wins and brought in 1 guy who can't stay on the field, one guy who is in serious decline and then fill 2 holes with rookies and call it depth? Cmon man. You have considerably less depth than you had a year ago and you will feel it.

[BSN07]

Lose Drew, no additional signing. Lose Salty, bring in an old and unproductive malcontent in Pierzynski. Lose Ellsbury, bring in a guy who hasn't played in 2 yrs in Sizemore. Where is the depth on the offensive side of the ball? What happens when Nava, Carp, and Napoli post .300BABIP seasons? You lost 11 wins and brought in 1 guy who can't stay on the field, one guy who is in serious decline and then fill 2 holes with rookies and call it depth? Cmon man. You have considerably less depth than you had a year ago and you will feel it.

 

A Yankee fan citing depth as an issue for another AL East team hahaha Yanks are the most top heavy team in the league with little to no depth just about everywhere. But Ya I'm sure everyone on the 25 man roster will be fine all year.

[mvp 78]

Beltran is old. Ells has a history of injury plagued seasons. Tanaka could flame out. Mo retired. Brian Roberts is an opening day starter. Let's just ignore that though!

[a700hitter]

Wow, a700 put the Sox in 4th place. So disrespectful, I can't believe you would predict something like that.

Did you see my explanation?

[Bellhorn04]

Beltran is old. Ells has a history of injury plagued seasons. Tanaka could flame out. Mo retired. Brian Roberts is an opening day starter. Let's just ignore that though!

 

And you didn't even mention Tex and Jeter's 'questionable', to put it kindly, durability status.

[a700hitter]

And you didn't even mention Tex and Jeter's 'questionable', to put it kindly, durability status.

The biggest challeng to the Yankees will be building a bull pen. With Mo at the end of their pen for 2 decades, they only had to build a middle pen. Now, they have to build an entire pen.

 

As for all of their other question marks, there is no denying those, but remember that we had a ton going into last season.

[jacksonianmarch]

Beltran is old. Ells has a history of injury plagued seasons. Tanaka could flame out. Mo retired. Brian Roberts is an opening day starter. Let's just ignore that though!

 

So your answer when I make a claim that the sox depth isn't as strong as it was a yr ago is that the Yankees don't have depth. Good retort. Keep on, just, keep on truckin!

[jacksonianmarch]

The biggest challeng to the Yankees will be building a bull pen. With Mo at the end of their pen for 2 decades, they only had to build a middle pen. Now, they have to build an entire pen.

 

As for all of their other question marks, there is no denying those, but remember that we had a ton going into last season.

 

Exactly. I think Robertson is an elite pen talent, one who can close and be effective doing so. I am not convinced we'll build a bridge quickly enough. By the end of the yr, I expect our pen to have figured it out. But leading up to that, we're gonna have some growing pains.

[jacksonianmarch]

A Yankee fan citing depth as an issue for another AL East team hahaha Yanks are the most top heavy team in the league with little to no depth just about everywhere. But Ya I'm sure everyone on the 25 man roster will be fine all year.

 

Maybe we can expect career years out of everyone on the 25 man. Or maybe, when we get career years out of everyone on the roster in 2013, we can expect them to continue those against the odds and against all statistical metrics for another season, right? The Kool-Aid is a-flowin this yr.

[a700hitter]

Well let me remind you of something we both said to one another last March when we were either drunk, in a stupor, or out of our minds. We both made the ridiculous argument that if everyone in the division beat up on everyone else and the teams in the other divisions were strong enough, we might actually cobble about 85 or 86 wins and sneak away with the division. I remember both of us saying it could happen even if neither one of us really believed a word of it. Well, I know I didn't.

I was just trying to cling to hope in the Spring.

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe we can expect career years out of everyone on the 25 man. Or maybe, when we get career years out of everyone on the roster in 2013, we can expect them to continue those against the odds and against all statistical metrics for another season, right? The Kool-Aid is a-flowin this yr.

 

Kool Aid is flowing in both Sox and Yankee camps. We're defending champs and you guys signed some elite talent.

 

The reality is both teams have plenty of X factors.

[a700hitter]

Kool Aid is flowing in both Sox and Yankee camps. We're defending champs and you guys signed some elite talent.

 

The reality is both teams have plenty of X factors.

This is Kool aid drinking season.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Did you see my explanation?

 

I did, I was somewhat joking.

 

So your answer when I make a claim that the sox depth isn't as strong as it was a yr ago is that the Yankees don't have depth. Good retort. Keep on, just, keep on truckin!

 

LOL worry about your own team. You do this every offseason trying to get our hopes down. We're the 2013 champs, you didn't make the playoffs. I think there is more concern with the Yankees, even though you're a big ass homer and won't admit it. KEEP SPINNING THOSE WHEELS BOY, SPIN THEM!

[a700hitter]

I did, I was somewhat joking.

I am putting you on advance notice that if we win the championship in 2014, I will again pick them for 4th place in 2015.

[reYoukilis]

Lose Drew, no additional signing. Lose Salty, bring in an old and unproductive malcontent in Pierzynski. Lose Ellsbury, bring in a guy who hasn't played in 2 yrs in Sizemore. Where is the depth on the offensive side of the ball? What happens when Nava, Carp, and Napoli post .300BABIP seasons? You lost 11 wins and brought in 1 guy who can't stay on the field, one guy who is in serious decline and then fill 2 holes with rookies and call it depth? Cmon man. You have considerably less depth than you had a year ago and you will feel it.

Pierzynski is not unproductive. He'll be more clutch than Salty. But the Red Sox are more about building a good team not just this year but in the coming years. We have alot of young blood ready for their shot and a slew of good prospects in the waiting. Because of that we probably have enough cash to plug any holes we need to fill during the year.

 

That we won a WS in what was supposed to be just the beginning of rebuilding says the Yanks should be scared.

[Bellhorn04]

I am putting you on advance notice that if we win the championship in 2014, I will again pick them for 4th place in 2015.

 

With your psychology, why make them at all?

[a700hitter]

With your psychology, why make them at all?

Because I rarely predict standings and I had never predicted the Sox for 4th place until last year. They won the Championship. I am superstitious so I am picking them 4th again. What are you not getting about this?

[jacksonianmarch]

This is Kool aid drinking season.

 

That's for sure. Let's just run down the list of improbables from last yr...

 

1. David Ortiz returns to his prime and plays a full season. The guy had trouble staying on the field the yr before and had some up and down yrs before then. So, at 38, he puts up a season akin to his age 30 season? Really, that happened

 

2. Pedroia blows out a ligament in his thumb that is needed for stability. He goes on to post a 5+ win season.

 

3. Clay Buchholz pitched like Pedro a la 1999 for half a season. The injury was the only thing that could equalize his yr.

 

4. Daniel Nava puts up an all star caliber yr a year after being DFAd.

 

5. Two of your closers blow out their arms. Your third closer, who has a long injury history, posts what is likely the best season for a reliever ever.

 

6. Mike Carp has a near .900 OPS

 

7. Salty goes from one of the worst catchers in the game to a 3+ win season in his walk yr

 

8. For the 60 games Iglesias played for you, he hit over .300. He'll never do that again

 

9. John Lackey goes from worst pitcher in baseball to beer and chicken scapegoat, gets TJ in his mid 30s and returns an ace

 

10. Stephen Drew stays healthy and posts a 3 win season after his ankle fell off.

 

I'm sure there are more, but you guys had EVERYTHING go right. The likelihood that happens again while losing key talent and relying on rookies up the middle is absurd

[a700hitter]

That's for sure. Let's just run down the list of improbables from last yr...

 

1. David Ortiz returns to his prime and plays a full season. The guy had trouble staying on the field the yr before and had some up and down yrs before then. So, at 38, he puts up a season akin to his age 30 season? Really, that happened

 

2. Pedroia blows out a ligament in his thumb that is needed for stability. He goes on to post a 5+ win season.

 

3. Clay Buchholz pitched like Pedro a la 1999 for half a season. The injury was the only thing that could equalize his yr.

 

4. Daniel Nava puts up an all star caliber yr a year after being DFAd.

 

5. Two of your closers blow out their arms. Your third closer, who has a long injury history, posts what is likely the best season for a reliever ever.

 

6. Mike Carp has a near .900 OPS

 

7. Salty goes from one of the worst catchers in the game to a 3+ win season in his walk yr

 

8. For the 60 games Iglesias played for you, he hit over .300. He'll never do that again

 

9. John Lackey goes from worst pitcher in baseball to beer and chicken scapegoat, gets TJ in his mid 30s and returns an ace

 

10. Stephen Drew stays healthy and posts a 3 win season after his ankle fell off.

 

I'm sure there are more, but you guys had EVERYTHING go right. The likelihood that happens again while losing key talent and relying on rookies up the middle is absurd

Also, don't forget that Mike Napoli was diagnosed with a degenerative hip condition in both hips but he played a full productive season.

 

and

 

light hitting rookie SS Jose Iglesias put up a .330 BA and .785 OPS in over 200 plate appearances for Boston. It was questionable whether he could stick at the MLB level, and

 

Jon Lester righted his sinking ship from 2012.

[BornToRun]

AL East:

1. Boston

2. Tampa

3. NY

4. Baltimore

5. Toronto

 

AL West:

1. Oakland

2. Texas

3. Seattle

4. LAA

5. Houston

 

AL Central:

1. Detroit

2. KC

3. Chicago

4. Cleveland

5. Minnesota

 

NL East;

1. Washington

2. Atlanta

3. New York

4. Philadelphia

5. Miami

 

NL West:

1. LA

2. SF

3. Arizona

4. Colorado

5. San Diego

 

NL Central:

1. St. Louis

2. Pittsburgh

3. Cincinnati

4. Milwaukee

5. Chicago

 

AL Wildcard:

1. Texas

2. Tampa

 

NL Wildcard:

1. Atlanta

2. Pittsburgh

 

AL Playoffs:

Tampa over Texas

 

Boston over Tampa

Oakland over Detroit

 

Boston over Oakland

 

NL Playoffs:

Atlanta over Pittsburgh

 

LA over Atlanta

St. Louis over Washington

 

LA over St. Louis

 

World Series:

 

Boston over LA, in 6 games

[mvp 78]

Everything went right last year including: WMB getting demoted, David Ross missing half the season, Drew sucking balls for 2 months after a ST injury, Hanrahan sucking and missing 90% of the season, backup closer Andrew Bailey being a garbage pile, Andrew Miller getting a season ending injury and Buchholz missing the 2nd half of the season...

 

Seriously, NOT ONE THING went wrong last year.

[rjortiz]

Everything went right last year including: WMB getting demoted, David Ross missing half the season, Drew sucking balls for 2 months after a ST injury, Hanrahan sucking and missing 90% of the season, backup closer Andrew Bailey being a garbage pile, Andrew Miller getting a season ending injury and Buchholz missing the 2nd half of the season...

 

Seriously, NOT ONE THING went wrong last year.

 

Yeah, losing your backup catcher, and injuries paving the way for an all-time best season from a closer is just awful luck.