MLB-What team/div do you follow closely. Lets all work together.

Let me know what team or divisions you gentleman follow the closest. The reason I ask this, I'd like us to work together and share thoughts..

For example I follow the Dodgers and the NL West very close, maybe you follow the AL Central the most, maybe you're a Twins fan and you know all the ins and outs of the team..

So tell me what team and or divisions do you really follow closely?

mlb

i love baltimore look what the new manager has done for them late in the season last year baltimore was on fire and preseason they are on fire i see them being a much better team this year and could be in the division race yankees are not a playoff team not know and boston is a 50/50 i just think baltimore could be a sleeper if they play like they are

keep in touch with balty my man..

gyno: Dodgers
silverfox1: O's


anyone else?

Great thread Gyno. Lets all share and prosper! :toast:

what team you follow closely?

and baltimore has beaten the yankees in preseason i still belive they can beat them again

I am in the Chi and follow the White Sox.

gyno: Dodgers
silverfox1: O's
Drudes24: White Sox


Good I need help with White Sox. Thanks drudes, hope you stick around and help.

I follow the Cardinals daily, I know there are a few others guys who do as well. My thoughts so far from a betting perspective:

Pitching I really feel Kyle Lohse will at least start the season well and perhaps be good value early, I think Kyle McClelland will be good also he wants to be a starter so for him it is definitely an audition and he has the tools if he can handle the innings. I expect Jamie Garcia to take a step back and Carpenter will most likely gut out another good year, but you don't find value on him often and I would not be surprised to see his numbers drop off. Westbrook I believe will be solid and I am curious to see how his prices are, I like him but not at a big price.

The bullpen will be good, maybe not as good as last year. McClelland has moved to the rotation after Waino went down and Motte has been flaky this spring. Franklin is another year older. However I think Salas is a comer and the lefties will be better this year. They are a very well coached group and will perform.

Offensively there are a few question marks, Theriot is having a bad spring at the plate but Schumacher is red hot. These guys need to be on base for Holliday and Pujols. If Berkman can stay healthy, and Theriot and Schumacher can get on, I think the offense will be improved. If everything did click for them with Berkman and Theriot, and Rasmus progressing they could be a very good offense but I am not that optimistic so far.

Early I am looking to back Lohse and McClelland if their prices are where I expect them to be.

I think the NL Central will beat the hell out of one another get in with 85 wins or so and get bounced in the first round of the playoffs. I really thought the Brewers may have a leg up but now I am leaning towards the Reds again, but honestly it is a wide open division.

willie, I love it.. Please stick around..

gyno: Dodgers
silverfox1: O's
Drudes24: White Sox
williemcgee: Cards and NL central.

White sox!

Texas Rangers for me

Even though I don't live in Texas anymore, I still watch nearly every game via mlbtv.com and keep up with the latest news and going-on through my brother who lives in Dallas

I'd be glad to share my insight throughout the season

HookEmHorns said:

Texas Rangers for me

Even though I don't live in Texas anymore, I still watch nearly every game via mlbtv.com and keep up with the latest news and going-on through my brother who lives in Dallas

I'd be glad to share my insight throughout the season

Click to expand...

Glad you came around, you're willing to help and you follow a team none of my partners do.. Will love your insight.

gyno: Dodgers
silverfox1: O's
Drudes24: White Sox
varkeyboy: White Sox
HookemHorns: Rangers.
williemcgee: Cards and NL central.

Gyno,I follow the Indians as you well know and will help out when possible

I follow the A's closely, daily tweets from people attending their games and i'll probably see more than a few live games myself. Everyone's expecting them to take the AL west this year with some strong pitching in the front end of their rotation (Cahill, Anderson & Gonzalez) they may just take it. Their bats have been streaky last year, but should get an added boost with DeJesus from KC. Hideki seems to have flopped as DH in the preseason, so we'll see how he does when it counts. I'll add my two cents as the season progresses.

i post from time to time and i follow them very close

toronto blue jays.

Short of just telling you to bet against the Pirates all season, I can tell you this. The Buccos won a grand total of 17 away games last year. Bet against the Pirates on the road for the 1st and 3rd game of any series on the road, MONEY. They seemed to settle in on occasion for the 2nd game. In case you're wondering about a 3 city swing, take games 1-3-4-6-7-9. Good Luck.

silverfox1 said:

i love baltimore look what the new manager has done for them late in the season last year baltimore was on fire and preseason they are on fire i see them being a much better team this year and could be in the division race yankees are not a playoff team not know and boston is a 50/50 i just think baltimore could be a sleeper if they play like they are

Click to expand...

The O's picked up some good veterans and they have a couple young talented pitchers...but as far as competing with the Yanks and Sox...I think thats a stretch.
Welcome to the RX!

Gyno, I watch the Sox everyday.

Texas Rangers

To update what's going on with the Rangers so far this preseason:

Pitching:

The pitcher who has looked the best throughout preseason is Neftali Feliz. He said he wanted a chance to get into the starting rotation, and Rangers kind of acted like it could be possible, but have recently stated he will close this year...maybe starter in 2012. His fastball has great velocity and he has been hitting his spots consistently. Looks fresh after a long season last year. He has a 1.80 era and 12 SO in 15 innings pitched this preseason. 1-0 in 3 starts

Derek Holland is set at 5th in the starting rotation this year. He has looked sharp in the preseason. 2 wins in 4 starts with a 3.21 ERA. The past two years I have been hesitant to take Holland because he can be inconsistent - either really good at times or terrible at times as a starter. The second half of last year he showed promise though as a mid reliever, and did a fine job. He has a couple of years under his belt now and is a little older - should be a starter to watch out for this season.

The pitcher who has looked the worse is Tommy Hunter. 10.97 ERA in 3 starts. He is set to go 3rd in the rotation, behind Wilson and Lewis. According to Rangers analysts on sports radio, he has looked flat out terrible. According to texasrangers.com, he may start the season on the DL. Look to avoid him if he does start or take a close look at the over.

Starting rotation with my opinion regarding reliability:

1. CJ Wilson - solid pitcher who I don't mind putting money on in the right circumstance. Reliable.

2. Colby Lewis - solid pitcher as well. Last year he was very consistent. Not overpowering, but he showed he could really hit his spots. Reliable

3. Matt Harrison - looked pretty good in the preseason. He is a decent pitcher...keep an eye out and see how he performs at the start of the season.

4. Tommy Hunter - he has been pretty solid in his first two years, fairly consistent with a hiccup every once in awhile, but as I stated above be careful with this guy at the beginning of the season. Until he has proven he is over this preseason slump, I would either fade, stay away, or look to the over.

5. Derek Holland - a ton of hype with him coming up two seasons ago - supposed to be the next great thing but hasn't really lived up to the hype so far. He is still young and shows it sometimes in his command. Looked good coming out of the bullpen last season and has showed flares of quality pitching as a starter in the preseason. I think he may have a decent to pretty good year.

Bullpen should be solid. One of the best closers in the league who is on fire this preseason. 100 mph fastball. Ogando looked good for the most part last year - he brings 100 mph fastball as well. O'Day and Oliver were solid too. They picked up Arthur Rhodes (who I think is in his mid 70s??). Nevertheless, added another lefty in the bullpen besides Kirkman, which is good as they were short on lefties last year.

Batting:

Never really have to worry about Texas bats and run support. Stacked lineup. Andrus, Beltre, Moreland, Young, Napoli, Cruz, Hamilton, Murphy, Kinsler

The talk about who has looked great on offense this preseason is, believe it or not, Chris Davis. He has been splitting time at 1st base with Moreland. He is batting .380 in 50 abs, but the downside is there is no room for him in the starting lineup. He wants a trade, but I haven't heard of any deals in the works. If he goes somewhere else, may want to look into as a backup first baseman for your fantasy team.

BTW, Moreland is batting .404 this far into the preseason.

Hope this is helpful

i think hunter got hurt and is going to be out for awhile