I hope to do these pieces through the MLB season. I'll chime in when I see fit. Peruse on.
The best offense in the league without a chance to make the playoffs, and the best chance to have their draft pick be in the bigs before the season is over. Tampa Bay Devil Rays This team is an exciting club with a great manager, and Don Zimmer. I would not bet against this team causing a lot of problems in the AL East next season. With Brignac and Longoria waiting in the minors, the most potent upsided offense, and tool players to trade. I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the World Series within three years. A well timed deadline trade this season could add a great arm to their staff and as soon as 2008 could be knocking at the door of the World Series.
The team most likely to implode before the season is over. Chicago White Sox I wonder how many fights are going to be in this dugout if the Pale Hoes don't start winning. A.J. Pierzynski is a ticking time bomb and Ozzie Guillen is a bigger and worse ticking time bomb. They had a magical year a few years back but this team will most likely finish last in the division.
The team most likely to be eliminated from playoff contention first. Texas Rangers It's not like I'm going out on a limb here. Statistically speaking their magic number is 83, the lowest in the bigs. You could say that the Royals, Reds, and Nationals would like to contend for this distinction, but I'll go with the faves. Other than an exciting middle infield, all they are left with is Slammin' Side Show. Teixiera just went on the shelf, and who's in that rotation again?? With regards to Rivjo, the A-Rod curse lives on not only in the Home of Starbucks, and the Bronx, but also in the Lone Star State.
The Division that doesn't look like anyone deserves to win. National League Central (National League West finishes a close second). I don't think anyone really expects the Brew Crew to stay atop this division. Most likely to win the division, gulp, Chicago Cubs. Heck they've gotten a bad rap up to this point, but if there is a manager in the bigs that can handle a situation like this its Coach Lou. If Coach can get the cancers out of the dugout that continue to question who's in the lineup everday, they have a pretty potent team. You heard it here first.
Best team in baseball. Oakland A's Have you checked their disabled list lately?? Let's see, if Bradley, and Harden, and Sreet, and Loaiza, and Duchscherer, and Kielty can get healthy, this team is sick. Hail Moneyball. Without a doubt the best team in baseball playing in the cavern that Al built. Too bad nobody in America gets to see them on ESPN because the all sports network has their #### in Steinbrenner's ####.
I hope to report back in a few weeks. Work has kept me busy and the lack of any interesting blogs has hindered my participation on the foxsports blogosphere.
Not only do the D-Rays have a very potent offense with potential to get even better, they have a rotation that is rounding out a bit. Everyone knows about Scott Kazmir but James Shields has stepped up and become the best pitcher thus far. Andy Sonnanstine has been called up and is 1-0 with one great start and one so-so debut. He also struck out 9 or 10 in a row at one point. If they can get a hold of a solid 4th sor 5th starter via a trade including either Elijah Dukes or Rocco Baldelli they can really threaten to get to the playoffs next season.
BY the way, they gota kid named Brendan Harris that is really ripping the ball.Iwamura has panned out as a solid import and WTy Wigginton is an underrated super-utility guy. THose pieces added to Delmon Young, Carl Crawford, Bj Upton, Carlos Pena and the emergence of Al Reyes as a closer can spell trouble for the American League.
Curse, what curse? I don't believe in curses. Well I used to, especially after Boone took Wakefield deep in game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. Then 2004 happened and my dreams were shattered. Hmmm...I do believe they practice black magic in A-Rod's Dominican Republic. Maybe they hate him there too.
All kidding aside, I have to agree about the Tampa Bay offense. They have so many great young players that can do multiple things. If there were some way for the Yanks to get Carl Crawford, who always seems to get shopped, that would be great. I need to find out when he becomes a free agent. He'd look great in pinstripes.
As for Ozzie Guillen. Part of me likes him and the bigger part thinks he is a major ####. I like his fire but he is too "unprofessional" to be a consistent effective leader.
I do like the Brew Crew and hold out hope for them in the NL Central. As for the A's...maybe it's my Yankees allegiance but they never scare me. I think I need to look into them a bit more carefully.
I'll keep a look out for the next installments down the line. Thanks for the mention. It was a most pleasant surprise.
welcome back....i still have you on my faves! No Angels on the best team? They are hot (at least before the played the Reds) and look good right now. PLUS THEY HAVE THAT ANAHEIM GOOD LUCK THING GOING ON!
Nice Post.
I have to disagree with you on one thing: the NL West. While it may not have the sexiness of the AL East, the NL West has three teams that seem to trade the lead on a regular basis. And all three teams are above .500.
I agree that the A's are a good team, but right now they are not the best team. In all fairness they have half their roster on the DL. Once they get healthy, they will give the Angels a run and perhaps make the playoffs. Dan Haren's a stud, and Nick Swisher is rapidly becoming an elite player.
I won't be surprised if Tampa Bay ends up in second place THIS YEAR. New York is old, Toronto is underachieving, and Baltimore is a never were.
chitown - I am loving the D-Rays, and I guess I'm not the only one on the bandwagon. Kazmir, Shields, and Price could be as good of a 1,2,3 as anyone has right now. If there is a team in the majors I'd pay to see right now, it would be T.B. It's only a 7 hour drive for me and the second closest major league park from where I live (the closest being Turner Field).
I'm glad to see some other people are jumping on the band wagon. Unfortunately the Rays are inn the AL East where $$$'s rule the day, so they will always have more competition than other teams.
On a related note, it really looks like a bunch of Rays players that deserve to be allstars this year are gonna get shut out. Look at my latest post.
Dude...you had me until you reported the A's as the best team in baseball. You can't predict the fortunes of a team on what "Could have Been" if they were all healthy. Every team in baseball has had their run ins with the DL.
Other than that...Nice read. I like your first four points.
Pig - Yeah, but you live in Michigan. Seriously when will you have the privilege of seeing the Athletics play? They certainly don't get any play on the television up there. Here's my defense...
#1 Haren, Harden (when healthy), Gaudin, Blanton, Loaiza (when healthy) - arguably one of the most well rounded rotations in baseball
#2 Defensively as solid as anyone - Kotsay one of the best defensive centerfielders in the game, Ellis the most solid defensive second baseman in the game, Crosby one of the best shortstops defensively in the game, Chavez a well above average third sacker, Kendall still as good behind the plate as they get, Bradley can track it down in either corner outfield position, and so can Stewart
#3 With Duchscherer, Street, and Kennedy or Blanton in the pen - 1-8 on the mound is awesome
#4 Their offense is productive with Stewart, Swisher, Cust, and with whoever plays first base they are competitive.
#5 With all of these injuries a guy like Buck has a chance to prove his worth on the big stage. If Buck continues to get in the lineup he is a candidate for rookie of the year.
#6 Piazza
Although dependent on their health, which they should be healthy the last 1/3 of the season, they will make lots of noise in the playoffs. You may be right, but I am sticking with it!
Published sports column contributor, but I'm about the 560th ranked blogger on this site. I'll keep most of my posts sports related. My sense of humor exists to amuse myself. This has happened by default because I rarely seem to amuse anyone else. I'm ashamed that my favorite professional sports teams are from the city of San Francisco.
Favorite sports listed from favorite to least favorite: duck-duck-
goose, red-light green-light, freeze tag, marco polo, and hop-scotch.
