April 15, 2006

So...who's for real and who's a pretender so far? : Isn't it a little early in the year for this though? I mean I think my Tigers are for real too, but if they start thinking so too it might jinx them. As for the Yankees, I'm not so sure they look as much like an October team as years past.

read story | posted by commander cody to Baseball at 4:58 PM CDT (61 comments total)

The Yanks opened with a brutal six game road swing with the As and the Angels--always tough, even deep into the season. They swept KC at home (admittedly not a great achievement) and now continue on a road trip that includes visits to Minnesota and I think Toronto.

When they get back to Yankee Stadium, watch out!

posted by jm_mosier at 5:26 PM CDT on April 15

No, CC, you're right. It's way too early.

posted by wfrazerjr at 5:27 PM CDT on April 15

Too early. For the sox and yankees it's going to be all about their long term pitching.

When they get back to Yankee Stadium, watch out!

Not where they play.

posted by justgary at 5:39 PM CDT on April 15

It is sort of like picking the super bowl teams based on exhibition games. I think a great team shows itself during those long hot summer nights in July and August when it seems as if you've been playing every night and the games start to blend together into one long never ending drag.

posted by commander cody at 6:04 PM CDT on April 15

The Mets are for real.

posted by doggstarr at 6:15 PM CDT on April 15

I think the Rockies are for real. (rim-shot!)
But seriously folks...

posted by uglatto at 6:35 PM CDT on April 15

I'm a Twins fan and I think they have a good chance to make the playoffs. But I think the Mets will be the team to beat out of the National league this season .

posted by ggermanctl@sbcglobal at 6:38 PM CDT on April 15

I think the Rockies are for real. (rim-shot!)
But seriously folks...

(groan) I know, I know, you're here all week and don't forget to try the veal.

posted by commander cody at 6:42 PM CDT on April 15

I think once podsednik comes around, the
white sox will be tough to beat.

posted by mugzy1 at 6:42 PM CDT on April 15

Yeah, I'm sorry about that, I couldn't help myself.

As far as the White Sox, they are not going to just glide into the playoffs, because the Indians are going to be a monster, and the Twins have the pitching staff that can mow people down. That's going to be a fun division to watch.

Jim Thome, however, is scary right now. If he stays healthy, he might be the difference maker.

posted by uglatto at 6:49 PM CDT on April 15

I just dont think that with the white sox
starting 5, that there will be to many long losing streaks.

posted by mugzy1 at 6:57 PM CDT on April 15

I think that the current standings reflect October.

NL- NYM, CHC, SF.
NL WC- Central (current #2-CIN)

AL- OAK, CLE, BOS
AL WC- East (current #2-BAL, #3-TOR)

posted by Joe88 at 7:17 PM CDT on April 15

don't forget to tip your waitress

posted by tommytrump at 7:22 PM CDT on April 15

Wade Miller is the "wildcard" for the Cubs in the NL central. This will be the year the farm system finally produces for the north side.

posted by cubboy at 7:45 PM CDT on April 15

I'm glad somebody else thinks that my Tigers are for real, but I hope this is still true when it counts.

Oh, and the Vancouver Canucks are a lock for the playoffs...

posted by wingnut4life at 8:02 PM CDT on April 15

The Tigers could very well get in.

However, the 2006 World Series Champions..

Chicago Cubs.

Lovable losers reverse the curse.

posted by Joe88 at 8:45 PM CDT on April 15

the mets are the best team right now and will carry on through the rest of the season and they will be the best then and hey will win it all BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!

posted by OSU4LIFE at 8:53 PM CDT on April 15

Tigers vs Cubs for all the marbles. How sweet it would be!

posted by commander cody at 8:57 PM CDT on April 15

Edmonds needs to wake up, and bullpen needs to get act together. Same old Izzy.

posted by jbertarellis at 9:07 PM CDT on April 15

Mets and Cubs, keep dreaming. cards beat you by at least 10 games

posted by jbertarellis at 9:09 PM CDT on April 15

I keep hearing cards every year yet no championships,,, and they get walked on in the world series

posted by doggstarr at 10:31 PM CDT on April 15

I'm glad somebody else thinks that my Tigers are for real, but I hope this is still true when it counts.

I don't know wingnut, but damned if they don't have that "Bless you boys" feeling about them this year.

posted by commander cody at 11:30 PM CDT on April 15

When they get back to Yankee Stadium, watch out!

No offense jm, but why do Yankee fans still think there is a mystic about them? I mean when you come right down to it they're just a group of guys playing on a team. It's not like Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle is going to step into the line-up any more then the Tigers can pull Al Kaline or Kirk Gibson out of retirement to hit a homer to save the game. Even when they put on the pinstripes, they're still human and what happened years ago with the dynasties are just that...years ago..

posted by commander cody at 12:00 AM CDT on April 16

The Yankees are totally beatable. Just because they're a bunch of overpaid All-Stars doesn't mean they have any chemistry. Look at tonight's line for some elaboration. And enjoy a good laugh!

I'd say watch out for the White Sox with Konerko and Thome nevermind when Posednik starts actually playing.

My early prediction for the World Series is Oakland against the Mets (Beltran, I think, will have a good year, maybe not a great year).

posted by fenriq at 12:29 AM CDT on April 16

Just because they're a bunch of overpaid All-Stars doesn't mean they have any chemistry.

Sounds like the NY Rangers.

posted by commander cody at 12:32 AM CDT on April 16

cody go to hell yankees rule u just wish u had fucking 26 world series. When ur "tigers" win 26 well talk. but untill then shut the fuck up ur team has been the joke for the last decade. theyre a joke this year. i cant wait till they start losing and we dont hear from u for a while.

posted by buffalo will never win at 1:40 AM CDT on April 16

well, the "comedy central" is no longer a joke. they have the 2 best teams in the majors in my opinion (chicago and cleveland), and with detroit plaing the way they are, they will be tough to beat. and u can never count out minnesota. the cubs will choke for sure. i like the mets to get in. what remains to be seen is that any national league team can beat an american league contender. i think that the best team in the national league this season will be worse than any second or third place team in the american league. the yankees wont go anywhere this season. if they even make the playoffs, they will be a quick first round exit. other than oakland (the white sox killers) neither of the west divisions looks like they are capable of producing a contender this season. but then again it is still incredibly early in the season. im just waiting for the royals to shock the world and go on a 75 game winning streak and shut everyone, including myself, up. that would be something. oh, and buffalo, fuck the yankees.

posted by 15yroldkid at 2:13 AM CDT on April 16

cody go to hell

Already there...married.

posted by commander cody at 3:06 AM CDT on April 16

Go PADRES...

don't get mad...

posted by mrrocnron at 4:52 AM CDT on April 16

CC, I was just pointing out that over the years the Yankees have a really good record at Yankee Stadium. Of course, when they win championships, they're good on the road too, as any championship team must be.

And the Yankee mystique is undeniable, like 'em or not, although I think it's something that's dying out, or maybe even non-existent today. Teams just aren't afraid of the pinstripers anymore, but there was a time when opponents would flop when they saw the pinstripes (see the two World Series routs of the Braves).

They are the most famous franchise in sports history, period. Lots of people hate them, but I've been on board since 1960, when Maz beat them. They lost with class, and that impressed me (even as a nine year old kid), making their many victories even more important.

posted by jm_mosier at 6:09 AM CDT on April 16

Why does anyone think Scott Posednik isn't playing right up to his ability right now?

posted by yerfatma at 7:43 AM CDT on April 16

The Cards are for real...no, they're not...yes, they are...no, they're not...oh, check back with me tomorrow!

Add Izzy; Cards up 9-3 in the 9th, and La Russa has our boy throwing. You should've heard the bitching in our section!

posted by wolfdad at 7:44 AM CDT on April 16

When ur "tigers"...

Is that your "tigers" or you are "tigers"? Because if it is you are, it's going to be a long season because I suck at baseball.

posted by wingnut4life at 7:55 AM CDT on April 16

In my mind's eye, I feel like I can see, with perfect clarity, the very picture, the actual physical representation of b.w.n.w. as he pounded out his anti-commander screed, and for some reason, the image just made me laugh out loud.

Think about it for a second. Just imagine his righteous anger and furious emotional state as he pounded out "u" after "u" after "u..." It really looks funny, doesn't it? In a sad, sad little way, I mean.

Good Lord in Heaven, man, it's Easter. Lighten up.

G'Bless.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 12:23 PM CDT on April 16

I have to toss in my West Coast pick. Go A's Oh! by the way they always start slow. Loved that opening series(2-1) against the best team money can buy.

posted by livedawhile at 1:11 PM CDT on April 16

Baseball's about consistency and teamwork and dependability and a lot of other things slumps will kill ya' and streaks are short lived most of the time the only way to win the whole thing and to stay in contention is to win the series two out of three 3 out of four if you can keep that up your team will be a contender that said I hope everyone's teams do well this year and its way too early to do this I don't judge my cubbies until june 1st and most of the time at least lately their not too bad

posted by luther70 at 3:41 PM CDT on April 16

Think about it for a second. Just imagine his righteous anger and furious emotional state as he pounded out "u" after "u" after "u..." It really looks funny, doesn't it? In a sad, sad little way, I mean.

Good Lord in Heaven, man, it's Easter. Lighten up.

G'Bless

LOL! I didn't think about it until I read your post, but thanks for the chuckle! I think I can see it now too! LOL!

posted by commander cody at 3:54 PM CDT on April 16

They are the most famous franchise in sports history, period. Lots of people hate them, but I've been on board since 1960, when Maz beat them. They lost with class, and that impressed me (even as a nine year old kid), making their many victories even more important.

You know I don't think there's any baseball team that I hate. Odd? Of course I hate the Bears and the Avs, but no baseball teams.

posted by commander cody at 4:47 PM CDT on April 16

I'm pretty sure I hate the Yankees, but I forgot why.

posted by wingnut4life at 4:52 PM CDT on April 16

I used to hate the Red Sox when I was a kid, but then just ended up feeling sorry for them. Of course since they won the series I guess it'd be ok to go back to hating them again.

posted by commander cody at 5:11 PM CDT on April 16

Hell, it's Easter--I love 'em all, even the Red Sox!

posted by jm_mosier at 6:14 PM CDT on April 16

i can easily say after going to three games this season that the dodgers are definitely not contenders :) where's my freaking column? a few other thoughts:

- the padres are worse than advertised.
- bonds looks like he's out of gas and if he is, so are the giants. no one's scared of lance niekro
- bosox starting pitching has looked good
- i like the A's in the west and to make noise in the postseason
- is anyone more overrated than scott podsednik? oh yeah, david eckstein. the guy is so scrappy.

posted by ninjavshippo at 6:28 PM CDT on April 16

Albert Pujols is for real!!! All AP did today was hit three bangs to virtually the same spot, down the left field line, the last, a two-run walk-off job.

UNREAL...

posted by wolfdad at 7:54 PM CDT on April 16

Way way way too early.

posted by gp_rider at 12:08 AM CDT on April 17

Way way way too early

Yeah, but it's what dreams are made of........

posted by commander cody at 12:21 AM CDT on April 17

Way way way too early.

Great. Now you sound like my old lady...
Not that! Boy you guys have dirty minds.

posted by wingnut4life at 7:01 AM CDT on April 17

Yeah, but it's what dreams are made of........

Carly Simon is that you?

posted by jerseygirl at 7:24 AM CDT on April 17

You people are nuts. There is lots to talk about in the first week of the season - who makes the playoffs is not part of it, though.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 8:04 AM CDT on April 17

The Cubs??? What kind of dope are ya'll smoking? The Cubs couldn't crawl out of a box (cellar), even if you took took the lid off and gave them a long ladder!The only team more pitiful is the Pirates. The Cards and Astros will both finish ahead of the Cubbies,as usual. And while my Astros may have a tough year, at least they can look DOWN at the Cubs. The Reds? They may finish third, maybe second if the Astros falter. Central pecking order should be Cards, Astros, Reds,Brewers, Cubs, and Pirates.

posted by nflhou02 at 9:49 AM CDT on April 17

Nobody knows for sure what the Cubs can do, not even Astros fans, who think they know everything. Considering Pettite is showing his age so far, and Clemens isn't coming back anytime soon, you better worry about your rotation. I know the Cubs are in the same boat, but at least we know for sure there are three guys coming back that are better than any three in Houstons rotation.

posted by sublime4390116 at 11:08 AM CDT on April 17

The Mets are going to fizzle out yet again towards the middle-end of the season. However, the big start might be enough to give em a wild card. Look at the teams they have faced so far in their matches: Florida, 2 series against the Nationals, and Milwaukee. A lot of teams could start off 9-2 if they had their first 4 series against those 3 teams. The braves have gotten off to a slow start. But dont they every year? And then around mid-late june, here comes Atlanta, and they knock off the rest of the NL east. The Braves-Mets series right now will be the first real test for the Mets. The Mets, in my words, is the team that all the good players go if they wanna get bad. Piazza was the best catcher in the game, til he went to NY. Tom Glavine and Kevin Millwood were 2 of the best pitchers in the game, til they went to NY. They are baseball's form of the Washington Redskins.

posted by zachaweenus at 11:30 AM CDT on April 17

The Mets are going to fizzle out yet again towards the middle-end of the season.

Mets and Cubs, keep dreaming. cards beat you by at least 10 games

What the hell I thought the Yankees were the most hated team in NY. The Mets lineup is thick this year it all comes down to pitching. And all you Mets haters that thought your team was gonna be 9-2 at this point. After The Mets take care of Atl this week everyone will know who the class of the NL East is..... LETS GO METS GO! 1986-2006 20 years its destiny! and not to many people can play in Queens, we just have a knack of finding ball players that were getting free money with lesser market teams.

posted by Robb Dubbs at 11:53 AM CDT on April 17

Sublime... It's true that the Astros will have pitching problems, but let's face the facts. The Cubs have not had any consistency since the days of Ernie Banks. The pitching maybe the Cubs highlight this year, but even with Cy Young and 4 clones, the Cubs will falter again. It takes more than a few pitches to win a pennant (look no further than 2005 Astros!).

posted by nflhou02 at 12:14 PM CDT on April 17

Good God, whether the Tigers get their heads out of their collective asses or not, Chris Shelton is just phenominal! How in the world did the Pirates let this guy slip out of their hands?
Oh yeah, I said Pirates didn't I? Just answered my own question, didn't I?

posted by wingnut4life at 12:47 PM CDT on April 17

Amen wingnut amen. The man is a home run machine! AND he doesn't even look like he's on 'roids!

posted by commander cody at 1:23 PM CDT on April 17

What's amazing about wingnut's Shelton post is the caption under Shelton's pic -- he became the third player ever to hit five homers in the first four games of a season, joining Barry Bonds and... Lou Brock? Lou Brock? Tuffy Rhodes, maybe... but Lou Brock?

posted by BullpenPro at 2:20 PM CDT on April 17

"the Cubs haven't had any consistency since the days of Ernie Banks" - just what every Cub fan wants to here - let's relive the Cubs of the 50's and 60's. Check their record for that period, than again maybe they are reliving that era!

posted by INOALOSER at 5:50 PM CDT on April 17

Kevin Millwood went to New York, huh?

posted by ajaffe at 9:59 PM CDT on April 17

Kevin Millwood went to New York, huh?

The Mets ruin even the careers of visiting pitchers.

posted by BullpenPro at 10:21 PM CDT on April 17

Sort of on topic -- I was just listening to the Cubs/Dodgers game, and Charlie Steiner just pointed out this stat:

Greg Maddux's record when he gets five runs of support: 176-6.

He is ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY GAMES over .500 when his team scores five or more runs. Five runs is a good amount of support, but that just seems ridiculous to me.

posted by BullpenPro at 10:50 PM CDT on April 17

And what about the Yankees?

posted by yerfatma at 6:30 AM CDT on April 18

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